I began deer hunting with noone to teach me. I became interested in hunting by reading magazines and hearing stories about my uncle who used to hunt mule deer in New Mexico. I finally received a gun around my 18th birthday and began to hunt shortly thereafter. I hunted 3 seasons on public land in Virginia and did not even get a shot at a deer. My junior year in college I met a guy who I am still friends with today. He invited me up to hunt with him on his family's land about 3 hours north of our college. I travelled up with him and hunted opening day in 1995 I believe.

I got situated in an old wooden tree stand his father had built about 30 minutes before sun-up on opening morning in 1995. About 5 minutes after sun-up I see a deer coming toward me! I had not killed a deer since I began hunting 3 years prior. I had rarely even seen a deer. I had probably only seen less than 5 deer in that time period. Then I see antlers! Oh my goodness. It was like a magical beast. I waited til he stopped then I shot.....he was down! I waited a bit then go down to inspect my kill. He was a beautiful 3 point buck! I was so happy I could not stand it. I did not even know how to field dress the buck. My buddy had to show me. And the kicker. I climbed an old pine tree later that day and killed another buck about 1 hour before sunset...a sweet little 5 pointer. So I went home that day with two bucks in the back of my truck. The memory of that day will last forever.