This week has greeted me with a variety of obstacles that has prevented me from getting out to hunt. However, I decided to head into the woods today with dad. I wanted to go into my old haunt and wander around, so I picked Dad up after work. On my journey through the woods, I found myself going back in time to the first time I ever hunted the area with Dad during muzzleloader season.
I didn’t have a muzzleloader, so I went out with my bow, and Dad carried his muzzleloader. I remember a guy who was still-hunting, and he took a break under my stand and sat down on a rock. He never saw me and eventually moved on. After the morning made its way into the afternoon, Dad returned to pick me up.
A few years later, we tried our hand at it again, and I scored on a spike, but I had a muzzleloader at that point in time. When I pulled the hammer back and looked through the peep, I slowly pulled the trigger and watched everything become enveloped in smoke. Then, I saw the deer lying in the leaves, and I knew I had killed my first buck with a muzzleloader. It seems like that event took place a few years ago. It’s amazing how quickly time passes. I wish I could grab onto it and slow it down.
As the afternoon wore on, it felt good to be in this piece of woods today. The area has brought me something I’ve needed. It gave me a desire to get after it this year. My beginnings will never be forgotten. It was a time when I didn’t know how big a place hunting would take in my life. I never realized where hunting would take me or all of the adventures I would live while pursuing wild game. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
While walking back to the truck, I was disappointed I didn’t see more sign, but I did jump a deer out of some cliffs. I couldn’t get a good look at it, but I’m almost sure it was a doe, as I could hear it take a few bounds then begin walking.
I’m looking forward to opening day of rifle season this weekend. Hopefully, I can find more time to get out in the coming week.