I saw a real sad thing mule deer hunting in Nevada. I was glassing some canyons when a father and two sons came along. No water, no binoculars, and no slings. They complained about there not being any deer in the area, however I had been watching 3 separate groups of deer in the canyons I was watching. At first I though the old man was just a jerk and was trying to make his kids hate hunting, but the truth was they were on a shoe string budget and were doing the best they could. I gave one of the kids my binoculars and pointed him in the general direction of one of the herds of deer. The poor kid almost fainted when he "found" the deer. I walked them thru the stalk and the kid killed his first buck. Hell, I haven't been that excited since my kids were born. After we got his deer packed out, they stopped by my camp. I gave them a two quart canteen, a great old pair of Hensoldt binoculars, and slings for their rifles. I tried not to embarrass the father but told him someone once helped me out when I first started hunting (a little lie). Two days later I found a note at my camp and it seems, they all got deer, thanks to the binoculars. I sure hope it's a couple of more years before I find another group of, like John Wayne would say, "pilgrims."

Good job, Tom. Makes a guy feel good doesn't it? Especially around the Holidays.

It's a rare thing in today's world to see that kind of generosity on the part of a stranger. The good thing is that you've probably made that youngster a hunter for life, and what a fraternity he has joined because of you!

And just think, because of the way you treated them i am sure that when they have an opportunity to help somebody they will. Hopefully the brotherhood will grow. And those are the kind of hunters we want more of, the considerate ones.

Thanks for what you did for them.

Red