Greetings from Necedah, WI!

 

Fall bowhunt! Brother Jas & I. No deer pictures, sadly. That being said, we've seen deer on every drive but haven't had shots. Honestly, getting a shot and/or getting a deer is icing on the cake. The joy - for us - is to be out in the Nature that God created and enjoying each other's company. As we make drives and sit in the woods we've traversed for over 30 years, the memories of "those good ole days" come flooding back. So many guys, drives, deer, stump shooting & laughs. To those who are no longer with us (Kenny "the Kahuna", Donny) and to those who couldn't be with us, including our immediate hunting group:   Dave, Bruce, Cousin Gerry, Uncle Fran, Gary & Dad, we thought of you often and smiled.

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Me talking with my hands.

Mol & Zol.

Brother Jas & Zol.

 

Though we saw deer on every drive (which is pretty decent with just two guys), our tags were not filled. Not even a shot. What's important is we were there in fellowship - two brothers... with bows in hand, in Nature, along with every man who couldn't be there with us.

Today we honored our lifelong friend & hunting mentor, Kenny "Big Kahuna" Koepsel, who passed away last November. Brother Jas & I chose a "sacred spot" - known only to us and our fellow hunters - buried an arrow in Kenny's honor, burned a smudge stick made of Russian sage from my garden & blessed the site, read a Walt Whitman poem, spread some of Ken's ashes and toasted the life of the Big Kahuna with some port. The plan is to place something more permanent there at some point. We wanted all our guys there but we'll revisit this place with the other hunters when they're able and repeat the ceremony.

It was an emotional moment for both of us. Our group of hunters learned much from Kenny, "our leader", as my father referred to him. From this day forward, an arrow will be placed in this spot for all our fallen hunters. It's the right thing to do.

I struggle readjusting to "civilization" upon returning from the bush. This occasion is no different.
 

Brother Jas, Kenny & me. Mid to late 1990's.

 

Brother Jas early morning stump shooting.