Amazingly, we had a beautiful morning to hunt. I’m not sure of the temperature, but it was chilly, and I could see my breath until about 8:30. It was quiet and calm, and I felt like today would be the day.
As I sat there thinking about everything going on, I couldn’t help but think I was sitting in one of Dad’s favorite places. He has seen a lot of good bucks in this place the last few years. Unfortunately, he isn’t able to walk that far this year, so I took it over in hopes of making him proud and getting a deer for both of us.
Well, it didn’t work out this morning. The temperature quickly rose, and it got unbearably hot. Everyone saw bucks except me.
Josh hunted near camp and saw a 3-pointer. Brian hunted with me and sat where he killed the buck last year. He saw two bucks this morning: a spike with a broken antler, and a nice 8-pointer that he decided to give a free pass. Dad had an opportunity at the big 8 this morning and missed. He hit a twig and shaved some belly hair off the big buck. Opportunities are fleeting. Hopefully, that will not be his last one before he has to leave. I’d say the reason he missed is probably because he isn’t familiar with the equipment he’s being forced to use this year due to his inability to draw his bow.
He got some news from home and has to go home for an infusion. This won’t give us much time to hunt, but that’s the way it goes. Dad feels badly about his choice to come out here, but I think he forgets all of the stuff he has always gone out of his way to do for all of us. What’s the big deal that I have to go home? In the grand scheme of things, it’s just deer hunting. I just hope he’s able to somehow get feeling better. Deer hunting is secondary to that.
Brian and I scouted a new area tonight. We’ve been in there a few times in the past, and every time we go there, we see deer. Tonight was no different. We saw three does. We almost shot one but decided against it. We found a nice scrape and put a camera on it. It would be a great place for Dad to sit in his current condition. We crossed a creek and tramped through some thick stuff before heading out. The place always gives me a feeling that I could kill a big buck there, but there’s no big buck sign to make my theory seem believable.
Josh decided to hunt near the wheelchair stand. I’m going to go in there with him tomorrow. It will be a shot in the dark. I think I left a tack in a tree in that spot, but I’m not sure. I guess I’ll be aimlessly wandering through the darkness to find a place to set up.