Outdoor Truths: The fragile part
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By Gary Miller
As many of you know, I spent the first 29 years of my life in Kentucky. Since I lived only about three hours or less from Lexington and Louisville, my culture was around thoroughbreds, basketball, and bourbon – with a mixture of tobacco fields. Even though my experiences were limited to basketball, these other influences were always in the background. With that said, let me pass on a story I heard.
At the celebration of the Buffalo Trace Distillery’s six-millionth barrel, Julian Van Winkle Jr. handed a legendary tour guide, Freddie Johnson, a bottle of 20-year-old Pappy’s – an expensive and rare gift. He was to use it to celebrate with his dad and brother. That night they opened it, and when Freddie tried to save some for a future time, his dad stopped him. He told his son there would always be more old bourbon, but not more of them. He said,” We are the fragile part of this whole thing.” So, that night they sat, talked, laughed and finished the bottle. Nine months later, both his father and his brother were gone—leaving Freddie with the line that’s now famous: “It’s not about the whiskey. It’s about the lives you touch and the people you meet.”
Why do I tell you this? Deer season is upon us. For years, I have witnessed landowner after landowner, and many selfish hunters, try to protect their deer at the expense of a youth, new, or even old hunter. They have deemed the most fragile part of this process to be the animals and not the lives of those they could forever impact. And there is no doubt there will be some hunter who will not be with us next year. Remember my friends, it’s not about the deer. It’s about the lives you touch and the people you meet. Adjust accordingly.
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ν Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Stay updated on Outdoor Truths each week by subscribing at Outdoortruths.org.
