One Stick to Rule Them All??

The day has come when hunters no longer are relegated to stump sitting or leaning up against some gnarly oak waiting out the next big buck to take a shot.

Now, more than ever, it's death from above by arrow, bolt or bullet. 

When I started over a decade ago in my 30s, I had a Walmart-special hang-on stand and dozen screw-in steps to make a nest somewhere high enough to see over thickets and scrub to get a chance at something four-legged and brown. 

Since then, I've tried it all - almost. Ladder stand - check. Climber (two kinds) - check. Ground blind - check. And lately, saddle setup (with sticks, ladder and single-stick) - check.

Several hundred dollars can outfit you with a competitively high-end gear kit for saddle hunting. Even a good, lightweight climber will run about the same. But what's the deal? Is there really a "best method" for hunting from a tree? 

Certainly there are dozens advocating for any number of methods and gear and styles from traditional haul-hang-sit setups to "mobile" options that promise quiet maneuverability with a little practice and determination.

I've spent the last three to four years investigating these options.  Each have their merits and drawbacks. I've seen a lot of YouTube content and blogs and forum discussions focused on this vs that methods and gear. I haven't found much running the gamut. So here's my take and honest opinion on each.

To start, let's cover the basics...

Hang-Ons

The overall design is virtually the same regardless of the manufacturer. The idea is simple, easy and economical, relatively speaking. A basic, entry level hanger can be purchased for well under a hundred dollars and can range into the several hundreds depending on style, options and accessories. 

Hang-ons have a place in the market as the tried and true "minimalist" setup for bow hunters and rifle hunters alike. They can be placed nearly anywhere you can climb into depending on how you get there. 

To that end, there's the old screw-in steps (cheap but damaging to the tree) to strap-on ladders or steps. This is an additional cost that also runs the range from a few dollars to several hundred, again style and design depending. 

Pros - Works just about anywhere. Gives a good perch and small footprint; makes it easy to blend in. 

Cons - Cumbersome to pack in and requires some climbing method to get into position. This can be difficult with some limbs on trees and the type of steps used. 

Ladder Stands/Tri-pods

Lumping together ladder stands and platforms ("tri-pods") should go with out saying. Both use a rigid, modular design to get you up in the air. The difference being platforms are stand-alone setups where as ladder stands require a tree or pole as another leg to keep the stand up and secure. 

Platforms aren't the focus here, but they do have merit, especially in flat, open areas where trees are small, spindly or even non-existent. They can open up visibility and provide an elevated view and can be permanent or semi-permanent depending on the design. Great for those private property locations with a prime spot that can be visited year after year. 

But the focus here is more on ladders. These stands, also known as "leaners" are some of the most popular types since they are an "all-in-one" type of system. They can be secure, sit multiple people and require only a little assembly compared to a platform. Again, cost is relative. The more options, the more money you will spend, but they can be tricked out in dozens of ways for just about any hunter's preference or need.

As of this writing, a single person basic stand can be bought for just under a hundred with the larger, more tricked-out versions for nearly $800 (not including platforms).

Pros - Stable, secure and customizable. These can have anything from an umbrella, a wrap around blind, gun rests, drink holders, you name it. They can sit two or three depending on the model and can easily be locked to a tree with a cable or chain if you're on public land. 

Cons - What you pack in, you pack out. Forget strapping to a backpack and hiking these in. Carts or even ATVs are a necessity to get these into where you want to set up. And you may need a buddy to get them up into place. Compared to hang-ons or climbers, these require the most assembly and are the hardest to put into place. And some of the most expensive options on the market. 

Climbers

Until a few years back, mobile hunting meant using a climber stand. The idea is simple enough, but climbing isn't as easy as it may seem. Using two parts, the upper and lower, a hunter can leverage himself foot by foot using the stand to climb the tree. Unlike hang-ons or ladders, these are typically lightweight enough to backpack into hard to reach places that might prohibit other options. 

There's a few variations in the design, but generally, the upper and lower portions are secured using cable or chain (coated to prevent damage and help quiet the climb) that wraps around the tree. Each piece is "cammed" against the trunk of the tree to provide purchase to "inch" up the tree.

These can be some of the least safe methods of get into tree (more about this below) and they can be bulky. A trade-off for mobility. 

Pros - A good method for getting to those hard to reach places but at a bit of a cost. While not as expensive as a ladder stand can be, they provide a portable "all-in-one" solution which can be useful in public land settings or more inaccessible areas for regular stands. 

Cons - Unfortunately, there's quite a few. Don't misunderstand - I've used climbers on many hunts and gotten several deer with this system/method. But the draw backs are something to ponder. First, trees. There is a size and "type" of restriction to these. While somewhat adjustable, there's only so many size trees that may work. And smaller, spindly "post" like trees aren't a good option. Mature growth is better. Also limbs. Forget anything that has limbs between you and you're desired height. Climbers need a straight, telephone pole like trunk to work their magic. Which leads to the second point - weather. Climbers are great in dry environments. But with rain or snow/ice, they can be hazardous. There's only so much security they can offer when climbing and slipping in inclement weather is not just possible, but likely. Designs have gotten better, but not much. Next is bulk. Some only weigh a few pounds but it's not always the weight you have to consider. One of the most popular is by Summit. Total weight is 18#, as opposed to a hang-on that weighs over 20#. But the dimensions here are about 22" x 33". Packing in may not be easy if you're looking to get through scrub or thick undergrowth to find that honey hole you scouted pre-season. 

