Junior Post: Amy Lawry

The Hunt of a Lifetime

Amy Lawry

I drew a mule deer buck tag and hunted during the juniors-only weekend in October. My dad and I decided to go camp out at a site in the southern Bitterroot Mountains of western Montana. On the first day of the hunt we walked three miles but no bucks, only does. We did “glass” staring at the hills to try to spot any movement.   

Later that day, we took another drive to a second area. My dad said, “I wish a big buck would just run across the road.”   Next thing you, know a big buck runs across the road. My dad stopped the truck and I got out. My dad and I walked over to where the buck ran. Right there, the big buck stood staring at me. I could only see his head. My heart was beating faster than a flying bullet. I lifted up my gun and aimed just below the head.  BOOM!

The shot echoed and the buck flips head over heels. The buck’s feet went up into the air and my dad and I started jumping up and down. The buck lay 20 yards below in a small ravine. My dad and I were so excited; I could not believe I shot a trophy buck. While I watched the buck lay there, my dad unloaded my gun and walked back to the truck to get his camera. As my dad reached the truck I saw the bucks head lift up, than it jumped to its feet running down hill. My dad and I tried to track him down. He was running like nothing had hit him. My dad and I were shocked. My dad looked at the deer through the binoculars and could see no visible wound. I could not describe my feelings as I watched the big buck run across the hill.  My dad said I had to of shot him in the antler. So my dad and I walked down to where I shot the buck. No sign of blood.

We got back into the truck shocked. Not talking, complete silence. I was sad but my dad told me it’s just an experience that I learned from. When you shoot game, go straight to it with your gun and make sure it’s dead. When we got back to camp we started heading up to the first area.

“DAD THERE’S A BUCK ON THAT RIDGE!”

I grabbed the binoculars and there stands broadside a 3-point buck.  I raised my gun and BOOM! The deer fell like a rock. I grabbed my gun and started to walk up the hill, my dad behind me.

On the ground lay a 3-point buck with one shot right in the lung. At that moment I was jumping with joy. I will never forget that day, I was pretty lucky. No one usually has two chances with two nice bucks in the same day.

In this hunt I learned two valuable lessons, one always go to your kill with your gun in hand and two don’t give up. Keep on trying – that’s what hunting is all about.

As I have grown up, my dad taught me how to hunt and fish. I am very interested in learning about the outdoors. I hope some day I will be able to teach my kids about the outdoors just like my dad did for me.