Friday September 18 2020 2nd weekend after opening day.
The work week much less the workday couldn’t get over quick enough. Even if I was working at home today, plus Marcus was on his day off.
I was totally pumped because the big buck was on camera in the vicinity of my blind late last night
I was hoping he hung out in the area and bedded down close by
But in all reality I knew he had moved over to the next field, through the huge corn field
And through the swamp and onto the neighbor’s woods, because if I were him that is what I would do
4:15 rolled around and I am flying around the house, trying to make sure I didn’t forget anything.
Ok what do I need to hunt:
Bow check
Arrows check
Backpack check
Release arrow check
Binoculars/range finder check
Bottle water check
Camo fleece check
Cloths, hat check
Boots don’t forget to take off the camo sandals check
Check I think I have everything
Ohhhh wait SD cards, got to check the trail camera on my way out
It was a chilly day……I mean sunny just a cool breeze
I think I am ready………..Marcus send me off with a kiss and a shoot straight comment
I hop in the mud duck(four wheeler)
As I drive down the road
I make a mental note to create a word document………Of the things I need for my hunts
Engine roaring
Fresh cool breeze on my face
Driving fast as the wind flows through my hair
Driving the mud duck down the road always feel so good
Speed, freedom, the rush, open air
Ahhhh!
The road into my stand was dry……..Sure, was glad to so that
Last week I drove through water…….It was flooded last week
Flooding drives the deer away
And that is always a fear this time of year
And the grassy drive wasn’t as muddy as I thought it would be
Actually, the whole curve was dry
Parked in front of the big bush so the deer can’t see the mud duck
Last time the area where I parked was flooded
Time to get ready…….Be quite I tell myself
Putting my pack back on is always a treat
Each time I do it
it gets easier…….It just heavy to toss over my back
Oh, the bugs were horrible…….skeeters I assume
Or some bug with wings………Swarms
Just tons of swarms as I walk in
I wonder why I didn’t get out the thermal cell
And put it in my backpack yet
I always creep quietly to my blind
As I have to walk the outer edge on the big food
To get to my blind
No other way to get there
Need to be quiet
The bedding area is on the other side of me
Grounds drier from last weekend
Food plot looks nice
I am about to make the curve to my blind
I always sneak because I walk right up on a small food plot
Don’t want to scare anything……All clear
Blind was a little warm
No puddles this time…….Getting all settled in
Shortly after I got in
Around 452 pm
Mom and fawn walk out into the big food plot
Near where I 1st walked in
They came from the cattails on the river side
Mom and fawn ate in the field for over a half hour
Up on that same notch as last time
I don’t think they saw me I mean they ate in the field for over a half hour
but Mom is smart she knows something is off
Ahhh the blind windows are open……..Moms aren’t stupid
Saw nothing for the next hour
But I sat their mesmerized by watching the flock of birds
Several flocks of blackbird I assume
Fly through the air
In their synchronized flight
Hundreds of them
Breaking into smaller flocks
And then I would see the bigger one
And wonder why they don’t all hook up together
They just flew all around above the cattails
Occasionally I would spot a lone bird
And wonder what flock he is trying to catch up too…….And what he is thinking
I wonder what all these birds flying in a synchronized dance…….Are thinking
And I am so content thinking about the birds
Such a peacefulness……that I actually smile
4 sandhills came into the big food plot
They had a little snack and walked to the cattails
Towards the ditch
I was trying to check for the injured one I had seen last week
As that was traumatizing to me
It could have been with that group……..They are gone now
Ohhhh and that darn cat bird tweeted almost the whole time
They birds were very active this evening
The sun was bright
And as I looked towards the sun I could see all the skeeters/bugs flying
Strangely the skeeters/bug did not bother me in the blind at all
So many bugs that it filled the air above the small food plot
It was quite a sight…….I wonder what kinds party theses bugs were having
About an hour in the winds picked up
And I was cold
Oh, wait I hear an owl in the distance
Back to being cold of course I didn’t take my fleece out of my backpack
When I first got in the blind like a responsible hunter
because I figured I would be fine
Nope I got really chilly
The wind was brisk
And I had at least an hour to sit yet
And didn’t let up
Mom and fawn came back out to the big food plot around 7
Made their way back over to that nob
They didn’t stay long
But soon they trotted away back into the cattails or bedding area and outta sight
It is getting close to closing time
As the sun goes down and nightfall creeps up
And you know in the back of your mind any second now a buck could peak his rack out
My heart skips a few beats over these next minutes
Waiting and watching
It always seems as though time stand stills during these last minutes towards closing time
And not a sound is made in the whole area around me
Eerily quiet and peaceful
In those minutes leading up to closing time
It is getting close
I look to the small field
And there is a doe
Barley visible with the darkness behind her
We made a brief eyeing and she trotted away
Baby was in front of her, but I missed baby cross the field
I sat the last few minutes…….And then its quitting time
Reminding myself the whole time I am packing up to not forget to check the cameras before I go
Packing up is always a chore and most night I am a hurry to get going
As supper is waiting and there are chores to be done
And I have been gone for a few hours
I don’t like that closing time right now is so late
By the time I walk out and drive home it will be close to 8
But nights, like tonight
There is not work tomorrow
Chores can wait until tomorrow
The weekend is here…….No real urgency……
I always feel a little more peace in my soul these nights
The fellla’s are back at home and chili is cooking
Which I was looking forward to as it was a slight brisk sit
I get back to the house to give my full report
I didnt see much
But there is no bad day in the woods
And I am reminded of my many blessings.