Share Your Hunting Story!

Here's your chance to see your name, story and photo on the front page of buckmasters.com, win a one-of-a-kind cap and Buckmasters knife and, for one talented writer, a feature in the pages of Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine! Details below:

That One Chance

By Tim H. Martin

As a kid, I always had my nose stuck in some sort of outdoor publication, oftentimes when I shouldn't.

In the 5th grade, I figured out how to sneak a magazine inside a textbook and read hunting and fishing adventures during class. I still blame Field & Stream as the reason I can't do long division today.

My love for outdoor stories didn't change much as I grew older, having subscriptions to just about every outdoor publication you can think of, including Buckmasters.

I dreamed of seeing my name in print alongside my heroes: Homer Circle, Jack O'Connor and humor columnist Patrick F. McManus. Little did I know I'd one day be given a golden opportunity to see my name in print and have my stories read by thousands of people.

Back in 1997, I landed a gig in Buckmasters Art Department. In 2002, my co-worker, boss and outdoor writing hero Russell Thornberry asked me to write about the Africa hunting trip I'd just enjoyed. I jumped at the chance and nearly cried the first time I saw my own work in the pages of Rack Magazine. From there, I never looked back.

Over the years, I've made the best of that one chance and have been blessed with countless opportunities to write for all three Buckmasters publications, numerous magazines and buckmasters.com. It was just a matter of being seen that very first time.

But most hunters haven't had the same opportunities I have.

Now, here's your chance. I'd love to read your hunting stories and publish them on buckmasters.com!

If yours is chosen, it will appear on the front page of Buckmasters online and be kept in our Reader Feature archives for several years.

Not only will you get the sense of satisfaction of seeing your name on the hunting industry's top website, but we'll also send you a Buckmasters knife and a special Buckmasters contributor cap autographed by Jackie Bushman. And if our editors choose your story as the best, it will be published in Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine during the 2013 magazine season.

Keep in mind; you don't have to be Ernest Hemingway in order to have your story selected. Just do your best and remember; good stories include who (first and last names), when and where. Also include interesting details, humor, emotions and descriptions that make the reader feel they were with you on your hunt.

Good luck! I look forward to reading your story.

Tim H. Martin/Buckmasters Online Editor

Details:

• Email your story and a good .jpg image of you with your deer to readerfeatures@buckmasters.com

• We prefer Microsoft Word docs, saved as a .txt file. If you don't have Word or a text edit program, just copy and paste the text into your email.

• Photos are important. Give us your best raw file. We will do the cropping and retouching.

• Include your name and address in the email. Should you win a weekly entry, we want to know where to send your cap and knife.

• Magazine feature winner to be chosen around May 1, 2013.

• Weekly online Reader Feature winners to be notified via email.