My First Deer Camp!!!

Catsclaw · Post by **Catsclaw** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:49 pm

Deer Camp 101

I was positive I was going into the woods to teach some deer the proper bleeding procedures after being shot with a crossbow. I am the one who got the education.

Friday Oct. 20th, 2006

The guides dropped me off at the stand around 2:30 p.m. and left!!! I was all alone in the woods. I didn’t know what I expected, but I figured on my first time out there would be some last minute pep talks, or somebody would sit with me that first day. That was not the case.
The stand I was in was a 12 foot elevated blind more set up for gun hunting. Not very user friendly for crossbows. I had a very difficult time getting in this thing they called a bucket seat. It’s an old chair with the legs missing, on top of a bucket!!!!! It took me no time at all to figure out just how far you can lean out to reach for something before the bucket would begin to tip and dump you out. I found this out after about 5 minutes in my stand!!! I practiced this new found knowledge 3 times in the first half hour I was there. I was sure somebody would be along shortly to let me know I’d scared the deer off for 100 miles in all directions. I sounded like a train wreck!!!!!!
I finally got set up in the seat with the crossbow cocked and my arrows within reach, and I began to settle down. As I began scanning the area for the deer that I just knew were going to walk right up and pose for me, I suddenly realized how noisy the woods were!!!! Squirrels are not good hunting companions!!!!! I was sure some huge bear was on his way to making me his dinner!!! I was scared to death!!!!! Then, I spotted deer!!!!!
There were a couple of does and fawns off to my right, at the other end of the blind I had set the bow up in. Figures!!! So, being resourceful, I thought it would be a fantastic time to snap a picture. Did you know deer run for their lives when a flash goes off??? At this point, I knew!!!! It wasn’t long before another lone doe and a fawn came out of the woods to my left. As I began to readjust the bow, I banged the xbow on the side of the tin blind and send them into the next county. I figured that was the last deer I’d be seeing that day, and just decided to sit back and wait for the truck to pick me up. I was amazed when the next deer came in right in front of me!!!!!
I truly understand buck/deer fever now!!!! My deer was right there!!!!!
I did the stupidest thing ever!!!! I shot at this deer that was 45 yards out, from an elevated blind. I flinched, I shut my eyes, I did everything one is NOT supposed to do, but I had such an adrenalin rush, none of that mattered, until I thought about it later. Back at the lodge that night, after the trackers brought back my muddy, not bloody, arrow, I was so incredibly dejected I just went to bed with a jumbo lump in my throat. Day 1 was now in the crapper.

Saturday Oct. 21st, 2006

After a quick 4:00 a.m. breakfast, it was back on the trucks for the morning hunt. Only, I didn’t get on one. I was put in a truck by myself and taken to a blind far away from the other hunters. I was sure it was because of all the things I had done wrong the night before. Joe, my guide, dropped me off and left me a flashlight. I felt like I was being punished. It was dark, and cold, and I could hear yotes howling what seemed like a very short distance away. I managed to get in the seat and get the bow set up in the dark with a lot less noise than the night before, and then I did the only thing an inexperienced girl hunter could do. I leaned my head on the side of the blind, and I began to sob. I cried for everything that was going on in my life, and everything I thought was wrong on this trip. It has been a lot of years since I have openly wept like that. I was so overcome with emotion, I just wanted to get back to the lodge, load my stuff, and get the hell home!!!! Afet the tears let up, I heard some leaves rustling behind me, and as I turned to see what it was, the bucket turned with me and I was grabbing for dear life to keep from falling over, again. I saw white flags headed to the woods. I couldn’t have felt any lower or alone than I did at that moment. Then, something incredible happened!!!!! As the yotes howled and my nose ran, I looked out over the clearing in front of me and watched 8 wild turkeys pick their way across the field grazing. The sun was peeking through the trees and the misty haze made it all seem so surreal. I lost all track of time and suddenly the cold didn’t seem so cold. I watched the turkeys for about an hour. I started to feel a calm come over me, and it dawned on me…..this IS what it is all about!!!!!! I was still determined to load up and head home at this point, but my heart and soul felt cleansed. I thought about what I had done already. I DROVE 400 miles BY MYSELF, and landed right in the middle of the wilderness. I was one with nature and it was awesome!!!!!!!!! Joe finally came and picked me up, and back to the lodge we went. It was a very quiet ride.

