Here I am a grandfather and buckles (never having shot a buck) . That is right I have never shot a buck. It has not bothered me; you can’t eat the horns. And just last year I shot my second deer ever, Both Tony and Master Guns of Combat Marine Outdoors said next hunting season I will get a chance. It doesn’t matter to me; I was just glad to have had the opportunity to get what I got. I have meat in the freezer and I now enjoy it in place of beef and sausage. My neighbor, Tony shared the fact that I had never shot a buck with one of the ranchers who has a managed deer game ranch. He often donates his time and resources to host both Veterans and youth to hunt on his ranch. Although it was getting towards the end of the managed deer season so Mr. G, the rancher, told Tony he could bring me out and I would have the opportunity to shoot an 8-point buck. OK, now I am excited. Tony had told me what a nice ranch this was and when he had been there he had seen more bucks than just about any other ranch he had been on. On the first day we saw a beautiful 10-point buck come with in about 60 yards. I had come to shoot an 8 point; it was like this 10 point knew he was safe. Tony videoed him with his phone as he stood there for about 5 minutes scratching his back with his beautiful rack. Then he came about 30 yards closer and sat down in the grass in front of our blind. Watching this beautiful buck, so close for about 15 minutes was worth the trip. I did not go home with an empty ice chest as I shot a nice doe who now resides in our freezer. The last night we were treated to great ribeye dinner on Mr G’s outdoor kitchen and dining room. A nice ending to a trip that was such a blessing. Wonderful visit with new friends and my neighbor Tony who is always keeping me involved. Towards the end of the evening Mr. G said he had something for me. He gave me a very nice gun case similar to the King Ranch camo print. His ranch name was embroidered on the side, along with a bible verse. He then said he had done some research to see what knifes were popular for guys going to Vietnam. He found that Randall Knifes were highly sought after. As it turned out he has a longtime friend who was an excellent knife maker. He had taken him a picture and asked him if he could make one as he want to have one to give to a Vietnam vet Mr G gave me this knife In 1968 I had gone to Oshmans in downtown Houston looking for a Randall They did not have any so I bought a Gerber combat knife which I later traded in Vietnam for a Buck knife that was about the size of the Randall I was looking for. Below is an image of a Vietnam era Randall So...was it about a buck? I am beginning to wonder. You run across someone who gives his time and resources to give you a nice weekend. Someone who doesn't even know you, takes the time to research something to give you. Then his friend who makes really nice knives makes something from scratch that he has not made before. Just so he will have something to give someone. You talk about a highlight of a hunting trip!
We sometimes hear, "Walk in His ways, "Walk in His path. ". It is always good to see an example to make me question how I am doing. This time it was a knife, but it could have been food to to a hungry man.
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AuthorI left the fields of Vietnam the summer of 1969 and landed at The University of Texas at Austin later that summer. Archives
February 2016
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