Lastly, and for me this is the biggest - safety. While every manufacturer selling climbers will include a lineman belt and harness, I've seen very few hunters properly use the safety equipment. Sure, this is the hunter's responsibility but also the reason why it's more difficult. Climbing with the stand is difficult in its own right. Using the lineman belt while climbing with the stand is a multistep process that is cumbersome and complicated. In my experience, it can take three to four times longer climbing with the belt than without. But, having it is for good reason. If there is a slick spot or bark breaks off in chunks or the tree tapers rapidly, the stand may slip and fall - taking you with it! While the two-piece system is tethered to each other, having the bottom drop out is a good way to reconsider your life choices. 

Saddles (Mobile Hunting)

Saddle hunting has taken the sport by storm, much like crossbows to archery. There are numerous mobile methods and by this I mean saddle-hunting. While climbers can be considered "mobile", saddle-hunting is focused on a true minimalist method for hunting from a tree. 

There are several methods of saddle-hunting from DIY to specially designed and commercially available kits. It is also the most customizable of all the above methods with options to change nearly every part of the gear from the saddle/harness to the rope to other accessories. Kitting out can be relatively cheap compared to other stand/climbing alternatives or can be just as expensive as you want to make it.

The setup is more about gear than a stand comprising of a saddle/harness, rope with varying methods of ascending and/or descending and an optional platform. Most premade kits include a saddle with lineman belt/rope, climbing rope and step or platform.

Before I get into the pros & cons for mobile hunting, here's a breakdown of the main types or categories and their specific concerns. This will be in two parts - Saddle/harness and climbing method.

• Saddle/Harness: There's two primary ways of going about this. Either purchase a kit that includes an integrated harness and saddle purposely designed for this hunting style, or build your own (DIY).
• Branded - These are designed and sold specifically for saddle hunting. At a minimum they include a saddle with a bridge for comfort, safety and maneuverability. At most, these kits may include steps, rope, ascenders and more. Prices range from about a hundred to several hundred depending on options and style
• DIY: Do It Yourself setups can be just as costly as a branded kit, but highly customizable. At a minimum this is just a climbing harness with basic lineman rope and/or bridge and most times coupled with a "sit-drag" for a seat. They can also be a frugal option for hunters who aren't willing to dish out so much for a system that's still fairly new and in vogue.  Building your own can be inexpensive but may take time to vet out all the options before finding what works. That said - do your homework!

• Climbing Method: This is where it gets interesting. I've compiled it to four primary types but there is cross-over and variability with all of these. And all require a climbing rope

• Stick - Yep, climbing sticks. A set of three or more strap/tie-on sticks. Most common are Hawk and Tethrd brands. But there are many more from the old school ladder sticks to the newer compact, stackable types. 
• One-Stick - Like above, this method uses a stick but only one. Usually in conjunction with an aider, a set of additional steps made of rope or webbing to provide more height per movement. One-sticking uses a leap-frogging technique that gets you up free and clear with minimal gear. In my opinion, this is the minimalist method for any hunter looking to climb anywhere, anytime and do so quickly, quietly, and without added bulk or gear.
• Rope Only- There are two common rope methods - DRT and SRT. The difference is the number of ropes used to ascend a tree. Both typically utilize trees with large crook or "Y" to throw a rope ball over to set an anchor for climbing. This is method commonly used by arborists and requires quite a bit of kit and energy! Typical setups use at least two ascenders (hand and foot), a climbing harness (typically heavier than saddles) and rope. Lots of rope! SRT/DRT hunters usually pack in quite a bit of gear which can cost a lot for each individual component. And the method itself requires pulling yourself up by rope, like you may have done in high-school PE only with safety equipment. Note: of all the videos I have seen of people roping up a tree, I have yet to see one who isn't winded by the time they are at hunting height. No hunter wants to sprint into their spot because of odor control - you'll sweat buckets. Roping is not much different - very physical and that builds body heat which leads to sweat and so forth.
• Spikes - Linemen and arborists often use climbing spikes (or gaffers) that strap to the legs to climb poles or trees for working at height. Spikes are expensive, well over a hundred for a basic pair, and require maintenance. You shouldn't walk in wearing them as they'll dull from digging into the ground which means loss of grip with climbing. I'm not confident they should be used with branded saddle kit and you still need to secure your rope like with the rope method. There's more gear needed to use the safely and it's questionable if DNR would allow for their use on public land given the spikes dig past the bark and into the tree. So there's several reasons here alone I would recommend passing on this method.

Pros - Lightweight, very lightweight. The average branded kit without sticks is well under 5 pounds. Some are even less than 2! Sticks now are mostly CNC'd aluminum and are featherlight themselves. Some of the climbing equipment (ascenders & descenders) can be a bit heavy depending on the type but there are plenty of options that are ultralight if weight is the concern. So packing into some hideaway is quite easy and saddlehunting can be done in almost any weather with nearly any type of tree regardless of trunk size or the presence of lower limbs. 

Cons - There is a learning curve and paying attention to order of operation is important to ensure safety. DIY kits may require more attention than branded, but in any case making sure you are properly secured at any given point is paramount. Unlike ladders, falling in a rope situation can turn nasty in a flash. 
Depending on the climbing method, more attention and/or skill may be needed, not just to climb but also to shoot your weapon of choice. It takes some practice to learn to shoot hanging from a tree by a rope! But it's more than doable. 

To summarize, how you hunt is up to you. Any time climbing a tree is involved, it's potentially dangerous and should be done with caution and attention to safety.  But there are plenty of options regardless of age or size to get up above the deer. And don't become starry eyed when the newest thing comes out. Saddle hunting has been around for decades but until recently has sat quietly in the shadows with only a cult following. As technology and the ability to share knowledge and ideas had become widespread, it's only reasonable to see a surge into the lime light with something like saddle hunting. 

