Walking In Another's Boots: Lessons of Spring Turkey Hunting

The time is now upon us…spring turkey season opens in Georgia tomorrow morning. Like so many things, I find that misunderstandings abound when people fail to listen and walk in someone else’s shoes – this little cartoon is a case in point.
Let’s start with what it got right…
1) Delicious – yes, indeed, turkeys are delicious (at least to many of us).

Now let us correct errors, errors which I at one time held…
1) Flightless? NOT! Turkeys roost in trees at night. What? Do you think they climb a ladder?

2) Fat? Only those grown domestically. Are they big birds? Sure, but wild turkeys sure aren’t lazy.

Talk about messy? Hunting turkey last year so messed up my perceptions of the outdoors. When Jim Martin took me out in the woods so I could fire my grandfather’s old pheasant gun, I had no idea. I had no idea the impact and passion hunters have for nature and the environment.

I came at this whole thing as something of a environmentalist. I’ve been a member of Sierra Club and for many years subscribed to Backpacker Magazine. Backpacking and hiking are things I absolutely love. The chance encounters with nature’s creatures, well that was icing on the cake.

Tracking and hunting showed me a new side of the outdoors. Sportsmen and women, are very much environmentally conscious. Are there some who can give hunting a bad name? Well yeah! Know any politicians who you could say the same for? How about people of faith or non-faith? How about environmentalists? We can all throw up a straw man.

Tracking for hours and getting within 15 feet of a flock of wild turkeys meandering along is humbling. To see them fly off the roost at “crack A.M.” is a beautiful site. To take one home and provide for others – well, it is done with more reverence and thankfulness than you might realize.

Many days, and sometimes weeks, hunters go home with nothing but memories. As is often quoted, “it is called huntin’ and not killin’ for a reason.”

New interests are always messy endeavors. They cost both money and time but the lessons are lessons which stretch us in new ways. I have another good friend who has me intrigued to try fly-fishing now as well. Would never have thought that would be on my list either.

The wisdom write in Ecclesiates always reminds me: There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- (Ecc 3:1) All it sometimes takes is walking in someone elses’ shoes (or boots) to have your mind stretched a little bit farther. Those little events along the way are sometimes the very ones that make biggest difference in our lifes.

May I Ask? When was the last time you tried something new or had an experience challenge your status quo?

May I Suggest? Put on your “to-do list” something you’ve wondered about trying and make plans to do it in the next 30 days. If it is hunting or Star Wars or God and you live out my way, send me an e-mail and let me know!