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My name is Valeria and I live in the enchanting Alto Adige. Since I was a child, I have breathed the air of hunting. This passion was passed on to me by my grandfather and my father, fundamental figures in my life. Since I was a child, I spent days in the woods with them, learning to love and respect the nature that surrounds us. The loss of my grandfather, when I was only 10 years old, created pain and emptiness in me. He, who was my greatest idol, has always remained in my heart as a beacon of wisdom and passion for hunting. But his spirit has remained alive in me, also fueling the desire to explore and understand the wild world.
After a few years of hiatus, a friend of mine offered me the opportunity to go hunting again. At that moment, I felt a deep nostalgia for the moments spent with my grandfather. I accepted the invitation with enthusiasm, eager to rediscover those emotions I had experienced as a child. 
My first hunting adventure in a long time was an unforgettable experience. Walking the forest trails, observing the wildlife, and feeling my heartbeat accelerate as I wait for the right moment, all of this filled me with joy and gratitude. In those moments, I felt closer than ever to my grandfather, as if he were there with me, guiding and protecting me along the way.
After that day, I decided that hunting would return to be a part of my life in a more active way. I signed up for the South Tyrol hunting exams, eager to deepen my knowledge and share this passion with other people and friends. Even though the exam was really difficult, there were so many aspects to learn, but with commitment I did it.
My first year as a hunter was full of emotions and satisfactions. I was assigned a one-year-old roe deer and a chamois, and I anxiously awaited the moment to try my hand at hunting. I was so excited that I immediately set out on May 1st in search of the perfect selection roe deer. It took me several attempts, but on May 10th, 2022, in the exact place where I had fallen in love with hunting for the second time, I shot my first roe deer. It weighed less than 8 kilos and was very weak. The guide told me that to get through the winter it might not have survived.
I still remember as if it were yesterday the moment we set out towards our hunting reserve. The air was fresh and the silence of nature enveloped us as we walked along the path. I felt a mixture of emotion and when we arrived at the first place I felt dizzy and asked my friend to change to the place where we had gone together for the first time, also because it seemed like the right place for me.
No sooner said than done. We didn't even have to climb up to the hunting post in the tree, than my friend stopped me and indicated that I should be quiet, because right there, 80 meters in front of us, was a roe deer that was lying on the ground. My heart started beating faster as I prepared myself for my first hunting experience. My friend gave me a reassuring look and signaled me to control my excitement and stay calm.
With shaking hands and a pounding heart, I took my stance, eyes fixed on the forest. The seconds stretched into an eternity as we waited for the game to rise and get into position. Then my breathing stopped as I took aim at the deer through my rifle.
And then, with one calm breath, I fired my grandfather’s rifle. The world seemed to stop for an instant before the sound of the shot echoed through the woods. My heart was still pounding as I held the deer in my sights until it collapsed and my friend whispered “Weidmannsheil.”
A sense of awe and gratitude filled me as I looked at the downed deer. I was reeling in a rollercoaster of hunting emotions. In that moment, I realized the importance of my first hunting experience: not just as an act of hunting, but as a deep connection to nature and a reminder that we are part of a larger world and nature that deserved respect and protection. My first hunting experience had not only shown me how to become a hunter, but also how to become a nature steward – a legacy I would be proud to continue into the future. 
Hunting is not just a hobby for me, but a true philosophy of life. It teaches me respect for nature, gratitude for every moment spent outdoors and awareness of our role as guardians of the wild world. And, above all, it always reminds me of the special bond I have with my grandfather, my greatest idol, who continues to live through my passion for hunting and his rifle is always with me.
Di VALERIA GARTNER
