American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 310 The Father-in-Law Realizes His Dream! (Multiple Images, Highly Recommended Reading, Please Vote!)

“They must have been startled by the sound of our engines.” Sean stood up, his gaze fixed on the higher part of the ridge.

"But they didn't go far; they just moved to a safer place with a better view. We have to be more careful."

The team continued forward, but this time, their formation changed.

Lin Yu'an and Sean, as the two with the strongest tracking experience and wilderness survival skills in the team, walked side by side at the front.

Their teamwork was seamless, with one person observing the terrain and tracks on the left.

The other focused on the right, their gazes overlapping to form a comprehensive search network.

The eldest brother, Wyatt, and his father-in-law, Robert, were in the second tier, providing experience support and flank protection.

Garrett and Clay, along with Bo, were responsible for covering the rear, remaining vigilant for any possible disturbances from behind.

They crossed a small ridge, and the view suddenly opened up before them.

It was a sunny, more gently sloping, open hillside, sparsely covered with shrubs bent low by the weight of snow.

This is a typical deer bedroom. Sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, with an open view, it allows them to detect threats from any direction immediately while resting.

Sean, who was in charge, immediately gave another hand signal, and everyone instantly crouched down, hiding themselves at the edge of a dense spruce forest.

“They’re on that slope.” Sean’s voice was even lower in the earpiece.

"But we can't see them. They'll use the terrain's depressions and bushes for cover. Now it's time to test our patience."

Instead of advancing further, the group found the best vantage point and set up their rifles.

Using the high-magnification scopes on their rifles, they began a thorough, inch-by-inch search of the seemingly empty hillside.

Time passed second by second in the utter silence. Only the wind whistled through the treetops.

Even experienced hunters like Wyatt and Robert found nothing after searching for nearly ten minutes.

In their scopes, the hillside was nothing but snow and bare branches.

“Strange…” Wyatt’s voice came through the headset, tinged with confusion, “The Wohen marks are so new, they couldn’t have gone far.”

"Where is it?" Clay was starting to get impatient. "Does it have the ability to become invisible?"

Just then, Lin Yu'an, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke into everyone's earpieces, his voice calm but filled with undeniable certainty.

"It's right there."

Everyone's spirits were instantly lifted!
Lin Yu'an didn't look at the low-lying areas where they were most likely to hide. His scope was locked on the highest point of that area, the seemingly unremarkable edge of the dense forest.

"See that old pine tree that's been split in half?" He guided the crowd's gaze. "Look at its lower right side, those things that look like dead branches."

Everyone immediately turned their attention to that direction.

Through the scope, they saw that, in the dim shadow of the treeline, there were indeed several darker, oddly shaped dead branches stretching out from the snow and pointing towards the sky.

Just then, one of the dead branches swayed very slightly, as if its owner had adjusted his sleeping position.

At that moment, everyone gasped!
Those aren't dead branches at all!

That was clearly a huge antler, like a crown, with several branches at the very top!

The prehistoric behemoth codenamed King lay quietly in the shadow of the treeline, its massive body blending perfectly with the shadows of the trees and the undulating terrain.

Only its enormous antlers, which could not be completely hidden, revealed its existence!

It chose a location at the highest point of the entire hillside. From there, it could overlook everything below.

The female deer, in turn, formed a mobile perimeter around it.

This is a perfect defensive formation!

“My God…” Bo muttered to himself, “This guy is practically a general.”

Once the goal was found, new problems arose.

“It’s too far,” Wyatt said in a deep voice. “More than 400 yards (about 365 meters) as the crow flies. And the wind is so strong, and it’s a crosswind blowing from left to right.”

"At this distance, the bullet's trajectory will deviate significantly. It's almost impossible to hit a vital organ accurately."

"Moreover, once we fire, whether it hits or misses, it will immediately disappear into the dense forest behind us. We won't have a second chance."

“We must get closer,” Robert decided. “Close the distance to within 200 yards. That’s the safest distance.”

But how to get closer has become a huge problem.

Between them and their target lay a wide, open snow slope with no cover. Any movement would be immediately detected by the vigilant sentries (doe).

