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A "Thanksgiving" Hunt

I hunt quite a lot by myself and at times it can be boring and even hard to get motivated, so last night I figured I'd try to get somebody to go since kill season just opened here. That's when I remembered a 11 year old kid from church that has ask me several times to go, but I've always put him off for some reason...

His story is a bit long but worth reading, so here goes...

This boy comes from a troubled home of drug abuse and neglect, but even far worse , molestation is in his past. His mother had 3 children with 3 different men and she is addicted to hard core drugs and went to Prison. By the age of 5 years old , he had already saw more than most of us see in a lifetime and none of it was good.... After being shuffled around in Foster homes for a couple years , a very generous Christain lady in our church adopted him. That's when his life began to turn around. He is 11 years old now and I've seen GREAT improvement in his outlook on life and hopes for the future because this lady gave him a second chance.

She has done an outstanding job of caring for him and raising him, but she is a single woman, so the boy has no father in his life. He has mentioned to me a couple times that he would like to go hunting or fishing sometime, but I was always just too busy to mess with a kid tagging along and in my way. My hunting and fishing is serious bussiness and I don't like somebody slowing me down or getting in my way, so I just didn't mess with calling him.

Well last night as I was leaving for the woods , for some reason I decided to call him. He answered the phone and I ask if he wanted to go tonight ? I got a giant "YES" !... This boy had never been to the woods and certainly never coon hunted. On the way to the timber I got the usual 100 questions about everything having to do with Coon Hunting. He borrowed some coveralls and a flashlight and away we went.

I explained to him to listen for a strike ( long bawls) and then a locate ( very loud long bawl) and then listen for the "chop" (tree bark). I don't believe I've ever seen anyone so excited to go hunting in my life.

Well , the 1st drop could not have went any better. It was a text book track that ran about 300 yards ( which I showed him on the Garmin) , then a big loud locate and steady chop.... It was a huge oak tree and I saw the coon immediately in the top, but I didn't say a word about it to the boy. He had a two cell flashlight and was shining all over trying to see but he couldn't see a thing, so I loaned him my spotlight and I heard him scream. " I see eyes up in the top, here he is ! "

Then a evil thought come to my mind. .

I calculated about where the coon would hit the ground and had him stand about 10 feet from it and hold Sambo's leash while I shoot the gun... hehe.

All I could see of the coon was a piece of neck, so I zero'ed in and pow.... As soon as I shot , I knew it was a big coon and he began to fall and WHOOP , he hit the ground right beside the waiting boy holding Sambo. Of course Sambo grabbed the coon and the boy let go and ran for the hills from all the commotion. I finally caught up with the boy about 75 yards and calmed him down. We both had a good belly laugh and he was stuttering like Mel Tillis. lol..

We made two more drops and treed what I believe was a slick tree and then we treed another single board coon and shot it out. By now the boy is really getting into it and loving it. On the last tree I noticed him shining his light on Sambo and just watching him tree as I shined for the coon above.... Then he told me that he didn't know a dog would do that , and that he was definately gonna get him a coon dog as soon as he turned 16 and could drive. Sambo has never got so much petting and lov'in in his whole life at the end of the night.

The botom line is that I'm glad I made that phone call and took him hunting. It could have been just another coon hunt for me alone , but instead I showed a kid what a good time really is and that not everybody in life is like the people in his past. It's almost Thanksgiving holiday and as I drove home last night, I was Thankfull for all the good times I've had in my life and how lucky I've been. I wasn't born in the terrible circumstances that this boy was born into and all I can say to that is " But for the Grace of God go I "....

I don't have a good picture but I did snap this with a phone. It's a blurry pic , but believe me when I tell you , this boy had a ball last night. Sorry for the long rambling post, but I thought it was well worth telling this Thanksgiving.

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Mark Reavis
Southwest Missouri
Dual Grand Champion Super Sambo

Good for you Mark. I believe this is about the best story I have ever read on here.

