"Time Well Spent"
....a recap of the 2005 season by Steve Bemke
When the 2005 season began last spring with the sounds of an unremitting
whippoorwill, later followed by an astute
barred owl, interrupted by the defining echo of a determined gobbler, I could
never have expected what the year would bring.
2005 ultimately shaped the beginning of a passionate group of hunters who loved the outdoors and came together to share some compelling experiences. They call themselves the “Heartland Hunters” and saw something change that was more than a name.
I had one of the toughest Missouri Spring turkey seasons that I endured in 05’. After countless toms played with my emotions and a painful miss on an alert jake; I found my self left with an unfilled turkey tag for the first time in a long while. The thing was, even though I had not taken a bird that Spring, I still came away with some great memories.
You see, I had the opportunity to take along a new hunting partner with me
last spring.
Never once taking or granted; I have been fortunate to have access to private
hunting ground my entire life. However, no matter how many times you hunt
on your own, and no matter how successful you are, nothing beats hunting with
a partner—whether it’s with friends, family, or a loved one—to
share in the outdoor experience.
Mark, who accompanied me on this trip, and I were both unsuccessful in harvesting a bird. Still, we encountered our share of turkeys; including a hen sitting on her nest in anticipation of a new generation, as well as several turkeys flying to their roost just off the river as we eased down the Gasconade in search of a few hungry fish one evening.
Mark offered to bring his boat along on this trip, which gave me an opportunity to do
some long overdue fishing on the Gasconade River. We caught some needed bait for our limb-lines we later prepared, as well as I had caught my first ever smallmouth. Later that night, one massive flathead was strong enough to straighten out the strongest of hooks on our new set up. I believe Mark’s words the night we set the lines were “the guy who sold me these hooks assured me nothing could bend them.”
In the past couple of years, what started off as one of us attending a 3-D
archery tournament, developed into half dozen bow hunters attending 3-D events
together to share in stories, competition and frequent laugh’s. It was
here where associations became friendships and ideas evolved into hunting
trips.
We took trips north for water fowl, were the severe cold meant survival for the hunters, but a true vacation for a passionate lab. We also encountered a doe season that ended with enough steaks to go around twice, and a long night of rounding up some aloof cows.
We even planned a wild boar trip to cap off the season in hopes of smoked ham to get us through the winter. We went into the trip, knowing the odds were against us as we stalked the woods with only our bows in hand, and left the woods behind with out a boar to our name.
Mark and I were lucky enough to lay down some amusing videofootage of some vigilant boars who caught site of us at less than a dozen paces, as we stalked within there domain. None of which were the trophy I was holding out for, but enjoyed the rush of getting close. Brett was able to get with in 50 yards of a few substantial boars, but was unable to close the final yards to get off a comfortable shot within bow range.
Jim, felt the high of connecting with a large boar, but was faced with the nauseous feeling we all dread when we try and try, but cannot recover the respected game we pursued.
Funny thing was, on the ride home; I thought to myself how disappointed I was in my failed efforts to bring down a boar. Still when I arrived back home that evening, and my wife asked be how the trip was, I had nothing to complain about. I recognized I had taken a risk in holding out for a larger boar, but most notably, I had a great time with three other first-class hunters who hunted hard through rain and cold doing what they love along with me.
You see, this past year, we did more than spend some time experiencing, highs and lows, laughs and frustration. We began a tradition; a tradition that will continue to grow, along with the friendships and memories that we create on every outing.
It’s shaking hands after a successful hunt. For some of us, it will be introducing a son or daughter to the outdoors, for others, it’s about looking forward to another hunt with the father or grandfather who made this all possible. And for all of us, it’s about one more person to share a lasting story with.
It’s the time well spent together that makes each day in the woods
that much better, and each morning on the lake seem like the first.
Since we created the Heartland Hunters, we saw ourselves change. We grew as
hunters and remembered the worth of sharing in the experience.
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| heartlandhunters.com |
