https://imgur.com/a/Pau2V For over 5 years I thought... "what is beyond that little creek?". I wondered, but wasn't motivated enough to find out. I thought I would just wait until the creek froze over and then walk across it to climb the huge Berm and peer over the side to see "likely" the dozens of whitetail deer seemingly laughing at the hunters on public ground. That is where I would run to if people were trying to get me.
But the creek didn't freeze over that year and the drive was too far from the city to make my way out there in January or February.
In March and April, I thought I would buy a small boat and take it out there... or I would make my own. I watched a few videos but determined that it just wouldn't be practical.
This past weekend, I decided to park on Route 41 and see if I could walk around and scout this area, find a few spots for shotgun or muzzleloader season. I would go where no man would step foot. Today, I would scout that area, to see where the deer sign was.. and where I would ambush them in November.
I knew I would have to walk at least 700 meters through uninhabitable foliage and get bitten by mosquitoes and stung by bees and likely have the blood sucked out of me by ticks. I HAD TO KNOW what was in between the creek and the Kankakee River.
You can see it in the image - there is no way to get there, no way for man to get to this wonderful section of deer habitat. It looks swampy, it looks SAFE (to deer). When the shooting starts, the deer will run to their sanctuary, I know it. So I parked and walked and sweated and swatted those mosquitoes and bees and other flying varmints.
I saw perfect deer habitat including food and berries and sticker bushes (perfect for hiding and sleeping), but no deer.
I saw downed trees and dried up swamp but no deer, I walked silently and slowly peering between trees and watching for beds and tracks and doo doo and I spent an hour and a half just walking quietly hoping and wondering and strategizing... " if I were a deer, I'd be right THERE!... nope, nothing over there and no tracks. hmmmmm."
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I walked back to my truck completely drenched in sweat, deet, peppermint (deters ticks) and I changed clothes right on the highway (down to the skivvies) got in my truck and suddenly felt the most powerful sense of happiness I've felt in quite a long time.
That is why I love the outdoors. I'm built for it. Didn't see a **** deer, I got bit a bunch, walked through sticker bushes and bled and it was completely fruitless... to anyone watching that is. But I loved every minute of it... and luckily no ticks.
