Post by 2Poppa on Dec 17, 2008 11:39:04 GMT -5
Seems as though I've neglected recording my various trials, tribulations and opportunities in my "Deer Journal!" So it seems?
This season has perhaps been "the best" experience for this student of the woods... it has tested my endurance, patience and certainly my faith. Savviness, being the step-brother to experience, has garnered the wisdom that is required for one to excel in "the sport of hunting."
Someone might say "I measure" my success by the score and attainable inches on the rack of a deer. Phooey! I reject that thought as outlandish and narrow minded ...
I realize, perhaps for the first time ... it is the encounter, the practical knowledge, the intuitiveness, reasoning and experience that envelops my whole being ... "The Monstrosity Of Living In The Moment!"
Yes ... that's what it is! I am alive in the woods, truly alive! I will not be myself nor have cognation of what I truly am, unless I am in the woods. Perception is a beautiful thing, as I sit and wonder and marvel at what takes place, with all of God's creatures and creation.
Words dilute the experience, the moments, but the moments must be remembered, and remembered they will.
Monday, December 16th, 2008, I found myself hunting with my brother Bob, in 54 degree, windy, rainy weather. A favorable forecast was not on the horizon ... it was raining side-ways as I stalked to the Lexington Farm, past the small field were I had seen the huge broom stick, chocolate buck, opening day bow season.
Just as I got to the top of the pinnacle, I took a deep breath. Seconds after sucking rainy wind, a messenger of opportunity appeared without warning or announcing his presence. No phone call, no texted message, no door-bell, he was just there.
Less than thirty yards away, was the bucks I had been pursuing for two years. They watched, as I appeared cautiously over the small rise in the hill, and danced away in a fifty yard waltz and stopped, lookin' back at this intruder who grunted to stop their dash to safety.
I dropped to the ground, knowing I may get a shot off, if I could just locate where the elusive buck was, checking his back-trail. Where is he? Where is he? I couldn't find him at the time in the thicket with my scope. All of a sudden, (for the most part, I like "All of a suddens"), I saw his tail come up, as if he was saying all at one time ... "Hello and Good-bye!"
I had a 6 by 12 inch window to work with, I could have let the .45 caliber "Powerbelt" fly, but it was too late. One of the twin bucks appeared to be circling behind me to catch my wind. I hurried to the edge of the field and sat under a huge cedar to stifle the rain that was still pouring water on my reality.
After an hour and forty minutes of slowly scanning the fields, thickets and stumps, I decided to do what deer do. Try to meet back-up with them. I doubled back about forty yards to the left of the trail I had walked in on ...
They were right on the edge of the pinnacle I had stood on earlier. It had just stopped raining for the "first" time today, as I slowly made my way. Now, there were three bucks standing in all of their glory. The two point buck, looked like a small bull, the way his rack came around in front.
He noticed me first, and immediately dropped off of the highest point in the field, followed by the two broomstick Giants. The Giants didn't have to ask any questions, they weren't even curious. They just trusted and followed the two point buck. I ran to the edge of the point hoping, I could get a shot!
B-u-r-r-r ... I grunted, to no avail. I stood and watched in awe as the larger of the two Giants took the lead, followed closely by his twin and the two point bull. Of course, they made their way down to the creek bed, up the other side of the hill near Alex's, and through all of the cedar tops. They circled through the thickets and gallantly disappeared from my sight.
I called Bob , on the walkie-talkie, and described to him sparingly, what I had just witnessed. We decided to meet at the top of the ridge, where I assumed the three deer did their disappearing act and have lunch ...
On the assent to the top of the ridge, Bob called again and needed more directions. After assuring him and myself of his location, I tucked the communication device back in my upper shirt pocket. I took one step and the two pointer appeared out of the creek-bed again ... could the Giants be nearby?
I observed him as he made his way to Alex's fence-line. He was back tracking the way he just ran.
I waited, observed and realized the Giants probably made their way back to their sanctuary, leaving their little blood-brother behind. Ten more steps is all I needed to appear into the thickets that lined their escape route ...
