B10
Sports/Outdoors
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
T HE B ACKROADS
Hunting is human nature
By Sean Hart
Blue Mountain Eagle
Hunting — the way of life
in the West that connects so
many of us to our families and
ancestors is also one of the tru-
est expressions of human na-
ture in a historic sense.
Unlike farming and the
domestication of animals —
where humans wield their will
upon the world — hunting sets
a human in direct competi-
tion against the will of nature,
against animals far more adapt-
ed to surviving in the wild.
Without claws or sharp
teeth, armed only with humani-
ty’s wit, we craft tools to elevate
our status as predators. We rely
on reason to develop strategies
to overcome our shortcomings
in seeing and smelling.
Through these technolog-
ical and tactical evolutions,
we embody the essence of hu-
manity. And the carnivorous
spoils of our efforts provide the
high-calorie diet necessary to
sustain our mental prowess.
While the technology has
advanced beyond spears and
Sean Hart, 2016, Beulah
Unit.
slings through millennia, the
experience of hunting today re-
mains almost unchanged from
the days of the caveman. Sure,
riled barrels and high-powered
optics improve a human’s odds,
but the pursuit of game animals
is still rightly called a hunt, as
so many unsuccessful hunters
can attest each year.
Even without success,
though, hunting can provide ca-
maraderie and a sense of a trib-
al connection between friends
and family members in a party.
Traveling over rugged coun-
try to a tucked-away family
deer hunting spot in the moun-
tains of Eastern Oregon recent-
ly, my father recounted stories
of ventures he had taken there
with his father and grandfather,
who died before I was born.
I heard tales of my
great-grandfather bouncing his
head off the side window after
falling asleep en route and of
my grandfather accidentally
igniting a sleeping bag with the
ash of his cigarette in a doorless
Jeep.
When we came upon one of
the last hills to traverse before
the hunting ground, technology
failed us. The pickup could not
make the crawl up the moun-
tain, and we were forced to set
out on foot.
Shortly into the journey, I
spotted a buck grazing. With
his tail toward me, I opted to
wait for a better shot, but the
buck soon laid down behind
some brush. If I didn’t already
know he was there, I may never
have seen him.
I moved within a couple
hundred yards and tried to po-
sition myself for a better shot.
And then I waited, not wanting
to spook him into the short run
it would have taken for him to
disappear over the ridge. And
waited. And waited.
About ifteen minutes later,
a cow that had been grazing
made its way within 20 yards of
where the buck bedded down.
Finally, the buck stood up, and I
expected to have a decent shot.
The buck obviously wasn’t
too startled, however, as he re-
mained in the one place I didn’t
have a great shot and resumed
his breakfast.
My eyes began watering
and getting blurry as I stared
through the scope on my .30-
06 for at least 15 more minutes
— practicing more patience
than perhaps ever before in my
life.
Finally, he turned, and I took
the shot. He tried to run but
died within 15 yards of where
he was standing when I pulled
the trigger.
The drive back off the
mountain was illed with more
stories about my ancestors and
my father’s hunts when he was
a child.
At the post-hunt feast, we
cooked the heart and liver in an
attempt to recreate my grand-
mother’s cast iron cooking that
I got to enjoy before she passed
away several years ago.
Later in the week, my father
and I took my younger cousin
out hunting, and he shot his sec-
ond deer, his irst buck.
Through it all, I was im-
mersed in a family tradition that
transcends the Hart family tree.
By participating in the time-
less tradition of hunting, I expe-
rienced nature on its own terms
— simultaneously a part of the
natural procession and in com-
petition with it.
By hunting, I achieved a
state of harmony with nature
and, in the process, actualized
the essence of humanity.
Sean Hart is the editor of
the Blue Mountain Eagle. Send
your hunting stories and photos
to editor@bmeagle.com.
JOHN DAY TAXI
541-620-4255
Fares door to door:
Competitive Rates
J.D. to Mt.Vernon Post Office
J.D. to Prairie Post Office
John Day - Canyon City
Grant County Regional Airport
Every other Monday in John Day at
Hrs 6am to 9pm 7 days a week
Blue Mountain Hospital
170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311
Pet to vet-Hospital-Grocery Store-Package
pick up and delivery
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Preschoolers Harper and Hayden Workman join
in the fun at the Prairie City School jog-a-thon
last Wednesday at the school’s gym.
JOG-A-THON
Continued from Page B1
Lindsay Rausch, who was
voted parent teacher associ-
ation president last Wednes-
day, said the jog-a-thon was
a collective effort, with as-
sociation members, parent
volunteers, teachers, staff and
others involved.
