A Hunting We Will Go.....

Hunting.  I LOVE going on our hunting trips.  This year we were gone for 8 days.  It was Awesome!!
No TV,  no internet, no cell phone, just the wonderful beauty and sound of nature.   Our hunting camp is a little different then most.  (Well, I really don't know that for sure because I haven't been in that many hunting camps, but I am guessing.)  In our camp.... they allow women, which is probably more normal now then it was 30 years ago.   Another difference is years ago, my Farmers dad always took a bottle of whiskey to be opened when someone had a successful hunt.  We take a lot of bottles of whiskey and start happy hour everyday around 5:00 (or earlier).  I think we are successful just being there..... so let's celebrate.....every day.

I think the term "Going Hunting" some times gets a bad rap.  I once overheard some women talking about hunting.  Saying its a good thing those guys can go shoot at a animal or else they would be killing people.  This really made me mad.   I look back now and wish I would have said something.  Most hunters are out there doing the basic skill.....to provide food for their family.  A very important thing.  Not everyone can hunt, it takes very unique skills.  Get up before dawn (right there I'm out),  walk around in the woods (which takes being in shape), without making any noise (which may be why my Farmer does not let me go out with him), and have patience (ummm, out there too!).  Yep, takes skill. (Yes, I stay in camp)  But what I see as the biggest thing with hunting is the camaraderie that takes place. This is the real reason for a hunting trip.  I kind of look at it this way.....say a lady needs a new pair of shoes.  She could just go buy a pair by herself and be happy.  But it would be so much more fun if she invited a few friends, took in lunch, maybe a nice glass of wine, make a whole day of it as they "hunted" for that perfect pair of shoes.  Do you see guys doing this?  No...they hunt for game and make a week of it. 

Now, back to our hunting camp.   Next to our cocktail hour, the next best thing is the food.  And dang do we eat good!  Everything is cooked over the open fire and in Dutch ovens.  This might be one reason no one in our camp is to energetic about hunting.  By the time you eat everything we cook, everyone is too full to do much hiking.  And if you kill something,  the work starts and you might miss happy hour.   Unless the animal walks thru camp.  But chances are he will escape before someone finds their gun.....and loads it. 

Ok, I really have kind of made fun of our guys at hunting camp.  They really do get out of camp and go hunting.  Now as for my Farmer, and hunting for game, I really think he hunts harder for that perfect place, with that perfect view, to sit, eat lunch, and take a nap.  And if you ask him, I am positive he will agree.  To him, that's what it's about.  Its his vacation.  Its what gets him through the long summer days, working sun up to sun down with no days off.  Looking forward to that week in the mountains, sitting around the camp fire, sharing stories of past hunting trips, reconnecting with family and friends...and with nature.....rejuvenating the soul.  Its a wonderful experience.  That, my friends, is an awesome vacation, its our hunting trip.   And its part of how we are Livin' the life....the Farm Life that is.......