Kill Season Ends
After hearing the hounds running on top of the mountains, we have tried to be careful. We know that we down to less than 2 weeks, until the end of kill season. The weather has been warm and pretty. We can hear large equipment that’s been working on the road below us. I decided to walk toward that equipment, to see the progress. It’s a 2-mile hike, the road below the heavy equipment looks good. But from the where the equipment is, up to where our den is, is destroyed. I feel that unless a hunting group comes in from other side of the mountain, we are safe for the rest of the season.
We all decided we were going to be hunting and fishing some since the cupboard is running low. We had such a good supply of food, prior to Sophia’s den being destroyed. We decide not to go higher than half way up the mountain, incase the hunters and hounds come in from the other side of the mountain.
Lucy and Sophia are fishing in the deep holes and has much luck fishing. James said he will be hunting the mountain towards Sophia’s old den. Myself, I’m seeing deer as I chase the deer, but I am having to stop the chase, at half way up the mountain, I am having no luck at all. I’m just burning fat, rather than layering more fat on. I decided it was worth the chance, to continue the chase high on the mountain, and into the steep rocks. We need the added protein for the added fat. I see 3 yearlings, I begin to chase, as I am chasing them, they do as expected traps themselves in the steep rocks. I go in for the kill, I have killed one, and when getting ready to kill the second one, my worst fear, I hear hounds, they are close to me, and closing quickly. I don’t want to go towards the den, so I head towards Toms old den. These hounds are fast and they catch me. What can I do; fight or go up a tree. I know going up a tree is certain death. I stood my ground, I had my ass end protected, back in the notch of where a blown down tree, meets with the root ball. I had my ass right where the tree meets the root ball. There are only four dogs; can I fight them all off. I hope I can, the first dog makes a mistake, comes in close to me, with one powerful swipe, the dog goes flying in the air. I never knew my strength before now, the dog flew a good 30 feet and crashed to the ground. I believe I killed him he is not moving. The 3 dogs are now trying to figure out how to get to me, they are staying 10 feet away from me now. I believe they are scared now, to come any closer. I decided to charge them and hopefully I can kill one more, during that charge, I take off full charge, the dogs turn to try to run away, I was barely able to smack the last dog as hard I could. It to flew maybe 25 feet. It wasn’t moving either. I decided now is my chance to try to escape. As I ran, they are following me, as I’m now passing Toms old den, they are 500 yards behind me. I’m getting tired, but I knew I couldn’t go up a tree, or I would be dead. I have concocted a plan; I need to continue all the way to the county that Tom lives in now. Then I can go up a tree and the dogs can have me treed. I can rest until the hunters get there, and they will have to pull their dogs off of me. Can I run all that distance. I must if I want to live. Sophia and Lucy need me. The dogs are also tired and not closing on me as fast, so, my pace doesn’t have to be as fast. I have now crossed the road, I go about 200 yards off of the road, and go up a tree. The dogs come in and is jumping up on the tree, trying to get to me, and are barking full cry. I know I will have to stay where I’m at, until the dogs are put on lead and pulled away from the tree. I will live until another day. The hunters came in, one hunter said to the other, it’s almost like he knew when he was safe. The other hunter said, he killed 2 of my dogs he must die. The first hunter speaks up, no we are ethical hunters, we not changing now. We know every time a dog is released, we taking a chance of a dog dying. Yes, you are right and pull the dogs off the tree. I was so scared I was going to die.
I’m only a couple hours from Tom’s, I’m hungry and tired, so I’ll go see Tom and Sue, and stay until dark tomorrow night. They were so excited to see me, and they gave me great hospitality, and wanted me to stay, at least until the end of the season. I told them no, my home is with Sophia, Lucy, and James now, that Oliver is dead. The following night I’m fat and happy and have 8 strawberry rhubarb pies to take back to the den, 2 a piece or should I camp out at Toms old den, until they are gone, that would be a lot of deliciousness.
I’m at the county line a hour after dark, and continue the trip back to our den. That’s when it hits me, I know everyone is probably thinking I am dead, no I’m not but 2 dogs are. I make the trip as fast as possible; I want to be in the den well before daybreak. Upon entering the den everyone is asleep. I put the pies in the refrigerator and go to bed myself, that I see everyone is safe, I turned in for the night.
I had a very short night because as soon Lucy was awake, she was screaming, oh my god brother you are alive. We thought you were dead. They were amazed when I told the whole story, of how I survived. We decided not to go high on the mountain, until after last day of the season. I said I have a deer, I must go up and get. James said he had found it, and it’s in the freezer. We will hunt low if possible, and kill some game. Maybe some possums are our best bet now. Also, the stream is still full of native trout. This went well for the next week and it is now the last day of the season.
On the last day of the season Lucy was up before anyone, and has made her way down to the stream, and has 2 baskets to filled with trout. As she was fishing, she hears dogs coming, they are coming straight up the road, straight at her. She knows she can’t go to the den, as though it put all our lives in danger. She doesn’t want to go high on the mountain, where other dogs may be. She runs low following the road and stream. I’m now awake, and I can hear 6 different dogs and they putting on the steam. I’m so afraid I will lose my sister today. She always wears her blaze orange ribbon, with the marijuana bud on it. I hope and pray this will protect her today. Myself and James, have no protection, so we just stayed near the den, and prayed for her. Sophia says she can go help; she has her protection with her. We said no, you also with young cubs and the cubs is Olivers cubs, I will not let you go. Lucy is Olivers daughter, she is smart and powerful.
