Opening morning came, I was awake in plenty of time, but still paranoid that I'd miss the get-up time so I continually watched the clock. A quick shower and packing the last few things in the truck and I was out the door to Mike's.
The morning was warm by mid-November status and breezy. I carefully walked to my stand location and put up my climber. I was slightly sweaty by the time I was nestled in so it was about a half an hour later when I went to put on my hat and gloves that I realized my gloves had fallen out somewhere. As it got light, I peered around the woods floor as I was watching for deer and spotted a distinctive colored shape that was my gloves. No worries, hand tucked in my coat worked well enough in the warm temperatures. My gloves are of the cheap fleece type but I was very happy not to lose them since I haven't found others that are so versatile - warm but very breathable.
As things got lighter, fast-paced feet could be heard as I watched a red fox come into view and vanish behind me. This was followed very shortly by a coyote. Odd, most canines will go out of the way to kill other canines. There is no love lost in the dog world.
Opening morning usually has significant shooting, with a peak between around 8:30 and 9:00. While there was some shooting, there was probably less than usual which was atypical given the warm temperatures. The rest of the morning passed slowly with nothing else to watch except a few squirrels and the rustling of the leaves in the persistent moderate wind. My stand was a new spot for opening morning about 100 yards from where I usually sit. For the last few years, I had consistently seen deer "on the ledge" and so had high hopes. But, the deer decided not to cooperate.
Around noon, I got down from the tree for just enough time to grab my gloves and stretch my legs. My sciatic nerve would be screaming as it is by evening. Unfortunately, the rest of the day passed with very little to see. That is a lot of time alone with my thoughts. This is a far cry different from a few years ago when I specifically didn't shoot any of the 15 or so deer I saw just to see how many I could see on opening day. It is almost like the reduction in deer sightings is becoming a trend?
Evening came with more wind and with heavy cloud cover, I was out of the tree near the end of legal shooting time. Sunday was to come with a forecast of much rain and a threat of severe weather.
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Sunday did come with much rain. As I woke up, the sound of wind and rain was prominent. A quick check of the radar on my phone revealed a lot of rain with a couple hours more likely. I couldn't sleep so got up anyway.
After reading magazines for a while I got up and checked the weather again. It was still raining although lightly and the wind was considerable. Morning hunting was basically over and there was a very rare High Risk of Severe Weather. This area has moderate risk a few times a year, High Risk is rare enough to take seriously. The evening hunt was in doubt as well:
The day away from hunting allowed me to catch up on my weekend chores including hanging my bear rug on the wall headed to the basement. I shot this bear in 2011; my taxidermist doesn't get great points for being prompt but he is a good guy and does great work.
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I was out the door again very early Monday. As I walked to my stand, I could hear coyotes yipping just to the west. This was followed by a significant amount of coyote howling shortly after getting comfortable in my climber. I love the sound of coyotes - it is magic if there ever was such a thing.
At first light I heard fast footsteps to the south as a coyote then came int view and stood on a log right next to my stand. He was there for a short bit before walking directly underneath me. I moved to watch him and he either heard or smelled me and took off running the way he came. All I can say is that with all the coyote sightings, I really have to follow through on some predator hunting later this season!
A little later on in the morning, I heard Mike's neighbor shoot. He almost always sits in the same area so I'm pretty sure it was him. Hearing his 4-wheeler a few minutes later suggests he was successful in connecting.
I went home for lunch as the wind picked up again. It was nearly as windy as Sunday. I was surprised with the amount of shooting. Usually, after opening weekend, things calm down very quickly but perhaps since Sunday was a bust for most of us there were more people in the field.
Monday night came and went with little of interest. The wind wasn't helpful in that hearing anything with all the blowing was very difficult.
Tuesday started as a perfect but cold morning. I love hunting early mornings and watching the world wake up. It was very still (too still) and it seemed the kind of morning that couldn't be interrupted by gunshots. True, there were a few, but none very close and very few of them.
