6-year-old hunter bags big buck

Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wyatt Clark, 6, stands next to the 205-pound, 13-point buck he shot on the opening gun hunting day of deer season Saturday. Clark is a kindergarten student at Peace Lutheran School and is the son of Jeremy and Marta Clark.

GREENCASTLE -- Wyatt Clark may be a little guy, but he bagged himself a big prize on the opening gun hunting day of deer season.

Wyatt, 6, went deer hunting for the first time on Saturday -- and came home with a 13-point buck he shot with a 44-magnum rifle.

"We're going to hang the horns on the wall," Wyatt said proudly.

Wyatt, a kindergarten student at Peace Lutheran School in Greencastle, is the son of Jeremy and Marta Clark.

The hanging of the horns, Jeremy said, caused some debate in the Clark house.

"My wife said at first that we had enough deer heads on the walls," he said. "But since these were Wyatt's, she had to melt."

Wyatt and his father spent the night in the wild Friday, and woke up bright and early to begin their hunt.

"We have a shack out in the woods on our property that we slept in on Friday night," Jeremy said. "It was in the afternoon -- probably about 4:30 -- when Wyatt got his buck."

Jeremy got a deer before Wyatt did, but it wasn't a big as Wyatt's.

"I got an 8-point (buck) and a doe about two weeks earlier, and I thought I was pretty lucky," Jeremy said with a chuckle. "The government is renting our land. It's a reserve program ... they're growing wild grass to maintain wildlife habitats. It must be working."

Most of Wyatt's deer will go to Marta's parents.

"A lot of people will be well-fed," Jeremy said.

Wyatt has accompanied his father on hunting trips before, but this was his first time to actually hunt himself.

"I've taken him with me since he was wee little," Jeremy said. "I've been hunting for about 30 years ... I started when I was 8, so Wyatt's got me beat."

It also took longer for Jeremy to make his first kill.

"I didn't get my first deer until I was 16," he said.

Wyatt excitedly recalled the moment when he took the buck.

"I shot at it three times," he said. "It dropped like a sack of potatoes."

When asked if he thought the kill was a result of luck or skill, Wyatt became very modest.

"I just think I'm lucky," he said.

Wyatt wasn't afraid of the big gun he used to bag his buck. He had practiced shooting it before opening day.

"It's got a fair amount of recoil to it," Jeremy said. "He'd shoot it and I'd notice water coming out of his eyes, but he wanted to practice with it. He shot a pumpkin four times at 60 yards the weekend before opening day."

Jeremy said Wyatt dropped the buck on the first shot.

"It was 205 pounds dressed, so it was a big one," Jeremy said. "The first thing he said to me after he got it was, 'I have to call Papaw.'"

"Papaw" is Wyatt's paternal grandfather, 60-year-old Jerry Clark of Greencastle.

It was Jeremy's father who got Jeremy interested in hunting. He still hunts himself, "but he missed Saturday," Jeremy said.

Wyatt is quite the outdoorsman. In addition to hunting, he enjoys four-wheeling on his family's 160-acre farm. Wyatt also likes to shoot his BB gun.

Wyatt also enjoys other types of hunting besides deer hunting.

"He went on his first hunt and got a squirrel a couple of months ago," Jeremy said.

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  • Nice deer there brave little hunter! Congratulations.

    -- Posted by Registered Voter on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 3:27 AM
  • Way To Go!!!! That's a nice size buck, be proud of yourself. Congrats!!!!

    -- Posted by lp_27 on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 7:11 AM
  • that is an awesome deer wyatt!!! hey banner graphic u should have a deer pic page each month for all the big bucks harvested in our area. people would be amazed how big the deer are here in our area.

    -- Posted by badboy46120 on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 7:20 AM
  • Grear deer, but a 6yr. old hunting by himself, talk about bad parenting, neglect of a dependent is a CRIME!!!!!

    -- Posted by tru story on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 8:27 AM
  • tru story....i do not see anywhere in this article that says he was alone! get your facts straight!! CONGRATS WYATT!!

    -- Posted by proudemt on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 8:58 AM
  • tru story - are you kidding me? Read the story...he didn't go hunting my himself...it was the first time that he hunted himself...meaning he has hunted with his dad before, but his dad always did the shooting...this was the first time that he did the shooting!!!!

    NICE JOB WYATT!!

    -- Posted by 3cutekids on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 9:04 AM
  • Wonder if that boy had hunter's education class like he is supposed to. Can't imagine a 6 year old being able to read the information or answer the questions for the class.

