Legacy Stones - momento of the hunt

Legacy Stones

What I like about the Old World traditions of hunting is how the process is memorialized, how after the taking of an animal respect is given in the field for what it gives to us.

One form of tradition includes what they describe in German as Der letzte Bissen or last bite. A piece of conifer bough is placed in the hat of the hunter swiped in the blood of the animal, one on the collar of the hunter's dog and finally; a piece in the mouth of the animal. This is followed by only a momentary silence for self reflection.

Americans feel those same feelings but we celebrate it differently. When I harvested an animal I wanted to express my gratitude with a little bit of European flare. I would place a custom engraved stone, one I deemed a Legacy Stone, at the kill site and record the location with a photo and GPS location. An example is the Mexico Desert Bighorn taken in Sonora. I may never go back to that spot but I know exactly where that animal fell and it's marked in perpetuity with this stone.

Sonora Mexico Desert Bighorn hunt

Sonora Mexico Desert Bighorn

Spain Ibex hunt

The best part is the gathering of hunters back at camp or lodge where the harvest is formally displayed and celebrated followed by a festival. Whatever you practice, make sure you take the time to reflect on the freedom our country affords us to hunt wild game and to share that sport with our family and friends. Waidmannsheil !