Olive Dean and her mother, Lyndsay Dean, pose with a harvested buck during the November 2024 firearm deer season. (Photo courtesy of Dean family)

The cool November evening was nearly still. A few deer bleats had echoed from outside the blind.

Eight-year-old Olive Dean adjusted her grip on her crossbow, lined up her shot, and asked, “How far is he?”

“Thirty yards,” I replied quietly, my eyes locked on the 10-point buck that had stepped into view.

Olive Dean smiles while waiting in a deer blind during the November 2024 firearm deer season. (Photo courtesy of Lyndsay Dean)

Without hesitation, Olive calculated which line to use on her scope. Then she took a deep breath, clicked the safety off, and – like she’d practiced a hundred times – let the arrow fly.

The shot was perfect.

A love of the outdoors from the start

Olive didn’t ease into the outdoors – she was immersed in it from the beginning. Her childhood was filled with summer camping trips, fishing outings, lake kayaking and more hikes than she could count. She’d been climbing into tree stands with her dad since before she could tie her own boots.

By 6, she was already asking when she could start hunting. Two years later – after seasons of scouting as a family, testing soil for food plots and perfecting her aim through backyard bow sessions – her big day arrived: Nov. 2nd.

That evening, we were tucked into a ground blind on private land in Tuscola County, reviewing range estimation and working through obstacles. With a few doe bleats and buck grunts, we settled in and waited.

Then, through the brush, the buck stepped out.

Eight-year-old Olive Dean proudly shows a harvested buck during the November 2024 firearm deer season. (Photo courtesy of Lyndsay Dean)

The shot, the smile, the story

The adrenaline hit Olive like a wave.

Her first instinct?

“We need to call Dad.”

After her arrow connected, she was shaking, crying with excitement and smiling so big it made my eyes well up just watching her.

We caught it all on video.

Photos and video of Olive’s hunt were captured and will be treasured for years to come. Her 10-point buck may not break any records, but to our family, it’s the most important deer we’ve ever tracked.

But the real magic came afterward. Her dad, uncle, grandma and younger brother dropped everything – even leaving their own prime-time hunts – to come help track. No one wanted to miss this moment.

Olive Dean and her brother, Briar Dean, react to a successful deer harvest during the November 2024 firearm deer season. (Photo courtesy of Lyndsay Dean)

Olive and her 6-year-old brother, Briar, took the lead. Both love tracking, and this time they were the ones calling the shots – guiding a crew of adults through the woods like seasoned pros.

It was her grandma’s first time ever tracking a deer. She had never seen anything like it and was fascinated by everything that went into it – how to read the blood, the texture and the trail. She had never seen this side of hunting before, and you could tell it left a lasting impression.

More than a hunt

This wasn’t just a big moment for Olive – it was a milestone for our entire family.

Hunting has always run deep on her dad’s side, where opening day of firearm season means tradition, deer camp and time together. But this hunt marked something new. A mother-daughter bow kill.

A next-generation hunter stepping forward.

For Olive, it proved what she already knew: Girls can hunt just as well as the boys. Her younger brother said it best: “The girls in this house can hunt!”

For me, being beside her when she made that shot was one of the most meaningful moments of my life. Hunting had always been her thing with her dad. Getting to be the one beside her for her first buck was something I’ll never forget.

The bigger picture: Youth and the outdoors

Olive’s story is one of thousands across Michigan, where young people are forging new bonds with the natural world through hunting, conservation and stewardship.

These moments matter.

A young hunter is shown afield during the youth deer-hunting season, near the Dansville State Game Area in Ingham County. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources)

They teach patience, discipline and respect for the land and wildlife. They offer real responsibility. And they give families time together – without screens, without distractions, with just fresh air and purpose.

For parents looking to introduce their children to hunting, the key isn’t perfection. It’s presence. Bring them along early. Let them scout with you. Let them ask questions. Practice together. Show them how to care for the land and the animals we harvest. And most of all, let them lead when it’s their time.

Because when they do, it’s unforgettable.

Michigan’s youth deer hunt begins Sept.13.

For more information, including purchasing a license, downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and more, visit Michigan.gov/Hunting.

— Lyndsay Dean, Tuscola County hunter and Olive's mom