“We’ve got to stop at Deerfield and get a hot dog,” I informed my hunting partners, Guy Cohen and Courtney Craft.
Somewhat puzzled at the urgency of my request, they agreed and we soon pulled into the Deerfield Country Store on Rt. 629 in west Augusta County on our way to Hunter’s Paradise for a chukar hunt.
There were two reasons I wanted to stop at the Deerfield Store two years ago. First, they make one of the best dogs in Virginia. I have stopped there for hot dogs before and after successful grouse hunts in the George Washington National Forest. I have eaten those tasty franks after trout fishing on the Bull Pasture River and I have gulped down several pairs of tube steaks to and from deer hunts, bird hunts and turkey hunts in Millboro. Not only are the hot dogs good, they are even better when there is hunting or fishing involved. Also, grabbing some food at an old country store brings back a flood of memories.
As a boy, hunting with my dad in West Virginia, one of the best parts of the day was pulling into an old store for a bite of lunch after a hard morning of quail hunting. Usually, we packed sandwiches and wolfed them down in the car along with hot coffee with cream and lots of sugar. But sometimes we hit the old stores and made a feast of whatever we could find. Daddy usually bought a box of saltine crackers and a couple tins of sardines. If the store had a refrigerated case, we bought a hunk of cheese and some bologna. Then we added Nabs, Vienna Sausages and other goodies to the menu, plus my favorite – a fried apple pie for dessert.
Sitting in the car listening to my dad talk about bird hunting was icing on the cake. That afternoon, we would continue to prowl the hills and dales of Greenbrier County, searching for another covey or two.
Hunting, to me, is a lot more than just shooting things. It’s being with friends and family and enjoying the simple things in life – like a good hot dog or a homemade turkey sandwich.
After lunch, Guy and Courtney agreed that they would not pass this secluded spot in the future without ordering at least a pair of dogs. I recommend mustard, slaw and onions, by the way.
We had a good bird hunt that afternoon. Squirt, Courtney’s English setter, was amazing. He pointed and held to a fault. He chased a hard-hit chukar through several briar patches and across a flowing creek, caught him and brought him back to the surprised hunters. We made some nice shots and some that were not very accurate.
Whether you like to hunt or not, the drive to Deerfield is well worthwhile. It’s beautiful country and the scenery is spectacular. And if you go, by all means stop at the Deerfield Store and get at least two hot dogs. They make that Road Trip worthwhile.