A Long Dry Spell

It’s been longer than I will publicly admit since I’ve had a successful hunt. I’ve got to connect this year! Opening day of archery season was two weeks ago and I was fortunate to be able to hunt. Early season hunting is a little different, still relatively warm out and a lot of foliage still on the trees. Not quite as enjoyable as being out on a cool winter morning but still good to be back out in the woods.

I am not exactly sure what I am doing wrong. I just haven’t seen a lot of game over the past few years. That could be a number of things. Perhaps I am being too noisy getting to my spot. Maybe I need to mask my scent better. It could just be that I’m hunting in the wrong spot. Hunting public land offers unique challenges; I’ve found a few good spots over the years that I frequent and although they are convenient to visit, perhaps it’s just not an area deer enjoy traversing!

I think what it really comes down to is what I blog about frequently- time. Like most anything, hunting well takes a commitment of time. Time to scout, time to sight in your tools, time to shop if new equipment is needed. I am most likely just not dedicating the time required to hunt successfully. A bit ironic since I allegedly “retired” a few years ago!

Case in point, the season has been open for two weeks but I’ve only been out once! Not that it would probably matter anyway. The model I’ve followed for the past eight years is pull the bow out of the case the night before opening day, check my hunting gear and portable blind, then set the alarm for the next morning.

This year that flawed methodology almost proved disastrous! Because I didn’t scout my usual spot, I didn’t realize until 5 a.m. on opening day that the keepers of the public land I hunt discontinued mowing from the road up to the wood line. As a result, the 50ft from the road was grown up with “wait a minute” vines and more treacherous foliage. Because I didn’t have a plan B, I pressed through the thicket and eventually made it to my spot but was so frazzled (and noisy) any deer within a half mile radius probably steered well clear.

I am not sure how I can carve out more time to dedicate to hunting, especially this season with all the “extra” that’s going on in my life. At the end of the day though, I know it’s probably more than putting in the hours. I need to really just overhaul my hunting game. Wished I could say with confidence I will do it this season, but don’t want to lie to myself!

While I remain optimistic for the remainder of the 2023 season, I know if I keep hunting the way I am now, the freezer will probably stay empty. Frustrating yes, but I’ve shared in blogs previously that putting meat in the freezer isn’t the main reason I hunt. The biggest thing driving me to the woods almost in the middle of the night is that I get to enjoy the majesty of sunrise in the woods and being close to God’s wonderous creations! 

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