I thought I'd share a little experience I had this past hunting season to help get the fuel fired for the upcoming season. Enjoy. :D
“Here’s spit in Your Eye!”
The alarm clock rang way too early. Seems like I just closed my eyes 5 minutes before when, in actuality it was more like 5 hours. But, the excitement of the hunt to come kept me up most of the night. I crawled out of the bed as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the boss and headed to the bathroom. I quickly showered using non-scented shampoo and soap and dressed in my normal hunting attire. With a quick breakfast of toast, poached egg and coffee, I grabbed my lunch and stuffed it down in my field bag. I then grabbed my bow and tree stand and headed for my truck.
The hour long drive to my favorite hunting mountain was filled with the thoughts of actually taking my first deer ever, and doing it using traditional gear. Soon I was parked at the gate that prohibited motorized vehicles from entering the logging road that would lead me to my hunting destination for the day. It was still pretty black out as I climbed out of my rig and started gathering my equipment. On a whim, I decided not to take the stand with me and made preparations for a day of stalking our elusive black tail deer. I had a tag in my pocket that would allow one deer, whether it is buck, doe or fawn and could feel the excitement already churning in my blood. Slipping an old pair of wool socks over the soles of the hunting boots I had on, I then headed up the gravely logging road.
As I quietly dodged big stones strewn across the old pathway, the first hint of morning started peaking through the forest around me. Natures little creatures started coming to life and I could hear them playing and foraging in the underbrush alongside the old road. I silently thanked the Good Man upstairs for such an enjoyable experience and moved on up the road. Presently I rounded a bend, and to my right was a great clear cut that loggers had left after clearing away profitable trees for the lumber industry. Black tail love to come out during the night and early hours of the morning to feed on the new growth of a clear cut area. This morning was no different and a light hiss from the side of the hill brought me into full predator mode. I became as still as the trees but, allowed my eyes to venture toward the hissing sound that I had heard. There stood four mature does eyeballing the strange thing that suddenly appeared in the predawn light. The hissing I had heard came again from the closest of the does that stood about fifteen yards away. My heart was pounding in my chest and I was sure they could hear it. This was my first encounter in the wild where I actually heard the sound of a doe making that hissing sound. Like many others, I'd seen and heard it on hunting videos but, this was my first time first hand.
During this Mexican stand-off that seemed to last as long as the battle of the Alamo but, in reality was more like seconds, I didn't move a muscle. The does, sensing no immediate danger, started to feed back up the slight hill and over the top. I released the breath that I'd been holding, to the relief of my screaming lungs, and knelt down to gather my wits. I knew the road continued to curve around and the does would be heading to meet it on the down slope of the other side. I slipped off my pack and proceeded to crawl slowly, with my bow in hand, up the road in hopes of beating the black tail and be waiting for them when they came to the bottom of the opposite side. I was certain that I hadn't made any alarming noises but, the hair on the back of my neck urged me to turn and look in the direction I had come. Gently I eased my head around and to my dismay; there stood the four does in the middle of the road staring at me! They had come back over the hill and busted me trying to slip around to the other side. This time, not liking what they were seeing, they gave me a, "Here's spit in your eye" look and quickly bounded off down the road in the direction I had come in from.
I lowered my head and just laid there in the middle of the road for what seemed like long minutes. My heart returned to normal beating and I got up, dusted myself off and gathered up my pack. I continued to hunt that day and seen a few more deer but, always too far off to make anything happen. Later that evening I recited my adventure to the boss, and looking back, felt no disappointment in the outcome. The thrill of the chase brought an excitement that only we hunters can relate too and though my first harvest has yet to happen, I know I will appreciate it that much more and be a better hunter because of it. Come On 2011 deer season!!!
Topic: "Here's spit in Your Eye!" (Read 244 times)