Everyone fell into silence.

Just then, Lin Yu'an spoke. He didn't propose any earth-shattering plan; he simply pointed to the sky.

"Wait." He only said one word.

The crowd looked at him with some confusion.

"Wait for the clouds to come," Lin Yu'an explained. "Look at the sky, the wind is blowing a large patch of clouds from the west toward us. In at most half an hour, the sun will be obscured."

"Once the direct sunlight is lost, the reflection of the snow will be greatly reduced, and the light will become softer and more diffused."

"At that time, the contrast between light and shadow in this open area will disappear, and our movement will be more difficult to detect."

"Moreover, when clouds block out the sun, it usually indicates a brief change in wind speed. We may even be able to wait for a short window of opportunity for headwinds."

This precise analysis, based on meteorology and hunting psychology, drew approving looks from all the veteran hunters present.

Instead of being anxious, they lay quietly in the snow like a group of the most patient snipers, waiting for that fleeting opportunity created by nature.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Just as Lin Yu'an had predicted, half an hour later, a thick layer of clouds, like a velvet curtain, slowly obscured the sun.

The light in the entire world instantly changed from bright and dazzling to soft and dim.

“Now!” Lin Yu’an whispered into the earpiece.

"Clay, Bo, Sean, you stay here and continue to observe. Report the target's location to us as needed," Robert ordered.

“Wyatt, Garrett, Lin, the four of us will flank from the left.”

The four people, like ghosts, slipped out of the shadows of the spruce forest, pressing their center of gravity to the lowest point, moving almost close to the snow.

They used every rock, every shrub, and even the slightest undulation in the terrain to conceal themselves.

Three hundred meters, two hundred and fifty meters, two hundred meters...

The distance is gradually decreasing.

When they finally reached the back of a row of naturally formed rock formations, they were less than 150 yards from the sleeping king!
This is a perfect distance, enough to kill in one shot!

The four men, arranged in a triangular formation, silently set up their rifles.

Robert and Lin Yu-an, standing beside him, were positioned in the most advantageous central position, while Wyatt and Garrett occupied the left and right flanks, forming an impenetrable crossfire network.

Four high-powered hunting rifles, representing the essence of American hunting culture, silently locked onto the same target from four different angles.

The older brother, Wyatt, was setting up his Remington 700 BDL rifle, which had been with him for many years. It was a classic .30-06 caliber rifle, steady and reliable, just like his own character.

Garrett, the second brother, preferred more modern equipment. He used a Savage 110 Storm rifle with a stainless steel frame and short .308 cartridges, which made it have a faster rate of fire.

Lin Yu'an's weapon was the most elegant; it was still the custom-made Winchester M70 rifle with a stock made of top-grade walnut wood.

The powerful .300 Winchester Magnum caliber is an art form for long-range precision hunting.

Robert, on the other hand, is equipped with a more regal hunting rifle—the Ruger M77 African Rifle.

That retro-styled gun body contains a .375 H&H Magnum caliber, powerful enough to bring down a buffalo on the African savanna!
Robert peered through the scope at the still-sleeping behemoth.
He could clearly see its magnificent antlers, like a crown, and its thick back, which rose and fell slightly with its breath.

His breathing became rapid. His hand, gripping the rifle butt, was damp with a fine layer of sweat from excitement. Breaking the Montana state record had never seemed so close.

He took a deep breath and steadily aimed the crosshair at the junction of the deer's neck and shoulder blades, the most vital area.

However, he did not pull the trigger immediately.

He slowly turned his head to look at Lin Yu'an beside him and said in a low voice, "Lin, this is your ranch, your prey. You should fire the first shot."

The eldest brother, Wyatt, and the second brother, Garrett, nodded at the same time, their eyes filled with unquestionable deference.

This is the highest respect a hunter can pay. They may share the glory, but the right to fire the first shot must belong to the master of this land.

Lin Yu'an looked at them, shook his head, and replied in a similarly soft voice, "No, Dad. I promised you I would fulfill a wish for you. Today, it's right before our eyes."

