WEST VIRGINIA — Hunters describe themselves as practical people guided by wind, sign and experience. They also refuse to wash a hat because a buck appeared the last time it smelled that way.
The first rule is never announce that the hunt will be easy. Saying “we’ll have one down by eight” guarantees a day of squirrels, woodpeckers and distant shooting from every property except yours.
Lucky clothing must be respected. A flannel worn during a successful season cannot be replaced merely because the elbows are gone. Boots may leak and still possess good fortune. A hat that has survived fifteen winters is no longer clothing; it is senior staff.
Seats also carry power. If a hunter changes stands, the deer will visit the abandoned stand. If he stays, they will visit the new stand he considered using. Trail-camera photographs confirm only that deer maintain access to the schedule.
Certain foods belong in camp. The same breakfast, thermos and snack should be packed each morning. Forgetting one item may disturb the woods, though forgetting coffee mainly disturbs the hunter.
Never say the buck’s nickname aloud where the buck might hear you.
Vehicles matter too. The old truck that squeaks over every rut may be luckier than the quiet new one. Slamming a door is blamed for an empty morning even when it happened six miles away.
Dale Hatfield says none of these beliefs are scientifically proven. He then asked that nobody touch his knife, move his thermos or sit on the left side of his favorite log.
At the end of an unsuccessful day, every superstition will be dismissed as foolish. Before the next hunt, the lucky hat will be placed carefully by the door. There is no reason to take chances.
