Julia Estis was hunting with her dad, Josh Estis, on Nov. 30 in Richland Parish when she got her first deer.
“On Nov. 30, 2024, Julia Estis and I (Josh Estis) settled in one of our box stands around 3:30 p.m. in Holly Ridge located in Richland Parish on Franklin property. I wasn’t expecting much in terms of her shooting a deer because we’ve gone many times and she’s seen a lot of deer but never wanted to kill one. In the course of an hour we seen 1/2 dozen does and she never said much other than she wanted to kill a buck. Wasn’t long, and her mindset changed. Around 5 p.m. or so, we have another three does come out and she says “Dad I wanna shoot one.” To which I responded, “Let’s do it.” After several minutes of the doe being congregated, one finally got away from the others giving her a shot at roughly 100 yards. She located her in a the scope and I flipped the safety off for her and said whenever you’re ready. Waiting in anticipation, I hear “click”!!!! I said, oh crap I forgot to load the gun. I worked the bolt fast and got one in the chamber. The doe she’s locked in on is now on high alert and looking at us making noise in the stand. She says, “Dad can I shoot?” I said you better get on her now and shoot. Next thing I hear is thump of bullet. We get on down and take walk into the CRP looking and I see she ran about 20 yards and collapsed. Sister and I did a little dance in woods. For so many years she’s been going and never wanted to kill a deer, always just watching her brother do it, but whatever the reason Nov. 30, 2024 she made the decision and worked through the nerves to kill her first deer and I am one super proud Dad.”
Josh Estis