Change is Coming…

Every once in a while, life reminds you that it’s not static – Change is coming, whether you want it to or not.  Today, I found out that a slice of dirt right in the heart of some land I’m fortunate to steward, has sold.  Of all things, the new owner plans to make a shooting range and camp site.  Fun hobbies – just not exactly the kind of pastimes you’d dream of right, smack dab, in the middle of deer and turkey country.  If that’s not enough, the left atrium and ventricle were also put on the market in the latter part of 2016.  Phew!!! Talk about a blow.  For a hunter, this is one!

So what’s the big deal? Albeit temporary, this particular change will send shock waves through the remainder of wild lands that surround it.  The habits of wildlife will change – a testament to their adaptable nature and ability to survive.  As such, strategies for photographing and hunting those animals, will also have to change.

The problem? I wasn’t ready for it.  For years, I’ve put my heart, soul, sweat, blood, and a whole lot of money into improving these lands. Yet, it’s not all for naught!  I’ve come to manage 125 acres of these lands professionally – the health and diversity of a forest being directly related to the health and the diversity of the wildlife it can support.  The landowners saw the positive changes I had implemented for wildlife as a lessee and, after giving me a fair shake, afforded me the privilege to offset some of the money I had invested in their property by managing the timber and implementing a regimen of prescribed fire.  For that, I am thankful.  However, change will one-day affect this property too!

As for the rest of the acreage – Sadly, I don’t manage it professionally.  My hold on being able to hunt and photograph the wildlife that I love, is that much weaker.  Things could change tomorrow; things changed today.  Everything I do to improve these properties comes out of my own pocket; the time to do it, a debit to other areas of my life.  Some wonder why I do it?  Sometimes, I do too!  The truth is – I just can’t sit still when I have a vision for something.  I have to see it to fruition and I can’t rest until I do.  Cheerlessly, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that a lot of those visions-turned-realities, fruits of my labor, are subject to be eaten by someone else.

In the end, change is coming.  How you perceive it is up to you. As for me, I’m not exactly a fan of all the changes happening in my world.  At the same time, I’m certainly not going to let them kill me either.  And, we all know what they say about things that don’t kill you.

In the meantime, enjoy these photos of Wild Turkey from Moore County, NC!