The Memories of Paper Hunting Licenses and stuff.

Everyone probably remembers filling out paper licenses before a certain hunting season started and it probably took place at a local gas station.

The gas station probably had two gas pumps, with only one in working order. But the pump in working order had one dial of numbers that didn’t work, so you were pretty much on the honor system when you went inside to purchase gas.

This gas station probably had a back room where the locals gathered for coffee. Mostly farmers and ranchers with a retired utility worker plus a possible postal worker or two.

I have been in a gas station similar to this, all around North Dakota and the surroundings states, you probably have to.

This gas station probably smelled like cigarettes and coffee. It wasn’t a bad smell, but it was a smell you knew and you looked forward to.

People from cities probably came to this gas station after filling their tank and didn’t realize they needed to tell the person behind the till the total dollars of gas purchased because there was no readout inside.

This gas station probably had homemade donuts and cookies for $0.25.

This gas station was probably open from 7 AM until at least 7 PM. It opened after the newspaper was delivered and closed sometime after Wheel of Fortune.

This gas station probably was always a treat to stop at after a long morning of pheasant hunting for a warm cup of coffee or a bottle of pop to get reenergized for the afternoon hunt.

This gas station probably had a TV running and the radio on constantly. The radio was probably on a station covering a local sporting event.

This gas station was probably open seven days a week and maybe even holidays.

Finding a gas station like this in the middle of nowhere while hunting antelope is probably like winning the lottery.

If you got some gossip from the coffee crew from this gas station, you should probably verify before repeating.

This gas station probably sold coffee for $0.25 a cup, with unlimited refills.

If you needed help trying to find somewhere to hunt a certain critter, don’t worry, the coffee guys at this gas station would probably point you in the right direction.

This type of gas station is probably a dying breed.

This gas station probably always had at least one dog and some random cats. The dog was friendly unless you tried to move him from his “spot” on the floor.

If you tagged a big buck, you probably came to this gas station to show to the coffee crew in the back.

The owners of this gas station probably worked there every day for years and years.

This gas station probably sponsored every broadcast on the local radio station that covered high school sporting events in the area.

If you were lucky, you probably had a gas station just like this.

This gas station probably had all of the snacks and pop anyone could possibly want during your upcoming hunt.

The owners of the gas station probably had names like Dick and Jane.

If you ran out of gas or your car broke down someone at this gas station would probably give you a ride to wherever you needed to go.

This gas station would probably heat up your Pugsley sandwich with the microwave behind the counter if you asked nicely.

If there was a bad blizzard and travel was not advised, you probably still tried to make it to this gas station to get the Sunday paper and grab a cup of coffee to see who else was able to make it.

If you wanted to know who owned a particular piece of land someone at this gas station would probably know.

You probably brought the owners of this gas station some deer sausage that you processed during the off-season.

I think every small community probably had a gas station like this.

I hope you remember those yellow paper copies of hunting licenses that you probably got at gas stations.

The gas station probably had a name like Miller’s Service.

I miss these gas stations, I’m probably not the only one.

Thanks for reading, Clint.