Hunters Thanksgiving As hunters we may have more to be thankful for than most, certainly no less. No not that new bow or that big buck you killed last weekend but certainly the memories and experiences that were made along the way. Hunters, and perhaps most notably bow hunters, spend a great deal of time in pursuit of their game. Countless sunrises and sunsets come and go each season, marking yet another day off the calendar, another day afield, another day closer to the end goal. Days often spent simply watching the birds, squirrels, and other random furry woodland creatures. A passing flock of Canada geese as they honk and glide overhead, or the rushing sound of a pair mallards diving down to the river like a pair of F-16’s. Those mornings with turkeys gobbling on roost and the pheasants cackling as they fly to feed, together creating a true orchestra to accompany the rising sun. Or the first deer on a cold November morning, his breath creating plumes of steam as he passes by, frost still on his back. The scream of a bull elk as last light fades, a promise of what’s to come tomorrow. The time spent in solitude, be it on a mountain side, maybe in a tree stand. Time spent in contemplation and reflection, absorbing nature and losing life’s stress. Coming home to family and friends after a successful hunt and enjoying the kill and the fine table fare to follow. Hunts and camps, successful or not, shared with likeminded individuals simply cannot be replaced. The morning hikes in, the full moon gleaming in a clear sky as a shooting star dances to the horizon. I could ramble on forever, but I think by now you get the point. Enjoy the little things each day while afield; don’t let yourself take them for granted. After all, that is why we are there, that is the hunt. As hunters we have more to be thankful for than most……
Very well put TJ. I've often thought the same things as I sit and watch the sunrise from a treestand. I really do feel pity for those who will never experience the scenes you describe. May God bless your family in the coming year. Blessings..........Pastorjim
