The 2015 season brought a couple of firsts for this 15 year old camp. I finally bought a tree stand and put it up in my spot for both bow and firearm season, though I was too antsy to stay in it for firearm season because I didn't see shit in it during bow. We saw plenty of deer frolicking through the pines but none were close enough in bow season.
For Firearm season, Brian's long-time friend Jeff was able to join us. He's been shooting clays for several years, regularly shoots pistols, and works at DGW with Brian, so luckily, no firearm training was required with this hunting newbie. And, by 9:45AM on opening day, Jeff was elbows deep into his first field dressing. Lucky Bast. I think he'll be hooked for life. It was a modest-sized doe that any of us would have been happy to harvest. So, Eric finally got to see his first field dressing. Where the Hell was he for the last six deer we shot?
James had the best quote of the weekend at about 7 minutes into the field dressing. "Cause what you're gonna have to do is jam that knife literally in...
We had a full bow camp for the first time this year. Me, James, Eric, and Brian all hit the woods with string and arrow. James kind of got skunked and didn't see much. Eric claims he hasn't seen a deer in the woods since his first hunt about 11 years ago when he shot at and missed a buck with the .35 semi auto. Brian saw the most at about 17 this weekend. I saw four and was able shoot one right about where I harvested a doe last firearms season. It was quite an adventure tracking her, as I've concluded (and conceded) that my shot was low and didn't hit any vitals, though the entire arrow went through her.
For the next four hours, we proceded to follow what was mostly dime to quarter size blood droplets and an occasional saucer size blood pool where she stopped. After a half mile, the blood trail began to get smaller than a dime, smaller than a pea, and eventually, pin drops and stopped. We couldn't find her. It was an excellent group effort. We took turns finding the next blood drop and moving forward, tracing her every step. It...
It was a successful year in the Wheeler Creek Swamp Angel's camp thanks to yours truly. Bow season had some glorious early snowfall that coated the beautiful northern Michigan landscape with a bright white blanket. James and I had the pleasure of having Eric join us this year for his first bow season. There's always something to talk about at the cabin when Eric joins!
Unfortunately, the only deer I saw up close was in my periferal vision at 90 degrees to my right and stopped dead in her tracks to stare at me before I could make a move. She seemed to do an about face and hop away through the thick woods in slow motion, though I'm sure it was at a rather frantic pace.
Brian joined us for firearm for the fourth (or fifth?!) year in a row, but Eric wasn't able to get off of work at the Hospital. My harvest took place in the clear cut of the pines where it's easy to go prone (or pro!) and see hundreds of yards. I sighted in a doe facing me from about 200 yds and slowly but purposefully squeezed the trigger. POW!
In early 2013, we are facing yet another ammo shortage across the country. Has it been too long to remember we had one in 2009 when Barack Hussein Obama was first elected? Why have independents and even some so-called republicans re-elected him?
Republicans have always appealed to the rational portion of the human mind... you know, those who understand cause and effect and common sense. Unfortunately, this takes intelligence. Democrats have always appealed to people's emotions... you know, how we feel. As recent as a few weeks ago, democrats have gone from saying, "Why do people need assault weapons" to " People who purchase ammo need anger management."
True story, a democrat from Florida proposed required anger management courses before ammo purchases as if the only, or even the major reason for ammo purchases is anger or revenge or something else made up. All are completely irrational, yet this is what many who don't know anything about guns or ammo are thinking. This is what BHO and democrats are poisoning our society with. They are flat out lying about freedoms that make us a Constitutional Republic vs a Marxist or Communist society.
This all comes from the same Barack Hussein Obama...
Both bow and firearm camps were a terrific success this year. Bow camp brought three of the WCSA together for a three-day weekend. Just a dusting of snow on the second morning helped ID Odocoileous Virginianous movement and presented all three of us with 40-or-under looks at deer.
Firearm season brought four of the WCSA together for a four-day weekend and much delight both in the woods and in the cabin. Some poker was played, some movies were watched, and just a bit of single malt scotch was evaluated. James brought several 1st batch home spirits with the help of quite a few Jack Daniels barrel wood chips and a touch of bacon grease (yes, bacon grease) for flavor.
In the woods, we pretty much annoyed a beautiful yet tiny herd of doe through the pines on a daily basis and realized the scorched earth to the south where the great State of Michigan clearcut nearly a square mile of bountiful state forest. Fantastic memories were had both in the woods and the cabin. We crowned thy good with brotherhood and will forever preserve a thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness, forever fighting for our...
In a perfect world, we'd all own 210 acres of prime deer habitat. We'd all have time to scout year-round, and when deer season rolls around, we could hunt whenever we want.
In reality, though, most of us live in homes on small city lots or in condos. Many of us who do own acreage have only 5-10 acres and often off of roads where hunting is impractical because either yours or your neighbor's house is within sight from every part of your property.
Some of us have generous friends or relatives who allow us to hunt their land, but the rest of us hunt public land where competition can be tight for prime spots. I once walked out on opening morning on public land to find all three of my pre-season scouting spots were taken. One after another, I kept seeing blaze orange as I approached from 100 or so yards away. Nearly two hours later, I had walked almost two miles and had to settle for a spot I was not too thrilled about. I just needed to sit down and stop disturbing other hunters' areas.
Even for those who do own good hunting property, scouting is often...
2011 brought much fanfare to camp as Eric returned from his 2 year hiatus from deer camp doing something much more important - reporting to duty in the Army. We also had a rookie in the camp this year - Bill Terry! It was fascinating how the environment changed in the woods as much as it did in the cabin.
Outside, the state had completed clearcutting the pines on the corner, completely obliterating that canopy of tall pines that were both easy to walk through and easy for deer to escape through, given the nature of the alternating thick, short pine rows and tall, mature rows. These tall, mature rows are but a memory for all of us except the rookie.
Both of the guys who have the least amount of experience at the range were presented bucks in the big woods this Fall. Both proceeded to miss their shots. Bill got a shot a little ways to the South, and Rick got a shot in the newly clearcut pines. So, at least we had a chance to throw some lead around the woods, even if the results were less than positive! It's predictable to say, now another...
Tons of arrows (OK a few dozen) have been thrown in the back yard and at the park, fancy new gear has been bought, and back-up bows have been checked. Time to hit the woods, right? Well, if you're like me, that's about 20% of the equation. These all may be obvious, but they're what's taken for granted most of the time but what makes up 80% of the fun:
1) Gear prep (and practice with that gear) as stated above
2) Bring yer friends and family, and get a newbies into it each year! It's been our experience if you ask five people to come with you over a course of 10-15 years, one might say yes. So be persistent, as that second one to say yes may quickly follow the first!
3) Infuse something new to the camp, whether it be food, drink, clothing or a ritual. You never know, it may soon become a tradition unique to your camp! We open camp with a toast of blackberry brandy to all the great hunters of yesteryear. We also have custom camp shirts, adorned with patches for each deer we've each harvested.
Seeing the seasons change from Spring to Summer make me immediately think of the next change of season, which brings with it a whole host of familiar views, scents, and experiences. Don't get me wrong, I'm not that anxious to see the 80 and 90 degree weather go away after the harsh Winter we had, but Fall is just so special.
Summer preparation like scouting, planting, trail cam placement, and the most fun of all - the range, all give me butterflies in my stomach. The planning and preparation is almost as fun as the execution of the planning itself... almost! So grab your gear and hit the woods for scouting, and hit the range for sighting in and bow practice. And, enjoy the little bit of Summer we get in Michigan, for as soon as these 80 and 90 degree days have shown up, they'll be gone again. There's something to like about every Season. What is it that you like about each?
