..........The end to another gifted season 2021-2022....
Lots of trials & tribulations along the path as many of you face much the same, yet...we find a way....a way to enjoy what we do have , and make the best of it.......
My deer season trickled away , and sightings dried....letting a sadness take hold .Not for lack of meat , for I was gifted a fine doe early on , and buck opportunities I chose not to act upon for one reason or another....Sadness for the passing of a season to mingle with the trees, birds , water, wilderness, NATURE as meant to be . As a participant..
At no other time, (other than remote wilderness excursions;) do I feel so connected ...whole...complete.
Slowly that wall we allowed to be built starts to fall with each passing moment spent as a participant . Part of....
By seasons end , IF one spends enough time afield ...we have reinstalled , rebooted some of those ancient callings. Thus the sadness of its loss.
..."One has options". opportunities to keep the feet wet till the soul can follow...
Small game...fishing...roving....hikes.bikes and slow things;)
On this day last seaon I took back some of what was taken....speaking not just of meat, but The Calling .....to chase, live , learn with adventure & balance on hand .
To the Hunt>>>-------->
.....With a belly of breakfast and warm air to swirl hope , I load my quiver with cedar of old and some steel from a deal .... longbow in hand.
With spring-like warmth comes wind ~~~~and come it does.
Steady near 20 mph gusting winds . Knowing deer , rabbits , squirrels dislike such and do what they must to neutralize its effects seeking shelter in valleys and bottoms of steeps . Where they can hear of danger and often see its approach.
"The Plan"-- Set like the dog and pan of a trap. With it hope to be sprung. ....PUSH these lowland rabbits to the fringe where the arrow has a chance to fly true.Least that is the measure of thought......simple enough...in thought.
So off I go , bow in hand with the odds teetered strongly in favor of the briar racers. Keen of sight , ear, and reaction, with blinding speed they race lanes of prickly course man nor beast dare travel. less there be blood letting.........So the fringes I walk.
Slowly watching far and near for sign, movement, life...Off runs a rabbit some 20 yards ahead. After a short distance , PAUSE. Hope... "not" due to distance and path , but a sign one who chases rabbits likes to see...pause;)So My plan seems to be well played . On with my hunt.....
As I myself pause mid hunt in a clearing amidst the tangle , I take a few pictures to capture some of the hunting....little did I know , not 20 yards ahead in hiding is the quarry .
.. I ready to continue and take just a few steps , my eyes catch his short "repositioning" not 18 yards ahead .
Unlikely to weave an arrow through , but less likely to close the distance on a ready to bolt briar racer....I choose to send a blunt tipped arrow which proceeds to deflect and just miss the rabbit....Due to the quietness of the bow , lack of chase , .... The rabbit chooses to move ahead "tensely" another 3-4 yards and stops....Again, thick, dense and ready for the rabbit races. I grab a broadhead tipped arrow , focus on the kill zone and loose.....again,deflected!
Clean miss, but with this close call , Mr. Rabbit thinks it wise to move along rather quickly ....Hunter smiled in agreement. "To bathe in balance and participation"....
I gather my projectiles and relish the moment , with great anticipation I follow the direction of travel on my planned path.
As I approach the low of the next bit of rabbit habitat I "almost" pass without a thorough look...At about 12 yards in I see the broken outline of a rabbit facing away in that ready pose they take before becoming nature's blur of fur.....
I slowly grab an arrow from my quiver and ready on string watching the rabbit for signs of movement....I choose a clear course to the vitals. Calm myself , draw , focus , and loose~~~~~This shaft flies true without interruption passing through the rabbit and exiting some 7-8 yards past. The rabbit never takes a step and lies where moments earlier he sat.
Swift , clean , quick without suffering .....This be what the bowhunter aims for ......
Let us find a way to enjoy what we can in this crazy world of the day....Chase the simple pleasures we still can freely.
Let not the clouds take our Sun. Step out and become one with Nature as we were meant to be.
To quote a wise Ol' Bear....."It will cleanse your soul" .
Thank you for coming along......
sincerely,
Ralph"Riverwolf"Webb
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Topic: Riverwolf perspective......... (Read 1901 times)