Regardless of the route you want to take, do your homework. Not all shirts fit when you put them on, just like not all these methods work the way you think they will for you! 

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned at the beginning, I've used a variety of methods and set ups. I've borrowed, bought, and scraped together gear to make my own from building my own saddle-hunting platform to modifying inexpensive sticks to buying ladders to climbers. 

My current setup is a DIY saddle with a single-stick. I've included links to most everything but here's a run-down of the essentials:

- Rock Harness (NewDoar Climbing Harness)

- Sit-Drag (Sit-Drag)

- Climbing Rope (Werewolves Rope)

- Figure 8 (AOKWIT Figure 8 OR Black Diamond Figure 8)

- Hawk Helium Stick with Plaform option (Hawk Stick; Platform)

- Aider (Hang N' Bang Aider)

- Bridge (30" Prusik as Bridge)

- Lineman Rope (Muddy Quick-Clip Lineman)

- Carabiners  (up to you. Pros recommend Petzl, Black Diamond, etc. Check out HowNot2 on Amazon Knockoffs)

- Paracord (as a pull rope)

- Pouches (optional; for storing essentials and backups while climbing)

There are a few "off-brands" that are good for some things. But quality = safety. So using good, quality gear will reduce the risk of injury or even death. Don't Take Chances! That said, I look for highly rated items with plenty of qualified reviews. The AOKWIT figure 8 is just that and meets rated standards so I'm not worried about using that over a Petzl or Black Diamond. Some use Grigris or MadRocks or similar. I've tried a few but they tend to clank, have to be loaded mechanically onto the rope and are quite expensive. Especially since saddlehunters are buying up stock like crazy. 

My setup is like this - Harness with sit-drag 'bined to the harness at the loops with the bridge between. I can walk in this way with the drag connected and the bridge ready to go. I carry the Figure 8 and extra 'biners in one pouch with my pull rope. In the other, I load up by lineman with prusik and 'biner for tethering to the tree once I'm in position. 

The stick is slightly modified with the addition of the platform in place of top steps and swapping out the bursa button for a cam-cleat sized for the rope I'm using. 

From here it's stick, climb, hang, move stick, repeat until I'm at the height I want. I believe in redundancy so my climbing rope always stays hooked to the tree and me to it along with the lineman rope. 

My pack carries any other essentials including the climbing rope but for the most part stays on the ground. Don't leave anything on the ground you need to get up OR down!

Once up, I clip my pull rope to the climbing rope at the carabiner and hoist up my weapon. I've used gear hooks, straps, etc. Find what works for you. Here's an important tip - leave your pull rope clipped to your climbing rope! Once you rapel down, you need a way to retrieve the rope. Unlike SRT/DRT where the rope itself can usually be pulled back over the crotch, one-sticking requires the climbing rope for rapeling back down and you don't want your rope stuck all the way up where you just come from!

One of the best "show-n-tells" I've found is Staggs in the Wild on YouTube. While they do promote particular brands and setups, they have some great tips and information that makes it easy to understand.

Their video "One-Sticking is So Easy..." is a great introduction to how-to without it being overly complicated or pushy. 

I can go further into the nitty-gritty but there is volumes of information on saddle-hunting available with the click of button. YouTube had been flooded with content for saddle-hunting from new products to DIY to how-tos and more. Major channels like The Hunting Public and Deer & Deer Hunting have done numerous videos on it while forums such as ArcheryTalk have dozens of threads discussing ins and outs, tips, tricks, and more. 

There's no excuse not to be educated when it comes to saddle-hunting. The only caveat to that may be too much information can be bad thing. And remember, just because something is polished, doesn't make it valuable. 

Lonesome

A man I admire once said being alone isn't loneliness. Like him, I am comfortable in my own head. Mostly. I can spend hours in tree watching for that brown silhouette to come passing by. I can sit with my own thoughts, or lack thereof, as I watch pineys chittering off against each other or birds swooping and chirping the branches around me. 

Alone, I am me. More than any other time. And, for the most part, I'm good with that. 

In my younger years I spent hours trekking through the woods around my home in upstate New York. Hours upon hours. 

But there were times, as I grew, that being alone took on the shade of loneliness. I struggled with notions of who I was and what I should be. I think most kids go through this. 

Now, now it's a plague. Lost is the idea of being who you are and having purpose. So warped have things become that they are faced with degradation of self. Cut down by anyone who fears being them or believes they are more, better than others. 

Since I took up hunting, I've learned a lot about myself. I can usually tolerate the bitter cold and go home empty handed and still be at peace. I can sit quiet, still as a statue. Or stalk through the thick and muck of the deep overgrowth in marshes. Either way, I am at peace. 

Not always so. And sometimes those old haunting feelings try to keep in. 

In my mid-teens I hiked off to a spot that my brother and I had groomed for camping. The walk to this special place was nearly an hour in through the woods on a high hill. With just a bedroll, tent, and my little dog I tramped out this place, setting sun beaming through the canopy. I was in my place. Just me and my little furry friend. 

Sometime in the night the weather turned like fiend. Wind lashed and rain threatened to drown everything. So thick were the clouds that only the light from brief vicious strikes of lightning shown where I was. 

Alone. All alone. And lonesome. 

