11-year-old Trevor Staggs of West Portsmouth with the prize from his first hunt.

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By BOB STRICKLEY

PDT Sports Editor

When Mark Emmons took his grandson Trevor Staggs out for his first hunt, he expected the 11-year-old from West Portsmouth to have the expected learning curve a first-timer. Instead, Trevor brought down his first buck with the accuracy of a seasoned veteran last Saturday.

“We got up at 5 a.m. and it was 23 degrees out and I helped him get on his cold weather gear and we headed out towards Northwest High School,” Emmons said. “Once we got to a good spot we used the safety rope to get up to his stand and I got into mine.”

The hunters rattled and grunted and brought a buck into sight after a couple hours in their stands.

“He came in and was out 100 yards and I told Trevor we could get him closer but Trevor had the gun cocked and took the shot right then and there,” Emmons said.

Using a Thompson .50 caliber with a 3/9 scope Trevor took down his first buck at 9:30 a.m.

“If you put an X on where you would want to hit the deer, that’s where he hit it,” Emmons said. “The deer spun around and ran about 75 yards before it went down.”

It was a meaningful day in the woods for the grandfather and grandson as Trevor’s dad brough down a buck on his first hunt when he was 11-years-old as well.

“This was special for him and was very special for me,” Emmons said.

BOB STRICKLEY may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 203, or bstrickley@heartlandpublications.com.