Footprints in the sand

[Littlefeather]

The drive back to camp this evening gave me time to reflect on the days treasures. Id started the evening hunt with the little forkhorn.

   

He was followed later by several Does that eventually got spooked away my my untimely visitors from the south.

   

As I neared camp I couldn't think of the fact that I was alone tonight on a huge expanse of property and was unarmed. Would I enter camp to find visitors? Would I be awakened from a deep slumber to a pounding on the camp door or shuffling in my truck? The thought of the visitors that had scared the deer away earlier clung tightly to my every thought. Id never feared this country before and knew I was being silly to think such thoughts, but never the less they played like a broken record in my head.

I spent the rest of the short evening around camp, sharpening broadheads and preparing for morning. I was worn from working two jobs lately and the rest brought by a comfortable bed was almost a sinfull pleasure. Almost as soon as I'd drifted of to sleep, I find myself awakened by an unidentifyable noise. My adrenaline surges just as I realize,          it's my alarm on the cell phone.... Wonderful little apparatus. Sometime I wonder of their value other than an alarm clock?

I pour a stiff cup of coffee and return to bed. I'll just lay here for a few minutes, then I stumble into a pair of camo and head out to slay the world. When I open my eyes again, there sits a cold cup of coffee and the Sun is blinding me from the window. Im late!

Ever notice how fast you move into hunt mode when you know prime time is passing you by? Like you cound change the hunt if you hurry???? LOL!

I decide before I rush off that I'd just relish in the feeling of a good nights rest and use the rest of the morning to scout and bust some bunnies. This morning I headed to the north east section of the ranch to scout a pond on the ranch map.  I needed to find just the perfect spot for Marvin to hunt when he arrives later on. My method of Scouting an area consists of driving till I see a bunny, then I stop the truck, shoot "at" the bunny, then move on to the next shooting opportunity. Great technique, right? Well, I finally arrived at the pond two bunnies and an hour later.

 

 The area was unbelieveable!!! The sand here was loose and powdery but it was still quite evident that many a critter had walked through here. The pond held the same evidence of being very frequently visited by the local game population. Looks like a likely spot to kill something. I'll head back to camp now and wait till Marvins arrival. Maybe I'll find another bunny or two along the way, or maybe a big snake?. CK

[Killdeer]

"I am all ears."
~Ross Perot
AKA
Bernie

[ber643]

(I "heard" that!)

[herb haines]

yup Bunnies ------- herb-- hard to drive by

[RayMO]

OK you got me hooked lets here the rest  :D

[Charlie Lamb]

HEY!! Get on with the story or you'll have to change it to "Drag marks in the sand"!  :D

[stikbow]

This is as bad as waiting to open presents on Christmas morning!!!  C'mon man, get on with it!

[JC]

Wait just one minute.....CHARLIE is telling someone to get on with the story?            Ouch! I think I broke a rib!

[Charlie Lamb]

:D

[Teacher_of_the_Arcane]

LittleFeather,

Your canvas awaits the artist!!  "The Bowyer's Journal" is taking submissions for tradbow hunting stories...pictures would be appreciated.  Give it a go!!!

[Littlefeather]

I' traversed the large section of property, criss-crossing the maze of roads, trails and senderos on my way back to camp. The final left turn placed me on the main road back and in an easterly direction, the final leg of my short drive. I immediately notice a familiar sight lying half the distance across the wide gravel road. SNAKE! Enormous snake! It never ceases to amaze me the size in which the snakes grow in this region. I'd later be told by Marvin that the snakes here resemble the snakes he had only seen in Zoos and in his worse nightmares. I hadn't told him but his worse nightmares were pale to what he may accidently find in this wild, uninhabitated, region. He would later find his own nightmare.

The follies that follow could only be played out in a persons imagination. There is no way to describe the dance in the underbrush that the snake and I did. Kind of a psudo-mamba with a twist and a dip! Id grab the snake by the tail and pull and he'd turn and strike and chase me around a small tree, then I'd take over the lead and chase him. If anyone had been watching, I'd have had to charge admission. It had to be a riot to see.

Well, I ended up winning the lengthy battle with the enormous snake and returned to the drivers seat of the Ford. As I pulled into camp, I surveyed the area for visitors and for tracks of visitors. None seen, I exit the truck and head in to have a much needed shower. Oh no, no water!

I managed to find the problem with the water-well and fixed it. The shower wasn't the best I'd ever taken but was a welcome relief from the scorching heat and gift to anyone who would be around me this afternoon. I pulled on a pair of shorts and my work boots and headed out to irritate the camp bunnies while I waited on Marvin. Marvin musta thought me a real Jethro when he arrived. I was a perfect match to the profile some guys would place on my atire. Jethro for sure!

Marvin arrived just as I was finishing the slow walk to the main road. I jumped into the rental car and we headed back to camp. I must confess, when I saw the rental car, all I could think about was seeing how much air time we could show it. I wondered too if Marvin had purchased additional insurance. I know, its a Redneck thing to see how far a guy can jump a rental car but Im a Redneck and Im into a good challenge!

Back at camp I discussed my findings on the Ranch. Tonight I would let Marvin take the spot of his choosing based on what I'd found and on what I would show him in the hours before the evening hunt. For now, we'd set out to the North to the largest body of water I'd found. I just had to show Marv the local Bullfrog population. Boy was he ever surprised at our findings when we arrived at the pond. Boy was he surprised!!!!

 

CK

[Marvin M.]