The thin fabric of the tent was sponge rather than a shield, soaking in the torrents. Everything inside was sloshing wet. Figuring home, a warm dry bed was better than waiting it out in the cold, wet confines of my flimsy tent, I scooped up my dog and flashlight and made a break down the hill. The flashlight died only a few paces from where I was moments before. The dog, frantic, wriggled and struggled in my arms. Stumbling through the dark and storm ridden night, I pressed on. I lost my way. The path completely erased by the deluge. 

Twice I fell. Hard. Once loosing the leash for my dog; the second, my glasses. Now with the storm hurling violence at the ground below, I more blind than before and my dog whimpering in the thundering darkness, desperate to be safe and sound. 

Hours seemed to pass. The trek home a journey through a proverbial shadow of death. Or so I thought. And felt. 

Storms come. Storms pass. They can wreak havoc and decimate whole towns in their wrath, scattering everything it touches. But in the end, they will dissipate. 

Loneliness is a storm. It can come on in an instant and unleash a hell of emotions. And most times, it will dissipate. 

I could have chosen to sit, wet, shivering, cradling my poor dog and waited in misery for what seemed to be an unending storm to pass and bring quiet and calm. Eventually the sun would rise and I would be able to see my way home, miserable and worse for wear. And alone.

I chose to brave the wilderness, the dark and foreboding. I trudged through the muck, the briars and thickets pushing through the miasma of the unknown. My only goal - home. Safety of family, warmth of the house, secure against the torrents and ripping winds. Even though I lost my vision (literally in some respects) and my bearings, I wanted to be with someone more than I wanted to be alone in the mess of weather beating me down.

Sometimes choosing not to be alone is the means to fight the loneliness. But getting there is a fight, an exercise in motion away from what you don't want towards where you want to be - not alone.

Make no mistake, I never looked back. I barely stopped long enough to feel for the glasses flung from my face by some whipping branch snatching at my face. And I was mad. Angry. I railed at the storm, at the thickets and briars, the wind, the rain. At myself. And to no useful end. 

Had I kept my calm, cool and collected, I still may have lost my glasses. Probably would've lost my footing and fallen more than once. That's the problem with the darkness. You can't see. Anything. But I knew where home was. And my hope, the hope that drove me, was knowing by morning I would be with family. I would be warm and dry again. And not alone. Not lonely.

This make not help those struggling with loneliness. Because sometimes trying to fight through it isn't enough. There's no relief. Hope seems a far off thing. 

But I learned something about myself. I was alone and I was lonely. But in the scheme of things, I was not always alone. And I didn't need to be. Family was near - through the dark, through the storm, yes. But they were near. In the midst of the storm that notion was of little comfort. On the other side, when the sun rose and skies cleared, the truth was all the more - they were near to me. Maybe they didn't know what I went through; had no idea the pain and agony and fear I endured. But they loved me. They care. 

There is no greater teacher than experience. And failure is its friend. Either choice I made: stay or go, was a failure. Neither was of my own making. I could not change or stop the storm. I could only endure it and press on to something greater. Storms are like that, we are powerless against them. But we chose to move in the midst of the blinding rain and roaring winds. We can choose to endure and survive and learn and live. 

Every time I am in a stand or hanging in my saddle, I am reminded that I am not alone even though I'm hunting in a lone tree, watching the wildlife and land do as it has done for eons, living life and adapting. And as that lone deer comes underneath and passes by, I know there is a herd, a family nearby. Maybe not where I can see, but close enough that when it's ready, it will return. And its aloneness will pass. 

Breathe

 This past season was challenging. We are now several months removed from the end of the last hunting season and many more before the start of the next. There is preparation. And there is reflection.

While I was greatly challenged by a number of factors from scheduling and work, to family events and responsibilities, to changes in the landscape, one thing remains true - success is what you make it.

My daughter has begged to join me on some of my hunts. And I have prudently declined. Understand that she is adept at shooting, capable of following instruction, and willing to patiently wait. But she hasn't prepared. 

Like many things in life, she throws herself into things - head first and full tilt. This can be a blessing. Sometimes the courage and the drive make all the difference in accomplishing what goal you set to complete. But hunting is more about preparation. And reflection.

I've spent many hours reflecting about my hunting practices, strategies, equipment, skills, and more. Sometimes I reflect in the middle of the woods, hanging on the side of tree listening to the sounds of nature sing about me. Sometimes it's as I inventory my gear or work on my equipment. 

But the goal, the focus is always the same - where can I do better? Where did I come up short and what do I need to get that next tag filled?

My daughter is beautifully artistic. Passionate, she delves into things with oodles of energy. But often she becomes frustrated or feels defeated because her idea of completion, her picture of the final outcome doesn't match up with reality. She has taken to painting, but like any person fresh into a new craft, the skills are blunt and unwieldy. As she presses on, her hands become more controlled, her bearing more confident and the results only get better with each stroke. 

Hunting is just the same. No hunter should ever consider themselves perfect in shooting, in stalking, or any other skill that takes time and repetition to master. There are dozens of professional hunters who have testified to their mistakes, their failures. Sometimes these stem from arrogance, sometimes from lack of preparation. And sometimes, through no fault of their own.

She recently decided to start whittling. After watching several introductory videos on carving a simple figure from a block of basswood, she jumped into the exercise, fired up and buzzing with excitement. 

The challenge she faces is her perspective on the end result. Thinking that a few minutes slicing away curls of wood from a block with result is a perfect representation of a woodland animal stood in stark contrast to the rough shape that sort of looked like the silhouette of her imagination. 

And so she collapses. Defeated, angry and hopeless. 

