6th Prize
Hunting Journal with Weatherby Logo (100 awarded)
Boyd Page, Illinois
“My dream hunt would be with my son, Jason, and my wife, Barbara. My wife and I have been married for 34 years and she has tolerated many years as a hunting widow. Not only has she been a devoted and caring mother but she has also worked a full–time factory job helping provide for our family. We have three children and all are college graduates. Our daughters are married and our son has moved out on his own...leaving us empty nesters.
My son has been my favorite hunting companion since he was five years old. Just several years ago my wife decided to try her hand at deer hunting. We live in Illinois which has a very short split deer firearms season. The first season is just three days long the second is four days. Due to work schedules, we usually can only hunt the first season. It has become a tradition for my wife, son, and I to try and get together for those three days, not only to enjoy the hunt, but to spend some valuable family time.
As years go by, this has become much more difficult. My wife is going into her third season and has yet to harvest a deer. It has always been a dream of mine to take a hunting trip to a place that we would consider to be beyond out reach financially. It would also be a big thrill to have my wife rewarded with her first deer. I can't think of a more deserving person. She has made an unbelievable number of sacrifices in raising our family and never a complaint from her. She knows and accepts how important hunting is to my son and I, and has never once challenged the amount of time or money spent devoted to living the hunting lifestyle. Even at times when money was tight, she was always supportive of our passion.
Hunting has been a part of my life since I was a youngster tagging along with my father. Barbara has always enjoyed being in the outdoors but has never had time to participate as she would like. After 35 years of hard factory work and raising three children, she finally has some time to catch up on things she has sacrificed. Her choice was to start hunting so she could share and be a part of what my son and I consider to be so sacred. Although she has not had an opportunity to harvest a deer, she is always upbeat and positive about the hunt. Jason and I work hard to get her positioned right but for some reason it just has not worked in her favor. That is why I would select Giles Island as our dream hunt destination. Giles Island would provide an excellent opportunity to not only see a lot of deer but to be able to relax for a few days and spend quality time with my son and I.
Each year presents a challenge as Illinois has a county specific permit lottery system which means we never are sure if we will all have permits. I know this may not be as dramatic as some, but getting another person involved in hunting is the only way to perserve our heritage. People have always said it is important to get our youth involved in hunting, a fact that I agree with wholeheartedly. But I also think it is just as important to get the women of the world involved also. I am extremely proud of my wife's decision to start hunting and support her 100 percent. She has even joined the NRA. Hopefully this will be her year.”