She-Hunter

Experiencing nature as she awakes is a true delight. Birds are the first to hear as they begin to stir and make their “new day chirps”. They flitter from tree to tree as if shaking off the stiffness of the passing night. I have always found it amusing to have one perch near me in the tree stand, with that questionable look trying to determine whether or not I’m part of the tree or something to fear. When they stay longer or leave undisturbed, I know that those extra steps to camouflage me are worth it. The hat, the face drape, the gloves, the clothing and shoes all play a part in blending me into the tree. In the past I have also had squirrels check me out, but not this morning, the first day of the 2009 season. I’m glad… they sometimes give me away.

As the sunlight begins to spread across the field, that short-lived temperature-drop reminds me that I DID need the extra jacket my husband, Ed, and his brother, Mike, suggested. Far off I see a small buck jump a fence, and then another soon after. Too bad they are heading away from me. As I scan the area, I look back over my shoulders just in case one walks up on me. What a surprise it is to see one browsing below you! But that did not happen today.

I’m a pampered hunter. My husband does many things to make my hunt the best possible and easiest on me. As he drives me to the stand, all the safety rules and shooting tips are reviewed to make my hunt safe, successful and enjoyable. When we arrive, he holds all my gear as I climb up the ladder, insures my rifle is set in safe-mode and hands it and my other gear up to me. He waits while I get situated and watches as I bolt in the first cartridge and set the safety. He always throws out a couple of extra handfuls of corn and gives me the “thumbs up” sign before driving away. As the taillights disappear, my body takes in a deep breath and sighs as if to say “Okay girl, your on your own”.

Another hunter has settled into a blind several hundred yards away across the property line, but the noise coming my way tells me there must be a new hunter in the group. It is amazing how sound travels when you are trying to be silent. Just like the swivel seat in my tree stand… wish I had thought about adding oil to the squeak prior to opening day. Even acorns falling sound like a big varmint in the bushes.

Out of the brush to my left strolls a doe. Ten yards behind her comes a buck…a NICE buck…a PROUD buck with his head held high. He looks across the pasture to the other hunter’s blind. He turns and trots back into the brush. “Oh my gosh”, I whisper. “I’ve missed my chance!!” Ed has always told me to be ready, because you may only have a few seconds to make the shot. Out came a second doe, but no buck. The gun rest is positioned at the right corner of the stand, but I try to steady the gun with my left arm as a rest. I wait… no buck. “Okay”, I tell myself, “why not”… I try the bleat that Ed taught me; and sure enough, here he comes out again and looking my way. At this point I must tell you that I have shot several deer over the years, but when a large, majestic buck steps out and looks directly at you, your entire steadiness seems to fade. The cross hairs were dancing around and I was not sure whether to take the shot or not. “Breathe, just breathe”, I told myself and holding that breath I pulled the trigger. The buck looked around as if trying to locate the sound and then trotted off into the brush. I believe it was a clean miss… but what a kill it would have been! As the morning passed, only small, young bucks came my way, but watching and enjoying nature was worth the time in the stand.

Mid-morning Ed and Mike came to pick me up and because I had shot, we searched the entire area for signs of blood or a wounded or dead deer. Finding nothing eased my mind. Waiting for the afternoon hunt, we went into town for lunch and back out for a butterfly and bird watching episode under the oak trees.

With a few more pointers from Ed, I was soon back in the stand. The afternoon seemed to crawl. I watched cattle graze for about an hour before seeing any deer. I saw several, but nothing big enough to kill… until just before dark. A doe came prancing into the clearing with a “lovesick buck” chasing close behind. He really DID look silly because he had somehow lodged a green, stringy bush onto his left antler. As he pursued the doe, I got a steady rest and the shot was true. I love it when they drop right where you shoot them! He was a nice eight-point but his antlers were slight maybe because of the drought this year.

Now, back to being pampered… Ed, with Mike assisting, field-dressed my deer, skinned and quartered it all in the beam of a flashlight. What hunting partners! I couldn’t ask for more. It was a fun filled day with a happy ending and a very tired husband. Thank you sweetheart. I already smell venison chili, Jena.

