Just Call Me a "Cooler"

My friend Smoke has started referring to me as a “cooler.”

Like the unlucky individuals employed by casinos to “cool” the action at the gaming tables when someone gets hot, I’m apparently the guy who slows down the hot fishing and hunting.

Both headed rapidly downhill shortly after my arrival in Phillips County.

I moved here primarily because of the hunting opportunities. The grouse and pheasants were plentiful. Elk and antelope tags were easy to draw. There were deer everywhere.

Now the birds are scarce, drawing a tag has become more difficult, and disease has taken a toll on the deer populat...