That One Friend That Disappears

I have a friend who always disappears around this time of year.

“When you can’t find him he’s out killin’ stuff,” an old buddy of ours used to say.

It’s true. The closer the end of the season, the scarcer my friend is to find, and without a doubt “he’s out killin’ stuff.”

The general big game hunting season wraps up the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Until then there a lot of hunters still looking to fill tags.

“Git yer elk yet?” is an often-heard query at the bar, the gas pump, the grocery store.

I haven’t tagged anything in a few years, preferring to chase birds with the dog instead of packi...