| Author |
Message |
Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
| | Posted on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 11:45 am: | |
What a hunting season it has been so far… With all of the “firsts” over the last several days I took a moment to reflect on things and what it all means to me.
I have been very fortunate over the years to be involved in some way or another with many first hunts and first kills. I have been sitting shoulder to shoulder with many hunters as they took their first turkey or deer. I have seen tears in many eyes, including my own, as they look at that first longbeard or buck. The excitement and feelings that I have seen and experienced will be with me forever. It’s not about the kill… it’s about the hunt and the moments that are shared, whether successful or not, that I look back on now and realize that those are the special ones.
It’s not about the beards and spurs, or the antlers on the wall, but it’s about the memories… ones that will last forever and stay in our hearts... memories that we share with special people. I have shared many special moments in the last several years with friends and family, here in VA and out of state. Over the last several days I was fortunate to be involved in several very special hunts- One hunt where a good friend shot his first buck with the bow and the excitement of finding the deer after a good shot and a tracking experience will forever be in my mind. It makes me think back to that first deer that I arrowed and I felt the excitement with him. Another hunt where a father and son stalked bushytails in a small woodlot as I watched from a distance wondering what they were saying as they closed in on the squirrels… seeing the excitement in the child’s eyes as they stalked through the woods. Laughing when the father turned to me to signal the boy had fallen asleep after a few hours and the action had slowed. And then, to be involved on a hunt where a young lady, with her father and my wife by her side, took her first buck in a very special place to me… and will now be very special to them. The response to her father’s question of “How do you feel?” brought tears to my eyes. To see and feel so much emotion really opens your eyes to why we are really out there…
My most cherished hunting moments are not those times when I have been by myself and successful but the times that I shared with my friends, new and old, in the outdoors. So, just remember when you are out there this fall… take in all the sights, sounds, and smells to make that memory… and all the more better if you are sitting next to a good friend to share it with… |
vabirdhunter
| | Posted on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 3:07 pm: | |
Amen freddy, Amen |
Aussie Girl
| | Posted on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 7:37 pm: | |
;^) I just don't know what to say!! That was stated very well!!thanks again for putting up with me and my brother and opening our horizons to something new and wonderfull!! Thanks a bunch!!
Love ya'll!!
~§*Syd |
FlatLand Gobbler
| | Posted on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 9:58 pm: | |
Freddy,
I think what we do matters. I believe that what we are gifted to be able to do, whether it is hunting, tracking, singing, whatever it is, we are supposed to share our gifts with others. Bravo! You are doing it right brother! Thanks for setting the pace. I hope others will see and heed the example.
Ron |
Strutstopper
| | Posted on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 5:33 am: | |
Here, here! Couldn't have said it better. |
GN
| | Posted on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 9:02 am: | |
I have been trying to tell you all that there was something to this boy..... |
HODY
| | Posted on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 9:27 am: | |
GN it does not take long to figure that one out, that is for sure. There is not much he says that does not make sense, or make you think. You need to make the banquest next year GN, so you can meet the rest of us as well. |
Diablo
| | Posted on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 11:01 am: | |
Freddy - you said it so well. Stop, look, listen, enjoy, share, remember...so simple and so accurate. We all should carry this message to others - we know some folks that would listen and unfortunately also know some folks that would not understand. Talk to the children about his comments and help them see the deeper side of the adventure...they may struggle with it at first, but if they hear a consistent message from their parents and friends, it won't be long before they convey the message themselves. It's no big surprise to any of us that God's message is threaded throughout these messages...think about it.
As you can all imagine I've had a few days to reflect back upon the events of this past weekend. The images in my mind's eye are those of smiling faces, laughter, excitement,and the curiosity that comes with new adventures and new experiences. The images are of incredible scenery and wonderful fellowship between very close and very dear friends...and the incredibly genuine generosity and hospitality that is not often found in today's society....all the stuff great day dreams are made of to replayed over and over....
I've been watching all the posts of congrats for Sydney's hunt...Thank you so much...I enjoyed watching Sydney's reaction as she smiled while reading all the comments. And I've watched even more closely the posts here under this topic that Freddy started when he wrote "What it means to me..." The emotion I felt rolled down my cheek as I read and re-read his wonderful comments then I remembered a story that I felt might be worth sharing.
It was May 4, 1998, several days into WV's spring gobbler season and the gobblers were abusing me very bad...I hadn't even had one "play the game" yet and was getting pretty frustrated, so I decided to sleep in one morning and take Sydney (8 years old) to school...then hit the woods by mid morning. On the way to school, Sydney asked me why I looked so upset. I told her how frustrated I was that I had worked so hard - put so much time in with so little action...to which she responed "But Daddy, isn't that the fun of it?!" I smiled and knew she was so right. I walked her into school gave her a hug...when I got back to my truck, I wrote down her comment and carry it with me to this day. She had reminded me of what I had preached so often but had obviously forgotten...it's the hunt, not the kill that matters...make the memories and share 'em.
I headed to the woods where I proceeded to strike a gobbler that played the game with me for almost 3 hours...the end of the hunt really doesn't matter!
Hunting is a magical, intellectual, tactical exercise conducted out of doors. It is a personal, contemplative sport and does not require the production of a dead animal to be classified a success. The only requirement is that you chase...nowhere is it written that you have to catch...catching sometimes spoils the story...unless, of course, if it's your first. :-)
How truly blessed we all are....
JD |
VA Hen
| | Posted on Friday, November 08, 2002 - 8:47 pm: | |
The memories that we make each and every season and wonderful friends that we share it with is really what matters. We can all go in the woods by ourselves and have an awesome hunt, but it's something about going in the woods with friends that makes the memories stand out the most.
I want to thank each and every one of you who are on this board. It's friends like all of you who help keep our memories fresh no matter how long between hunting seasons.
I also want to thank my husband for being the best hunting partner I could ever ask for. He has been with me when I harvested my first deer and my first fall & spring turkeys. The memories of all three of those hunts are still very clear in my mind.
Freddy - I Love You and thanks for letting me "tag along" with you. It's great to watch what "makes you tick".
Syd - you are welcome to be my "hunting buddy" anytime you want!
Diablo - It was an honor to share the moment of Sydney's first deer. Thank You!
Take time to see the woods wake up and always remember how awesome all of God's creations are!
Amy |
Kinzua Beards
| | Posted on Monday, November 11, 2002 - 11:51 am: | |
Congrat's to all who have harvested their quarry and posted it here for all of us to enjoy with you. A big THANK YOU, to all of you who have taken the kids hunting, taught them to respect and revel in natures majesty, to be responsible for their own actions whether it's in the woods or in public. These kids will lead this nation in the near future, they are the life blood of this country.
It's amazing to me how when you start hunting, the hunt isn't complete if you don't harvest what your hunting for. Then after you connect a couple times now your a little more selective, looking still to fill the game bag, but with a 6 or 8 point not a spike or a longbeard, not a jake. After a time you are still looking for that trophy animal,if you get one thats good, but what truly makes the hunt is seeing a bobcat while on stand, a classy bird dog on point and a grouse rocketing through the red and yellow leaves of a perfect fall day, a flock of ducks passing your blind just out of range on a blustery November day ( perfect day for waterfowlers )The little things that become more enjoyable and burn in your memory, the smell of gun oil and the feel of that trusty old gun you carry every year, the smell of a wet dog, the nap in front of the fire after a day in the woods. And most of all spending time with family and friends and keeping traditions alive. Good Luck to All. |
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