The Homecoming Buck
OL's Hunting Editor Andrew McKean returns to his Missouri family farm for a farewell to his childhood home and his late father. He came away with the best buck of his life.
OL’s Hunting Editor Andrew McKean returned to his Missouri family farm in November for a farewell to his childhood home and his late father. He couldn’t know that he’d come away with the best buck of his life, and a tale for the ages. AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENTAdvertisement |
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Comments (26)
What a great story. The emotion of a father passed away and a farm about to pass also, is incredible. The deer is a great animal, but the hunt is what it is all about. Non-hunters will never understand why we do what we do. Such is their loss.
Great Deer! Why are you saying farewell to your childhood home?
Great Deer! Why are you farewell to your childhood home?
All, thanks so much for your comments, and for adding to what's been an amazing story. I wanted to give you an update on one of the "characters" in this story. It's Mark Copenhaver, my Montana friend who shot that great 4x4 on my family farm and who is pictured in this gallery. His own father passed away on Jan. 1, after a short and unexpected illness.
After Mark and I drove back to Montana, he returned to his own family farm and hunted for a day with his father. As he told me the other day, that trip to Missouri and seeing me walk in my father's footsteps and hunt in his memory prompted him to hunt with his own father. He couldn't know at the time that it would be their last hunt.
Jerry Copenhaver's funeral is Wednesday at 11 a.m. in his hometown of Rudyard, Montana.
Andrew McKean
Hunting Editor
Best story I've ever read, no exaggeration. Your father truly lead you to that buck and harvesting an animal with your fathers favorite rifle where you grew up in the same spot where he said the big boys would be. That's a beautiful story.
Thanks for bringing us there with you. I could feel the cold from the belly crawl and the warmth from the experience. You are a good man.
Great buck and even better story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
The best story I have ever read on Outdoor Life.com. I felt so connected with all of it. When my father passed away unexpectedly I too now have very emotional hunts. The memories hunting with my dad provided were awesome and I am so very happy you shared this one with us. Great story and may God Bless you.
Merry Christmas!Very nice buck & a touching story.I my opinion if you can keep the farm & don't your nuts.
This story hits home. My dad and I hunted for years on my Grandpa's farm in northern Missouri. My dad passed away when I was in high school, but I kept going. My Grandpa decided to sell his farm this past spring. We knew it was in the works, so I took dad's trusty .243 and shot a doe off the old farm. It wasn't a monster buck or any great story to tell, just a good memory for me.
Thank you for this post...this is what hunting is supposed to be about...not B&C scores and junk.
Great deer and good account of how it happened. Fathers passing on hunting wisdom is how it should be.
Andrew great deer.
A bond between a hunting Dad and son is very strong and it's obvious you two were and still extremely close. Congrats on all accounts and fantastic buck!
Very moving story--
Nothing I can add
all choked up.
later,
charlie
Andrew. This is an awesome story! What a great way to honor the memories of your Father.
Andrew,
Thank you sharing the story of this hunt. We all feel a mix of emotions while reading this tale, and I'm sure it was bittersweet for you to write it down.
Mulybux has it right...your father is certainly proud of the son he raised.
Andrew, your father raised a quality hunter, exceptional father and great man. You should be very proud of where you came from, your family and friends, as well as where you are going. We share many things but this singular common thread will bond us for the rest of our lives.......it's about the pursuit, not the result. Though I must admit over the years the results have been spectacular! Thanks for sharing your journey home and your emotions with us all! We all need to remember that our lives are shaped by those around us, by those we hold close, by our experiences and the love and admiration we share for one another. I couldn't be happier for you! Rest in Peace Mike, your son is a great young man!
Awesome deer!
Amazing story. As a first time hunter, I just had the pleasure of harvesting my first deer. It was literally the best feeling i've ever had in my life. This story is beautiful and makes me wish that I had a childhood place to still call home. I cant wait to continue my hunting endevous and someday have a hunting family who can have land to call their own.
Very very good article Andrew. I am sorry to hear about your loss. He was with you every inch of the way, by the way awesome buck!
Louie
Wish I could write half as well as you do...one of the best articles that I've read. Great pictures too. :)
Man I got chills reading this story. Your father definately guided you to that buck. You are a stand up guy and many other hunters should look up to you congrats!! Gripnrip
great buck, and your friend mark's deer is a good buck also.Great story.
Exceptional story and a great lesson as to the importance of getting younger generations into hunting and the outdoors.
I`ll have to say my opinion this is the best post I had the pleasure to read. Pretty amazing how your father new right where to tell you where to look for the big boy in the future & on your last time there sounded like you where spirituality connected to the land because how you visited your old hunting spots. Then it all turned out like your father sat there & imagined many times how it would be. I'm glad to see you honor the buck with your tears seems to me like your dad & the man above asked the buck to sacrifice his self for your healing process of loosing your father. Its no doubt he was there with you evrey inch of the hunt because I think it was his way to let you know that he is still with you spirituality & hes waiting to bump into you again threw the circle of life & beyond . "DJH" bows his head in respects
andrew thats a great buck young man way to go!
