Well Gentlemen, if you headed out to your local sporting good store and purchased a gun when you found out the Lord was going to be sending you a “Little Boy Bundle of Joy” and then the Stork flew you in a “Little Princess” instead…well you just might want to rethink sending that gun back. My good friends, Mark Magee, Pete Weaver, and Matt Vickery have quite a story that might save you the trip back to the store. These guys have been friends for 20 plus years.
Well November 13th 2010, Maryland’s Youth Hunt arrived and proud fathers across the state lead their youth hunters out into the field in a hunting world made up of mostly men. Well there were no young men in this Howard County Camp, these fathers were taking out their Little…Oh no, I dare not call them Princesses…they took out their Hardcore Hunting Partners out with them into the field, primed and excited for a day of hunting with their dads. This was certainly not your typical camp; not because they were all young lady hunters, it was because of the huge unbelievable success that would soon follow.
Now before we head into the woods here I want you to stop and really think about all the years we have all logged in hunting, think back on previous hunts in your camps and try to recall how many youths in camp were successful in just one day. Personally if one of the youths in camp scored on a buck, that was a great and special day, and if you threw in a couple does for the other youths, well that day ranked right up there in the GREAT DAY CATEGORY.
Well after hearing this story, I don’t know where this day sits because this one is pretty much off the chart.
Savannah Vickery, Madison Weaver, Megan Weaver and Brittney Magee all head out into the field with friends, fathers, and grandfathers. The girls had been practicing for this day, they did their homework, sited in their guns, checked and stowed their equipment and prepared diligently for this day. I saw Brittney several weeks prior to the youth day at the range with her father Mark. Brittney sent numerous rounds down range that day making sure she was ready for the action. These girls were definitely “In It to Win It”. Savannah was no stranger to the field; she had already previously taken 5 deer in 5 shots through her early youth hunting life. Brittney also had some nice notches in her belt as well.
Well as gray silhouettes took to color, the girls took to action, and Hunting Magic rang though their Howard County camp. All four girls scored huge this day. Matt Vickery said, “It was Just a Wonderful Day to be Alive”. Each girl took a beautiful buck, a trophy that will be remembered for a lifetime and a day that will be relived through numerous lifetimes, through child, father, and grandfather.
Matt detailed his daughter’s success story. When her buck came to call, Matt was instructing her while watching the buck through his binoculars. Matt said he was kind of scolding her as she was trying to line up on the deer, worried because the buck was quickly leaving behind the shot opportunity and as Matt was telling her to get on the deer, crack shot Savannah closed out the noise, quietly took aim and squeezed off the trigger, sending another kill shot down range (Now 6 for 6). Matt said as he was gently barking out orders the crack of gunfire surprised him, and he nearly threw the binoculars 100 yards up into the air at the time of the shot. Like Matt said “Just a Wonderful Day to be Alive”. Both waited hours to retrieve their trophy and heard the sounds of gunfire coming from different direction on the farm, wondering if their friends and family were sharing in the same type of Joy. The anticipation was tough to sit through but they wanted to give the deer due time and did not want to disrupt any other hunters.
Well the anticipation turned into rejoicing, each girl described their success to their friends and family at camp. The cameras were filled with smiles, trophies, and if you look close you might see a wiped away tear. Great job girls, and great job to the fathers, friends, and grandfathers that made this day happen. What a day!! Oh and by the way girls, you have made a tough season successful for a lot of us other unsuccessful hunters. We’ll be looking forward to a day like yours, Great Job!
Brittney Magee
Brittney was accompanied by her father Mark. Brittney past up basket eights before this one stepped out, already into “QDM” quality deer management. Brittney your are a Quality Lady!!!
Madison Weaver sat with her father Pete
Nice Job Madison!!
What a Bruiser
Super buck by Megan Weaver who was accompanied by family friend Tony. Great job Megan
Savannah Vickery pictured with her Grandaddy “Duke”. Savannah was sitting on stand with her father Matt Vickery. What a “Wonderful day to be alive”
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Outdoorguru
Jay Schline
Click on any of the Photos to see enlargement!
Thats a great day for sure – no doubt about it! Congrats to all the girls and their families.
Well said Jay. I look forward to reading more of your articles.