A Daddy’s Twinkling Eye

In my profession, I visit remote locations around Wyoming.  Often times, I can piss people off just by saying I am the Hunter’s Wife and I represent my employer; my purpose of my visit; and as a bonus I provide each company a “free” target (aka business card) for their dart-board.   However, sometimes, I meet some rather enjoyable people too.  For instance, after an intense meeting discussing corrective actions to be made by a company to demonstrate compliance, I observed the representative wearing an elk-tooth ring.  Therefore, once our work business was concluded, I asked him how big the elk was he harvested.  At first, he was shocked by my question.  So, I pointed to the ring on his right hand.  A huge grin formed on his face as he told me that his wife gave it to him for their 25^th Anniversary.  Then, he proceeded to inform me that he did not have a lucky season but his 16-year-old daughter did. 

As the gentleman was showing me a picture of his daughter’s magnificent harvest and telling their hunting story, I was captivated by the familiar twinkle in his eyes as it is one I have observed in my husband’s eyes whenever he shares stories and pictures of our daughters’ hunts.  The twinkle also sparked a story my husband told from this fall’s bow-hunting season about his and our oldest daughter’s hunting adventure. 

It all started when my husband purchased one trail camera, which turned rapidly into three.  We took many weekend-hiking trips prior to start of  bow season to place the cameras around the area our oldest daughter drew.    I’d like to report that Taylor Swift music did not occupy my thoughts as my husband was showing me on a map where he and our oldest would be stalking, I mean hunting.  The hiking area was, however, a very busy place with many shiny rocks, pretty flowers, and an occupied hornet’s nest-all items which made this ADD, nature’s clepto-E-X-C-I-T-E-D!

It is for this reason that I have concluded that there is an apparent difference in what mine and my husband’s theories are for the purpose of a backpack.  He believes it is necessary to carry a backpack for “necessary” items such as water, snacks, some other survival gear, and batteries for the trail cameras; while my view is a few extra pounds on my back, which at first was full of “necessary” items, may have been left somewhere in the mountains in order to fit a very beautiful white-granite rock in its place.  It would look marvelous in my flower garden at home.   Besides, he had “necessary” goodies his backpack too.  We could share!

So, after placing the cameras in various locations, we gathered some amazing pictures:

A bear butt-haahaahaa

 

   

The one that was being stalked during bow season

One of many that made the Hunter's Wife shriek with excitement!!!

AND another shriek from the Hunter's Wife

This one is obviously too sexy for his antlers!

Though, the bow season did not produce a harvest for our daughter, it did provide an exciting opportunity for her and Jimmie who both found themselves in the middle of an elk herd; observing elk less than 5 yards away; chirping cows; and also watching other elk playing in the meadow together.   SAWEET!

Our oldest making hunting look good

The purchase of the cameras also allowed Jimmie to create a “little” 12-year-old hunting-monster also known as our youngest daughter, who during her first year of white-tail hunting out-hunted both her Daddy and her big sister!    

Jimmie's harvest

Our oldest daughter's harvest

Oh yea-the 12-year old showing off....

 

 and again, she ROCKED it!!

Jimmie, our youngest, our oldest, and Soda deciding which one to lick first!

It is quite enjoyable to hear our girls say, “I can’t WAIT to go hunting with Daddy!”  I just hope they add the same enthusiasm when I out hunt them all in 2014!

 

Wishing all my blog readers a Prosperous, a Healthy, and a Happy New Year!

Renaming The Hunting Crew

Since having Gazoo join the hunting squad, I’ve decided that the crew’s name must be changed to the Three Stooges.  I think I’ll change Barney’s name to Larry; Gazoo will be Curly; and Jimmie will be Moe.  Let me elaborate on why…for multiple-weeks preparing for the week-long hunting trip over Bryel Day, I watched Jimmie prepare many hunting lists:  one for food, one for gear, and I swear I seen one for “scaring the crap outta Barney i.e. keep him out after dark and make bear calls.” 

Subsequently, I decided since I was politely asked to make potato soup and zucchini bread for the crew for their trip that I would also put my own list for rules to abide by if one desires to sleep and to eat in my… I mean ‘our’ new, one –year-old camper.  Here is my list:

Rules for The Hunter’s Wife’s Mlinar’s Camper

1)    NO sleeping with the owner! 

All parties must sleep in their assigned/designated bunk-beds;

-extra blankets can be made available by the camper’s owner via cell phone to The Hunter’s Wife’s cell number for a deposit of 1-44 ounce soda (preferably coke cola) from Sonic;

2)    NO drinking wussy beer aka COORS!

-if participating in drinking ONLY 1-12 once beer each evening, otherwise, there will be an intervention

-not naming any one in particular but you know who you are, Larry aka Barney!

3)    NO driving or backing into The Hunter’s Wife’s camper!

-not naming any one particular but you know who you are, Curly aka Gazoo!

4)    IF any sheds are found, those sheds will immediately become the owner of The Hunter’s Wife’s property!

5)    NO stinking up The Hunter’s Wife’s camper with activities such as any type of smoking

-not naming of any one in particular but you know who you are, Curly aka Gazoo!

6)    MUST bring back material for The Hunter’s Wife’s blog!

7)    GOOD LUCK & HAVE A GREAT TIME!! 

I thought my list was awesome!  Apparently, item #4 was not a big hit.  I’m flexible, though, I’d allow Larry and Curly to come to the house for supervised ‘Shed Visits’ and even allow minimal fondling. 

As for item #5, Moe and Larry provided Curly with more than one daily death march through terrain that encouraged Curly to become a non-smoker.  OR perhaps Curly was encouraged by the unstoppable, loud hacking he was doing while Larry and Moe suggested for him to shut-up. 

 

Photo courtesy of:

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+three+stooges&rlz=1T4SAVJ_enUS516US516&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=nja2UsGcA6iiyAH3xoGoAw&ved=0CLMBEIke&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1#imgdii=_

OR possibly, it was the loosely thrown around threats made...ones that brought back memories as a young kid in the backseat of their parent’s car, bickering with their siblings, annoying their parents who threatens, “Don’t make me turn this car around or I will…!” 

          Despite the numerous spotting of sows and cubs as well as a HUGE boar, Larry had an exciting, successful harvest!  Moe and Curly provided assistance and basked in Larry’s success.

Photo:  Nice Hunt Larry!!

In conclusion, the crew HAD to under-go a much needed name change!  Additionally, some more good news:   there were no interventions required for Larry!  However, next year, I may need to add a few more rules; make the list more specific in directions; and attempt to bring out my inner-boy when alternating the list because Larry & Curly were more than willing to point out to Moe, daily, “She didn’t put it on the list!”