By Barrett Mackay

We recently had the privilege to have as our guests the Marvin family from Warroad, Minnesota. Father Conway, mother Mary, and daughters Laura and Jackie chose to come to Alabama for a family hunting vacation. A family that plays together stays together." Well why not the recreation be hunting?

Conway, a life long hunter has encouraged and provided hunting opportunities for all of his children (two boys and two girls) over the years. Adoring their father and wanting to spend time with him they have responded and from what I gathered from spending five days with them they have come to love hunting. Laura, 17, has since the age of 12 taken whitetail deer, black bear and caribou, some with a gun and some with a bow. Jackie who is aged 14 has taken deer and a bear and is a proficient marksman as well as archer. Mary, not a hunter herself is a great sport and wanting to be an integral part of their experience came along on the hunting trip to Alabama. I understand there was some kidding around before their arrival. Mary was told that she might have to sleep in a tent and generally have to rough it. Though she was willing, she was pleased to find our accommodations far from roughing it.

When we picked them up at the airport on a Sunday in late December it was a balmy 68 degrees. Welcome to the Deep South! They arrived too late to hunt that afternoon and so they settled in and sighted in their guns, enjoying the change of scenery.

All were up the next morning before dawn and ready to go hunting including Mary who was eager to observe along side Laura and her guide. Though the weather was pleasant it was not very conducive to the movement of the deer. Game was observed but nothing big enough to shoot on the first day or else it was of the variety not in season, i.e. lots of turkeys. It looked as if they were going to have to do some serious hunting. They were willing and they did. By Tuesday evening before dusk Conway had finally spotted a shooter, a nice 8-point from a shooting house by the edge of a green field. with one deer brought in the excitement mounted. That evening we toasted the success of the afternoon hunt as well as a New Year. But it was no partying until midnight for this group. It was up before dawn again the next day. Our guides, Billy Norris and Ben Black were on a mission to get each of the hunters a trophy buck.

On Wednesday the weather was wet and cold. A lot more deer were observed and there were signs that the rut was beginning. Laura was fortunate enough to have a large 8-point cross her field that evening and she took him on the move. He left the field never stopping but fell just beyond the edge. A great shot! Mary was in the shooting house with Laura and her guide, Ben Black, and shared in the excitement. And exciting it was. As I understood it went something like this. As they were discussing the book that Mary was reading, Ben concentrating on his job spotted the deer coming up the road to the left. He alerted Laura who shuffled around to get in position. Mary was forced to the floor and instructed to cover her ears which she did none too soon.

Afterward there was great speculation as to whether the deer was down because it was out of sight. Those moments of not knowing can be pretty intense. Finally Ben got out of the shooting house and determined that the deer was down and that it was a clean shot. All were relieved. All were impressed by Laura's proficiency. Her Dad loved it and so did I. You go girl!

By Friday the weather had changed to very cold with snow flurries. Welcome to the South. You never know what you are going to get. The game seemed to be moving pretty well by now. Now all efforts were centered on getting Jackie a deer. After the morning hunt did not produce a deer the family moseyed through the woods for the better part of the day trying to stir things up. Friday evening Jackie had her chance at a big 8-point but couldn't get a good prop and missed. All felt the disappointment.

The Marvin family came from Minnesota to Alabama for a family hunting vacation and hunt they did. But they did more than that. They spent quality time together. They shared in one another's success and failure, They laughed a lot (about our accents among other things), they shared, and they gathered memories. They ate grits, okra, black-eyed peas, hush puppies, and turnip greens. They learned new things. They made new friends. Conway told me the day before they left, "It is easier to hunt by myself but it is more fun with my family."

A family that hunts together, what a beautiful thing!