My name is Dennis Gilbert from Ohio, and I wanted to tell a story of the most dedicated and awesome little girl I know, my daughter Alexis. She is 9 years old and last fall she said she wanted to go hunting with me and I told her it was a lot of work and a lot of preparation and not just shooting. She was all for it, so spring of this year came and Alexis and I roto-tilled up an acre on our property and planted Imperial Alfa-Rack. It took good and the deer were on it as soon as it started growing.

I bought Alexis a crossbow and she spent all summer practicing with it and became very good. We put up a double tree stand on a hot trail going too our plot and she couldn’t wait until bow season came in which this year was on Sept. 30. We went hunting the first 2 weekends and saw a few does, a 4 point and a small 8 point. I told Alexis she could shoot whatever she wanted but she knew there was big bucks here and she said she would wait on one big enough to put on the wall by mine because she wanted the little ones to grow up. (she has been listening to me).

On the 3rd weekend, October 15, this big boy walked in front of our stand at 20 yards and looked at us and I knew she was going to shoot. It may have only taken her 5 seconds to shoot but it seemed like an hour. My heart was pounding and I could hear her trying too swallow but her mouth was too dry. Just when I thought the deer would run she shot and the deer took off. We started out of the stand and we had to go slow because her legs were shaking so bad. I didn't tell her mine were too. We got down, found a good blood trail and tracked him only about 75 yards and found him. She made a perfect double lung shot just like she practiced all summer. It was awesome too see.  A perfect 8 point with an 18" inch spread and dressed over 200lbs. What an awesome deer. She is very proud. I am too. The smile on her face in the picture makes it all worthwhile. She can’t wait till next year already.