Page 87 - barefoot-in-the-sand-remembering-the-waning-days-of-the-hopewell-community-(1998)-bruce-c-gragg

Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 83/123

A BOY AND HIS PET HUNTING DOG

Previously I have referred to the fact of an abundance of wildlife in
the area. In the late 40's we were given a hound dog by Jesse
Fouraker, "Hickory" and he was often referred as my dog. He would
chase most any kind of wildlife. His favorite, in the late days of
summer, was to find a family of coons and give chase. Often they
would end up in the big cypress pond in front of our house, all the
way to the other side in the tallest, Spanish moss laden, cypress
tree. We would miss Ole Hickory around the house, Mama would ask me
if I had seen him and usually I had not for a while. Before long he
would be "baying" in the distance. Armed with a .22 or .32 rifle it
was my duty to provide some fresh meat for "Ole Hickory." He got to a
point he was very regular on his schedule of providing me with a
moveable target, and him some fresh meat. On more than one of my
trips into the pond I shot more than a few coons. It was not uncommon
to come up on a Cottonmouth or Copperhead while going in or coming
out. I could get some real quick shoot from the hip target practice.
Early in my young life I had been taught to be careful when walking
in the woods, especially when crossing a log or any object on the
ground mainly in the summer. Many times a snake, Rattler or Moccasin,
would be either sunning himself on the sunny side or if real hot
would be keeping cool on the shady side. Sure enough I got some big
ones and missed getting bitten by stepping on the log then taking a
long step off it. This way there was no danger of getting a bite.
Step directly over the log and step directly on a snake bite. Usually
it would be a very large snake regardless of what kind. When I did
come upon one by a log, I would get a sudden rush of adrenaline, thus
I would take a really giant leap over the critter. My heart would
start pounding at the top of my head, and I would take several long
steps before stopping and taking the appropriate measures necessary.
In the woods anyone must be alert and watch for signs that something
could be out there waiting for you to get too close to them. Keep a
look out, but being paranoid, that can be just as dangerous.

Some of the coons would be quite young and tender, and well fed from
our corn field. They made some good eating when cooked "Southern
Fried Chicken Style." Virginia Carter, Russell's wife came for a
visit, she accepted an invitation to stay for dinner, (now referred
to as Lunch) . She was in the kitchen with mom and Burnette, she
asked what they were frying for lunch, they replied, we are cooking
up some 'coon. Very quickly she had a very strange look on her face,
saying she had never had eaten any. In her lifetime she had partaken
of the meat of several different wild animals, but this would be a
first. It didn't phase her, without any hesitation she was ready to
give it a try. She really liked it. As I remember the flavor of
'coon, it tasted like squirrel or

www.LakeCityHistory.com LCH-UUID: B98DC69E-ADC1-4EE7-8817-CA941114D897