Late Season Hunting with Tom

Alright, for the past couple of days we have been getting smatterings of snow. A couple inches Monday night, then one inch last night. This has made it unbearable at work. Especially when the deer run through the lawn outside my window. I am committed to a point however, and have been working NEARLY all day, then heading out into the woods.

Wednesday evening I hiked and hiked...and seriously, I must be doing something backwards in the grand scheme of things, because I bumped a herd of elk! They filed through a shooting window, at 30 yards, one by one. Not running, just ambling. Hmph.

At last light I bumped a three-point buck and a doe. I moved a little to get a shot and the buck bounced up the hill. I was ON HIM the entire time. Just bouncing the rifle along with him, centered on the back of his head. It would have been done with. However, I think I must have been ingrained with some ethics growing up (thanks Dad) and didn't pull the trigger. Better to have not shot than to have to deal with the numerous other issues that could come from something like that. Talking to a fella later...he said, "Seriously, that little buck must have nine lives. My son and I have both had shots on him, and now you have...and none of us pulled." We shall wish that little guy luck...until perhaps this Saturday or next year.

And just today I went on what some would call a "hell-hike." Or more appropriately, a "death march." I was itching to go all morning, but had work to finish up. I got done with that at 1230, did a quick survey around the office on "Should Tom Leave Right Now and Go Hunting?" It was unanimous, plus my boss was out in the field cross-country SKIING for crying out loud. And it was work related! Go figure. So, I left and headed into the snowy woods.

I'm not really going to get TOO detailed here. But the snow was about six? inches deep and had that wet-snow squeak to it. I hiked pretty fast up a draw, then topped a ridge. I found a big problem with hunting a snow pack that resulted from a small storm following a larger storm. Tracks that may be a day or two old look NEW under cover. I tracked numerous deer numerous times, only to get into an opening and find them old. However, the deer led me into some lovely places. Brush above your head so you were essentially crawling through snow covered branches, small trees, logs, sticks, and general crap. I couldn't see anything past the barrel of the rifle. And don't forget that all the brush and trees were snow-laden. So every movement resulted in a crescendo of falling snow. My rifle and myself were covered. At one point I had snow in my EAR. Figure that one out. My cover was pulled off a couple of times by rebel sticks. My back had a steady stream of snow pushed down it. All my optics, binos and scope were packed with snow.

It got to the point where I was frantically pissed (a term I coined when it was starting to get dark, I didn't REALLY know where I was, crawling through snow-laden brush, drenched in sweat, and irritated.) Ever get that way? You get into a hole so crappy that hunting isn't the point anymore. Your entire focus is to get OUT. That's where I was.

So I didn't see ANYTHING, but had a nice relaxing hike. Right?

And I saw deer in TOWN on my way home...so that makes it better. Right?

Fernan Lake was pretty though.

Looking south toward Fernan

Err, essentially the EXACT same photo.

I DID think of something though. When you are at work and want to go hunting, and people are coming down and telling you to go...pestering actually...here's what you need to do.

Put on the heaviest boots you have with you and all the wool clothing you can find and get them soaking wet...I'm thinking a quick jump in a pond or lake is appropriate...just make sure it's not over your head. Then, find some stairs and run up and down those for at LEAST an hour. If available, have coworkers throw snowballs at you occasionally (I'm sure they'll be happy to help.) After that, you can write it off as "wellness" and get some work done. Repeat daily until the season is over.

Don't worry, you'll see deer in the office's yard or at least on your drive home. If you did it all correctly, you will simply see them as amazing creatures and want to take photos of them eating the roses.