The first thing I tell her is "breathe." Just breathe. Let the weight of it out and away. To me this is no different than when I've put the sight over the vitals of my target. With everything lined up and ready to go, holding my breath will only result in poor shot. I need to breathe. Let out the adrenaline and excitement. Focus on the moment, the trigger or string, the sight, the graceful movement of the game before me. Breathe and shoot. If I've done everything as I should, as I practiced and prepared for, I shouldn't have to go far to collect my harvest. But if I hold my breath and my vision starts to cloud, my hands tremble, my heart races and my lungs burn, I'll miss my mark. 

Hunting isn't about the taking of game. That's a goal, yes. But hunting is an active word. The connotation is movement, progress. That's where my daughter struggles.

The second thing I tell her is "you are not the sum of your failures." I don't know where I heard that, but it's stuck with me. It's so easy to condemn ourselves because of poor choices or mistakes. The moment we define ourselves as failure, we've lost. All of it. Our hope blinks out, our passion dies and our heart becomes too heavy with defeat to press on. And each subsequent trial becomes a practice in enduring pain.

I've missed my share of deer. And I've had a couple shots that landed in poorly placed locations leaving me with an empty tag and a wounded deer wandering until it doesn't. I'm not proud of those moments. And I hurts to know I could have avoided it if I did ____. Mostly, if I would have just breathed. 

I didn't stop hunting after I blew my first shot, or second, or third, or.... I pressed on. Checked myself. Practiced the skills. Prepared best I could so next time I would have the advantage. 

This year may be the year she goes out with me. But first, she'll need to learn to breathe. And then, learn that missing the mark doesn't make you a failure - it provides the opportunity reflect and to grow, mature. 

She continues to paint and she's gotten better at not being so hard on herself. She's learning to enjoy the process of growing. And it's inevitable. Growth takes time. It is a process and one that can't be circumvented or ignored. 

Empty Buckets

 

A year ago today I received an enigmatic message from my sister - Call me when you get home. Not before.

I didn't listen. She left the message in the middle of my shift and curiosity was creeping hard. Thoughts of my mom, my nephews, her, her husband - all several states away - flitted through my mind all afternoon.

Jumping in my car I headed out, dialing her number even as I put the key into the ignition. 

I was two blocks down the road when she sternly told me to call when I got home. Stubbornness set it and I refused to hang up, electing to pull off into a church parking lot just down the road. 

Her pronouncement was visceral - a sledge hammer to my chest, a Louisville slugger to the gut.

My mom was ok. And the boys too. She and her husband just returned from their anniversary trip running snowsleds up North.

My world shook. No - shattered. I could barely breathe as she wept in my ear. The phone slipped form my clenching fists and I scrambled to pick it back up. 

No. NO. I just talked with him this morning. He sent me a text before lunch!

She waited with me to pull myself together. An eternity. 

The only other time I had felt this was years before when my mom called me at work. My father had passed and... I finished out the day doing mindless work, focusing on the itty bitty pieces of my job rather than giving in to pain, the black. 

After an immeasurable time, I steeled myself. Holding everything like a solider hugging a grenade about to explode. 

I don't remember getting home. I remember rain drops on the windshield, maybe tears, and darkness. It was late evening and the sun had already set behind what looked like piles of ash. 

Pulling into the drive, I wheeled the car to a stop, as usual. And waited. My knees shook so I could barely stand. 

Breath after deep labored breath until the tremors eased. I didn't dare close my eyes. Didn't dare look at my phone. 

I fumbled through the lock, pushed open the door, still holding it together.

My wife and kids sat along the couch, reading, playing. One look from her and the question - what's wrong? and the floor hit me hard in the knees. 

Everything, I wanted to scream. I tried, tried hard but choked, choked on the grief. I was barely able to mumble out the words.

My bucket list is short. On it are a handful of things. Hunting big horns out West is on that list. Visiting Ireland with my wife like we hoped we could when we were first married. Not many things.

But hunting with my brother was on that list. Him and I stalking through the woods like we did when we were kids, but with real purpose and real rewards. I reside in the midWest and he midAtlantic. Once a year we would meet with my uncle, more a big brother than an uncle, and camp. Sometimes roughing it, sometimes "glaming" it, perusing the sights of Kentucky and Tennessee. 

We all have an admiration for guns. And maybe my love of hunting was flowing over to him. We discussed it on multiple occasions and at one point our annual trip was leaning in that direction but life doesn't always cooperate.

Still, it's been a full year and while the initial anguish has dulled, the agony is arthritic. It will be year since his memorial in a week or so. And that will be a bitter-sweet memory. 

Out of tragedy some of the most beautiful things grow. I lost one brother and gained two more through my nephews-in-law. We've held to keeping in touch, although sometimes it seems ages before we catch up. But I know they are there - a call, a text. A thought apart - they'll get it. We kept that tradition of camping but as our lives continue to move forward and families do what they ought - grow - we have to adjust to the new. 

But one thing is certain, my bucket is a little emptier now, a little lighter. Maybe I could change that, add something new. But for now, I can't bring myself to fill that empty space. Wounds heal with time they say. But no wound is as deep as the loss of kin. And nothing you pack it with will ever let you forget. 

He'll never read this as I write it on this earth. But that's ok. He doesn't need to. It's enough. 

It is enough. 

Shedding The Past

The season is well over. Temperatures in this part of the country have dipped sub zero at times and even the most stubborn leaves have left the branches. And soon, antlers will be falling as well. 

I have never hunted antler sheds. The closest I have come is stumbling over one three tined antler in the mountains of Montana in the middle of a cloudless, moon lit night. Truth is, I almost left it where it laid, believing it to be a weathered branch rather than the part of the crown of some small buck the year before.

