Busy Busy Busyyy

            It’s a winter wonder land out there. Lots and lots of snow, what every hunter wants. It’s great for getting a visual on your target and even better for tracking your kill. I picked my muzzle loader up out of layaway yesterday; I have the gun, the gear, the hunting spot, and now the snow. There’s only one thing missing, and that’s the time. I have two papers due tomorrow, and a math exam and sociology exam to study for. I’ve worked the last two days, so today is a complete homework day.  As the saying goes, “so much to do, so little time.” I’m sitting here perfecting my paper as my new gun lies in its box on the floor. I need to get out there and get a return on my investment. If the deer need a safe oasis from all the hunters they just need to rest in my neck of the woods, I’ll be in my room studying! Oh the sacrifices I must make to further my education. The only deer I’m going to see are going to be attached to Santa’s sleigh. All I want for Christmas is some venison meat.

            Frank’s great outdoors just had their shanty days and many fishermen were in getting geared up for the season. If deer season turns out to be a bust, I can always become a fan of fish fry’s. Fish can replace pork as the other red meat.

            I hope everyone else is finding time to relax out in the woods and see some deer. I’m still hearing a lot of success stories and sightings. I will be joining all of you in a few days when the school semester ends. I’m at the finish line, I just need to exhaust all my energy these last few days, and then I can pull my boots on and kick my feet up and lean back and breathe the fresh cold air.   My pretty pink camouflage muzzle loader with its matching pink camouflage scope is just begging to be shot.

            It’s funny, when our house was first built, it was discovered it was right in the path of a popular deer run, so deer would constantly run into our house during the night or end up on our back deck. We would hear a loud thump on the house and turn on the back flood lights to find a deer dazed and confused, shaking its head while snorting in the back yard. It seems like deer were plentiful back then, I would see them in the back yard and around the pond year round. Now it’s just a pleasant surprise to see them occasionally, it’s sad to be my age and talking about the good old days. Well back to the grind stone, these papers aren’t going to write themselves.

Nearing The End

            Many hunters have ventured out in the woods with their muzzle loaders in hand. I expressed my interest in acquiring one for myself in my last blog. Since then I received a push from my brother. He went out and put the gun I was looking at in layaway for me. I guess the decision has been made. I can appreciate the fact that owning a muzzle loader will lengthen the hunting season for me, and there is less noise in the woods due to the fact that many hunters skip this segment of hunting.

            I was out running errands with my mom yesterday when we received a desperate call from my brother. He had sighted in his gun, and was pleased at its accuracy. He then proceeded to clean it to be ready for the morning hunt, upon doing so he broke a piece off inside another piece. He had been frantically calling around trying to find replacement parts for it. He was able to find them both, however not at the same location. So I was sent on a scavenger hunt to round them up for him. The good news is the gun is now fixed; the better news is that my gun will never have this problem, as it doesn’t have those parts.

            I’m glad that when I get my gun out of layaway I will have someone experienced with muzzle loaders to show me the ropes. He’s going to have to show me how to load it, and clean it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to own a gun that evolved the extra maintenance, but he said it’s not a big deal. That has yet to be seen.    

            My brother got his deer back from the meat processers and it is delicious. He had some made into summer sausage. My nephew doesn’t like hardly any meat, He usually makes a face and spits it out, but the venison summer sausage he devourers like candy. That’s a really good thing because it’s good for him; it’s a very lean meat, and heart healthy. It’s never too early to start eating well.

            This has been a bad year for me to be writing a hunting blog. With school, work and my work apprenticeship I barely have time to sleep so hunting falls into last place, I have enjoyed everyone else’s stories though. It seems like everywhere I go I overhear hunters describing their success. I just smile and know my day will come.

