Campfire flames are always warming and inviting, the glowing coals and embers deeply penetrating the cold, weary bones after another great, dank, wet, nasty swamp run, forest romp, mountain struggle, duck blind shiver or upland stomp.
My mind runs a-flutter with memories and visions of a lifetime of bright, flickering fire circles that still burn as clearly as this evening’s sparkle.
As a lifetime bowhunter and addicted outdoorsman, such fires perform a variety of accomplishments, none less inspiring than the always-stimulating communicating chatter and banter of those great souls with which I have been privileged to share them.
There were those annual Nugent family treks to the North country of Michigan each year in the 1950s and ’60s when we experimented and stumbled along trying desperately to figure out this ever-challenging deerhunting with the bow and arrow.
A family campfire creates the ultimate environment for a tribe to truly get to know each other, and for youngsters to learn the lessons of teamwork and the rewards of simple wood gathering.
There are campfires, then there are campfires, and those precious evenings around the flames with the great Fred Bear and friends at his yearly October Grousehaven Lodge burned brighter than any others.
My first dream safari in Alaska in September of 1977 brought definitive meaning to the life-saving role of a good fire. With 14 days of nonstop cold rain, it seemed like getting the fire started each day was far more important than the actual hunting itself.
Deep in the unforgiving wilderness of the Sudan in 1978, each morning and evening’s firepit cut the chill of Africa’s never-ending cool breezes, and emphasized the role of fire time immemorial to our aboriginal ancestor’s survival.
I’ve shared Spirit Campfires in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Maine, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, the Yukon, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida, Mexico, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, South Africa, the Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana, England and Scotland.
I can literally recall each exacting detail of every fiery moment and all the people aglow in their flames. Each one was unique, while at the same time, exactly the same.
Each weekend throughout the fall we stoke some very special campfires on our Michigan and Texas family hunting grounds, hosting, guiding and outfitting families from across America for some crazy fun hunting, killer food, hysterical laughter and some downright fiery intellectual adventure.
Such gatherings around the fires bring about a clear and unambiguous definition of what is societal common sense.
I have found conclusively that sensible thoughts, dreams and beliefs, goodwill and decency, are indeed quite common in the hearts, minds, lives and souls of the American hunting families grinning and shimmering in the flickering flames of our Spirit Campfires.
Oh sure, there is without doubt much diversity to be experienced and celebrated at each fire, but for the most part, core beliefs are ubiquitous and rock solid.
After all, what lifestyle more exemplifies such rugged individualism, positive, down-to-earth, grounded spirit better than the hunting families of America.
Those very traditional American family principles like God, family, country, freedom, independence, law and order, and conscientious accountability that are the foundation of the greatest quality of life and only real freedom in the world have been established, confirmed and celebrated immovably around our campfires forever.
As our beloved hunting season throttles onward, each day getting better than the previous, we are not only approaching the magic time of increased game movement and activity, thereby presenting the best hunting opportunities of the season, but with the approach of November, a much more critical opportunity comes, a force of nature more powerful than the rut.
We only have two weeks to get ready to save America. On November 3rd, we exercise the most powerful force in the history of mankind, the American vote!
If the campfires are real, tuned-in Americans can see the writing on the wall, and the threat to real America is foreboding like never before.
There is still time to hit huntthevote.org to do your job and make a stand. Be sure you are a registered voter and you get to the polls to leave your mark for freedom.
This is one blazing American campfire we must not miss!
Those of us who believe in God, family, country, freedom, law and order, and our American hunting lifestyle can save America from those forces dedicated against everything we believe in and everything that makes America great.
Huntthevote.org then get out there and backstrap like you mean it! May your freedom campfires rage brightly in that not-so-quiet night.
See you all at the Ted Nugent Spirit Campfire on my Facebook every Monday and Thursday evening at 9 p.m. EST. Bring your spirit marshmallows!
Multi-platinum guitar legend TED NUGENT has a new full-length album THE MUSIC MADE ME DO IT, on Round Hill Records. The album is available now for order everywhere, and the title track “The Music Made Me Do It” is available to download and stream wherever music is sold.
And now, the Ted Nugent Spirit Campfire with John Brenkus, is #1 on Billboard’s Top Facebook Live Video Chart! The ever-articulate Nugent and co-host Brenkus, the Emmy-winning broadcaster from ESPN, make for a high-energy and entertaining combination. The show launched in June 2020 and offers a front row glimpse into musical inspirations, hilarious anecdotes, thoughtful recollections and an enviable lineup of legendary talent.The Ted Nugent Spirit Campfire with John Brenkus airs live on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. EST on Facebook and YouTube.
With more than 40 million albums sold, rock legend Ted Nugent is equally well known as the nation’s most outspoken proponent of our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, conducting thousands of pro-gun, pro-freedom, pro-American interviews in major media worldwide. Nugent is a New York Times best-selling author whose works include Ted, White & Blue —The Nugent Manifesto; God, Guns & Rock ‘n’ Roll and Kill It & Grill It. This year, his award-winning Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV show celebrates its 500th episode! For all things Nuge, visit www.tednugent.com