This was not the first time for hunting whitetail deer for me but was a first with a muzzleloader. I had bought the Knight USAK902 kit with the express intent of increasing my odds of getting that first deer. Each of the past three deer seasons I believed I had done all the right things to position myself to be in the right place at the right time to make a long time dream come true.
My deer hunting experience had started much longer ago than three years back. I had a dear friend and neighbor that first pricked my interest to get up early, before dawn, to hit the woods and find a scouted area to lie in wait for those whitetails to move through and hopefully fall under the sights of my rifle. Ray Neal and I tried diligently to find the right places and be there at the right time. We were inexperienced but eager to learn. Lots of books and magazine articles were poured over to gleen what information we could to help us ferret out those Wilkes County bucks.
Seasons came and went. Ray began to find the right formula just as he was struck with a disease that would eventually bring his demise and end our hunting days. He experienced great pleasure in taking those last deer and I was equally happy for him. When we finally lost him I lost interest in deer hunting and hunting in general. It wouldn't be the same with my friend gone and not there to share our good fortunes.
Time heals our losses and offers opportunities to replace them. By plan or just dumb luck I found a new hunting partner and a new career at the same time. As I began studying computer programming I had no idea that it would lead to the opportunity to hunt again. Fresh from programming classes I started work with a division of Burlington Industries. The division no longer exists but it was made up of people very much like those I grew up with and around. The comptroller once mentioned to me that I "fit in very well with everyone and that was not easy to do" with that group. I knew that already of course because they reminded me of home.
Well the new job brought a new friend,
W. L.Ward. He didn't know it but he reminded me of more than home but of my long lost friend. When he invited me to hunt with him I didn't take him up on it the first season. I was ill-prepared to hunt again. I had concluded I never would again even if I was given the opportunity. Having lived in Greensboro for most of my adult life and not knowing anyone with enough land to hunt on it had receded into the back of my mind. Only a pleasant memory. I had become satisfied that Ray Neal had gotten all the deer for us both.