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13-year-old girl takes down 300 pound black bear with bow and arrow

Posted at 10:27 PM, Sep 29, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-29 22:27:14-04

HOWARD CITY, Mich. -- Dolls and dance class aren't Paydin Gillespie's thing. The teen bagged a 300-pound bear on a weekend hunting trip with her dad.

Paydin, 13, sports her purple gun and bow set like a pro. She also has her room decked in camo, along with archery medals and other trophies.

Her big moment came a weekend trip to the Upper Peninsula with her father, Chad.

The bear was three times her size, and Padin was taken by surprise.

"I was shocked. I was like yes, I got it," recalled Paydin.

Prior to that, it had been a waiting game for Paydin, as she was hoping to show up her dad during the father-daughter trip.

"I don't think she shook a bit. She's got nerves of steel," said Chad.

Her dad, who taught her everything she knows about hunting since she was eight years old, bagged a bear earlier this season, and now it was her turn. "Mine was tiny compared to this thing," Chad said. "She got Yogi, I  got Boo Boo."

When  Padin isn't hunting with her dad or playing soccer, she's practicing shooting her bow and arrow. Since archery season is right around the corner, she's staying sharp, ready for her next kill.

13-year-old kills 300 pound bear