Hunting Hindrance – Volatile Vision

 

I have no problem admitting some of my hunting mistakes that I have made because we all make them and I hope others can learn from them too; with the same regard I want to share one of my biggest struggles that I deal with in everyday life and hunting that has led to some mistakes and missed opportunities. I am not perfect and hunting, fishing & outdoor activities do not come easily for me all the time, but I work at it every day. I have dealt with this hindrance since I was in second grade and every year it has progressed to a worsening state; it is one of the most important tools you need when hunting and although it can be aided, currently mine can’t be fixed.

I am talking about my vision, or lack thereof. Starting in second grade I began sitting too close to the TV and there began my struggle. It started with glasses, eventually progressed to contact lenses and unfortunately my eyesight has not stabilized since then, only worse. I started with a -4.00 prescription and I now have a PX of -10.50 and -9.50 in my eyes as of January 2014; without getting all technical this basically means instead of 20/20 vision I have 20/1050 and 20/950 respectively; extremely nearsighted. I cannot function at all without my contacts or glasses and if I wanted to read something without them the words would need to be less than 3 inches from my nose.

 

In addition to the nearsightedness, I have astigmatism, tiny holes in my retinas (that must be monitored which is why I see an ophthalmologist every year), and through a crazy freak accident I have burned a layer off both my corneas and my optic nerve is stretched to the max. Needless to say my vision is far from perfect and continues to get worse. With all of these issues, LASIK or laser correction surgery may be nearly impossible and until my eyesight actually stabilizes a bit irrelevant. Newer ‘lens’ transplants and other options are still so trivial and unpredictable it is hard for me to even think about pursuing them because I am terrified of losing my vision completely or encountering more problems.

Unfortunately, although I get new contacts and glasses almost every year to adjust for the change, my vision is still not what I want it to be because my eyes are changing daily and getting worse. This becomes a huge frustration when hunting that I have to adapt to all the time. It is very hard for me to see what others see moving across the field, in the trees, or even the antler count of a buck just 40 yards away. Spotting an animal’s legs or nose in the brush is nearly impossible to my naked eyes, determining which birds are flying in the sky is such a challenge and frustration, and there have even been times when I was completely wrong about what type of animal it was in the distance.

I always have binoculars with me which isn’t a bad thing most of the time but when I am up in a tree stand or in a ground blind surrounded by deer and the animal that is the most mature and legal is 50 yards out I can’t tell without binoculars I nearly cry. I have to be extra stealth trying to use my binoculars with so many eyes around me, but I refuse to just guess and take the ‘wrong’ deer. I have been busted looking through my binos at times to ensure my eyes aren’t lying to me which makes my frustration grow even more; the extra movement can sometimes ruin a hunt for me and has definitely caused missed opportunities. Although binos help, seeing extremely far distances is very difficult.  

 

Although I remember praying every night as a child that I would wake up and see the numbers on my alarm clock without contacts or glasses (and sometimes as an adult I still do – hoping for a miracle I guess) I refuse to let it stop me from enjoying my hunting trips and the outdoors. This is why when I get extremely up close to an animal it means so much to me because I can probably see all of their features without binoculars. When I harvest an animal or anyone else does, I love examining them up close so I can train my eyes to look for specific characteristics next time I am in the field. The other positive I rely on is that because I cannot depend on my eyesight 100%, my other senses are heightened; I can hear the tiniest sounds and smell the faintest of smells and so many actions are completely by memory (especially when I do not have my contacts in) so for that I am grateful.

Everyone has their weaknesses in life and in hunting, mine just happens to be a substantial hindrance with a sense that is needed in the field. I hope that sharing this will let you see that anyone can enjoy the outdoors. I have harvested some beautiful animals and each one means so much because I know the daily struggle of ‘seeing’ has been overcome. My heart looks forward to a miracle day where maybe my vision will stop getting worse and I will be able to see a beautiful animal without the aid of binoculars!

Get Lost To Be Found

  

Noise. Noise everywhere. Traffic, honking, typing, machinery, cluttered conversation, meaningless words. Everywhere. Every corner, every turn, every person. People in a constant rush, buy, wait, hurry, wait impatiently. The clock ticks, the clock tocks, the clock spins. Pushing, keep up, keep going, no rest. Get ahead but leave integrity, humility, tradition, morals and self-worth behind. The days fly by, minutes are meaningless, speech is abbreviated, handshakes are non-existent. Words are fake, staccato, misspelled and childish. Quiet moments interrupted by technology, the true feel of the world's beauty missing from so many minds, forgotten, overlooked, incomparable to what could be surpassed next; pushing the limits, ignoring risks, but not accepting consequences. The noise, it's silencing; silencing the true beauty of the world and the heart of Mother Nature. 

