This year probably more than ever people everywhere are in need. The ongoing pandemic has hit a lot of folks hard this year and hard working families have found themselves doing what they never thought they’d do, waiting in long lines to receive donated food.

 If you’re fortunate enough to have harvested a deer or two and your freezer is full why not share part or all of your next harvest to someone in need or to a local relief program. You can keep the mount from that big buck but why not share the wealth?

 Most relief programs work like this. You harvest an animal, take it to a participating game processor and they will process it and distribute it to local hunger relief programs. Some places will do the processing free of charge, some of them split the cost with you and then others have you foot the entire bill yourself. The small cost you may incur by paying for the processing only helps to relieve funds for other worthwhile programs.

  Doing an on-line search will turn up many great organizations that spearhead such programs.

  One such group is Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry. They operate in over half of the 50 states including a lot of the heavily hunted ones so it shouldn't be hard to find a participating processor. One great thing about FHFH is that if you donate all of your deer they will pay the cost of the processing. Not a bad way to go. Visit their web site at: www.fhfh.org for details.

 There are many more so look for one in your area.

 The beauty of these and other programs is that the donated meat stays in the local area helping out local families who need a little assistance. According to a recent study as many as 30 million Americans annually cannot get enough food to meet their dietary recommendations. There is a need worldwide for hunger relief so let’s pitch in and help those here at home fill their bellies with nature’s bounty. You'll be glad you did.

  How do you explain hunting to someone who has never done it? Hunting is pine trees and majestic red oaks rising above the forest floor in their search for the sun. It’s the pungent smells of the rotting leaves on a damp morning or crisp scent of red cedar in the waking dawn. Its deer trails meandering through the woods and jay hook turkey scat in a field of green wheat peeking through the dirt.

  The hunt is the blue jay that shares your stand with you as he fusses tirelessly at the squirrels in the tree next to you. It’s the chill of the morning winter wind as you wait for the rise of the sun in the east. It’s the flickering tail of a young buck watching from the shadows of the forest edge before he crosses the clearing in front of you. It’s standing in the dawn of the sun watching God’s creation greet the day.

 Hunting is the wild startling flush of quail as you walk to your stand or the welcome beat of their wings in front of the dog’s nose as your shotgun swings to your shoulder. It’s the cackle of a cock pheasant taking flight or the booming gobble of a mature tom turkey coming off the roost. It’s the soft purr of a turkey hen calling its lover from afar or the whistling wings of a flight of ducks joining your decoys.

 Hunting is early morning breakfast after a sleepless night of anticipation. It’s standing with old men you admire finally having made the grade to get to tag along. It’s the smell of coffee and tobacco and the banter between men who have long been brothers in the hunt. It’s learning compassion and respect for a prey that you love and cherish in a way that a non-hunter will never understand.

 Hunting is time around a camp fire where old stories are told and retold and new stories added to the mix. It’s good whiskey and cold beer but only after the guns are put away and the boots are next to the fire. It’s being wrapped in grandpa’s coat asleep in the front seat as he drives you home.

 Hunting is the look on the face of your child as they take their first game and the seriousness of their face as you teach them how to properly prepare it and clean it. It’s the passing on of an intimate part of your soul that you have chosen to share with someone. It’s making memories that never fade and only get better with the telling. It is more about life than it is the taking of life.

  How do you put that into words?

I have noticed that in this so called modern world we have a Hi-Tech gadget for everything...it will do everything...and we all must have one! I believe it is called marketing or starting a trend and herding people so someone can make millions. It is thought that we cannot live without one. Is this truly to our benefit? Is it all worth our time or could we do without at least some of the trend? After all, it seems to change every few months, so we need to update and spend more money!

Well...since the beginning of time, nature and nature's creatures have never had Hi Tech or needed it! They seem to get along very well without it...and always will! And they, after all, have been around long before us and will be here long after us.

Look at his beautiful bald eagle, our American Symbol. It soars on high...rests in a tree...searches and finds its next meal. These things are so simple and down to basics...nothing Hi-Tech needed!

I wonder if we got back down to basics if our lives would be simpler, less jammed with what we are supposed to do, as we are told? Would we be better off? Happier? More Content?

Would we have more time to do as we want too, enjoy more of what we want too, and be more content within ourselves?

Think about it. Don't be pushed into a fad, a trend, or do something because you are supposed to do it. Be happier...look, listen, learn and enjoy nature and its creatures. Nothing Hi-Tech about it! I believe you’ll be happier, better off, and more content.

Do yourself a favor. Break the trend. Look to nature and enjoy!