This year I decided to set out a shed trap. A humane and passive attempt to catch antlers as bucks come to get some nourishment in the dead of winter. I have no idea if I'll be successful. But perhaps I'll have something to show for it.

When I first mentioned the idea to my wife, she stood perplexed. "Why would you want old antlers? What would you do with them?" To sportsman, antlers are the gold plating on the trophy. Rarely are does mounted unless paired with a buck, or in more lavish examples, taxidermied herds such as one might find on display at Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's. Besides, the creative outdoorsman will find no end of uses for sheds, even if they are just strewn about their domicile as decorations. 

I still have the one from Montana. I can't quite express the reason why. Maybe it ties me to the memories of that summer working at a riding ranch high in the mountains or because it was such a superb find, like finding a gleaming trinket on the sea shore. Why do people collect sea glass or other odd things that wash ashore? Perhaps for the same unspoken reason.

But there's something to the shedding of antlers. Antlers serve a purpose for deer, certainly. They are weapons of war and defense. They are signatures of status. And they are unique. Every year they grow different than the year before. While the deer may not have any further need when they detach, they are still a momento of the previous season, a lost badge of maturity. 

People aren't much different even though they don't grow antlers. We have achievements that we are proud of in the moment, but then we move on. We grow out of old habits and into new forms, develop skills and adapt to new environments and situations where those skills may not apply. 

Finding sheds is tangible reminiscence, a way to recall the previous season when the hunt is over. And an offering for the future. I don't mean this to be some spiritual demonstration, but metaphor. Shedding the past as we move into the future. 

Don't get me wrong, the past is important. It's a journal of ourselves - our failures, successes, achievements and struggles. But, as I've told my children many times and will continue to tell them, we are not our past. Good or bad. We are present. Though the choices we make certainly impact our future path, that path should not be defined solely on our past. 

Deer don't lose their antlers and whisper themselves "oh well, should've been bigger. Should've bred more does. Should've pushed those other bucks out." Neither do they gloat as their crown falls loose saying "how mighty I was! I was a stud. This heard is Mine and Mine alone."

Whether they were the dominate buck siring the next generation of giants or the runt barely able to sense the spikes sticking out, they live oblivious of the past rut or even the past year. 

We humans have the benefit and struggle of knowing our past and choosing our future. Something deer don't. But that doesn't mean we can't learn something from this.

Recently I took a trip through LinkedIn. In a way I've come full circle from where I was a few years ago. On track with a career but in a totally different industry. Many of my old contacts have moved into other areas or roles as well. A few are still going strong in the same position or with the same companies as when I left their circle. These might be considered sheds. Those moments I can look back and reflect on but can't bring with me. Just as a buck doesn't wear their crown of horn perpetually. 

So what to do with these "sheds"? Get lost in the 'what ifs' and 'how comes' that could so easily distract us from the future? Or recognize them as what they are, marks of a season now past. 

2020 itself is a year of sheds. Many of them looked back upon with disdain, fear, and grief. And in the midst of them there are those of hope, love, and new beginnings. This is the cycle of the stag. He grows his crown to fight the battle of the season and when the season ends, readies himself for the coming year of unknowns. 

I read recently about a man who had everything he thought he'd need; all his ducks in a row. An amazing fianceé, options for placement at a prestigious institution, awards, the works. One night he was troubled by a dream that everything came to fruition - an internationally renown award, a houseful of cheery children, a supportive and lovely wife, regal house with two high status automobiles. For what? The dream drove home an emptiness. There was nothing more if he stayed the course. Fame, money, security. To what end? There was no meaning in them. So he shed everything. Left behind it all to pursue something with meaning, something worth striving for that would last.

Bucks will soon be loosing their antlers and foraging for survival. They haven't much else to do. No meaning to their lives but to eat, sleep, survive, breed, and repeat. But as a hunter, I recognize the fight for dominance in their season. I sympathize with their need to survive. Although my life is much more than that, I get the drive to continue on. 

I don't think bucks mourn the loss of their antlers. We shouldn't mourn the past. It is what was. A memory. The hope is next year the tines will be longer, the shafts hefty and the lessons learned etched in our memory so we can make the most of present situations. 

Memories are worth keeping though. Like the shed I still hold onto from that night hiking the sage and pines of the mountain side. That summer was as brutal as it was remarkable. And not one I'm likely to forget though it's some 20 years past. My life has change in marvelous ways, with great peaks and vales along the way. 

Sheds are something we should be willing to lose. But not just because they served their purpose, but because we're changing, growing. Next year, next season, even next week might be something different, life changing or at the very least, memorable. It's ok to go 'hunt' for those things, but only with the knowledge that those moments can't be reclaimed. Recalling the hurts and the joys, the losses and the wins is a good thing when looked upon in a healthy manner. 

An old sitcom was fodder for all sorts of jokes and remarks as one of the characters was middle aged father who sold shoes but always tried to live off the accomplishments of his youth as star quarterback in high school. He tried to drag the glory days of football with him into every facet of life and failed miserably at every turn, making him the brunt of jokes and derision. While it was all meant to be comedic, the writers drew from real life situations. How many times have people identified themselves as the person who accomplished (fill in the blank) yet continue to operate in a here-&-now devoid of any connection or meaning to the past accomplishment?

