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.