Deep Roots

 

All families have Thanksgiving traditions, but I believe my family has a unique one. Every year my family and some we consider family meet at my grandparents house to celebrate Thanksgiving.  There are usually between 20-30 people that show up. That doesn't sound unusual except that they don't live there anymore. In fact both my blood grandparents are no longer with us.  The place is an old farm where my grandparents once made a living.  The property is still in the family and the house is still there, but no one lives there anymore.  However, I go there every chance I get.  This is my playground, hunting grounds, and family roots. My parents and uncle spend a lot of time, energy, and money out there maintaining the property, mostly for this once a year event. Without their efforts the gathering wouldn't be possible. 

It is located in what I consider one of the most beautiful places in Arkansas.  It is near where almost all of the major rivers in northwest Arkansas originate. The Kings river, Mulberry river, Buffalo river, and the White river all originate from this area. The wildlife is wild and there is plenty of it. The nearest town is about 45 minutes away and that town is not that big. When I need to get away, this place fits the bill. 

After we finish the noon meal we take a hike to the other side of the hill.  This is not just any hike to walk off lunch or just to see some of the amazing scenery, we hike to what we call the "big tree" or the "Bob place".   You may wonder why this is special to us. I will try to explain. My great great grandpa Bob homesteaded there from Kentucky. When he did he brought an Eastern Hemlock with him from Kentucky and planted it here.  It is a rare tree for this area because they are not native to Arkansas.  The government now owns that piece of land and it is part of the Ozark National Forest. The tree is still there. We visit it every year on Thanksgiving to remember those who came before us and maybe make us wonder what kind of legacy we will leave behind. If that tree could only talk it could tell us over a 100 years of history. It once stood at a homestead where every day activities took place to survive and now resides in the middle of the forest. I know it's just a tree, but this tree has a story.  One of these years that tree will fall, but because of that tree we will remember. What tree will you plant for the future generations to remember?

A head start

My friend Colby has is own deer camp that he attends every year with his family and friends.  They typically go out the day before gun season and set up camp.  Colby usually takes it a step farther and bow hunts on that day before gun season. This year it paid off for him.  This just proves the more time you spend in the woods, the better your chances. 

Late season buck

My dad's schedule didn't allow him to join us for deer camp, but he was able to go out later in the season and score this buck. 

Deer Camp 2016

Deer camp was a little different this year because of everyone's busy schedules.  We didn't have it till the second week of the modern gun season, the weather wasn't great, and then it was somewhat of a rotating door. We all didn't arrive and leave at the same time and I had to make a trip bank to town for a day during the trip.  However, with all of that we still had some quality time with some great friends and managed to harvest 4 deer between 4 the of us that were able to attend. One of them was a decent buck, two younger bucks, and one doe.  I only have a picture of 3 of them.  

First deer kill of the season

After a long summer and running out deer meat in the freezer, I was eager this year to bow hunt and start replenishing our deer meat supply. Besides that, bow hunting is my favorite method.  Little did I know that this would be a start to great season.  Since my number one goal was to harvest meat, I was hunting for the first good shot I could get. I've learned that sometimes you have to take what is giving to you or go home empty handed. 

This hunt couldn't have gone any better.  I had set up my tree stand the day before so I could just walk in and climb the tree with as little disturbance as possible.  I was settled in the stand about 30 minutes before shooting light.  It was a beautiful mild morning with a slightly overcast sky as I got to watch the sun rise.  Then it was one of those days that you dream of as far as deer movement is concerned.  I had a couple small groups of deer come by from different directions, but they were just out of bow range.  Until two deer come within ten yards of me. At that range I was able to make a text book shot, which qualified as the first good shot I was looking for.  This deer wasn't a trophy, but it was exactly what I needed. 

I consider myself very lucky and the harvested deer a blessing from God. Because, in no way I'm that skillful of a hunter.  If we are all honest, very few of us are. I harvest my fair share of deer at what I consider a pretty high percentage rate regarding number of deer taken verses number of hunts and number of shots taken versus kills.  But the reality is I'm just really lucky and blessed with just enough ability.  I do my best to put myself in a high percentage situation and I happen to be a pretty proficient with a bow and a gun. But at the end of the day most of the deer I harvest, I feel like they were "given" to me. All I had to do is make the shot.  

Tannerite fun

What's in your hunting pack?