    -- Posted by belleunion on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 9:34 AM
  • You do not need a hunter education certficate if you hunt with a licensed hunter it is called an apprenticeship license and I believe you can use it 3 years before needing a hunters education certificate

    -- Posted by justducky on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 9:54 AM
  • Great job Wyatt!!!

    Belleunion and all the other negative people

    You can have a hunters education certificate if he couldn't read the test they will read the test to him. And if he doesn't pass then he just has to hunt with another licensed hunter till he passes the course that is what my son had to do and he was 6 when he took the course.

    -- Posted by solve on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 10:32 AM
  • Just so you know, an apprentice license is only 3 hunts in your lifetime. Not 3 years.

    -- Posted by belleunion on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 11:54 AM
  • Congrats Wyatt! Apparently some of the readers are not from hunting families! But, a hunting dad does not just "TURN OUT" their son with a gun. When a child is brought up around hunting there is so much love and guidance given to that child. My husband's family is from a long line of hunters. Each generation has been brought up around it and has so much respect for the outdoors and everything that goes with hunting wildlife. I wish more children were brought up with a dad at their side teaching something that will be with them for a lifetime. Most people who hunt have respect for guns and safety. So come on people - let this child and his dad enjoy the excitement of bagging a big one! It is just amazing how people are so quick to judge others actions!

    -- Posted by anotherone on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 12:26 PM
  • A proud moment for a father indeed!

    TO ALL HUNTERS -

    While out in the woods with your young hunters, please take the time to teach them to be a RESPONSIBLE & ETHICAL hunter.

    I can't tell from the pic, but hopefully, it was a one shot kill. Wounding an animal with a gut shot, or blowing a leg off is a pretty pathetic way to "bag" an animal. A truly good hunter, takes the time to sight in his/her weapon & makes a killing shot.

    -- Posted by Essie on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 12:28 PM
  • To everybody ******* and moaning about his "hunting education, proper sighting in of the gun, one shot kills, etc..", can't you people just enjoy the **** article, be happy for the kid, and stop griping about crap that doen't really matter. Nice buck, by the way. I'm jealous!

    -- Posted by ZRXguy on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 12:55 PM
  • Completely agree with ZRXguy! When your making comments it states to be respectful of others! Some need to try that for once. The hunting laws also state if you hunt the property you own your child doesn't have to have any kind of licenses as long as they are with there parent they can kill and tag with property address just like the parent. Hope some of you have learned something today! Great job Wyatt!:) I hope our son gets a dear this year!

    -- Posted by nallen on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 2:08 PM
  • Awesome job Wyatt! Your buck will look great on your wall!

    -- Posted by indianaresident on Fri, Nov 19, 2010, at 8:51 AM
  • Many Congrats!!! I know an excellent taxidermist that might just give this young man a heck of a deal on his first deer mount.

    -- Posted by mchunter on Fri, Nov 19, 2010, at 9:24 AM
  • to all who like to leave negative feedback in their post's, really need to get a life.

    -- Posted by smartguy2010 on Fri, Nov 19, 2010, at 6:45 PM
  • That "KID" is my newphew, his father has been trained in gun safety his WHOLE life!! He was with his son Wyatt the whole time. Jeremy is an outstanding father and would never let his kid do something he wasn't ready for....I'm not a hunter, so thank ya Wyatt:0) I getta eat some of the deer!!! Yay!! Marta and Jeremy have one fantastic "KID"!!!!! :0)

    -- Posted by Melontwist1977 on Sat, Nov 20, 2010, at 12:34 AM
  • Desensitizing a child to killing at that age is child abuse.

    Killing animals is the first step.

    -- Posted by reckman on Sat, Nov 20, 2010, at 10:23 AM
  • To all those saying negative things, think about the quality time this father and son have spent together hunting and then rethink your position.

    -- Posted by Clovertucky on Sat, Nov 20, 2010, at 4:57 PM
  • reckman- you are what is wrong with this world!!! Give me a break, people have been hunting for years and years, it is a necessity in many parts of the world!! Oh, and I don't even hunt, let alone own a gun, but your response to the article is ridiculous!!! Congrats Wyatt!!

    -- Posted by idiot on Sun, Nov 21, 2010, at 8:34 AM
  • Congratulations Wyatt, Marta and Jeremy! That is an awesome trophy!!! Enjoy the deer meat too! :0)

    -- Posted by Sunflowermel on Wed, Nov 24, 2010, at 12:35 AM
  • Congrats on the big buck, heck of a first one..

    But seriously, Banner, this is the only news that needs reported in these days?

    -- Posted by anonymous101 on Sat, Nov 27, 2010, at 5:36 PM
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