This week will be my 4th consecutive week on vacation to deer hunt. I have hunted every morning since Oct 26th except 2 and those were washouts. I hunted almost every evening as well and some of those days were all day sits. I can count the deer sightings on my hands and toes and still have some toes left over. I have not harvested a deer but did pass on some young bucks. Even though I have not taken a deer yet I was sitting in my stand today thinking how lucky I am to have the opportunity to comune with nature and see so many sunrises and sunsets from my stand. Each day I am able to see the woods come alive and wonder in anticipation of what the day will bring by. During my hunts I was lucky enough to see 2 bobcats and hear another one growl right at daybreak. I heard owls hooting, turkeys gobbling and cackling, squirrels chasing eachother and even watched a chipmunk working feverishly the entire evening hoarding food for the winter. I realized how lucky I am to have a wife that tolerates my passion of being in the deer woods day in and day out. Having a job where I am able to take a solid month off to enjoy my passion.Just being physically able to walk to my stand and climb a tree. The solitude of the deer stand and time spent thinking made me learn alot about my self and what I need to work on to be a better person and better husband. So is this my worst deer season ever??? I don't think so. Tomorrow is another sunrise and I will be on stand anxiously awaiting wondering if today will be the day. If not I still consider myself lucky.

Yeah......THAT!

PB, I will convey your feelings without comprehension. I spent 2 days in the hospital recently, because I was stupid enough to smoke a pack of "Winston Lights" a day for almost 40 years. Thanks GDude and Bean for witnessing the Pink Floyd pajamas,,, Today is day "30" of me being nicotine-free. Yeah....I'm proud of that. I'm also proud of the fact that I took a dink 8 pointer....and had one of my best friends share the experience.

I haven't harvested a deer either! But this has been an amazing season. I watched my oldest son shoot his first buck with a bow, I watched my 11 year old harvest his biggest buck to date on a 160 yard shot and the deer dropped on its tracks. So I second the theory that it's not about the "kill", but rather the experience. I cherish every moment outdoors and consider myself blessed to be able to Persue my passion. (By the way my 11 year old and I routinely practice long shots with his gun, it was well within his range and comfort zone + the deer was wide open and feeding.)

Sounds like a good season to me. I went at it during bow season like a mad man! No luck. Lots of deer just not the one I was after yet!.

Now the benefits of my lack luster season are very simple and yet gratifiYing .. and here are the reasons why
1. No honey do list
2. No honey do list
3. No honey do list..
4. Cell phone off!!
5. Not at work!
6. Its the season..
7. Did mention the honey dooooo list?
8. Just being outside is cool
9. Its a guy thing.
10. Blame god .. he made me this Way and I like meat! But that's not why I hunt.......

I'm going to hunt till I die...

AND you got to see a 57 year-old dude somersault down a 50' ravine unharmed...before his 8-pointer did..

That was just a bonus and it wasn't me this time!!

I have led 21 mission trips all over and visited Haiti, Mexico, Brasil. I touched, smelled and witnessed real poverty where people would love to have our problems.

I promise you this: I could have the worst deer season known to mankind and be okay with it.

Weedy - we needed that on video and keep going man... You get to a year and I'll treat ya a steak dinner.

We had a great time!.

I'm still at it sorta...

But birds are calling and I don't need a drag rope!.

Hunt on! Just be happy you can hunt! Fish! Or walk !

PS. I'm going in the morning. Its just calling my name!

Yer on, bro. You can blame Keith on the "no video" thingy....I was kinda busy... It's day 30......no smokes or nicotine whatsoever. Toughest thing I've ever had to do...but It's gonna cost ya a steak dinner..or at least a bowl of my squirrel chowder at Dude's place. My treat, buddy..

AMEN brotheren

Good Posts!

Good post, Parker.

There is a lot more to hunting experience than shooting some thing.

Now this is the type of thread I like to read. Great posts by everyone involved. I don't hunt near as much as I would like, but other things like "life" get in the way and I appreciate each and every day I'm able to make it to the woods.

+ 1 Well said by all.

I'm getting ready to turn 64, and I'm just glad I can still get out there and go. I have been deer hunting for 45 years and I still say a little prayer every time I'm sitting on stand. I don't hunt like I used to, but I still love it.

Amen!

Great post and well said!

Right on. I enjoyed another morning on the HNF todsy in an area I had never been in before. Only saw a spike but what a beautiful sunrise.