There’s nothing like an impending hunting opener to spark anticipation for the upcoming season and re-live moments from past ones. This year, it happened in a most unusual way.
Earlier this week I’d gone down to the basement to resurrect my brush pants, bird hunting shirts, and game vest. Grouse hunting was on my mind.
I plunged my hand into the right pocket of the vest and pulled out a pen and paper. I smiled to myself, and remembered bringing those along on the last pheasant hunt of 2023, to take notes for an upcoming magazine article. Checking that pocket again, I recovered a lengthy note written in a hand I did not recognize. Intrigued, I couldn’t help but read it right there on the spot.
Dear Hunter, I would like to thank you for having the opportunity to be your bird hunting vest these past seventeen seasons…“