The noise of the world is easy to get lost in. We all get lost there with jobs, family, and high speed haywire lives we live, but for the lucky few who know how to escape it effectively we survive, I survive. I survive by consciously seeking the embrace of the road less traveled, the unbeaten path, the untouched breath of God in the quiet moments best spent alone in the marvelous outdoors. 

I am found here. Here with each burning sky of the sun breaking through the trees, the awakening of the awe inspiring moments that breathe life into the morning and into my yearning soul. My heart overflows with passion, gratitude, humility and everything that was lost collides with the simple untouched moments of the woods; the chaos is consumed and I am found. 

 I am found as the dark is colored with light when the woods awaken, breathe and come to life. I am found in my tree stand, ground blind, or path to heaven on earth anywhere in the field. In a tree, in a chair, walking without a purpose, with or without a weapon, I am found in those moments of tranquility that are untouched by man, undisturbed by manipulation and unexplainable to anyone resisting the welcoming call. 

I am found as leaves fall, crunch beneath my feet, blow in the wind and float on Gods simple transportation that changes everything as it remains the same. I am found with every sound; no longer noise but joyful notes of harmony and melody; the same tune but different verses. The moments of purity I witness as I walk to and from a hunting spot as I feel the touch of the bark of the trees, the hard and soft ground beneath my tired feet, and the smell of the perfume of the grasses, flowers and animal scents left behind in their daily life of survival. 

I am found as I watch the crazy critters scurry about all while I am observing from just a few yards away; unnoticed (most of the time) I peer into their lives, their personalities, their flaws and features as they exist in their perfect natural environment. I see their tiny paws and claws, the small patches of fluffed fur, their eyelashes and ear tufts, their movements as they almost always remain alert. I am alert, waiting, watching, enjoying every moment with the most resounding moments of peace in existence. 

Will there be a shot at an animal? It's possible but so much must come together for that moment to occur. I am content being in their world and absorbing the refinement and artistry of a living painting before me. I am envious but protective of their ability to be free from the overbearing thoughts of chaos we as humans must endure. True freedom at its finest. Their movements, style, and grace are all with purpose; every step, head turn, flinch, jump, or sense used is calculated, with reason, for survival but it still fascinates me. 

Will I be disappointed without a shot? Never. The journey of being found while getting lost is more than enough to satisfy my soul, more than enough to refresh, renew, and relax my heart and mind, and more than enough to recenter my gravity and keep me grounded like the mighty oaks. Mother Nature's foundation is my building block in life; it's what keeps me sane, provides clarity, and ensures my return trip to the chaos is safe; safe knowing that I will be getting lost again real soon. 

Central Texas Dove Hunt 2013

 

Here is some fun footage with me and hubby from some dove hunting we did last year. We just set up the camera on the ground and went with it; sorry there aren't any pics of the birds flying, but its just us having fun. Hope you enjoy

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozt850kO-JY

First Weekend of Firsts

Headed to the heart of the Hill Country in Central Texas I knew this trip was going to be different, but I was not prepared for all that happened. It was the first weekend of the New Year of 2014 and although I love every minute of every hunt with hubby and my awesome hunting buddy Muzzy (our miniature dachshund who I will write more about another time)  we were being joined by some awesome friends and two young boys that would provide some of the most memorable moments of any hunt. This was a weekend of firsts, not just for me, but for Noah and Remington (Remi) and their parents as well.

The Texas Hill Country always refreshes my soul with the varying landscapes that although static most of the year, show adaptive changes during drastic weather. The prickly cactus, the solid strong oaks, the scent of the cedar that exposes its layers more and more as winter strips it away, and the sunrises and sunsets of each hunt that nearly take my breathe away every single time. The Texas Hill Country never disappoints!

 

The first 'first' for me was the process of making sassafras tea; something I have never known much about and although after the process was over and a little research this is best taken in very small doses. The root from a sassafras tree used to be the primary ingredient in root beer but after many changes from the FDA it is not used anymore (please research this before you attempt to make this or consume it-I do not want to be liable for anything haha)

 

Moving on...the root is chipped at to make small shavings (you can smell the 'root beer' smell once exposed) and placed in a pot to boil. After boiling, we strained it through a coffee filter and added sugar and enjoyed! A very sweet, root beer flavored tea! Such a fun process to make something like this and learning something new from others is the best part. I love expanding my knowledge of the outdoors and I am forever grateful for this experience!

