6th Prize
Hunting Journal with Weatherby Logo (100 awarded)
William Goodwin, Tennessee
“My dream hunt would be a duck hunt in Argentina. I would take my three sons with me. Their ages are 17, 21 and 23. They have all passed the Tennessee Hunter Safety Course. Since they were small, I have always hoped that I could take them on a Dream Hunt like this one. And I feel even more urgency to do that now.
My oldest son is an Iraq War Veteran and still in the Army. I am glad to have him back home safe and sound. He is supposed to be released from the Army in December (2007) but his contract says that he can be called back to the Army (active duty) anytime during the next five years. And with our country at war that could very well happen (thus the urgency).
All three of my sons are good kids. They work hard and have good attitudes. My two younger sons lived through the worry and fear that our whole family did while my oldest son was in Iraq. So we would all greatly appreciate the chance to erase those stressful memories with the memories of a fantastic hunt like this one. And let's not forget about their mother, my sweet wife, who was the glue that held us all together spiritually and emotionally during those trying times while my son was in Iraq. In fact, I would love to see her go on the Dream Hunt with us but she doesn't hunt so I don't know if she would be allowed to participate in the trip or not. It would be neat if I were allowed to take her with us as a spectator or allow her to go and take in the sites if she chose to.
Why do I want to take part in a Dream Hunt in Argentina? Well, I recently saw an Argentina duck hunt shown on the Shotgun Journal TV show. It looked outstanding. The weather looked to be cool and pleasant. I think the hunt took place in August. The scenery was unusual. The species of duck found in that part of the world was plentiful and beautiful to watch. The limits were generous. The guides did a good job. The dogs were masterful. It was everything that makes for a good duck hunt, only better.
To go there and hunt with my loved ones would be a special, once-in-a-lifetime event. I can think of no better way to surprise my sons (and my wife) than to be able to tell them that I had won the Weatherby Dream Hunt and not only that; but to also be able to tell them that we are going half way around the world to shoot our limit. It would be so cool to see the looks on their faces and share in their excitement. They would be beside themselves and so would I. And it would be especially sweet for my oldest son who thought everyday while in Iraq about being back home, away from the desert and hunting on the lush and beautiful land that he knew during his youth. This hunt would be so much more than he (and any of us) would have ever thought would be possible!”