I am not opposed to taxidermy. The craft requires a fundamental understanding of biology as well as in innate respected for the animal on the table. A good taxidermist is able to take the lifeless form of a harvest, whether fowl, fish or mammal, and breathe the semblance of life back into the creature. Once complete and on display, it becomes a static reminder of the challenge that yielded the displayed result. But I have yet to meet a hunter or fisherman who would be fully satisfied just the one experience. It is not the win, it is not the trophy, that makes the hunter hunt or the fisherman fish. It is the process, the challenge of pitting oneself against a slew of variables and obstacles. Certainly there are less violent pursuits that challenge the participant - like golf.  But the prize is not in the taking. Any I would challenge any hunter who solely hunts for the prize - you've lost the plot. 

The prize is the hunt. Whether failed because you forgot to de-sent or you squeaked the stand trying to keep your muscles from freezing up as you sit like a statue for hours on end. Or whether it was a dead drop shot that played out perfectly as hoped because all the things were just right; the wind, the temperature, sighting in, the release... 

It's for this reason that I don't hunt for trophies. Every hunt is worth it. Rain or shine, blanketing snow or humid breezes. Those are just the fields of play. And if I don't catch a glimpse of a brown fur or hear the rousing sounds of creeping prey, there's still the practice of sitting, waiting, and remembering - and hunting for sheds in my memories. 

 

 

Arrow Paradox

 

When an arrow leaves the string in a forward direction, it flexes side to side. In slow motion, it almost appears as if the arrow is snaking its way towards the target. This is called the "archer's paradox."

As stated by Wikipedia: it is the "phenomenon of an arrow traveling in the direction it is pointed at full draw, when it seems that the arrow would have to pass through the starting position it was in before being drawn, where it was pointed to the side of the target."

Some bow makers have even gone to the extent to modify the riser of the bow to have a window directly in line with the arrow so as to limit, if not eliminate this paradox. 

Keep in mind, one aspect of this paradox is the flexing of the arrow's shaft. This, no matter the style of bow (excluding air bows) will still result in some flexing. The softer the shaft (the spine) and the greater the poundage of the bow, the greater that flexing will be. 

Yet for millennia, archer's have compensated. Regardless of the existence of the paradox, archer's have perfected their skills to compensate for this mysterious factor. 

Recently, as I prepare for opening day of archery season, I was studying arrow building and a YouTuber coined a phrase that intrigued me - impact paradox. 

To paraphrase, his theory is that an arrow traveling at speed will, upon impact with a target medium, flex much in the same way as when it released from the string due to the force exerted upon impact and the energy dissipated through the remainder of the arrow, reducing the effective penetration of said arrow.

My whole life I have been raised with the belief that we are born with purpose. Like an arrow fired from a bow we are on a journey to a target, a target we may not know or see, but are propelled toward nonetheless. The force of our sending may seem great or insignificant, but much of that may be effected by our character, our "spine" as it were.

Some of us are made of firmer stuff. Some have been honed and sharpened to be the best we can, much like Olympic athletes. The challenge is that unlike those who aspire to win precious metals, many of us are just trying to get there - wherever there is.

The idea of impact paradox is fascinating because unlike the archer's paradox, it has less to do with flight and more to due with the results of being sent. In life, we can practice to be precise, for our aim to be as true as we can make it. But ultimately is it not about how we are propelled so much as how, and where, we hit the target. 

In hunting, vitals are the only suitable target to aim for. Ethical hunting requires hunters to be precise and effective, hitting those points that result in the quickest and pain-less expiration as possible. If the arrow flies true, irrespective of the paradox, and hits its mark but suffers energy dissipation, the result may be a wounded and suffering animal. One never able to be harvested. 

So the build of the arrow then becomes crucial. And this is where understanding both paradoxes are important. There are several sections in arrow building that become essential: points, nocks, inserts, shaft, and fletching. And of those sections weight, length, quantity, form, installation all can impact the performance. No longer should it be acceptable to simply buy a set of pre-made arrows and points and shoot until you are "tuned" to the bow and able to hit your mark. Now it is about tuning the arrow, then skill. 

We can't always decide our destination. But we can hone our effectiveness to do what we need to do when we get there. In another post I talked about the Secret of Three. Where these cross is the build of the arrow. The point, the shaft, and the fletchings. Consider a moment the point is hope, the faith is faith and the fletchings are love. When our hope is strong, weighty and to the point, faith becomes integral, riding that sharpened tip towards its objective. With love, love of life, family, friends, God, the arrow stays on course, propelled to hit the mark. Hope is that thing that makes all the difference. Our faith may flex as we chase our mark. And love helps keep us on track. But without that sharp point, heavy with hope, we may just bounce right off the target.

You can have the strongest, stiffest faith and perfectly aligned and shaped love, but without the point, there's not much to be had. Hope isn't the thing that should drive us, it's the thing that should enable us to land our target. 

This is no different in hunting. My hope isn't that the bullet or arrow makes its way to the deer's vitals, it's that once it's there, it is severe and complete in its delivery. The impact paradox suggests that the target can affect the effectiveness of the arrow (or even bullet). A shoulder blade, a rib, or just heavy muscle can alter the impact. But weight your hope. Faith is good. Love necessary. But hope, that's the thing that drives everything home. With a proper build, there's no chasing the trophy - it's assured. 

Now I could get philosophical about all of this. But the importance should be evident. Life messes with our aim. That's where skill comes in. Our environment and circumstances (think rain and branches) can seem like hard obstacles to overcome. But it's been said - run the race to win, doing everything you can to ensure you finish the race. This is arrow building. Shooting for hours and hours to develop reflexes keeps you ready for the hunt. But having done everything, including the right arrow, will determine if you take the deer or wander through the thick looking for blood trails.  

The Secret of Three

 The holidays are upon us and for many that means time in the woods searching for a proper harvest of venison. I am no exception to this. For the past several years I have had the opportunity to participate in state park reduction hunts either at the early end or late end of our rifle season. I've done it all from ground sitting, stalking, and using a climber to get a better view and hopefully opportunities. 

