December Antlerless morning hunt

Well, we were not so lucky to see deer this morning.  We got out there around 5:30am or so. It was a slow sunrise because of the rain and fog. It was still too dark to see and I could hear something relatively big walking to my right but I couldn't see anything. A bit later I could hear a bunch of running around and something actually ran under my stand...so finally I turned on my headlamp and it was a big raccoon. Other than him and  couple squirrels, I heard Mr. and Mrs. Great horn calling to eachother.  The same pair that fed on my khaki campbell ducks this spring, I am sure.

We headed in around 8 since there didn't seem to be much action....I'll be back out this afternoon.

Hunting Day 3

I went hunting again this evening, the last day of regular shotgun season until after the new year, there is still one week of antlerless before the end of the year. I was not successful in bringing home a deer but it was one more step in my hunting experience.  I enjoyed the usual time of peace in the woods,  The most exciting thing was seeing a pileated woodpecker, they are just so very cool, it was pretty awesome. 

The most amazing part of the hunt however was just a little before end time.  A doe started walking into sight...I have never seen a deer on a deer hunt, believe it or not.  I have seen them when I have been out hunting other animals but I have never been able to get a deer because I have never seen one during deer season, I have never shot at one either, obviously.  So, I was like...oh my...now what?!  My adrenalen kicked in and I was all shaky.  The doe stayed mostly behind a tree for quite a bit of time.  It was getting darker and since I knew I would either hit the doe or completely miss, not much chance of wounding, I finally took a shot.  Sadly, I missed and no meat for my freezer but it was an amazing experience.  It was the deer's day and I do not begrudge her life.  Hunting is all about luck and skill, being at the right place at the right time and a bunch of fate.  Today's fate was I want home empty handed and the deer went on running through the woods.  I will have another chance to put food in my freezer and I am thankful for the opportunity and the experience of being out there and a part of that natural cycle.

Hail the landvaettir and hail Ullr and Frey!

Day One and Two of Hunting

This week is shotgun season.  I missed most of antlerless for a variety of reasons...Weddings, Hurricanes, important things like that!  So, I really wanted to get at least a little time in this week...not like it produced anything for my freezer but I usually enjoy the time anyway.

For one thing, it forces me to slow down and just be.  I was only able to spend a couple hours Monday afternoon and this afternoon.  I was off Monday and doing a lot of work on the homestead and today I went into work early so I could get out early.  The guys that lease the woods behind where I live said I can use their stands when they aren't in town.

So, Monday I spent a bit of time watching a Red Bellied Woodpecker, he was quite amusing, carrying one piece of corn at a time to the nest by hopping from tree to tree, depositing it and then ziplining back to the corn pile where a couple squirrels were munching away.  Today i watched squirrels mostly at a different spot.  The squirrels were the active ones this time and zipping all around with leaves and acorns.  I watched one stuff its cheeks so much it couldn't close its mouth and then went zipping up to a nest at the top of the tree.  Another squirrel kept playing peek a boo with me from the tree next to mine and then went bounding back and forth almost smacking me in the head. One of the amazing things when sitting in the woods at sunset is when it just starts to get dim out and the birds just erupt in song everywhere at once...pretty awesome!

Sadly, no deer but It was nice to chill with nature for a bit.  Then I got home to all of my Muscovies out of the coop and refusing to return...so they are all hanging under the Juniper tree because I wasted quite a bit of time trying to chase them back in the dark and finally gave up!

So, now I have bread rising and am trying to relax a bit because homework is done and I have a very busy next couple days working out of town at training - gonna be nice because it involves hiking through woods and wetland but also long hours and lots of driving.

Next hunting opportunity will be black powder week in a couple weeks.