It’s Monday, and I am headed to the woods tonight. My good friend from Florida, Will, will be here shortly, and we are headed over to hunt on Boggy Branch this evening. I am hoping to catch him killing either a nice boar or a good buck on camera, so wish us luck. And since it just started raining, pray that the weather clears up too.

I also wanted to share a beautiful story with my readers that was written by my friend’s wife. Her name is Gillian, and she is married to legendary local hunter and former Pleasant Hill Plantation manager Mike Casstevens. She sent us many great photographs of mature bucks this past Spring, and I believe you will truly enjoy her story.

Behind Every Good Hunter, Is an Incredible…………DOG!
By Gillian Casstevens

When I first met my husband, Mike, and after all the vital information was exchanged (kids, hometown, political views, and all that important stuff), Mike told me about his best friend, his dog. I wish I could write this with Buck lounging at my feet, but as life happens, Buck’s ended after a wonderful life, but a battle against cancer that just could not be won.

Mike bought Buck as a puppy and raised him with the same amount of love he has for his children. Matter of fact, I met Buck before I met his two daughters! My first encounter with Buck was much like “meeting the parents.” Only instead of getting eyeballed by mom, I got the total sniff treatment from Buck, along with a little drool. At the point I met Buck, he was the reigning “Legend of Pleasant Hill.” Any hunter who needed a deer tracked, Mike and Buck were hot in pursuit. I had the pleasure of watching Buck flush deer on a few walks and one time, I saw the dynamic duo in first responder mode. The phone rang, all I could hear was Mike and a lot of guy talk. We flew to the house, Mike ran to the safe and as soon as he pulled out his handgun, ol’ Buck was mounting the truck and ready to go to work. Buck was like a 6-year old kid on Christmas morning, rambunctious and wide-eyed. I stayed at the house and waited. Within an hour they were home. Now out of those 60 minutes, it only took Buck 15 to find the deer. The rest of the time spent was the storytelling and dragging the deer out of the woods. I am not sure who had the greater pleasure, Mike or Buck. Most likely Mike, as he had the bragging rights on Buck.

Buck’s chocolate coat had many war wounds, snake bite scars included, but he wore each and every one with pride. Buck and Mike were two in the same, best friends, two old men growing old together. Mike used to tell me every morning when he took Buck outside, they both had their own bush to “fertilize.” I could just see those two boys each morning walking out on the front porch, griping about being stiff, Mike grumbling and Buck making those low rumbly grouchy dog noises, and finally assuming their positions. Most people who know Mike, know that he has a morning ritual, besides the bush fertilizing. Mike heads to the local diner each and every morning for his guy talk and storytelling with the locals. Many of mornings, Buck rode along proudly sitting up front with Mike. He was like a little kid who just worshipped his Dad. I just never understood why Buck was not allowed a seat of his own in the diner with all the other fellas!

I do not know who has loved white-tailed deer more, Buck or Mike. Buck loved to chase deer and many times he would disappear for a day or two and head to Tye Branch where he met up with the many women in his life. After a day or so, Mike would head up to Tye Branch, call for Buck and as Mike tells it (each and every time), “the ol’ bastard could barely get in the truck, he was so worn out.” Months later, driving through Tye Branch, Mike would spot little chocolate colored Buck puppies. As Mike would say, “a damn good thing I don’t have to pay child support on all of Buck’s kids.” Buck’s longest adventure was 15 days. Nobody had seen him and there were just no signs of Buck coming home. Now Mike would never admit this, but he was one sad soul. We would ride all through Pleasant Hill looking for Buck and it got to the point, Mike would actually look for buzzards. We all worried he met up with the snake who did him in, wondered if he got snatched by a gator, or shot by a land owner. As the fears mounted, Mike’s spirit was slowly breaking. One evening, with all hopes of Buck’s return dwindling, Mike went outside and up stumbled Buck. Thin and weary, fresh wounds and all, he made it home! Never have I seen Mike happier, to include our wedding day. After that scare, Mike would load Buck up in the truck, drive him to Tye Branch and Mike would take a nap or read the newspaper while Buck spread his DNA amongst his groupies! As he got older, Mike had to load the old man up after his passionate episodes.

The hunting season Buck died in was a sad one for everyone, but more so for Mike. Though he did not realize it at the time, I noticed he just did not have the same zest for deer hunting. I would ask him if he was going hunting and he would have something else to do. In seasons past, we never saw Mike during hunting season until well after dark only after meeting up with his friends to share what they had seen. Buck’s partner was aching for his best buddy, but again, Mike would never admit it!

Every trophy in Mike’s “guy room” has a story which includes Buck. Every person in Mike’s life had the pleasure of knowing this legendary dog and the only person who could have loved Buck more was Mike’s daughter, Faith. Losing Buck was equivalent to losing her twin brother because if Faith was a dog, she would most certainly be Buck’s equal. “Faith-ful” and loyal until the end with a love for their Daddy like no other.

Though we all miss him, Buck’s best running buddy, a black Lab named Luke, remains in our home. Luke grew up on Pleasant Hill with Buck and Faith, along with a few other dogs who guarded the property. Though he is not the tracker Buck was, he has filled a void in all our hearts and has made our new family complete.

Coincidentally, Mike is back in the deer stands and continues to tell his stories, however, now that we are married and live in town, he does not fertilize the bushes in this yard! At least, I hope not!

Rest in peace our precious Buck……We know you are up there on that plantation where all bucks are trophies, and all shots are true…….and you are looking and waiting…..

Truly a great story, and I also love the picture of Mike, Faith and Buck from about 10 years ago. Thanks Gillian for sharing that with us…

Jeff

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