Well........we're finally home, exhausted and thoroughly satisfied.
After we left the Dudley's lease we drove north to Ft. Benning where we met Chris Surtees who opened his home and favorite hunting spots to us. Chris worked his tail off (and ours in the process) trying to get Ethan and I on hogs and/or deer. We were close a couple of times with the highlight being Ethan getting busted while drawing on a doe at ten yards.
Hunting while hearing guns and artillary going off around you is quite the experience. They break the large expanse of land into sections that are either open or closed to hunting depending upon the Army's training needs for the day. One time we were walking through a low area and Ethan and I were following Chris as he was trying to cut fresh hog sign. We both chuckled after what we originally thought were hog squeals turned out to be the noise from tank tracks in the next section over. Chris did his best to find us hogs, but they just wouldn't cooperate by staying on only the open areas.
We enjoyed every minute of our time in Georgia - even when running into the massive webs of the Golden Silk (Banana) spider - YIKES!!! You Southerners need to warn us Yankees about things like that!
Gregg and Reed are quite the team. At only 12, Reed is an accomplished hunter who adds to the camp comraderie while retaining his boyish interests. When the rest of us were taking a little break between morning and afternoon hunts, Reed was out in the field behind the cabin digging a hole deep enough in which to hide himself. Gregg tirelessly took care of our every need as promised in the auction. Southern hospitality at it's finest!
Chris was a man obsessed. Despite our assurances that the hunt was the reward, he was determined to find us something to shoot. He managed to put us in some great areas and did yeoman's work in trying to decipher the varied sign we found. I appreciate the constant attention to making the next best step toward the goal.
While our personal goal was to enjoy meeting new trad folks and hunting new ground, Gregg, Reed & Chris were all set on getting Ethan and I shot opportunities. Anyone would be fortunate to get the chance to hunt with any of the three. If this hunt is offered again next year, we'll be looking for a return trip for sure. Thanks to all three of you for your friendship, hospitality and a truly great time.
Ethan has to try to get caught up with school work and I am leaving for 4 more days of chasing deer in So. Indiana with some more TradGangers (wish you could be there too, Steve!). Thanks for all the congratulations and positive comments. Getting my first with a stick was great, but seeing Ethan close the deal on his first was incredible. Here's hoping all of your seasons are as rewarding as ours has already been.
Topic: St Jude's Armadillo Hunt-The Results are in! A deer hunt broke out along the way! (Read 855 times)
