i was a fox hunter

Oct 27, 2021

My today self probably couldn’t even recognize my 20-year-old self. When I was in my early 20’s, I learned how to hunt fox. (My today self is appalled!) At the time, fox hides sold high — $50 each back then. Coons were $40 and muskrats were $8. Yup, I still remember the selling prices.

Fish guts were stored in the sun in plastic containers until it was nothing but putrid, stinky, mush. Open that lid and nothing could pick-up a human scent. Get one little drip on your skin and gag… I know this to be true.

Standing in the back of a truck bed with the lid open on the stinky stuff, it was time to hit the play button on your trusty tape recorder/player. No Bon Jovi or Queen… but the sound of an injured rabbit. All that was left was to turn on the light attached to your hat and wait — gun ready. I can seriously remember fox carcasses in the same freezer where food I actually ate was kept. (Again, my today self is appalled!) 🤢 

For the record, I typically slept in the truck cab and never shot an animal. I did help run traps, caught minnows in the creek, and more. I also owned my very own muzzle loader and the only thing I ever shot was the mirror on the side of my car.

Now what got me thinking about this crazy past life is how a few cherry hand pies can lure in the peskies. No prep smells or sounds required. Just one photo text message is all it took. They drove straight to my house to get some before Merida stole them again. I explained that I made a cannister fort around them along with the photo attachment and they were safe… still the lure of those cherry pies was too great.

I also used my huntress skills for something else just as useful — tracking the beeping noise that’s been driving me crazy for almost a week. The mystery is finally solved! The weather radio’s antenna got lowered somehow (probably Merida) and it was beeping “bad reception.” Whew!