Deep Roots

 

All families have Thanksgiving traditions, but I believe my family has a unique one. Every year my family and some we consider family meet at my grandparents house to celebrate Thanksgiving.  There are usually between 20-30 people that show up. That doesn't sound unusual except that they don't live there anymore. In fact both my blood grandparents are no longer with us.  The place is an old farm where my grandparents once made a living.  The property is still in the family and the house is still there, but no one lives there anymore.  However, I go there every chance I get.  This is my playground, hunting grounds, and family roots. My parents and uncle spend a lot of time, energy, and money out there maintaining the property, mostly for this once a year event. Without their efforts the gathering wouldn't be possible. 

It is located in what I consider one of the most beautiful places in Arkansas.  It is near where almost all of the major rivers in northwest Arkansas originate. The Kings river, Mulberry river, Buffalo river, and the White river all originate from this area. The wildlife is wild and there is plenty of it. The nearest town is about 45 minutes away and that town is not that big. When I need to get away, this place fits the bill. 

After we finish the noon meal we take a hike to the other side of the hill.  This is not just any hike to walk off lunch or just to see some of the amazing scenery, we hike to what we call the "big tree" or the "Bob place".   You may wonder why this is special to us. I will try to explain. My great great grandpa Bob homesteaded there from Kentucky. When he did he brought an Eastern Hemlock with him from Kentucky and planted it here.  It is a rare tree for this area because they are not native to Arkansas.  The government now owns that piece of land and it is part of the Ozark National Forest. The tree is still there. We visit it every year on Thanksgiving to remember those who came before us and maybe make us wonder what kind of legacy we will leave behind. If that tree could only talk it could tell us over a 100 years of history. It once stood at a homestead where every day activities took place to survive and now resides in the middle of the forest. I know it's just a tree, but this tree has a story.  One of these years that tree will fall, but because of that tree we will remember. What tree will you plant for the future generations to remember?

A head start

My friend Colby has is own deer camp that he attends every year with his family and friends.  They typically go out the day before gun season and set up camp.  Colby usually takes it a step farther and bow hunts on that day before gun season. This year it paid off for him.  This just proves the more time you spend in the woods, the better your chances. 

Late season buck

My dad's schedule didn't allow him to join us for deer camp, but he was able to go out later in the season and score this buck. 

Deer Camp 2016

Deer camp was a little different this year because of everyone's busy schedules.  We didn't have it till the second week of the modern gun season, the weather wasn't great, and then it was somewhat of a rotating door. We all didn't arrive and leave at the same time and I had to make a trip bank to town for a day during the trip.  However, with all of that we still had some quality time with some great friends and managed to harvest 4 deer between 4 the of us that were able to attend. One of them was a decent buck, two younger bucks, and one doe.  I only have a picture of 3 of them.  

First deer kill of the season

After a long summer and running out deer meat in the freezer, I was eager this year to bow hunt and start replenishing our deer meat supply. Besides that, bow hunting is my favorite method.  Little did I know that this would be a start to great season.  Since my number one goal was to harvest meat, I was hunting for the first good shot I could get. I've learned that sometimes you have to take what is giving to you or go home empty handed. 

This hunt couldn't have gone any better.  I had set up my tree stand the day before so I could just walk in and climb the tree with as little disturbance as possible.  I was settled in the stand about 30 minutes before shooting light.  It was a beautiful mild morning with a slightly overcast sky as I got to watch the sun rise.  Then it was one of those days that you dream of as far as deer movement is concerned.  I had a couple small groups of deer come by from different directions, but they were just out of bow range.  Until two deer come within ten yards of me. At that range I was able to make a text book shot, which qualified as the first good shot I was looking for.  This deer wasn't a trophy, but it was exactly what I needed. 

I consider myself very lucky and the harvested deer a blessing from God. Because, in no way I'm that skillful of a hunter.  If we are all honest, very few of us are. I harvest my fair share of deer at what I consider a pretty high percentage rate regarding number of deer taken verses number of hunts and number of shots taken versus kills.  But the reality is I'm just really lucky and blessed with just enough ability.  I do my best to put myself in a high percentage situation and I happen to be a pretty proficient with a bow and a gun. But at the end of the day most of the deer I harvest, I feel like they were "given" to me. All I had to do is make the shot.