Wrapping Up - "Rib Rackers"

So what IS a "Rib Racker"?  Over 40 years ago when it all began, a group of guys decided to keep their version of a scrapbook.  To get your picture in the book, you had to have a successful hunt.  They didn't start the book right off, so the first picture is from 1971 and has been going ever since.  I forgot to take a picture of the actual book, my bad.  But this book goes on the trip every year as well!

This years "Rib Rackers" included:

My Brother, Donnie with his 8 Pointer

Close up of the Rack

Pig Pen with his 6 Pointer and a Doe

Donnie's Dad, Larry with his, umm...not sure how many Pointer!

4 Maybe?  Strange Rack, huh?

Brian with his 6 Pointer (I think)

Another tradition throughout the entire campground is "Big Buck/Big Doe".  It's a pool for the largest in each category.  Seeing as how Donnie had shot his largest buck ever this year, he had a pretty good chance to take home the trophy!

On Saturday night, those in the running take their deer to be weighed.  People had been stopping by our camp to look at this big guy!  It was going to be a close call this year!

Well, if they had a trophy for "Best Rack", my brother would have won hands down!  He is for sure mounting this one on the wall!  Unfortunately, he missed the weigh in by six pounds!  I don't think he much minded, he's still a beauty!

Of the eight of us in camp, we were split evenly.  Four "Rib Rackers" and four "losers".  Here are the losers with the token deer that the Rackers were kind enough to let us share for the picture spot:

Me, Andrea, Josh, Joe

Wasn't that sweet of them?  None of us want into the book until it's legit though!  Joe is in from years past, but Andrea, Josh and I are still hoping for next year!

Here is what I learned...that I need more practice, I need to work out (yeah, right!), that sock liners are the bomb, clothing liners that breath are the best, tall fuzzy boots are smart and snappy, not to let Pig Pen load the back pack, not to drink much coffee in the morning, quiet snacks work best and water is heavy but required.

Now the one thing that cracked me up is what I referred to as "The Handicap".   Since Andrea and I were the new kids, I found it funny that her and I were the only one shooting iron sights.  Do you suppose the boys were afraid we might show them up???  I might have, maybe, told the guys what I thought of them for that...

Just sayin'.

And what made me smile on the way home?  Pig Pen's Mama calling to ask...

"How many deer did you catch?"

Well Mom, we 'caught' six total!  5 Buck and 1 Doe!

Pretty sure the only thing that I 'caught' is a cold that isn't sure it wants to manifest or not.  Because I sure didn't 'catch' a deer.  And I sure did put a gun with a scope on my list of "Must Have".