American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 89 Rattlesnake Farm

The day after Lin Yu'an received the Hunter Safety Education Certificate.

I plan to find a suitable place in Texas for my first legal hunt.

Old Cat and the others have already started urging us to update with more material! Ugh, the constant pressure! A happy problem.

After several days of thought, he decided to make a video about his own "legal hunting".

He first contacted Buck Jones, a well-known Texas cowboy with a large private ranch, through Facebook.

This Mr. Buck is said to have been a legendary figure in his youth, not only a master marksman but also an expert archer.

More importantly, he is generous and righteous, and very friendly to young people who genuinely love hunting culture and respect the rules.

He is a kind, non-racist old cowboy. He is very popular on Facebook.

In the email, Lin Yu'an sincerely explained his situation. He is an international student from China who has just obtained a hunting license.

I hope to have the opportunity to experience a legal bow and arrow boar hunt at Buck's farm.

He also hopes to film the process and produce a video showcasing Texas hunting culture and outdoor spirit, and has expressed his willingness to pay the corresponding fees.

Surprisingly, after seeing the email, Mr. Buck learned that he was the contestant who had won the "Wilderness Solitary" competition and hunted black bears with a bow and arrow.

He showed great enthusiasm and immediately called him back.

"Oh ho! It's you, young man!"

Buck laughed heartily, "I saw that show! Your performance at Lake Chirko was absolutely awesome!"

"Especially the intense scene of taking down that bear with a bow and arrow, it got my blood pumping even in this old body!"

"Sure! No problem at all! My farm always welcomes a true hunter like you! As for the hunting fee... to hell with it!"

"I should thank you for helping me clear out these wild boars that are ruining my crops! But kid, Texas wild boars are not like black bears. They come in packs and are very cunning. You'd better be prepared to leave empty-handed!"

Buck's enthusiasm and straightforwardness delighted Lin Yu-an.

The two hit it off immediately and agreed to go hunting together on a weekend. Buck also said he would invite several experienced hunters and hounds to help.

Because the wild boar was hunted on Buck's private farm and he had Buck's permission, he was not required to purchase the $22.71 "pig ticket".

Having secured the hunting location and guide, Lin Yu'an was in high spirits.

On Friday afternoon, after saying goodbye to Aria, Lin Yu'an, as promised, wore an Arc'teryx Alpha SV series outfit, looking very energetic and capable.

He drove his secondhand pickup truck with great anticipation toward the "Rattlesnake" ranch, nestled deep in the Texas hills.

After nearly two hours of driving, the scenery outside the window changed from bustling city to rolling hills and farmland, with the air filled with the fresh scent of dust and pasture.

Finally, at a fork in the road, he saw the farm gate.

A sign made of rough logs bears a warning brimming with Texas-style dark humor: "Rattlesnake Ranch, Private Property. Trespassers beware of bullets (and possibly wild boars!)."

He drove the car slowly in and followed the gravel road to the front of the main farmhouse.

A burly man with a full beard, dressed in denim overalls and a flannel shirt, came out of the farmhouse laughing loudly.

He wore a wide-brimmed hat and had a leather holster at his waist, in which a heavy Colt revolver was inserted.

"Lin! You've finally arrived! Welcome to my godforsaken rattlesnake farm!"

Buck Jones' booming voice carried from afar as he opened his arms and gave Lin Yu'an a tight bear hug.

"Mr. Buck! Thank you so much for the invitation! Your farm... is so big! It's magnificent!"

Lin Yu'an responded with a smile, while sizing up the old cowboy.

Buck's eyes were sharp and full of energy, and his rough, powerful hands conveyed a sense of hard-earned calluses when he shook hands.

"Haha! What a load of crap! It's almost been gnawed bald by those damned wild boars!"

Buck waved his hand and then introduced the other two companions who came out of the house.

One was an old hunter of similar age to Buck, thin in build but with eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

His name was Earl Davis. He exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, and merely nodded indifferently to Lin Yu'an, his eyes filled with a hint of caution.

Buck respectfully introduced, "This is Earl. Don't let his quiet demeanor fool you; once he picks up his prized Winchester, not a fly within a three-hundred-yard radius can escape!"

The other was a tall, strong young cowboy in his early twenties named Chad Smith, with a bright smile, a typical young redneck.

“This kid is the fastest cowboy on our farm, and also my most capable hunting dog assistant!” Buck patted him on the shoulder and laughed.

"Hey Lin! I've seen you on TV! You were so cool!"

Chad warmly grasped Lin Yu'an's hand and bombarded him with questions: "Did you really kill a big black bear with just a bow and arrow? Weren't you scared?"

Lin Yu'an could sense that, apart from Buck's enthusiasm, the old hunter Earl was scrutinizing and distrustful, while the young man Chad's enthusiasm was mixed with a bit of recklessness and stereotypes.

Before Lin Yu'an could answer, he couldn't help but whistle and said in a half-joking, half-serious tone.