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The Top 10% of Hunting and Fishing

Have you ever noticed that there are certain people that always catch fish or kill a big buck? Sure, anyone can get lucky and catch a big bass or kill the trophy of a lifetime. I am not talking about that. I am talking about the person that day-in and day-out kills a big deer or elk. We all know the fellow that goes fishing and comes in with a limit more times than not on a regular basis. My grandfather always told me that 10 percent of the hunters and fisherman take 90 percent of all the fish and game. That means the other 90 percent have to share the other 10 percent of the fish and trophy game. Not very good odds if you are not in the top 10 percent.

The purpose of this article is to tell you how to be in the top 10 percent. Now, I am not talking about the guy that has the money to go to a fancy game ranch where the bucks just step out in front of you, nor am I talking about those that can afford to fish in exotic destinations with the best guides. I am talking about being successful and in the top group wherever you hunt or fish. Remember, in order to be good at something you have to invest time, effort and money. One cannot pull Ole Betsy out of the safe or closet once a year, head into the woods, and expect to be in the top 10 percent of shooters and hunters.

Here is my advice to become good at whatever you pick. First try to go with others that are better than you are at the given task. Pay attention to what they do and ask questions. Learn what they have to teach and put it into practice. In this day and time you can buy books and DVDs from some of the best experts in their fields. If you want to become a top varmint hunter then get videos from the guys that win varmint hunting competitions or those that make the best calls and learn all you can from them. If you want to be a top shot take lessons from those that shoot like you want to shoot. Go on prairie dog hunts and practice long range shooting. On a typical three day prairie dog shoot, one will shoot more long range shots than most hunters shoot in a lifetime. What an opportunity to learn to be a top shooter. If you want to be a bass fisherman of note, learn all you can about bass; their habits and where they are in the water at different times of the year. Go scuba diving and watch bass. Learn everything you can about them and the equipment you need to catch them. If you want to learn the habits of an animal, get out in the field every chance you can. Don’t just hunt the seasons but get out and hunt with a camera in the off season. Practice, practice and practice some more.

Lastly but most important is to set goals and stick to them. If your goal is to kill a trophy 10 point buck, don’t settle for 8 point bucks. If you want to catch a 30 inch speckled trout then you must use baits and tactics to catch large speckled trout. That may mean fishing with large top water baits and catching nothing while others pull in 15 inch trout all day on shrimp tails. If your goal is just to catch more fish or fill you game quotas more often, evaluate how you are doing in reaching that goal. If you are not reaching your goal then don’t keep doing the same thing over and over. If what you are doing is not working change something and keep learning until it starts making sense. Did I say practice, practice, practice?

I know people that can look at an area and tell you where the bucks will be, where the predators will come from, what part of the field the dove will fly over or what part of the lake will hold fish. They were not born with that ability, but learned it just as you can if you are willing to put in the time, effort and money to be in the top 10 percent.
Have fun in your quest, Wild Ed

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Dick's Sporting Goods Strikes Out

We recently lost one of our big stores for hunters and outdoorsman here in Round Rock when the Sportsman’s Warehouse closed down. Cabela’s is an hour or more away depending on traffic and Academy does not always have what you need. I was excited to find they were building a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Pflugerville about twenty minutes away. When I opened the paper Sunday Dicks had a big flyer with all sorts of stuff for the hunter and outdoorsman on sale. I needed a deer feeder motor, some camo, deer corn and several boxes of .243 rifle ammo. They had a big add running all standard caliber Remington Core-lokt ammunition on sale and also a $2.50 rebate coupon per box from Remington on top of that.

I made the drive over and started picking up the items I needed. When I got to the ammo counter I asked where the Remington Core-lokt ammo that was on sale was and a nice clerk took me over to a counter loaded with ammo. I picked up five boxes of Remington .243 cartridges and was told that they were not on sale. I asked to see the Sunday ad and it stated all standard calibers. I was then told that .243 was not a standard caliber. That was the first time in my life I ever heard that, the .243 is about as standard a caliber as they come. If I had been trying to buy .264 Winchester Magnums or .257 Roberts cartridges I could understand. I then asked for the rebate offer and low and behold .243 was listed in the rebate offer but Dick’s staff would not sell me the ammo at the sale price. I left without spending a penny in the store. Dicks has lost a customer and I will pass this on to all my friends. I drove back over to Academy in Round Rock and spent my money.
Live and learn, Wild Ed

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