The Buck Of My Dreams

Again sitting well before daybreak in my little brush blind I watched and listened intently even in the blackness. My eyes strained to pull some daylight out of the darkness and reveal the deer that were lined up like a parade just waiting for me. It wasn’t 15 minutes into shooting time when I caught a glimpse of something moving amongst the rows of pines. Within seconds it was obvious that this was a deer heading right to the fire lane on the same path that the doe had taken the morning before. It approached and entered the field then took a direct 45 degree turn right in my direction walking straight towards me with it’s head down. It’s a 6 point buck and here I am with practically a head-on shot. The same type of shot that I fouled-up the day before. The difference is this time I have the upper hand and I can see the body of the deer. The buck doesn’t know I’m there and my crosshairs are following it’s chest waiting for him to stop and raise his head just long enough for me to squeeze off a shot.

In the next instant my shot rings loud in the morning air and the buck does a complete flip as the bullet enters it’s chest. He crumples to the ground and lays lifeless while my mind quickly replays the animal flipping like an acrobat into a backflip. My heart races faster now and in a rookie moment that went against what I was taught I rush to see my trophy and the execution of my 80 yard shot. The buck jumps to it’s hooves when I am nearly upon him and my instinct, which felt as much like survival as this close range, takes over firing another shot and dropping him for good. It’s over. I’m shaking with excitement and a story that I feel nobody will ever believe. It isn’t but a few minutes before dad comes walking up the trail after hearing my shots and finds me towering over the buck fighting with my emotion to keep from screaming out that I got one. I can see by his stride that he’s both excited and concerned in his approach and I am sure that I have a perma-grin from ear to ear on my face. Through my emotions I catch a second to compose myself briefly and realize the congratulations through a handshake and a pat on the shoulder. I feel quite proud of my accomplishment. I watched as dad gave me a lesson in field dressing a deer and that was it. I was hooked and realize now that even though I’ve since shot many deer that this little 6 pointer was the buck of my dreams and of many hunters. When the chance offers itself be sure to take your kids, or your dad, hunting or at least spend some time together outdoors and create some memories of your own.

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