We hear the hunters walking up the road, and I hear a couple of familiar voices its Rob and Dale and 2 others. We hear them say, it’s the last day and hoping for a good day. I know they will honor the ribbon. I feel a lot better now. Rob says looks like the bear is staying low it will be easier walking, except this road sucks after the great flood.
Lucy runs as fast she could but Robs hounds, has caught up with her, after a 3-mile chase. She then fights and kill one dog, but the other dogs close in on her, she had no option but to go up a tree. Lucy has never been treed before; she was scared to death. She sees her Blaze orange ribbon, and says I just hope this will protect me. She doesn’t know its Rob’s dogs. She has never actually met Rob.
Rob is looking at his GPS unit, says they have treed, and we will kill us a bear today, if it is legal. He said they are treed low on the mountain, not far off the road. The young 18-year-old shooter was excited, he has only been hunting with Rob, this kill season. He wants to kill a bear, and have to have a bear skin rug made. Rob says well let’s get to it, we will have a long drag out due to this road.
I could hear all this from the den but I have faith in Rob. He is a man true to his words. Sophia and James doesn’t feel as sure as I do, that no harm will come to Lucy. All we can do is sit there and wait, with some marijuana, to help keep us be a little calmer. It’s going to be a long last day of the season for us.
Rob and his crew are now 200 yards from the tree, and see it’s a nice-sized bear. Rob said Well looks like it’s a shooter, he hasn’t seen the blaze orange ribbon yet. The 18-year-old is ecstatic, he going to have a chance to kill his first bear. They were now only 75 yards from the bear, when Rob says that is not a legal bear. The 18-year-old says, what you mean that bear is easily over 200 pounds. Rob says you are not wrong on that, but this must be Lucy. What you mean Lucy, well you remember I told you of the large bear that I killed, opening day of the season, his name was Oliver. He had a family, Benjiman was with me that night, and was so upset, I ended up giving him 3 Blaze orange ribbons with a marijuana bud’s on each one. He had one for himself, his sister Lucy and his mom Sophia. This bear is too small to be Sophia, so it must be Lucy. It’s not Ben due to this is a sow bear. The 18-year-old was very upset but said OK, since you made that promise I will honor that. They get up close to the tree, and the 18-year-old job is to get all the dogs tied up on leads. He gets 2 dogs tied up and is getting the 3rd one, that’s when Lucy takes a big shit, yes it went all over the 18-year-old. He reaches for his gun, and Rob yells NO. The 18-year-old has his gun pointing at Lucy, and is pulling the trigger, as Rob gets to him, and tackles him, the gun fired. Rob had gotten to him just in time, the bullet missed Lucy. Rob tells him you disregarded my direct order; you will never hunt with me again. He then reaches for his gun, making sure its unloaded, and then wrapped it around a tree. The 18-year-old was mad as hell. Wait until I tell my dad, you are in trouble Rob. Rob said you don’t have to tell him, that I will. I will tell you, you damn hot-headed punk, you lucky your dad wasn’t here, you would have probably been the tree, that your gun was wrapped around. I have hunted with your dad for 20 years; we have much respect for each other. You just showed me no respect. Now get rest of those dogs tied up, and let’s get the hell out of here.
Ben and James, being outside of the den, heard the gunshot and is very depressed. They know that they just lost their sister and mate. When they go in the den, they were at a loss of words, they go over and roll a large cigar, and one for Sophia. Sophia knew without any words, that she had loss Lucy. I said, I can’t believe this; I knew Rob would be true to his words. I decided I don’t want my cigar, as I angerly go to the road, Sophia begged me not to. James seeing this, also head down to the road with myself. Sophia knows she must stay, due to her babies. She set there mourning Lucy, and know she will probably lose Ben and James also. When they confront the hunters, they will be dead.
Back at the tree the 18-year-old has all the dogs tied up, the 1st half of trip to the truck, was complete silence, and then he apologized to Rob. Rob said, that’s words mean nothing, you must prove you are sorry. 1st thing I want to know from you is what you learned today. The 18-year-old said, that a man’s word means nothing if you break your word. I also learned bears do shit in the woods, and even on you. But getting shit on is nothing, compared to letting everyone down by going against your words, even if you were to get shit on. Rob said OK, I will accept your apology, next year you can hunt with us, but you will be on probation period for the entire season, before you can become a full fledge member of the hunt club. The 18-year-old agrees to these terms, you have my word that I will never go against your orders. I’m very sorry, I was not going against your words, until I got shit on, then I wasn’t true to myself mostly, and also to everyone else here with me today. You know shit happens and that’s when you find your real integrity as a man. You must work through what hand you are dealt, today has made me a better person.
Lucy, being faster than humans made it back to the den, Sophia was so happy she was alive. Sophia was sad but chilled, she had smoked 4 large cigars. She then thinking about Ben and James, she tells Lucy she must get to the road, that they going to confront, Rob and the hunting party. She made it to them, had just finished telling them the story, before Rob appeared over the hill, headed towards them.
The 18-year-old said he was so sorry, that he had disregarded Rob. He tells them he has learned his lesson, that even when a bear shits on you. You still have nothing, if you have lost respect of yourself, and of all your fellow friends, and hunters, if you end up doing something, that you said you would not do. Lucy kind of giggled a little and said, I did not mean to shit on you, but the dogs had scared the shit out of me, and I couldn’t hold it in any more.
Back at the den everyone was happy they had made it safely though kill season. I tell Lucy I thought it was funny that she had shit on him. We have about a week or two left now, before we will go into hibernation. I was thinking to myself ok our den has 4 bears in it, when we go into hibernation. How many bear lives will it be, when we wake up in the spring?
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Dale Thacker Aurthor 
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