I'm finally going to share this story that happened to me and a friend,it is very long--so I will have to do it in parts--or perhaps I will attempt to do it all---the following event happened to me and a friend back in 1972--for years I only told a handful of people--mainly family--20 years after the incident-I committed the telling to paper--in 1992---I am proud to be part of this event-and only wish I could find my friend to talk about it after all these years.

"WhiteTail Lights"

The land owner wrote a note on a brown paper bag,and a map to his property just outside of Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country.
It was the fall of 1972,I was an asst. mgr.at a dime store and welcomed the opportunity to have a place to hunt and relax before the Christmas rush.The stranger at the lunch counter was kind to offer his place and said he didn't mind if I brought a friend along.
The drive home that evening went quickly as I changed lanes and daydreams at will,imagining cool crisp mornings,clean mountain air and an 8 point buck silhoetted against a rising Texas sun. I broke the bonds of the merciless Houston traffic and picked up speed while pleasant memories of my youth flashed through my mind as fast as the mile markers changed,especially the years on my Grandparents farm in the foothills of the Blueridge mountains of Va.
This would be my first opportunity to visit this popular and scenic portion of Texas.Anticipation and mounting excitement were the word as I turned into Stonegate down the shaded peaceful street toward our house. I saw our neighbor Glenn in his yard preparing his famous barbeque. I rolled down my window to speak to him and the sweet smell of mesquite filled my car. I ask Glenn if he would like to go deer hunting--and as nmuch as the idea appealed to him he was unable to get away.
I contined on to my house and pulled into the driveway and my wife met me at the door and said Glenn wanted us to come down for some barbecue and he had a new couple to the neighborhood for us to meet--said they were me and Martys age.We went down and met the new couple--the guys name was Danny--I asked him if he liked to hunt and his eyes lit up like a kids on Christmas morning--I figured I had found my deer hunting partner!. We had a very enjoyable visit,shared some of Glenns brisquette and Danny and I planned our little hill country adventure,now all that remained were receptive bosses and the approval for a few days off.Within the next few days we had both managed to finagle three days off,we got our gear together and hit the road.The day turned to night and the miles to our destination diminished and the terrain from flat to rolling to rugged as we traveled narrow mountain roads under a starlit Texas sky.
In the mountains we began to see deer in great numbers along the side of the road and the scenery was magestic,a welcome change from the endless concrete and asphalt of the city.We passed through Kerrville at two in the morning driving another 15 miles or so till be came to the turn-off to the Spicer Ranch.The ranch was a 27,000 acre expanse now being sold for get away retreats in lots from 5 to 20 acres.Deer were everywhere and there seemed no doubt that within a few days we would be enjoying fresh vinison and swapping stories of our hunting prowess.
We traveled dusty dirt and gravel roads following directions on a brown paper bag and finally located the narrow drive to our benefactors property and came to a stop next to his partially completed cabin.Deer were standing around in the yard and barely flinched at the sound of the car or glare of the headlights.
It was clear and cold on that on that predawn Texas morning and the frost laden ground crunched benneath our feet as we set out to explore the area,build blinds and wait for the morning sun which would signal the start of deer season.
We walked a short distance and it soon became apparent that our little hunting oasis was less than ideal as the ground suddenly plunged into a small narrow canyon which comprised the bulk of the 20 acre property.
I chose a small rock outcropping partway down the hill--to build my blind;from its vantage point I could observe the far side of the canyon and the field just on the other side-Danny chose a spot at the bottom right side of the canyon,we would meet up at 11.30 a.m for lunch. end of part 1--more later--The Codger