John Linquist-Sibley, IA

I would like to take this chance to thank you for producing such a fine product. I bought my first bottle of Scent-A-Way years ago, and it is awesome. On Nov. 15, 2001 a lot of patience and using your products finally paid off, and the guys at work wanted me to send you this photo. I still have a hard time believing I shot a buck this big, but I did, thanks to your products. I would like to take a moment of your time and share a short story with you.

Growing up in Iowa almost every young man gets the chance to experience hunting, and in the fall of 1974 I got mine. We had just moved to Cherokee and I didn't have many friends yet when some people were moving in next door. I stared out the window and prayed they had a boy my age so I would have someone to play with. And as luck would have it, they did. His name was Matt, and his dad owned a farm down by Exira, Iowa. It's quite possibly the single best piece of property in the world. It has rolling hills, a timber, creeks, plum thickets, and crop land, and when it comes to hunting, there is no better spot.

Well Matt and I continued our friendship, hunting, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors and soon it was time to go to college. We both decided to attend Iowa State University. I majored in Graphic Arts and he majored in Fishery and Wildlife Management. College was going great and the good times continued. Right before graduation Matt was hired as a Federal Park Ranger at Sailorville Lake down by Des Moines. He was so excited. He called home and bragged about his new uniform, and how cool his new job was going to be. That very same night he died in a motorcycle accident; that very same night my life changed forever.

You see, in a nutshell, hunting is really about memories, enjoying wildlife, and respecting the environment. I have a hard time believing it's just about killing animals. Sure, you harvest game, but where else can you see and hear a creek flowing over a beaver dam, see geese flying overhead, or listen to the sound of cardinals singing right before dark. I have squirrels that live in the tree I bowhunt out of, and I swear they think I belong there. When I go hunting at the farm it's the only place on earth I'm truly at peace. Today I still hunt with Matt's dad, Bob, as well as my own 10 year old son, who we named after my best friend. It's awesome to see his eyes and his excitement as a big buck heads towards our tree. I see Matt's spirit in his eyes every time we go into the woods. I've taught him how to shoot a bow, how to safely climb into a tree stand, and how to set up using your products for that special moment, but I never taught him anything about enjoying the environment around him, like the squirrel, geese, or the river. He just naturally enjoys it and now he's creating his own memories.

On Nov. 15th I created a memory of a lifetime. I had seen a big 10 point buck on five seperate occasions. I even had one opportunity to sneak on it and take a shot, but I missed. Well on the 15th I was rattling two bucks to the south of me with no luck; they were more concerned about banging heads themselves than exploring what I was doing. Around 4:30 p.m. I gave up rattling, hung up the antlers, turned around and there he was, 40 yards away and coming straight to me. I quickly grabbed my bow, stood up, and at 15 yards took a shot. At first I thought I missed. The massive buck never ran, but instead just flinched and took two steps back, looking around. He proceeded to slowly walk around 15 yards before I saw my crimson red arrow stuck in the ground. As I looked back at the deer he just fell over. I had shot through him so fast I didn't see the arrow blow through his lungs; he didn't even know he was shot.

Like I said, I had seen this deer five times and one time I had the chance to glass him for nearly 30 minutes. I knew he was big, but I had not idea he was this big. He green scored 162 and weighed approximately 260 pounds. Man, was I the luckiest man on earth or what? I said a quick prayer and thanked God for this opportunity to harvest such a perfect buck, and sat back a moment to reflect. The moment was perfect, or was it? No it wasn't. What was missing was my son (who had basketball practice) and Bob (who had to work late). I wanted them to share that moment with me; I wanted them to have that same memory for a lifetime.

Bob showed up around 10 p.m. and by then, due to a phone call, he and Matthew both knew I had shot "the BIG ONE." He drove onto the yard, slid open the barn door, and just stood there staring. He was amazed that his farm had produced such a giant specimen. Immediately he wanted to go get it scored, but it was too late in the evening.

We went to the house, sat down, and I began to tell him how it all happened. I told him about rattling, calling, giving up only to turn around and see the biggest buck of my lifetime. Then I told him...I told him the only thing in the world that could have made it better is if he and Matt could have been there with me.

Your products are without a doubt the very, very best. I have shot over 30 whitetail in my life and your products make it easier every year. I can't thank you enough for making such a great product line. I use your soaps, Scent-A-Way sprays, calls, and Scent Wafers. If I can ever help you folks in any way, please let me know. I would be happy to field test your products, spread the good word, or whatever I can to help you continue to innovate the greatest hunting products in the world.