The Hunt

Tabler1

Quinn Tabler

19 November 2012

Ms. Harmon

Pre AP English 10

　

　

The Hunt

I feel a strong hand touch my back, it is my father’s hand. I do not know where I am,
this is because it is 2:00 AM and I’m not accustomed to waking up in the middle of the night. “Quinn, you have to get up, we have a long drive ahead of us.” I roll over in my bed . I can barely open my eyes. I don’t know about this deer hunting stuff, I haven’t even gotten into the deer stand and I already hate it! I fight through my tiredness and begin to get ready to leave.

Startled and confused I am once again awakened by my father’s hand, this time I am in our stand. My father puts his fingers to his lips as to hint that we need to be quiet. I don’t move because I’m aware a deer must be nearby. I am just a young boy and this is the first time I will have ever seen a deer in a deer stand. I am instantly flushed with excitement, but I still manage to maintain my composure. I can hear the animals moving across the frozen ground, crunching the frost bitten leaves as they travel. I still cannot see them, however I know there is more than one. It is cold, so cold I can see my breath as it escapes from my mouth. Finally, one steps into my line of view and I study the female deer from head to toe. I follow her every move and I can see her breath to, and I wonder if she thinks it is as cold as I do? There are three other female deer that appear, the lead doe makes an odd sound and they all dash back into the woods. Even though I was not presented with a shot, I am still ecstatic with my first hunting experience.

It is a cold November morning, it is my birthday, but this is unlike any other birthdays I’ve celebrated. There are no friends or family surrounding me as I open my neatly wrapped presents and devour my artistically decorated birthday cake; I am in a deer stand. Patiently I’m waiting on what I have been dreaming about since I was introduced to this time consuming sport. I love every minute of it, the planning, packing, traveling, and anticipation of the hunt. I am accompanied by my father, who is my partner in crime during these adventures.

I am quickly awakened from my trance, it is by my father’s strong hand. He is shaking me while voicing his excitement as he sees a deer approaching from the distance. “It’s a buck!” It’s a big buck!” I grab my gun, this is the moment I have been anticipating. I stand up without even realizing it and prepare for the shot I’m ready to take. The buck is at a slow trot now. I focus my scope on the mammoth animal, I tighten my grip, hold my breath, and squeeze the trigger ever so slightly. As the sound of the explosion echo’s through the valley, the sound of the loud thud of the deer hitting the frozen ground accompanies it. This is it, after three years of effort and patience, I have succeeded!