A couple weeks ago, I ran into a young soldier who had just returned from the middle east. The conversation turned to hunting and he said he hoped to be able to get in some deer hunting this year. When asked about where he hunts, he told me that he hunted the Saylorville public land and the training area at Camp Dodge. He went on to say that he gets skunked a lot of years because the areas are overhunted. Ithought to myself "Self, do the right thing". Without hesitation, I invited him to comedown and hunt my land with my son and me.

I've served this country for 30+ years and know what it's like to be looked down upon or with indifference. I also know how it feels when some stranger walks up and says thank you or offers you a flower or handshake. So making this offerto a young PFC was a no brainer. I now have one more person to find the potential of this property with me and have made a new friend.

Take the time to make an equal offer to a returning service person and you'll have the warm fuzzies for a while and make a friend for life.

That's a hell of gesture, and ifI owned any of the land that I hunt on, I would certainly do the same. Some good friends of mine from church, their son is in Iraq as we speak. I gave them some of last year's venison to make jerky for him, I've given them countless hunting magazines for he and his unit, and I've talked to them and they would like me to whack one doe for them, so they can make jerky and sausage for them.

I figure it this way. That man is over there defending my right to hunt, and I'll do as much as I can to show my appreciation. RESPECT! to all serving this great country of ours. The bravery of those men and women deployed around the world is enough to bring tears to my eyes, I love each and every one of them.

Stay low ya'll!!

Making jerky and sending it overis another way of showing appreciation. Make some jerky and send it over. Four years ago,Iowanssent 100 bushels of sweet corn (Iowa sweet corn of course!) to the servicemen in Iraq. It was a logistical nightmare at first, then coleman donated a crapload of coolers. A local dry ice factory donated dry ice. A trucking company donated a truck and drivers to drive the corn to Shaw Air Force Base. The USAF lined up a cargo plane to fly it over. Three days after the corn was picked, our men and women in Iraq were eating corn on the cob. Too many people here take for granted our freedom and forget about what they can do to support or young men and women over there. Crap, there were days just a letter of encouragement would have meant a lot. Thanks - I'll put my soapbox back in the closet again.

Kudo's to you....... hope he shoots a monster. Best of luck to you and your son this season