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Memory of a Lifetime

4 years ago on this exact date, December 20, 2010, I harvested the first buck on my papaw's old home place after many, many days of hunting so I could shoot a buck just to show him. It was always funny because every time we would come in from hunting previous times, the first question he would ask is "Did Kyle get one!?" and our answer would usually be "no...not this time". Well, finally on that day December 20th, I got one, a 7 point. I couldn’t wait to take it back and show my papaw and finally be able to show him that I got one! My dad and I loaded him up and took him back to my papaw's house where we had to drag the deer up to the living room door and hold it up just for him to see since he wasn't able to get up anymore as he was pretty sick from that evil thing we call cancer. It was a great feeling to see my papaw's eyes light up and see a jolt of happy energy run through him and actually rise up with strength to see it. It's a look on his face and in his eyes that I'll never forget. After getting home that night I took the deer over to my good friend's house to hang him up and gather the meat from the deer. As I was all excited and telling him the story of my hunt and the joy my papaw had, I received a call..Not one I wanted to hear or believe... I immediately had to load up and leave my buddy and my deer. That night my papaw went to be with God almighty. Now, four years later Dec. 20th 2014, my papaw was surely watching over me being that I killed the biggest deer I've ever harvested or had the opportunity to do so on this morning at his old home place once again. I was also not using just any old rifle, I was using the30-06 Remington, 7400 model rifle that my papaw had given to me and the one I have used since my first day of hunting. To this day it has been what I like to call "my lucky rifle." After making the shot I shouted with joy and then after a while and the "buck fever" had worn off I climbed down and while I was getting to the deer it hit me, I suddenly found myself shedding some tears thinking about it. For those that believe hunting is just about killing things or bragging rights, you're way off, to me it's about the memories of a lifetime, stories I can someday pass on to my kids about how my papaw was there that day probably with a smile and happiness just as he had 4 years ago on that same day. To all this I want to say Thank you God, for allowing me to do the things I love, for all of your creations and beautiful animals of this earth!! Also, thank you papaw for sending this deer my way and watching over me every day. I miss you..