It rained throughout most of the night, so we weren’t in a hurry to get going when we looked outside and the fog was so dense we could barely see through it.
After a brief discussion, Donny and I decided to go back to the area we hunted yesterday. Barry arrived last night, so we figured we would spread out across a ridge where a few bucks had been working and give it our best shot.
Making our way through the darkness, the water seeped into my clothes from the overhanging branches that were sopping wet. When we got to the area where we were going to separate, Barry asked if I had any extra bullets. I told him I always carry extra bullets, but I didn’t carry any that would fit in his gun.
He insisted that I used a .308, but I had to tell him that he was incorrect. I’ve carried a .270 since I turned 16, a Manlicher Ruger M77 International with a custom Timney trigger in it. Since he didn’t have any bullets, I told him he could sit with me and use my gun. We would sit on opposite sides of a tree and I would look for approaching deer and warn him if I saw any coming.
About an hour into our sit, my head bobbed and I woke myself up snoring. Barry laughed at me, and I had to laugh at myself. I just haven’t slept well lately, and I didn’t get much sleep at all last night. There was just too much commotion in the camp.
It was a great morning to sit. It was damp, and I figured the deer would be moving after a full night of rain. I was highly disappointed when Donny called on the radio and wanted to meet at 10:30 to go to the local convenience store. That’s just not my style. It was a perfect day to stay in the woods.
As I was driving to the store, I realized that not all makes and models are the same. The single-most important reason for my success is my dogged determination to never give up. I get up every day and go to the woods because I think I’m going to get lucky. I believe that every day is the day I will shoot a buck. I guess other people aren’t built like me. Donny hadn’t been seeing any deer and decided to pack it in.
Barry and I did find a few places where bears had knocked limbs out of the trees while feeding earlier in the fall. We also found a few huge piles of bear droppings. With the warm weather, it gave me hope that I might get the job done, but I’d need Barry to bring bullets for his own gun next time so he wouldn’t have to borrow my gun.
Later in the day, we all went in our own directions and explored different areas. Amazingly, we all found good sign. I was impressed with some of the things I found, and I think I might be able to kill a good buck next year in one of the places I checked out. I guess time will tell.
Brian and Josh came up tonight, so we have a full house for the weekend. Donny decided to pack it in and head home in the morning.