Learn from your past experiences to make better choices in the future
- Michelle Wood: SWCD
- December 1, 2017
- 1357
With all that’s happening in the hunting world right now, we’re going to put the finale to our Maine trip on the back burner for a future column.
I was going to call this column “My Friend Ida” because of the way my first day of deer gun season started this past Monday. You know my friend “Ida.” You probably have one too. Let me explain.
First, if “Ida” been 10 minutes later getting to the woods on Monday morning, I might have repeated a bit of history. You may remember a column I wrote some time ago called the “Ten Minute Deer.”
I was late getting out to my stand (also on the first day) and walked right into a herd of does out in the open field. I shot one and went home. Again, first day of gun season but this time 20 minutes early at 6:40 a.m.
I barely had enough light to see anything, but I didn’t use a light. I walked through the same field and 80 yards before me was Mr. Big Buck. I’m not sure he knew exactly what I was either, but he wasn’t gonna find out and promptly exited.
If that didn’t frost my cornflakes, I walked a bit farther in the field and heard a noise behind me. Here came six does stopping 80 yards behind me. No problem for my new 45/70 Marlin, but I looked at my watch, which read 6:45 a.m., 10 minutes before legal shooting time.
I dropped to my knees only to watch them scamper over the ridge. Lesson learned.
I know some of you like to get into your blind/stand an hour or so before legal shooting time to let things settle. I’ve commented before about watching nature come alive right before sunrise. But as I get older, it gets harder to get this ol’ body moving in the morning, hunting season or not.
Secondly, if “Ida” put my stand in a better location, I “coulda” (Ida’s half sister) been closer to the deer I saw off and on throughout the day. Hind sight is always the best teacher. Learn from your past experiences to make better choices in the future.
As it turned out, my location was just fine. I sit on a pinch point where deer travel is funneled through to get from one part of the woods to the other. At about 4:30 p.m., a nice 4-year-old doe made an appearance at the creek about 80 yards below me and stopped.
Her head was blocked from seeing me by some brush, so I centered the crosshairs of my thunder stick and dropped her right in the creek. Again, I need to learn to only shoot deer next to a trail or a flat part of the woods instead of the bottom of our Holmes County ravines.
Luckily I have a 15-year-old nephew who plays football. He texted me asking if I needed help. I said, “That’s OK, I’m fine.” Not really, I gladly accepted his help in dragging her out.
I hope you had success this season. If not, remember we have a follow-up gun weekend on Dec. 16 and 17.
Our prayers go out for the families of some hunters shot while hunting, but as we need to learn and be reminded, hunting can be dangerous if we don’t follow the rules or become careless.
Taryn and I will go to the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, next year. It runs Feb. 3-11 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and features many outdoor celebrities and companies as well as some awesome country concerts. Hope to see you there.
We’re never too old to learn and that includes seeking God’s truth through the Bible. As we read God’s word and seek his counsel, we can rest assured of his promises and bring others closer to him.
God bless.