The Boy Scout in me causes me to want to be prepared for just about anything when I'm in the wilderness hunting, working, or just for fun. To accomplish this I've put together a back pack that I call my emergency/hunting pack.  I primarily use it when I go hunting, but I take this pack with me anytime I venture into the wilderness for any reason.  It's impossible to be prepared for every possible scenario, but it is possible to prepare for scenarios that are probable.  If you spend enough time in Gods wonderful creation, it's not a matter of if something will happen, it's a matter of when. It doesn't have to be a tragic event, but in the woods a minor event can turn into a major event quickly without some preparedness.  Little things like having so much fun that the time got away from you and it's now dark, or get lost, or get stranded, or a pop up thunder storm happens, or you or someone in your party has a minor medical event (headache, fall injury), or all of the above. This post is not a how to for survival, it is just a what do I need. We will save the how to for another day.  I'm going to show you the basics I start with for deer hunting.  My pack is fairly loaded including some tools of trade because my pack is more than just an emergency pack. For each trip I will add or remove things as the conditions or activities require. I will always have some water and some snacks in the pack.  If I know It's likely going to rain I will pack actual rain gear.  If it's winter time I will have cold weather hats, gloves, and extra socks.  If it's "bug" season I will throw in some bug repellent. If I'm elk hunting or going further than normal, sometimes I will throw in a small tarp. I think you get the point.  The key is to pack as much as you comfortably can without packing things that you will never need.  This is not intended for backpacking, just to get you by when needed and have the need tools take care of your game in the field.   My pack could be a little lighter, but I've built in some redundancy and back up for some of the more important items. Everything in my pack is something that I wish I had with me at sometime and didn't or makes my life easier in the field. 

Here is my starter list:

1. A comfortable multiple pocket pack.  Mine just happens to be camouflage since I primarily use it when I'm hunting. I have a screw in hanger similar to a screw in tree step. This way I can hang the bag on a tree off the ground. I also keep a carabiner clip and a piece of para cord attached to it.  These make it easy to attach to tree stand pull up ropes. 

2. Poncho, candles, and water proof matches. Believe it or not these could be the most important items in the bag. Obviously the poncho can keep you dry, but in cold weather with the poncho on you can squat down and lite a candle with the water proof matches all under the poncho. It catches the heat and if needed you can build a bigger fire using the candle.

3. Compass.  No matter how good you think you are you can still get turned around. 

4. Toilet paper. Enough said. 

5. First aid kit with a sewing kit, hand warmers, tylenol, and a lighter in addition to the the first aid items the kit came with.  Hand warmers are just to get some easy warmth. Tylenol is safe to give to just about anyone. You maybe wandering why a lighter if I already have water proof matches?  Fire/heat is so important that you need to have two reliable sources so you will have a backup. 

6. Wet ones cleaning clothes and hand sanitizer. I use it after field dressing and can be used to help clean around a wound, or just to clean your hands before you eat. 

7. Two flash lights, one hand held and one head lamp. They both require the same type of batteries so I only have to carry one type of extra batteries.  You always need to have spare batteries. 

8. Ropes. I carry two ropes that are about 10' to 15' long and some para cord. These are your building tools for shelter if needed, field dressing equipment, tie downs, and what ever else you think up. 

9. Electrial tape and orange flagging ribbon. There is nothing handier than Electrial tape except for duct tape, but duct tape is to bulky.  Flagging ribbon so you can mark trails, where you've been, or game sign.

10. Extra carabiner clip. Sometimes it's easier to clip to something than tie to. 

11. Rubber gloves and zip lock bags.  The gloves are used when field dressing and can be used if you need to administer first aid.  Sometimes I will keep the heart of a deer so that is where the bag comes in. 

12. Things that cut. A knife, bone saw, folding wood saw, multi tool, and  a sharping stone.  Knife and bone saw are for field dressing deer. The folding wood saw can be used to clear shooting lanes, build shelter, or cut walking sticks. The multi tool is a backup knife along with a hand full of useful tools. A dull knife is not much good so you need to be able to keep it sharp with the sharpening stone. 

13. Pens to fill out tags with. In Arkansas it's actually illegal to not have a pen with you when hunting game that requires you to fill out a tag. 

14. Small red strobe light.  These are made for runners, but can be useful to mark a spot in the dark when tracking a wounded animal or to use if you are lost. 

15. A dragging harness.  These are handy because you can drag a deer hands free and still carry your weapon and use your hands for navigation.