Dustin's First Deer
by Leisa Griffin
With the Missouri youth firearms deer hunt approaching, my husband Toby and I got the camouflage, vests, hats, license, cover scents and everything else ready that our sons would need on their hunting adventure. Our nine year old, Dustin, had hunted the prior year, but had missed the buck he shot at. Dustin was determined that this year would be different and he would reach his goal of getting his first deer. Although our seven year old, Logan, had gone on hunting trips with my husband and I previously this was the first season that he would participate in the youth hunt.
On Saturday morning of the weekend hunt, Dustin was awake an hour before he needed to get up and dressed for the morning out and Logan woke up shortly after Dustin. They were so anxious to get ready and head to the woods in hopes of getting their first deer. Dustin saw a few deer on opening morning but they were too far off for a shot. Logan had his crosshairs on a doe Saturday afternoon, but the deer spooked before he could take his shot. Neither one of them had luck on Saturday but both of the boys came home eager to share stories about what they had seen during their hunt.
Sunday morning started off much the same way, with both boys anxious for another day of hunting. As the day progressed 
we were not seeing the deer like we had on Saturday, Logan made the choice not to go hunting Sunday afternoon and I stayed at home with him while Toby took Dustin hunting. The afternoon was slowly fading into the evening, as the sun started setting when suddenly I heard a shot, shortly followed by a second shot. My heart started pounding with anticipation, Logan had also heard the shots and was asking, "Did Bubba get a deer?" to which I responded, "I don't know, but I hope so." Logan and I paced back and forth in the house waiting for word on whether or not Dustin had gotten his first deer. When I looked out the door and saw Toby and Dustin approaching the house we ran to meet them. "Did you get one?" "Did you get one?" Logan and I asked at the same time to which Toby responded, "He hit one, but it ran into the woods and we will have to go find it." Toby knew the general area the deer could be found and as we headed into the woods, spreading out so that the deer could be found before night closed in on us, we searched diligently for the deer. After just a couple of minutes searching the thick brush I spotted the small doe and immediately yelled, "I found her." Dustin ran up to me with a big smile on his face and when Toby reached us, his smile was just as big... if not bigger.
I remember the feeling when I got my first deer: the happiness and excitement, big smile on my face and anxious to tell everyone. That was a wonderful feeling but now I know that it is nothing compared to how happy, excited, and most of all, proud I was when my own child got his first deer. Although Dustin really wanted a buck, he knew that the weekend was ending and it would soon be dark so he made the decision to shoot the young doe. He reached his goal of getting his first deer and is extremely happy with his small doe.
Not only am I proud of Dustin harvesting his first deer but I am also proud knowing that although Logan did not get a deer this year yet, he has had a wonderful time on his hunting adventures. Logan enjoyed watching the squirrels and chipmunks play, listening to the birds sing, and having a deer in his crosshairs for the first time. Memorable hunting adventures are not only the ones where you take home a trophy but any time spent with a parent or mentor in the outdoors. I know that as my sons grow, they will remember the time spent in a hunting blind or tree stand with Mom or Dad. They will share their stories with friends and family members for years and pass on what they have learned to their own children someday.
