I took the week off work this week. It was fantastic.
I took the wife to a huge craft fair on Saturday that she loves. I can't claim that was fun for me but she had a great time and I was glad to spend some time with her.
Sunday I left to go hunt with my inlaws in some flat, hardwood bottomlands near their home for 3 days. I wound up harvesting some small game and a very respectable buck for the area which the refuge manager said was the biggest one he has seen taken off the refuge to date at their mandatory check station this year. In addition to this my father in law and I scouted three new areas to hunt. One place was a bust but two looked like they will be very productive in the future. At one of the two places we were able to see 17 deer within an hour, including two 10-point bucks; though we weren't able to get any shots off. I had to wear my Dont-Shoot-Me-Orange because it was a special muzzleloader week in an otherwise bow only zone; I really hate that stuff, especially when hunting from the ground...
When I returned home to the mountains, the winds were TERRIBLE as in 20-30mph and swirling. So, what better to do than scout another new area? I took off to a few new ridge-lines and found two that I think will become an absolute honey hole for me. I got two more does and some more small game back at home. I've also discovered another very respectable 8-pt and 10-pt buck. No pictures here as I didn't have a hunting buddy with me these hunts.
With a good head start on meat in the cooler, I took the wife out to a place just East of us where we've done a lot of hiking that she loves. We got to see the elk herd and walk within 20 yards of a beautiful 7x7 bull elk and his harem. We had dinner at one of our favorite resturaunts with some fantastic brisket and headed home. Here's the view from their porch...
Now I have to go back to work in the morning. I hope there's more great adventures to follow soon.