Issue Preview ~ Winter 2002

Hunting Memories

Carl's Chronicles

By Carl Clare

There were so many things that made hunting interesting and fun and had a person wondering what was going to happen next. For instance, back in the 1930s and 40s, most of the main roads were just dirt, and if got caught out on one of these roads in a rainstorm, you had better have a good set of tire chains to put on, a good shovel, and a couple of strong backs to help push, or you would be in that mud hole until some kind farmer brought his tractor to pull you out. Some of the cars we drove didn't have the power to pull the hat off your head with a running start!

Spinning your wheels
In the dirty 30s, it was possible to get stuck in the dust! No kidding, the dust from the dust storms was like real fine sand, and if there were tumbleweeds gathered in a low spot, the dust would build up and it was just like getting caught in loose sand. And if a driver sat there spinning his wheels, he could start a fire with the tires or a hot muffler. This happened southeast of Kalvesta a few years back, when a carload of county guys tried to drive through a low spot in a wheat field. They got stuck and sat there gunnin' the motor until the hot muffler set fire to their car. They were lucky enough to grab a few things out of the trunk, the car was a total loss.

Some of the odd hunting incidents were really funny and a lot of them were just plain old luck, because being a good shot had nothing to do with some things that happened. For instance, at the start of World War II, I had a good friend by the name of Loren Partridge who had joined the Army and was going on furlough before being shipped overseas. He called me and wanted to go hunting.

Want to hear Carl's pheasant hunting misadventure? Pick up a copy of the Winter 2002 issue. Click here to find a copy.