Legacy -The 2024 Deer Season-

[whaler1]

5 hours ago, Gator said:

I was going to ask to be Tommy's friend (no benefits, sorry), but I got beat to the punch.

 

Krystel and I did dinner yesterday with Paul Willey and his wife Tania; as many know, Paul tracks and his dogs Volt and Iggy do a damn good job of it. Some of the stories he shared regarding the misinformation and blatant insistence from guys who called him that they know right where the deer went, or how to run a track, or even where they hit it (which 50% of the time is just dead wrong) is simply astonishing. The degree to which folks will flat out lie to get a tracker is similarly astonishing. 

 

No tracker does it for the money, but some of the interactions he's had with hunters after he's traveled two hours and spent half a day tracking are crazy too. Crazy insulting sometimes. I just don't get it. Arguing with somebody who does this two or even three times a day, trashing their expertise, then calling the next day begging them to come out again cause you couldn't find it grid searching. Hunting during the track. I could go on and on...these aren't all Paul, but he runs with a group of other trackers who share stories. And let me tell you, between you, me and the walls, if you piss one of these guys off, you are not going to find somebody to track for you in the future.

 

So, at the risk of sounding preachy, respect your tracker. Treat them right. Try to learn something. And don't be, "that guy".

 

And if you choose wisely in the stand, you will likely never need their help. But if you do, they'll be there.

Great stuff.