Hunting Stories

[noluck]

I have been thinking alot lately about things like the first time I went hunting and stuff like that and I have decided that I will share a few of my experiences with you guys. Here are a few things to keep in mind while reading my stories: I started hunting when I was in my mid twenties, never hunted before that other then the rabbit snare here and there. Also know that I have been told I have a great story telling gift or was it gift to tell a great story (symantics perhaps but I think there is a huge difference) so just take these stories for what they are. I also encourage anyone else who has a story to be told to put it down so we can all enjoy it. Darcy

[noluck]

My first hunting trip.
This one came back to me a few weeks ago when it was raining and I was sitting in my blind (aptly named the multiseason doghouse popup blind). It all started in the spring when the wife said she wanted to try archery. This annoucement came out of the blue. So as neither of us had every shot a bow we headed into the only hunting supply shop around (Woodswise Outfitters in Oakhill). There Alex took her through selecting a bow and sizing arrows. She went home and we took turns shooting at a feed bag full of other feed bags. We lost a dozen arrows so we headed back a week later and this time I also got a bow. A boy was she a brute. A Bear whitetail 'nsync. Turned all the way up past #65, today I realize how stupid that was now but back then man did that thing fling an arrow! Anyway we signup for the bow hunting course and quickly found ourselves shooting at a pie plate. In the course we quickly found ourselves mired in a confusing discussion because we had no natural resources card number. How strange because who starts hunting with a bow before firearms? Anyway in the end they just gave us the temporary cards and said good luck. Side note Nicole scored 2 points higher then I did with a 98%. Anyway I secured permission on a friends property (I got it in writing although he didn't want to sign the slip of paper I wrote up). I stumbled over the property for the month before the season opened learning the lay of the land but I had no clue what to look for in terms of signs, trails, droppings, etc. So opening day arrives. I wait until about 10am, got breakfast, arranged gear, etc. By the way for hunting apparel I went to frenchys and bought dark clothes, turned out to be a pair of dark green/grey dress pants and a dark black and green dress shirt. Oh boy I wish I had a picture of that one! So I walk to a spot that was by a small brook. It had a clearing and a little hill leading down to it. I took my folding lawn chair (oh yes that is right!!), set it squarely in the middle of the clearing (so I could see all around me) and proceeded to bugle like a mad man on a fawn bleat call that I had picked up on sale at canadian tire. But it gets better. Wait for it, wait..... I hear a noise from the side of the hill! Crashing branches! It's getting closer and honestly at this point I am starting to wonder about what I did. A few small evergreens directly in front of me start to shake and BOOM! A small fawn, still in spots bursts through the trees and stands there snorting at me. It was about 10 feet from me! Even right now I can remember staring at its snout and thinking how with that vein throbbing it must mean it is unhappy. It stood there staring at me and stomping it's foot, every time it brought its foot down I wondered if it was going to charge. My mind raced and I quickly though up the headlines in the papers. "Idiot gets trampled to death by fawn". Anyway I waved my hand and it snorted and turn to run away, then it stopped and turned back to look at me again. At the time I thought it was just backing up to get a run on at me, but now I realize it was doing a double take and laughing so hard at me. Immediately after it left I picked up my folding lawn chair and walked home not sure what to make of what had just happened. It was 11:30 when I got back through the door and flopped on the couch. What a start to my hunting career!

I have more stories and will relate them when I get a chance (the kids just got up). If anyone else had a story to tell I will listen.