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deer, a new record. For to nature. It is an escape from
these people, hunting is a tra- the world. I have now harvested
dition; it’s a heritage built on my own deer, and I can remem-
skill, memories and love for the ber stories from each one.
land. However, what I remember
To be a good hunter, you must most is being there with family,
understand the skill. First, an whether it was my dad, papa or
Oklahoma Hunter Education sisters. Hunting is a tradition for
course is required. Safety is the our family – a true heritage.
number one factor to a suc- Finally, hunting is about loving
cessful hunt. “Over the past 40 the land. We should take care
years, hunting-related accidents of our resources, and hunting is
and fatalities have declined by one way to do that. The Okla-
more than 70 percent in Okla- homa Department of Wildlife
homa” (Oklahoma Department provides a lot of information
of Wildlife, 2024). about wildlife conservation and
This is the importance of hunting. By
largely harvesting deer the right way,
due to we are helping both “protect
Junior Division Girl these re- and enhance” our resources
quired courses. (Oklahoma Department of Wild-
Grade: 8 Teacher: Travis Bradshaw Aside from life, 2024).
Age: 13 School: Elgin MS learning how to According to Google’s English
correctly handle a dictionary, heritage means an
firearm, hunters must under- inheritance, something passed
Hunting Sharing the stand wildlife and how they live. on. When I think about the her-
For example, deer have strong itage of hunting, I think about
Heritage : sight and smell, so you must be skill, memories and love for the
I very still and wear no scent land. To be a successful hunter,
when hunting.
you need both skill and a desire
If you are a hunter, there are Coming from a family of avid to take care of the land. Howev-
certain sounds and sights that deer hunters, there was no er, memories are the most im-
need no explanation. The question I would become a part portant. Heritage is about pass-
crackle of leaves under their of this heritage. I started hunt- ing our love of hunting on to the
feet as they walk, the flicker of ing long before I was able to next generation. I am thankful
a whitetail off in the distance, harvest my own animal. My dad my family has passed it on to
and the snort of a doe nearby – began taking me with him when me, and I look forward to pass-
if you know, then you know. All I was very young. I will always ing it on to my 2-year-old niece.
of these bring excitement to the cherish the memories made Soon enough, she will hear the
deer hunter. According to the with my dad and papa while in crackle of leaves, see the flicker
Oklahoma Department of Wild- the tree stand. of a whitetail, and hear the
life, for the 2022-2023 season, There is nothing like watching snort of a doe nearby – and
hunters reported taking 134,158
the sun come up and listening then, she will know.