 

 

After finishing some refreshing sassafras tea it was time for another first for me. Although I have hunted for a while now, I have never actually had the opportunity to shoot a cross bow. I love my compound bows but how could I say no?!? The 2 boys were having a blast shooting it and I had to get in on the fun. I try not to ever pass up an opportunity to try something new, especially with weapons or the outdoors! You truly never know when the opportunity will come back around again, so seize the moment!

 

 

After a little target shooting with the cross bow it was time to hit the woods with my bow and try for a deer. But enough about me, because this weekend was all about these two excited boys that were soaking up every minute of the trip. The first night Noah had the opportunity to shoot his first raccoon and this kid was a great shot! When he made it back to camp I could see the excitement in his eyes and was unsure how he was going to get any sleep that night with the morning hunt looming. Noah's weekend was off to a great start for sure!

 

 The first evening hunt was slowly slipping away with hubby and I in our own bow blinds and Noah and his dad in their box blind, rifle in hand, excitement building for the anticipation of Noah's first deer. As the sun was fading away, just at last light, we all heard a shot and the hit. Immediately phones were texting about what had just happened. Noah had shot a doe and was overflowing with excitement. We advised for them to stay put for 30 minutes because they had not seen the doe go down. As we all packed up and met at their blind I could see the most excited boy I have ever seen. He told us the story in his head and dad confirmed Noah was shaking so bad! Noah said "Dad I have buck fever, no doe fever, I have some kind of fever!" What a moment, but we still had to track.

 

We confirmed it was hit when we found blood on the ground right where she had been standing when he shot. We tracked blood in the dark for about 30 minutes before running out. Noah was soaking it all up as we tracked blood and asking questions along the way. What a teaching moment this was. A little frustration sat in after our blood trail ended, but I told him we would get Muzzy to help track. I would hate to lose Noah's first deer so we were going to do our best to recover her. Muzzy found the same blood trail we had and another couple of spots that we didn't find but lost a clear trail after a while. We backtracked numerous times, checked around some down hill slopes, a tank, and under brush and trees for any signs but our hope was running out. Sadly we weren't able to recover the doe, but after talking with Noah he said if he had to guess if he shot too high or too low, he said a little high, which we explained to him could have hit the void and missed vitals altogether and the doe would survive.

 

Although we weren't able to recover Noah's first deer, I was completely humbled the way he responded. I have never seen someone with such a great attitude about the situation. He said "I did my best, we put our best into finding her, its ok...". Never once did he show signs of frustration or defeat. We all shared our stories of 'the ones that got away' and explained as much as we hate it, it happens and all we can do is learn from it, correct any mistakes we think we might have made, and get back in the blind. He was truly grateful for the experience of the situation and actually made me rethink some of the ways I have acted in the past over a lost animal; it is heartbreaking and we all have our moments and that's ok. But as sad as I was to not find his first deer, I was reminded of something along the way; little did Noah know, he showed and reminded me to be humble, grateful and resilient. A first deer shot, a first blood tracking experience, first frustration, and a first moment for me being reminded of a great attitude from one of the coolest kids ever, 20 years younger than me!

 

The frustration and defeat was wiped away as the boys headed back out for the evening for more predator control; this time Remi was on board! Another first for Remi who was able to take down his first raccoon! These kids were on a roll and grinning from ear to ear enjoying every moment like it should be. Noah was able to notch another first in his belt by seeing his first ringtail and shooting his first ringtail. I told y'all these boys were great shots! Many people go their entire lifetime without seeing a ringtail in the wild, and while hubby and I prefer to watch them because they are rare to see, it was game on for Noah. Using his .410 shotgun to minimize damage, Noah took down this ringtail and it will forever be a memory because they are getting him mounted! Heck I have to say I am a little jealous of having that cool mount in the living room; they are such beautiful creatures but the true beauty was the smiles on Noah and Remi's faces - priceless! 

 

 

The next morning hunt was cold and windy which seemed to keep the deer bedded down but not our spirits. After everyone met back at camp it was time to go search in the daylight for Noah's doe just to ensure we put forth every effort to recover her. Driving and walking back around the area the recovery effort still fell short but we know we did our best searching at night, with Muzzy, and during the day. Fortunately or unfortunately something else happened that changed everything, another first for the boys and parents.

