This is the time of year I love
- Bob Hanna: Someday
- September 22, 2020
- 797
Lots of new adventures to share with you — this time of year is what we hunters/sportsmen (women included) live for, and you can add to the mix that everything in our world here in Kentucky is new and exciting.
As the cooler temperatures have moved in, so have the deer sightings. We actually had two does walk across in front of the cabin while we were sitting on the porch. But with the change of hunting area, the rules change also. Anywhere you want to hunt has its own set of rules and regulations. The Department of Natural Resources has a big job in controlling the populations of our wildlife, and it is our responsibility to abide by their rules. A friend called me recently asking about a hunt he is taking next year. I give him high marks for starting now rather than last minute.
Finally got a chance to get out and do some scouting. On an adventuresome excursion on our side by side with Taryn and my sister and her husband who were visiting, we ventured along an old trail that was heavily brushed in. We came to an opening where someone had excavated a clearing to put in a trailer some years ago but never finished. There were fresh deer tracks present. My hunting brain went into overdrive. Let’s see, feeder here, elevated blind here. Sorry, that’s just how we hunters think.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a call from a friend who has property down here, asking if I would fill a couple feeders for him as he would like to bring his son down to bow hunt. I picked up 600 pounds of corn at the local feed mill and headed to the property.
Now for those of you that fill feeders all the time, this is no big deal, but I had only been to the property one time and not to the hunting areas. Following his directions, I easily found the first feeder, except the thing was 8 feet tall (no ladder). And I’m only 5-6. Backing their Ranger up to the feeder, I stacked the bags up until I could reach the top.
Then his directions told me to “climb the hill on a trail beside the old shooting house.” What trail? Luckily, I had cell service, to which he directed me up a not recently brush-hogged “path” up to a logging road to the second feeder. Luckily, I found it and this one was not as tall. The young son did take a nice five-point buck the following weekend. Congrats!
My brother-in-law and I did get a chance to put a couple of lines in my pond. Yes, we actually have a pond as well. It’s not very big, maybe an acre and a half, but they told us it had been stocked.
After a few small bluegill, which are fun to me because there’s always action, I got my line tangled in the bait caster. When I went to reel in my line, it had a 20-plus-inch channel catfish on the other end. My brother-in-law also brought in a similar catfish that afternoon, using a piece of hotdog for bait.
We also found an insect called a “chigger.” Known by many other names, if you’re not familiar with this little pest, read up on them. Let me tell you, don’t wear shorts in the weeds down here. Talk about an itch. The larvae eat your skin and leave big, red, itchy patches. We found them the hard way.
God has blessed us so abundantly. I continually raise my eyes to the heavens in praise. In the late night or early morning hours, I stand outside and gaze into God’s planetarium: no noise except nature itself, no city lights to tone down this spectacular display and a soft voice whispering to my soul that I am a child of God.
No canvas, no photograph, no video can capture the moment. No book, no movie, no story can replace the personal connection with God himself.
Try it sometime. God bless y’all!