I'm 59 years old and have been an avid hunter for most of my life.

I moved to Florida in 1979 and began my life as a musician and a faux artist.

As a young man I was introduced to Florida hunting by a good friend of mine who has since passed away.

This story takes place in the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Oceola County, Florida.

The year was 1995. It was Thanksgiving Day. We were camping in a public camping ground with good friends.

My friend Jim and I decided to hunt the swamp island as we did many times before.

It was just another day. We had to be back at camp before 1 o'clock for dinner, so we left the island about 12 o'clock in the afternoon.

Now bear in mind it was gun season. You're required to wear 500 inches of orange in a wildlife management area in Florida.

Any person that would attempt to hunt during rifle season without orange would be absolutely

crazy and a little bit stupid. Jim and I hunted this island, which is in itself extremely spooky.

In fact, his wife would not even go out there because she thought there were Indian spirits of

some sort, which I didn't argue with. The walk to the island

was in about two and a half foot of water for about 150 yards in a thick Cypress swamp. I kept this trail

cut minimally for accessibility, and I knew it very well. I had hunted this island dozens of times alone. It's funny because I'm a

grown man and still the boogeyman gives me the willies if you know what I'm saying. We all know

there are things out in there that we cannot explain. When I'm in the woods I'm always on alert for

anything. We did not see any deer or pigs

during the morning that I can remember. We left this island to go back to the vehicle. Upon arrival,

I opened my back window to my bronco, and it made the usual screeching sound, which I could

not seem to get rid of.

We loaded our firearms into the back of the truck. I did this first and then Jim followed up

doing the same. As Jim loaded his guns in the truck, I walked out to the road. I looked down the road for

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