TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS
Hibdon Honored
with Several
Football Awards
Gyrrad Hibdon
by Vai and Larry Hibdon
Congratulations, Gyrrad, for the
outstanding honors you received at the
Toledo High School Awards night.
Gyrrad received a plaque for Toledo
High School’s Best Lineman Award, a
medal for First Team All-League
Defensive Line, Second Team All
League Offensive line. He received a
Certificate of Participation for taking
part in state playoffs 2003.
Gyrrad was a joy to watch on the
football field. Congratulations, Gyrrad,
we are proud of you.
Carollee Zuercher and Sar Richards decorate one of the trees for the Fantasy
of Trees Charity Auction and Angels Ball, held at Chinook Winds in December.
Correction: The article on
Pete Depoe and Redbone in the
November issue of Siletz News
should have included the following:
William Depoe Jr., Pete’s
brother, will open the show with a
blessing for the band to do a good
job at any concerts it may have.
Pete and Redbone are inter
ested in performing in or near Siletz
as a fund-raiser for Siletz Valley
School. Snoball Butler, William
Depoe Jr. - and possibly other
musicians - are ready to join them.
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Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom
Hello - by golly time does fly.
Seems like only a week or two since 1
was scrambling for Christmas and here
it is that golly time again. Hope all is
well with everyone and that you had the
best of the best and all dreams become
nightmares again.
Well, I’ll talk about my elk hunting
this year. To start out, the week before
the hunt someone came into my shop
and stole my Coleman Powermate
generator, a shotgun, a couple of cord
less drills, two timber dogs used to pull
logs to cut for wood, and strange I think,
four fluorescent tubes. Anyway, I have
a backup generator that weighs close
to 200 pounds, so with some help
loaded it on the trailer.
Took off on a Thursday; season
didn’t start until Saturday. Did a pipe
ceremony at Two Rivers on Thursday
night then two sweats on Friday. Just
getting ready to go into the lodge when
the chaplain came in all shook up.
He said that they were talking about
my helper and I and they came to the
conclusion that we were going hunting.
That meant we had rifles in the rigs. They
aren’t allowed on the premises. The chap
lain had to get the keys and take the
vehicles down the road a couple
of miles.
Well, all went well. Had a
couple of young people from
Siletz at the sweat Friday night;
then continued on to Ukiah.
Arrived at the campgrounds, where
they asked for $10 a night to stay there.
Thought that was a little steep, so went
to a place where in the past have killed
elk and set up camp.
Now, I believe in roughing it when
out doing whatever it is I’m doing, so I
had my electric fry pan, microwave
oven, Mr. Coffee, and all the necessary
lights plus a ready heater, You know the
Boy Scout motto - be prepared.
I started that big generator, but it
died. Started it again; it died. This went
on for an hour or so until finally had to
break out the gas stove percolator and
gas lantern.
There was very little snow; the tem
perature was at the lowest 28° and sun
shine, downright terrible. It did rain,
though, to keep the dust down.
I’ve hunted that country since 1959,
north side - Desolation, Murders Creek,
and Ukiah. I ’ve seen many changes. I ’ ve
seen the forest service come in and fall
every tree and leave them lay. Sure
messed up the elk hunting in that area.
It’s been reseeded by air and the little
pines are so thick one cannot walk
through them, but elk tracks lead into
the thickets.
When it was a bull with horns longer
than ears, I saw many big cows and
calves everywhere.
Then the game commission changed
it to spike only. Now the big bulls read all
about this and they would come strolling
by and stop, probably talking to them
selves about how foolish we looked and
mosey on their unhurried way.
The big cows would browse along,
no hurry. Now, this happens every year.
There wasn’t a year that I didn’t see elk,
just the wrong size or sex.
Now here is the corker! This year I
had a hair tag. I’m guaranteed an elk
this year. Hah, didn’t see a thing!
Even came back earlier than planned.
We were planning to leave around noon
on Thursday. After coming in from the
morning hunt, we packed up and headed
out. Got home and went to get a Friday
paper and guess what - it was Thursday.
Did enjoy the trip, though. Used to
be 12 of us hunted in that area. All have
crossed over now. All but two were real
heavy drinkers.
One was a baker; he died of “white
lung.” He didn’t drink. Another died three
years ago of Alzheimer’s. He didn’t drink.
All the others crossed very early in life,
and I was second oldest of the bunch.
Now it's time to start planning
next year’s hunt. This year, had a
hunting partner and now another
says that he’d like to hunt over there.
May have two hair tags next year?
January 2004 □
Siletz News
□
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