He looked at Robert with utmost sincerity in his eyes, "For the McKinley family's wall of honor, for your dream, fire."

Robert looked at him, then at his two sons.

He knew he couldn't refuse this generous gift, which contained respect, filial piety, and family support.

Without further hesitation, he turned his gaze back to the scope.

Those hands, trembling slightly with excitement, became as steady as a rock in that moment. The whole world seemed to disappear. Only he, the crosshairs, and the sleeping target remained.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely at that moment.

Through the scope, the slight rise and fall of the giant beast with its breath quietly overlapped with an image deep in his memory.

That was more than 20 years ago. Back then, he wasn't the authoritative patriarch yet, but just an energetic young farmer.

Beside him was not his son and son-in-law, but his third wife, a young woman full of wildness and vitality—Martha.

Together, they tracked a giant moose deep in the forests of Montana.

He remembered that when they finally cornered the beast in a valley, Martha showed no fear whatsoever.

Instead, he excitedly drew back the longbow, his pale green eyes gleaming with a light brighter than the morning dew in the forest.

He remembered that after the thrilling hunt, that night, in that simple tent lit by a campfire and covered with thick bear skins.

Accompanied by the sound of the wind in the wilderness and the distant howls of wolves, he and Martha celebrated their victory and life in the most primal and passionate way...

Shortly after that hunt, Arya and Clay, twins, were born into this world.

Robert's lips curled into an uncontrollable, extremely gentle smile.

He seemed to have returned to his passionate youth, and the Ruger M77 in his hand seemed to have become the old companion that accompanied him in conquering the wilderness.

The elk in the scope has become one with the giant moose from back then.

All the tension and distractions vanished in this warm memory.

Only the purest form of focus and tranquility remains, belonging only to the hunter.

He slowly placed the pad of his index finger on the cold trigger.

Then, in that moment when you exhale your last breath and your heartbeat enters a brief period of calm...

Just like more than forty years ago, under Martha's loving gaze.

He pulled the trigger.

"boom--!!!"

A dull yet penetrating gunshot, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly shattered the silence of the entire valley!
150 yards away, the sleeping king, the moment he was hit by the bullet, his entire massive body jolted violently, as if he had been slammed down by an invisible force!
Before it could even utter a mournful cry, it struggled to its feet.

But the bullet that precisely shattered its cervical vertebrae had completely destroyed its central nervous system.

It kicked its hind legs twice in vain, then collapsed like an avalanche! It crashed heavily onto the snow, stirring up a cloud of snow mist.

No more sound.

The herd of doe in the distance was terrified by the sudden gunshot and scattered in all directions, disappearing instantly into the dense forest.

On the hillside, only the fallen elk remained, along with its enormous antlers that still pointed to the sky like a crown!
Gunshots echoed through the valley, lingering for a long time.

Bo, Clay, and Sean, who were left on the other side of the ridge, sprang up from the snow the moment they heard the gunshot!

"It's Dad's .375!" Clay was the first to recognize it, his voice filled with tension and anticipation. "Only one shot! Did it work?"

“Let’s go, we’ve already alerted the prey, whether we succeed or not.” Bo was the first to run towards that area.

On the hillside, the group quickly stepped forward and surrounded the fallen giant beast.

Even after it fell, its massive body and magnificent antlers still exuded an awe-inspiring regal aura.

Robert slowly squatted down and gently stroked the cold, root-like antlers with his calloused hand.

His eyes held no hunter's ecstatic joy at reaping his prey, but rather a complex mix of awe and emotion, a fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.

“I did it… Dad…” Robert murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear.

Wyatt and Garrett stepped forward and patted their father on the shoulder forcefully, their eyes filled with indescribable pride.

Just then, Bo, Clay, and Sean came running up from the other side of the ridge, panting.

They were equally awestruck when they saw the colossal beast in the snow, which resembled a prehistoric creature.

Lin Yu'an then took out a certified professional measuring tape from his backpack.

“Come on, Dad,” he handed the measuring tape to his older brother Wyatt, “let’s see just how great this king really is.”

