No deer in the old stand.

I went on a three day hunt with my buddy Jim last weekend.  We decided to hunt at my old stomping grounds near Brainerd, MN.  It is the place where I shot my first deer many years ago (a four point buck).  I have not hunted this spot in at least 12 years.  I knew it would be crawling with critters of all sorts.  I also knew that the weather was going to be nice, perfect for tenting.   So Thursday night, with our Resident Archery Deer licenses, Jim and I traveled up North to begin our hunting adventure.

We found the perfect camping spot.  It was a State Forest, so camping was free.  The tent went up quickly and we soon found ourselves crawling into our sleeping bags.  Both of us could hear critters moving around in the woods.   My imagination filled with visions of monster bucks as I drifted to sleep.

The first day (Friday) proved uneventful.  I did come across a fresh scrape and rub. This was exciting for me because I have been looking for signs of deer all morning and could not find any because the leaves were falling off of the trees.  The fallen leaves were covering the deer droppings and hoof prints.  They were also very crunchy, no doubt the deer could hear me coming from miles away.  I also found some permanent stands near the scrape and rub.  These stands were very useful for Jim and me, as we posted in them for the evening and morning hunts.  

Saturday Morning was beautiful.  It was 55 degrees and the wind was 5-10 MPH.  Perfect for the morning hunt.  Jim and I got to a late start (I set the alarm wrong), but we were able to get out to the stands and give the morning our best.  Unfortunately, neither of us saw anything.  We met for some good chow (we ate like kings) and decided to hunt a section of the forest that had recent logging activity.

A couple of weeks earlier, I tried locating my old stand but could not because the forest path leading to the stand was destroyed by fallen trees (left behind by the loggers).  I had assumed that my stand no longer existed.  After helping Jim find a great spot to set up his portable stand.  I decided to look further.  I was able to locate where the trail that led to my old stand started again and I was pleasantly surprised to find it still standing.  In the image below, I took a picture of the tree where I had carved my name in 1997 and 1998.

Finding my old stand gave me an euphoric feeling and brought back some good memories.  My friend Matt carved HEAD SHOT into this stand because of how I shot my first deer.  Head Shot was no longer visible, so I re-carved it for old times sake.  Hunting from this stand enriched my experience of the weekend.  As I hunted, I was able to recall all the deer I had seen in the past.  I soon realized I was not alone in this stand.  A porcupine took residence in the tree above.  The euphoric feelings switched to slight nervousness.  I wondered, as the little guy studied me, do porcupines jump?   Later, Jim told me that they can shoot their quills when threatened.    As Saturday evening settled in, two owls landed in the tree 10 yards from me.  Their calls echoed the forest.   Another day gone, neither Jim or I have seen deer.

Sunday Morning was uneventful.   The deer were not active at all.  It's possible that it was simply to warm.  Perhaps the falling leaves kept them from moving around.  Maybe the deer were in some corn field.  Even though Jim and I were skunked, we had a wonderful time camping, eating, and enjoying the beautiful scenery.  

 

Encounters of the Furry Kind!

Last Friday I posted on a fallen tree facing the cornfield and a very steep hill leading to the river at my back.  As I sat there on that log with my bow in hand, I began grunting and bleating for deer.  I could hear various noises in the corn which sounded like turkeys or pheasants; neither of which presented themselves.  When up in the tree a squirrel came rushing at me making all kinds of racket that only a squirrel can make.  As I stared down the little critter, I couldn't help but think: "that little bugger is going to jump on me."  The squirrel didn't.  It knows that I would have unleashed a fiery of defensive moves resulting in major bodily injuries, or ruptured ear drums.  The critter backed off..... or called in for reinforcements.

I could also see numerous raccoons coming out of the woods running into the corn just down the path 10 yards or so away from me.  As I watched the coons, I wondered why they were up so early.  It was only about 6pm and the sun was still high.  Usually coons are nocturnal, no doubt they were aware of the upcoming harvest and wanted to get their fill of the corn while they still had a chance.  As I was thinking these things, I heard some noises behind me.  As I turned to look, two coons were working they way up the log towards me.  In an attempt to send a warning, I took my bow and began threatening to shoot them.  Fearing for their lives, the coons backed off.  However they thought it was wise to sit there peering at me from the distance.  I had no doubt that those darn coons were plotting a way to get me.  After some time of waving my arrows at them, making faces, grunting noises, and whipping tree bark at them; they disappeared.

I continued to post on that log, grunting and bleating when I heard another noise from behind me.  I thought; "thats it, I am going to shoot one of those darn coons."  As I turned to look, two small deer (does) came out of the woods and stood five feet from me.  The does must have responded to the bleating and the grunting that I was doing.  I sat very still as the deer walked passed me and onto the path.  Both deer knew that there was something odd, or out of place.  I don't know why, but they kept looking at me.  They stared at me, pawed at the ground.  I just sat there and soaked in their beauty.

I did not attempt to shoot the deer simply because they were to small.  Even if I wanted to shoot them, any attempt to lift my bow would have spooked them into the corn.  Both deer were similar in size, my best guess 40-50 pounds.  They had brown and shiny coats, big black noses, and alert beady eyes.  There were no signs of nubbins or buttons (antlers).  Both deer were very skinny, so much so that I could see the individual ribs on their rib cages.  I sat still as the deer gracefully moved on into the corn.  No doubt they had their fill also.

Thats one of the things I love about deer hunting.  I don't always have to shoot that monster buck to have a great time deer hunting.  Deer hunting gives me the opportunity to witness God's creation which I often overlook in the hustle and bustle of every day living.  Many times I have enjoyed an amazing sunrise where the forest floor is completely silent, and then watch it come to life with birds, squirrels, deer, and sometimes coyotes, beavers and fishers (marten, not men); and also witness the wilderness retire as the sunsets.  It truly is amazing.