Girly-girl steps out of her zone Comes back with a story to tell, and a 190-class buck
By ART HOLDEN Daily Record Outdoor Editor Published: November 19, 2012
4:00AMCRESTON -- With two young boys and a husband who relishes every opportunity to hunt, Alisha Perkins knew there was going to come a time when she herself would have to become a hunter.
So, she bit the bullet, or in this case, nocked the arrow, and on her first hunt, came back with a story that she'll never be able to improve upon. Perkins, of Creston, arrowed a 19-point buck on private property in Summit County on her first-ever hunt, one that lasted just over 90 minutes.
"I'm a stay-at-home mom and I hardly have time to do anything," said Alisha. "I'm a girly-girl, so it's funny that I get something like this my first time out.
"My husband and my uncle urged me to get out of my (zone), and do something I haven't done before," she added. "My uncle gave a eulogy and he said, 'you never know when your last day is, live life to the fullest.'
"I didn't imagine that meant wearing camo in the woods."
So, with the support of her husband, Seth, Alisha started the process to be a hunter. She began the home-study hunter education course, and on Nov. 1 at Fin, Feather Fur Outfitters in Ashland, she took the test. "I got a 100 percent, I might add," she said.
The following Wednesday, she practiced with her father in law's Excalibur crossbow, and last Saturday, went hunting.
For the husband and wife, though, it was thought to be more of a date, a chance to spend time together. They never imagined what was about to unfold.
"My in-laws were watching the kids, it was a time to get away and have Seth show me his world of hunting," said Alisha. "We talked about going during the gun season, but I kind of liked the idea of a warmer, sunny day."
"I like to get in my stand early," said Seth. "We were in the woods by
6:30 a.m."The Perkinses said a prayer before the sun came up, asking for a good hunt, the safety of themselves and their children, and "would you give Alisha good aim."
Seth had already taken his buck, a 9-pointer, on opening day, so he was just there to video the hunt and coach his wife.
"It wasn't long before a doe came into sight, and Alisha asked if she should shoot it.
"It's the (peak) of the rut, today's not the day to shoot an antlerless deer," said Seth. "Let's wait and see what else shows up."
That's when Alisha saw something out of the corner of her eye.
"I saw a massive rack, and I don't know what came over me, but that's when I said to myself, 'you're gonna die."
Unfortunately, the big buck was looking right at the Perkinses, who were sitting in a double tree stand.
"I had the scope on him and I counted 11 points on his right side," said Alisha, who was trembling with excitement, and wondered if her nervousness would spook the deer. "I thought to myself, 'If I don't shoot this buck, Seth is going to shoot me.'"
The hunters and buck had a 10-minute stare down.
"I told myself, I've delivered two boys through C-section, I can do this," said Alisha. "Breathe."
Finally, the buck turned to walk away, and Seth gave two bleats to stop the deer, and whispered to Alisha to take the shot.
"Believe it or not, I made a good heart shot and it went down," said Alisha.
"It was a perfect broadside shot from 20 yards," said Seth.
The time together, the process and success of the hunt would have been enough, but the best part was yet to come. When Seth and Alisha got to the downed deer and saw what she had harvested, they couldn't believe their eyes. The deer had 19 points, 28 ½ inch main beams and a 21 ½ -inch inside spread.
"I wanted to make Seth proud, and I still don't think it's hit me yet how big (the buck) is," said Alisha.
The deer is now at a taxidermist, and a "rough" green score puts the monster in the 190 class (minus deductions). Included in the rack is a
5-inch drop tine."I could not have done this without my husband," said Alisha. "We were just going on a date, and I thought it was going to be one of the cheapest dates we've been on, but after the taxidermy, it's going to be one of our most expensive dates.
"But my most favorite part of the whole experience is how proud Seth was of me."
"I'll admit I've got a little bit of jealousy, but that's OK, because I was with her and got it all on tape," said Seth.
"She understands now what drives me to go hunting."