She credits Jenny Shaw,
the former parent teacher as-
sociation co-president, with
inspiration for the event.
“We are all really excit-
ed and overwhelmed by the
success and support of our
students and the patrons who
made pledges,” Rausch said.
She said one preschooler
SQUAD
Continued from Page B1
This year’s team includes
junior Ariana Ceja, sopho-
more Paige Moore and fresh-
man Emily Ennis.
“The girls are very dedi-
cated to cheer,” Wright said.
They arrive at the school
at 6:50 a.m. for morning prac-
tice, and Moore and Ennis
also play volleyball, attending
practice after school.
She said their goals in-
clude: supporting the Prairie
City High School athletic
programs, promoting school
spirit, modeling good sports-
manship and showing school
collected $150 from donors.
“It’s by far our most suc-
cessful single fundraiser
since I’ve been involved in
PTA for the last seven years,”
she said. “We couldn’t be
more proud of all our kids,
preschool through sixth
grade, who ran or walked the
whole time.”
Rausch said she was espe-
cially impressed seeing old-
er students helping younger
students at the event, and en-
couraging them to continue.
“These kinds of multi-age
activities are a big part of
what we love about our small
school,” she said. “It was a
very positive, healthy, fun
event, and we can’t wait for
next year.”
pride to the community.
Wright said the girls held
fundraisers to purchase their
own uniforms before the sea-
son started.
Besides learning cheers
and dances, they also make
banners and posters for the
school hallways and decorate
the football and volleyball
teams’ lockers.
They also organize pep
assemblies and are planning a
service in the community.
“I’m extremely proud
of these girls,” Wright said.
“Their hard work has brought
a sense of energy to our
school. You can feel it when
you walk down our high
school halls.”
04684
04648
HOW THE TIME FLIES! October is just about
history, and it seems like we just started a
new year, not sure if it is an age thing or just
busier than usual.
We had a great turnout at the Elks Lodge for
our annual installation dinner. There was
plenty of good food, entertainment and an
opportunity to interact with our members.
Our guest speakers were Nick Green and
Haley Walker, who shared their family
background and also their vision for the
future of Grant County. We are all very
fortunate to find such talented people of this
caliber who have values and a vision and
passion to promote our area to bigger and
better things. We wish them much success,
but they will need all of our help on this
journey.
The monthly 2017 solar eclipse meetings are
still on track with new information and
challenges being discussed. If your
community or groups are planning any
special events or activities in 2017, you need
to contact Tammy at the Chamber office by
Nov. 14, 2016, so that she can submit that
information to be featured in the Oregon
Events Calendar. We are still seeking out
anyone who may have extra rooms,
apartments, RV spaces, acreage or any
location available for guests to stay or camp.
Be sure to get on our list so that we can
direct visitors to you. YOU COULD EVEN
MAKE A FEW RENTAL BUCKS.
The Chamber drafted a letter of support for
the airport, which is applying for two grants
from the Oregon Department of Aviation to
help hire a consultant to study the feasibility
of rural commercial air service to our area,
which also might help promote our shovel
ready Industrial Park as well. The second
grant would be for the construction of two
concrete helicopter pads and tie downs,
which are now gravel and grass.
Our Transient Room Tax keeps increasing
each quarter, so we must be attracting more
visitors to our area.
The Grant County Greenback program has
generated around $14,000 to our local
member merchants.
Did you know that being a Chamber member
helps support our office and county
activities? Only $50-150 per year.
Our monthly business meeting will be Oct. 20
at 11 a.m. at the Chamber office, and the
business meeting at noon at the Outpost.
Both are open to the public. Our guest
speaker this month will be Sally Bartlett, the
Grant County economic development
director, who will update us on county
activities. SEE YOU THERE!
the
corner’s
HOT
SH T
EEK
OF THE W
ERICKA DICKENS
School: Grant Union
Grade: 9
Parents: Artie and Janice
Dickens
Sport: Cross Country
What I like best about my sport: “When you
finish a race, you feel so good about running and
finishing. You train every single day and try to
improve.”
Coach’s Comment: “Erika is a hard worker and
has improved consistently throughout the season. I
can’t wait to see what she can do at district.”
-Coach Sonna Smith
PROUD SPONSOR OF GRANT COUNTY ATHLETES
Jerry Franklin
Chamber President
100 E. Main • Stoplight in John Day
04700
541-792-0425
04695