 

A yearling was spotted hung up in the fence with a broken leg, a partial hind quarter eaten, still alive. (the next photo is slightly graphic but necessary). There was nothing good about this situation but acting quickly Noah was ready and ended the suffering of the yearling. We weren't sure if coyotes or a cat was the culprit of the destruction of the yearling but one thing was certain, Noah got his first deer in the most unconventional way with a hard lesson included. Luckily because she was still alive when found and only one hind leg had been destroyed the meat was still good. Noah again showed the best attitude and soaked up every moment, helping skin and clean the deer, getting bloody in the process and sharing the experience with his family and us.

 

It was a heartbreaking situation that was turned into a positive learning and educational moment for everyone. The cruel reality of nature presented itself but the end result was Noah's first deer, meat in their freezer and an end to suffering for a young deer. I honestly can't imagine being 9 years old and witnessing something like this and having the best outlook and attitude about the whole thing. I was truly blown away at the maturity of both boys and the respect they showed for the land, the animals, and the entire hunting process, having rarely been exposed to any of it before.  

 

 

The weekend ended with one last morning hunt where I had another first at this specific piece of property. The deer out here are pretty spooky all year round so stalking them is a pretty tough feat, especially to get into bow range. As I sat in the lean on stand in one of the oak filled pastures, trying to stay warm, I was all about to give up hope. It was 20 degrees with a wind chill of 4 and I felt like I was hunting in Kansas again! 20 degrees in Texas is a pretty big deal to this 'tropical' South Texas girl but I was surviving. A heated vest and heated insoles were my saving grace!

 

As I looked behind me I saw a doe creeping into the area but to my disappointed she must have been cold too because she bedded down in a low lying area where a tree had fallen. There she was 60 yards behind me; I could see her ears sticking up as I peered through the trees and tall grass. I was convinced there was absolutely no way I could climb down out of the squeaky lean on and get close enough for a shot, so I waited, and waited, and waited. She wasn't moving so I decided to. If I could get my bow and myself down without her running I knew I might have a chance. Bow was lowered and I slowly climbed down the ladder, made it to the ground and she was still there. I got my bow and hid behind a tree to let things calm down and plotted my path.

 

I had ranged a few trees and spots I needed to get to for a possible 30 yard shot. I knew I had to get relatively close because she was in a hole and as soon as she stood I was going to have to be a quick shot. I slowly creeped my way to the next tree and waited again. She was still there and I was in shock. I dropped down on my stomach and began a slow belly crawl to the next group of small cedar bushes that would get me about 40 yards away and in a better wind position. I locked my release in my D-loop and slowly raised up to start moving towards her when she popped up and bolted! GRRRRRR! I was so close but it just didn't come together.

 

I watched her run away and jump into the neighbors property and out of my life forever haha! I was pumped though from the excitement of the stalk and was so proud to have closed the distance on her. This was the closest I have ever been stalking on a deer at this ranch and I was excited, even though I am pretty sure she only stayed that long because she was just as cold as I was; I wouldn't want to move from my warm spot either!

 

It was a beautiful, cold weekend of firsts, during the first weekend of the year. I learned so much though beyond the hunt. Noah and Remi are 2 special boys who have a bright hunting future ahead of them. I was truly blessed to have spent a weekend with them and learn from them as they learned from us. I helped Noah understand that there a lot of people out there who will not agree with hunting or with the story behind his first deer but advised him of the good he did for the suffering yearling and how he turned something devastating into food for the family, instead of food for the coyotes or wild cats. He helped me remember to keep the best attitude possible and showed such a genuine, innocent and perfect mindset throughout the entire weekend. These two boys have a special place in my heart after this weekend and I can't wait to get them back out there for some predator control and call in the coyotes. It will be a great moment to seek revenge on the destructive predators that almost succeeded on that yearling.

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Noah, Remi, and their parents for allowing us to share knowledge with each other and for one of the best, most unforgettable hunts. Although hubby and I don't/won't have children of our own, there is something so rewarding about influencing and shaping the mind of the younger generation and passing on priceless knowledge, moments and memories that I know everyone benefits from. Until next time... 

 

Lady Hunter Magazine

I am super excited to announce that I have an article featured in the Jan/Feb 2014 edition of Lady Hunter Magazine! I love hunting wild pigs and my article "The Appeal of the Squeal" captures a piece of that. I also have my bio at the front of the magazine as well!

http://ladyhuntermagazine.com/mag/janfeb2014

I hope you check it out and spread the word!

80lb Boar I recently took - Spot & Stalk at night - Mathews DXT - December 21, 2013