Reputation is a Work in Progress

I use my real name in all that I write. There’s nothing wrong with pseudonyms in our online world, but I’ve always used my real name for added authenticity. People know who I am, what I do, where I’m from, and if they read enough of what I write, they’ll understand what I’m all about. Many know, for instance, that most of my bowhunting is done at the Atchafalaya Delta WMA, but I usually don’t get much more specific than that. It’s not necessary, because we are hunters, not shooters. Guys and gals that are truly interested in hunting the areas I report about will make it their business to get down there, scout it out, and work hard to achieve success. Hunters can give out a lot of good information, tips, and advice without divulging the GPS coordinates of their favorite spots.

Many people believe there’s a difference between telling a deer story at the camp and writing that same story for publication. But in my opinion, there shouldn’t be. We owe it to ourselves and fellow sportsman be factual and tell the truth. Even if the story doesn’t sound as good, I’d much rather hear the truth. All too often we hear a guy retelling a deer story, and each time it’s a little different. My thoughts are that if he tells the story truthfully and accurately the first time, each retold story will be the same because all there are to remember are the facts—not the way he told it the first or second time. If a person saw six deer running by, he shouldn’t change the story to “about ten deer” running by. Exact facts are essential, and they’re so much easier to reproduce throughout future generations of the same story.

I’m sure that each of us can think of some people we know who tell “tall tales.” Call it karma, but it’s inevitable something exceptional will happen to them one day. Unfortunately, when they tell their story we’ll be forced to doubt its authenticity due their past lies and embellishments. A 5 lb. bass becomes a 7 lb. bass, and a 135 lb. buck becomes one pushing 200 lbs. We’ve all heard these stories and know the guys who tell them. The problem is, when one gets this reputation, it’s nearly impossible to relinquish the title (I can think of a few creative “titles” we give them). Guys know who these types of hunters are and usually don’t believe a word they say. Unless they can actually see what the guy is talking about, his word is worthless to them.

Strive for Accuracy and Consistency

When I tell my wife some of the dubious hunting stories I hear from time to time, she is amazed that I listen to the whole story without laughing. You know the type: whatever you killed, the other guy killed one bigger; or if you saw a 5-legged alligator, he saw a six legged one! I just listen, file it away, and consider the source. It won’t be the first or the last time I hear a story like that. For me personally, it’s always been important to be accurate. My Mom and Dad passed that down to me; my wife is in accordance on this issue and we’ve passed it on to our son and daughter. A person’s word is everything. He is building a reputation for himself day-by-day, good or bad, and whether it’s intentional or not!

True, thoughtful, and thorough hunting stories are a wonderful tradition. I have enjoyed listening to them for many years. I have also been blessed to have many wild and crazy experiences myself that I love to relate to others. I’ve often thought to myself while many were actually occurring, “What a great story this is gonna be!” I spend a lot of time in each event’s wake trying to absorb every detail so that I can faithfully retell it to curious listeners and readers. I’m not unique, however. All of us who venture out into the wilderness will at some point encounter the beauty of nature, the thrill of the hunt, the agony of failure, and the hilarity of misadventure. All of these things will add up to another great outdoor story, and one we all want to hear in an honest and authentic fashion.