Blessings in Hunts

In my five years of patrolling the woods and waters protecting Tennessee’s natural resources, I have never taken for granted the special job that God has tasked me with. On a weekly basis I am blessed by this job. However, the greatest blessings for me are hunting and fishing events. For the last several years I have been fortunate to be involved with the White County Limbstrutters Wheelin’ Sportsmen Turkey Hunt. The hunt is designed to take a variety of people who may have some sort of disability that would cause them to not have the same every-day opportunities to get out and hunt on their own to the woods. Our participants include many war veterans, wounded warriors, and those confined to a wheel chair.

On this year’s hunt we took 9 hunters on an eastern wild turkey hunt on several local landowners’ farms that were generous enough to accommodate these hunters and guides.  The night before the hunt, we all gathered for a wild game supper to fellowship with each other, swap hunting stories, introduce the hunters to their guides, and build up the excitement for the next morning’s hunt. On April 6, 2013 these hunters headed for the woods in hopes of harvesting a turkey. At the end of the day a total of 2 long beards had been killed. For some reason I always seem to judge the success of the event on the number of birds harvested, but I am always quickly reminded that the harvest is not what the hunt is all about. The hunters are always so appreciative of the opportunity to be in the woods, watching the sunrise and listening to the birds gobble. The success is found in the chase. The success is found in the opportunity. The success is found in realizing a day in the woods should never be taken for granted. Spend a morning in a ground blind with one of these guys or girls and you will become a believer. 

A game warden’s job runs much deeper than writing tickets or taking someone to jail. It is about promoting our natural resources and providing opportunities for people to make a connection with them. It is not only our responsibility to ensure that there is an abundance of wildlife for future generations, but also that there is an abundance of hunters for future generations. I hope outdoorsmen and women will take every opportunity to take a child or someone who has never been hunting 
or fishing to the woods and waters. You will be blessed!
(Top Picture:The hunters and guides. Middle: Kevin Honaker, a wounded warrior, and guide Kyler Moore. Bottom: Vietnam veteran Vern Long and guide Anthony Humes)