The Essential X Series: Family Affair

The following story comes from a family that has become become more than friends to most of my friends. Anyone in their family, no matter where they are, can be called in any time of need for just about anything. And the stories they tell, make you feel like you’re home whenever you sit around a table or campfire with them.

One of them recounts her earliest hunting memory below:

“Gosh. I was probably 7.

I always trotted around with my Dad and my brother usually followed Mom. I remember sitting on a rock with my dad and I had a bit of a cold so I would cough every once in awhile. I got the "look" from dad that told me I would scare the deer away. He gave me a Jolly Rancher to suck on! I was in heaven.

We sat in this rock for quite some time and I told him I saw some deer across on the other hill. He asked where and I pointed to a mountain about 600 yards or more away. He pulled up his binoculars and sure enough there were about 10 deer walking up the hillside! Yay for the little one!!

We did not get our deer that day but I have many memories.

It was quite a day when I was old enough to take my hunters safety course and actually carry a rifle. I finally got my first buck at 19 years old! We had backpacked in and were truly roughing it. Dad had gone one direction and my Mom the other. I had gone back to the tent to grab some more water. I stepped out of the tent and walked over to a rock. When I looked down the ravine I saw a buck! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

I grabbed my rifle, took the safety off and wondered where that trail came out. Sure enough it stepped out of the woods. I took a shot, off hand and nailed it!!! I was so flipping excited. I screamed a big WAHOOOO!!!

I heard another shot and about 30 min later my Mom came up and she also got her buck. We high fived each other and began the cleaning process. Eventually found my Dad and he also got his buck.

It was a great year and a heavy pack out! What a great memory.”