Every year has been a bust. Not to be dissuaded, I took to the wonder of another state park again this year. And this time around it was a day of firsts: first harvest on a reduction hunt, first deer taken with a new rifle (350 Legend Savage Axis), and first deer taken using a tree saddle. Three firsts!

As this is the time of Thanksgiving, I am exceptionally grateful for these. Yet on the heels of this incredible hunt my family was assailed by difficult news. My wife, who has had several mysterious health issues over the last few years received an unwelcome and potentially devastating diagnosis. By all rights this should give us reason to fret, to fear, and to be consumed by the "what ifs" that often plague these  determinations. 

Hope can be a fragile thing. But there's an interesting thing about hope. There is a proverb that says "a strand of three cords is not easily broken." Years ago I set out to investigate the relationship between hope, faith, and love. Let me be clear - I'm not talking romantic love, nor am I talking wispy faith in the form of wishful thinking. I speak of concrete, though intangible, terms. 

These three are tied together, inextricably so. Like an archer with a bow and arrow. The arrow cannot fly without the bow and the bow cannot shoot without the archer. Hope is the arrow, faith is the bow, and love is the archer. No, forget that silly cartoon image of cupid with puffy little cheeks floating on a cloud. Think instead the warrior whose aim determines the prize, the reward, the trophy, the harvest. Hope is propelled by faith. Faith gets its focus from the archer and the archer determines the target. 

This is the secret of three. 

No bow and an arrow is nothing more than a spindly stick. No arrow and the bow is just a stick taught with string. No archer and the two others, filled with potential, will sit idly for all time.

I could take this further - the arrow is point, shaft and fletchings. The bow is limbs, riser and string. The archer is mind, body and spirit. Each need the three components to do what they do best. A bow is useless with out string or limbs or riser. An arrow cannot be aimed or hit effectively without fletchings or point. Never mind the foolishness of shooting an arrow without a shaft.

This is true for the archer. You. Me. Anyone. If we have no body, how could we hold the bow, the arrow? If no mind, how could we draw or aim or shoot? But what of spirit? This is like the force of Love. The spirit of the hunt is like this force. It's the motivation, the drive, the energy that sends us scampering through the trees in search of that harvest of plenty. 

In the wake of dire news, that energy can either dissipate like air from a leaky ballon or ignite a passion to seek answers. 

The park hunt was weeks ago, and while I hit the woods several times since, I saw nor heard any deer. Rarely have I had such a long spell without at least seeing or hearing something of a deer. But this last time, as I sat for hours shivering in the wind as a cold front moved in, I felt my hope begin to wane. It was in this moment that I pondered the Three. To saddle hunt you need a rope, a harness and a good tree. Even a leaning stand needs the stand, the tree and a good tether to hold it in place. To shoot a deer with a rifle you need the gun, the ammo and hunter - just like the archer. And the ammo is itself three - bullet, powder, casing. 

By now you might be weary of this analogy. I'll stay the course. 

A few years ago, I went through a season of what I call "smooth seas." Everything was routine, typical, uneventful. Even as I became complacent there was this idea that something was on the horizon. Little did I know a storm was brewing. As a manager of a small central department to the company I worked for, I was prone to posting words of encouragement, inspiration and motivation to keep morale moving on an upward trend. One such quote struck me:

"Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor." 

I'm not sure exactly who coined that phrase, but I do wonder if they truly understood what they were saying. I grew up on the water. Sailing was familiar to me and I have memories of good and bad trips in all manner of boats. But this, this was different. A good sailor learns almost exclusively by experience. They can have all the knowledge in the world about sails, sheets, masts, rudders, and so forth and be just as likely to capsize as a youth inadvertently rocking over a canoe. 

 Life gets like this. Storms of unforeseen circumstances can blow in and shake our confidence, even try our mettle as when they company I worked nearly a decade for shuttered its doors. These are the seas we need to learn to sail, trim the sails, drive into the waves and fight the rudder. This is where we learn the skills needed to make it to a safe harbor, though battered and beaten we may be. In this the secret of the Three make all the difference. 

Love is the foundation. Most of us have a basic understanding of love. Loving our family, our friends, even our pets. But what does that look like in hard times? Love is pushing through the flotsam and jetsam of tragedy and hardship. It's the giving up of yourself to help or even rescue others. But without faith, without hope, love becomes empty motions. Its bailing water on a sinking ship. 

Faith is the thing that gets us moving. It's the belief that we'll make it through, one way or the other and maybe by a thread but make it nonetheless. It's the trust that something's gotta give, even if that something is ourselves. But that giving is what's tied to hope. 

One of my favorite songs has the line "We're all cast-aways in need of rope Hangin' on by the last threads of our hope"

Here is where empty hours in a treestand yield fruit. Here is where time in the crashing waves finds its anchor. Hope isn't the capstone on a pyramid of faith and love. Nor is it the strands that tie them together. Without faith, without love, hope is dreaming of better times. Instead, hope is the arrow. It's the thing that once focused and let loose flies to its mark. Certainly winds of change conflict its flight, but it will hit regardless. It's our hope that it hits where we aim, the bullseye at the other end of the field, the heart of the matter we're pursuing. 

Just as I'll continue to take to the woods in search of another bountiful harvest, I'll take to the circumstances and fight for answers, search for meaning, and push for more. This is how three cords are stronger than one. Like the rope I use to keep me safe and to climb for higher perspective, so do these aid me in give me the courage to work throw these hard times.