King of the Wilderness

Chapter 90: Chapter 88: Rattlesnake Farm

The second day after Lin Yu’an received his hunter safety education certificate.

He planned to first find a suitable place in Texas for his first legal hunt.

Old Mao and the others have already started pushing for more content! Ah, push, push, push! It’s a happy problem.

After a few days of thought, he decided to make a video episode of his own ”legal hunting” experience.

He first contacted through Facebook a well-known figure in the local Texas hunting circle, who owns a large private farm - the legendary old cowboy, Buck Jones.

This Mr. Buck, it is said, was also a legend in his younger days, not only with incredible gun skills but equally adept with a bow and arrow.

More importantly, he is generous and righteous, very friendly toward young people who genuinely love hunting culture and respect the rules.

He is a kind old cowboy without racial prejudice and is well-reviewed on Facebook.

In an email, Lin Yu’an sincerely explained his situation: he is a student from China who just obtained a hunting permit.

He hoped to have an opportunity to legally experience bow hunting for wild boar on Buck’s farm.

At the same time, he hoped to film the process and produce an episode showcasing Texas hunting culture and outdoor spirit, expressing his willingness to pay the relevant fees.

Unexpectedly, upon seeing the email and realizing that he was the winner of ”Alone in the Wilderness,” who once hunted a black bear with a bow and arrow,

Buck showed immense enthusiasm and immediately called him back.

”Oh ho! So, it’s you, young man!”

Buck laughed heartily, ”I watched that show! Your performance at Chilco Lake was downright awesome!”

”Especially the intense scene of taking down that bear with a bow and arrow; it got my old bones all fired up!”

”Sure! No problem at all! My farm always welcomes real hunters like you! As for the hunting fee...heck with it!”

”You can come help clear out some crop-destroying wild boars, I should be thanking you! But kid, Texas wild boars aren’t like black bears; they come in groups and are very cunning, so be prepared for a possible empty-handed return!”

Buck’s enthusiasm and straightforwardness pleasantly surprised Lin Yu’an.

The two quickly hit it off, agreeing on a weekend hunt. Buck also mentioned he would invite a few experienced hunters and hounds to assist.

Since it was on Buck’s private farm, with Buck’s permission, he didn’t have to purchase the $22.71 ”pig tag.”

Having secured the hunting location and guide, Lin Yu’an was in high spirits.

On Friday afternoon, after saying goodbye to Aliya, Lin Yu’an, dressed in the Archaeopteryx Alpha SV series, looked very spirited and capable.

Driving his second-hand pickup truck, he eagerly headed for the ”Rattlesnake Farm” deep in the Texas hills.

After nearly two hours of driving, the view outside changed from urban prosperity to rolling hills and farmland, with the scent of dust and pasture in the air.

Finally, at a fork in the road, he saw the gate of the farm.

A sign built from rugged timber, carved with a warning full of Texas-style dark humor: ”Rattlesnake Farm, Private Property, Trespassers Beware of Bullets (and may be eaten by wild boars!)”

He slowly drove through and along the gravel road to the main farmhouse.

A burly man with a full beard, wearing cowboy work jeans and a flannel shirt, had already come out of the house, laughing.

He wore a wide-brimmed hat and a leather gun holster on his waist, with a hefty Colt revolver inside.

”Lin! You finally made it! Welcome to my godforsaken Rattlesnake Farm!”

Buck Jones’ booming voice carried from afar, and he opened his arms to give Lin Yu’an a solid bear hug.

”Mr. Buck! Thank you so much for the invitation! Your farm...is enormous! Quite spectacular!”

Lin Yu’an responded with a smile, all the while sizing up the old cowboy.

Buck’s eyes were sharp and vibrant, his rough and powerful handshake conveying the tough calluses of someone well-weathered.

”Haha! Spectacular my foot! It’s almost all gnawed bare by those damn wild boars!”

Buck waved his hand dismissively, then introduced the other two companions who emerged from the house.

One was a man about Buck’s age, slim but with hawk-like sharp eyes, an old hunter named Earl Davis.

Exuding a ”don’t come near me” aura, he only gave a nod, eyes carrying a hint of caution as he looked at Lin Yu’an.

Buck introduced him with respect: ”This is Earl, don’t be fooled by his usual silence, but when he picks up his trusty Winchester, nothing within three hundred yards escapes!”

The other was a young cowboy in his twenties, tall and robust, named Chad Smith, with a bright smile, typical of a young redneck.

”This kid is the fastest cowboy on the farm and my most capable hunting dog assistant!” Buck said, patting his shoulder with a laugh.

”Hey! Lin! I saw your show on TV! It was insanely cool!”

Chad shook Lin Yu’an’s hand enthusiastically, inundating him with curious, rapid-fire questions: ”Did you really take down a big black bear with just a bow and arrow? Were you scared?”

Lin Yu’an could sense, besides Buck’s warmth, the old hunter Earl’s scrutiny and mistrust, and Chad’s enthusiasm mixed with some recklessness and stereotypes.