Happy Thanksgiving

            Happy Thanksgiving, many of us enjoyed a deep-fried, or smoked turkey that was taken during the season. I had bought a new smoker and it works wonderfully. We had seasoned it immediately and it was patiently awaiting the season. Luckily venison isn’t a staple on the Thanksgiving traditional menu, because this season was not my best! This season has been so bad for me that I didn’t hesitate to go shopping on Black Friday, and Thursday evening. I felt I had a better chance of being successful at the stores then in the woods. Of course I went to Franks Great Outdoors, Gander Mountain, Dicks, and Cabala’s. Although I was Christmas shopping for others, I couldn’t resist buying myself this extremely cute duck call necklace at Franks Great Outdoors. I had always admired the orange one’s they have carried, but they got a camouflage one in. I couldn’t pass it up. It’s not just for show, it really works! My Brother’s one must have was a gun safe, and mine was a multi-fold ladder for my dad. Luckily they were at the same place, so we stood in line together. We were both able to get the items we sought after, so that was a good thing. The rest of the time we just had fun.

            My mom and I stood in line together Thanksgiving evening for the Thursday, six p.m. sales. The weather was awesome. Neither one of us expected to go out that night following dinner at my brothers house, so we didn’t have coats, gloves, hats, or anything. It was fine though because there wasn’t any wind at all, so it really wasn’t cold. The previous years we were bundled up but with the wind and rain it was still miserably freezing.

            I heard muzzleloaders being shot all day today; I guess everyone is getting their guns sighted in. I don’t own one, but I’m going to look into it. I have picked one out that I really like, but I’m not sure yet. I’m going to shoot my brothers a couple times and go through the process of loading and cleaning it to see if it’s something I want to pursue. My buying impulse almost got the better of me when I fell for the looks of a gun I saw, but my common sense told me to research, and experience it before jumping in.

            I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving time with their family as much as I did, and was able to purchase all their items on their Black Friday shopping spree if they went out. Until next time, enjoy good food, family and friends.

Where the buck are the deer? I saw some unimpressive bucks earlier in the season but now I’m seeing a whole lot of does. My brother was successful today and bagged himself a buck; he had gone up to Gaylord hunting.  I’m seeing pictures of brag worthy bucks that other people have shot, so I know there out there. I sure wish we weren’t having temperatures twenty degrees below normal, when you’re not seeing anything it’s nice to say you enjoyed your time outside. These temperatures are brutal. I guess if I were a deer I would bunker down somewhere in thick grass and try to stay warm too.

                I was driving home yesterday with my mother’s truck when a huge six point walked out and stood in the road ahead of me. I seem to be seeing a lot of deer while I’m in an automobile. Maybe if I drive out to my hunting spot and sit in my vehicle with my windows down I might have a buck show up.

                I passed on hunting today and went shopping instead; I had better luck with that. I went to my favorite spot and low and behold success, everything I was looking for was there. If only hunting were this easy. You would probable think it wouldn’t be fun then, but I beg to differ. There is something very satisfying about success. After all fishing is always fun when you know their biting, and Its great mushroom picking when you know their up. If I only knew there was a huge buck that was going to eventually show itself, I would sit out there from sunup till sundown.

                Well I’m off to Buffalo Wild Wings to eat. I’ll go on a diet free of red meat. I’ll become one with the deer. Just kidding, I just like Buffalo Wild Wings. Its eight o’clock, which is prime time for deer to be crossing the road, so I’m sure I will see plenty of them. It’s funny, I go all day trying to see a deer, and then when I’m driving a vehicle you hope to God that you don’t hit one. If it wasn’t for the possibility of an air bag smacking me in the face, damaging my vehicle, and my insurance premium going up, I would take them as I could get them. Since I don’t want any of the above to happen, I’ll continue to sit out in the cold.

Rainy Hunt

                            Well today was a rather comical day of hunting. At about three o’clock I’m sitting home studying for an upcoming test, when my brother arrives at the house. He comments, “aren’t you going out hunting” I replied, “no, it’s raining and we are getting severe thunder storm warnings until five pm. He teasingly throws a sarcastic comment at me,” what are you afraid of a little rain?” I said “no but the deer are.”

