CHANDLER’S FIRST

Chandler Tobin - Iowa - September 21st, 2025

By: Brennen Nading (@nadingbr)

Chandler wasn't raised around hunting, so it never was something that he knew much about.  That's until I came into the picture.  When I started dating Chandler's mom a few years ago, he obviously became surrounded by it.  It didn't take him long to ask me if he could go with me.  I was more than excited to introduce him to hunting.  We have been chasing turkeys the last couple of springs.  With a few close calls, we just haven't been able to pull it off just yet.  With two years of turkey hunting under his belt, he asked me if he could try his luck at deer hunting this year.  The answer was obviously, yes!  I picked up a 350 legend, and we began practicing.  He was shooting the gun great, and we both had a lot of confidence that he could make the shot if it presented itself.  On day two of the youth season here in Iowa, Chandler would get his chance.  A buck that he named "Sling Shot" stepped onto the Domain plot an hour before dark.  We watched him for over 10 minutes and waited patiently for him to go broadside.  At 125 yards, Chandler settled the crosshairs and squeezed the trigger.  He made a great shot and the buck barely made it off the field before going down.  The blind erupted with excitement!  It doesn't get much better than knocking down a mature buck as your first deer.  Looks like he's getting a shoulder mount for his birthday!