Oh what a trip it  turned out to be.  Early on Friday, July 30, 2010 I had borrowed my Father’s SUV and it was packed and ready to go.  I had gotten tomatoes, watermelon and cantaloupe from the garden and grabbed some venison from the freezer and headed north of the Mason/Dixon line.  Where was I headed you ask?  I was bound for the 2^nd Annual Northeastern Talk Hunting Anniversary Party!!  I had been looking forward to seeing old friends from last year’s party, and I was full of anticipation of the new family members I would meet. 

The trip was uneventful and I pulled into the hotel around 2:00 PM.  While waiting in line to check in, I had the pleasure of meeting WVWhitetail.  He had booked a room at the same hotel and was just arriving from Indiana.  A handshake later and we were checked in as Gutshot, Zos41 and Huntinggrandma were on their way to meet us at the hotel and take us to the campgrounds.

After dropping my gear in the room and putting the venison in the fridge, I was ready to go.  WVWhitetail (Mike of Mike’s Magic), his wife and copilot, Susan, and I met up in the parking lot with Zos41 (Lee), his wife Huntinggrandma (Sharron), and Gutshot (Tom), we all headed to Fox Den Acres Campground to meet up with Chainman (Harry) and jroseberry, (Rich).

 As soon as we arrived we started to unpack the trucks, put up our banners and get out the food.  After a few short trips for a few more supplies and to give the rest of our travelers time to arrive, we were ready to start cookin' and eatin'.  We had a simple meal of burgers and dogs and did a lot of talking and getting to know each other that first night.

 By the end of Friday night DLR (Dave), Dave 1211 (Dave), DPD (Dave) and HuntingNY (Sam) had arrived.  I found out not to just yell Dave because I got three replies very quickly.  As a bonus we picked up a new member and friend that night who just stopped to ask what was going on, and they were welcomed in with open arms and stayed all weekend, Cowboy Fee (Bill) and his friend Barb.  Now, as the evening went on we were wondering where Shaun and his wife Switchy (Amy) along with their son Josh were.  They did not have far to drive but had not arrived.  Towards the end of the evening Shaun made it – they had gotten lost in their home state.  By the time we all retired to our respective homes, tents, campers and hotel rooms, it was like we had been friends for years.  Of course, we actually have been on the forum of Talk Hunting.

On Saturday we are all back at the campground bright and early ready for our archery and rifle shoots. We had a convoy driving over to the Youngwood Sportsman's Association, and that is where my weekend sorta got a little out of line with everyone else’s.  I was the first to shoot at the archery range; on my first shot, the new string on my crossbow broke. Chainman and I missed the rest of the shooting with a trip to the ER where I received 10 stitches.  I have to say that the Youngwood Sportsman’s Association has a First Class grounds, and we were very appreciative of them for allowing us to use it during our party.

Chainman is a great example of our family at Talk Hunting; he was there to watch the archery, and I think he was going to shoot .22 rifles with everyone but instead he rushed me to get my left index finger stitched up.  I can never thank him enough for giving up part of his day for me. 

Chainman and I actually beat all the other party goers back to the campgrounds and were sitting with jroseberry and his boys, Cody and CJ, when the shooters returned.  When the rest of our “PARTY” returned, we got right to eating again where this time  it was fried chicken and all the fixins. Afterward, we all retired to take a famous Talk Hunting Power Nap.  But not before the casualty pictures were taken and posted on the TH forum.  My finger and Gutshot's bowstring slapped arm were the two victims. 

When our power naps were over, we got down to the business of COOKING!!!.  I went to work seasoning and grilling up venison tenderloin steaks and a round roast.  Darn those guys, they were eating the meat faster than it was coming off the grill. The only thing that saved all the venison from being eaten before it all came off the grill was the fact that the 30 ears of local fresh sweet corn were done and everyone dove into that.  Dave 1211 brought BBQ venison meatballs, Huntinggrandma made venison stroganoff (one with wild rice, mushrooms and leaks the other with noodles and mushrooms).  All the appropriate picnic side dishes were there.    Dave 1211 brought squash and cucumbers, there were garden tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, and for desert CAKE and Ice cream.

