The Stand of His Own Making
It is a bittersweet feeling when your son is old enough to venture into the woods on his own—the satisfying knowledge that you’ve done well as a mentor, mingled with the quiet sadness that they no longer need you, at least not in the same way. I first felt this two seasons ago when Austin took a couple of morning sits on one of our small, private pieces. I loved getting those text updates throughout the morning, even if nothing offered a shot. That independence was put on hold in 2024. My son was fully immersed in paramedic class, leaving him no time for the woods. We hunted once during rifle season, and he helped in retrieving my 10-pointer, which we skinned and quartered for the cooler. Since he graduated in April, this season has been wide open, and the anticipation has been building. Our season began in earnest on November 7th, right after I helped a friend haul out a giant from nearby public land. Austin positioned himself at a key intersection of terrain, and I settled in at a we...