The Reasons Why I Hunt

Last night I hunted in a new spot. It has been a spot I have wanted to hunt for a long time. It is one of those big old wide shelter belts. I am talking like 10 tree rows wide with the old Cottonwood trees standing tall in the middle. One of those shelter belts that are disappearing on the landscape. This spot is only a couple hundred yards from my house. But last night was the first time I hunted this spot.

I could've hunted here last year but for medical reasons I couldn't get out. My friend found a good level place in the tree rows where I could get my wheelchair in and out easily. He also cleaned out all of the old, dead branches out of the way to make a clearing for my wheelchair and shooting lanes. Thanks.

This year with my medical problems behind me I was going to be able to hunt this new spot. From the Moultrie trail cam pictures last year we knew it was going to be good. There were decent bucks and there were a lot of them. The trail cam pictures this year did not disappoint. The deer were bigger and more plentiful.

Another friend, the landowner left part of his field along the belt in wheat stubble instead of chisel plowing it up. This makes it a lot easier for me to get a vehicle to where I want to go and get my chair to where I need to be. Thanks.

Anyway, last night was the first time being in this shelter belt for a while. I checked it out about a month ago and then it decided to snow, so I had to wait for it to dry out. When I was going into the belt the first thing I noticed was a fresh scrape about 20 feet in front of me on the path going into the clearing. Not wanting to disturb it I decided to back in to some bushes to give myself a backdrop so I wouldn't be silhouetted. I checked out my shooting lanes and decided this spot would work. So I had my mom wrap me in my Mossy Oak burlap with a fresh earth scent wafer, then I had her douse the scrape and set up a scent wick both sprayed with Buck Bomb-Doe Pee. Man I love the smell of fresh dirt and deer urine. They should make cologne out of that combination. The last thing I have someone do is put an arrow in my Carbon Express Intercept crossbow and make sure the safety switch is off so I am cocked, locked and ready to rock.

This is my favorite time, when I am all alone. I am by myself with nature until I call someone to come and get me. For the next couple hours it is just me watching the blue jays squawk, watching the squirrels annoy me, hearing the mice rustle under the leaves and hopefully seeing a deer. This is also my time to do my reflecting on what has happened, some might say meditating would be a better word. I think they are right. It is my alone time. You also think about the future and what might be, while waiting for Mr. Big to show his face.

It was a perfect night. It was a brisk, clear blue sky, perfect wind with the smell of autumn in my face kind of night. The wind was in my face, coming from the Southeast. The sunset was behind me and the harvest moon was rising in front of me.

The moment he came in the belt. The only picture I got of him that night.

All of the sudden around 6:20 PM I could hear something coming from the corn, which is still standing on the South side of the belt. Sunset was right at 6:28 PM. The anticipation is what gets me. You never know what's going to show up. This time it was a doe and a yearling. They looked like they were going to come right in. And they did. They came within 20 feet and milled around without a clue I was there for a good 15 minutes. Sitting on the ground having animals that close and having them have no idea you are there is something everyone should experience. The older doe stared at me for a little while but with the wind at her back she had no clue and she settled right down. Play the wind my friends and you will be rewarded.

 

The same buck from the night before.

Then I could hear something else walking along the belt. It was coming from the east. The does became alert. Bobbing their heads up and down like they do when they know something is up. All of a sudden I heard a faint grunt. One of those grunts you don't hear unless you are really focused. One of those grunts you think you made up in your head. But the next thing I saw was a buck working his way into the belt with his nose on the ground. Pre-rut is on. I could tell he was a nice 4 x 4, one that I have had on camera. If he gave me the opportunity I would let my Muzzy Trocar broadhead fly. But the opportunity was not presented. He kept his head down and walked straight towards the older doe and she took off like a raped ape heading East down the belt with the yearling following shortly after. The buck put his head up for a second just to give me a look at his rack, and then he put his head down and chased after the females. What a rush. The next thing I knew, it was dark.

I could've shot both does on this night. I could've taken a bad shot at the buck on this night. But that isn't the reason I hunt. The reason why I hunt is because I can. It is about the hunt. It is not about the kill.

These are just some of the reasons why I hunt. It's for these reasons and more. It is the reason why I do all of the preseason. It is the reason why I set up all of the trail cams. It is the reason for all of the target practice. It takes dedication and some skill. But it is mostly luck, perseverance and time spent in the woods. These are reasons why I hunt.

I was born to do this. I will do this until I can't. These are the reasons why I hunt. To shoot one with antlers is a bonus. To fill the freezer is a bonus. It is a very tasty bonus, but still a bonus. But it is not the reason why I hunt. The reason why I hunt is because I am a hunter. And I don't apologize for that.

Those are just some of the reasons why I hunt.

Thanks for reading, Clint.