            So he proceeds to prep for the hunt, it takes him a few minutes as I look on. Within a short while the winds begin to pick up, so my mom and I go out and secure the pool cover. It continues to get darker, and windier. The rains begin to get heavier, and I see my dad come in from splitting wood. He asks, “Where is your brother? I respond, “Sitting out in the woods.” He said “you better text him and see if he wants you to pick him up, there is lightning out there.” I attempt to communicate with him but there is no response to the text messages I send him, nor does he answer when I attempted to call. We are now in a full blown heavy storm with high winds, a heavy down pour of rain, and lightning.

            For a short time we were consumed with worry; this quickly changed to laughter when the door bust open and my completely drenched, out of breath, just shy of angry brother fly’s in the room. The more I laughed the less sense of humor he seemed to have. The jokes just started to come out of my mouth. I was on a roll, I couldn’t stop myself. I will have enough material to take me through both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

            This storm is crazy, as disappointed as so many hunters must be, the deer must be getting a kick out of this. How do you get all the hunters out of the woods? Throw a little thunder and lightning at them with the possibility of a tornado. I guess the deer get a reprieve today, a so called time out.

            Well tomorrow is another day. As they say “the sun will come out tomorrow”. Eventually, every hunter will have that one perfect day. Just enjoy the hunt, and remember, “a bad day hunting is still better then a good day at work”

November 15th

            Well the countdown continues, four more days. Any other time of the year I probably couldn’t tell you what the date was without looking at my cell phone. I know today’s date, the tenth of November, and I can’t wait. It’s gotten cold outside and snow has been predicted in the near future. We just need the weather conditions to hold out for a few more days.

            I have made myself available the entire day, I plan to go out for the early morning hunt, come in for a short break to refuel, then right back out until dark. I’m feeling pretty lucky though, I think I sense a successful morning; it helps to think positive, and go out with lots of optimism. I find that it always works while fishing, so why not apply it to deer hunting.

            My brother will also be hunting a few acres away. As much as I would love to get one, I would be just as happy if he does. My brother bow hunts and was not successful; it makes it difficult when he can only get out there now and then. I’m so happy that opening day falls on a Friday, and that I don’t have a conflict in my schedule. Friday the fifteenth and black Friday, TGIF has an added meaning this year.

            The preparations for the fifteenth are fun in themselves. Going in the sporting goods stores and seeing all the new stuff, and purchasing some new goodies for myself. I love that they now have a line of camouflage clothing just for women, and women’s accessories, hats, gloves, even long underwear. It’s kind of like going on vacation, or off to school, you need a check list. Even when I’ve checked off everything on my list, I find myself looking just to see if there is some new cool thing out there.  To me the most important thing is to stay warm, after a while of sitting there not moving, it tends to get cold. Hum, I think I will look into buying a heater for my blind tomorrow. I wonder if I will feel guilty knowing my brother will be over there freezing. He’s pretty much laid all the ground work for the season while bow hunting. I guess that’s one of the benefits of having a big brother.

            I want to wish everyone a safe and successful hunt.  Good luck, stay warm, and have fun.

