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Connor and I started our outdoorsman journey about 7 years ago. I never went hunting as a child or an adult until Connor began to show some interest. I shot my first deer with him 3 years ago and I got to be with him when he shot his first.

Connor disciplined himself from age five to shoot his BB gun with
sights and then a scope, all in preparation for that one great shot.
He practiced in the garage when it was to cold to go outside and in the heat of the summer outside.

Finally this was Connor’s day, another father from church took us to a place he knew deer where plentiful all for the sole purpose of rewarding Connor for his faithful practice.

Every year, when each girl turned 5, they began their journey with their Dad and Grandpa by first learning to scout the land. When each girl turned 6 years old, they were able to go out on opening day with Dad and Grandpa. So each year for the past 6 years, he has taken one or two of the girls with them. This past year has been a challenge for Grandpa and his health. Within one year’s time he has survived a dissected aorta as well as a quadruple bypass surgery. This was a year to celebrate and embrace together.

My wife and I have been deer hunting together for 18 years, and ever since our first child was born I have dreamed of taking him hunting. Well, now we have three boys, ages 14, 12, 8, and we all love to hunt. This is a dads dream come true! Each year several weeks before archery season opens here in MO we start scouting and discussing where we are going to hang stands for deer season.

After careful thought we set out to prepare the ambush. If you haven’t done the math, there are five of us. That means at least five stands, five bows, five guns, five tags, well you get the idea. Deer season is a lot of work, and I love every minute of it. There is just something about being out in the woods with my family that brings us closer. I was always a die hard hunter when I was younger, but hunting is different now. It’s not about me any more, it’s about us. So, here is the story of my wife’s monster buck.

Anyways…I was out hunting and my 10-year old daughter who loves to come with me. She wants to hunt when she is older, but for now is content to sit next to me and watch.

Last year I managed to shoot a 5 — point buck with her sitting next to me. She was so excited and the deer dropped only about 75 yards away.

I gutted the deer and she helped me to drag it out of the woods and carry my gear as I was seating quite a bit. She couldn’t wait for me to cut some of meat up so she could have her venison meal.

As Big Buck King, Mark will receive the very cool Zipper knife made possible in part by the good folks at Buck Knives as well as some great products donated by Cabela's.

Remember: there's always next year...probably.