(This article was written by Devin Smith from Wichita Falls, Texas.  I just had to share this story with those who haven't read it.) 

This last weekend marked my oldest son Blaine’s 4th and last Challenged Youth Hunt at the Faulkner Family Ranch. Usually kids are allowed to attend for 3 years, however since Blaine did not get a deer his first year, he was allowed to return for a 4th.

Obviously, this hunt is one that’s grown to mean a lot to our entire family….. but, the look in Blaine’s eye at the mention of the Faulkner is something to behold. It’s awesome to see his eye’s light up when we meet another hunter and Blaine gets the chance to show them his pictures from Faulkner’s that he carries with him at all times.

Please do forgive my lack of pixels from the weekend as the weather kept me from keeping my camera close at hand.

Saturday evening found all of us crunched into a blind overlooking a feeder in the Donna Pasture. Within minutes of Shane (our group guide) letting us off, we had deer heading into the feeder setup. The first group of bucks included an amazing 10 pt. However, the deer didn’t stay around long and decide to depart. We were all disgusted, but optimistic with plenty of time left for more action.

The wait for the next action was a little longer than anticipated. However, Blaine was ever the optimist and showed a great amount of patience. Finally, during the last hour of light a group of 4 does showed up, followed closely by an axis buck in velvet. After watching them feed for a few minutes, PaPa spotted a couple of whitetail bucks sneaking in. The last buck was definitely a shooter and given the spookiness of the rest of the animals, Blaine was not one to waist any time. He exclaimed that the last one was the buck for him and he was ready to shoot.

He was obviously a mature buck (later aged @ 6.5) and a definite trophy. Within seconds of arriving, he surmised something was amiss and headed to the edge of the brush. While PaPa was not quite ready with the video camera, Blaine & I didn’t want to take the chance of him getting away this late in the hunt. With the buck on the edge of the brush and about to bolt any moment, Blaine made a perfect shot behind the shoulder with his .308 and the buck was down within 40 yards. A quick radio to Shane and the celebration was on.

The brute had over 6-1/2" bases and tipped the scales @ 148#'s dressed. He was the second largest rack and bodied deer killed. We couldn't have dreamed up a better buck for Blaine's final Faulkner hunt.

Once back at HQ, we get to see all the other successful hunters. It's always a site to behold as the hunters shine with pride pointing out their bucks and recapping their evening's hunt. Everyone's grinning from ear to ear.

It's usually at this time that you realize what people like Royce Faulkner and Shorty Powers want you to realize, these aren't handicapped kids. They're simply hunters like the rest of us. Hunters who have the ability through their disability to make all the efforts of land owners, volunteers and parents seem trivial to the gift they receive in return. The gift of getting to experience these amazing young hunters overcome incredible obstacles that many of us take for granted to be succesful in the field. It reminds me of a time not long after Blaine was diagnosed with DMD at the age of 4, when I met a man that had a son with Downs Syndrome that told me that while he wished nothing more than for his son to be healthy, if he was able to go back and change his family’s experience he wouldn’t change a single thing. Similarly, several years ago Casey told me that he believed God gives special kids like Blaine as a blessing for their families. At those times and for a long time after, my anger and fear of what the future held for us kept me from realizing many things. While I’m not claiming to understand God’s plan for Blaine and our family, I can say that I do now realize how blessed we actually are. Weekends like this, experienced with so many amazing kids, reminds me that they’re not the one’s that need pity. Its families that don’t get to experience these special kids that are the unfortunate ones.

As I said earlier, this weekend is simply unbelievable and difficult to attempt to put into words. The generosity of the Faulkner Family is astonishing. Allowing these kids to not only have a glimpse of what it’s like to be successful despite any and all obstacles, but also to take once-in-a-lifetime animals is the epitome of unselfishness. Words cannot thank you enough, Donna & Royce.

Experiencing the efforts of 25 or more volunteers to insure that 15 challenged kids and their families have the time of their lifes really makes you humble. Thank you to the TYHP (TWA) and especially Shorty Powers and Turning P.O.I.N.T. for everything they do to make this an amazing weekend for the hunters and family. If any of you know of a challenged individual, make sure and tell them about Turning P.O.I.N.T.... and even do like Billy stopping stangers at gas stations to spread the word.

Lastly, I’d like to give thanks to Billy Gardner (Huntmaster) for everything he’s done for my boys and me. I’d have never known about POINT or Faulkners or any of the countless hunting opportunites for challenged youth had it not been for him. Not only has he given Blaine and us unbelievable hunts at incredible ranch's, but also for opening his house and his own property to us without any thought of compensation. While I can’t thank you enough, Billy, I can say that you are an inspiration. I hope to some day be a tenth of the hunting ambassador you are.

Images and Files: View all 9 photos / videos here.