Story from Ranger's Station

[xcaliber]

Was coming out of the woods this morning, and had the Axe of course. I had the Charger Crank in my pack, the bow was cocked. I drop of my gear & heavy clothes, then go to uncock the Axe. These two older fellas are watching me do most of this. I think nothing about it but then they approach me. I'm letting down Axe, and the one guy says, look at that recurve crossbow! He says him & his buddy have wheelies, and they have to shoot their dummy arrow at the end of an unsuccessful hunt. One guy was a lefty, so I let him handle it, look thru the scope, etc. I then let him cock, and uncock with the Charger, he's getting two. One for him, one for his buddy for Christmas, early! Both gents are retired, one from the Marine Corp. the other an Old Jar Head, but retired Iron Worker, after Vietnam, he survived, and got the hell out. These old boys wrote everything down, no cell phone, no computer at home, just good ol folk. I felt young after talking about websites, forums, and stuff. Not vibrant young, mindful young. Like I was hip on chit or something. I told them that my daughters taught me a lot cause they grew up on this stuff. Anyway, I made two new friends today, Joe & Kelly. Kelly is called Gunny! I told him I would remember that. This is their first year deer hunting on this Area, so I helped them a bit on where to avoid, what's hot in certain wind, etc. They got kicked off a farm because the owner's kid was able to secure a lease that these boys cannot afford. Breaks my heart that two Veterans with maybe 8 years of hunting left can't finish it off there.
Oh, saw 6 deer, one buck but tiny. Had a shot at a mother deer with a young one, let her walk. Great day, but sad too. I really fear what the world will be for my Grand kids.

[gerald strine]

Good stuff keep up the good work, made new contacts, passed on knowledge, and helped new hunters, great day hunting all the way around you never know what a day in the woods will turn into.

[Reinyrooster]

Sounds like you had a great day.

[Owl Creek]

Great post. Enjoyed it.

[papa bear1]

Good on ya Dan
a great hunt, new friends, takeing time to be kind to strangers,
and veterans, thumbs up to you sir.

Dave

[rayman]

"I really fear what the world will be for my Grand kids."

Getting more and more that you have to buy a small hunting tract for yourself or else you are at the mercy of others.

Was out yesterday inspecting a timber property for a customer, riding around on an atv, and on the way back to the truck went down one last small road. Came around a bend and there was a guy waving at me from inside a ground blind. I turned around and left, and felt bad for messing up someone's hunt. I called the landowner and told him about it and told him to apologize to his hunter on my behalf. About an hour later I had a call and it was the hunter that was in the ground blind. Turned out is was someone I knew but haven't seen in a few years and we talked for about an hour.

[amythntr]

....brings a tear to my eye....men who respect, men who served, men with a moral compass, men not entrapped in the "wants" of society...whats not to like! Great story!

Anthony

[grouse]

Nice story! I'm a 70 year old veteran of the same era, though I never served overseas. Some statements and assumptions in the story bothered me a little. Not all of us are technologically challenged, I've been operating a computer for at least 30 years and I've had a smart phone for nearly 10 years now. Also, I know that I may not finish this season (true for everyone) my expectation is to hunt a lot longer than 8 more years!

I know I'm taking slight offense where none was intended but I just wanted to point a couple of things out.

[xcaliber]

Nice story! I'm a 70 year old veteran of the same era, though I never served overseas. Some statements and assumptions in the story bothered me a little. Not all of us are technologically challenged, I've been operating a computer for at least 30 years and I've had a smart phone for nearly 10 years now. Also, I know that I may not finish this season (true for everyone) my expectation is to hunt a lot longer than 8 more years!

I know I'm taking slight offense where none was intended but I just wanted to point a couple of things out.

Not trying to limit anyone’s time left to hunt, or categorize anyone’s abilities and apologize to anybody who may have taken it that way.

[paulaboutform]

Dan, I never got any of the negative from your story...none! It was a great story and I appreciated reading it. I'm 50 and darn near 'tech' illiterate. I prefer it that way. Has nothing to do with being old, I just prefer the 'old ways'. Thanks for your awesome story!

Paul

[Bcxbow]

Thanks for sharing this Dan

[BrotherRon]

Great read Dan...

[papa bear1]

Dan, I never got any of the negative from your story...none! It was a great story and I appreciated reading it. I'm 50 and darn near 'tech' illiterate. I prefer it that way. Has nothing to do with being old, I just prefer the 'old ways'. Thanks for your awesome story!

Paul

x2

[Cardinalsfanforever]

great story. I'm 64 next week, use my computer a lot. if it wasn't for grandkids I wouldn't have a smart phone. My last job required computer use a lot.
I enjoyed your story. new friends are worth a lot.