NEO Tribe Member, Hunter Kana, Hits Her Mark

[Hot4huntin]

My 6 year old daugher, Hunter, received a Neo Tribe long bow made by Joey (Tinman) Gates for Christmas. She has been wanting to hunt rabbits with it, but rabbits are few and far between at our lease this year. Hunter has been sitting with Bobby and me in our bow blinds since she was 3 years old, so she has a good idea of what goes on.

Hunter practicing at the cabin



Last Saturday we were at the lease and after the morning hunt, we took Hunter to the front of the lease to see if we could find rabbits. Unfortunately, none were to be seen. However, we did discover lots of rooting by hogs near a large dirt mound. Hunter decided that she wanted to go back to the cabin, get a chair and corn and come sit to wait on the hogs by HERSELF.

Bobby and I dropped her off, spread out the corn and proceeded down the road on the four-wheeler, so we could take pics of her.
Hunter sitting:




Bobby and I parked further down the road to sneak up on her. Bobby was videoing as she waited patiently. We had encountered a couple of rabbits on our hike back up to watch Hunter. Bobby started making hog noises and Hunter looked around behind her. After this had happened a couple of times, Hunter said, "I know it is y'all cause pigs don't sound like that." BUSTED!!!

We told her that we had seen the rabbits, so we decided to stalk rabbits.



I was the arrow caddy.




We didn't find the rabbits so Hunter decided to shoot at the heart shaped cactus.



Another shot at a cactus



We came back from the stalk empty handed.

Bobby has 14 orphaned pigs that come to his feeder regularly, so Hunter decided she would go and sit in Bobby's blind with me for the evening hunt, so she could shoot one of the pigs. She asked why she did not have a "razor-sharp" broadhead on her arrow like Dad and I do. I explained to her that she was not pulling enough pounds yet and we did not want to hurt the pigs.

Bobby's blind


We have received lots of rain at the lease, so everything is muddy and underwater. Getting to Bobby's blind was not easy. We got stuck once and Hunter had to drive, while I pushed the four-wheeler out. We got to the blind right before the feeder went off. We used the scent spray and I raised the window, so she would have a clear shot and not have to shoot through the mesh. Around 5:15, the little pigs come in and start eating. They are between 20 and 25 pounds. We let them eat a little while and she selects a black and white spotted one that she wants to shoot. The pigs are about 7 yards from us. She moves into position in front of me and draws back. The pig steps behind the cactus again, so she lets down. The spotted pig came back to the right position, turns broadside and Hunter draws again. She counts to three and releases the arrow. THWACK, Hunter hits the pig right in the shoulder area! Little pigs scattered everywhere! Hunter looks out the window and says I got him Mom, but I don't see him. I explained that she would have to have a broadhead on the arrow to actually kill the pig. She asked me why I had not put a broadhead on the arrow and I explained again to her that she was not pulling enough pounds. That's when I got "the look"!!! I told her that I was very excited and proud of her for being able to draw back, release the arrow and hit the pig! I don't know who was more excited, Hunter or me!

We got back to the cabin and she told Bobby that she had shot a pig and he asked where it was. She looks at him and says matter of factly, "Dad, you know that I don't shoot enough poundage yet to kill a pig!" Somehow, I have the feeling that it is not going to be too long before she has her first bow kill under her belt.

Specials thanks for the bow, Tinman!