I wasn't sure there was going to be a Part 3 this year, but I've got the time and have enjoyed (most of) my time on the stand this year.
It has also been a crazy couple of days at work leading up to Thanksgiving. Basically more than a week's worth of work needed to be done in three days. At least it was pay week.
So after getting to a good (enough) stopping point at work, I snuck out a bit early. A storm had come through bringing some rain, and behind the rain was heinous wind with gusts in excess of 50MPH. This is a terrible time to go hunting since deer don't move much under these conditions. So I went hunting. Actually, I just really wanted to get my stand set up so I'd have to go out on Thanksgiving morning. Plus, not many other people would be hunting on such a blustery day.
I set up my stand and walked back into the ravine. With the high winds, I really didn't want to get into a tree, so I used my camo bucket and set myself up in a thicket of honeysuckle. I absolutely loath honeysuckle, but it does make good impromptu ground blinds.
The afternoon was one of sitting on a fairly uncomfortable bucket, listening to the wind roar overhead and watching crap blow all over the place. Predictably, nothing was moving except one wild grape vine which looked suspiciously like a deer out of the corner of my eye. By the time it was dark, I was ready to head home.
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Thanksgiving morning came and I was up early. I watched some morning-news TV (ugh) with the dogs before taking a quick shower and getting ready to head out. Temperatures were near freezing and the wind was still significant. I got to Mike's and was glad that I had set up my stand the previous afternoon since I'm about 97% sure I wouldn't have gone out otherwise.
As it started to get light, I heard a tremendous racket above me as a turkey which had roosted above me in a nearby tree took off. I'm surprised it didn't bolt when I climbed into my stand. Throughout the morning I heard turkeys as they made their way around the woods. Seeing and hearing turkeys on Thanksgiving morning made me smile. I also couldn't help but think of all the things to be thankful about on Thanksgiving morning - among those things are that I have a nice place to hunt and have a doe in the freezer. That and the new roof on the house as I thought about the previous day's ugly wind.
As it started to get light out I kept my eyes open looking for any deer. The squirrels were in overdrive, running all over making a ruckus doing squirrel stuff. Other than squirrels, not much else was moving. With the wind and temperatures, I was surprised I remained comfortable, if cool. But not cold.
I second-guessed leaving my stand set up in my usual "2-tree," but I never know if Mike's neighbor is going to be hunting, and setting up in a tree in the ravine risks putting me very close to him. Overthinking this gives me something to do during the slow times.
Around the time I started to think I might as well head home, I looked off to my left and saw a deer right on the ridge. I brought my gun up, but there was brush in the way; I saw her pass through a clear hole before going down toward the ravine. A second doe came up behind her, I almost shot as she crossed the hole that I now knew was in the brush, but hesitated too long. Second guessing myself, a whole mess of deer came out in the same area. I only briefly had a clear shot at one small doe before they moved in a slightly different direction. As they did, I saw one was a small buck and not one that I think I've seen previously. Holding off shooting was probably the right thing to do. I don't like shooting over the ridge - but probably would have if I hadn't already gotten one. I guess the deer have something to be thankful for as well.
I briefly saw another deer directly across from me in the ravine (far too far to shoot with lots of brush in the way). Based on where it came from and went to, I'm pretty sure it wasn't one of the ~8 I saw to my left. I also noted it probably went very close to where I had been sitting the previous afternoon.
Seeing all the small bucks made me wonder why I don't see more that are at least moderately interesting. Not THAT many people hunt this area, so presumably most of the small bucks will live for at least another year. I'm reminded of my hunting guide in Wyoming during my mule deer hunt in 2017, "I just want one that is a nickel better. But I think and say that every year."
I waited for another 45 minutes to see if the deer would double back - I've seen this happen enough over the years. But the cold was starting to get to me and there was a turkey at home to get in the smoker.
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No crazy Black Friday shopping for me. After watching the PBS Show Nova about human violence, I was out the door for another morning at Mike's.
Getting to my treestand, I unlocked it and started to climb. As I did so, it started to sprinkle - no worries (right?), the forecast and radar said a slight chance of a few sprinkles. Once sitting comfortably, the sprinkles turned into a shower. Rain came and went most of the morning; It got bad enough that I wished I had had my rain gear on and waterproof cover for my gun.
Other than the rain, it was a nice morning. Cool temperatures, cloudy skies and basically no wind at all. Maybe the rain was a godsend since it allowed some noise with the calm conditions.
And it was a slow morning. No turkeys. No deer. At least the squirrels were running their fool heads off which was at least something to keep my damp self company.
There are still a few days left in the season, but Saturday looks ferociously wet and I have other obligations. And going out on the last day of the gun season wreaks of desperation when I have a deer in the freezer. Still - there is still the muzzle loader season...
I am slightly (if pleasantly) surprised how much I've enjoyed the post-opening day hunting ... for the time just being in the woods and on the stand. In many ways, this has been one of the most enjoyable deer hunting seasons for at least a few years.
When I first started hunting so many years ago, even seeing a deer was a near cause for celebration. Days like this remind me how good I have it now. As a primarily meat hunter, plump deer are plentiful. These days when I don't at least see one are rare, and I won't get too upset at the reminder.
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