As legends go, this one deserves to be relegated to a footnote in history. If you are not familiar with Aysel von Athol, read on, I am sure you will get its meaning shortly. It is that time of year where many sportsmen and sportswomen have geared up or are getting ready for the opening day of big game hunting season. As you may prepare for your annual trip it is important that we remind ourselves of some simple things as you venture out to your little neck of the woods. Most of us will be wearing an excessive amount of camo and will easily be picked out of a crowd, at a gas station or grocery store. Therefore, take care to not channel your inner Aysel von Athol.
You see Aysel is legendary for his inappropriate self-centered belligerent and often delinquent behavior. I am not exactly sure of the historical origins of the von Athol family but Aysel is by far one of the more famous. Aysel didn’t care what anybody thought of him, not even his own family. He did what he wanted to when he wanted to, how he wanted to and paid no mind to anyone else. Aysel wreaked havoc in the annals of history and his spirit lives on. Over the years this free-spirited, don’t give a darn attitude, started to take hold of honest decent people in almost a possessive manner. In this way, the legend grew and was passed down from generation to generation.
The first thing to remember is that our society has changed in so much that in an effort to be inclusive of smaller groups we have made larger groups excluded. While I could write an entire post on this subject, this isn’t the time or place for it. Suffice to know, that how we act as sportsmen and sportswomen will be noticed by those who don’t partake in hunting. Even those opposed to hunting will be watching. There are loud voices against it and we need to be mindful, respectful and polite whenever possible.
The second thing to remember follows the first, saying things like, “Yes sir or ma’am” isn’t too much to ask. Taking your hat off before going into a building and holding the door for people is another good idea. The former was something that was drilled into my head when I played football. My coaches in both Michigan and Kentucky would not tolerate one of their players wearing a hat in a building. In Kentucky, I remember having to do burpees until we were sick because one player on the team forgot the rule.
The third thing to remember is to take your time and obey the laws. Speeding to get to your favorite spot while challenging the limits of both man and machine can seem like a good idea but try not to do it pulling out of your neighborhood, down the highway or at the expense of a fellow hunter. (I am looking at you RAM Truck owners)
It takes discipline, courage, and a little luck to withstand the powerful forces in play here. Deep breathing helps, patience and proper planning will also provide good outlets for exercising this demon. If not, the legendary spirit of Aysel may manifest itself in you while turning out of your driveway at the start of your hunting trip. Sure, the older couple in front of you driving 15 miles per hour slower than the speed limit is annoying. Yes, they should just pull over and get out of your way so you can get to your tree stand before dark. However, charging around them honking your horn while flying the middle might feel good but what does it really accomplish?
As Hunters, we need to be constantly reminded that we have a target on our back and while we might want to fly a flag or two, especially against hate-filled speech from anti-hunters, it does nothing to win over those who have no feelings either way in the matter. We will keep the tradition of hunting alive by being good citizens and standing our ground on issues that matter like access to public lands or conservation.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to re-take Hunter’s Education with my daughter. Per Idaho Law, she couldn’t go hunting with me past age 9 without having taken it. We opted for a combined class for firearms and archery. My daughter passed her test with only missing one question regarding whether she needed to ask permission to hunt on public land. She said yes. The instructor, a former Idaho Fish & Game Officer, smiled when going over her test with her and took the time to explain he hated marking her answer wrong but explained why he had to. I had a perfect score but let her know, this was the third time I took the course and she did much better than the first time out than I did my previous two times.
The reason I bring this up is that the course material was approved by the International Hunter Education Association. The material was well laid out and covered several topics including the perception of hunters by onlookers. On the 5th page of the manual it reads:
“Responsibility
A knowledgeable and skillful student of hunting will never be a true hunter unless he or she also behaves responsibly. Responsible behavior includes courtesy, respect of others and of wildlife, and involvement. Responsible hunters do not poach or act carelessly. Responsible hunters obey hunting laws, hunt fairly, practice safety rules, and wait for a clean kill before shooting. How you behave and how other people see you will determine hunting’s future.”
On the same page, the topics of Safety Skills, Knowledge and Involvement were covered. The manual also has an entire section dedicated to ethics that starts on page 65. I keep a copy of this manual and pull it out every year since to review myself. The class also gave out a sticker with the 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety which we have placed on the door to the firearm safe. All of this serves as a good reminder for my family and me. It only takes a few seconds to allow poor judgment to influence your decision that can impact your life and those you love for a lifetime.
I can be a pretty dense individual at times though I like to think of myself as cunning and mildly intelligent. However, growing up, I had a foul mouth. My Dad said once, “You know, I would like to think you have some intellect son. But after you swear, all I hear is Blah, Blah-b-blah, blah.” For those of you who don’t quite understand the name, hopefully, it doesn’t take too much imagination to understand that Aysel von Athol isn’t really a person. If you say the name slowly and play with the pronunciation, you might understand the reference to a similarly sounding curse word.
In the court of public opinion, how we act as hunters carries more weight than anything else. Actions always speak louder than words. We all lead busy lives and in the hustle to get things done it can be easy to forget the simple things that matter most. Those who know me, understand I am writing this as much for myself as I am anyone else. Take your time, be safe, enjoy the hunt, good luck and please, don’t be an Aysel.
- L. Yarbrough, Bucks & Beers
