Deer Hunter by James White

By James White

Chesterton, IN

I remember my days as a ‘deer hunter’ well. I couldn’t wait until November came around every year; it was deer season!

It’s like a ritual where I’m from in North Missouri. All the guys start wearing camouflage in September and we didn’t take it off until…..well, we never took it off. It is part of the process around here. Camouflage and Copenhagen, those two go together like fried potatoes and onions! Even the women wear camouflage and some of them even chew a little tobacco!

Hell, I think babies come out wearing camouflage diapers!

Seriously though…I couldn’t wait to get out in the woods before daybreak and just sit in solitude at my tree stand about 12 feet high and listen to the forest come alive. Usually, the first little critters to make a noise are the squirrels. They make more noise than any other animals in the forest. For being so small, they can create a big noise. They begin to chatter to one another saying good morning. It is rather comical at times. Then the birds begin to leisurely fly around and sing their songs while enjoying the morning sunlight beaming through the trees.

Most mornings, I would see a few wild turkeys fluttering off their roost from the night and making their way through the woods as if they were on a mission. It is such a magical experience sitting in a tree listening to the peaceful harmony these wild animals bring to the forest. Animals communicate with each other. It’s brilliant and they communicate exceptionally well.

I’ve killed a lot of deer through the years—yes, I said killed. I know some people may think it’s barbaric or inhumane, and maybe it is to a point. But I’m not here to condone or condemn deer hunting. It is necessary to help control the population of these animals in certain areas of the United States. Missouri is overpopulated with deer, and the Missouri Conservation Department does a wonderful job with the hunting season.

I should add that it’s not sport hunting. These deer bring a lot of meat to people and can be an economic bridge for families during the winter months. Deer meat (venison) is delicious if you know how to process it and cook it. You can make all kinds of different dishes with it. Deer chili is great, and deer sausage is one of my favorites! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

I haven’t been deer hunting since 1999.

It was warm for that time of year; I remember my brother and I standing by the camper at my Grandpa’s farm; where we always hunted, trying to decide if it would be worth going to our stands. I finally decided I was going and took off walking to my stand about a quarter of a mile or so. It is such a beautiful spot of land my Grandpa’s farm, he had over 200 acres of prime farm ground, but he stopped farming and let it grow up in to a reserve basically. It was full of animal life. I loved that farm. He has since passed, and the farm has been sold.

I made it to my deer stand and settled in for what I thought would be a relaxing afternoon. It was around 11 AM when I sat down in the chair I strategically placed in the stand. The sun was shining, it was about 70 degrees (usually it’s around 30 or 40), a light breeze was blowing leaves around, and I was not thinking of seeing a deer.

I looked up at the corner of the open field in front of me and saw a buck pop out into the open—he looked huge! Then he popped back into the woods, and I couldn’t see him. I sat there, my heart pounding, and I wondered if I should get down and try to walk closer to him.

A few minutes passed, and I was almost ready to get out of my stand and go after this huge buck when all of a sudden, he came out of the trees about 75 yards from me into the open field and started walking toward me.

My heart was racing, and I think I broke out into a sweat. I gathered my thoughts and concentrated, took a deep breath or two, and slowly raised my rifle to get the shot. I saw the massive buck through my scope and almost fell out of my stand. I took another breath and fired.

As the buck with a large rack was going down, his eyes locked with mine. He looked at me, and I swear he looked at my soul. It was the biggest deer I ever killed, and it was also the last deer I killed.

That deer spoke to me as he was dying, and I listened. That was my last shot; I can’t kill anymore. It’s been over fifteen years, but I still see that beautiful buck walking up to me like it was yesterday. I hope animals go on to their ‘heaven’ or whatever it is they go to after this life, the Buddhists say animals go on to become humans. If that’s true, I hope that buck finds nothing but happiness, success and love in his human form. I regret taking his life from him, especially when all he was doing was enjoying the beautiful day and taking a walk in the woods just like I was doing. But I guess that’s how this world revolves. We’re all part of the food chain. True story!

I’ve since moved away from my hometown and the rolling hills and farmland of North Missouri; I haven’t been in those woods for way too long now, and I look forward to the day I can return with a camera, not a gun.

I miss sitting quietly in the woods listening to the animals chatting with one another while playing their animal games. Those visions and sounds will forever be embedded in my mind.

The deer hunting continues and always will, but for me, I’ll just enjoy the beauty of the natural world and continue to be inspired by its awesome presence. It captured my heart a long time ago, and it has never let go. I intend to let it reside there forever.

We have a saying where I’m from that goes, ‘If the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise,’I’ll live to see another day.’ I can’t wait for the day when I can once again sit with my friends in peace. Have a wonderful and inspiring