Great story Rus! I have only one comment, one doesn't hunt beside a fire, but still I understand that you and your father had something even better beside that fire. David

David ,Odd that you mention " One Doesn't hunt by a Fire " I had just mentioned to a close friend the other day how when we were kids ,all the Deer Hunters in our area in Pa. would build a fire when they arrived on stand ,and would spend the entire day on stand working the fire and hunting ! It was so neat to walk in the woods before day light and look up the mountain through the woods and see all the little fires ,on our property ,we always knew who beat us into the woods and would also know who was at each fire ! If you were a walker ,folks would always stop by the fire and visit a bit ,I can't tell you how enjoyable a day in the woods was visiting with neighbors and listening to whispered hunting stories while we all watched for Deer ,and I have no idea how many Deer ,I shot while standing by a fire , the fire really never seemed to bother the Deer at all ! I think the reason that went by the way side is we are all living in too fast of a pace World ,everyone only has a couple of hours to get out ,I haven't seen a fire in the woods in probably 20 + Years ,maybe this year I'll have to get one going if it's nice and cold ,in Buck Season ,I always take vacation and always hunt from Day light to Dark !

I always freeze at my stand. The colder it is the better the hunting. I never have even seen anyone with a fire while hunting. Sounds like a good tradition. David