By Chris Smith
Football, deer hunting, and homemade chili season are Jake and Toms’ favorite time of year. After a long week of working the grind, both look forward to Saturday and Tom’s family owned land. One section of land was in between a small subdivision and two other private owners. All together it was 48 acers. Tom and Jake called this the “Honey Hole”. They had a buddy stand at the end of a small open area. There were plenty of scrapes and droppings, indicating it was a well-traveled area. The first Saturday morning of deer season, they loaded up in Tom’s truck and headed to the Honey Hole. They parked in a turnaround that was at the edge of the property, loaded their rifles, sprayed sent removal, and headed into the woods.
Both Jake and Tom are prior service. Tom is a Marine and Jake in the Army. As you can imagine, they were separated and carried their rifles at the low ready as if on patrol. They would stop every so often to look and listen. They slowly made their way to the base of the buddy stand. One at the time they climbed the ladder and took a seat. This morning it was cold to the point they were pressed shoulder to shoulder talking in low tones about how “It’s so cold it reminds me of when I was in artic training,” Jake said. This of course, led to jokes. They would hear a noise, stop talking and look out. This process took place many times while the sun was coming up. Then the squirrels started moving, birds started chirping. Suddenly, they saw a head poke out of the pinewood area. They froze in place and squinted to see. The deer made its way out into the open. Both Tom and Jake put a scope on it. It was a good size buck. Now in the county were Tom and Jake lived, there was a four-point law. And wouldn’t you know it, the buck had three points. Being law-abiding citizens, they watched as the buck spent the next thirty minutes in the opening. After the buck had teased them enough, it left.
The jokes resumed, one after the other. They got to laughing so hard the stand was shaking, Jake looked up and the top of the trees were moving back and forth as the tide ebbs and flows. He said, “Well, I think we have made enough noise,” Tom said, “Yeah, plus it’s almost kick-off and the Mrs.’s has a big pot of chili cooking.”
Over the years, we used that buddy stand until someone decided they wanted it more. It wasn’t about getting a deer, but just being outdoors with fresh air and a battle buddy with the same background who has been in some bad places and had to do what it took to survive. It served as a place to unwind, talk through things, and renew one’s self.
Chris is a Combat Veteran recently retired. A few places he has deployed are Afghanistan, Jordon, Panama, Haiti and various non-combat areas. He is an avid outdoorsman that enjoys hunting, camping, fishing. He lives with his bride of 29 years in Alabama who he calls “Household 6”. If any Veteran or family member of a veteran who sees changes in their loved one or for that matter anyone that is contemplating suicide, he urges you to contact him at combatvettalk@gmail.com.