One of my other interests that I really enjoy is family history. And as I was packing up some of my binders in anticipation of a possible move, I happened upon some newsletters from my Grandfather Banks' family. He was born in Missouri in 1914, and in this particular newsletter was an account his younger brother, Norman, shared.
"During the Depression, in the early 30's, money was hard to come by. We had plenty of rabbits on our farm, but with money so scarce, we couldn't afford to buy ammunition to shoot the rabbits. So, one day my dad picked up the crosscut saw, a can of black paint and a brush, and he told me to come along with him. I couldn't figure out what he was going to do. I had learned from past experience that I shouldn't question him about anything. We went into the woods on our farm and cut down a few trees, and then cut them into logs. After that was done, he painted a black spot, about six inches in diameter on the ends of the logs. Then, he told me to get the dogs and start chasing rabbits. Well, the rabbits ran for the 'hollow' logs, knocked themselves out, and we just picked them up. We had rabbit for supper that night."
"This story won me first prize in a liar's contest in 1987, but I felt awful guilty taking the money, because it wasn't really a lie. If anyone is in doubt, just ask Omar Thomas... he was there."
Hopefully we will have prepared well so that we aren't facing
starvation from lack of food and ammo. However, this possibility of
being able to save money and ammo seems intriguing, and even children
could be sent out to do this kind of "hunting."
Thursday, August 21, 2025
No Meat, No Ammo, No Problem
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I absolutely love this story. It sounds a lot like those stories coming from my Dad's family who were able to work out solutions to problems in a large, poor family during the Depression years.
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ReplyDeleteMy dad was born in 1918 and during the great depression there was one summer that got so hot that the popcorn in the field popped and the cows thought it was snow and laid down in it and froze to death.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if could happen. Ask Wile El Coyote - he fell for the painted rock tunnel, even when he painted it himself, Lol.
ReplyDeleteReal life - lumber box traps helped gain small venison. 1x8 sides - 1x6 top and bottom. Galvanized 1/4" end with opposite end having a hinged 1x6 cut to shape door hinged on top. A stick propped up at one side of opening - animal kicked it away after entering opening. Bait was an ear of corn. Simple but effective if there were animals nearby.