Growing up, I watched my dad go hunting as often as he could. From watching him get ready at home early in the morning, to sitting with him in the woods, to seeing photos from his hunting trips with his friends. I was in awe of his stories and the time I got to spend with him. I then started hunting as soon as I was old enough. I made sure I got signed up for firearm safety the second I turned 10.
The time for hunting came around the corner, and I was ready. I got all my stuff on, and we went out the door to head to the woods. We got into the stand, and I was so excited to be out there and spend time with my dad. I was snapping my head in every direction at every noise I heard. My dad just put his hand on my knee and said, "Just relax. You will know if it is a deer." So I just sat there, closed my eyes, and listened. We were sitting there for about an hour when all of a sudden we both heard rustling of leaves, branches breaking, and foot steps. We both look straight ahead and see a little buck come out from this brush pile. My dad looks at me and says, "That is a perfect deer for your first one. Would you like to try for him?" Like, OBVIOUSLY!
That deer had no idea we were there, and he came right up to the stand, sniffing the bottom of the ladder. I could not get a shot as he was so close I could not even see him through my sight. He eventually turned and walked back approximately 15 yards. I raised my gun up, and he was facing me, looking right at us. I just kept thinking to myself, "You have one shot, make it count." I took a shot, and I missed. I was shooting a Muzzleloader at the time, so my dad grabbed it from me and reloaded it. The deer ran behind us, but stopped at approximately 30-35 yards, perfectly broadside, just eating for a second, then looking at us. I positioned myself towards him, my dad rested his hand under the barrel to control my shaking, and I closed my eyes for a second, took a deep breath, opened them and took that shot. He only ran 25 yards before falling. I have never screamed for joy until that moment.
My dad and I sat there excited, him congratulating me, and then sat there for a minute to calm down before climbing to the ground. As we were sitting there, 5 more bucks, BIG bucks came walking past the stand. It was an amazing thing to see. Once they passed, we got down. My dad let the gun down first, and then he got down. Apparently, he was not calmed down enough yet, as he completely ignored the ladder and just jumped down to the ground. I got down, and we walked in the direction of my deer.
Getting up to my deer was probably one of the most exciting times of my life. Seeing that I succeeded, seeing the look of awe on my dad's face, and getting to share the excitement in that exact moment with him. I thought I wanted to become a hunter before that moment, but after it, I KNEW this is what I wanted to do.
Hunting for me is fun, exciting, but most importantly rewarding. Knowing I am not only feeling accomplished that I did it, but knowing that animal is going for a good cause to provide food in the house, AND giving a wonderful memory to always remember.