OK.  Perfect timing CK.  I'm here and back on line.  Wasn't able to get the pictures out of my camera at home last night, but am back at work today and should be able to get some shots out.  I've got a shot of what Curtis salvaged from his encounter with the snake in there somewhere and will try to post it as soon as I get time to download it.  I have to work some you know to pay for plane tickets and fancy rental cars, but I'll load software here at work and see if I can make this thing work.

[Littlefeather]

If you'll email me the pic, I'll insert it into the same post. Thanks, CK

[Marvin M.]

Here is my first installment:

I flew from Lexington, KY to Dallas and on to San Antonio.  Luckily, all my luggage arrived with me and I was able to retreive all my gear from the carousel (you can't carry knives on a plane, you know)without incident, or so I thought.  I found out later that my checked bag had been searched and my Deep Woods Off as well as my scent eliminator spray had been removed.  :(  I hate terrorists -- I could have been better prepared for this.  But, my SNAKE BOOTS made it here fine!!!!!    

When I went to get my rental car the agent being a wise ___ made the old "Good news/Bad news" announcement to start me off.  The bad news -- they ran out of Economy Cars (I must be Van's cousin, 'cause I'm FRUGAL).    :(  The good news -- a FREE (did I mention I'm Frugal) Upgrade.    :D  Did I mention I like Free!!!!

So I head south following CK's directions to what will be my first Safari style hunt (Webster says that is a traveling hunt, in case you don't know).  Little did I realize the similarities that I would see to that word on this trip.

As I neared the final destination, I noticed that there were Blue Lights ahead on the side of the road.  I quickly checked the speedometer to make sure I was OK and as I got nearer I saw that it wasn't Smokey, but the Border Patrol.  I didn't see any Foreigners, but there seemed to be activity there.  Made me wonder what I was getting into.

As I was approaching camp, I saw movement coming out of the brush and it materialized into what I remembered as LittleFeather from his avatar.  Kind of a scary thing to see coming out of the brush.  I got Curtis into the car, where the thermometer was registering 95 and we drove on in to the "cabin".  Quick introductions and I upacked gear, changed clothes and we headed out for a quick tour.

More later.  Got to get pictures unloaded.  Stay tuned boys and girls, it gets better from here.  

[Littlefeather]

I can't really remember every detail over the next few hours. A lot occurred in a short amount of time. Marvin and I had walked quietly into the area of the pond. We stopped short and surveyed the area. Marvin had never seen a hog in the wild and I was determined to show him one. We were in luck! There on the far side of the pond, lying chin deep in the mud was Marvins first hog sighting.

The moments ahead get a little fuzzy in my mind. I know I told Marvin to hang tight while I crawl forward and try to locate the best vantage for a sneek on the pig. To my surprise, shortly into my crawl, the pig jumps up and runs off. What the heck had I done wrong I ask myself. Oh yes, now I see, Cows! Damnit!! I wanted Marvin to experience first hand the excitment of a ground stalk on a pig. I suppose we would have other opportunities. For now, we'd ease up and smack a few frogs. This should be great fun. As you can see, the frogs here get quite large.

   

We found the motherload of frogs lying high on the dried banks of the pond. Id never seen frogs stay so far from the waters edge but I wasn't complaining. It gave me and Marvin the edge. As I continueously harrassed the frogs, Marvin eases ahead. I didn't wish to stop him. He needed to see and do things for hiself if he was going to burn in memories of his own. As I was preoccupied, Marvin found a memory for sure. I look up to see Marvin crouching low and a sweet little black pig 15 yards away and closing the gap quickly. I stood there dropped-jaw wishing I had my camera ready. It would have been the pic to grace the cover of fine Archery publications. I dared not move a muscle as I watched in disbelief. Marvin had been in Texas 2 hours and already he was facing a hog at 15 yards. Lucky Bastard!!!

As the hog causiously eased forward in Marvins direction, every thread of my inner fabric was screaming out "Shoot him, Shoot him" but my outward self remained quiet as the ponds surface and the pig  started quartering in Marvs direction. This was stuff dreams are made of. At around 12 yards the pig dropped his nose to the water and proceesed to blow bubbles. I laughed a muffled laugh and continued to watch as my adrenalin rose. This was magic!

The hog turns and begins to exit the confines of the pond and I wonder if Marvin is gonna watch the pig or shoot him. He actually was demonstrating the patience of Jobe. I was very proud of him. On the pigs final steps to freedom, Marvin drops the string. Thwack!!!! The sound never changes and I hear it often in my head when I think of hunts.

 The pig hits the slope running and I can see the arrow dangling out the offside of the pig. Marvin had connected after only an hour or so on the Ranch. This fella is gonna be spoiled and hard to contain.

   

 CK

[JC]

Now that's whut I'm talkin bout!

[Shaun]

That's either a very small rabbit or...

Dang Marvin, hog stickin made easy. Show Little Feather a thing or two about how its done!

[Littlefeather]

That Sir, is a full grown Desert Cottontail.    That also is a full grown South Texas Bullfrog. It doesn't take but two frogs to make a "big man" meal. I happened to take six frogs home with me.    Wanna come over for Dinner? CK

[slow walker]

Dang CK, this is one of yur best ones yet!!!  I do think you'd be better off carryin a small .44 on your belt......for the frogs if nothin else.  :D

[JC]

I promised myself, next Texas Sweat, I'm gonna devote some serious time to frogs and more bunnies for the freezer! Them frogs we shot last time were so big we were all trying to figure out how to save the leg skins to make bow backing.