Commercialization vs Realization

Commercialization vs Realization by James L. Bruner
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Years ago I left the unforgiving circus of print media not for a lack of material or capabilities, but for the sub-standards imposed by editors who have never realized the actual experience of setting their own foot to the earth for sheer pleasure or adventure. Stifled and censored by monetized greed, it became apparent that my writing was no longer represented in each article as each line of type became a mirror reflection of corporate suits interested only in capital gains. No longer considered a simple cog in the money machine, I awarded myself a lengthy hibernation away from the majority of author venues and buried myself in reclusive research. Thus, I have awakened and find myself armed with an arsenal of verbal projectiles. It’s a Twisted Trail at times but you’re welcome to tag along.

Commercialization vs Realization
The scene starts out with the founder of a very well known producer of camouflage clothing on yet another hunting trip. The camera awaits outside the lodge as the host of todays hunting show appears in all his polished glory adorned heavily in his latest brand of camo. The camera zooms in as todays lesson begins and the host stammers through his previously written sermon regarding scent control while deer hunting. Todays sponsor is of course a major manufacturer of scent control products. Our host rambles on regarding the importance of controlling your scent and playing the wind correctly in order to bag a big whitetail buck. Tell us something we don’t know! Better yet, teach us something we don’t know!

Our host makes a feeble attempt to create his own brand of friendship with the viewing audience as he douses himself with the magical scent control product. As the sermon ends the camera pans to the left, following the host, and he straddles a 4 wheel atv and drives away to one of the scaffolds provided by the lodge guides. [Insert that screeching noise of a phonograph needle being purposely dragged across a vinyl record here.] Backup the tape please.

We just sat through this lengthy sermon in which the host projected complete conviction regarding the importance of staying scent-free while hunting. Yet, roll tape forward a bit please, there he is in all his bobble-head glory tooling off on a machine that is probably one of the worst offenders in todays hunting circles. Don’t get me wrong. Four-wheelers have their place and are great at bringing game back out of the woods but, if you are naive enough to believe that you can drive a four-wheeler to your hunting spot, and not retain that odor, you fall into the classification of the lesser, somewhat hunched over bi-pedal. Here are some facts to consider.

In order for you to avoid exhaust from the machine you would need to have the wind in your face for the entire ride including the moment that you stop. Not very likely. Second, there is always transfer of scent from any article or object. Seats, handlebars, foot-pegs, shifters, brakes. You are not scent-free every time you ride that machine and no amount of the magical scent control product can subdue the associated scents that are carried on such a vehicle. Spraying yourself before driving the machine is as useless as todays host.

Now, I’m sure a lot of people are saying “Well, I use a 4 wheeler all the time and I get my deer.” Good for you. I have a buddy that drives a pickup truck out into the field every day and dumps off buckets of bait. He then drives away and sneaks back to his blind. He claims the deer believe he has left and now the coast is clear. He shoots big whitetail bucks every year and I acknowledge the fact that he shoots the deer but I dont agree with the technique. Was it really that far that it couldn’t be walked like you did so many times before you owned the machine? Are you absolutely sure that the buck you shot was the biggest dominant buck in your area or did that huge monster stay hidden due to some foreign scent in the air? Face it. You don’t know and you are conceeding to the fact that it’s easier this way. Let’s fast forward the tape a bit.

Ah, here’s our host moving ever so slowly on his quad just before he stops and begins to whisper to the camera. Look, he just drove up on a 4 wheeler but it appears absolutely imperative that everything must now be silent. Obviously he’s now in stealth mode as he begins to stalk towards his treestand. But I’m on his side with this one. If he is close enough to his stand that a deer could actually hear him talking then he should whisper if he feels he needs to be talking to begin with. Besides, I’m pretty sure that the deer couldnt have heard the 4 wheeler. Not! Get the hell over it! If you have to drive your machine that damn close to your stand, and you’re not handicapped, you’re just plain lazy and the walk would probably do you some good!

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