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2022 CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION

“WHAT I SAW NEXT BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each year, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari Club Interna-
tional sponsor a creative writing competition for middle and high school students. A boy and a girl from two age divisions are selected
winners. Students write essays using the theme “Hunting: Sharing the Heritage” or “Archery: What I Like About Archery in the Schools
and Bowhunting.” Winners in the age 15-17 category receive a guided antelope hunt in the Texas Panhandle, and winners in the 11-14
age category receive a hunting trip with Rack Attack Outfitters of Fairview (or similar) and a scholarship to the Outdoor Texas Camp. In
this issue, Outdoor Oklahoma honors senior category male winner Aaron Chesnut, 16, from Rush Springs High Schools

By Aaron Chesnut 100 yards away, and I pulled the trigger.
It all started in 2017 when I finally was able About 30 minutes later, we climbed down
to convince my father to take me deer hunt- and began to search for blood where he

ing. I remember seeing pictures of my cousins had been standing. We looked for a good
and uncle with their big bucks, and I knew 30 minutes in that area, and we started to
immediately that I wanted to shoot one of get doubtful. I remember dad still standing
my own. We have trained bird dogs and bird there with the flashlight looking for blood
hunted for as long as I can remember, but as I walked into the trees where I had seen
that was all we did. That was all Dad and my him enter the woods. I walked for another 10
grandfather had ever done, and they were yards and what I saw next brought tears to

satisfied with that, so they naturally leaned my eyes and joy to my heart. I saw the deer
more toward bird hunting rather than deer draped over a log with its head propped up
hunting. I finally told on a branch. I quickly called Dad over, and we
I walked for another 10 Dad that I was going dragged him out of the woods so we could
yards and what I saw next to ask my uncle to see him better. Upon further examination,
take me, which got we determined that this was not just any
brought tears to my eyes
Dad’s attention and buck, but this was a nontypical buck with 19
and joy to my heart. instead (he would) points. All I remember was Dad hugging me
take me. and telling me how proud he was of me. I am

Later on opening day of rifle season, Dad reminded of that night every time I walk in the
and I were sitting in our stand at the back door and see the buck on the wall.
of our property. We watched a few does Ever since then, I was different. Dad and
move through for about two and a half I would go hunting every chance we got.
hours before any real activity took place. All Before I had only gone duck hunting when it
of a sudden, the does eating at the feeder was not too cold. Even when I did go, I would
were spooked and took off into the trees at not really hunt. I would always pet the dog

the opposite end of the field. Not a minute and blow my call annoyingly. Now, I assist in
later, a buck comes running out of the trees training our dogs and want to pursue wildlife
and up the tree line. I was 11 years old, so ecology as a career.
I could not tell if his rack was amazing or It is safe to say that hunting and the mem-
not, I just wanted to take him down. He ories provided have changed my life and
stopped, turned perfectly broadside about brought my family closer together.

8 OFF THE BEATEN PATH