Malcolm Dykes: The Privilege of Hunting

Saturday, Oct. 14th, was too pretty to remain indoors so I invited my two lovelies to accompany me hunting. 

For the last few years, we have had the opportunity given from kin folks to hunt on their property in Gluckstadt MS and had significant success in times past especially harvesting a 240 lb.10 point 150 class deer. 

The old boy's girlfriend did him in following her into my stand. 
It was a fun time with 3 bodies crammed up in a two-man tent on this particular recent hunt. 
We didn't get to bring home the bacon/deer, but we had a blast watching squirrels by the dozen frolic and play around the feeder and toward dark 4 big coons that looked like yard dogs! 
Better luck next time. 

That's why it's called hunting and not taking. 
Nothing like family. 
Hunting is more than scoring on a huge buck, it's getting outdoors and enjoying God's nature and appreciating our hunting privileges that may in time be removed. 

It's also being able to utilize one's health while you have it. 

There are many sick and afflicted folks who can only dream about getting back afield to enjoy the bounties of nature,

And on the recent hunt with my wife and daughter will always be with me, stored in my memory bank to reflect on until I breathe no more. 

Hunting is taking advantage of precious time that is ticking away that once it is gone it's gone forever. 

An acquaintance and friend of mine, the former MS Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Smith has taken hunting to the next level. 

Currently living out in Colorado he is continuing to live the dream out west in pursuit of the big game there like elk and mule deer after decades living it right here in good ol MS. 

He has made many safari hunts in Africa and scored on almost all the big game to be found there. 

Cape buffalo, lion, tiger, giraffe, antelope, you name it Chief Justice Smith has it mounted and placed in his wild game show case. 

Many are full body mounts and valued over a million dollars. 

He has scored on several Boone and Crocket whitetail deer and a few world class beyond the 200" mark that most of us hunters can only dream about. 

You may not ever get to join the elite group Judge Smith is a part of in your accomplishments afield or even make one safari hunt as he has many times. 

But just to be able to bear arms and get to go sit on a deer stand like my family and I did recently is priceless. 

Just remember, not everyone sees the need to ensure our rights to hunt and there are groups set to end our freedoms we tend to take for granted. 

They fight this grand privilege tooth and toenail. 

Thankfully there are organizations like National Rifle Asso., Ducks Unlimited and National Wild Turkey Federation that continually advocate our rights to this privilege or else it would already to gone. 

It's a privilege many just wish they could enjoy. 

Happy hunting. 

God bless you and God bless America.