Eric's First Buck

When I think about, and I often do think about the intangible benefits we get from hunting. I find that at times I just can't quite put my finger on it. Other times the words flow and seem almost too easy. But when its all said and done, the one constant I see among men is their desire to pass on their love for the outdoors and the great sport of hunting to our children. I am no different, now that my children are getting to the age where I can take them with me, i would almost rather take them with me, than not. It's becoming more of a testament of our time together than the hunt, the passing on of our traditions, and establishing new ones. It is all about honoring those before us, and notching our place in their memory bank.

A friend of mine had the pleasure of notching one of these moments this past weekend, and while I didn't hunt with them, we went together. and I had the honor of celebrating with them as young man harvested his first buck.

For some, it may seem less climatic as it was to us, but this is a passing of the torch, a culmination of years of expectations, anticipations and education. Years of tagging along, shooting practice, safety lessons, scouting, hanging stands, all of the work of hunting all came full circle on Saturday October 24, 2009 at about 9:15 a.m.

The moment brought back the time my own son harvested his first buck, I was more excited than he was, he didn't understand the magnitude of his accomplishment, I did. He didn't know how fortunate he was to have that opportunity, I did. He didn't know the consequences of pulling that trigger, I did. And so too did Greg and Eric. They understood that the accomplishment was far more than Eric harvesting his first buck. It was a culmination of time, energy and dedication. It was a memory permanently carved into the minds of a father and a son. A moment for which they will remember throughout their lives. A moment that will take them back, that will linger in their hearts and transform them to that place. It is a special moment for which there are no others.

Certainly Eric will grow and harvest more deer, perhaps even some bigger bucks, but none will replace his first one. There are only one "first" and I am proud that I was there to be able to join in the celebration as Eric bagged his first whitetail buck. Congratulations Eric!

The hunt itself wasn't spectacular, nothing dramatic happened, sitting in the ground blind, a buck and doe emerged into a food plot approximately 100 yards away, lifting his lever action .44 magnum Marlin Eric took careful aim, waited for the right moment and for his dads leg to stop shaking - before he could steady himself prior to squeezing the trigger on his gun and tugging on the heart of his dad. I think in order for sons to understand the emotion we feel at these times, they must have children themselves. I don't think they can comprehend the flood of emotion that comes over us as we witness these life moments with our children.