After Moving From India to Washington State, the Manney Sisters Learn How to Bag Their First Deer
In Hyberabad, India, Vikram Manney was a competitive international trap and air-rifle shooter. Come 2022, though, when his job as a human-resources professional brought the Manney family to Issaquah, Washington, he was determined to have his daughters Yuthika age 15 and her 10-year-old sister Jeevika carry on his shooting legacy in America by acquainting them with the trap, skeet and deer hunting that are so widely available here.
“I think for me, being a competitive shooter, the opportunity came up with the local youth club to get my daughters into shotgunning and gun safety,” Vikram said. “And since there’s not much hunting in Inda, I was eager to get them into hunting. My wife and I want to support them in these endeavors.”
Yuthika Manney with her first deer kill.
The First Hunt Foundation jumped right in to help Vikram, Yuthika and Jeevika hit the ground running. The First Hunt Foundation is a National non-profit 501(c)3 with the mission to “Keep the Hunting Heritage Alive.” In the case of the Manneys, the First Hunt Foundation introduced them to mentors dedicated to helping Yuthika and Jeevika learn about the techniques, equipment, regulations and safety of clays shooting and rifle hunting.
And although Vikram had started coaching her, it was the coaches at the Renton gun club that help her enter and understand organized competitions.
Jeevika Manney getting a shotgun fit.
Jeevika shot air pistols as a hobby in India, but in the U.S. started learning trap around August 2024. Her biggest challenge to learning trap so far is “trying to understand the concept of lead. My father is teaching me and some of the coaches on my sister’s team help. “I’m not good but I think I’m getting better.” She currently shoots a Legacy Pointer 20-gauge pointer over/under.
Yuthika has been shooting competitive skeet and trap for some two years now, chalking up impressive wins. She belongs to the nearby Renton Crushers youth trap team.
“I tend to overthink shooting,” she admitted. “I had to learn how to shoot and then unlearn how to overthink. My father says, see it shoot it, and always follow through.”
Vikram and Jeevika Manney with her first deer.
Shooting a Beretta 694 sporting with an adjustable comb, Yuthika qualified in 2023 and 2024 for the National Junior Clay Target Championship in San Antonio Texas – taking the gold in double trap in 2023 during her first year of shooting scoring 78 out of 100. And although Vikram had been coaching her, it was the two mentors from the First Hunt Foundation that help her enter and understand organized competitions.
Yuthika Manney taking the gold in double trap at the National Junior Clay Target Championship.
“I want to follow in my father’s footsteps,” she said.
Beyond clays shooting, Vikram was intent on acquainting his daughters with deer hunting and the outdoor lifestyle that it involves.
“We didn’t know much about deer hunting and got a lot of help from like-minded people at the First Hunt Foundation,” he explained.
Yuthika Manney showing her first pheasant.
The Manney family’s first deer hunt through coordination between the First Hunt Foundation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wild Life. It was a three-night family youth hunt for kids 16 and younger. Eight youngsters and their families went into the wooded private property with camping and other equipment provided by the First Hunt Foundation.
Carrying rifles, Yuthika and Jeevika set out to stalk deer. Jeevika was the first to kill a deer followed the next night by her sister.
“I was on my first hunt and very happy killing a deer,” Jeevika said.
The Manney family with Yuthica’s first deer.
In describing her first kill, Yuthika talked about how “killing the animal for the first time, it was really emotional for me. I cried, but they were happy tears.”
The girls dressed their deers, including testing for Chronic Wasting Disease. The meat was processed into venison meatballs, grilled backstrap and other meals waiting to be eaten.
Asked if they want to go deer hunting again, Yuthika said “for sure. It helps us remove the stress, to be outdoors and be in quiet and peaceful areas.”
The Manneys have since gone on elk and pheasant hunts. “We all go on a lot of adventures together now,” Jeevika said. “It’s very fun.”
Irwin Greenstein is the publisher of Young Awesome Hunter and Shotgun Life at www.shotgunlife.com.
Useful resources:
The First Hunt Foundation web site
Irwin Greenstein is Publisher of Shotgun Life. Please send your comments to letters@shotgunlife.com.
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