NPO GUEST BLOG: No Photo, no problem

NPO GUEST BLOG:

Editor’s Note:

I met Mr. Ben a few years ago through work. We instantly hit it off as a result of our mutual love for the outdoors. Since then, he and I have become close friends, regular hunting buddies and amicable 3-D archery rivals.

Mr. Ben is one of the most unique individuals I know, and he’s a lot of fun to be around. When he texted me to say he drew blood on this early Delaware bow season hunt, I excitedly asked him to send me a photo to share on my Facebook page.

When he informed me the only photo he took of his deer before butchering it was a half-skinned, headless doe carcass hanging in cold storage, I chastised him for not taking a better field photo.

This, in typical Mr. Ben fashion, was how he responded. On the bright side, at least I got a picture of his 2^nddeer- although the photo quality still doesn’t quite measure up to the entertaining quality of his writing…      - Tyler Frantz

No Photo, no problem.

By B.G. Ehrgood

A picture is worth a thousand words. But some times, with no pictures, the words are innumerable. As hunting and the 21st century collide on a course towards selfies in the blind, missing the 180-class buck walk by while scrolling Facebook, Instagram or your favorite go to finger game have unfortunately become the norm...

On a recent trip to Delaware for archery deer season, which starts September 1st, (yes I said September 1^st), my spirits were high, as a new season filled with unknown memories and familiar stories from seasons past brought tears of laughter as usual. Upon arrival, the tradition of fist pumping and high fiving were exuberant as our long, hot wait was finally over. Goodbye summer, hello fall. Spectacular.

Well maybe that long hot summer wasn't really over yet... Fall isn't here yet, and the heat and humidity are stubborn goats that just won't seem to get out of our way. Regardless, dates were set, plans were made, and come hell or high water, we were going to hunt.

4 a.m… Ouch, eww, snooze, snooze, snooze; Get up, it’s time to hunt! Coffee… more coffee. Here we go!

Rain plagued much of the morning, with hopes of it stopping only to be dashed by more bouts of liquid precipitation. But my friend and I couldn't tell as we sat in a ground blind protected from nature’s elements- and from suspecting eyes of the ever elusive whitetail.

1:30 p.m… Rain stops!

"Let's get back into the ground blind."

"That will be a long sit."

"So?"

"So let's do it."

Out we crept with arrows knocked back to our morning hide. Most hunters I know prefer the afternoon hunts for deer due to the ever growing enthusiasm as day turns to night...

Locked, loaded, and into the bewitching hour we go.

"Live action!"

The call was made to alert a hunting partner to put his phone down, stop scrolling and/or wake up from a nap, because deer were on the hoof and headed our direction.

As I pulled the bow to full draw, I was greeted by two sets of eyes staring straight down my arrow. I locked up and went numb. This is where shooting your local 3D course during the summer months pays big dividends. I was here to collect.

Thirty seconds passed at full draw before I knew it, and I finally found myself with a clean line for my Rage to enter the cage. I released and watched the Rage, Gold-Tip arrow and red light Nockturnal fly out the opposite side. The feeling was one that no hunter can truly capture with words. You have to experience it to feel it.

Fast forward through waiting, reliving, tracking, finding, field dressing, tagging, dragging and popping a top, to 'picture time'. Every hunter does it, or do they? Why must a picture be snapped, clicked, flashed or thumbed? When a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it still make a sound? YES!

And even though no picture was taken... My freezer will still be full of Mark’s delicious jalapeño cheese-stuffed venison delicacies. And that, my friends, is worth a 1,000 smiles.

Part Two Reprisal

By B.G. Ehrgood

We've all been there: Packing a vehicle with friends or family for a long road trip. "SHOTGUN," someone calls out loud and proud, as they solidify their spot in the coveted front seat with a large picture frame window to the world.

Someone else puts up a fight that they called it too early and therefore their claim is invalid followed by your call of "SHOTGUN" as you confirm with the driver that the trip is to commence. Much bickering and banter ensues and an agreement is made; he can have the front on the way there but it's yours on the way home. Deal.

Well, the opening day of Delaware archery season went in a similar manner. I was granted SHOTGUN on the primo selected spot where a fellow archer had previously taken a 13-point buck.

The spot once again proved its worth as 3 does came in the first afternoon of the season. I connected with one of them and had her back to the truck before dark- and with enough light to see into my cooler for a cold refreshment. It's the little things in life...

Fast forward to the next night, I relinquished 'shotgun' to my friend and local guide and found my way to the ‘backseat.’

I sat on a bucket inside a tent too small to draw my bow without hitting the blind. Low on hope but high on yesterday's kill, I sat and soaked up the solidarity of nature that I had so longed for during the months known as the off-season.

Just then, my eye caught movement. I honed in and to my surprise, I saw a caravan of brown headed my way. And from the 'backseat' I connect again with another Delaware swamp momma!

I had to laugh a little bit in utter amazement that it's not where you sit; it's where your heart is.

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