Thanksgiving & Deer hunting

 Wednesday 22 November 2023

   We were to be on our way down state for Thanksgiving but there were to many sick people so we decided to stay home and just drive down tomorrow.  It will make a long day but hopefully we will not be spreading illness to anyone else. Spent the day making sure we had all the hunting stuff ready to go.

Thursday 23 November 2023        HAPPY THANKSGIVING

   I was right. What a long day! We left the Moho at 7am, with Rudy, drove to Karen's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Diane was making baked corn for the meal, so we had to arrive early enough for her to cook. Karen's one dog doesn't play well with other dogs, so Rudy had to spend the day it the car.  It was a nice sunny day, so it wasn't too bad.
   We ate around two.  The food was great and visiting with the family was great.  Many thanks to Mike and Karen for hosting. It was a lot of work for them.
   Then we got back in the car and drove home. It was after 8pm by the time we arrived at the Moho. Rudy was ever so happy to get out of the car.  It was a glass or two of wine and we called it a night.

Friday 24 November 2023

   Recovery day of course.  After eating way too much yesterday it was yogurt for breakfast, salad for lunch and I think burgers for dinner. Diane made us sandwiches for hunting tomorrow as we prepared everything for opening day.

Saturday 25 November 2023    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to me (the 50th anniversary of my 21st birthday) 

  We left the Moho at 5:15 am!  It was cold temperature right around 18 degrees with a light breeze. In our stands by 6:30 and froze by 7:30. I was wearing my best and warmest hunting clothes I own and still I froze. The sun finally came out about 9:30 and warmed us up just a bit. We stuck it out all day. I saw a few deer 𐂂around 9am and some more just after lunch, but they were in and out of the brush could not identify anything I wanted to shoot. Diane had 6 or 7 🦌does come running right toward her, they ran past her, ran back then went off in several different direction all in a few seconds. She didn't even have a chance to get rifle. Cold and tired we headed to the moho. Dinner was in the crock pot the place smelled sooo good.

Sunday 26 November 2023  (2nd day deer season)

   We had so much fun yesterday we did it again today.  Again, it was below 20 degrees and we left at 5:15. (Rudy was not happy). We crossed the creek, up the mountain and in our stand by 6:45(a little slower on the second day).  Well wouldn't you know it 8am two doe walked by me and stopped. I picked the larger one out and shot.  She just looked around and took another couple of steps. I looked at my rifle yep, scope is still on it. Aimed shot again and she fell over. I'm happy I radio Diane tell her I got one, she didn't answer so I repeated the message. She answers in her loudest whispering voice QUIET. She had several deer around her stand. She shoots. I wait.  A few minutes later she radios I think I missed. 
    I headed over to check mine out, tag it etc. She goes to look for blood couldn't find any. Disappointed she radios me.  Just as I start to head down, she shoots again. This time the deer takes a leap and falls over.  She leans her rifle against a tree and walks down to check the doe, it's a nice one.  A little noise off to her right and here goes a huge buck across the hill. AAAA CRAP.
    It is now only 9:30am. My deer is at the top of the hill, Diane's halfway down. I left all my gear with her went back up the hill gutted mine and drug it down to meet her. Gutted hers and we actually had to drag it UP hill a bit to get it on the path.
    Words cannot describe the drag down the hill, across the creek and up another hill to the truck. We

At the Creek

both packed a layer or two of clothes in our back packs.  Diane ferried rifles, packs and coats down the hill across the creek and up to the truck while I drug deer. I was at the creek when she returned. We both worked hard to get them through the water and up to the truck. As soon as the last one was loaded it was up to the cabin drop of deer and Diane was off to get poor Rudy.  He has been in the Moho for seven hours.
   Diane returns with Rudy and I was working on the second one. I was happy to see her (she has coffee) Rudy was happy to see me (deer blood licking of my boots). We ate are lunch had a coffee and were sitting in the cabin before 

Finally finished!

4 o'clock.   What a day. Completely exhausted it was leftovers and wine for dinner and we were done.

Monday 27 November 2023 (3rd day of deer season)

   Diane did not move when the alarm went off.  But I'm no quitter I was out to get the buck she saw yesterday.   Out the door at 6am in her stand just before 7am.  No buck, no doe, no coffee and not even the squirrels were out to entertain me.  Wasn't long before there was no Bradley in the mountain either.  Back to the Moho before lunch for a much-needed coffee and nap. The temps have stayed well below freezing overnight, so it's hook up water, dump tanks and unhook every few days.
  Had a nice dinner some wine and a chance to recoup just a bit. 

   

Two doe on the meat pole!!