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Mike And Paula Pennington
613 N College Ave
Salem,IN 47167
812-883-6100

Thanks Paula. I'm not the most patient and best with kids, but this boy's life will make us all feel lucky for what we have in life. I'm glad I took him last night.

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Mark Reavis
Southwest Missouri
Dual Grand Champion Super Sambo

Awsome post buddy My wife has a good female friend and her boy is currently in Teen Challenge going through a Christain based drug rehab. He is 23 years old. This kid doesnt know this yet but when he gets through the year and out he and I are going to be coonhunting sober buddies and we will hit several hunts. Anything I can do to keep this kid off his drugs (he has the want to quit). His father has been on drugs for many years, so we took the boy in our home. I sure dont mind helping anyone who wants to help themselfs but wont do the opposite. Hats off to you Mark BUT now your going to have to take him again

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Tan
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NTCH ACHA WReserve Team Troubles Trippy
Black & Tan

that will have a positive impact on his life.you need to take him some more.you might end up with a good handler.

Great job, Mark! That's a night that he'll never forget!

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Home of:
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Brock Smith
H- 606-633-7730
C- 606-369-7317

Awesome story

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Brian Carter
828-442-8727

PKC Ch Southern Ruckus ( GrNt Midnight Crow X GrNt Tic Tac )
Solos Super Flo ( GrNt Solo x GrNt Midnight Monkey )
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GrNtGrCh Midnight Black Wind ( GrNt Fr8liner x GrNt Super Flo )

AWESOME!

God Bless you a million times over for that!

Have to say that this reminded me of SO MUCH stuff. Made me think about myself as a troubled girl at horse camp and the nice people who took me out coonhunting. Reminded me of Bob who Needed good people way worse than I did... who I met at that horse camp in 1973.... As I grew up and taught riding... I took many a kid under my wing...and Bob became a scout leader when his boys were scouts...
I was a fortunate kid, well off with 2 decent loving parents and fantastic friends... My folks taught me to CARE.... Bob had some good stuff in life but lots of bad but somewhere along the line he grew up to be better and more giving than I would EVER dream to be. Might have been one of those kind "Longshot" like men... or women who gave him the spark that you probably just gave that boy...cause someday that boy will probably do the same thing(it doesn't have to be the same exact way)...for someone who "needs" more than be does...

Hope that you have many more great hunts and quite a few with your new lil friend! May God Bless his life and his mother... always.
I just read the story to Bob and he loved it! Thumbs up from him to you. Makes your SOUL feel good doesn't it?
You will hold a special place in that boys life......

HappyHunting!!! Heather and Bob

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Home of the BIGCASTLEDAWGS
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/BIGCASTLEDAWGS/Websters%20First%20coon/IMG_0045.jpg

way to go Mark I think that is great

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GrNite 'PR' Timber Rattlin' Ash
Nite ch 'PR' Sweet Little Emma (rambler and ash)
GrNite Ch 'PR' Wheres Wally (rambler and ash )
Nite ch 'PR' C+N Sweet Little fatty(rambler and ash)
Nite ch 'PR'Northern Rebel High Strung Diva "co-owned with Jr Kingsley"

My my my,, what a thanksgiving you have and that young man is blessed to have someone like you to encourage him , keep it up. Thanks for sharing your happiness.

hey mark that is awesome man when i get back we will have to get together and i will bring my little hunting buddy. i was the same way mark but my son absolutly loves this coon hunting

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shawn stovall
wyandotte, ok
shawnstovall2001@yahoo.com
918-961-2434
Home to:
Pr S&J's Shack's Backwoods Patches (walker)
'PR' Stovall's Black Knight Wild Willy
Past Home to:
dual grand stovall's black knight george (gone but not forgotten)
pr D&S' black little luke (1st and 3rd place wins) (davis black luke x paynes black june) gone but not forgotten
Dual Grand Davis' black hutch (gone but not forgotten)

