Posted on 11/12/2003 4:44:37 PM PST by SJackson
Ronald K. Tauber as told to Margaret L. Tauber Appleton (Outagamie County)
The older a deer hunter gets, the more he appreciates the true beauty of nature and its effect on his life. This past fall, as my orange-clad sons and grandsons gathered around to listen to the last-minute instructions before dawn on opening day of hunting season, I found myself smiling. I could recall my older brother, Marvin, giving me those same instructions I now was passing on to my sons and grandsons.
I thought how different they looked in their orange getup compared to our old, smelly red wool jackets, three pair of long john underwear (if we were lucky to have that many) and old work pants. My feet would be so cold that I'd put on every pair of socks I had; then Marvin told me that only made my feet colder, because I was cutting off the circulation, because it made my boots too tight.
That was 45 years ago. We had no backpacks in those days. We just stuffed our peanut butter and jelly sandwich wrapped in paper into the pockets of our jacket. It turns my stomach now when I think of how gross that sandwich looked and how it nearly always was squished and soggy by the time we ate them. But back then one of these peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - along with an apple and a candy bar - was a feast fit for a king.
As I watched my sons and grandsons pair off and go to their respected stumps, their cheeks flushed with excitement and the anticipation of what they were about to encounter, I felt a lump in my throat and that old twinge in my heart as I recalled the last fall I had hunted with my brother.
I had begged Marvin not to go hunting that year because he was having trouble with his legs, but nothing would keep him out of the woods. His pain showed in his eyes but he made light of it, saying the fresh air and exercise would put him right again.
His face was all drawn in pain as he tried to walk straight to impress me. He looked like a very old man. As he walked to his post, he had turned and pointed into the direction he would be going.
The sun was streaming through the pines and as my brother boosted his gun onto his shoulder, the sunlight reflected onto the barrel. For a moment, it was as if there was a halo around him.
I had sat watching till he was out of sight. I found myself studying the footprints he had left. I remember I got off my stump putting my boot into his print. It gave me a really safe feeling. I sat in silence asking myself why my brother would come out hunting when he was in so much pain.
But then I knew. For him hunting had never been just about getting his buck. It was the unexpected privilege of seeing nature at it's best. What hunter hasn't sat in awe on seeing a mother deer with her fawn or having a brave little chickadee perch on the bill of your cap or the barrel of your gun? There is a peacefulness that forces you to see with your soul, not just your eyes, the beauty that is before you.
I was uneasy as I thought about my brother, so I left my post. It wasn't a smart thing to do, and I was sure he would bawl me out and lecture me about responsibility. So when I walked up on Marvin, I was surprised that he hadn't heard me. He was just sitting on his stump, his gun was laid down beside him. The trees were heavy with snow and were hanging down all around him.
My brother had a look on his face that took my breath away. I had to stop myself from calling out to him; he looked as though he was in a trance. His face was so pale against his red jacket and he looked like a young boy; years younger, all the pain seemed to have left his face. He had kind of a smile on his lips.
At first, I thought Marvin was talking to himself. As I walked closer to him he saw me and looked up at me and smiled - not angry, but as if he was grateful that I had come to him. I sat down beside my brother.
The trees looked glorious as if they were decorated with tinsel. As the sun shone through them and onto the snow and brush, our surroundings were transformed into a sea of diamonds. It was a scene that a hunter gets to see, maybe once in a life time.
As I sat beside Marvin, neither of us saying a word, I felt at peace. I don't know how I knew that this was his last deer season, but I did.
As we sat together, guns laid aside, we both knew he hadn't come to hunt - he'd come to gaze once more on the glorious wonders of nature. For both of us, time had stopped as we watched as the chickadees put on a performance for us and the field mice played around our feet. Even a buck walked majestically past as if to pay his respects.
I'll always savor my brothers words when he expressed his love for the woods, for the stillness and peace he had always found and his words when he said "We are so lucky to have been a witness to peace and order that is far beyond our understanding."
Although three months later I had to face the pain of losing my brother, I was so privileged to have shared and witnessed his joy of his last hunting trip. As I sat with him through his last hours, I knew that when he closed his eyes that last time he was walking in his beloved woods that he had romped in as a boy and hunted in as a man.
I'll always remember the peaceful look on Marvin's face that afternoon in the snowy woods. We all have that secret place where we long to be. I know that for my brother, he had found that place on his last hunting trip.
Me too. It's a local LaCrosse paper. I'm not sure anyone get's paid much to write, it's from the heart.
