NOTES FROM DEER CAMP

2017, DAY 4: I had just sat down on a dry, flat rock to rest and take some notes when I heard a gunshot. These woods were brand-new to me, so I couldn’t tell for sure, but it seemed as though the sound had come from where Greg was hunting. This was our last day of hunting—and the first without rain. It was getting late in the afternoon, and I knew that if I had any chance at filling my buck tag, I should stay put. Instead, I followed my gut and left to see if my friend needed help.

I waited by the trailhead, hoping to see Greg at any moment with a grin on his face and asking for another body to help drag his buck out of the woods. Eventually, he did show, and he was smiling, but not because he’d filled his tag—just because he’d had a good day in the woods.

We left a note on the vehicle letting Nate and Anthony know that we’d decided to head back to camp on foot. The walk was mostly quiet as we scanned the woods for signs