Nebraskaland

58 Nebraskaland • October 2020 MIXED BAG TAKE 'EM HUNTING By Nebraska Hunters More than 2,175 people participated in last season's Take 'Em Hunting challenge. Here are a few of their stories, and we hope there are even more this year. Take 'Em Hunting is now open through May 31, 2021. Adam Guiffredo: It was my friend Trey's and my first time hunting. We were pretty nervous and excited. Trey wanted to be a part of the hunt, but wanted to see what it was like before he decided to hunt with his own tag. I decided to be the first one to try. It was an early Sunday morning and we decided to hunt Whitetail Wildlife Management Area south of Schuyler after a recent visit to scout. After waiting about four hours a small white-tailed buck approached the tree we were in. He had no clue we were there, and my heart was racing. I drew out my bow, and he came within 15 feet — perfectly broadside — and that's when I took my shot. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect and ethical kill. The deer barely made it 100 feet before falling over. When we field dressed him, the arrow had perfectly punctured both lungs and the heart. It was definitely an experience we'll never forget, and we'll definitely continue to hunt and spread the idea to others. William Miller: Dawn is a 54-year-old grandmother who took hunter safety 21 years ago with her son, Derek, but never hunted until this year when her son bought her a permit for Mother's Day. Dawn comes from a hunting family and married a hunter. Her husband of 35 years, her son who is now 33 and her 8-year-old grandson were with her when she took her first shot, ever. Aaron Donner: My co-worker Brandon Severson was telling me how he inherited his grandfather's Browning A-5 shotgun but had never been hunting before. We found some time to practice shooting blue rock and go over some gun safety pointers. We went on a weekend waterfowl hunt in north- central Nebraska, and there were a few mallards around. In between the flights, he said how he wished his grandfather was still here to tell about all the fun we had. I replied, "He's here with us now." Blaine Bader: My daughter, Sophia, didn't want her dad to go hunting alone, so she volunteered to come with me. She did a great job handling the doe bleat call. Although we did not harvest the big buck we were looking for, we had a nice time sitting quietly in the woods.{ Jessica Anthony: My daughter, Norah, is 11 and loves to hunt deer. I think she loves the quality time, watching wildlife and probably eating the snacks we pack. We aren't ready to let her shoot a rifle yet, but next year, we'll get her into a safety course and let her get her own permit. This year she used the peace and quiet to sneak in a nap on my shoulder.

• Cover