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