A ceremonial coronation ceremony began on this silent snowfield.

With everyone working together in an orderly manner, a preliminary B&C on-site measurement, though unofficial, was carried out.

The eldest brother, Wyatt, volunteered to be the chief surveyor. He knelt in the snow, his expression as focused as a surgeon performing a delicate operation.

“The main beam length, left, 62 and 2/8 inches. Right, 61 and 5/8 inches.” His voice was clearly audible in the silent valley.

Third Brother Bo took out a waterproof notebook and meticulously recorded every piece of data, acting as the recorder.

"First bifurcation (G1), left, 18 inches; right, 17 4/8 inches."

"Second branch (G2)..."

The length of the main beam, the length of the seven branches, the perimeter of the four locations, the maximum inner width... dozens of complex data points were precisely measured and clearly recorded.

Throughout the entire process, no one spoke; only Wyatt's voice dictated the data and the scratching sound of Bo's pen nib gliding across the paper.

Once all the data had been measured, Bo entered it into the B&C rating calculator on his phone.

Everyone held their breath and crowded around, staring nervously at the small screen.

A moment later, a number appeared on the screen.

“428 and 3/8…” Bo’s voice trembled with disbelief.

"Final total score: 428 3/8 inches!"

This number struck everyone like a thunderbolt!

"We...we seem to have broken the Wyoming record!" Wyatt exclaimed first, his usually composed face now filled with ecstasy!
The Wyoming rifle shot record for a typical elk kill is 427 points! They've made history for the entire state of Wyoming!
"yeah!!!!"

Garrett and Clay could no longer contain themselves and erupted in a deafening cheer!

They embraced each other, patting each other's backs vigorously, sharing this immense glory that would go down in history! Even the usually composed Sean had a genuine smile on his face.

Lin Yu'an stood aside, watching all of this with a smile.

He knew that from this day forward, the McKinley family's wall of honor would be adorned with a most dazzling piece of ultimate trophy, one that would make all visitors envious.

Just as everyone was still immersed in ecstasy, Robert slowly stood up and walked straight to Lin Yu'an.

He looked at his son-in-law, his voice hoarse with excitement.

"Forest……"

He reached out and, instead of just patting Lin Yu'an on the shoulder as before, gave her a firm hug.

“Thank you,” he said emphatically, each word filled with strength. “Thank you, child. It is you who helped me fulfill the biggest dream of my life.”

He released the hug, but his hands remained firmly on Lin Yu'an's shoulders, his eyes filled with sincerity.

“This glory does not belong to me; it belongs to you. This is your land, and this divine beast rightfully belongs to you.”

"It was you who generously gave this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to this old man."

"You have not only given me a trophy worthy of being passed down through generations, but you have also given our entire McKinley family an unparalleled honor!"

Faced with his father-in-law's solemn and emotional gratitude, Lin Yu'an did not say any of the usual polite words such as "you're welcome" or "it's what I should do."

He simply looked quietly into Robert's eyes, a sincere yet powerful smile on his face.

“Dad,” his voice was calm, but every word was crystal clear, “we are a family.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "My family's dreams are my dreams. Seeing you happy is my greatest reward today."

“As for this honor,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the distant mountain range, “it belongs to the McKinley family, and it also belongs to the Rock River.”

"And today, we are simply letting what rightfully belongs to it hang on our own wall."

These words, devoid of any sentimentality, were filled with an undeniable sense of power and belonging.

Robert was impressed by these words. He looked at the young man in front of him, and saw no hint of self-praise or politeness in his clear eyes, only sincerity towards his family.

He seemed to understand why his daughter Arya loved this man so devotedly.

He didn't say anything more, but patted Lin Yu'an's shoulder hard again, all the unspoken words contained in this powerful gesture.

Then, he turned around and a hearty smile returned to his face.

"Alright, boys!" he shouted to Wyatt and the others, "Stop grinning like idiots! Get to work! Let's bring this king home in style!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Hehe, please vote for me! Please vote for me! The deer's antlers are so beautiful.)
(End of this chapter)