OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Early Lessons

By Gary Miller

I was in my early thirties when I had my first lesson about cattle and farming. I don’t remember how I was introduced to Daryl and I don’t remember why I was on initially on his farm, but there I was, watching a cow in a headgate try to give birth to a calf that was breach, and had already died within the mother. The stress from Daryl and others trying to pull the calf out, caused the mother to die on the spot. For them, it was another day on the farm.

For me, it was the beginning of something that still remains almost unexplainable. To describe how green I was, at the time I didn’t know the difference between a bull, cow, heifer, or steer. I thought they were all just cows and calves. I can remember wondering where they went to get inside from the harsh weather. For the next several years, I learned so much about everything that had to do with cattle and farm life. I was taught everything from how to operate a tractor to how to vaccinate livestock – and even how to buy a cow/calf pair at the sale.

Meanwhile, I was having my first experiences as a solo deer and turkey hunter. My first buck came from that property. As did my first turkey. The memories have flooded back lately. Daryl and I were separated by time, family, and circumstances. We even lost contact until recently. After our reintroduction, it seemed like nothing had changed. He bossed me like he did over 25 years ago, and I fussed, offered my own opinion, and then did what he said. And then I went to those 400 acres that I had not been on since that time. And again, the memories were overwhelming. Simply overwhelming. In the past few weeks I have driven, walked, and hunted in some of the same steps I did years ago. I have been reminded of the lessons and lectures. I still use them today. We both wonder if God has brought all of this full circle for a reason. We’ll know soon. Maybe I can introduce another green hunter/farmer to lessons that not only apply to the farm, but to everything else in life.

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Miller can be reached via email at gary@outdoortruths.org.