than they expected. Foster also hunts with his father, who served as a mentor as Foster became a proficient hunter. Foster, like Chase, started hunting at a
young age. Tey both felt the influence of previous generations of hunters guide them to have the interest they do today. “I come from a long line of hunters and military men,” Foster said. “It’s who I am.” When Chase suffers a disappointing day in the woods, hunters of his own lineage are very supportive. “I haven’t actually got any deer yet, but [my grandfather] says he’s determined to get me one this year,” Chase said. He is still without a kill, and though he is relatively mystified as to why, he has his theories. “[My dad and I] used to see stuff, but ever since I’ve actually been able to use a gun, I haven’t seen anything. I guess I’m just bad luck.” Bad luck is not the only culprit of some of his limited success. “I go [hunting] with my brother too sometimes, but him and I don’t really do too well in the stands. We’ll be laughing and scaring the deer away. We can’t sit there quietly,” Chase said. James Crouse, Chase’s father, often heads
Chase’s hunting experiences, organizing trips and bringing along new members to the hunting party. Crouse attributes some of his father’s enthusiasm to his recently limited role of a constant paternal figure as a way to make the best of his legal parental role. “My parents are divorced,” Chase said, “so my dad really likes to see me get involved [in hunt- ing] now.” However, his father has provided Chase with more than the material means to hunt. “My dad has pretty much taught me everything I know,” he said. Chase and James plan to continue the
tradition of hunt- ing as a father-son team as long as they can. “[My dad] told me that when he’s too old to hunt by himself, I’ ll have to take him like he used to take me,” Chase said. This spirit, which has gone strong through generations, shows no signs of stopping. Just as James once taught Chase how to hunt, Chase said “ I can see myself teaching my kids one day.” A typical
trip
Chase and James take a moment to relax during a weekend hunting trip, a tradition whose roots stem from generations before either of their lives. “I guess he’s just passing down hunting,” Chase said. “It’s been a part of my dad’s side of the family for a long time.”
starts the day be- fore the hunt, when the hunters drive up to their campsite. Te night before consists of “about 15 people sitting around a fire at night. We roast hot dogs, and then we get up in the morning and hunt,” Chase said. “You go out there real early, like 5:30 [in the morning], and get out there right when the sun comes up.” Todd’s hunting expeditions bear surpris- ing similarities to Chase’s. His party usually consists of “me, my grandpa, my dad and a couple of my dad’s buddies,” said Todd. “We go up to the hunting cabin the night before, and wake up about an hour before sunlight.” “We hunt all morning,” Todd said, “and
get out by around 11 a.m. We go get lunch, and then my dad and everybody else takes a nap. I go out and hunt alone in the af- ternoon, and we all hunt as a group again in the evening. Ten, we start all over the next day.” Additionally, Chase
Todd shows off one of his more valuable kills, a ten-point whitetail deer. Whitetail deer are judged and scored in part by the number of antler tips they have. Ten-point deer are somewhat rare and rank in the upper echelons of the scoring scale.
and Todd share similar views on the nature of hunting as well as the public’s view of the sport. “Everybody is always ask- ing me about my hunt- ing,” Todd said. “Some people don’t like it, but I don’t see things the way that they do.” Chase added more scientific reasoning. “Ev- eryone has their different opinions about hunting,” he said. “[For me], you’ve got to keep the ecosystem
in line, and hunting does that.” Todd, like Chase, sees hunting as merely
a representation of a larger, natural order as well as a means to enjoy those around him. “A kill is just a prize,” he said. “Going out with your family, doing something you love – that’s what it’s all about.” Trough long hours, tradition and most
of all, family, hunting can emerge as some- thing far beyond an activity or pasttime. On paper, it boils down to things such as points, equipment and technique. However, it has the potential to let the concrete things affect the abstract. Chase can stay close to his father through lessons in shooting or tracking game. Todd can prove a high level of independence to his own father after an impressive solo hunt. In both cases, hunting goes above and beyond the obvious role of a weekend hobby. It is more than a sport. n
Get details of Chase’s first kill – and share your opinion about hunting – on
3ten.org
DECEMBER 2011 • CARPE DIEM
35
Photo courtesy of Todd Foster
Photo courtesy of Chase Crouse
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