Here is a Preview of my book. Its available NOW at www.lulu.com for $10.99 and will be available on Amazon in 6 weeks.

Book Release!

Finally after almost ten years my book "Times Well Spent; Ramblings From A Sportsman's Life" is released.

This blog began as an extension of the book in progress. It was intended to "feel out" the scope of the ramblings and thoughts. Now with 21 chapters or should I say, ramblings, the book is complete - at least volume 1 is. I suspect volume 2 wont take as long to compile.

So what is the book about. As an outdoor writer, passionate sportsman I began to compile short stories of what it's really like for us. The sights, sounds and smells. The camaraderie shared, friendships made and the allure to be in remote places. What its like to wade small streams. To sit around campfires and listen to complete strangers bare their souls. How it feels to take your son (or daughter) on their first hunt. To watch as they catch fish, and to participate fully in the miracle of what we call the out of doors.

For me, Times Well Spent, is personal. Its a part of who I am, how I thing, and what I feel each time I am fortunate enough to partake. Chasing a gobbler through majestic oaks, floating lazily along oil black rivers, anchoring in deep water bays, or sitting in a frost covered deer stand is a privilege that I cherish.

It's my hope that all who read Times Well Spent, Ramblings from a Sportsman's Life, will indeed be transported into my world. Where days afield are never taken for granted, sunrises cherished, and friendships kindled. I hope for you, that all of your days afield will also always be; Times Well Spent.

Copies of my book, "Times Well Spent; Ramblings from a Sportsman's life" can be found in paperback at; www.lulu.com

Within a few weeks it will be available on Amazon.com and on all ebook readers including: iBook, Nook, and Kindle.

A Challenge Answered

While turkey hunting a few weeks ago, I came headlong into one of the elements of nature that cause many to shiver.

There are many sounds of nature I have never heard. Others I am very familiar with. I can recognize a barn owl at half a mile. A mocking bird on a branch at dawn. And grunting bucks chasing unwilling does. I know the sound very well of a red tail hawk teasing a murder of crows, and their antagonized response. I know the sound of a gobbler who is teasing his hens, and one that is on a dead run. I have heard many times the gander as he sets his wings and recognize by sound when to "take 'em". I know the difference between a Pintail, and a Wood duck, a Mallard from a Black Duck, and a Canvasback from a Ringneck. Many sounds in nature as as familiar to my ear as my wife's voice when she calls me for dinner.

There are other sounds I haven't heard. I've never heard the growl of a grizzly bear - nor do I want to. I've never heard the teasing of a porpoise or the shrill of an Orca. And I'm not sure I would recognoize it if I did.

And until April 6, 2012, I'd never hard the sound of a rattlesnake.

As my friend and I were roaming in search of turkeys we ambled along an old loading deck where long forgotten loggers loaded their trucks. In this ambling we let our guard down. Each of us walked within easy striking distance of this Timber Rattlesnake. He was wearing snake boots, I was not. After passing a few feet, the snake awoke from her slumber and coiled and announced her presence. The sound, while never heard by my ears was instantly recognizable. The soft rattle rang through my ears like gongs and bells. Turning around my Benelli instantly came to my shoulder and Mrs. Timber Rattler was introduced to a load of 3 1/2" Winchester #5's.

It happened so fast, so instantly that it was almost instinctual. Without thought or hesitation, I shouldered the 12 gauge, released the safety and blew that snake into four pieces.

Some would argue that I should have let the snake go. That I should have allowed the snake to meander along its way. That I should have shown restraint. My reply is simply, had she not announced her presence she would have lived. One thing I learned in this transaction. The rattle of the Timber rattlesnake is a challenge, a threat, an invitation if you will to engage. So I accepted the challenge. She came to the battle with rattles, fangs and venom. I answered with a 12 gauge load of # 5's.

I won.

Dreams Do Come True

Whoever said "dreams don't come true" is not a turkey hunter!

Since I knew my wife and I were having a boy, I'd dreamed of this moment. I sat in the woods alone for 9 years while he was too young and practiced, and hunted hard. Preparing for this day, the day would come when I wouldn't be here alone. When he would join me for his turkey hunts. I dreamed of father and son, walking through the spring woods to his first turkey hunt. That day came this past Saturday, March 31, 2012. It was our annual "youth hunt" for turkeys. And Ridge and I were settled in the woods known as "Home place". On a piece of property we own in the Midlands of South Carolina.


The morning started out slow. The gobblers were silent, but as the morning moved along, his patience didn't wane. And his excitement grew. After forty-five minutes of soft calling a Jake appeared to our left, and moved behind us. I told Ridge it was a legal bird if he wanted it. Without hesitation he said he did. Turning around slowly, he picked out a bird and promptly killed it! Running to the fallen bird, Ridge jumped in my arms. Yelling in excitement of killing a turkey. And I in excitement for knowing what this moment meant. For him, it was killing his first turkey, for me a dream came true. We sat beside this magnificent bird, admired its beauty, and hugged again. "Thank you Daddy, thank you so much." He said over and over. Looking at his beaming face, I knew that dreams do come true. That moments like this don't occur anywhere else. Bowing my head I said a prayer of thanks to my God for allowing this to happen.

Sportsmen and women all know that dreams do come true. We live them at every sunrise. We live them at every gobble that echos through the spring mornings. At the sight of a mature tom, strutting and gobbling as he looks desperately for the source of the calling. At the sight of every buck or bull. Every flush and flutter of wings. Every tight chain on a trap. Every fish hooked and landed. Yes Sportsmen and women know that every moment spent in the out of doors is indeed dreams coming true. And all of these are indeed times well spent.