Agent of the Wild
September Newsletter
A Hunters Rhythm
Traditional Bow Hunter | Douglas County, Oregon
A Hunters Rhythm
A bold journey of routine and resilience.
Where does that drive come from—to keep going when facing down true hardship? Is it success or luck—maybe even pleasure? I happen to disagree with most. I think it’s personality. It takes a certain type to keep pressing onward. You know who I’m talking about. I’m describing the Rocky Balboas, John Wicks, and yes, even Bilbo. It’s not just the big and strong who push back hard against life, but those with resiliency. This story I’m going to tell you—it’s about a man who actually kept pressing onward for all of the reasons I mentioned.
Let me introduce you to a 71-year-old bowhunter who has been pushing his limits for 50 years—every September. It’s perseverance, dedication, will, and stubbornness that are all part of the yearly journey. He’s 71, but he doesn’t care. He takes out his traditional bow and steps into the forest with a goal, but with weathered expectations.
Tools of the Trade | Douglas County, Oregon
Elk hunting with a bow is no simple feat, and it takes a lot of traveling. Elk roam vast distances within the forest. They are large creatures and require a lot of water and feed. They don’t have someone showing up every evening with bales of alfalfa to keep them healthy. They have to know the terrain, where to find water, what areas have the most nutritious foods at specific times—and they all know the fear of man.
This hunter reaches into a primal instinct to do what we have done for thousands of years. Whether or not that instinct is part of what pushes him to keep going, we will never know, but I believe it’s part of the equation. The will to hunt is as primal as it comes, and I think that is a big part of who he is—the 71-year-old hunter who doesn’t want to let go of nature’s ways. He taps into the world at this time of year like a radio tuning to a frequency. He absorbs the rhythms and moves in tandem. Each fall he prepares to hide in the forest to stalk his prey—to reach back into nature with an open hand and pull back with a harvest, more often than not. He doesn’t just hunt the animals; he butchers, preserves, and honors them. He absolutely loves to eat the meat from a successful harvest.
Middle Fork Coquille Canyon | Douglas County, Oregon
Tradition is what he has created—a yearly sequence of preparation for times unknown. All in all, I believe he has done well with his efforts, with a success rate of over 50% across all those years. He has experienced unbelievable wins, utter defeat, and all the while created his own culture of success. He has trophies to prove his achievements and stories to tell those willing to listen. There is a lot of knowledge in all those lived experiences, and each one is a small piece of a greater puzzle that shows us that age is the greatest teacher.
His weapon of choice was always a bow, while carrying a bugle in hand. He uses it like a singer utilizes his voice. He speaks to them and brings out their native instinct to confront competition. It’s not unlike a matador’s cape—bold, loud, and timeless.
This year brought new lessons—and perhaps, a kind of coping. He’s seventy-one now, and time has etched its story across his body. Hunting isn’t what it once was. I joined him this season, and we found ourselves just twenty yards from a magnificent herd bull, shrouded in the early morning mist. The old hunter raised his bugle and called softly, mimicking a rival bull edging close to the herd. It was a perfect ruse—enough to stir the instincts of the dominant male. Moments later, the great bull answered, moving silently through the fog, closing the distance to confront his unseen challenger. I could hear him—the measured steps, the brush shifting—but the old hunter could not.
Time had taken one of his sharpest tools: his hearing. The bull appeared suddenly, and for a fleeting heartbeat, they locked eyes. Man and elk—two beings bound by instinct and respect—caught in the stillness. Then, as quickly as it came, the moment was gone.
Time is both bringer of the new and exciting—while waiting patiently to bring us burdens. The hunter developed a culture of intimacy with nature and, all the while, could never truly walk away—even to this day. It’s a personality that is rare, unique, and most of all, human. He doesn’t let changes or burdens stop his traditions, and he doesn’t let time keep him from living yet another story. Here’s to time never taking away our soul—for it keeps walking with us, burdens and all.
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You recognize people around you with that personality too? What are your experiences or are you like the hunter? Be sure to reply to this email and share it with someone. Don’t let these words get lost in the online noise. Sign up a friend to the newsletter or better yet, send me an idea for a newsletter.
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Property is just as much about people as it is the raw wild that defines it.
If you’re looking to buy or sell, and you want someone who understands that this isn’t just about property—it’s about people, I’m here. Let’s talk like people used to do.
Sincerely,
Dan Amos (Agent of the Wild)
