That moment has stuck with me for decades . As it turned out , he was right , of course . Nevertheless , it seems we try everything we can as humans to bring about “ luck ” in some strange way . Lucky coins , socks , underwear , shirts , you name it ; someone has a “ lucky ” one . Heck , in the past , I have been known to wear “ lucky drawers ,” “ lucky trousers ,” and a “ lucky shirt ” all on the same hunt ! The days it worked I once remembered , but I now remember far more when it did not ! It takes a lot of faith to attribute luck to an inanimate object . Psychologists would likely attribute such an idea to something akin to the placebo effect , essentially the power of positive thinking affecting you positively . Nevertheless , it seems to me , we have certainly misplaced the faith we have .
Soon , we will have a new president in the United States . Many will put their faith in that office . Still others might place their faith in the federal , state , or local governments in one way or another . We might place our faith in our jobs or occupations , though that often has a finite term limit when one resigns or retires . Many place their faith in spouses , friends , acquaintances , children , or even parents . The reality is , if you place your faith in something human , there is a guarantee that at some point , they will let you down . We humans are fallible .
As sportsmen , we may place our faith in a multitude of inanimate objects ( and I have been guilty of this ). What angler does not have their “ go to ” lure , bait , or jig ( mine is a small , silver , spinner with a splash of dark blue )? Rifle hunters place their faith , sometimes , in ballistic tables , formulas , and footpounds ( count me in with a . 35 Whelen ). Archery hunters sometimes try to replace playing the wind with scent blockers , ozone machines , and all manner of other products . ( After spending a small fortune on trying to destink my stink , I gave up ). Just about every trapper I know has that one bait or lure , which has caught him or her more fur than any other . ( Who else but we trappers could put so much trust and faith in the powerful smell of skunk !) Continued on page 28 .
Where Do You Place It . . . Faith ? By Nathan Albertson
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
One of the most exciting summer time activities I remember from childhood was being permitted to accompany my father and a friend of his to a gun / dog auction and swap meet once a month . That place was one of the most exciting I have ever remembered . Everywhere you looked , seemed to be piles of guns , hunting dogs , and colorful characters . The dogs stank , the food smelled worse , and we will not even discuss the outhouses ( or house of harmful fumes as we referred to them ). It was exactly the kind of atmosphere every growing , adventurous boy should experience , and the excitement and buzz just made me want to spend my money .
Mixed in to the gun tables were often flea market type wares , some specifically for children . One day I chanced upon a bucket full of “ Lucky Rabbit ’ s Feet .” I rummaged around and came up with one partially dyed green . The agreement I had was that I could spend my own money , but only with approval from my father . When asked why I wanted such a trinket , I replied with youthful exuberance and optimism , “ To bring me good luck !” My dear father , ever the practical sort retorted , “ No , I don ’ t think so . It wasn ’ t so lucky for the rabbit .”
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