Those of you who follow my blog will know that I am a big fan of The History Channel's show Alone. I am simply fascinated with people who have cultivated those skills necessary to survive on their own. I guess you could say my obsession started with Les Stroud on Survivorman even years before Alone. While watching the most recent season, I was surprised to see one of the participants, Jordan Jonas, was from Virginia. Because that is where I live, I found myself rooting for him week to week. He had such an easy-going personality, laughing at what many would consider to be terrible conditions and demoralizing setbacks. And then he killed a moose. He was the first participant in six seasons to take a big game animal. And he was from my home state. It's ridiculous that I should feel pride for something that I had absolutely nothing to do with, but I guess it's just like everyone around here going crazy over the Nationals in the World Series. Back in September, after school had started up, I began thinking about new and interesting ways to engage my students when I had an idea: why not see if Mr. Jonas would be willing to come talk to them about his experience. He has a rich background and incredible stories to tell, not only about his time on Alone, but from his time living in Siberia with the Evenki people. So I reached out to him, explained who I was, that I was a fan, and offered him a place to hunt. I figured I had all this land that wasn't really being used, so why not let someone else use it. I would also be better, I thought, to establish a relationship before asking something of him. We kept in touch over the next several weeks and eventually worked out a time to get together. Two weeks ago, I met him and a buddy at my property to show them around and let them bow hunt that evening. I'm not a bow hunter because of the time required to hone such skill, but I have great respect for those who do. Immediately upon arrival, we saw a lot of deer and bear sign. Introductions were made, I shared a bit of the history of the place, and walked them back to where I thought they should start their hunt. Now, I've met famous people before. I met Sean Astin in August, Kevin Hearne at a book signing event in Richmond, and I met Chris Jericho years ago in LA. But this experience was a bit different, more surreal. It wasn't a meet and greet at some convention or a public appearance with a brief handshake and a few exchanged pleasantries. Here I was, meeting this guy I had watched on television for weeks and lived vicariously through his adventures. We were actually hanging out in the woods. Of course I felt like I knew him, but I was also aware that he didn't know me from Adam. So that was in my head the whole time we talked. I left them to their own devices and made my way back home. Later that evening, after it was good and dark and I knew hunting time was over, I sent him a message asking if he'd seen anything. The reply was simple. "Phone almost dead. Shot bear. Looking for it now." Holy bear balls, Batman! A bear? I certainly hadn't expected that. A deer maybe, or nothing at all, more likely. But a bear? Talk about exciting. I didn't hear anything else that night, which had me worried. One of the risks with bow hunting is that it can be difficult to track down your quarry after making a shot. Especially in the dark. I may not have slept the best that night. The next morning he sent me a picture and explained that it had taken an hour to find the bear, mainly because they only had one flashlight. He'd made a good, clean shot and the bear died quickly. This is where my feelings get a bit muddled. I was thrilled he had a successful hunt and proud that he had harvested a great animal that would feed him and his family for weeks. But I was also a bit jealous. I used to hunt this property with my father every year. I've harvested deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, and grouse from those woods. But I've only seen a bear there once. No one in my family, that I know of, has ever killed a bear there. Granted, the bear population in the area has risen significantly in the last decade, but still. So yeah, a bit jealous. Though in reality, I highly doubt that I would harvest a bear anyway. I don't hunt for sport. It was always about food. And at this point in my life, I don't even do that because my wife and daughter wouldn't eat it. When I do hunt, it's for small game, or to spend time with my brother and I let him have the meat. Ultimately, what it comes down to, is that the experience has made me miss the time I used to spend with my dad in the woods. He's been gone for eleven years, and would be disappointed that I don't hunt as much as I used to. But I think he would be happy that I am sharing the bounty and joy of the woods with others and through them, encouraging the stewardship of the natural world. Photo courtesy of Jordan Jonas
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