Fiction
The Happy Hunter Who Never Killed Anything
by Dan Blankenship
© 2008 Dan Blankenship
Trekking through wooded expanses, crawling between mocking cattails that are always reminding me of my failure, I’ve become a legendary figure down at Willow Slough Wildlife Area and all over Northwest Indiana. More than 10,000 acres of land and water, more than 200 attempts over the past 15 years, and I’ve yet to bag a single goose, duck, deer, dove, rabbit, squirrel, quail, ruffed grouse (not even sure what that is), pheasant, wild turkey, or a fish of any kind. The boys at the mill, they’ve got a running calendar to log my hunting failures. The local papers have interviewed me more than a few times. Other hunters have offered to surrogate hunt for me.
Now my inability to bring any taxidermists some business is not for lack of hard work. I subscribe to Field and Stream, Deer & Deer Hunting, Real Hunting, Bowhunt America, and Game and Hunting Magazines. I’ve taken shooting lessons and watch every show I can find about hunting and fishing. I might add that none of them mentioned the ruffed grouse. I’ve invested good money in a wide variety of guns, ammo, duck calls, fishing gear, and camouflage. With so much investment in time and money, and nothing to show for it, some might think I’m a fool. But I have my reasons for not seeking a new hobby.
It’s the thrill of the hunt that keeps me returning to a place where the animals and fish have always come out on top. It’s that dawn of a new day in a place untouched by bulldozers and concrete, a place where pine trees, elm trees, and maple trees are not lined up for landscaping decorum that warrants me risking the label of failure being permanently affixed to my name. I hunt and I fish so that I can understand more about my own character. My mom has always told me quitters never win and winners never quit. Good advice, but even mom managed to shoot three squirrels, two rabbits, and one pheasant before she was a teenager. “This game of life involves learning how to deal with failure,” she would always say.
Yesterday, a man at a gas station two miles north of Willow Slough asked me if I had any luck in the past year. When I told him I had, he replied, “Really, you finally shot something?”
“No, didn’t shoot anything. You asked me if I had any luck in the past year. And I consider myself lucky every year, lucky the animals aren’t able to shoot back. Lord knows I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
The man began laughing uncontrollably and repeated my words over and over as he made his way to his car.
I may never know what it’s like to have a successful hunt, but I am convinced that the past 15 years have given me the patience, humility, and demeanor to be successful in the game of life.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1838 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Dan Blankenship or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1838 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
Congratulations huter from Indiana.
Wonderful writing Dan !!!!