3rd Prize
Mark XXII Rifles (5 awarded)
Matthew D'Ercole, Nevada
“There’s only a few things I love more than camping and hunting and that’s my son Dominic. I have a picture of him straining to hold up his first Red Ryder Daisy BB gun then teaching him how to crawl on the ground in the back yard to hunt dear, tigers, rabits, and bear...all made out of cardbaord. Who loved it more? Hard to say.
He just celebrated his 18th birthday and I would do anything to give him a new Weatherby to ‘sight in’ and to make his dream come true to do a big game hunt with his dad. Our version of ‘A Hunt of a Lifetime.’ This ‘Dream Hunt’ has been in my mind since that first cardboard hunt 15 years ago. It starts with the excitment of just telling him what we’ve won!
He wouldn’t belive me at first bit once the shock wore off, we would immediately start the PLANNING...ahhhh...the wonderful planning...it would be a big part of the dream. God I love the planning and conversation we have talking about our hunts.
We’d make plans to go to the rifle range to practice in different conditions and then a hike up Sun Rise Mountain as part of our conditioning program. While hiking up the mountain, we’d talk about what gear we’d need, what we’d cook up in the Dutch oven, ‘How cold is it there Dad? What bullet should we use? Will you teach me to ride?’
Late at night, he would be on Google Earth checking out the area we were going to be camping and hunting in and he’d order a Topo map of the same area. Next time we go hiking we should take our GPS so we’re comfortable with it when the big trip comes. ‘Dad, we should bring extra batteries for the falshlights and GPS. Maybe we should call some people who live in the area and ask them for some advice about our hunt. What about calling the Fish and Game, Dad?’ ‘Good idea Dominic!’ ‘How are we going to get the meat home Dad?’ A thousand questions later and I’m still loving every one and pretending to be irritated but he would know better.
We’d be ‘over prepared’ for this Dream of ours. We’d arrive at our host’s lodging with our guns sighted in but ready to sight them in agian. Boots broken in and bodies in good shape to handle the Gila National Forest whether on foot or horseback. During dinner with our host, we’ll talk about the plans for our hunt and what to expect and our host can answer a 100 more questions from my son. Are we really going to be able to sleep the night before?
Dominic will sleep like a log and I’ll be tossing and turning thinking about the last three weeks and what to expect in the days to come. I just want him to come away with a deeper appreciation for our beautiful country and the ‘Hunt.’ I dream of the interesting and weathered men the we’d meet that would inspire my son to want more and that he would come away with more knowledge, a greater passion for hunting and some great stories for mom and his sister.
While riding up the mountian I would be soaking in the sight of my son on horseback and seeing the excitment in his eyes and the red cheeks from the cold. I would see my son turn into a man...would he know what was happening to him? Would he want the same for his son some day? Would I be able to go with him and my grandson some day? We’ve not even set camp yet and my ‘Dream Hunt’ has already been realized. My main concern would be that my son has the time of his life and he harvests his elk. I want him to learn how to field dress and how to protect the meat and head for mounting.
I’d be looking forward to setting up camp and preparing our dinner and sitting by the fire. Playing the guitar and talking about our plans for our first day of hunting which would start with hiking to a vantage point where we would glass for our record elk. He would be 1,000 yards away with some younger bulls. The winds would be just right to set up our stalk to within shooting range. My son would get this shot for his dream bull. I would calm him and make sure we didn’t make any stupid mistakes with our stalk. We’d make our last leg to a ridge over looking an opening where our bull would be crossing at any minute.
Dominic’s breath would be like that bull after a good run, every move would be fast and I’d be calming him, putting him in check, slow your breath and don’t forget to ‘Squeeze’ the trigger. Our bull moves into position and before I can say another comment, my son fires and our bull takes a few steps and drops. I slap my son on the back and grab his coat and the smile on his face is bigger than I’ve ever seen. We’ll take some great pictures, dress our game and make plans to get him out of there and back to the lodge for processing.
We’ll spend the rest of our time trying to get Dad his bull or mule dear. It would be great to take in some upland game hunting and mabe some fishing. Will it matter if I get my bull or mule dear...no...My dream came true.
Thank you for allowing me to share my dream with you and for producing such wonderful firearms. I don’t own a Weatherby but I do ‘Dream’ of one...someday.”