Thumbcocker
12-05-2016, 09:15 PM
I hunted Thursday morning and afternoon, Friday morning and afternoon and took Saturday. Sunday at 5 when the alarm went off it was raining steadily. By 1:30 p.m. it was a steady drizzle and 42 degrees. I told Mrs. Thumbcocker that I was going to try a few hours of hunting in our woods. Layered in poly pro and wool with orange highlights I headed out the back door. I have had luck in the past hunting in drizzle; the only time I have ever been able to sneak up on deer.
I was easing down the field road that we mow all summer when I saw a deer moving across the field toward our woods. I knew he crossed there from his tracks and scrape lines but usually at night. He was heading north, the wind was from the west and I circled wide to come in from the east. I knew that there was a well used trail hugging the base of the hills inside our woods and hoped he would go north and not south. I eased toward the trail keeping the hill between me and where the deer went into the woods. Take 3 steps stop and look three more steps stop and so on. I finally saw him coming down the trail heading north. He looked my way and I gave one soft grunt on the tube. He looked at me licked his nose and stared. I eased the zipper of my jacket open when he looked away for a second. and eased out the Bisley .44 special. His vitals were behind a tree so we waited each other out. Finally he stepped out to where his shoulder was visible and I eased back the hammer and squeezed off the shot.
I am the 7th generation on this land. Many folks talk a bout the joy of hunting new ground and I do love the high desert in those big square states but this is home. We always find something new on this same old ground. Chanterelle mushrooms this fall, a new ginseng plant, the tree the pileated wood pecker likes, once in a while an arrow head to remind us that we just get the use of this ground. Old places showing us new faces. The ground gives us wood for heat, farm rent, venison, recreation, and a cathedral that beats anything made by man. At least that is what we see. Others see clay hills, fair farm ground and some woods that won't make timber for another generation. I guess it is perspective. I have had wrens land on the window of my ground blind, squirrels come down the tree and feel my head with their paws, and turkeys always able to spot me no matter how well I cammo up.
Oh yes back to the shot. Clean miss. I stood too long with the pistol extended and pulled low. No blood, no hair, nothing. I had a great hunt. I think you will all know why it was great.
I was easing down the field road that we mow all summer when I saw a deer moving across the field toward our woods. I knew he crossed there from his tracks and scrape lines but usually at night. He was heading north, the wind was from the west and I circled wide to come in from the east. I knew that there was a well used trail hugging the base of the hills inside our woods and hoped he would go north and not south. I eased toward the trail keeping the hill between me and where the deer went into the woods. Take 3 steps stop and look three more steps stop and so on. I finally saw him coming down the trail heading north. He looked my way and I gave one soft grunt on the tube. He looked at me licked his nose and stared. I eased the zipper of my jacket open when he looked away for a second. and eased out the Bisley .44 special. His vitals were behind a tree so we waited each other out. Finally he stepped out to where his shoulder was visible and I eased back the hammer and squeezed off the shot.
I am the 7th generation on this land. Many folks talk a bout the joy of hunting new ground and I do love the high desert in those big square states but this is home. We always find something new on this same old ground. Chanterelle mushrooms this fall, a new ginseng plant, the tree the pileated wood pecker likes, once in a while an arrow head to remind us that we just get the use of this ground. Old places showing us new faces. The ground gives us wood for heat, farm rent, venison, recreation, and a cathedral that beats anything made by man. At least that is what we see. Others see clay hills, fair farm ground and some woods that won't make timber for another generation. I guess it is perspective. I have had wrens land on the window of my ground blind, squirrels come down the tree and feel my head with their paws, and turkeys always able to spot me no matter how well I cammo up.
Oh yes back to the shot. Clean miss. I stood too long with the pistol extended and pulled low. No blood, no hair, nothing. I had a great hunt. I think you will all know why it was great.