HEY MARK

YOUR AN AWSOME PERSON ! YA KNOW,,,GOD PUT THAT YOUNG MAN IN YOUR PATHWAY,AND IL ALMOST BET THERE WILL BE SOME MORE HUNTS WITH THIS YOUNGMAN..WE KNOW GODS GOOD AND WORKS WONDERS IN OUR LIVES ,,,HE JUST DID ONE OF THOSE WONDERS FOR YOU ,HOW CAN ANY PERSON NOT BELIEVE THERES NOT A GOD..HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVIN ,,MR MARK ,,,FROM THE RIVERBOTTOM,,,RON YOUR BROTHER IB CHRIST!!! THESE ARE THE KINDA STORYS I LIKE TO READ ON HERE

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RON MAGGART FIELDON ILLINOIS
{TEAM BIBLE THUMPER}
ALWAYS REMEMBER GOD GAVE US FRIENDS AND COONHOUNDS, " I AM A GREATLY BLESSED",HIGHLY FAVORED" " IMPERFECT BUT FORGIVEN CHILD OF GOD "KEEP YOUR {FAITH IN GOD } FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE,BELIEVES THE INCREDIBLE,AND RECIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE. WERE BLESSED !!

Yep, I'm sure we'll be going again. He is purdy handy for toting coons out of the woods and he likes to do it. ... Well behaved and good boy.

I just don't see how grown people can take advantage , abuse, and molest kids. Those same grown people are real lucky that their justice is not up to me to decide.

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Mark Reavis
Southwest Missouri
Dual Grand Champion Super Sambo

Amen to that.
some folks shouldn't be allowed to walk Gods green earth!

Good Job ..Mark,,

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CH GRNITECH STAR HILL RAGIN BLACK JUDGE
(GRNTCH THUNDER VALLEY RAGIN OX x GRNTCH KY RIVER CHIGGER)
STAR HILL RAGIN BLK JUDGE II
(CH GRNTCH STAR HILL RAGIN BLACK JUDGE x Ch NTCH Lil PUke)

Frank & Lisa Yates
RAYWICK KY
270-692-6713

Now that's what it's all about folks. Forget all the competition side of things. When you take a kid on his first hunt it is a priceless thing to them no matter how well the dogs do. I'm glad there are still people in this troubled world who care enough to do things like this.
Mark may God bless u for this act of kindness. Happy thanksgiving to all.

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Night Owl Kennels

Owned and Operated by:

Bill Tobin
334 338 1140

Home of:
Nitech Grch. Pr' Grimes Black Heart Tara HTX (Luke x Mandy)
2013 Ch female Luther Maddox Memorial Shriner's Benefit Hunt
2013 queen of show Indian Creek CHA Sectional

Nitech Grch Pr' Black Bob HTX (Warrior x Tara)
1 win toward Grnitech
2 other Nitech cast wins
3 htx pass
1 water race win
2013 Grch male Luther Maddox Memorial Shriner's Benefit Hunt
2012 King of Show Summersville Sectional
2011 King of Show Bonnieville Sectional
2011 GrCh Male Elizabethtown Sectional
2010 CH. Male Cecilia Sectional

Pr' Tobin's Black Heart Jet (Shine x Tara)
2 wins toward CH
1 HTX pass
Alabama Showdown Treeing contest winner

Ch. Pr' Tobin's Night Owl Rosco
4 wins toward Grch

That was a great read, Mark. That's really what it's all about ain't it? Warns you to the core.

Sittin here at work, A Grown Man holdin bak tears, all choked up, That is the the BEST story on here I've ever heard!! God Bless ya!
Keep him in the Woods!
Larry

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HURRICANE KIBLER'S ANNIE (Sire 6 gun Albert)

"There comes a time when we have to let someone in our tight knit circle...and the rewards can be great" Most of us coon hunters are a lonesome type. My neighbor was so much so like that. I was blessed that he did the same thing with me 35 years ago.

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Carpe Nocturnum-Seize the night!