It was back in the Fall of 1998 that for whatever reason the Lord let these two fellas paths cross. I guess it was October 22 of 98. You see Bubba had taken some time to travel up to the great north Maine woods. He had found him a nice little camp to spend the week in. His plans consisted of shooting a few partridge, get away from home and just sit back and relax. Well this camp was a ways off the beaten path. It so happened that Pard had one of his trap lines run along near the camp. This camp had no electricity or plumbing. It was a one room shanty. Heated by an old woodstove. Had an outhouse that appeared to be a day or two older than God’s dog. It was closing in on lunch time when Bubba spotted the old camp a few hundred yards away. As he drew closer to the camp Bubba said to himself “ayuh, that camp must be abandoned”. He thought that will be a nice warm spot to stop and have some lunch. So he walked around camp checking through the windows. There was no sign of anyone living there. Bubba walked through the door. It was then he discovered a coffee pot, blankets and some trapping gear strung out all over. As soon as he realized that someone must be occupying this camp he turned around to boot feat outta there. Just as he was breaching the front door ole Pard came out of the outhouse.

“What are you doing in my house”.

“I’m sorry I thought it was an old abandoned camp”.

“Well its not abandoned. Do you make a habit of going in abandoned camps”.

“No, it was just coming on lunch time and I thought maybe I’d get in out of the cool air for a bit”.

“Well I guess I can understand that. The name is Pard”.

“If you can choke down your lunch amongst the smell of the cover up scents I use for trapping, your more than welcome to come in and put your feet up for a bit” said Pard.

“Oh, thank you that is very kind of you”. “The name is Bubba. I’m from down along the coast”
The two of them then walked back into the cedar shingled cabin. Bubba took the time to look around and noticed there in the camp was a single bed against the back wall. On one of the side walls was two bunk beds. Each having bedding on them. A old wooden table set in the middle of the room covered with traps and scents. There was an old wood burning stove that had gone cold. It was one of them stoves that served the dual purpose of heating the camp as well as providing a place to do the cooking. The walls were plastered with pelts. There was some mounts of a whole variety of animals as well. The camp sure wasn’t much to look at but had the feel of a great hunting camp.

“Do you use this camp often” asked Bubba.

“I come up here as often as I can”. “Ever since I was a little kid. My grandpa owned the camp and would bring me up. He is the one that taught me to put a worm on the hook, shoot a gun and taught me about trapping”

“What do you trap for”.

“I run a few for beavah, a whole bunch of traps for coyotes, bobcats and fishah.”

“Pretty much all of the fall and part of wintah I spend here at camp” said Pard. “Also, summah time there’s no betta fishin than right out front there”.

“Man, your lucky. How do manage to get your wife to let you get away so much?”

“That’s an easy one”. “I don’t have one to have to get permission from”.

“What brings you up to these parts anyways?”

“I’ve been hauling a bunch of traps and working a ton I thought I’d get away for the weekend.”

“Oh, you one of the lobstah fisherman?”

“Yes”

“I was hoping to do some scouting for deer hunting while I was here. Thought I would try my luck at some birds while I was doing that.”

Well the two of them sat and talked back and forth for the next couple hours. Each sharing stories of their lives back and forth. The afternoon time snuck away on both of them as dark began to set in.

“Where you staying at?”

“I’m gonna find me a motel room somewhere close by” .

“Well you can stay here at the camp if you want. It’s not much, but there’s a bed that you can call your own”.

“Thank you very much. Are you sure I would not be intruding?”

“Don’t be silly”

“If you don’t mind getting up early Bubba I’ll show you around the area tomorrow as I go and check on my traps I have set out”.

“That would be great, give me an idea of where to go hunting too”.
Well the next morning Pard was up might early. At 4:30 he was stoking the stove getting the camp up to a warm temperature. He then went down to the stream to fill the coffee pot. Came back to camp to boil the water for some coffee.

Bubba heard Pard moving around and quickly got out of bed.

“What can I do to lend a hand Pard?” asked Bubba.

“You can light that Coleman stove” replied Pard.

Bubba went over and lit up that gas stove. He then grabbed the eggs, bacon, and pre-cut home fries out of the cooler. Just as the coffee water began to boil the smell of breakfast was filling the air. Each of them filled their plates and cups and sat down at the table.

“Gonna be a nice day out thaya isn’t it deah? Asked Bubba.

“Sure seems like it. When I went outside there was no wind. The sky was bright with crystal clear sky and stars” said Pard.

After finishing up breakfast Pard packed his day pack with traps, lures, and other necessary items needed for that day. While this was happening Bubba ran down to the stream to fetch some water for dishes. He used the remaining water heated for coffee to add to cold water from the stream and did the dishes up.

“Well Bubba you about ready to head out?” asked Pard.

“Yip, I’m a ready to go” replied Bubba.

The two of them set out heading downstream in a southerly direction. They walked for about a quarter mile before coming across a small sand pit.

“I have a yote trap set up on the top of that pit, lets check it out” said Pard.

When they arrived at the trap site it was apparent something had triggered the trap and was caught. The trap was a drag trap. Attached to it was a 6 foot chain. Well the end had caught up in a real thick fur tree patch. Even on your knees you couldn’t see in more than a foot. Pard gave the line a tug and felt some resistance.

“Bubba, pull that there line”.

Bubba pulled the line and felt the same resistance.

“Pard, Pard, there’s something on there. What do you suppose it is? Asked Bubba.

“It’s gotta be a coyote dog” replied Pard.

“What do we do now?” asked Bubba.

Pard reached down and pulled the line again. This time with a little more force.

“Boys he’s a fighter, he must be hung up good in there. I’m gonna take this stick and kinda go around the side and push it through there see if I can’t make him come out front.” Pard said.

“What do you want me to do”? asked bubba.

“You haul on that line and keep some tension on it”.

Bubba gave it a good pull and felt the coyote pull back real hard. Pard had made his way around with the stick. Bubba was pulling for all he was worth with the coyote matching his pulling. Then Pard caught hold of the backside of that yote dog and he sprung out of that patch of furs like a cannonball. With Bubba pulling for all he was worth that coyote came flying out straight at him. Bubba panicked and let go of the line and when he did he fell straight back. He rolled down the bank of the gravel pit over and over. When Pard came around the corner he saw Bubba laying flat on his back at the bottom of the pit. Pard discharged the coyote. He then hollered down “Bubba, you alright down there?”

Bubba shook his head as to say I’m not quite sure yet. He then stood up and checked if his limbs still worked. He walked up top again and said “Pard, your one crazy son of a gun. Pulling on a link of chain with a coyote at the end is not for me”. Pard chuckled to himself.

They finished checking the trap line with the only catch of the day being the opening trap with that coyote in it.

Then they headed back to camp.

Related Posts