It was actually the opening day of the Deer Hunt...... but all we saw was:
1 Squirrel
2 Chipmunks
6 Doe
4 Elk
38 Family members
I got up around 6am to get everything packed and our lunch ready. Fred got off work around 7am, sped home, put the tailgate on the truck and we were off! Definitely not as early as we would normally leave, but when we got to the family ranch everyone was still down by the big barn. They put the cows in the lower pasture and had to shoe a horse & work on a couple of calves since "Doc" (Uncle Marr) was there. Finally after a group prayer for safety we loaded the trucks.
We always take 3 trucks and usually 8 horses, but only 6 yesterday. I never decide what truck to jump in until I see where all the noisey kids are going. Most of the time we're lucky and pick a truck that ends up with the older cousins. This year it was Fred & I, Lauralee, Crystal, Nathan & his 2 boys, & Collin & his 2 girls. They were pretty well behaved until they started singing "This is the song that never ends..." They were pretty good about being quite whenever we stopped to sit on a point though.
We hunt the same direction every year, behind the ranch house, across the fish pond, up straight up, stop for lunch, then 2 more points and finally down to "The Bowl". Around that time the kids are done with any thought of being quite and if it hasn't been a productive year, the guys turn to the radio to start listening to the football games. I do love the way we hunt though. The horses wait while the trucks drive around into position - only spreading out to 3 or 4 points so we know where everyone is. Then the horses brush through the trees trying to scare any deer up. I just don't think there were any deer to scare this year!
I found these great tri-leg stools for $4 - they made fun of me for the first 2 years, because I'd carry them out on the points with me to have a seat, but now they're all jealous! They're easy to carry and make sitting on the points great! It was fun to see the kids sit on sage brush - oh to be young again! Lunch time was the best, Fred & I had seats! As soon as we left they were taken though. (Picture at the top)
Sometimes it feels like the whole reason we go on the deer hunt is for the picnic. Everyone wants to see what everyone else brought, there's some trading and people are pretty good about sharing treats. Then of course there's the second round of treats that you stick in your pockets for the second half of the day. It's fun to see everyone gather in their little family groups to see what mom or grandma packed.
Even though it wasn't a productive hunt, I have to say that the weather could not have been any more perfect! It was fun to sit on a few different points that I hadn't sat on before. Only a few moments of annoyance with one Uncle that doesn't know how to use the walkie-talkies.... :} & my face is only slightly sunburned!
Hopefully Fred gets a chance to go up early Monday morning with Christopher & my dad- I think they'll be more successful with a smaller, earlier hunt.
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