Must Have Outdoors

When I travel, I love looking out the window and watching the scenery; I have ever since I was a little girl.

I used to stare at the clouds and dream of the future, but I never looked at the land and thought about its past. A dove hunt this past week has definitely changed my perspective.

Tony Taylor, a good friend of our producer, and now of Andrew and I, offered to take us dove hunting on his family property near Dothan, Alabama. Andrew was thrilled to get to go, and I was even more excited because this was the first time I had ever gone dove hunting. Tony took us out to a field and got us set up in the prime spot. It wasn’t long before doves were flying. It was fun to watch the other hunter’s out in the field, especially Tony. Any time there was a dove heading my direction from where Tony was, I never bothered even pulling up my gun. Tony and his 60 year old Browning A5 never missed.

I killed my first dove with my first shot, but quickly found out that dove hunting isn’t easy! I missed a few, and I killed a few, but overall, I think I did pretty well for my first time. I was even able to kill a Eurasian Collared Dove which was definitely one of the highlights to my evening.

As Tony took us from location to location, he told me the history of his family farm. As he told me the stories of his grandfather plowing the field with a mule, and how he and his brother used to pick cotton, the land began to transform into something much more meaningful in my eyes. This wasn’t just a great place to hunt, it was a place filled with memories that were revealed through generations from those who had lived many of those memories themselves.

Tony couldn’t help but smile as he told me his plans for a covered bridge leading to his home that he built from the trees off of that very land. All of these things that will be even more memories for his family property.

I’m so grateful to Tony for taking us and allowing us to dove hunt on his land. It is always great to meet other men and women that share the same passion and respect for the outdoors as you do. He made my first dove hunt very meaningful; I can’t wait to go back!

I learned a lot from Tony on that hunt, but the thing I’ll carry with me most is that every once and a while it’s good for us to be brought out of the clouds, and be thankful for what is right in front of us. Tony’s passion for his family, the outdoors, and the thrill of the hunt is an inspirational outlook for us all.