The things you see on stand

[swampdrummer]

I'm 2 weeks into our archery season and haven't dropped the string on a deer yet. This time last year I had two in the freezer. Oh,I've had deer around most every time I've sat but it hasn't been "right" yet.

Last Saturday ( our opening day) I had twin fawns, almost out of spots running all around me. Chasing each other and playing tag and follow the leader. At one point, one of the fawns was directly under my stand and actually tasted my bow pull up rope. Hey! It  was green! Must have looked edible! I had the momma doe within 10-15 yards for close to an hour and couldn't bring myself to drop the string on her.

Last night I watched a female and male cardinal. Each sitting on opposite ends of a log. The female was vibrating her wings close to her body and chichichichichiing as she walked the length of the log towards the male. When they met the female passed some sort of food item to the male and he flew off to what I assumed to be a nest somewhere.

Tonight, shortly after getting in the stand I had a red tailed skink come down the limb until he was about 3 inches from my face. he had a tick in his armpit! I didn't know  that ticks would attach themselves to cold blooded critters!

Shortly after that I had a squirrel come down the same limb, cuss at me for a few minutes then leap across to another limb where there was another squirrel sitting. They proceeded to groom each other! One would lay on the limb,legs splayed on either side while the other would comb and pick at what had to be fleas or ticks. Then they would change places and do it again. I had no idea that squirrels would groom each other!

I guess what I'm getting at,and feeling, is that I took up trad as a challenge. I've spent 3 years getting good enough to pretty much kill when I wanted to. The last two  I hunted hard and killed a couple of deer each season and god knows how many pigs.

Something has changed in me this year. I'm enjoying the time in the stand. Not so much for the wanting to put another deer in the freezer, but for what is out there if you sit and open all your senses.

[Canadabowyer]

Very cool!!

[4dogs]

You are becoming a better woodsman, appreciating the wonders around you...good, very good.  

[Bonebuster]

And so it goes.

One skill many hunters never fully realize is learning how to appreciate everything around us.

I think most "trad" hunters get it, because the limitations accepted right from the start put a hunter in the correct mind set from the beginning.  

[Mudd]

[Pepper]

It isn't about the harvest, it's the hunt, and the fact that we finaly get to see the forrest through all those trees.

[ron w]

That's what it's all about....if your having a good time.....plus your seeing game that you could take if you want.

[BEN]

Sounds like you're having a GREAT year so far!!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Ahhh success  

[JimL]

I'm with ya bro.

[Possum Head]

Ifin killin was all it wuz about we would be disappointed  most of the time. Nice story but are you hunting Florida already? Ours dont start until October!

[WRV]

Those are my best days hunting. I love to watch the woods come to life in the mornings

You do see some neat things when you are sitting in a tree and really watching your surroundings. That is a big part of it for me. I have a few very memorable hunts where I never loosed an arrow.

Bisch

[Keefer]

Life is good isn't it? God Bless...