Empty hunt, but eventful woods outing
It never fails. Something always is scheduled for the opening day of hunting season. Why would this season be any different?
My obligation, however was during the early afternoon, allowing time to strike out for my stand as it grew light enough to see. I could get three hours of good hunting in before heading home. Perhaps they would be stirring early, and I would fill my first tag on opening morning.
Despite taking every step to start the morning positively, it didn’t take long to figure that luck wasn’t on my side. I carefully placed every step to ensure going unheard. But as I neared my stand, it happened. Unsuspectingly putting my weight on a limb hidden under the heavy leaf clutter, I cringed when a loud snap resonated through the forest.
In turn, a blowing, whistling noise echoed from no more than 100 feet away. Hearing the deer’s warning call, another deer blew from the right-hand hillside. Within seconds, another blew from the opposing ridge.
Finally reaching my stand, I quietly climbed for a good perspective. I could see across the entire saddle and was easily within shooting range of the steep hillside situated directly in front.
My negative mindset changed about 30 minutes later as a small buck eased down the steep grade. Probably a couple hundred yards away, I could see an occasional flicker of light as the morning sun illuminated his antlers. But even at that distance, I could tell it wasn’t a shooter and as it got closer, he didn’t even meet legal requirements of three points on one side.
While he browsed the forest floor no more than 30 yards away, I noticed yet another movement on the hillside. It was another buck, and certainly more impressive.
Judging from the spread, I guessed a large 6- or small 8-point deer. But as he grew near, I noticed he had no eye guards. It was another forked deer, much bigger than the first, but still illegal.
The two small bucks eventually moseyed into the thicket and out of sight. Time was running short, but I had no other option than to sit still and wait.
Before long, two deer suddenly appeared to the right of my stand. With a glance, I eased back and relaxed as both had obviously just lost their spots. Before long, a yearling stepped out of the thicket and browsed for food with the two fawns.
Of course, I had no intentions of shooting this one either. However, I grew intrigued upon noticing a collar wrapped around her neck. What in the world had I happened upon? Evidently, someone had captured and raised this deer, collaring her before releasing her to the wild. She was no longer unafraid of humans, quickly turning her head and gazing in my direction.
Although unsure of my exact whereabouts, she went through the motions I have seen time after time. Stomping her front paw to the ground she looked for the slightest motion. This little escapade went on for probably 10 minutes. But she finally saw me as I wiggled into a more comfortable position. Letting off that loud whistling blow whitetails are noted for, she and the two fawns hastily spun and bound up the mountainside.
Stopping atop the hill where they felt safe, the deer went trough a succession of blows, as if intending to inform every deer within hearing distance of my whereabouts.
It was time to head home. As I eased along the dim road, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that I was going home empty-handed. But I also had to smile, as my outing had proved eventful and somewhat out of the norm.