Missed Shot

Wow! I saw a really big buck today; it just stood there, great position, about ten yards away. My heart started racing, I slowly raised my hands, “focus” I told myself, don’t miss this shot. For a brief second I think our eyes made contact, oh crap, its stomping its foot, it’s going to take off any second, I need to act quickly. I should have been better prepared for this moment. It’s sensing my every movement. I don’t think I’m going to pull this off. It’s still a stare down between us. I’m just waiting for an opportunity to move my arms into position to take the shot. Time seems to stand still as it waits for me to make a faulty move, and I wait for it to make the fatal mistake of looking away. I just need to make the smallest adjustment to take the shot. How long can this go on? If I don’t get this shot I’m going to be really upset. I think the deer is starting to mock me now, it’s looking at me as if to say, “go ahead draw, I’ll be gone before you can get a shot off” it’s like a staring contest, each one betting the other will blink first. Another deer, a doe moves in from behind, I think she’s curious as to what the heck is going on; she seems oblivious to the situation. He still stands there statues’, probably hoping she will walk out in front of him. He has no idea that I want only him. To him, a deer is a deer.  The doe keeps walking forward; I predict that she will position herself right in the way of my shot. I’m beginning to think this just isn’t meant to be. My arms are getting really tired; I don’t know how much long I can hold this position without moving. This is torturous. How badly do I want this? Should I just move and take my chances that I have enough time between him sensing my movement and me taking the shot. The doe keeps getting closer and closer to blocking me with every step. I need to make a decision quickly. I’m going for it!……. Big mistake, he’s off like lightning, well that’s it. He wins. All that’s left to do is put my window up, my camera down, and my car back in drive, and continue on my way to class. Lol

Birthday Present

Waterfowl hunting is well underway; many of my friends and family have enjoyed the sport for many years but this is the first year for me. My interest was peeked when I was invited to tag along on a hunt; I quickly developed an enthusiasm for the sport. I find myself purchasing new items constantly to enlarge my arsenal. It’s completely different from deer hunting, I needed to buy new camouflage clothing, waders, and many more items that I will need to acquire over time. I just celebrated my birthday a little early this Saturday with a party. I was brought to tears when my big brother handed me my birthday present. It was first disguised in a weed whacker box. After pulling the multitudes of tape from the box I was able to pull a beautiful duffle bag from it. Imagine my surprise when I learned my big bro had made it himself. Inside the bag was a brand new stoeger x350 shotgun. Oh my gosh, it’s gorgeous, I couldn’t speak. He told me it had been really hard not telling me he bought the gun for me every time I told him I was going hunting. After purchasing the gun, he tried to buy a case but was unable to find something I could put the gun and all my other stuff in; He then decided to make it himself. It’s unbelievable, he bought this orange, camouflage, canvas material that I had told him I liked and custom formed foam inserts in the bottom to fit the gun, the foam inserts are all wrapped in felt. He put inserts in the bottom and sides to hold its form, and it has a double zipper top like a baseball bag. He even constructed padded orange camouflage straps/handles. He is the most talented person I know, I love him so much. The gun was an awesome gift, I can’t believe he spent that much money on me, and where did he find the time. My brother has a one and a half year old son and works full time as an RN. He is amazing. Well I know who the first person is going to be that I take hunting with my new gun. I’m so excited; it’s great to have my own gun for the sport. I now have several guns of my own, I think I’m well on my way to becoming a gun collector. It’s surprising how much fun it is to just go outback and target practice, or blow up some milk jugs.

                There is much to be said about the solitude of walking through the woods. The denseness of trees blocks the wind and fills the air with fresh smells of pine and moss. We have groomed trails that randomly flow though our thirty five acres of woods, our own little piece of heaven. As I wander through the woods it feels like nothing else exists, like you’re the only one on this earth. Then there’s this eerie feeling that you’re not alone, a feeling that your being watched, then there’s a whistling sound, another human being is up in a tree whistling, almost invisible, dressed completely in camouflage. Well welcome to hunting season, the bounds of privacy have been broken; my personal space has been invaded. Yes, a hunter has taken it upon himself to make his self welcome in the middle of my private oasis. Why he whistled is a puzzling question? I would never have spotted him up there armed with his bow and arrow. Maybe he thought I was aware of a trespasser and was out there scouting the woods for him? I don’t know, I guess I should have expected it though, this happens every year. You purchase land and pay taxes on it twice a year then have several people feel entitled to use it without permission.

