When Dylan Hopkins was younger, his father had a pet phrase that aptly described the sharp-shooting youth.

“Since he was 7, I’ve called him ‘The Hunting Boy From Troy,'” Carl Hopkins said the other day, as he sat at the dining room table of his home in that small town.

Over the years, things have changed a little. While still technically a boy of 13, Dylan Hopkins has amassed such a string of hunting successes that his father has modified that description a bit.

“I told him this morning that he’s a young man now,” Carl Hopkins said proudly.

The new label may not roll off the tongue quite as smoothly. But his father is certain it fits.

While many families embrace Maine’s outdoor heritage, Carl and Dylan Hopkins can show you a pile of photos that illustrate their love for time spent in the woods in search of big game.

Dylan has been hunting since he was 7, you see. He wasn’t allowed to actually pull the trigger on a hunt until he was an old 10-year-old. But long before that, he hunted.

“I was brought up with hunting,” he says. “I was in on all the kills that my father had when I was younger, before I was 10. Even without shooting the animal, when I went to track it with my father, I’d have the adrenaline rush when I was little. I still have that.”

The photos show that Dylan has spent quite a bit of time feeling that adrenaline rush over the past three years.

Just look at the snapshots.

There’s Dylan with one of the three black bears he has shot.

There’s Dylan with one of the three caribou he has bagged.

There’s Dylan with one of the three deer he has harvested.

And (now it’s time to really pay attention) there’s Dylan with one of the two moose he shot … last week.

That’s right. Two moose. One week.

Carl Hopkins explained that after applying for a moose permit since the lottery was instituted back in 1980, he finally got lucky this year.

So did Dylan.

And each was the other’s subpermittee.

There was, however, a catch.

“My dad was drawn for [Wildlife Management District] 11 the same week I was drawn for zone 4,” Dylan Hopkins said. “My dad said, ‘That’s really good,’ but we weren’t really expecting to get them for different zones in the same year.”

If you’re not one of those folks who wear blaze orange from September through December, and who don’t yet think of the Maine map in terms of WMD’s, let me draw you a quick picture.

WMD 4 is north of the Golden Road. It stretches from Baxter State Park west all the way to the Quebec border.

And WMD 11? It’s well to the east of zone 4, essentially an honest-to-goodness “can’t-get-there-from-here” drive through the forest.

Carl Hopkins remembers finding out about the logistical nightmare that he faced, and shakes his head.

“I knew it was going to be really tough, going to opposite ends of the state,” he said. “but after 20-some years [entering the lottery], it’s tough to complain. Everybody else would have liked to have been in my shoes.”

During that week of hunting, Carl Hopkins said he drove 1,100 miles on dirt roads. That’s not including the to-and-from portions of the trip that were made on more comfortable paved highways.

The Hopkins men made a flexible plan for their hunts. Dylan’s zone came first. He could shoot whichever bull he chose … though both knew he wanted to find a moose with a large set of antlers. Then, they’d regroup and head for Carl’s zone.

Sound simple? Think again.

“We hunted four days [in WMD 4] until I finally shot my moose,” Dylan Hopkins said. “We saw 32 moose, and two were ‘shootables.’ I wanted something that had a rack for the wall.”

On Thursday, he got one: He bagged a 675-pounder with a 12-point rack that had a 36-inch spread.

Then it was back to Troy (arrival time: midnight) … to the butcher shop (early the next morning) … and then back on the road.

They finally reached WMD 11 at 3:30 p.m., put in a couple hours of hunting, then headed back to camp.

Early the next morning, the pair went back into the woods at 6:30. By 7, they’d found their moose.

And once again, Dylan pulled the trigger. The reason, Carl explained, was simple.

“It’s so much more of a thrill for me,” he said. “I’ve killed a lot of big game animals. It’s more thrill for me by far to watch him shoot one.”

Another benefit, Carl said, is that he never ends up second-guessing his young son. Dylan Hopkins has learned his lessons well.

“I’ll tell you what: He’s the best shot I’ve ever seen,” Carl Hopkins said.

Not only that: Dylan has become so used to being in the woods … and bagging big game … that he’s supremely confident in his abilities.

“My dad said he still had quite a bit of buck fever. But I told him I don’t really get buck fever,” Dylan said. “I think that makes me a good hunter, because when I used to have buck fever when I was little I used to shake when I saw animals and stuff. I probably would miss the shot.”

After such an eventful week, you may think that Dylan would have had enough of hunting for a while. You’d be wrong.

After all, he is … or was … The Hunting Boy From Troy.

Today is the state’s Youth Deer Day. And Dylan and his dad will be back in the woods … with a plan.

If a big buck crosses their path, Dylan will shoot it. And if not? He may be just as happy.

“I want to hunt all season,” he said. “If I take a big buck, it’ll be worth it not being able to hunt the rest of the season. If it’s a little one, it’s not worth it.”

While most of us will have to wait a week to head afield in search of deer, the state’s popular Youth Deer Day will give Maine youngsters a head start on the season this morning.

Last year’s hunt generated plenty of interest … and (I’m happy to report) a lot of interesting stories.

If a youngster in your life is heading into the woods today, good luck to both of you. And if you end up with an interesting tale to tell, let me know.

In particular, I’d be interested in hearing reflections on memorable first hunts (whether there’s a deer involved in the equation or not). Also, if your child ends up bagging a big deer … or their first deer … let me know. As you likely realize, I can’t print everything I hear in situations like this. But I do plan on compiling several interesting stories for a future column … or two.

One final word on the matter: If you’ve got a young hunter in your family, I hope you take part in this special day.

Based on the flood of special Youth Deer Day stories I heard a year ago, you won’t regret it.

Finally, I’ll ask for your help in finding a unique … or quirky … or traditional … deer camp for a future column or two.

A quick explanation: I’m not looking for an established business or “sporting camp.” I’m searching for one (or more) of those camps that Maine families and friends visit during deer season. Musty and dusty is OK. Primitive is perfect. Way out in the sticks? Even better.

I’ve already received some good leads, but any other input readers choose to give me would be appreciated.

The plan is to visit one or more during deer season, then offer you a glimpse of those deer camp experiences.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.