How many times have you asked yourself just this year alone, “Why am I sitting outside in this 90 degree plus or near zero temperature hunting deer?” Last fall one of my long-time hunting buddies, Earl McCauley, and I were enjoying the FHFH Hurricane Benefit Hunt at Campbell Illinois Whitetail during early October attempting to endure the record 103 degree heat, humidity and trophy mosquitoes. In less than an hour after as Earl put it collecting nearly a bucket full of mosquito hearts we pulled up stakes and headed in for a 7:30 am breakfast. On the ride back to the Lodge I asked Earl what kind of a tip we should provide to our guide, D.R. Mobley. With very little thought he said, “I’d like to give him my new Mathews bow!” I replied, “Are you crazy you love that bow - and it’s shooting like an Olympic target bow.” Earl quietly told me how our 19 year old guide had been admiring his new bow the day before as he laid one arrow after another in the heart of the McKenzie deer target at 60 yards.

Earl not only gave him his new Mathews, but during the months to follow, he has sent him a new sight, a dozen and a half arrows and other treasured accessories. D.R. has been pretty much on his own since age nine when his father died in a logging accident. As we left camp at the end of the week Earl quietly made D.R. another offer. Earl said, “If you ever need a home – just head toward Virginia.” Earl not only ended the week with a heart shot on a very large deer that he donated to the Gulf Coast hurricane victims, but he left something in the heart of D.R. that will accompany him the rest of his days.

I’m blessed to know many other hunters and their families who give birthday presents, Christmas presents, beds, clothing, school supplies and many other things to needy children and families. The greatest teacher in history said, “It’s more blessed to give that to receive.” So the next time you begin to wonder why you hunt just remember that hunters who give more than they take are by far the most blessed hunters. If you have a story about what you or a friend did to help a neighbor in need please send it to me at rick@fhfh.org or P.O.Box 323, Williamsport, MD 21795. We’d like to share some of your stories with the world in our up-coming issues of “For I Was Hungry” and the FHFH on-line News Magazine.