 The fact is everyone in my family hunts and we invest a lot of time, money and energy preparing for the season. These intruders potentially ruin the hunting season for my family. Not to mention, that when we go out hunting we know where each other are sitting for safety reasons, the thought that I need to wear orange and carry a weapon just to walk through my own property is irritating. I guess we need to start are own border patrol to secure the success of the season.

In the past we have found tree stands erected on our land, bait piles that exceed legal quantity, and my favorite is what I like to call a condo constructed in a huge tree. Yes I said condo; it was a large wooden platform with two old lazy-boy chairs hoisted up upon them, all the comforts of home. Each year it’s an adventure seeking out what has been placed out there.

 Its only bow season and there has been a whistling hunter with a bow in a tree. To insure a more successful hunt, we have posted orange “no trespassing” signs and are vigilantly scouting the woods. With any luck there is a really big buck out there that the poachers haven’t bagged yet just waiting to cross my path.

Over the last couple months I have enjoyed looking out the south windows of my house to watch a Doe and her twins come out a couple times a day to feast on fallen apples. The twins are three quarters the mothers size but still have visible spots on them. It could be a coincidence, but after the youth hunt one of the twins was no longer present. Then after the early doe hunt the mother is absent also. As I let my dog out the other morning I sadly saw the remaining twin standing near the apple tree where its mother would bring them. What use to be enjoyable entertainment for my family was now just sad. As the young deer watched and listened to me instruct my dog to go outside, it just stood there puzzled, waiting for direction from its absent mother. I wonder if it will survive alone, will it become prey to the many coyote with no mature deer to stomp its feet and warn it to run?

I wish more hunters would take that extra second to see if a doe has a fawn with her, and as for the missing fawn, I don’t even want to express my opinion on that. As a hunter myself I understand the desire to get a deer. At the first sound of snapping branches and crunching leaves, your heart starts pounding and the excitement grows. As with any thing we do in life we have to have self control, and when a bow or gun is involved this can’t be emphasized enough. Come on now; let’s have some common sense out there. First make sure you know what you’re shooting, next make sure you have a good shot. My mom always said, “If you take the shot, you don’t come in until you find it”. She also says, “If you shoot it, you eat it” but that’s another story.When you’re fishing and the fish you caught is not of legal size, you can throw it back, you can’t do that when deer hunting and shoot a young deer born this year.   

Over the years I have seen many pathetic results of non empathetic hunters, deer with arrows shot in their butts, deer wounded by .22 caliber guns during bow season, deer limping though our yard because they were shot in the leg. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all hunters to make sure their guns are sighted in and their weapons are shooting accurately.

Bow Season

Well it’s almost here. Opening day of bow season starts Tuesday. While many people are beyond excited, to the point where they cannot even sleep because all they can think about is that first deer they see walking through the woods on opening morning, I seem to be having mixed emotions. Part of me is excited because in my eyes, once bow season starts I start the count down for riffle season. But I am also part jealous of these hunters. Once bow season opens that means I have to see and hear about all the big bucks that have already been taken by friends, family, or even a complete stranger. I have to hear this because I am not a bow hunter myself unfortunately. So for me this just means a have to wait even longer to get my chance at that “trophy buck” and also see my chances dwindle down deer after deer.

Bow hunting has always been something I have been interested in. I have done archery for many of years and I really enjoy shooting bows, but I have never invested in one myself. Year after year I keep telling myself I am going to buy a bow so I can hunt in archery season but I just never have for unknown reasons. Who knows maybe this year I will, it’s never too late to start. A few reasons that may make me decide to buy a bow this year is I am so over hearing about my brother getting a deer before I do. Yes he is my brother, and yes I am happy for him, but that brother sister jealousy/competitiveness kicks in and year after year he always beats me to the deer so buying a bow would finally give me the opportunity I have been looking for. Also last year I learned working at Franks Great Outdoors on opening day can be quite challenging. When you are stuck working and customers keep coming in one after another with that huge grin on their face, beyond excited because they either shot maybe their first deer or maybe tenth, you can’t help but wish you were out in the woods and not working. But it also has its positive aspects. You get to hear all of the hunters stories about their deer, even if it wasn’t you shooting it, being a hunter you enjoy hearing people stories and seeing how excited they are about it. Also being able to congratulate a fellow hunter is always a great feeling. So even though I will be working at Franks on opening day again this year, I may be a little jealous at first but overall I wish all the hunters the best of luck and I cannot wait to hear their stories and congratulate them myself.

