A Brief Encounter Between A Dog and A Buck

It is 6:00 am when I reach the trail-head. Kenai jumps out of the truck ready for action. The air is still cooled from the night. I lock the truck, grab the leash, and off we go in search of new trails. The path is flat. Cascade Timber came in long ago and beat out a trial through the trees. The way is rocky. Up ahead are jackrabbits, but my command to Kenai, "NO CHASE!" is obeyed. The rabbits scurry unmolested into the underbrush. Kenai turns to look at me with her soulful German Shepherd eyes as if to say “Why did you spoil my fun?” Now the trail takes a steep ascent. I look up the trail and consider going home. By the time I get to the top of trail, I’m puffing like a steam engine! But, the trail is shaded in the shadows of the tall pines, so I decide that I can do this climb. Kenai's tail is waving a short distance ahead, so I forge ahead. I notice there are animal bones bleached in the sun scattered about. There is a pale lump of something off to the side of the path. I whistle Kenai to my side, put her on the heel command and together we cautiously approach the object. At first I have a hard time discerning what it is I am seeing. But as we come up on it, I can tell it is the remains of a porcupine that must have met with a creature mightier than its elaborate defense shield. It has been there for quite some time, the bones have pulled away in weather and the quills are dried and almost turn to dust at my touch. I continue on reaching the top of the hill. I stop to catch my breath and gaze out on the vista below. As far as my eyes can see, there are pine trees and spruces stretching their branches to the sky. Lupine, mustard grass and wildflowers pop their heads out everywhere. The path curves downward, vanishing into the shaded forest. I whistle to Kenai who has discovered something interesting under a rock, and off we go. Jackrabbits scurry off the path and out of sight. Birds startled by our approach take wing. It is a peaceful time of reflection. There is another curve in the trail and again, the trail leads up yet another hill. "Great", I mutter to myself, "now my legs will really love me in the morning!" But it’s such a nice morning; I don't want to turn back. Checking my watch, I see we have been walking for an hour! Kenai is now staying by my side, I noticed she was on high alert, but I assume that the passing scent of skunk we kept encountering was bringing up unpleasant memories for her. Before we reached the top of the rise, I heard a something, a hollow sound, like a whistle, or a soft roar, or the gentle whoosh of the waves when they hit the sand. I stopped to listen, to try and define this noise. Kenai stopped too. Her ears were up; the ruff on the back of her neck was up. She was in full alert mode. She stopped panting, as if she was trying to help me to be quiet while I tried to identify the sound. The sound got louder, but not nearer. I hadn't a clue what it was, or even how to describe it. Very slowly, I continued my way up the hill. At the last curve before we reached the top, I saw him. A huge buck. He was standing there majestic with his rack spread out. From his many points, I knew he was an old gent, who had survived the hunters. His coat was flecked with sweat. He must have run quite a ways. The sound I heard was his breathing. His sides heaved in and out, and his nostrils flared. Kenai growled. I quietly told her to "QUIT!" The old gent lowered his head slowly until it was just inches from the ground. Then he shook his rack in defiance of our intrusion. I grabbed Kenai's collar and slowly we backed away. As we retreated, this old man of the forest lifted his head and relaxed his body, he blew softly. Out of the trees trotted a doe and a late fawn. I stopped transfixed and watched this family move off at a quick pace, leaping over logs and vanishing instantly. All that was left was the sound I heard before, of the old gent blowing in the wind. Quietly, I turned around and told Kenai, "Come on girl, it's time to go home." We headed back to the truck away from this magical place.

A Little Bit About Kenai: Kenai is a beautiful german shepard living a wonderful life filled with trips outdoors and nature walks in the surrounding wilderness. This picture was taken a few years ago. A mama skunk had been hit on the highway leaving her babies homeless and helpless. Kenai's owners had rescued the six babies to raise them and later re-release them into the wilderness. One of the babies, Gulliver was particularly adventuresome and frequently had to be rounded up and returned home. Kenai would round him up carefully and herd him back to where the others waited. Kahuna the cat cautiously observes the action.