Saturday Oct 21st, 2006...later the same day…

After a most EXCELLENT lunch, I decided to give this hunting thing one more chance and got my gear ready. I lightened my load by dumping the camera and the cell phone, and borrowed a pair of binoculars. While waiting for the truck, I overheard the ladies talking about button bucks, spikes and spotted fawns. I learned that if you shoot one of them, it’s, swipe the credit card!!! $500 bucks a head!!!!! I was glad I missed that doe the first night, because I still couldn’t tell you if it was a doe OR a buck!!!!!! My confidence in myself started coming back slowly as I listened to the girls say a lot of the same things I was feeling!!!!! I figured out one thing. DEER ARE SMART!!!!!!!! The next thing I figured out is…you have to be smarter than deer if you want to shoot one!!!! They let me back on the truck with the other hunters and set me up in my third blind. At this point, I decided it wasn’t about shooting a deer, and relaxed in my blind like it was nothing new to me. I set up so I could shift the bow from two windows, at least giving myself a broader range to shoot, if it was a close enough shot. After a short catnap…..blind snoozing is SO COOL!!!!!…..I woke up to see 13 turkeys out in the clearing to my left. I don’t know why, but I moved the bow to that direction, and loaded an arrow. A pack of turkeys came in, and there seemed to be a control issue between to huge toms!!!! I know they were toms because of the binoculars I borrowed!!!!! Four deer popped out of the woods about this time, and I focused on them. With my newly found “eyes”, I discovered the difference between buttons, spikes and does!!! I had two does, one spike, and a spotted fawn about 45 yards out. I watched them for what seemed like an eternity!!! The spike was hilarious!!!! He would rare up and charge the turkeys!!!! The big tom in the bunch would spread out and run at him!!!!!! He would do this little hop skip thing and tease the turkey to do it again. It was so cool!!!!!! The whole time, they all were moving closer in my direction, and I was READY!!!!!! I had the wind in my face as they neared….when they were about 25 yards out…..the wind shifted. As the big grey doe winded me, she threw back her head and let out a bleat!!!!!! I saw stuff in the tree line retreat!!!! I spent the rest of the day watching a coyote prowl the tree line. I was ELATED to be there and that there was nothing I did wrong in not getting a shot. When Bo, one of the other guides, picked me up, I was on cloud 9!!!!!!

Sunday Oct 22nd, 2006

Woke up to rain on the roof. Went back to bed.

Sunday Oct. 22nd, 2006...later that day…

The guides set me up in the first blind I was in Friday night. I settled in pretty good, and reflected on everything I had learned since arriving at White Oak. I stayed on my bucket seat, and gave myself two viewing ranges. It was eerily quiet, and after all the deer movement after the rain, I really didn’t have a good feeling about seeing any deer. The next half hour would prove that to be true. As I battled for control with a wasp for the blind, something caught my attention off to the left. Strolling along the tree line was a coyote!!!!!! He was headed right for me. I didn’t panic…yet. He ducked into the woods about 30 yards out. I was paranoid, and got up to shut and lock the door on my blind. Spent the next hour or so dozing. The night before we had a presentation from the owner of ALPEN OPTICS, and it had already been a very long day!!! Every sound brought me to full alert!!! The sun was still pretty high in the sky when I heard something that I couldn’t figure out which direction it came from…..and the hair on my neck stood up!! As I looked off to the right, something caught my eye to the left. I snapped my head around just in time to see my yote stroll out of the woods right in front of me!!!! I had learned by then to be prepared and had the bow ready. I really didn’t want to shoot a yote, but I was scoping him walking around……and then, he winded me!!!! Then, I was scared!!!!!!! I tried to be real quiet, but I was sure he knew I was there because the pounding of my heart was so loud in my ears!!!! He stopped, turned in my direction…..sniffing the air…….and I shot!!!!! I missed!!!!! But, he ran off into the woods, and I resumed my struggle with the wasp for blind dominance. I saw another doe with a spotted fawn about a half hour later, but she didn’t get close enough, and the fawn was still nursing, so I just enjoyed watching them.
That night we had the presentation on the new Stryker crossbow by Bowtech.

Monday Oct.23rd, 2006

Woke up to 38 degree temps, had to drive 400 miles home….didn’t get in bed till midnight….went back to bed. And that……was my first deer camp. Hope you enjoyed reading it. J

chris4570 · Post by **chris4570** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:20 pm

That was a good read! Thanks for sharing!

