It’s a good thing we didn’t arrive to deer camp Saturday night because I couldn’t remember where we hid the key and it would have been very difficult doing everything in the dark. But as dumb luck would have it, I got my directions confused and we ended up in Iron Mountain, MI where we stayed the night in the lap of luxury compared to deer camp. After driving nearly 30 hours straight we all needed some rest before heading on in to the woods and I wanted my friends to see what the area looked like during the day so it was better all the way around.
Sunday around noon we were the first to arrive at the cabin and set about opening up and checking gear. Dad had reported that the generator was acting up so John and I set upon it first. After a good bit of head scratching and messing with it we determined there was no spark and that meant no generator and no well water for the indoor facilities. With four women in camp this year, having no water was NOT an option but we would tough it out Sunday and see about fixing or renting a replacement Monday. By late Sunday afternoon everyone was in camp and settled in with dinner plans later that evening at the “Hunters Ball” over at the Brayton’s camp.
All the usual suspects were at the ball and a good dinner spread was laid out by the Braytons as usual. Normally the Hunters Ball is a few days after season starts but Lee Braytons health isn’t so good so they held it early.
Monday afternoon we set up the blinds for John and Fred overlooking the old clear-cut west of the cabin while David and Jimmy readied the Sugar shack and set up David’s tent blind southeast of the cabin up on the hardwood ridge.
Monday evening I finally had time to check out the game cams especially the one I had left last deer season mounted to the side of the cabin. The game cameras don’t work well when it gets too cold and the only photos on the “cabin cam” were of us leaving camp November 20, 2010. That was a disappointment because in years past the camera would at least have worked for a few days before hibernating until spring when it would activate again.
Opening day November 15, 2011, early morning and I’m at the main camp sitting at the breakfast table. It’s just after daylight and all the women and children are snug as a bug in their nice warm beds while all the guys are out sitting in the cold. I was going to still-hunt the swamp while the guys were in their blinds but the snow is so crunchy that even a deaf deer could “feel” me coming. More snow is in the forecast so conditions might get better for stalking around in the woods but I’m not too concerned.
to be continued....
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>)));> Wishin' I was Fishin' <;(((<
In 1979 we made my first trip to the great white north country to deer hunt and was determined to continue the tradition every year from then on. Youthful enthusiasm couldn't overcome the demands brought on by every day life as it would be 25 years before I would return to yooperland for deer season.
By noon Friday I'll be headed north to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and our "Birchview" cabin in the woods. Deer camp is going to be very full this year with family and friends if all goes as planned. But most of the deer have very little to worry about from us and my Canon PowerShot because with a camera I can shoot first and ask questions later.
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>)));> Wishin' I was Fishin' <;(((<
I've heard it said that "luck" is where preparation meets opportunity and over the last dozen years or so opportunities to deer hunt here in Texas have been scarce to none for me. It seems the last few deer I've harvested have been a spur-of-the-moment invite sort of thing where the less I prepare and think about getting a buck the more likely it is to happen. I guess I'm just lucky that way.
When we go up north to our Michigan deer camp I'm really not going so much for the hunting but for the family fun of being out in the woods at our cabin. The deer up north are really big bodied animals and make everything around Central Texas look like pipsqueaks. The last time I harvested a deer was in 1992 just before my daughter Kasie was born. I've kept my stalking skills sharp by using a camera all these years as it's about the same effort to get a good photo as it is to get a clean shot with a gun. I didn't think I had missed gun hunting much until this last Sunday.
My friend has a place on the Navasota river in Central Texas and he invited me Sunday afternoon to hunt the property with him. I hadn't even purchased my new fishing license yet this year because the drought has taken all the good fishing places and I hadn't fished public waters since late August. Saturday after hiking around Lake Somerville I made a trip to Academy to purchase my new "Super-Combo" hunting and fishing license, $68.00 is a sweet deal and includes everything except the Federal duck stamp.
Having all my gear in order, Sunday afternoon found me stopping by Walmart to pick up a box of ammo on the way out of town. 170 grain 30-30 cal. "whopper stoppers" is what I call them and they would do the job if I got the opportunity. My old Marlin 30-30 now has 9 notches on the stock, the first one was for a big Michigan 8 point in 1979 and the last one I carved Sunday night for a nice high tine Texas 8 point and put some real fine venison in the freezer to boot!
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>)));> Wishin' I was Fishin' <;(((<
Any day when I get to hunt and fish is a good day but the weather on Thursday was so beautiful it made for one of those rare occasions that highlight the year when reflecting back.
The day started as I drove to the Somerville WMA to do a little bow hunting and on the way there I spotted that really nice buck along the road.
Any time I get a good photo or video of a nice buck it counts as a "kill" in my book, akin to "catch and release" fishing and a big bass. Every deer hunter I know appreciates a good buck and seeing such an animal in photos and knowing that it is still walking around is "fuel for the fire" so to speak and a good motivator to get out in the woods!
Thursday it warmed up pretty quick and the deer weren't very active going into mid-day so I decided to satisfy another curiosity of mine. I hadn't checked on the stock tank out near Deanville since September and figured now would be as good a time as any.
Leaving the WMA at about 11:00 I took the backroads along Yegua creek and up CR 133 on the Burleson County side towards Deanville. It is so nice to see bright green fields growing for the farmers who planted oats and rye earlier in the season and I'm sure more then their cattle thank them!
We still need much more rain to get many of the lakes back to normal but this is what transpired at the stock tank in Deanville December 29, 2011.
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>)));> Wishin' I was Fishin' <;(((<
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