“Kentucky Wildcat”

 

I tried something different this week while hunting doe to put a bit more meat in the freezer. I hunted from the ground. Not in a blind, just me, my camo, hunter orange and a tree to lean against. It seems quieter on the ground. Your senses aren’t quite as alert, because you aren’t hovering 15ft. in the air. You are sitting more lounge like in a recliner position. The air was cool, I was warm in my hunting gear. Some alka seltzer plus to dull the sinus headache, and I had the perfect recipe for a hunters nap. When I nap in the woods, I can still hear twigs snap, tree limbs rustling when squirrels leap around. I am lost somewhere between awake and asleep in the peaceful (not quiet) forest.

During my afternoon sit, I was in this land of nod. I hear rustling in the leaves and figure the 2 squirrels are chasing each other again. A few moments later, I open my eyes to a Wildcat about three feet away. Slinking quickly across the ground, toward me. I knew we had one in the area, we had caught a glimpse of it on the trail camera. As I open my eyes and see clearly, I realize there isn’t one, but two wildcats playing and chasing each other. They almost landed in my lap! I thought, I don’t want a predator with sharp claws running across my legs, so I began to speak softly. “Can you please not get so close?” They both stop, ready to pounce or bound away. I began to take a few photos. They were so pretty. Pointy ears, spotted fur, graceful movements. They didn’t run away quickly, they moved cautiously away. I had just come face to face with two of the mysterious Kentucky Wildcats.

As I sat there, reflecting on my encounter with nature, I flashed back to a Kentucky Headhunters song from the 90’s, Kentucky Wildcat. I loved the song when I heard it, catchy tune, fun lyrics. I went to church with a member of the band. I can remember when I listened to it back then, that I wanted to be the kind of girl this song was about. Have I evolved into a facsimile of it? I have to say, I found a true kinship that afternoon in the woods. From one Kentucky Wildcat to another, “stay wild”.

She could be on the cover of a magazine
But she’d rather be out running into wars with me
She can track a deer she can drive a dump truck
She’ll turn around a day when I spend too much
She can she can she can give me love
Well she’s my Kentucky wildcat
She’s a girl on the cover in every scene in the book of every boys dreams
Well she’s my Kentucky wildcat
Damn she’s a little wild but brother I love her like that
She can dress up and go to a high class bar
But she’d rather be out fishing in her overalls
She can plane a car she can fill a coffee cup
When I cut a shine she can shut a me up
She can she can she can give me love
Well she’s my Kentucky wildcat
She’s a girl on the cover in every scene in the book of every boys dreams
Yeah she’s my Kentucky wildcat
Yeah she’s a little wild but brother I love her like that
Yeeoow
Yeah she’s my Kentucky wildcat
She’s a girl on the cover in every scene in the book of every boys dreams
Yeah she’s my Kentucky wildcat
Yeah she’s a little wild but brother I love her like that
Yeah she’s a little wild but brother I love her like that