Hunting can be both exhilerating and frustrating. Then there are the little moments that you witness that others may never enjoy. Last Sunday while sitting on the ground waiting for the deer to appear I had a junco (small bird) just about land on my nose. He decided to perch on my foot-stirrup instead, directly inline with the point of my broadhead. Silly bird.

Catsclaw · Post by **Catsclaw** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:35 pm

chris4570 wrote:That was a good read! Thanks for sharing!

Hunting can be both exhilerating and frustrating. Then there are the little moments that you witness that others may never enjoy. Last Sunday while sitting on the ground waiting for the deer to appear I had a junco (small bird) just about land on my nose. He decided to perch on my foot-stirrup instead, directly inline with the point of my broadhead. Silly bird.

LOL!!!!!!

I noticed if ya stop swinging your hat at a wasp, they will eventually fly away!!!!

JR · Post by JR » Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:09 pm

Excellent read. Thanks for sharing.

-Jason

wabi · Post by **wabi** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:46 pm

Great read!!!!
Hunting sure is a lot more than just shooting deer, isn't it!

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:22 pm

Catsclaw:

That was a most enjoyable read.

I can't however, say to much for the guides you were given though.

They should have given much more attention to the Hunters who were giving them their money. IMO anyway.
I hope your next outing will produce a Deer for you.

ecoaster · Post by **ecoaster** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:41 pm

You did the right thing by sticking it out. You were witness to the most enjoyable part of hunting. Watching the sunrise, having the woods come alive right before your eyes, and seeing all the critters go about their crazy antics.

While turkey hunting in the spring I videoed a doe and two yearlings crossing a field in front of me. One of the yearlings was running circles around the other two, jumping on their backs, rolling around on the ground, and kicking the others with his front hooves. I have never seen a deer so playful. Looked just like a puppy starved for attention. Never saw a turkey that day, but it was one of the most enjoyable days last spring.

My wife thinks I'm crazy to get up at 4am in December and head out to the treestand in 20 below freezing. She may be right

, but I tried to explain to her that it is one of the most beautiful things to see the sun rise through the frost and see all the critters come to life at dawn. It's my version of stress management.

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:01 pm

CC,

You made my otherwise $hitty day great with that story~!

Thanks for sharing~!

Regards,
Robin

groundpounder · Post by **groundpounder** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:12 pm

Good reading and very descriptive. That's why they call it hunting and not getting. Did sound like you saw plenty of wildlife, which its what its all about. And about the guides you mentioned, Don't know that I would refer to them as GUIDES! More like parking attendants! But glad you enjoyed your hunting experience.

Catsclaw · Post by **Catsclaw** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:21 pm

There is one thing I don't think I'm cut out for, and that is, MORNING HUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There has to be a deer union I can contact to ask them to PLEASE not move until it's AT LEAST 40 degree's!!!!????

I had THE BEST time, and I met a few AWESOME ladies!!!!!!! There is another side to this story that I'll bring to you all later on.

You see....I never got to bring my Excalibur out of the room. I was forbidden because the magnified scope is illegal in the state of dumba$$....I mean...Alabama.

I have a very special person I'm going to make this up to and it's going to be the BEST hunt story you all have ever read!!!!!

Bill.......I'll call you soon.

A.W · Post by **A.W** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:35 am

Thanks for the post. I really enjoyed the story of your first hunt camp and your openness about your feelings and emotions during the time sitting alone.

It's amazing how the brain works. All of a sudden when you are sitting alone keying into the sounds and smells "the penny drops" and you become more aware of your surroundings.

There's a serenity that comes with being out there and not talking to some one or using the phone. Keep the phone with you just in case but just turn the darn thing off.

There are people that would have flipped their bucket seat over and used the bucket for something else.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:44 am

Great story Stacy, it made a good read.

ecoaster · Post by **ecoaster** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:33 am

Are not the Excalibur scopes 2.5x magnification? I bet you can get more powerful eyeglasses

.

Taildrop · Post by **Taildrop** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:36 am

Thanks for the story, I enjoyed it.

BrianV · Post by **BrianV** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:39 am

CatsClaw,

Well written, it is a real pleasure to hear from someone just learning about the pleasures of deer hunting with a crossbow!!

I liked your style of writing also, good rhythm and well spaced. Nice.

BrianV