From One Young Hunter To Another
By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer
Young archer takes his first buck
Matthew Sekerak, of Helena, is shown here after taking his first buck during Montana's bow hunting season. Sekerak completed Bow Hunters Education class last May
Giving up is not an option if you’re going to be a good hunter, Matthew Sekerak, a 12-year old in Helena who just took his first buck with a bow and arrow, advises other young hunters.
Sekerak was humble about his success when he was asked for his advice. He credited family friends who set up a blind in a "really good spot" and who helped him track the buck. Credit, he said, also goes to his dad, who has taken him on numerous outdoor trips; to his hunter education instructors; and to hard work.
Matthew completed his bow-education class this May, but he already had years of practice with a bow before taking his first buck this fall. He prepared for and took first place in a local 4-H archery tournament in 2000, and learned from experience that practice broad heads are different to shoot than field points.
"It is really important to practice shooting under different conditions and know your limitations so you don’t attempt to make shots you can’t do very good on when you’re in the field," he advised.
Matthew’s dad took him turkey hunting in Texas when he was 10, legal age there.
He described it as a grueling experience that taught him hunting involves a lot of sitting.
"You can’t just zone off, you have to pay attention all the time and not get discouraged or give up," he said.
Matthew also praised Montana’s hunter education program for preparing him overall, and said he found the training on tracking especially useful.
"We had to track my deer for eight hours, five in the daylight and three by flashlight," he said. "I made a good shot, but it was a few inches off. The buck disappeared over a hill. You really have to be persistent then, and it was a big help to know how to look for a blood trail and track a deer."
"Reading doesn’t do hunting justice, but you can learn a lot of useful things by reading the hunter’s education book and magazines like Field & Stream," he said.
"Dad and I did most of my practice and preparing together, and that was a special thing for me," Matthew said.
Suggestions he had for other beginning hunters included hiking with your pack full until it feels light to you, getting a good pair of binoculars, a range finder is really helpful and don’t forget to break your boots in if they are new.
"Some people might have given up on tracking my buck and just thought ’oh, well,’ but I don’t believe it is right to give up," he said. "I was totally excited about the horns on that deer, but we hunt for the meat and we don’t believe it is right to let it go to waste. That is what they taught us in hunter education too."
Montana’s hunter education classes are administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and taught by nearly 1,500 volunteer instructors who reach nearly 9,500 young hunters-to-be each year.
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