It was a crisp breezy November morning. There was a fresh frost covering everything, including everything on the ground. Even though the sun was not yet up and I couldn’t see anything, I knew it would be a good day because I was out hunting with my grandfather. It was my first year hunting with my own license.

I was sitting in the woods behind a large dead tree with my grandfather sitting on the opposite side. We were sitting ever so quietly when I heard the crunching of leaves coming from behind me, from the direction where my grandfather was facing. At that moment my grandfather slowly reached around the tree so as not to spook anything and tapped my shoulder to let me know something was coming. Then my adrenaline started pumping. I felt as if my heart was going to explode. I could hear the thumping of my heart just as easily as I could hear the crunching of the leaves. Slowly I turned around the tree, grabbing my rifle, and doing my best to not spook anything.

That's the moment it happened. Three deer started running into the clearing. The largest of them was leading them all. Not one of them was a buck but the first one was not only more meaty but also taller than the others. At that moment I knew it was time, so I picked up my rifle to my shoulder, and I looked through the scope. I made sure I had the large, does, front shoulder in my crosshairs, turned off the safety, pulled the hammer back, and took my shot.

The doe dropped immediately with a giant thud to the cold frosty ground. I was so ecstatic I felt like I was going to scream with excitement. We got up and walked to the deer. Then my grandfather taught me how to gut the deer. While dragging it out of the woods, after gutting it, my grandfather said to me, “How does it feel to become a true hunter?”

I answered, “Great!”

Now, looking back as a true hunter I still love the sport of hunting. However, I now know killing deer isn’t just for sport or for fun, but it’s for food. I love nature and the woods, even if it is just sitting out there in the freezing cold only wishing to see something. It is still enjoyable for me. I know lots of people don’t like hunting or hunters, but those people don’t understand the background and history of it. They don’t understand the value or tradition. Now that I have shot my first deer I understand all of this and more. Now, I am one of the men in our hunting group and can’t wait to share this tradition with my baby brother when he comes of age.

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