Congrats to the 1987 AOFO Biggest Buck Contest winner—Blake Jumper!  Blake’s deer qualified as a 3X2 with an 11 inch spread.  For the rest of us—all we can do is try to figure out how we can win next year’s contest.  Thanks to all who participated and good luck next year-it’s all for fun!

In the continuing endeavor to introduce you all to the “Willow Creek Free Trappers”, my next choice carries the hint of mystique and magical powers.  My nephew is a young man in his mid 20’s, married, hard worker, enjoyer of outdoor activities, including eating today’s version of “C” rations, as he is an active member of the Utah National Guard.

His Christian name is Tracy and in the world outside of Buckskins, wool coats, and blackpowder, this name is as good as the next—however, when we found ourselves gathered “as a group” at the “Willow Creek Free Trappers Rendezvous” a few years back—“Tracy” just wasn’t a name to be proud of.

Can you imagine at roll call the first mornin’ the feeling this young man had as the “Booshway” (leader) read the roll:  “Wapiti Dung”?  “Here”!  “4 Hooves”?  “Here”!  “No Grimace”?  “Here”!  “Tracker”?  “Here”!  “Bears Butt”?  “Here”!  “Soft Ball”?  “Here”!  “TRACY”??  “Here”!  And as the echo of the calling was still bouncing off the walls of the canyon, the “Booshway” was shaking his head and mumbling, “the boy’s got a real ‘cherry’ for a name”.  At the word “Cherry” a small, but noticeable, “pop” came from the burning embers of the morning fire.  No-one thought anymore about it.

We went about our daily activities seeing who could out-shine the rest in the shooting matches, who could out-bull the rest in story telling and who could have the most fun in camp!  It was a real great day.  When night fell and we had partaken of our daily meat and potatoes, we were gathered around the council fire awaiting the “Booshways” scored results of the days shooting, when someone mentioned the fact that Tracy didn’t have a mountain man name yet.  He was still a “cherry” in this manner.  At that comment, a loud hissing came from the fire and a long string of small embers worked their way toward the heavens.  We all looked at each other in wonder!  Tracy had left the fire area just minutes before the comment was made—probably to answer a great calling at the base of a bush or something.  So, since he wasn’t there, it was decide to name him “Cherry” until we felt a better name had been earned by him.  The “Booshway” was informed.

When Tracy returned and got settled, the “Booshway” announce the day’s outcomes of the shooting and the next day’s general activities.  Once that was done he called Tracy up to stand before the crowd. The Council fire light casting it’s orange glow off all faces in various shades as the Booshway slowly worked Tracy around the fire and spoke of mountain lore and past behavior on both the parts of Tracy and the mountain Gods of the past era; he once again said the name “Cherry”.  In that instant the fire’s embers glowed twice as bright and a HUGE array of small glowing ashes raced up with the smoke 10 to 15 feet over our heads, before burning themselves out, never again to be seen, as the darkness of the night gobbled them up.

We were all awe-struck!  The Booshway stayed calm and slowly touched Tracy on the shoulder, like a King touches a Knight, and these words were spoken:  “Tracy, from this night forward, wherever mountain man shall gather, you shall be named by me and the gods as ‘Cherry’, be proud of the name”.

Believe it or not, when “Cherry” was said the fire once more cast its embers into the sky!  “Cherry” was born at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and “Cherry” will always be “Cherry” wherever mountain men shall meet.

Bears Butt

Nov-Dec1987