Opening day of the 2007 Texas deer season was November 3, and my dad wanted to hunt the field behind our house. We both had done some preseason scouting and saw lots of buck sign. We hunted Saturday and Sunday and didn’t see anything. I was disappointed with not seeing any deer, but Dad said to have some patience: “Good things happen to those who wait.”
Monday morning was like any other Monday morning. While I was getting ready for school, Dad told me he was going to go hunting behind the house. When I returned home from school, I asked Dad if he had seen anything. He said he had just hunted the morning but had not seen anything. Then he asked me if I wanted to go for the evening hunt. Let’s go!
As soon as we got to our spot, a doe jumped out of the cover and into the field. About a minute later, a buck followed. And what a buck! All I could see was the high rack that this buck carried. My heart started to pound very fast and I was getting really nervous. Dad whispered, “Travis, don’t move. He’s looking right up at us.”
A moment later he turned broadside and Dad said, “Slowly pick up the gun. Remember how we practiced: Hold your breath, aim and slowly pull the trigger. You know where to aim.” I slowly pulled the trigger—BANG! The buck buckled and ran into the woods.
We walked down to where the buck had been standing and saw some blood and hair. “That’s a good sign,” Dad said. About 40 feet into the woods he said, “Travis, there he is!”
Right then we gave each other a high-five—then Dad started doing some kind of dance. I thought it was stupid, but found myself doing the same dance! What a feeling I got, and what a buck it was!
I couldn’t believe what had just happened. Dad was right: Do your homework and good things will happen. I looked at Dad and he had a smile from ear to ear. He kept saying, “You did it Travis. You did it.” He was so proud of me. I hope one day I can have the same feeling with my son.
Thank you, Dad. I love you.