Missouri deer hunters work everything from Ozark ridges to the river bottoms along the Missouri and the Mississippi, and a rifle that carries easily on a long walk earns its keep there. Fierce Firearms made the Mini Rogue family for youth, women and smaller-framed hunters, with a shorter length of pull and a comb that adjusts to the shooter.

Carbon fiber stocks mean a young hunter is not dragging a heavy rifle to the stand in November. The CT Mini Rogue XP comes in around 6 lb with a 12.75 in length of pull. Calibers run from 22 Creedmoor up to 308 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington, with 18 to 22 in barrels and TriggerTech or Bix'n Andy triggers. It makes a good first deer rifle, and it doubles as a coyote rifle on farm ground around St. Louis and Columbia.

22 Creedmoor is a fast, flat-shooting varmint and predator round with very little recoil, which makes it a favorite for new and young buyers who want to stretch their range.

At roughly 6 lb, the CT Mini Rogue XP is the lightest of the family: titanium dual-lug action, C3 carbon match-grade barrel, 12.75-inch length of pull and a detachable box magazine.

This rifle has a 18 in barrel, 3+1 capacity, and weighs about 6 lb. Finish: Distressed Gray.

Length of pull is the first thing to get right. If the stock is too long, a young shooter leans back, the scope sits too far from the eye and recoil lands in the wrong place. Raise the comb until the eye lines up with the scope without lifting the head. Start a new hunter on 22, 25 or 6mm Creedmoor and move up to 308 later.

Missouri repealed its permit to acquire in 2007 and has no waiting period. Pick the Missouri dealer you want at checkout and the rifle ships there. Your dealer runs the background check when you come in to collect it. Optics, rings and ammo can ship straight to your house. Price and stock are checked live at the moment you order.

Questions buyers ask: What caliber is best for Missouri whitetail with a young hunter? 6.5 Creedmoor handles most deer shots in Missouri timber and fields with mild recoil. The 25 Creedmoor kicks even less for a very small shooter. Do I need a permit to buy a rifle in Missouri? Missouri has no permit to acquire and no waiting period, and your dealer runs the background check at pickup. What caliber is this Fierce rifle? 22 Creedmoor, 3+1 capacity.

Specifications come from Fierce Firearms' published data for part number ROGTCMX22CM18DGM, UPC 853418438558.