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.

Hunting in the rain

Saturday the weatherman called for a 20% chance of rain - he was wrong, it rained all day, so I sat in one of our "box" blinds overlooking a food plot - I wanted to hunt the oaks that are dropping - but i didn't bring my rain suit since it wasn't supposed to rain.

I got to the food plot and placed my Renzo's buck decoy in the middle of the plot. (See picture) Sat back and waited......at 9:15 I saw movement, a deer was running full bore straight to my decoy, I got my gun up and realized it was just a spike, so I enjoyed the show. He came running straight to the decoy, began to circle, and since the decoy is 2-D and not 3-D it disappears when you face it head on or tail on. - The little buck almost jumped out of his skin when the "deer" disappeared right in front of him and then reappeared again when he turned to run. I really wish I had the video camera running when this happened.

He didn't stick around for long after this and bounded into the woods, about 30 seconds later a doe being chased by a NICE buck ran across the lane leading to the food plot, I tried to call him back but he had other things on his mind. -

I got down about 10:30, made a small loop through the woods in the direction the nice buck ran during this still hunt I slipped up to within 25 yards of another spike, a 4 pt. I stood watching them as they slipped away. Moving to the feeding area, I spotted movement and a 6 pt came trotting by with his nose to the ground, he was within 20 yards, more like 15 broadside. Great show, after he left, I moved my climber to a better location, and got out of there.

I'm hoping to get back there this week for an afternoon hunt - catching them coming into the acorns late. We'll see, but that Decoy in the food plot may be a better idea as it gets closer to rut.....hummm

Perspective

I am writing this in a hospital room beside the bed my 13 year old son.

Last Sunday at a baseball tournament he was pitching some batting practice and a line drive caught him in the back fracturing his spleen. We have had some tense times over the past few days and nights. Sitting here beside him, watching and praying for him to get better. It will be a long road for him, months of healing, months of boredom, of waiting for his body to recover from this trauma.

I'll spare the details, but as I have sat here - I can't help but think, and reflect on some of our times, some of the moments we have spent together in his short life. Some of our Times Well Spent. I know there will be more, and I guess it is appropriate at times like this to reflect, to kindle, and reminisce. Not in the manner of an ending, more of in the manner of a continuation, work left undone. Moments we need to capture - memories yet to make.

He will recover, he will get better, and we will have many more times we will spend together, sunrises and sunsets, more talks around campfires, more lessons about life and memories.

One of the things we say as he gets older, "Daddy, your taking Ridge and I now, one day we will be taking you." those are the moments I cherish, the moments I embrace and hold on to. Those are the real Times Well Spent, the times with my children and family. Those above all else are the ones that I cherish more than any other.