Thursday

Slow your pace down to match that of nature or your surroundings. Spend the entire day in the woods and see what happens to your thoughts and psyche. Sunrise to sunset.

You’ll find that there is no hurry to get to the destination. Once the pure element of surprise is gone, walk as slowly as you can force yourself to go. Check the wind often- are you approaching this bedding area carefully? Intelligently and strategically?

Listen to the birds- they are nature’s alarm. Listen for movement besides your own. Never break a sweat. Pretend you’re hunting yourself.

All a young man wants to do is retrace the footsteps of his father- all his father wants him to do is not recreate his mistakes. As we yearn for the past be cognizant of the message of the present.

I have stopped on the bridge. Often big deer cross up ahead (downstream). Legendary ghost deer.

Woods hunting for me is more about the sounds of the deer. Rarely if ever is a deer spotted and then heard. I am in a stand now nearest the Kaiser property. The woods are very still right now- that’s why I’ve come back to the stand. I will be out in the woods all day if I continue this pace. I think to myself, the wind is wrong for the ridge and area near where the ghost was last spotted.

Practice using your peripheral vision.
Keep the head as still as possible.
Enjoy a Mr. Goodbar- be careful, a sudden drop in blood sugar could result.
Take your scope caps off.
Ensure a cartridge is in the chamber.
Place your safety on the middle setting.
Stands are so hard to sit still in. It takes focus to think about sitting still. It is an acquired skill.

Another shot. Another. Another. Another. Another. Must be target practice. Or, a very wounded deer.

I only have three bullets to use- better do it wisely.
Ensure a good shot placement.
Writing without gloves on now- it is nice this afternoon.
Can the woods hear me as I think? Will wants a deer/big game knife. Mutual binoculars also shared with Don would be a good idea.
Gauge the weather: Low pressure fronts carry smells and sounds better.
The dogs howl again, but I cannot pinpoint their location or to which kennel they belong.
Move your head slowly when you hear a sound. Look around slowly.
My next story will be for an audience.