Readers Stories:

Uncle David's Buck
Gone but not forgotten

By Glenn Bombardier

It was no surprise that one of the last conversations I had with my godfather was focused on deer hunting. It had been the common bond that connected us throughout the years. With the exception of my father, he was the one person who gave me knowledge, appreciation and passion for the outdoors. Additionally, he was the first person I knew who was truly obsessed with deer hunting. It had been several years since he lost his battle with cancer but I still missed him … especially during deer season. This November was no different. 

Before leaving for my Thanksgiving week hunt, I decided to pay my godmother a long overdue visit. We had an enjoyable conversation that centered on family, work, and my unsuccessful hunting trip earlier in the month. When I mentioned that I was looking for a new cartridge belt, she quickly said, “I don’t think your uncle had one but you should go out to the shed anyway. All his old hunting equipment is out there ... take a look ... see if there’s anything you want.” With a slight hesitation in my voice, I asked, “Are you sure?” 

As I nervously opened the door to the dusty old shed, my godmother reinforced her approval “Please, take anything you want … you know he’d want you to have it.” I slowly went through several boxes filled with odds and ends before I spotted his old possibles bag hanging from a rafter nail. Unzipping the bag, I removed his face mask, grunt tube, and compass before I found the two things I was secretly hoping to find. His deer-antlered necklace and stag-handled knife. I stood there for a few seconds before I was overcome by an unusual feeling that could only be described as surreal. It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t joy. It was more like contentment. At that moment, I truly knew that my godfather wanted me to have these items.

We Want Your Deer Stories!  Whitetails Only is actively seeking reader stories for a regular feature. For sending in the story “Uncle David’s Buck,” Glenn Bombardier will be receive a Treehopper 3-in-1 “Climbing Belt” from Treehopper LLC of Antigo, Wis. Send stories, to kyle@elkpublishing.com or mail to 531 Main St., Colchester, VT 05446.

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