 It happened to be Josh’s (Shaun and Switchy’s son) birthday so there was a birthday cake for him along with the Talk Hunting Chorus’s rendition of Happy Birthday and a cake for Talk Hunting.

Everyone mentioned previously attended the party on Saturday night plus huntinharley (Randy), Chainman’s Lady Debbie, Chuck and Cameron. 

Now it was time for the “Awards” and door prizes.

 And the Winners were:

 Pee Shooter AND Camo Cupid, went to our youth shooter Joshua (Shaun and Switchy’s son and our Birthday boy)

Robin Hood went to Shaun (adult Archery)

Top Gun went to DLR (adult rifle shooter)

Best Mess went to Dave 1211 for his BBQ venison meatballs

WV Award went to Shaun and his Family for getting lost in their home state

The Road Runner Award went to Zos41 and Huntinggrandma for traveling the most miles to attend.

After our meal hunting talk abounded.  Chainman built a small bonfire and before we could all gather around it a light rain started.  The kids in attendance did not care if it was raining they all gathered around it anyway.

 As the end of the evening drew near we were all hesitant to leave our old and new friends.  As at all the Talk hunting parties and campouts you always walk away with many more life long friends than you had when you arrived.

 The following day I decided to take an R & R day and not return to Virginia until Monday.  I had the pleasure of attending Sunday services at the First Baptist Church of Greensburg PA along with Gutshot.  Again, I met many wonderful people who welcomed me with open arms and I stayed for their Sunday picnic, which was also full of wonderful food and so many sweets I could just not sample all of them.  After Church Gutshot and I made a trip to wonder thought the local Gander Mountain where he made sure I picked up a brochure on preparing to go “Hog Hunting”. 

It was one of the BEST weekends I have spent in a long time even though my trophy was 10 stitches.  Anyone who can, needs to put the Talk Hunting Campout in July 2011 on your calendars.  You will never regret you have made the trip.

By Luanne Bragg

TalkHunting Pro Staffer, Luanne "Beaglepup" Bragg, started hunting (going hunting) with her Grandfather in the fall of 1965.  He loved to squirrel hunt and would carry her into the woods and sit her on a rock and let her hold his prizes.  He took Luanne on her first Pheasant and Rabbit hunts when she was 7.  Shortly after that he had a massive stroke and was never able to return to the woods again.  When Luanne was 9 her Father, who was about to retire from the Marine Corps after 20 years active duty, and Uncle decided that since she could shoot she could remove the ground hogs and crows from the farm fields.  Luanne spent the next few years watching all the wildlife and removing varmints from the farm.  She took herself deer hunting for the first time when she was 15 and took her first deer at 17.  There was a long time between Luanne's first deer and her next deer due to college and work and general life.  She did a lot of small game hunting with her ex-husband starting in 1985 and killed her next deer in 1988.  She has not missed a deer or turkey season since.  When not hunting she is fishing or working in her garden (when not WORKING...).

Luanne has raised, trained and field trialed Beagles in the UKC and ARHA formats for 20 years and has produced several Field and Show Champions and Grand Field and Show Champions.  There is usually at least one litter of puppies born on her place every year.

She holds a Real Estate License in Virginia and owns a Dog Boarding Kennel.  Luanne belongs to the National Association of Realtors, Central Virginia Beaglers Association, NRA, NWTF and Buckmasters.  She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio,  and started showing Appaloosa horses in 1969 and was the Pennsylvania Appaloosa Queen in 1980 and runner up to the National Queen Title the same year. When she gets the chance she still enjoys a long trail ride.  She graduated from Kent State University in Kent Ohio in 1982 with a degree in Applied Science. Luanne relocated from Ohio to Virginia in 1984.