Editors note: This was Lew's FIRST article for us

By way of introduction, I'll have to give you some background into the "Pistols and Pistons" header and tell a story on myself. I have been a handgun shooter and hunter most of my life and a motorcycle enthusiast almost as long. Now deer hunting is not always about getting a deer. It's also the solitude of the woods, setting your own pace, and enjoying nature. And I love motorcycles for some of the same reasons; solitude, setting your own pace, interacting with the bike and nature. So it was just a matter of time until I found the opportunity to do both together.

This was in the late 1980's and the opening of deer season was fast approaching. When the weatherman predicted an unseasonable warm Nov 15th, I began to think this could work. Since I hunt with a pistol anyway, I could put my gun in the saddlebag, wear my hunting clothes and ride my bike to the woods! What wonderful luck! The warm weather would give me an opportunity to combine two things I love into one!

The day soon came. I got everything ready and bundled up. It was 40 degrees that morning. That's about as cold as I wanted to ride, (this was before I discovered electric vests) but it was supposed to get to 65 before the day was over. I planned to hunt in some pines across from Bob Salisbury's place near Stanton. So off I went, wearing everything I owned under a hunter orange coat! When I arrived, I had difficulty finding a place to park the bike, as the ground was so soft. I couldn't get off the bike to get something to put under the side stand as it would sink in immediately. Eventually I was able to roll up close enough to a small limb and wiggle it around with my foot and slide it under the stand.

I loaded my pistol and quietly slipped into the pines. Snuggling up against a large tree, I waited for dawn. It was near 10 o'clock before I saw it. A flash of brown. I froze against a tree. There! Another glance confirmed a deer moving between the trees. Was it a buck? I couldn't tell until it reached a more open area. I just had time to brace myself against the tree when the deer came back into view. It was a buck! Taking careful aim, I fired one shot. He flinched, swapped ends, and ran back the other way. I quickly checked for sign where he stood, and then started following the direction he went. After walking about 50 yards, I found him lying beside the trail. He was beautiful, a fine eight point! As I stood there looking him over, I began to have this uneasy realization.

Now you probably all saw this coming, but I swear that it never dawned on me until that moment. Sure, I had hoped to get a buck, but as I said, I really enjoy hunting for the time in the woods. Now I'm standing there thinking, "Ok, all I have to do is clean him, drag him out, load him up and..uh," And that's when it hit me. How am I going to get him home on a motorcycle! Now, you can probably picture some of the thoughts that went through my head. Trust me, I thought of all the possibilities. "Let's see, I could lay him over the passenger seat and tie his legs together behind the trunk. Probably couldn't keep his head from sliding down near the ground though." "Or maybe I could sit him on the seat, then I could tie his front legs together around my neck." (I really favored that one, but felt it could be very unsafe riding through the woods with a deer tied to me!) I definitely had a problem.

I would like say that I found a way to carry the deer home on the bike, but common sense prevailed. I dragged him to the road and found Bob, my brother-in-law. I showed him my buck and explained my problem. He suggested we get his truck and hang the deer in his garage until I could come back with my car. This was a good idea, so we went ahead and loaded the deer. Over lunch I realized I had another problem. It was quickly becoming cold. It had been very nice a couple of hours before, but it was now dropping into the 30's. So much for weather predictions! I decided I had better be getting for home. I thanked Bob and headed out. On the ride home, it began to snow. It was not yet sticking to the road so I decided to continue on. It certainly was an interesting trip! People I met on the road must have thought me nuts! Here comes this man in blaze orange, riding on a motorcycle in a snow storm.

I realized in my excitement to take the bike hunting, I had only listened to how warm it might get, and my excitement for the ride. Sometimes we need temper our excitement, and think our plans through a little better. When I get into something like this, I always say: "This may look bad now, but think of the great story it will make to tell your Grandchildren someday!" You know, I believe I was right.

Ride safe.

-LC