Page 9 - Safari Trails Dec 2020
P. 9
As dawn breaks, every sound from us and after scouting the
we hear brings us both to full area and showing his snowy
alert. I try not to be too anxious white tail; he dashed away into
because I know that it’s called the dense forest ahead. I re-
“hunting” for a reason and not lease a huge breath and lower
“catching”. Patience is the se- my gun. My dad pats my stock-
cret to success. My dad has ing cap covered head and tells
raised me to understand that me that it appears that now I
nature is unpredictable and that have a “big buck that got away”
it’s called wildlife for a reason. story of my own. I look at him
He has taught me to respect hard for a second and then we
nature and all its magnificent both begin to laugh.
gifts and to understand that if
you do; it provide me with it On the drive back home, dad
gifts for genera- and I discuss tomorrow morn-
tions to come. ings trip back to the woods. I’m
optimistic about my big buck
All of a sud- returning to the clearing again.
den there is a
Senior Division Girl sound of crashing As I look out the truck window, I
think about how one day I will
limbs just behind get to pass on my own stories,
Grade: 11 Teacher: Ashlie Rideneour our stand! My body along with the rest of the fami-
Age: 16 School: Stuart
goes rigid! I do not ly’s stories, to my own children
move a muscle! I
as we travel down these famil-
done even think I breathed for iar Oklahoma roads and carry
Sharing The Heritage the longest time! Ever so slowly on this part of our family herit-
my buck came meandering into age with them.
the clearing from behind us and
(Continued)
stopped just ahead of our
stand. I send up a silent prayer
We ascend our 2-man tree of thanks for bringing him in
stand and begin the traditional and then focus on being ready
waiting ritual. We communicate with my gun if he turns and of-
with our eyes and facial ges- fers me the perfect shot. The
tures as best we can under all waiting is torture! As it turns
our coverings. Sometimes a out, my buck never gave me
nudge is required if one of us the opportunity this time. The
begins to nod off to sleep. If
truth be told, that would gener- chattering of the squirrels must
have alerted him that he wasn’t
ally be me.
alone in the clearing. He re-
mained facing directly away
PG 9
