A Hunter Was Born

     This is a story that I wrote back in 2012 of my days as youngster down in Southwest Alabama and I recently revised it.  Hope you enjoy this memory of hunts long ago.  Authors notes:  The picture attached is of myself, my son, and our dog on a dove hunt in North Carolina.
     I was not from a long line of hunters.   My dad was a logger and really didn't hunt much.   Sure he had killed a few turkeys and squirrels but really cared less about hunting.  He did teach me to shoot a gun and basic safety.  He also instilled in me a love for the woods that has stuck with me to this day.
     I was however introduced to hunting and deer hunting by brother-in-law, Bruce Monk.  He had a nice remington 700 in 270 caliber with a leupold scope.  It was so cool.  I even bought my first real gun of my own from Bruce.  He sold me a remington 1100 12 gauge that has served me well.
I remember Bruce in his National Guard/Army Camo and me in whatever I could find or got for Christmas.  We hunted in Kimber lane in Wilcox County Alabama if not on my Grandma's land on the border of Wilcox and Marengo County Alabama.   I carried my 1100 with buckshot and thought myself a expert hunter.
     Daddy had acquired us hunting permits(you youngsters may have to look up that term.)  to this property off of the river.  Bruce and I went to the property one morning and I went to my normal spot.   I can recall that this was old Dallas Cooperage land that was eventually called Soterra inc, but I digress.  Back to my hunting spot,  I can remember the stump nestled in a hollow.  It was a pretty spot that I saw alot of game out of that spot.  I can almost smell the leaves , feel the coolness on my cheek, and see the fog as we were near a creek.   I would sit for many hours on this stump.   I can remember my butt hurting but trying to stay still.   In those days I just sat, and didn't think much of the wind or anything else.  I had sat many times without seeing a deer.   This time I was lucky.   A doe came over the hill and boom went my gun.  2 more deer came over the hill and I proceeded to unload the auto loader.  After the smoke had cleared, I had wounded a nice button buck.    He was not really legal and Bruce was a little cross with me.  But I shot a deer and it was cool.  We pulled the deer out which seemed like forever and loaded it up in Bruce's antique Chevy truck.   I can remember the thick yellow mud in my boots and burning muscles after pulling out that little buck.  But what a day and what a memory.  It is one that I will remember forever.
     This wasn't my first deer but it was the beginning of my deer career.  I can probably point to one person who set a fire in me to hunt and I know in my heart it was Bruce.  The love of guns, archery, deer hunting, knives, and many other things came from this man..  Before I forget,  Thank you Bruce!
     Don't forget to carry a kid hunting, even if he is your goofy little brother-in-law.   Time spent in the woods is time well spent and it could change a person's life for the better.