6th Prize
Hunting Journal with Weatherby Logo (100 awarded)
Russel Peck, Colorado
“Wow! Reading some of the stories that have already been posted, I feel reluctant and selfish to even describe my dream hunt in hopes of being chosen. To all of those who have a dream, never give up on it and especially if it involves a special moment with a friend or relative...MAKE IT HAPPEN, WHATEVER THE COST! Life is too short. I pray that everyone's dreams are achieved and no one has to endure the terrible feeling of REGRET.
I have always been a procrastinator. This is one time that I feel this quality may be a blessing. I was going to write my dream hunt story a few days ago. Well, procrastination set in and other things came up. I got a call this morning that changed a lot of things for me. My priorities have changed and procrastination will just have to wait!
My dream has always been a float plane trip into the Yukon with a group of buddies. The dream involved male bonding at its best and whether we were hunting for moose, bear, deer, or caribou...it didn't matter. The experience, solitude and memories was what I was after. Well, as I said, as a result of a phone call I got this morning, my priorities and my ‘Dream Hunt’ has changed.
My fondest memories as a young boy was experiencing the outdoors with my best friend, my dad. My mind has been flooded with thoughts of fishing, pheasant hunting, quail hunting, grouse hunting...some of which were spent riding on my role model's shoulders. Since accepting a position as a law enforcement officer in Colorado and relocating 10 years ago, my dad and I haven't seen much of each other (he lives in upstate N.Y.). We don't do any hunting together and he is missing out on some of the best years of his grandkids live's. I carry around a lot of guilt because of my decision to move. We've talked many times about bringing him out here to hunt elk up in the mountains, which has always been his ’Dream Hunt.‘ Due to many variables, the biggest being the expense, that trip has never happened.
The phone call I received this morning brought the news that no man ever wants to hear. My dad has prostate cancer. The discovery was recent but the prognosis for recovery is not good. What's in store for my dad at this point is uncertain. All I know is at 67 years old, he should have many years of hunting left in him. As a result of this news, my ‘Dream Hunt’ is now the ‘Hunt of a Lifetime’ that my dad has always wanted...to pursue a big bull elk in the Rocky Mountains with my best friend, my dad. To be able to watch my Dad's eyes light up at the sound of a monster bull answering his challenge and then bringing it down with a single shot and wrap his hands around the massive base of his antlers. I would give up a lifetime of hunts in the Yukon to experience that. Due to cost and not knowing just how much time my dad has left, this may be the only opportunity I have to see this happen.
The weapon of choice that I would love to see this happen with is the Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe in .300 WBY. Mag. I don't own one (champagne taste, beer budget!). I would love to be able to gift one to my dad so he could see this hunt come to the amazing conclusion that I just described. Even if the hunt ended with nothing more than memories of us in the mountains together, I know his dream, and mine, would be complete. Thank you. God Bless and the best of luck to everyone who enters.”