What I learned deer hunting
I queued up at the hunting license station at the local market and purchased my first ever deer tag that states "2014 Resident Western Deer Rifle," as well as a hunting license. I had a note in hand just in case it got confusing but the clerks were knowledgeable and encouraging about my first hunt.
There is likely a state pamphlet detailing the various rules governing each species but since I'm with a life-long hunter, I didn't bother reading anything. At some time on our first outing it occurred to me that we were hunting for stags, bucks, the male species. Which effectively cut our odds by half. I ran that observation by Terry, who looked questioningly at me but refrained from scoffing.
We spotted an inordinate number of does, to the point that I wondered if I'd be able to recognize a buck. We peered through field glasses over hill and dale looking for a white-spotted nose with vertical spikes that would focus into a buck camouflaged into its surroundings. Terry kept spotting them and pointing them out to me. I'd follow his direction and the deer would sometimes morph into my view. Or not. It takes some practice to develop the eye.
It clicked for me today, the last day of hunting season. I spotted a good-sized buck on a hillside, then discovered a new wrinkle. I'm not very good at giving directions, (in these circumstances,) partly because I have no clue to distances. I can't determine if its 100 feet up that hill or 300 yards. Also I'm a little worried that I might not be able to find whatever again if I put down my field glasses. So it was comedic when I tried to direct Terry's gaze to the deer.
"Over by that maple."
"Which maple?"
"The orange one near the top of the hill."
"There's a lot of them near the top of the hill."
"See that big gray stump below the hilltop?"
"Yes"
"Okay, the deer is down the hill at nine o'clock."
He found it before becoming totally exasperated. The buzzword "at nine o'clock" is going to be an inside joke.
We got skunked. Terry was disappointed for me, but no need. I had a great time.
There is likely a state pamphlet detailing the various rules governing each species but since I'm with a life-long hunter, I didn't bother reading anything. At some time on our first outing it occurred to me that we were hunting for stags, bucks, the male species. Which effectively cut our odds by half. I ran that observation by Terry, who looked questioningly at me but refrained from scoffing.
We spotted an inordinate number of does, to the point that I wondered if I'd be able to recognize a buck. We peered through field glasses over hill and dale looking for a white-spotted nose with vertical spikes that would focus into a buck camouflaged into its surroundings. Terry kept spotting them and pointing them out to me. I'd follow his direction and the deer would sometimes morph into my view. Or not. It takes some practice to develop the eye.
It clicked for me today, the last day of hunting season. I spotted a good-sized buck on a hillside, then discovered a new wrinkle. I'm not very good at giving directions, (in these circumstances,) partly because I have no clue to distances. I can't determine if its 100 feet up that hill or 300 yards. Also I'm a little worried that I might not be able to find whatever again if I put down my field glasses. So it was comedic when I tried to direct Terry's gaze to the deer.
"Over by that maple."
"Which maple?"
"The orange one near the top of the hill."
"There's a lot of them near the top of the hill."
"See that big gray stump below the hilltop?"
"Yes"
"Okay, the deer is down the hill at nine o'clock."
He found it before becoming totally exasperated. The buzzword "at nine o'clock" is going to be an inside joke.
We got skunked. Terry was disappointed for me, but no need. I had a great time.
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