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The Coonhunter's Bond

I hope to have this published in the Bloodlines magazine. I wrote this for my friend Elmer Worley about a year ago:

The Coon Hunters Bond



Many people don’t believe in it, and our wives don’t understand it, but it exists. It’s a special connection I call, “The coon hunters bond.” It’s real, and to those who have experienced it, I know they will agree that there is something about coon hunters that automatically bonds us together as friends. Many of my coon hunting buddies became my friend for no other reason except the fact that we shared a love and passion of using dogs to chase raccoons. Maybe that’s the part my wife doesn’t understand. She rolls her eyes at me when my coon hunting buddies call and ask to go hunting yet again night after night. She doesn’t understand why we are willing to spend every night we can chasing those poor defenseless critters up trees with barking dogs. She’s gone before and it wasn’t a good experience for either of us. My wife and I share a special bond too and that relationship is very intimate and special; but coon hunters also share a bond and I believe it’s that bond that makes the sport of coon hunting so addicting.

It’s all about the Dog

It never fails when I go into a gas station to pay for gas before a hunting trip. The cashier asks, “What’s with the hat and light?” I say, “I’m going coon hunting.” She says with a confused expression, “Coon hunting. What do you do with the coon when you catch one?” I always respond by saying, “Well, for me it’s all about the dog.” I don’t always kill every coon I tree. For me, it’s not about the coon at all. I love treeing them and I don’t have as much fun if I don’t tree one, but I could care less whether I kill it or not. I’d rather see my dog who I trained to be the best do a good job and work hard treeing the coon. I love my dog and he and I share a special bond. Just ask any coon hunter and they’ll tell you they love their dog.

Every old veteran coon hunter has had that one special dog that touched their lives in a way that changed them forever. Ol’Fred, or Ol’High Bawl, or just plain Ol’Red. If you’ve spent time around coon hunters I know you’ve heard the stories about the dogs of old and the ones who had the cold nose and treed the most coons in one night. Every once in a while a coon hunter will get lucky and find a natural dog that suits them and they fall head over heels in love with that long eared mongrel. Why else would they spend more time in the woods than at home? Something has entrapped their hearts so much that they can’t help but be addicted to seeing their dog improve and get better every night they go to the woods. The sound of the dog’s voice is so impressive to us, that nowadays, we make its tree mouth a ringtone on our cell phone. If that ain’t whipped then I don’t know what is!

The Company we Keep

People say that if a man has one or two true friends in their lifetime they ought to consider themselves blessed. Through the sport of coon hunting I can honestly say I’ve had many true friends that I could count on for anything. I’m a pastor and ministers often have to move a lot. Once, when I left one church no one from the church showed up to help me move. All that came by were the guys I hunted with. They were the saddest to see me go and they were the ones helping me carry my possessions to the U-Haul truck. Even if they couldn’t carry heavy boxes they were there to shake my hand as I pulled out of their lives and onto the next ministry. For them I am thankful.

The Company we keep may not always be the most polished individuals. Some of them may have a little Skoal or Copenhagen dripping down their chin but you won’t find any better individuals than some of the coon hunting buddies I’ve had in the past 15 years. One was Elmer Worley. His funeral was sad and his family members were in tears and mourning. It was a privilege to officiate the service. It was my job to encourage them and make them laugh. I did this by telling them funny coon hunting stories about their dad. Most importantly, I shared with them how their dad made an impression on me that changed me forever. I learned the value of hard work, how to be honest, and not to give up when things were tough. The true coon hunters understand the life lessons that can be learned from a hard night in the woods with a good hound and good friends. I titled his eulogy, “The Coon hunters Bond.”

Written in Memory of Elmer Worley

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james moore

Awesome man ,once again us coon hunters no matter what breed we hunt should stick together

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If You Cant Stand Behide Our Troops ,Then Try Standing In Front Of Them
Jim Hill 651-775-1783

Been following these walker dogs since 1983,and love every min of it !!!!





http://minnesotastatecoonhunters.webs.com/

Use SunSpot Lights, so bright its like the sun came out at night !!!

Nice!

Your right on...my best friend is pushing 3x my age...he is older than my parents...(i am in my mid 20s)...started out as my buddies uncle who we put on deer drives with...till a walker dog came upto me one day begging for a scratch on the head...i didnt know my buddies uncle at all yet..but asked if we were cuttin the walker loose after the deer hunt...he said absolutely! My buddy came with us once or twice....then i started going with him alone.....now almost 10yrs later i pretty much live at his farm...i help on the farm..we do all kind of stuff together not hunting related...but in the end that is how it all started...complete strangers that grew to best friends because of a coon dog....ive handled 2 of his dogs...granded one out....now we both have pups and he keeps mine on the farm for me....

My buddy hasnt hunted with us since...he found betger things to do at nite i reckon....me..good luck taking coon dogs outta my life for long!

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Team Trackman!!

'PR' Trackman's Dizzy Duke

nice post, good reading. thanks!

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happiness is: being saved by the grace of GOD! i'm happy and hope you are too!

nice job rev

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TEAM HOGBACK MAFIA

Thank you. I enjoyed reading this. My best hunting buddy is my Dad. 6years ago I transferred 8 hours away for work, but we still hunt together quite often through the use of these ole cell phones! lol.

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BOONDOK KENNELS:
*Rebel's Northern Tyme
*Buck Creek Rebel(A-1 squirrel dog)
*GrNiteCh PKC CH ACHA World Champion Walker'PR' Buck Creek Hitler.....RIP ole buddy
*Buck Creek Sugie......RIP ole girl

you said all ,thats nice reading
thanks rev

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Buckeye Boys Kennels
Your Tapp connection
James Jones
Southern ohio
Call or text-1-937-403-7322
.....................................................................

B&R'S CLASSY SIDE
SIRE=PCH,NTCH G & E FIGHTIN SIDE
DAM=GRCH NTCH SILVER DOLLAR DAISY MAY
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SINGING TAPP WHITEY
2018 UKC performance sire
2017 CHKC super stud
2018 PKC Ss sire
SIRE=GRNTCH DARKSHADOW TAPP TWISTER
DAM=NTCH RHOADS TRI-COUNTY ADA

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Ntch Grch Thompson Silvertone Stomper (semen)

Singing Tapp Whitey (semen)

THANKS FOR BLESSING US WITH SUCH A GREAT STORY!!! I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT STORY IS ABOUT EVERY ONE OF US!!! I RE-LIVED PLEASANT MEMORIES IN MY MIND WHILE READING YOUR WORDS!!! THANKS AGAIN!!!
OH, BY THE WAY, NICE TO SEE ANOTHER PREACHER ON HERE, I PRAY GOD'S WILL AND BLESSINGS UPON YOUR LIFE!!!

I bet that was the best eulogy ever! That was an awsome story

Great Story!

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COONBUSTIN WALKERS
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Home of
'PR' HOUTZ COONBUSTIN SPOOKY FRED
$142.50 PKC.

CH 'PR' HOUTZ COON BUSTIN TINY

'PR' HOUTZ COONBUSTIN MOJO MAGIC

'PR' WILD STYLE CLOVERS FLAG
~Casey Houtz~

This is so true. Through hunting we can build memories that last forever with great people.

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Michael Armes
Angle Plantation Kennels
540-598-0173
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