"However... speaking of which, Lin! In my impression, you Chinese seem to be better at studying in schools or doing research in laboratories, right?"

Are you really 100% Chinese?

Although these words were spoken in jest, the subtle, stereotypical disdain still made the air momentarily tense. Lin Yu'an's smile faltered slightly, but he didn't react immediately, and said...

"Of course I am 100% Chinese. I was raised by veterans who fought in the Vietnam War! So it's not surprising that I am outstanding in combat."

"Chad Smith! You fucking shut your damn mouth!"

A thunderous roar erupted from Buck's throat.

"You brainless idiot! Lin is a truly respectable hunter!"

"He survived alone in that godforsaken place, Lake Chirko, for over ninety days, and even killed a black bear three times your weight!"

"In America, we respect every courageous and tough guy, no matter where he comes from!"

Chad seemed to realize the inconsistency in his words and immediately apologized to Lin Yu'an: "Sorry, Lin, I didn't mean it that way! I was just curious."

Looking at this young man who might just be outspoken, Lin Yu'an's displeasure had long since vanished.

He smiled and patted Chad on the shoulder, saying, "It's okay. Stereotypes exist everywhere. I will use my abilities to change your stereotypes about Chinese people."

This little incident, like a touchstone, allowed Lin Yu'an to get a preliminary feel for the atmosphere in this circle.

There is genuine enthusiasm, direct offense, but more than anything, there is respect for the strong.

Chad's gaze fell on Lin Yu'an's technologically advanced compound bow, and he couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"Wow! Lin! This is Mathews' latest model, right? I've only ever seen it in magazines! Including your Hamskea arrow rest and Spot Hogg sight, a complete set like this must have cost at least three thousand dollars, right?"

Lin Yu'an simply smiled, gently stroking the bow handle, and calmly said.

"You get what you pay for. When it comes to hunting, a trustworthy partner is very important!"

"I also want to use this powerful composite bow to test the results of my training during my ninety-plus days of living alone in the wilderness."

Buck added, “Exactly. When you’re just a dozen yards away from an angry boar, you absolutely don’t want anything to go wrong with the thing you’re holding. You made a smart investment.”

That evening, everyone gathered around the fireplace at Buck's Farmhouse, enjoying roast beef and ice-cold beer.

Lin Yu'an quickly adapted to the rugged and enthusiastic atmosphere, and he humbly asked Buck and Earl many questions about wild boar habits and hunting techniques.

After dinner, Buck took Lin Yu-an on a tour of the kennels.

There were several strong, alert hunting dogs, including two agile Catahoula hounds and three burly Plott hounds.

"These little guys are all my precious trainees!"

"Especially these three little guys, they are brave cubs who dare to take on cougars one-on-one!"

Buck proudly explained, "Without them, catching those cunning wild boars wouldn't be so easy!"

Lin Yu'an looked at these wild and intelligent hunting dogs with eyes full of affection.

The idea of ​​owning his own hunting dog had quietly taken root in his heart.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the entire farm was already awake.

Lin Yu'an was already dressed and ready, as were Buck, Earl, and Chad.

Under Buck's command, the hunting party quietly entered the hilly area south of the farm.

Lin Yu'an lowered his voice and whispered his explanation to the action camera fixed to his chest.

"We have now entered a typical Texas hilly landscape, and the fresh soil that has been uprooted on the ground is a clear sign of wild boar activity."

They soon arrived at an area where wild boars might frequently appear.

The hounds darted into the bushes like arrows and soon discovered a clear trail of wild boar footprints.

The team immediately became vigilant and carefully began to track down the trail.

Lin Yu'an's steps were light and agile, and his hawk-like eyes were constantly scanning his surroundings vigilantly.

"Lin, your stealth skills are more like those of a beginner!" Buck, who was walking ahead, turned around and praised.

Suddenly, Earl, who was observing from a high place with binoculars, raised his hand to signal to stop.

Pointing to a grove of willows by the river about two hundred meters ahead: "There's movement ahead! At least seven or eight dark figures!"

Everyone's nerves tensed instantly! They were ready to go into hunting mode!
Buck quickly made tactical arrangements! Earl provided suppressive fire from the high ground, while Chad led the hounds to flank from the right, driving the wild boar herd towards the open ground in the middle.

Lin Yu'an and he were lying in ambush in the middle, responsible for the key precision strikes.

Lin Yu'an and Buck quickly hid behind a dense thicket of bushes.

He drew a heavy hunting arrow from the quiver, its arrowhead gleaming coldly, and gently rested it on his newly purchased composite hunting bow.

Modern compound bows have a power saving ratio of up to 80%-90%, which means that after drawing this 70-pound bow, he only needs about 14 pounds of force to maintain the full bow position.

This allows him to aim calmly, and the stable arrow stand enables him to consistently fire even after vigorous movement.

Suddenly, Chad's whistle and the barking of the hounds came from the right!

(End of this chapter)