Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2014

By Stacy E. Domingo.

The Camaraderie of

S a young girl, it didn’t

take but one trip with my father to

realize that deer hunting season for

him was like bingo for my mother.

I know it is amusing, but hunt-

ing season provided a social arena for

my father and brothers to bond with

their many friends – and all for one singular goal. While

my mother and her friends wanted to win money, the men

wanted to fraternize and, of course, shoot the largest buck

of the season. Even better, they could bring home food

that would last for several meals.

I would tag along with my father and brothers on

occasion, but I generally found the activity of hiding in

a hot, mosquito-infested blind to be somewhat boring.

I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, which explains why I

never saw any wild animals. Talking while hunting is

obviously a big negative.

While I wasn’t a great hunter, I was a decent shot and

a curious consumer. Who knew venison spaghetti or chili

could be so tasty? I couldn’t wait to go to annual turkey

shoots and once even brought one home for Thanksgiving.

My father was a much better fisherman than hunter, and

one of my favorite meals consisted of the king mackerel that

he caught offshore and brought home to fry. It was absolute-

ly delicious and eliminated any concern I had about hurting

a fish. My father-in-law brought a broader range of wildlife

to the table, including squirrels and raccoons.

So while I am not a card-carrying member of a hunting

club, several residents are and were willing to share their

stories. A passion for conservation and time spent with

family were common threads for all.