by Nate Hosie –
Professional turkey
caller, avid hunter, NRA Country music artist, and host of Headhunter TV
Nate Hosie shares his Thanksgiving traditions and what he's most thankful for
this holiday.
As the holiday season
begins each year, millions of Americans put their busy lives on hold to come
together and celebrate their thankfulness, a time to reconnect with family and
experience the traditions that have endured for generations. We take off early
from school and work, endure the packed airports and crowded highways filled
with travelers, and work to craft that perfect dish for arguably the most
important meal of the year. We loosen up our arms and relive the glory of our
high school football years in backyards and quiet streets, navigate through
uncomfortable conversations with distant relatives, and fight to stay awake
long enough to watch the endings of the annual Turkey Day football games.
Thanksgiving is rooted in
American tradition. For hunters, the connections to Thanksgiving are
undeniable. We ply our skills in the field to bring home food for the table –
the earliest Thanksgiving feasts flourished with the fruits of a successful
hunt. We come together with our hunting partners – family and friends,
reuniting to participate in our pastime, and cherishing the opportunity to pass
down the tradition to our young ones. We travel far and wide to get to our
favorite hunting spots, hoping to find the perfect opportunity to bring home a
holiday prize.
Simply put, Thanksgiving
and hunting go together like Turkey and gravy.
Growing up in Montdale,
Pennsylvania, Thanksgiving was more than a time that old friends and family
members were in town – it also meant rifle season was right around the corner.
As far back as I can remember, I’ve spent every opening day of deer season
hunting with my family. From back when I was a little boy going out with my
grandpa to now spending that precious time in the woods with my wife, it has
been and will always will be a Hosie family tradition.
Traditions in itself are
something my family and I hold close to. Aside from being around one another,
playing football with friends and eating as much as our bodies can consume, the
tradition of spending time together outdoors and prepping for an upcoming hunt
is what we do.
My family’s hunting roots
run deep, making an impact not only me but on my entire family. Ever since I
turned 12 years old and was deemed old enough to go hunting with my dad and
grandpa, I couldn’t wait for my turn to be able to take someone hunting for the
first time.
This year, I finally get
my chance. My cousins have finally reached the legal hunting age, and I can’t
wait to take them out for their first hunting experience. In fact, I might be
more excited it about then they are.
Since rifle hunting season
(in Pennsylvania) doesn’t officially begin until the Monday following the
holiday, my day will start with my wife’s family followed by a quick visit to
my aunt’s (where I’ll consume more food) before heading to my mom’s, with a final
stop at my dad’s, where I plan to eat my last bit of food of the day and spend
the evening watching football. Family and food – I couldn’t ask for more.
Despite how hectic my
Thanksgivings tend to be, I’m constantly reminded of how blessed I am. I look
forward to getting back to my roots and where I am from, taking a break from
the stresses of work and travel, and reflecting on all I have waiting for me
back home. In other words, cherishing the spirit of Thanksgiving is in every
way like cherishing the traditions of hunting, stepping away from the
fast-paced freight train of every day life and slowing down to remember what’s
truly important in our lives: loved ones, companionship, traditions, passion
and being thankful for what we have.
Whether I’m surrounded by
family at the dinner table or parked beside family in the hunting blind, the
feeling of graciousness is the same. There’s simply is no better time to be a
Hosie than at Thanksgiving, wherever I am.
What are your Thanksgiving
traditions? Share in the comments below!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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