You don’t hunt you don’t eat

[Sir Henry]

I had dinner with the neighbors last night and asked if anyone has heard me shooting. No one had. Then the 97 year old grandmother asked me if I hunted. I said no and she replied if you don’t hunt you don’t eat. Followed was her stories of harvesting deer with bow and her encounters with bear. After dinner was over everyone left the table except me and “mommie”. We stayed at the table for another two hours and she kept telling me stories about the area. She moved here in 1946 with her husband. He was born here as was his father and grandfather. The family was owned the land for 150 years.

Other neighbors have owned land for almost as long. The house I bought was built in the 1890’s and the owner of the land around me was born in my house. Another neighbor was born in the log cabin that I can see from my front window.

This area is heaven if you can survive the long winters.

[JEBar]

"You don’t hunt you don’t eat" is all too well understood in our family .... my father's people come from Western NC ... back during the great depression, his parents along the families of his brothers and sister had to raise gardens, hunt and fish in order to survive .... sounds more and more like you've moved to an area with great neighbors

[Vaquero]

Sounds like a wonderful evening.
I still hunt some but I don't depend on it.
Now back in my early 20's I did, raising a family and tryin to make ends meet.

RP

[daytime dave]

It sounds like you are making friends quickly there. It's nice that they have welcomed you like that. It sounds like a great place.

[BigAl52]

Might not be any palm trees there Gene but it sounds like you have found paradise in your life

[Hatchdog]

That’s awesome that a 97 year old can sit for a couple of hours and share stories. What a treasure!

[Sir Henry]

It sounds like you are making friends quickly there. It's nice that they have welcomed you like that. It sounds like a great place.

It’s great for someone with my political views. I see lots of signs saying hurrah for one political party. It is especially heavy within 10 miles of me. I had breakfast with a group at the Hill of Beans and mentioned I didn’t lock my house when I left. Everyone at the table said they don’t lock their house unless they are going to be gone for the night. A couple of the people added they always leave the keys in the ignition.

If I were a criminal and saw all the signs I would move on. The names and charges of the Price County Jail inmates is online. A few property crimes in towns of a few thousand but few in the country. Drunken bar fights and spousal abuse are the biggest crimes.

Going into the larger cities things change and robbery and assaults are more frequent. The Driftless Area further south near the Illinois border is almost as rural as here yet the demographics are totally different.

I have only ventured north about 20 miles and don’t know what is up there. I suspect it’s even more to my political liking. I can see on the maps there are National Forests and fewer roads. The population can double in the summer with tourists and I’m right at the edge of where that all begins. Joanie has been a great help in showing me the lines where things change.

I love it here.

[Sir Henry]

Might not be any palm trees there Gene but it sounds like you have found paradise in your life

These are the trees I see. The picture was taken a week or so ago when we had a warm spell. The sap is no longer flowing.

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[Sir Henry]

That’s awesome that a 97 year old can sit for a couple of hours and share stories. What a treasure!

Her memory and eyesight are good. She showed me the family picture album and she had no trouble remembering names and she could easily see to identify people and places.

[BigAl52]

I like real maple syrup. Aint nothin better.

[RanchRoper]

Sounds like a great place.

[Shakey Jake]

Great story! Glad to hear that you're getting to know the neighbors.
Jake

[Steve51]

I hunt some but no expert by any means. If my food supply depended on it, I'd be a lot slimmer and hungry. I actually like fishing better than hunting.
My grandpa was no hunter but he did raise cattle, hogs, & chickens and farmed the land with a team of mules until 1935 - traded is team of mules for a John Deere model B.
Sir Henry, I bet the winters are hard but if there could be heaven on earth, you must be close.

[RanchRoper]

I don't hunt now, however when SHTF I will be more than ready.

[Sir Henry]

I hunt some but no expert by any means. If my food supply depended on it, I'd be a lot slimmer and hungry. I actually like fishing better than hunting.
My grandpa was no hunter but he did raise cattle, hogs, & chickens and farmed the land with a team of mules until 1935 - traded is team of mules for a John Deere model B.
Sir Henry, I bet the winters are hard but if there could be heaven on earth, you must be close.

Days are getting longer and even though it got down below zero it got up to 38 in the day. I like the cold although at times it get old. All things considered this is heaven.

I don't hunt now, however when SHTF I will be more than ready.

If the SHTF I’m moving in with you!

[Hatchdog]

Those who live in the north appreciate spring just a little bit more than folks who live in a not so cold environment. It’s the reward for a hard winter.

I no longer hunt big game but if the need arose I could get out and get it done just fine. I raise my eyebrows at people who live in bigger cities who state that if the SHTF they would bug out and survive off the land. There is such a limited amount of wildlife out there that even a mild influx of people bugging out would soon wipe out all the game. But i suppose it’s better than the alternative of staying in the urban area’s with the looting and rioting that would happen. Okay, Debbie Downer Hatch, back on topic of a wonderful 97 year old women who has seen it all.

[Sir Henry]

Those who live in the north appreciate spring just a little bit more than folks who live in a not so cold environment. It’s the reward for a hard winter.

I no longer hunt big game but if the need arose I could get out and get it done just fine. I raise my eyebrows at people who live in bigger cities who state that if the SHTF they would bug out and survive off the land. There is such a limited amount of wildlife out there that even a mild influx of people bugging out would soon wipe out all the game. But i suppose it’s better than the alternative of staying in the urban area’s with the looting and rioting that would happen. Okay, Debbie Downer Hatch, back on topic of a wonderful 97 year old women who has seen it all.

I do want to harvest one deer in my life. I believe in ‘fair chase’ and will allow myself one bullet. If I can’t absolutely know that I can drop the animal in its tracks I will pass on taking the shot.

[Redthies]

I do want to harvest one deer in my life. I believe in ‘fair chase’ and will allow myself one bullet. If I can’t absolutely know that I can drop the animal in its tracks I will pass on taking the shot.

I will strongly recommend you bring along a few more bullets. I am in the same philosophy camp as you, in the “if I can’t drop it where it stands, I don’t take the shot”, but it only takes a gust of wind or the deer to move as you squeeze the trigger to ruin that perfect shot. In fairness to the deer, bring some extra rounds along with your excellent attitude!

I was unsure if I would be “ok” with taking anything larger than a turkey, but I am, and I’m really enjoying the meat. I tanned the hide etc so made the most I could out of the animal. Being in Wisconsin, you’ll have a pretty easy time getting into a whitetail.

[Sir Henry]

I do want to harvest one deer in my life. I believe in ‘fair chase’ and will allow myself one bullet. If I can’t absolutely know that I can drop the animal in its tracks I will pass on taking the shot.

I will strongly recommend you bring along a few more bullets. I am in the same philosophy camp as you, in the “if I can’t drop it where it stands, I don’t take the shot”, but it only takes a gust of wind or the deer to move as you squeeze the trigger to ruin that perfect shot. In fairness to the deer, bring some extra rounds along with your excellent attitude!

I was unsure if I would be “ok” with taking anything larger than a turkey, but I am, and I’m really enjoying the meat. I tanned the hide etc so made the most I could out of the animal. Being in Wisconsin, you’ll have a pretty easy time getting into a whitetail.

I believe Andy gave Barney three bullets. I would also carry a pistol.

[Redthies]

Then you’re all set! We can’t carry a pistol while hunting here, but if we could, I definitely would.