6th Prize
Hunting Journal with Weatherby Logo (100 awarded)
Mark Polk, Colorado
“I want to thank you for your superior products over the years and your commitment to sportsmen and women. You truly are an icon in keeping the heritage of America's greatest past time alive. Now that my thanks have been said let me move on to why I am writing today.
My Dream hunt would be one last big game hunt with my dad. Who could ask for more then that? Well since this contest is ‘Weatherby Dream Hunt,’ I will shoot for the stars. I thought about this for a long time and only one hunt came to mind time and time again. This hunt is for Red Stag hunt in Argentina. Below you will see why.
I come from a family with a long hunting tradition. It seems most families these days only see each other at holidays, weddings or funerals. In my family it is hunting that brings us all together.
I am the youngest of five children and came along much later in my father's life than the rest. It is because of this, my older brothers had many years to hunt big game with my dad. I only a few. I feel very blessed to have the years I have spent with him in the field but would like to have one last good big game hunt with just him and I. He will celebrate his 70th birthday this year. Over the past few years his age has taken its toll. He walks daily and is in better shape then most his age but the strain of tending horses and packing game has become too much. (Even though he won't admit it). Understandably so, his knees, sholders, heart and the rest of his body just aren't what they used to be.
When I turned 14, my father took me on my first big game hunt. I shot a nice pronghorn. Over the next few years, he continued passing along his knowlege of elk and deer hunting but now when we plan a big game hunt it is my brothers and I without Dad. He says that it is for the best and that he doesn't mind but you know it bothers him. My father and I still get out and hunt ducks and geese a few times per year and he will post a pheasant field for me from time to time but that is it. He has expressed to me that he wants to do one last elk hunt but none of us want to take the chance with him getting older.
My father has visited Argentina twice in his life wing shooting and has expressed how much he loved that country and the great times he has had there. He took my brothers along on one trip but, I, being much younger and in college, was unable to join them because I could not afford the hunt. He has expressed some day that he would like to return with only him and me. I guess he wanted it to be just the two of us to make up for the years I missed when he was hunting with only my brothers.
By doing a red stag hunt in Argentina, he and I could fufill our absolute dream hunt. With a guide and me, my dad would not need to feel obligated to help when packing game or tending horses. With a lodge he would not need to help in setting up camp or sleeping on the ground. Returning to Argentina with his youngest son he would achieve one of his life goals. Lastly with hunting red stag, he could get the thrill of one last ‘elk’ hunt. That my friends truly is dreams coming true!
I know that there are plenty of people such as our service men and women returning from Iraq or sick children who deserve a dream hunt more than my dad and I. I just thank you for giving me the opportunity to enter this contest and to tell my story.”