CANDID WHITETAILS

By Walt Larsen

Militant Bucks

Irecently noticed a significant number of stories in the media about our military people serving in Iraq. It is wonderful that we Americans, whether we agree with the war or not, continue to support our troops and take time out of our busy lives to at least remember and acknowledge our servicemen and women.

The morning drive time radio program I listen to honors a “true superstar” each and every day. I’ve seen servicemen and women, now back home, recognized at sporting events and other public venues. The local newscasts and newspapers are quick to pick up on stories, some good, some not so good.

There was a full-page ad in the Minneapolis

Star Tribune welcoming home troops. A car dealer recognizes local servicemen and women in their print ads. I’ve even participated in a moment of silence at a National Wild Turkey Federation banquet in honor of our troops. I also happily donated stacks of hunting magazines and DVD’s to a service that was shipping items directly to servicemen and women in Iraq. It was especially gratifying to receive a thank you note in return.

The point is that we have not forgotten those that are protecting our freedom. Which includes our freedom to hunt deer. So, as I was going through the entries to the Candid Whitetails Photo Contest, which provide fodder for this column, I couldn’t help but notice the reference to the military in a note that accompanied some of these photos.

All of these scouting camera photos were taken on the Patuxent Naval Air Station base in Patuxent River, Maryland. The two photos of the beautiful, long-tined 8-pointer were the photos submitted by Dave Struthers, that accom-

panied the note. Dave explained that the Naval Air Station allows active duty, retired and reserve military personnel to hunt on the installation. There is a bow season, a shotgun season and a muzzleloader season.

The other photos shown are from the Mattspray Rod and Gun Club Web site. The club is located on the base and offers membership to these same military people. I found it interesting that the 2006 base quota was 144 deer and the military hunters bagged a total of 113 including 54 adult bucks, all without a single lost deer. It stands to reason that they are all capable hunters.

I am sure there are numerous other military bases around the country that offer hunting opportunities to those that serve our country and I, for one, am glad these people get that opportunity. Stop for a minute and ponder what it must be like to be in Iraq for 9 months or a year, especially in the fall during hunting season. Doubtless, those avid deer hunters among our troops must yearn for a chance to sit in a tree stand and share in all of what makes hunting so much fun. In part, thanks to their sacrifice, those of us back home get that chance.

Editor’s note: To submit your trail-camera photos for this

column, e-mail them in a high resolution jpg or tif format to

“Candid Whitetails” is sponsored by:

dan.schmidt@fwpubs.com, or mail your prints to: Deer &

Deer Hunting, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001. Sorry,

but photos cannot be returned. Submitting a photo constitutes

permission for D&DH to print it in any form, including Inter-

net usage.

68 | December 2007

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