It reminded me of the last hunt with my Dad so many years ago. Everything was perfect on what turned out to be his final buck season in the Sierra Nevada in Northern California. Early snow,fine clear weather. We even bagged a fat three pointer. It was the only time in all of our hunting trips that he let me make the coffee. Your story brought that week-end back to me in sharp clear detail. Thanks again. Pax-Aye Pmopah
It reminded me of the last hunt with my Dad so many years ago. Everything was perfect on what turned out to be his final buck season in the Sierra Nevada in Northern California. Early snow,fine clear weather. We even bagged a fat three pointer. It was the only time in all of our hunting trips that he let me make the coffee. Your story brought that week-end back to me in sharp clear detail. Thanks again. Pax-Aye Pompah
Nice story.
My enjoyment of being able to go out there stems from the inability to hunt here in Michigan and that particular area of Kansas is so desolate, flat, devoid of houses, traffic and nosey people that it is absolutely beautiful.......The most striking scenery is the cloudless nights where you can actually see every damn star in the universe!
I truly regret having used up my vacation time on superficial vacations because i am unable to return this year.
I didn't even mention the wonderful hospitality of the family who allows us to stay in their farmhouse.......
But one of the invited guests was the father of the Forestry Museum in east Texas, and if he wasn't 85, he sure looked it.
We had to help him with eating, getting out to his stand, even taking the safety off the gun.
He had been a regular guest of this hunt for at least 40 years, and he obviously loved it. He was a gem, far too old to be much of a threat to the deer population, but he was doing what he loved.
I'm not sure he'll be there next year, but your post certainly rang a bell with me.
Thought my FR fishin' buds might enjoy this.
sat in awe on seeing a mother deer with her fawn
I was hiking with this real city girl one time and walked right up to about 30' away from that once. The doe did a great job of hiding themselves in plain sight to the point where my girl thought I was nuts for a minute until she saw them both. I had her get behind me right away, we were way too close for safty with nothing but a plastic soda bottle and a pack of smokes for defense is she charged. But she didn't, she tried to lead us away from the fawn lying by a rock. We watched her for a minute or two and then left her alone. Well now, about 45 minutes later, after we found our way out of the woods from our impromptu hike, this crashing sound comes from the woods and who is it but the same doe and fawn. She skidded to a stop on the park road and just looked at us from about 20' away this time! Let me tell you was she(the doe) was even more suprised than me. After a good 15-20 seconds of the stare-down again, she bolted off into the woods from the way she came.
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, Thou hast been magnified exceedingly. Confession and majesty hast Thou put on, Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, Who stretchest out the heaven as it were a curtain; Who supporteth His chambers in the waters, Who appointeth the clouds for His ascent, Who walketh upon the wings of the winds, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire, Who establisheth the earth in the sureness thereof; it shall not be turned back for ever and ever. The abyss like a garment is His mantle; upon the mountains shall the waters stand. At Thy rebuke they will flee, at the voice of Thy thunder shall they be afraid. The mountains rise up and the plains sink down, unto the place where Thou hast established them. Thou appointedst a bound that they shall not pass, neither return to cover the earth. He sendeth forth springs in the valleys; between the mountains will the waters run. They shall give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild asses will wait to quench their thirst. Beside them will the birds of the heaven lodge, from the midst of the rocks will they give voice. He watereth the mountains from His chambers; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men, To bring forth bread out of the earth; and wine maketh glad the heart of man. To make his face cheerful with oil; and bread strengtheneth man's heart. The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon, which Thou hast planted. There will the sparrows make their nests; the house of the heron is chief among them. The high mountains are a refuge for the harts, and so is the rock for the hares. He hath made the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down. Thou appointedst the darkness, and there was the night, wherein all the beasts of the forest will go abroad. Young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their food from God. The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together, and they lay them down in their dens. But man shall go forth unto his work, and to his labor until the evening. How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is filled with Thy creation. So is this great and spacious sea, therein are things creeping innumerable, small living creatures with the great. There go the ships; there this dragon, whom Thou hast made to play therein. All things wait on Thee, to give them their food in due season; when Thou givest it them, they will gather it. When Thou openest Thy hand, all things shall be filled with goodness; when Thou turnest away Thy face, they shall be troubled. Thou wilt take their spirit, and they shall cease; and unto their dust shall they return. Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be unto the ages; the Lord will rejoice in His works. Who looketh on the earth and maketh it tremble, Who toucheth the mountains and they smoke. I will sing unto the Lord throughout my life, I will chant to my God for as long as I have my being. May my words be sweet unto Him, and I will rejoice in the Lord. O that sinners would cease from the earth, and they that work iniquity, that they should be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Until you have seen sunrise on a deer stand, experienced the excitement of the appearance of any deer, and the cold, numbing feeling as you sit so very still...you haven't experienced life the way God meant it to be!
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