After lunch at home again, I went out again on Tuesday afternoon. Around 4:45 I heard leaves crunching that distinctively were not squirrels. A few seconds later, a buck walked up and over the ledge, right in front of me. This was what was supposed to happen on opening morning as he took the same path as many deer I have seen over the last few years. I was kind of wedged in my treestand because of the cold, but managed to get my arms out and my gun up as the buck's head went behind a tree. Rather than continuing on, he took a turn to the south and started to move quickly. Shooting that direction wasn't terribly easy since I'm right-handed and was wearing tons of clothes due to the very cold temperatures. I managed to get the gun back on him but majorly rushed the shot, cleanly shooting over his back. With a single shot slug gun, there isn't much time for a second opportunity but almost got a second slug back in the gun before he trotted off to the south. He wasn't running in panic mode, and while reloading, his body language wasn't really one of fear, more confusion about what might have just happened. I guess that is how far I missed him. It was a bit disappointing to see him walk out of my evening.
Last year, I overthought a shot to the point of losing the opportunity. This year I rushed it and missed. Hunting is a lot like life in general - there are a lot of lessons to learn, some of them many, many times.
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I was reinvigorated on Wednesday due to the close encounter with the buck the evening before. However, there was no more deer seen on Wednesday. All that time on the stand gives me lots of opportunity to rethink where I'm sitting and I'm convinced I'm in a decent spot. I'm only about 100 yards away from my previous "usual" spot and consistently over the last eight years I've seen deer on the runs in and around where I'm sitting. "Do not overthink this, every year is different."
I had contemplated moving, but wanted to give this stand some more time, especially after the deer on Tuesday so I stayed put for the evening. Wednesday evening was one of those perfect evenings where just as it gets dark, everything stops. No wind. Even the squirrels seem like they are trying to be quiet (for a squirrel). If it wouldn't have been for the combine to the southeast, it would have been one of those rare serene times I think everybody craves, but can only be found when completely alone.
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Thursday morning came with more rain. It wasn't supposed to rain, but it was. A quick check of the radar showed it likely wasn't going to last very long so I got ready - a bit slower than usual. For the last several days, I've been watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on TV. I don't pay for TV, so seeing this on broadcast is pretty surprising, especially at 5 AM. I guess the network people don't expect too many kids to be channel surfing at that hour on a school morning. It is a funny show, if a bit irreverent.
It rained most of my drive to Mike's house but stopped around the time I got there. I got ready and was in my slightly damp climber treestand well before light. Luckily the temperature was pretty nice since the wetness would have made things difficult otherwise. With the low clouds, it took forever to get light but as it got light three does could be seen walking near the south edge of the property. I watched them, hoping they would head the few hundred yards toward me but they continued east. I tried grunting at them with my grunt call, but as is usual (especially for does) they ignored it. I'm always surprised that I can move in my stand and freak a deer out, but that silly grunt call has no effect - positive or negative.
More and heavier rain was predicted for tonight and I'm ready to not spend most of my day in the treestand. I'm headed to work Friday, but would definitely take the treestand over that. I decided to not hunt the afternoon and get a few things done.
Only four deer in 5 days. It is easy to get discouraged, but I've been swimming in deer other years and I know I'm very fortunate to be able to hunt on Mike's land.
However, there is an activation energy to going out. That energy is lowered if the weather is good and I'm able to hunt without being disturbed or in a new and exciting area. Most importantly, that energy is lowered when I'm seeing animals. The weather has been pretty reasonable, typical for November. I've never had people walk around me while hunting at Mikes, and have only rarely heard anybody and then only Mike's neighbors hunting. I've never had my tree stand messed with which is very nice. But, without seeing more deer, it is getting a bit hard to go out every morning and night.
My license is still good for a while. I know I have the option to go back out...if I have the energy...
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Friday Note: On my way into work, I saw 2 does crossing the road. About 5 miles further on, I cruelly saw a gorgeously symetrical 10-point which required a panic stop to not hit. Yeah, the are still out there.
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