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I`ll have to say my opinion this is the best post I had the pleasure to read. Pretty amazing how your father new right where to tell you where to look for the big boy in the future & on your last time there sounded like you where spirituality connected to the land because how you visited your old hunting spots. Then it all turned out like your father sat there & imagined many times how it would be. I'm glad to see you honor the buck with your tears seems to me like your dad & the man above asked the buck to sacrifice his self for your healing process of loosing your father. Its no doubt he was there with you evrey inch of the hunt because I think it was his way to let you know that he is still with you spirituality & hes waiting to bump into you again threw the circle of life & beyond . "DJH" bows his head in respects
great buck, and your friend mark's deer is a good buck also.Great story.
Man I got chills reading this story. Your father definately guided you to that buck. You are a stand up guy and many other hunters should look up to you congrats!! Gripnrip
Wish I could write half as well as you do...one of the best articles that I've read. Great pictures too. :)
Very very good article Andrew. I am sorry to hear about your loss. He was with you every inch of the way, by the way awesome buck!
Louie
Amazing story. As a first time hunter, I just had the pleasure of harvesting my first deer. It was literally the best feeling i've ever had in my life. This story is beautiful and makes me wish that I had a childhood place to still call home. I cant wait to continue my hunting endevous and someday have a hunting family who can have land to call their own.
Andrew, your father raised a quality hunter, exceptional father and great man. You should be very proud of where you came from, your family and friends, as well as where you are going. We share many things but this singular common thread will bond us for the rest of our lives.......it's about the pursuit, not the result. Though I must admit over the years the results have been spectacular! Thanks for sharing your journey home and your emotions with us all! We all need to remember that our lives are shaped by those around us, by those we hold close, by our experiences and the love and admiration we share for one another. I couldn't be happier for you! Rest in Peace Mike, your son is a great young man!
Andrew,
Thank you sharing the story of this hunt. We all feel a mix of emotions while reading this tale, and I'm sure it was bittersweet for you to write it down.
Mulybux has it right...your father is certainly proud of the son he raised.
Andrew. This is an awesome story! What a great way to honor the memories of your Father.
Very moving story--
Nothing I can add
all choked up.
later,
charlie
A bond between a hunting Dad and son is very strong and it's obvious you two were and still extremely close. Congrats on all accounts and fantastic buck!
Great deer and good account of how it happened. Fathers passing on hunting wisdom is how it should be.
andrew thats a great buck young man way to go!
Exceptional story and a great lesson as to the importance of getting younger generations into hunting and the outdoors.
Awesome deer!
Andrew great deer.
This story hits home. My dad and I hunted for years on my Grandpa's farm in northern Missouri. My dad passed away when I was in high school, but I kept going. My Grandpa decided to sell his farm this past spring. We knew it was in the works, so I took dad's trusty .243 and shot a doe off the old farm. It wasn't a monster buck or any great story to tell, just a good memory for me.
Thank you for this post...this is what hunting is supposed to be about...not B&C scores and junk.
Merry Christmas!Very nice buck & a touching story.I my opinion if you can keep the farm & don't your nuts.
The best story I have ever read on Outdoor Life.com. I felt so connected with all of it. When my father passed away unexpectedly I too now have very emotional hunts. The memories hunting with my dad provided were awesome and I am so very happy you shared this one with us. Great story and may God Bless you.
Great buck and even better story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thanks for bringing us there with you. I could feel the cold from the belly crawl and the warmth from the experience. You are a good man.
Best story I've ever read, no exaggeration. Your father truly lead you to that buck and harvesting an animal with your fathers favorite rifle where you grew up in the same spot where he said the big boys would be. That's a beautiful story.
All, thanks so much for your comments, and for adding to what's been an amazing story. I wanted to give you an update on one of the "characters" in this story. It's Mark Copenhaver, my Montana friend who shot that great 4x4 on my family farm and who is pictured in this gallery. His own father passed away on Jan. 1, after a short and unexpected illness.
After Mark and I drove back to Montana, he returned to his own family farm and hunted for a day with his father. As he told me the other day, that trip to Missouri and seeing me walk in my father's footsteps and hunt in his memory prompted him to hunt with his own father. He couldn't know at the time that it would be their last hunt.
Jerry Copenhaver's funeral is Wednesday at 11 a.m. in his hometown of Rudyard, Montana.
Andrew McKean
Hunting Editor
Great Deer! Why are you farewell to your childhood home?
Great Deer! Why are you saying farewell to your childhood home?
What a great story. The emotion of a father passed away and a farm about to pass also, is incredible. The deer is a great animal, but the hunt is what it is all about. Non-hunters will never understand why we do what we do. Such is their loss.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)