| I can still remember my first "real" hunting trip like it was | | | | "platform" was built with the strength to easily hold two |
| yesterday. I hunted some wild bore once in the army, | | | | since he had built it with the idea of having his son |
| and was out on some small game trips as well. But I | | | | along many times before. He had long studied the |
| had never really been to the hills to hunt for "buck". I | | | | terrain for a nice clear sight line including the air |
| was an invitee and I was more or less just along for | | | | currents to keep his scent from being detected. John |
| the ride. I didn't own a very good rifle at the time but | | | | had been hunting in this area for years and even |
| was promised the use of someone's extra. (This is | | | | though deer will change their trails from year to year |
| comical to me now because most hunter's can't have | | | | he always got a buck every year. And this year would |
| enough toy's, er rifles) But I did have several pocket | | | | be no exception. Immediately you realize the |
| knives (my trusty Case Knives and Buck Knives) that | | | | importance for being quiet and observant. This is |
| came along for the ride. | | | | harder than you may think. But since I had a good |
| One of the lodge members took me under his wing | | | | teacher it was easy to follow his lead. I must say this |
| and allowed me to go out hunting with him An elderly | | | | truly is a challenge, as you are on the deer's turf. |
| gentlemen with a world of knowledge in hunting. This | | | | On that day we did get a nice six pointer (John |
| was a very good and lucky break because as it | | | | brought it down with one clean shot) and the |
| turned out this fellow was not only very | | | | experience lives with me to this day. And this is where |
| knowledgeable but also willing to share his knowledge | | | | my Case Knives and Buck Knives came in handy. I |
| and experience. He also did have a rifle which he | | | | actually had better hunting knives than John. I think |
| gladly let me use. As I said my Case Knives and Buck | | | | without such an experience and mentor such as John, I |
| Knives were the only thing of use that I had brought | | | | may not have ever had the interest in hunting that I |
| along. | | | | now have today. John was the only lodge member to |
| My mentor John preferred to hunt alone in a tree | | | | get a buck, and each and every year he still does. |
| stand (a site to sit or stand that is up in a tree) John | | | | I have been deer hunting several times since but not |
| had built his own platform in a tree, high enough not to | | | | with my friend John. The "hunting and bonding" we did |
| be spotted from the ground. Although "home-made" | | | | that day was a great experience that will last my |
| tree stands are not recommended, John was a | | | | lifetime. I try to do my best as did John that day in |
| carpenter most of his life and had a stand that was | | | | passing along the knowledge and friendship. |
| quite safe and upgraded from time to time. His | | | | |