6th Prize
Hunting Journal with Weatherby Logo (100 awarded)
Jim Bello, Illinois
“Since I have basically been old enough to tromp the fields and woods, I have done so beside my father. My first memories in the field have involved my father, family and friends. Dad worked two jobs when I was a child, but he always found time to get me outdoors into the woods, fields or on a local lake.
Whenever he could, he'd get me out. My first deer and duck hunt occurred when I was nine in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois. I managed to bag my first deer with a secondhand Savage 22 over 20 gauge that dad had picked up for me that summer. Dad had me out to the range for endless hours shooting targets and clays till I was pretty proficient.
I'll never forget the cool dark trek through the timber to our stand. Settling in against an ancient oak tree, and smelling the fresh scent of the earth as I distrubed the leaves to make a place to sit quietly. The bone-chilling cold just at first light and the erie sounds of the forest as it came to life will always be with me.
Since that time as a 9-year-old, I've fallen in love with the outdoors. Hunting deer, waterfowl, upland birds, and endless hours on the lake fishing with my dad have given me more pleasure than I could possibly explain. It's just a passion of my instilled in my by my fater. He taught me to really appreciate the experience and that the journey into the woods, time spent with family and friends, and the togetherness far outweighed the success or harvest. Sure it's nice to bag game, but he taught me that the experience is what it's all about.
My dream hunt would be to take my father on a trophy deer hunt! He's never bagged a big buck. He has a couple of respectable bucks to his credit and lots of does for the freezer, but he's never bagged a real bruiser. I've seen numerous TV broadcasts with several outfitters for monster deer, and that's the kind of trip I'd like to take my dad on.
He's getting up in age now, he'll be 66 next fall. Each day that passes I realize the our time together will not be endless. With Dad now retired in another state nine hours away, I don't get nearly enough time with him as I used to. Gone are the days where I could stop by after work and see him and mom on the way home. I miss that. Dad is really my best friend and it's difficult some days when I think about all the fun we've shared. So I'd like to take him on a full tilt blitz for a monster buck. He preferred the cool north woods when I was in my teens and early 20s and 30s, but as he got older he'd prefer to be warm. That's why I'd love to take him to a place he could hunt for a big buck where he could be comfortable and still harvest a big northern buck. Maybe someplace in Manitoba or elsewhere in Canada where he could get into a heated box blind and spend the day watching his favorite critters.
That's my dream hunt. Not for me, but for my dad! I'd like to give him back something that he can carry with him for the rest of his life as he's given to me. A life long love affair with outdoors!”