There was a lot of planning and prepping to get ready. We were able to hunt on the ranch which was nice for me being a first timer. It was familiar and after all of the tours of trees I took this summer I was well acquainted with the property.
We were going to head out Friday after work, but Brent picked up a shift Saturday. We headed out Saturday after he got off work. I had taken August to his soccer game and I was close to getting a sunburn.
As we headed out we realized the temperature was dropping. By the time we got to the ranch it was snowing.
Needless to say I was very excited. I always get giddy in the snow!
After downloading our stuff and getting all decked out in our hunting/warm gear we headed on out for a afternoon/night hunt in the snow.
Brent was not impressed with my selfies while hunting. Apparently that is not what "hunters" do. Well this hunter does!
We walked around all day. We didn't see anything...but we had a lot of fun getting snowed on.
By the time we got back it was getting really dark.
I was surprised how sweaty and gross we were.
We made some food and snuggled in for the night.
The next morning we got up early and headed out while the sun was starting to rise.
And of course in true ironic fashion on the way home we saw a heard of elk and then a ton of deer along the fields not far from the property.
After returning Sunday night, I was tired and sore but very happy. This was a lot of fun and I was excited to go back out the following weekend.
The next weekend we came out and brought August with us. We left after school on Friday and were able to get in a quick little night hunt. While driving up we had seen a few deer jumping and running towards the fence line near the property...so that is where we headed. I was excited because after our almost 20 miles of hiking around the previous weekend we hadn't seen anything until we left. This time we saw it on our way there. I was hopeful. Brent went high while August and I stayed low. It was getting dark quickly and by the time we met up with Brent along the fence line he was letting me know that he had seen the buck and scared him down the hill. He asked if we saw which way he went, and sadly neither August nor I saw/heard anything.
So we made our way back and snuggled in for the night.
Ready to get up early the next morning for another shot at spotting some deer.
We started out early and saw a few females, but no buck. We kept watch on them, but they were still not actually on the property. After awhile we headed back towards the house to eat lunch. While there we saw that the heard was nearing the property, so we decided to go wait them out.
The deer got so low and kind of bedded down on the property, now all we needed was for the buck to get on the RIGHT side of the fence, which he was making his way to do...and then a truck full of yahoos came and were accessing one of the gates near us and yelled out "BUCK!!", which of course scared the thing and all its followers further back down the valley and away from us. UGH!
We decided since it was still day time and very warm we should go check out an area of fence that needed fixing. We got the ATV out and headed over to check out the fencing. While approaching we saw about four little heads peak up from the crest of the hill. We cut engine and waited. Slowly they got up and walked away after almost 15 mins of being statues. There were no bucks in the mix, but it was nice to see activity on the property. We scoped out the fencing that needed mending and hiked around a little more. When returning back to the ranch house we were able to see more herds of deer around, just not where we could get to them, so the waiting game began. Again.
Some photos throughout the day...
When we headed out on the second night to go wait for the herd to cross the property again we spotted a couple females and noticed a coyote quite near them. No bucks ever showed up so we headed back and ate dinner and did a puzzle. August was so excited that we finished the puzzle in one sitting.
The next day we went out early for another morning hunt. We saw again a ton of females, but no bucks to be found. There was a group of about 5 eating right on the roadway and on the property. There was a group of 8 right across the road just eating and bedding.
There was a group of 4 that were heading our way on one of the hills, but then we noticed a group of 3 coyote that were tracking them and pushing them in the opposite direction. The deer would run off, not very far and the coyotes would follow and run around them. It was interesting to watch and frustrating that they were making the deer go the wrong way.
We needed to check out one more area of fencing and by this time I was getting a little frustrated. It was like being in a fishbowl, deer all around and none that I could shoot.
We got on the ATV and UTV and drove around we hiked down some hills and found another area of fence the cows had obliterated.
We headed back and ate lunch. We decided to take one ATV over to an area where the deer would potentially be crossing, we headed over the hill watching the "Crazy 8" (I named them that cause they were out in the open all day just eating) and as soon as we were descending down the hill we saw 3 bucks just down the hill from those 8. They stopped and looked at us, so we reversed quickly and then went to watch them on foot. After hours they were still not on the property. They were bedded down and just not making enough ground for us to justify staying there. We both had to work the next day and were pretty tired. It was definitely hard to drive away seeing all those deer just out of reach.
Before we left Brent said we should take some photos...
I loved this experience and was happy to have something to share with my husband that was super enjoyable to both of us, and I realized something about these kind of adventures and life in general...it ain't pretty. The Holy Spirit definitely picks the best times to rejuvenate the soul and help your life refocus and your heart swell up.
When I got home and took off my layers of socks, pants, and shirts I realized my body was wrecked. My feet were disgusting, my clothes were drenched in sweat, my hair was in greasy matted clumps on my head, but I felt great. I had walked another 20 miles or more that weekend through amazing backdrops and temperatures. I got to see the sunrise and set. I wasn't concerned about anything else but getting a deer. Being so present in the moments and enjoying every last second was so worth it and refreshing. (Even the tick I found in my bag that probably came off one of my garments) I realized how the best things in life leave us kind of wrecked and beaten up when we are really in the trenches and intentionally partaking. When we are elbow deep in finger paint with our kids, or up to our knees in toys, buried in laundry from a week (or more) worth of wearing, when we didn't plan for dinner so we have an impromptu-whatever-is-in-the-cupboard concoction, these moments are what I live for. These moments are what make everything worth it and leave their mark on us. I am so lucky to have so many wonderful people in this messy life with me. I am beyond grateful for my opportunity to have experiences that humble me and let me know that when life is done right, it is just a beautiful mess.
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