Good Luck Hunters!

Opening day

It’s Offical, Goose hunting season has opened on the 21^st! As this day approached I found myself preparing. Buying everything I need last minute, Making sure I have somewhere to hunt, getting all my camo ready for opening morning. It’s like an extreme excitement rushes over me, feeling like I am a little kid on Christmas morning.

                I never have been a morning person, but there is just something different about waking up early to do something you love. To most people, setting an alarm to wake you up at five in the morning would be the death of them. To me, it’s nothing! As soon as the alarm goes off telling you to wake up, automatically the excitement sets in. All these scenarios run through your head, am I going to see anything, if I do am I going to be in shooting range, if so is it going to me a hit or miss.. I just cannot wait to actually get out in the field or bay and set up. So I get ready as quick as possible, pack up everything I need, head out on the road and reach my hunting spot. Then I just sit and wait for shooting hours to open up…

                To most, a bad day of hunting would be to sit out in the cold and not see a thing. I do not consider this a bad day, to me there is never a bad day when you are sitting out in the woods, field, or bay. There is just something about being in the nature. It’s so peaceful; it’s a place where you can be to just completely clear your mind for awhile, thinking of nothing but the wild life that is surrounding you.

Granted a day where you see nothing will ever compare to a day you do. Words can’t explain the feeling you get when you see a flock of geese heading your way. Wondering how many there actually are, if they are going to fly right over top of your head, making sure your doing all the calls the correct way, trying to hide the best you can, and then when they are right above you, preparing to shoot. The rush you get when you shoot and see the geese fall to the ground, knowing you made the kill can make your whole day. Then it’s off to go track down and find your kills to see the size of the goose.

                Why would I choose the topic of hunting? Well there are several answers to this question. One being hunting is my absolute favorite past time. Another reason is I work at a sporting goods store and I sell hunting and fishing licenses.  Not only do I personal love hunting and fishing, I also have a lot of knowledge on the topic.

                Hunting and fishing is something I was brought up too. My mom, dad, and brother all had a huge impact on why I learned to love the sport. My dad for buying and showing me how to use the guns, my mom for teaching me the proper way to dress in camouflage and all the techniques to hunting,  and my brother for always taking me out hunting with him.

                To me hunting is a way of relaxing. It’s being able to go out in the woods for hours and hours and have zero responsibilities. Listening to the sounds of nature and watching every detail that you may never have noticed before. Just being able to clear your mind from any drama that may be going on in your life is enough to keep me happy.

                I will have to admit though; my girly side does kick in when it comes to hunting. One of my favorite things about it is being able to constantly shop for new hunting gear. Even though to some it may just be camo, to me it’s like picking out diamonds at a jewelry store. My golden rule is you can never have too much. Whether it’d be clothing, boats, or pink gun and bows, I just seem to love it all endlessly.

                My favorite part of hunting though is the bond it has built between my brother and I. Hunting is something that we both share in common and we both enjoy doing together. We have had so many good and bad memories come from hunting. The happy moments when I got my first deer or my brother just shot a huge buck. Also the sad memories of “the deer that got away” or just sitting out in the woods in freezing temperatures not seeing a single deer insight. No matter what the memories may be, good or bad, I would not take them back for anything. To me hunting is not just a sport; it’s a way of living. Hunting is something I will continue to do the rest of my life and I will also teach my children one day.