By Staff
Dec. 8, 2000
These days every deer hunter should realize just how easy deer hunting has become. We are a spoiled lot. And I include myself here. Spoiled rotten.
We sit on elevated tree stands along trails worn bare by hundreds of deer feet. If we have to wait over two hours to see a deer we get antsy. We shoot high tech arrows from high tech bows at distances measured with high tech rangefinders.
Or we sit comfortably in warm shooting houses, overlooking planted ryegrass while the deer emerge from various directions. Then we steady our scope-sighted rifles on padded rests to do our shooting.
When black powder season arrives we are all set in the same comfortable tree houses or tripod stands. We call our weapons "primitive," but they fire saboted, controlled-expansion, computer-designed projectiles from synthetic stocked rifles with stainless steel barrels. They feature in-line ignition systems and fiber optic sights.
Most of us go out at 4 p.m. and take our deer by 5:30 or so, skin it out, hang it to age and get to bed early for some extra rest. It's a snap, this deer hunting.
The Dirty Work
I know, I know. But all that is part of the fun. Admit it. Who besides deer hunters get to take out frustrations by pounding nails into a deer stand and bush-hogging acres of weeds and chopping firewood for camp and that sort of stuff? That's one reason we feel so good in the fall.
We should be paying someone for this enrichment of our mental and physical health!
Consider the other benefits of the August pre-hunt activities. "Dear, when do you think you can mow the lawn?" asks ones spouse expectantly. "Not this Saturday," you reply. It's work day at the camp and I have to be there all day."
Now just where would you be without work day at the camp? Mowing the lawn, that's where. Sometimes this procrastination can be extended by creating a second and even third "work day at the camp." A simple vote of the club members will do it.
And camp cooking on work day? Without that over-seasoned stew that Tom made (and all the others peppered) last work day that sent the crew scurrying in all directions from the kitchen, what would there be to talk about around the stove before sunup every morning during the season?
Sighting in the rifle, pumping up 4-wheeler tires, tightening bolts on the climbing stand, it's all part of the fun.
Otha Barham is Outdoors Editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at olbarham@aol.com.