Opening weekend brings plenty of fun.
As a hunter, you know that being in the woods doesn't always guarantee that you will take a deer or see a duck or tag a turkey.
It is a game of luck and chance.
You also know firsthand that seeing someone else tag a nice animal makes the hunting experience just about as memorable as you tagging one yourself.
Even though I didn't tag a buck this weekend, I was so excited for my friend Katie.
She was lucky enough to tag her biggest buck to date and I was just as happy as she was Saturday morning.
The morning started out perfect with homemade biscuits with ham and bacon courtesy of my mom.
After a good breakfast, we briefed each other on what deer may be around.
My dad took off to his spot, and I took Katie to a spot and told her to keep her eyes peeled for a nice seven-point and two eight-point bucks that were hanging around.
Bucks were starting to chase does even though the does are not ready.
I put her in the blind and took off to my spot.
After being in the woods just 45 minutes, the silent morning was rocked by the sound of Katie's rifle.
I texted her to see if she got one.
I heard the thump of the bullet you hear when a bullet makes contact.
I knew she hit something. Her reply was almost instant. He was down and dropped in his tracks.
He was an eight-point and she was excited.
We continued to hunt and came out later on to help her get her deer on the skinning rack.
Once I saw him in person, I knew exactly who the father of the buck was because he is a European mount hanging on my wall right above my recliner.
The horn shape, height and unique characteristics of the rack matched my buck from two years ago perfectly.
Katie's buck was quite large and probably weighed 160-170 pounds.
I don't think you could get that smile off of her face with a pry bar.
I was glad to just be in the woods to watch the world wake up on Saturday morning.
Seeing 11 deer, groups of wood ducks, squirrels and other critters made the weekend worth experiencing.
The hunt is more than just putting something in your scope or peep sight.
There is more to it than just walking in, shooting and walking out.
The whole experience gives you a better perspective on life.
You can do some needed mind clearing and thinking while sitting in the peace and quiet.
I hope my luck is better this weekend.
Hoping I can put a tag on a buck this weekend and then start putting meat in the freezer.
Good luck to everyone that will be wading timber, in a pit blind or siting in a boat chasing green heads, woodies, bull sprigs and the flash of feathers known as teal.
Good luck to all deer hunters too.
Please wear your life jackets in boats.
Keep a spare set of clothes in the truck in case you fall in.
Hypothermia can set in faster than you think, even with 60-degree water.
Pictures? Questions? Comments? Send them to katiem@eldoradonews.com.