Tyler Shockey's First Deer
Do you remember your first deer? I do, and many times I've reflected back and told the story that took place 30-some years ago. The doe wouldn't find its place in the record books, but the memory is as clear today as it was that crisp November day of my youth.
Often times, when we recall our hunting exploits, we may downplay the importance of our first deer. The little buck or doe that fell to the first well-placed shot of our hunting career. Although the rack might not compare to the future deer we will brag about, the first deer will always be truly special in our lives as our initiation as deer hunters. This past weekend I had the pleasure of sharing with Tyler Shockey his induction into the ranks of deer hunters.
Tyler, his grandfather, Steve Finch, as well as Alex Dickey and his uncle, Dan Youngthunder, joined me for a youth deer hunt in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, sponsored by Kicking Bear.
The hunt started Saturday enjoying elk burgers for lunch,discussing stand locations and going over safety issues. After having declared themselves full, both young hunters said it was time to go hunting.
The first night came and went without taking a shot. Tyler and Steve quietly watched turkeys, but saw no deer, whereas Alex and Dan saw, in Alex's words, "a monster buck" that didn't provide a shot. We talked on the way out about changing stand sites for Sunday's hunt, and Tyler was okay with that. Alex, however, couldn't be pried out of returning to his same stand the following day.
Sunday afternoon came with both young men eagerly in place by 1:00, they were looking at six hours on stand. Alex and Dan were back in the stand where the "monster buck" had been seen the day before, while Tyler and Steve were on a new stand where I had watched a trio of does water the night before. The afternoon wore on. The wind blew, the temperature dropped and the clouds settled in. Two o'clock, three o'clock, four o'clock...four-thirty, was that a shot? I'd told both groups to hang tight if they shot something, so it would be a couple hours before I'd find out.
Just before 7:00 shooting hours expired and I went to pick up our hunters. First stop was Tyler and Steve. They were already heading out and, sure enough, Tyler was dragging something. The thing I noticed more, however, was the smile on Tyler's face. Even in the fading light I could see the ear-to-ear grin. The doe wasn't that big, but, oh, that smile sure was. Tyler's first deer, the one he'll always remember and the smile I'll never forget.
I left Tyler and Steve to go get Alex and Dan. As hunting would have it, they saw a couple of does that didn't present a shot. The "monster buck" never came back, but will live on in Alex's mind, no doubt getting bigger over time in stories told and retold. Tyler's deer will probably get bigger, too. I'm sure most of the deer he shoots in the future will be bigger, but I don't know that he'll ever wear a bigger smile. I know that little doe will be one I'll never forget.
Thanks for the memories Tyler, Steve, Alex, Dan and Kicking Bear.
Greg "Sarge" Symons
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