More to follow ... we haven't eaten lunch yet!
12/16/1038
This season has perhaps been "the best" experience for this student of the woods... it has tested my endurance, patience and certainly my faith. Savviness, being the step-brother to experience, has garnered the wisdom that is required for one to excel in "the sport of hunting."
Someone might say "I measure" my success by the score and attainable inches on the rack of a deer. Phooey! I reject that thought as outlandish and narrow minded ...
I realize, perhaps for the first time ... it is the encounter, the practical knowledge, the intuitiveness, reasoning and experience that envelops my whole being ... "The Monstrosity Of Living In The Moment!"
Yes ... that's what it is! I am alive in the woods, truly alive! I will not be myself nor have cognation of what I truly am, unless I am in the woods. Perception is a beautiful thing, as I sit and wonder and marvel at what takes place, with all of God's creatures and creation.
Words dilute the experience, the moments, but the moments must be remembered, and remembered they will.
Monday, December 16th, 2008, I found myself hunting with my brother Bob, in 54 degree, windy, rainy weather. A favorable forecast was not on the horizon ... it was raining side-ways as I stalked to the Lexington Farm, past the small field were I had seen the huge broom stick, chocolate buck, opening day bow season.
Just as I got to the top of the pinnacle, I took a deep breath. Seconds after sucking rainy wind, a messenger of opportunity appeared without warning or announcing his presence. No phone call, no texted message, no door-bell, he was just there.
Less than thirty yards away, was the bucks I had been pursuing for two years. They watched, as I appeared cautiously over the small rise in the hill, and danced away in a fifty yard waltz and stopped, lookin' back at this intruder who grunted to stop their dash to safety.
I dropped to the ground, knowing I may get a shot off, if I could just locate where the elusive buck was, checking his back-trail. Where is he? Where is he? I couldn't find him at the time in the thicket with my scope. All of a sudden, (for the most part, I like "All of a suddens"), I saw his tail come up, as if he was saying all at one time ... "Hello and Good-bye!"
I had a 6 by 12 inch window to work with, I could have let the .45 caliber "Powerbelt" fly, but it was too late. One of the twin bucks appeared to be circling behind me to catch my wind. I hurried to the edge of the field and sat under a huge cedar to stifle the rain that was still pouring water on my reality.
After an hour and forty minutes of slowly scanning the fields, thickets and stumps, I decided to do what deer do. Try to meet back-up with them. I doubled back about forty yards to the left of the trail I had walked in on ...
They were right on the edge of the pinnacle I had stood on earlier. It had just stopped raining for the "first" time today, as I slowly made my way. Now, there were three bucks standing in all of their glory. The two point buck, looked like a small bull, the way his rack came around in front.
He noticed me first, and immediately dropped off of the highest point in the field, followed by the two broomstick Giants. The Giants didn't have to ask any questions, they weren't even curious. They just trusted and followed the two point buck. I ran to the edge of the point hoping, I could get a shot!
B-u-r-r-r ... I grunted, to no avail. I stood and watched in awe as the larger of the two Giants took the lead, followed closely by his twin and the two point bull. Of course, they made their way down to the creek bed, up the other side of the hill near Alex's, and through all of the cedar tops. They circled through the thickets and gallantly disappeared from my sight.
I called Bob , on the walkie-talkie, and described to him sparingly, what I had just witnessed. We decided to meet at the top of the ridge, where I assumed the three deer did their disappearing act and have lunch ...
On the assent to the top of the ridge, Bob called again and needed more directions. After assuring him and myself of his location, I tucked the communication device back in my upper shirt pocket. I took one step and the two pointer appeared out of the creek-bed again ... could the Giants be nearby?
I observed him as he made his way to Alex's fence-line. He was back tracking the way he just ran.
I waited, observed and realized the Giants probably made their way back to their sanctuary, leaving their little blood-brother behind. Ten more steps is all I needed to appear into the thickets that lined their escape route ...
More to follow ... we haven't eaten lunch yet!
12/16/1038