Dale Laurin

A 5-second High: the Wisconsin Tradition: "The Deer Hunt" Dale Laurin

It was the Friday night before the opener of the Gun Deer Season. Expectations were high, everyone was putting their last-minute gear together. Gabby asked, "Did anyone see my 1998 Back Tag?" "Did I leave it at home again?" Gabby had forgotten and left his back tag at home last year! There was an incredible snowfall; by 7:00 pm the snow had been falling for several hours and we had 2 inches of tracking snow on the ground. We were all sitting around enjoying a beverage when one of the new 13-year old hunters turned to me and asked, "Oldtimer, why do you hunt?" (I guess 45 years of hunting made me the "old timer") I answered, "I enjoy hunting because........". That started a domino effect and each of the seven other hunters shared their reasons for hunting. That led to hunting stories of the past, and traditions of hunting and various other subjects relating to the outdoors. While sitting in my deer stand the next morning, I wondered if other hunters had similar traditions and hunting stories. If so, maybe I could put them down on paper, or better yet, write a book. I took it upon myself to do as much research as I could on this subject. I traveled throughout Wisconsin before, during and after "The Hunt" visiting old and new deer camps. I listened to all kinds of stories, traditions and reasons why people hunt, from youngsters to oldtimers. I compiled many of those stories and traditions from the "old timers" and youngsters alike to write this book. I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it. I hope that the book will create some entertaining conservation among all of you. "Bert"