This week as I pack to leave for my ShrewHaven deer camp in a couple days, I realize that this year is going to be special. It's my 60th anniversary hunting deer with a bow.
Even though it's been that long I still remember that first hunt in October of 1955. It was in the Jordan River Valley State Forest in northern Michigan. At that time the deer population was high and and so was my anticipation.
With my brand new 52# Bear Kodiak and cedar arrows I ventured into the woods. Back then there were no tree stands, no baiting, no instructional videos so I had zero knowledge on how to hunt deer with a bow. I found a comfortable looking log and sat down to wait for a deer to walk by.
As I recall it wasn't long before I saw a deer coming in my direction. My heart started to race, my mouth got dry and I started to tremble
The closer the deer got the faster my heart raced and my tremble was turning into a shake.
Why the deer didn't hear my heart pounding or see the strange thing shaking on the log, I'll never know.
There have been hundreds of encounters since that first one 60 years ago. It's impossible to remember them all but there are many that stand out and are fondly remembered.
I don't know how many more years I have to hunt but I know that I've become more appreciative of each each new season and each new encounter that I experience.
I'll be eighty next march and I've started to walk like an old man. I know it's noticeable because people are starting to hold doors for me....even women :D Every once in a while someone will ask, "Ron do you still hunt?" My stock answer is, "I'll hunt untill they throw dirt in my face"...
Topic: 60 years a Bow Hunter (Read 886 times)
