NEW GLARUS - You won't find 12-year-old Brett Grinder playing a lot of video games or watching mind-numbing sitcoms in his free time. Not if Grandpa Steve Grinder and Stepfather Matt Sarbacker can help it.
When not at a Sarbacker relative's farm near Forward, the youngster spends much of his free time hanging out at the Grinder home farm south of Mount Horeb. Already an accomplished fisher and a fall 2007 graduate of the Hunter Education Program, Brett recently shot his first white-tailed deer on his grandpa's farm.
Brett also caught a 42-inch northern pike while on a combined bear hunting and fishing trip to Canada this past summer.
"We didn't get a bear, but we saw one - and a lynx and a moose," Brett said.
"He can't wait to get out to the farm on weekends," said his mom, Sarah. "Instead of sitting around in front of a TV screen, I would much rather see him out in the woods.
"I grew up on the farm," Sarah said. "We had to be creative and find ways to have fun. When Brett's here during the week he's bored and wants to be out on the farm."
That's where Brett was during the first week of the bow deer season when a large eight-point buck passed directly under his tree stand. Unfortunately, he had no buck tag, a requirement to shoot an antlered deer in each Earn-a-Buck management zone.
The young archer had little time to brood over the lost opportunity, however. Another deer, this time a doe, soon came into view.
"I was really disappointed until the doe came along," he said.
By remaining motionless and silent in his camouflaged gear, Brett escaped notice by the whitetail with its typically remarkable ability to sense danger. The unsuspecting deer came within five yards of his position when he released the arrow that whistled directly to its target - the kind of quick and clean kill that hunters everywhere hope for when pursuing their quarry.
The accuracy of his shot was no accident. Brett has perfected his technique through five years of archery involvement through the 4-H Shooting Sports Program. In addition, he practiced numerous times during the summer to make sure he had his Matthews bow sighted in properly and had refined the mechanics of accurate shooting.
Brett was confident he could do well if he got a chance at a deer.
"I practiced and practiced until I got tighter and tighter groups," he said. "I made at least 50 practice shots before the season started."
To add to the joy of the hunt, the elder Grinder sat nearby and observed the event as it unfolded.
"He was about 30 yards away in a different tree stand so we could see each other," Brett said. "He was shocked that I actually got something the first weekend."
Brett converses knowledgeably in many aspects of the hunting environment. He helped with cutting up his deer and shares in consuming the venison.
He seems to appreciate all the advice and assistance others have provided. Of his grandfather, he said, "He teaches me what not to do and all about (quality) deer management. He shoots more does and only bigger bucks."
The young outdoorsman has already enjoyed other experiences since that first achievement. On the night of our discussion, Brett reported on the day's action while out in the woods.
"I almost got one (buck) tonight. He was sparring with another buck; they were only about 40 yards away."
At the tender age of 12, Brett Grinder has also learned perhaps the most important lesson of all - that the success of the hunt is measured not merely by the harvesting of game, but by the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
When not at a Sarbacker relative's farm near Forward, the youngster spends much of his free time hanging out at the Grinder home farm south of Mount Horeb. Already an accomplished fisher and a fall 2007 graduate of the Hunter Education Program, Brett recently shot his first white-tailed deer on his grandpa's farm.
Brett also caught a 42-inch northern pike while on a combined bear hunting and fishing trip to Canada this past summer.
"We didn't get a bear, but we saw one - and a lynx and a moose," Brett said.
"He can't wait to get out to the farm on weekends," said his mom, Sarah. "Instead of sitting around in front of a TV screen, I would much rather see him out in the woods.
"I grew up on the farm," Sarah said. "We had to be creative and find ways to have fun. When Brett's here during the week he's bored and wants to be out on the farm."
That's where Brett was during the first week of the bow deer season when a large eight-point buck passed directly under his tree stand. Unfortunately, he had no buck tag, a requirement to shoot an antlered deer in each Earn-a-Buck management zone.
The young archer had little time to brood over the lost opportunity, however. Another deer, this time a doe, soon came into view.
"I was really disappointed until the doe came along," he said.
By remaining motionless and silent in his camouflaged gear, Brett escaped notice by the whitetail with its typically remarkable ability to sense danger. The unsuspecting deer came within five yards of his position when he released the arrow that whistled directly to its target - the kind of quick and clean kill that hunters everywhere hope for when pursuing their quarry.
The accuracy of his shot was no accident. Brett has perfected his technique through five years of archery involvement through the 4-H Shooting Sports Program. In addition, he practiced numerous times during the summer to make sure he had his Matthews bow sighted in properly and had refined the mechanics of accurate shooting.
Brett was confident he could do well if he got a chance at a deer.
"I practiced and practiced until I got tighter and tighter groups," he said. "I made at least 50 practice shots before the season started."
To add to the joy of the hunt, the elder Grinder sat nearby and observed the event as it unfolded.
"He was about 30 yards away in a different tree stand so we could see each other," Brett said. "He was shocked that I actually got something the first weekend."
Brett converses knowledgeably in many aspects of the hunting environment. He helped with cutting up his deer and shares in consuming the venison.
He seems to appreciate all the advice and assistance others have provided. Of his grandfather, he said, "He teaches me what not to do and all about (quality) deer management. He shoots more does and only bigger bucks."
The young outdoorsman has already enjoyed other experiences since that first achievement. On the night of our discussion, Brett reported on the day's action while out in the woods.
"I almost got one (buck) tonight. He was sparring with another buck; they were only about 40 yards away."
At the tender age of 12, Brett Grinder has also learned perhaps the most important lesson of all - that the success of the hunt is measured not merely by the harvesting of game, but by the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