Before Lin Yu’an could answer, he couldn’t help but whistle, speaking in a half-joking, half-serious tone.

”However...let’s be honest, Lin! In my impression, aren’t Chinese people more into studying in school or doing research in the lab?”

”Are you really a hundred percent Chinese?”

Although this statement was made in jest, the subtle contempt based on stereotypes made the atmosphere suddenly become somewhat delicate.

Lin Yu’an’s smile froze slightly, but he didn’t immediately react, saying.

”Of course, I’m a hundred percent Chinese. I was raised by veterans who participated in the Vietnam battlefield! So being outstanding in combat is no surprise.”

”Chad Smith! You damn well shut your damn mouth!”

A thunderous roar erupted from Buck’s throat.

”You brainless fool! Lin is a truly respectable hunter!”

”He survived alone in Chilco Lake, that damn place, for over ninety days, and took down a black bear three times your weight!”

”In the United States, we respect every brave man, no matter where he’s from!”

Chad seemed to realize the anomaly in his words and immediately apologized to Lin Yu’an, ”Sorry, Lin, I didn’t mean that! I was just curious...”

Lin Yu’an looked at this young man who might simply be loose-lipped, and the displeasure in his heart had long vanished.

He smiled, patted Chad on the shoulder, and said, ”No problem, stereotypes exist everywhere. I will change your stereotype of Chinese people with my skills.”

This small incident, like a touchstone, gave Lin Yu’an an initial feel of the atmosphere in this circle.

There was genuine warmth, direct offense, but even more so, respect for strength.

Chad’s gaze fell on Lin Yu’an’s technologically advanced compound bow, unable to resist expressing amazement.

”Wow! Lin! Is this the latest model from Mathews? I’ve only seen it in magazines! Along with your Hamskea Arrow Rest and Spot Hogg Sight, a whole set wouldn’t come for less than three thousand US dollars, right?”

Lin Yu’an just smiled, gently stroking the bow handle, and calmly said.

”You get what you pay for. In hunting, a trustworthy companion is very important!”

”I also want to use this powerful compound bow to test the results of my over ninety days of wilderness survival training.”

Buck added from the side, ”That’s right, when you’re only about ten yards away from an angry boar, you definitely don’t want your equipment to fail in any way. Your investment is wise.”

That evening, by the fireplace in Buck’s farmhouse, everyone sat together, enjoying roast beef and chilled beer.

Lin Yu’an quickly blended into the rugged and enthusiastic atmosphere, humbly asking Buck and Earl many questions about wild boar habits and hunting techniques.

After dinner, Buck took Lin Yu’an to visit the dog kennel.

Inside were several stout, alert-eyed hunting dogs, including two agile Catahoula Leopard Dogs and three robust Plott Hounds.

”These little guys, they are all treasures I trained myself!”

”Especially these three little guys, they dare to challenge cougars single-handedly!”

Buck proudly introduced, ”Without them, catching those cunning wild boars wouldn’t be so easy!”

Lin Yu’an looked at these dogs full of wilderness and spirituality, with eyes full of love.

The idea of having his own hunting dogs quietly planted a seed in his heart.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the entire farm was already awake.

Lin Yu’an was already dressed, and Buck, Earl, and Chad were ready too.

Under Buck’s command, the hunting team entered the hilly area south of the farm silently.

Lin Yu’an lowered his voice, providing a light commentary to the action camera fixed to his chest.

”We are now entering a typical Texas hill terrain. These fresh overturned soils on the ground are obvious traces of wild boar activity.”

Soon, they reached a site where wild boars were likely to frequent.

The hunting dogs darted into the bushes like arrows out of the string and quickly found a clear trail of wild boar footprints.

The team immediately heightened their alertness, carefully following the trail to start tracking.

Lin Yu’an’s steps were light and nimble, his eagle-like eyes constantly scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

”Lin, your sneaking skills don’t seem like those of a newbie!” Buck, walking in front, turned back complimenting.

Suddenly, Earl observing from a high point with binoculars raised his hand signaling a stop.

He pointed to a riverside willow grove about two hundred meters ahead, ”There’s movement ahead! At least seven or eight shadows!”

Everyone’s nerves instantly tightened! Preparing to enter hunting mode!

Buck swiftly devised a tactical approach! Earl suppresses from the high point with firepower, Chad with the hunting dogs flanking from the right, driving the boar herd towards the open ground in the middle.

And Lin Yu’an was to ambush there with him, responsible for the crucial precision strikes.

Lin Yu’an and Buck quickly hid behind a dense bush.

He drew a heavy hunting arrow, its head glinting coldly, from the quiver, gently nocking it on the newly bought compound bow.

The modern compound bow has a draw weight compensation of 80%-90%, meaning that after pulling this 70-pound bow, he only needed to maintain 14 pounds of force to keep it in full position.

This allowed him to aim with ease, and even after intense motion, the steady arrow rest let him stably complete the release shot. ℴ

Suddenly, from the right came Chad’s whistle and the hunting dogs’ frantic barking!