My girl is 14, and this year we have some nice deer. So this is the year for her first buck a nice one. She has taken a hog and she is a pretty good shot. She will shoot a 30-30.
I like lung shots. But he is going to run. Should I loose some meat and have her take the shoulder shot just to be safe? Which one would you pick?

I'd go with what's going to give you the best blood trail to recover whatever she shoots.

He could run even with a shoulder shot, so I would let her take him in the best presentation he offers. Trailing game is a valuable lesson and one she will need sometime, so I wouldn't focus on it to much. With the 30-30, shouldn't "destroy" a quarter.

Good point. Tracking a blood trail is a good lesson and exciting too. I would expect a good blood trail from a double lung shot behind the shoulder. That is what I have experienced, but I shoot a 30-06. Never taken a deer with a 30-30.

dbl lung will get good blood.. right at the top of the bottom 1/3 of the deer tucked tight behind the shoulder puts the hole lower and will usually leave a trail that looks like it was poured from a bucket.

All are good oppinions, but where is she actually going to hit it? Personally I would tell her to try to hit right in the center of the shoulder. That gives you about 6" either way to play with. Tell her right benind the shoulder and if she does the 6" back you have a gut shot. I realize she is probably a good shot, but "Buck Fever" makes anyone a bad shot. Good luck on what ever you tell her.

read this thread form a couple months ago its a good one

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...ent#Post3430399

Obviously the best shot available, but it's hard to beat a high in the shoulder shot to minimize the tracking.

No wheels = no tracking! Take out the shoulders

Shoulder. Not going to lose enough meat to worry about it. She's not going to worry about meat loss on her first buck anyway.

Neck/shoulder joint. Or neck

Lungs, sure they run a little ways usually but large target and reliable killer shot. Or get one quartering away some an have her put the bullet in so it exits the offside shoulder.

In otherwords go for shot with large margin of error. Plus a little blood trailing practice is a good thing. If you hunt long enough there will come a time it is needed.

Good points everyone. I like center of the shoulder to take the wheels off. But the lungs are my tried and true I usually go by. Maybe it's the gun I'm thinking about more than anything. I've always used a 30-06. And just switched to a .44 mag (love that gun). Both are a little big for the girl to be comfortable on. My bud is loaning his scoped 30-30 for the job. Not as much punch but he is confident it will do the job. Me never hunted with one. Thoughts?

Shoulder

keep the shots close and either will be fine.

I've shot several deer up to 150 yards or so with a 30-30, it will do just fine. It has been some years so I cant remember the bullet weight or any specks for you. I do know the damage was considerably less than say a 30.06 or 7mag.

If you are less than 100 yards the hole blown in a dbl lung will be substantial and likely result in a very very short tracking job if any.

Don't start her with neck/head shots..

Take out his Runnin' Gear. That's my opinion. Like don said, if the shot isn't right on, it should still be ok.

A 30-30 is a great white-tail gun. You are over thinking it.
If she can shoot the gun and is not scared of it she will do just fine. Don't over complicate it for her. Aim for a center shoulder shot and then enjoy the memories.

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Ive tracked alot of deer that were double lunged. Sometimes they had great blood trails and ran a short distance. Sometimes they were hit good, for whatever reason they didn't bleed and finding them was a chore

I've never had to track one shot in the shoulder. If im shooting a buck, it's for the wall and he's getting a bullet high in the shoulder

I could care less about losing 4 lbs of shoulder meat

With all the broom weed this year I'm not sure the tracking idea is a good one. I have seen some broom weed as high as the hood of a truck and trying to track a deer in that would be tough. With this being said I would have her shoot high shoulder therefore no tracking would be needed. Besides if you want to teach her how to track an animal have her lung shoot hogs. They make great teaching on tracking.
Good luck to both of you this season!!!

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Enough said. Watch for pics on youth weekend. Or shortly after. Thanks everyone.