Everyone has a hunting camp horror story to relate. For some reason I'm blessed with more than a few. You may have heard about my past Alaska moose hunt where the problem of seeing six to nine brown bears per day wasn't enough so fate decided to toss in a hunting guide living in LaLa land somewhere between the Cuckoo's Nest and the Bate's Motel.
One of the funniest (not when it occurred) moments I had was in Kansas while on a deer hunt. Sleep is a precious commodity in the fall and a snoring roommate had me wanting for more. After deciding I was never going to fall asleep with the thunder over yonder I slipped out of the bedroom and made my way upstairs in the outfitter's house to plop down on the couch. When I laid down the couch suddenly came alive followed by a piercing shriek.
It seems that the outfitter's wife was also tired of snoring courtesy of the outfitter and ditched their bedroom for the same couch I tracked down in the dark. After a quick explanation she forgave me and I found a different couch in a different part of the house.
On another adventure North American Hunter editor Gordy Krahn and I asked a guide to please let us out of the vehicle to stalk pronghorn. It seems as if the guide wanted to just drive around and do a "drive-by" hunt. I mentioned to the guide that I bowhunted and had stalked pronghorn for years. That set the guide off. He slammed on the brakes, got out and said he'd find me a bleeping bow and I could stalk all I wanted. For a moment Gordy and I thought we were on the set of the latest Rocky movie as the guide was fuming for a fight. After brief discussion we were able to settle the guide down and Gordy and I were left on the prairie to stalk.
Yes, funny and sometimes terrifying things happen at hunting camp. I've already spent most of September in camp and the next two months look like more of the same. I'll let you know if I get in a brawl, plop down on someone unexpectedly or simply just have a "normal" stay.
I'm staying right in this bunk. I remember the last time I went shopping for a new bed in the dark.