the Tent in the Woods.

 

Merrick and I hit the road about 7 on Friday and headed to the big woods.  The trailer danced and slide behind us on ice-glazed roads as we made our 60-mph trek across the state.  Arriving at the hunting woods to more fresh snow and now fresh tire tracks into our camping spot was a good feeling.  The temperature was in the single digits, snow in the air and steady breeze.  It would turn out to be one of the windiest and snowiest hunts we have had in a very long time.  All the normal clans arrived in all the normal fashion. Hitman and Paulo were 20 minutes behind us and went to check on stands while we waited for Ramblin’ and the rake to clear the snow. We set the tent and Ramblin’ got his trailer leveled.  Flatcar, Double-Tap and Jake showed up as final sides of the tent were getting stitched up. Only Ollie was missing having looked at the forecast ahead of time and choosing to stay home to decorate the Christmas tree instead.  Flat Car drifted his trailer to the far end of the tote road and set his generator to a low purr.  The afternoon faded into evening as we fed the stove and caught up on the past year and played a little chess, because that too is part of hunting.  It was Korean beef bowls all around for dinner and the homemade kimchee worked its well predicted magic but everyone was up early for the opener.  Merrick and I drove the truck down the little tote road and onto H, parking closer to our stands. We talked to one other hunter, but when we came back out he was already gone, not having weathered the storm as long as we did.  Followed a food web of tracks as the fresh deer tracks were overlaid with fresh coyote tracks only to be overlaid with our boot prints. Set Merrick up in the dark at his stand and pushed on through fresh snow to my own.  Spent the early morning hours brushing off the snow to keep the orange visible in the same fashion that Ramblin’ and I had done 30 plus years ago when we came to this section of woods.  Merrick said he spent some time studying for his Anat/Phys test and even made a Christmas list.  We didn’t see any deer, but the visibility just kept getting worse from blowing snow to the snow settling on the branches to make them each 3 inches thicker.  I pulled my stand about 9 am and picked up Merrick on the way back to the truck. Unloading at the side of the road I discovered that I hadn’t even chambered a shell in the predawn, so I was fortunate to not have seen a deer.  We were the last ones back to camp.  Flat Car made a great soup and we filled our stomachs and listened to the wind whip through the forest.  The snow had settled and we hoped the high winds would knock some of the snow down.  We chatted and napped before heading back out around 1 or 2.  The fresh snow showed so many tracks, some passing within 5 feet of my stand but it would have been hard to sit longer and call the task enjoyable.  A little before 3 I heard the crack of the .243, Merrick had taken a shot.  I didn’t wait for him to holler out, just shouldered my backpack and headed his way.  He didn’t answer my shouts or whistles.  The soft snow muffling the sounds.  He was looking for blood/tracks when I reached him.  He was very excited and I had to walk him through the story a few times to get all the details.  Two does sneaked in behind him at 60 plus yards, he crouched into a stable shooting position and after the shot the they both headed different directions.  We walked a grid for about 45 minutes but couldn’t find any blood or tracks that represented a hit deer.  He was pretty disappointed in the clean miss, but that too is part of hunting.  We sat for until nearly sunset and then headed back to the tent.  Flat Car too had seen a deer, put a good stalk on it, but couldn’t get a clean shot.  Again, that too is part of hunting.  The stories, jokes and hazing continued as the pulled pork warmed on the wood stove.  Most had poems to share and couple guitar tunes. We filled our bellies and slaked our thirsts before turning in around 8 for the second night in row.  The cold weather beats the body and combined with the dim propane lanterns make the bunks look pretty attractive.  Merrick was laughing on the way home about how fast the old guys fall asleep.  Saying he is still getting comfortable and warming his bag while the old guys are already snoring.  Hitman and I decided to let the prospects call their own shots for Sunday morning.  The temperatures were below zero and if they didn’t want to go sit then we weren’t going to force them.  Just dads trying to find the balance between enjoyment and not ruining it for them to forcing tough conditions on them.  Comfort is important if you aren’t seeing enough deer to keep your mind off the cold.  Hitman and Paulo went our about 8 and sat for couple hours but mostly because they had to pack out a stand.  Merrick and I hung in the tent with Ramblin’ and l feeding the stove and our bellies while emptying the coffee pot.  With Camp broke down we all headed our separate directions again with plans of coming back next year.