One Shot

The synonyms of innovation according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary are twofold. The first speaks to a new idea, method, device, or a novelty. The second refers to the introduction of something new. I am going to share a personal innovation that was definitely something new for me in many ways.

The November afternoon sun was high in the sky when my mom called out to me while I was practicing basketball on our outdoor court, “Hey, Katelin, do you want to go hunting?”

I yelled across the yard, “You mean tomorrow morning, before the sun comes up, like Dad does?” dreading the answer. Nope, she meant right now! We did buy a permit at our local Scheel’s a few days earlier for the youth hunt, so I really couldn’t refuse.

“I guess we could,” I said timidly. I had passed my Youth Gun Training Class with flying colors, and I was certified to hunt deer! Youth Season means you have to hunt with an adult, but you have only one gun between the two of you. So, we dressed up in orange and headed down the road for about a quarter of a mile to my Grandpa’s house for some hunting tips. When we pulled into the yard, he came outside and met us and chuckled when he saw us all dressed in orange.

He said, “What are you two up to?”

“We’re going deer hunting!” My mom and I exclaimed.

Grandpa asked, “Well, do you have a gun?”

“Well, no, but hopefully we could use yours,” I said sheepishly.

So, he went into the house and came out with his 12-gauge shotgun with a rifle barrel and a scope on it. Grandpa used to be an avid hunter but gave it up when he went “vegetable.” My Grandpa always has a funny way with words. Going “vegetable” was his way of saying he was a vegan. My mom would say that he reminded her of George Bush with his funny sayings and made up words. But the laugh was really on us because my mom and I were major rookies who had no idea what we were doing.

Grandpa proceeded to show us how to load the gun and gave us some very important tips on deer hunting. The most important one he said was that we should wait until the deer is broadside and aim just above the front leg. This will put the slug right through the heart and the deer will drop immediately with no suffering. Then, he sent us on our way.

We have a lot of hunting land to choose from, but my Uncle Jeremy told us that our plot across the lake has been very active with many animals all fall. On all our hunting sites we have huge deer stands that kind of look like supersized porta potties raised up on stilts.

We were in the “porta potty” for about 45 minutes, even though it felt like 3 hours, when all of a sudden, I saw something moving. The creatures were far away at first, but then two female deer came sauntering out into the darkening meadow. I elbowed my mom and exclaimed in a whisper, “Look! Mom! What do we do? Should I shoot?”

She whispered back, “That’s what we’re here for, right Kate?”

I was nervous and tried to stall as I asked her “Which one?”

She suggested the bigger one.

‘Dang it!’ I said to myself, I did not want to shoot a poor unsuspecting deer.

I slowly reached for the gun resting in its case on the floor as I recalled grandpa’s words, “Wait until the deer is broadside and aim above the front leg, Kate.”

I was holding the gun now and debating on if I really wanted to do this. I knew if I did the family would be amazed and proud of me, so I clicked the safety off. I saw the red side of the safety pointing out which meant the gun would fire if I pulled the trigger. I was already aiming at the larger doe and was locked in right above the front leg. I held my breath and pulled the trigger.

BANG! The poor deer dropped over immediately. Our ears were painfully ringing because we had not brought our ear protection! As soon as I pulled the trigger of the gun I began to feel sad. I saw how the one shot had gone right through that poor doe and I cried when I saw it laying there dead. I had never killed an animal until that moment!

My mom started to comfort me by explaining how it’s the circle of life and there is a large population of deer. She stated, “If we do not control the population of deer then it is more likely we might hit them with our cars or harm them in other ways.”

We got on the phone and called grandpa to come and help us with the deer. He was amazed at my marksmanship. In fact, we don’t know many people who have shot a deer through the heart. When we got back to grandpa’s, Uncle Jeremy helped us hang the deer in the barn and I helped with the butchering. Uncle Jeremy complimented me with a “Nice job, Kate.” Thanks to Facebook, many more people complimented me on my good hunting skills. This innovation was certainly a novelty for me.

I like deer sausage and deer sticks, but I don’t think I’ll be going deer hunting again anytime soon because I’ve “Been there! Done that! In one shot!”