I figured I would share my season with you all. I love reading other reports, and this year was kind of eventful, so here goes: I took it right down to the wire and filled my second tag this year on the afternoon of the last day! :grin
:
It has really struck me that the lesson the Lord is teaching me this year in regards to hunting is that of keeping a positive attitude in the face of adversity, and perseverance. I stuck out 9 days in CO with only one sighting, and ended up killing a little buck literally on the drive out. Then my first local tag this year treated me to horrendous crowds and a comedy of errors that I had to talk myself through, but
I ended up killing another little buck!
It is working, but He is really grinding the lesson in. I do seem to be reaping the rewards of an improved attitude...and that is OK with me!!
I got to spend a couple nights out this fall, which was great. Cold weather with some snow and this beach kid was worried!! But I was OK. I learned some more about my gear and using it in colder than average weather. Here is my little deer camp:
I spent a couple nights there on the opener, but was overrun by bird hunters, there were ZERO deer around, and My buddy had a lion come through the same area that kinda freaked him out, so that put me on edge at night :surrender: . But I had fun, and that's what matters.
Fast forward to the last day of the season. I had put in 7 days of this:
But had not even seen a deer!! So here I am on the last day. The previous day I hunted from 0600 to 1500 then went to work until 0230. I had to really talk myself into going again this morning...I was TIRED, and another night with only a couple hours sleep was going make it worse.
But I went back to the theme of my year - perseverance. So I got up and went. And it turns out that it was one of those days when you can feel it...its gonna be good!
I bumped a deer on the way in, one walked by before light, and from 0700 to 0800, 6 does filtered through that would not leave the thick stuff to give me a shot! What a morning. About 10:30 I was cold and bored, so I took a walk around and found some hot trails that I put in the memory bank for next year.
Here is where the rubber hit the road for me. I had to leave for work by 2:30, and I was tired, but I told myself to watch my watch and sit it out until 1:45 and walk out. At 1:30 I stood up to stretch my legs and had one last talk with myself to give it that last 15.
Well, about 10 seconds after I took a seat, a doe poked her head out of the brush at 15 yards! I had cleared the leaves out from behind a big boulder, so I was able to move my hands a bit to get ready, and when she had her head behind a little tree, I brought the gun up. I made a little adjustment when she cleared the brush and let the flint fall.
I hope I never lose the rush that comes on after a shot! I took me a few to stop shaking, and when I did I reloaded, then waited 10 minutes to be safe. I knew it was a perfect hit ( from 15 yards it better be.. :rotf: ) so off I went.
This is what you want to see. Its a shaky pic because I was till hopped up! http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo93/jimikinz/Mountian Man/2013bloodtrail_zps045bf539.jpg
Solid blood for about 50 yards, then I see this.
I said my thanks to the deer, took a few photos, filled out my tag, and got to work.
It was going to be tough to make it to work on time, but my boss will understand! They know I'm the weird guy who hunts ( this is CA after all).
I ended up gutting her, throwing her across my shoulders, and making the 1/4 mile hike uphill (phew!) to the truck. I ended up being 10 minutes late, not to bad!!
So that is my season. One for the books.
:
It has really struck me that the lesson the Lord is teaching me this year in regards to hunting is that of keeping a positive attitude in the face of adversity, and perseverance. I stuck out 9 days in CO with only one sighting, and ended up killing a little buck literally on the drive out. Then my first local tag this year treated me to horrendous crowds and a comedy of errors that I had to talk myself through, but
I ended up killing another little buck!
It is working, but He is really grinding the lesson in. I do seem to be reaping the rewards of an improved attitude...and that is OK with me!!
I got to spend a couple nights out this fall, which was great. Cold weather with some snow and this beach kid was worried!! But I was OK. I learned some more about my gear and using it in colder than average weather. Here is my little deer camp:
I spent a couple nights there on the opener, but was overrun by bird hunters, there were ZERO deer around, and My buddy had a lion come through the same area that kinda freaked him out, so that put me on edge at night :surrender: . But I had fun, and that's what matters.
Fast forward to the last day of the season. I had put in 7 days of this:
But had not even seen a deer!! So here I am on the last day. The previous day I hunted from 0600 to 1500 then went to work until 0230. I had to really talk myself into going again this morning...I was TIRED, and another night with only a couple hours sleep was going make it worse.
But I went back to the theme of my year - perseverance. So I got up and went. And it turns out that it was one of those days when you can feel it...its gonna be good!
I bumped a deer on the way in, one walked by before light, and from 0700 to 0800, 6 does filtered through that would not leave the thick stuff to give me a shot! What a morning. About 10:30 I was cold and bored, so I took a walk around and found some hot trails that I put in the memory bank for next year.
Here is where the rubber hit the road for me. I had to leave for work by 2:30, and I was tired, but I told myself to watch my watch and sit it out until 1:45 and walk out. At 1:30 I stood up to stretch my legs and had one last talk with myself to give it that last 15.
Well, about 10 seconds after I took a seat, a doe poked her head out of the brush at 15 yards! I had cleared the leaves out from behind a big boulder, so I was able to move my hands a bit to get ready, and when she had her head behind a little tree, I brought the gun up. I made a little adjustment when she cleared the brush and let the flint fall.
I hope I never lose the rush that comes on after a shot! I took me a few to stop shaking, and when I did I reloaded, then waited 10 minutes to be safe. I knew it was a perfect hit ( from 15 yards it better be.. :rotf: ) so off I went.
This is what you want to see. Its a shaky pic because I was till hopped up! http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo93/jimikinz/Mountian Man/2013bloodtrail_zps045bf539.jpg
Solid blood for about 50 yards, then I see this.
I said my thanks to the deer, took a few photos, filled out my tag, and got to work.
It was going to be tough to make it to work on time, but my boss will understand! They know I'm the weird guy who hunts ( this is CA after all).
I ended up gutting her, throwing her across my shoulders, and making the 1/4 mile hike uphill (phew!) to the truck. I ended up being 10 minutes late, not to bad!!
So that is my season. One for the books.
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