The Wisconsin bow season opened Saturday and the call to the stand went unanswered; hot muggy weather, large man eating mosquitoes and a lack of traffic on the trail cameras. I let that call to tree stand go directly to voicemail. That is not unusual as the season is long and full obstacles and opportunities and right now more obstacles than opportunities.
I was rushing out the door to work the first Tuesday of the season and my wife yells to me check your text messages. “What?” I say back to her. “Alex is texting you and wants you to read them. ” She responds. Well that sums it up he has to text my wife to tell me to look at my texts. Let’s just kindly say, I am less than wonderful with technology. So I did. It read “You have to go out hunting tonight “Big Mac” is back and he is with 2 other nice ones. ”
(I love the trail cameras that send the photos to my phone and computer. Not a plug but I use Covert Wireless cameras and they work great. That says a lot for me. My son can check these cameras from college in Duluth 3 hours away, I just hope not in class. )
So I rushed to work and then burned some company time on trail camera pics. Sure enough the bachelor group was back. Early in the season they seem easier to pattern. The cool thing was he was out during shooting hours. The ‘bachelor group’ usually hangs around for a few days and then disappears for 7 or 8 days and visit again. Alex was right, I had to find a way to get to the stand at least 2 hours before sunset.
Two hours before sunset meant that I would leave football practice, rush home change clothes, drive 20 minutes, jump out of the pick- up and briskly walk to the stand. Plan is set.
All starts well. It is blazing hot and muggy 82 degrees. I set out my lightest scent blocking clothing but I had to face it. There was nothing thin enough at 82 degrees. All my clothing for hunting is set for Wisconsin fall and winter. I arrived looked at my phone and another text was waiting. “Dad deer are already in the food plot”. Good to know I usually have to remember to hunt my way to the stand. I have encountered many deer and a few nice bucks on the trail to the tree stand. Like I said good to know but it kind of felt like cheating with big dose of holy crap I am late. I slipped the phone into my jacket and was off to the stand.
I was headed to a food plot of clover that had been neatly trimmed by the deer and kept to only 4 to 6 inches in height all summer and they were still hitting it hard. This is my most frequently hunted location and I have had early opportunities here almost every year. Note opportunities, not success. That is another story or two.
Quickly and quietly I moved down the trail to the food plot. I stopped short crouched and looked and sure enough a large doe and her fawn were grazing only 20 yards ahead. I was stuck I could not get to my stand with the pair in the field. I took a practice aim, that was fun.
Creeping away from the opening to the food plot I grabbed a stick and tossed it out onto the plot to gently push them off. When I threw it a grouse broke and nearly made me jump out of my way too hot clothing. The deer left the field but I did not hear them crash through the woods like they do when they are spooked.
There It was, a brand new tree stand with a very comfortable seat and quiet as a church mouse I made it to the stand and settled in. It was a glorious evening. The view of the food plot was awesome. I had previously hunted out of a ground blind on this plot. The vision from this tree was incomparable. I sat quietly on that stand for 90 minutes the until the spectacular sunset melted away and your vision fades into darkness like poor TV reception fades to black. It was over. Day 1 done. It was a hot sweaty, no deer, interrupted only by a few flights of geese and a black tornado of mosquitoes kind of night. But it was very satisfying. The stand was a Christmas gift from my family and my thoughts drifted to that as I sat in peace watching nature change is scene from hot afternoon to cool evening. I was grateful for the gift and that I could enjoy it and think of them. As far as I was concerned it was as good as tagging out on day one. I just tagged out on a great day one.
For the record no great day goes unpunished, I dropped my phone on the way out and had to go back looking for it at 10:30 that night. Probably another whole story there but for now I will spare you.
Tagged Out (sort of)
-Mark