Hot Mess Hog

June 17, 2016 - Another Friday night at the lease with my husband hunting hogs...the only problem was neither of us have had any success on the new place while hunting with each other; all of our kills had been while hunting with someone else so we were eager to break the curse of the new lease. It was hot...105 degrees hot and I was at the "4 Doe" spot sitting in direct sunshine while Donald was at the "Dirty South" spot enjoying some much needed shade.

It was just a few minutes into the hunt when I received a text from him saying he just shot a small sow, only to be followed with another text that he shot a small boar too! I was pumped for him and wanted to join him to share his success but my hunt had just started. As he cleaned both hogs and put them on ice, I sat patiently waiting on hogs to show up and the sun to go down.

As the hours passed, I was debating how long I wanted to sit. The last feeding is at 9:30pm so I text Donald and said to come pick me up at 11:00pm. At 10:55 I began slowly packing up my things...backpack, camera, tripod, water & Gatorade, arrows, & bow. I stood and put my backpack on, grabbed my bow and turned around to fold up the chair. As I took 2 steps towards the road I heard crunching coming down the road! My first thought was to text my husband not to come pick me up yet because he would spook the hog. I slowly crept back to my spot and waited for him to come into the feeder. He was a solo boar and I knew he would be on edge.

The next series of events took place over 20 minutes but required an incredible effort to not ruin the hunt and provides the name of this blog...Hot Mess! First, I had to get an arrow nocked and my release back on because even if nothing else came together I could at least get a shot on him. The boar went behind the feeder, I didn't have a shot and he wasn't moving from that spot for a while. Knowing I had some time (hogs tend to eat every kernel of corn before moving on to the next pile, unlike deer who tend to graze a bit more) I wanted to get my backpack off but my water bottle in the side pouch still had some ice in it and setting it down would make too much noise. I tried to sit back down in the chair to release my backpack there but I felt my Thermacell dangling off my backpack and knew it would clackitty clack clack on the metal frame of the chair. So I decided the backpack would stay on, I just needed to buckle the chest strap to distribute the weight for a good shot.

Could I even attempt to get the shot on film? I knew I couldn't get the legs of the tripod extended as quietly as I wanted so I just opened it up on the shortest setting, slowly, very slowly, unzipped the camera bag and placed the camera on the tripod. All I wanted was for it to be pointed in the right direction at this stage of the hunt. I stood and watched as the hog continued to feed where I didn't have a shot. I looked down at the camera and saw some brush was blocking the potential future shot; it needed to be higher but could I pull this off? Somehow I used one hand to unscrew the top portion of the tripod to raise the top pole up as high as I could but accidently unscrewed the adjusting nut too far and it fell on the ground. Ugh! All that work to quietly raise the tripod and I messed it up. I fumbled around quietly in the dark searching blindly for the piece while still keeping my eyes on the hog. I just knew he was going to finally turn and give me a shot when I wasn't ready.

Success! I found it and slowly put it back in and began the process of raising it all over again. The camera was as high as it was going to go and I was as ready as I was going to be...or so I thought. The boar finally moved to the right of the feeder and presented a shot. As I drew back I knew something was wrong but the hog moved and I was forced to let down. My release was too loose. I had put it on so quickly I didn't realize I hadn't tightened it to my liking. Quietly I re-adjusted my release but the hog had moved into the brush and I didn't have a shot.

As the hog slowly made his way back into view he was now on the shadowed side of the feeder and I needed to use my bow light. As I clicked it on I could tell he was nervous. I was actually surprised he had hung around for nearly 20 minutes already and knew my time and the corn on the ground was running out. As soon as I drew he backed up and closed off his shoulder with his leg; so I held my draw waiting for the perfect shot opportunity and as he finally put his front leg forward he opened up the sweet spot and I let it fly!

As my arrow hit, he turned and ran off with it still stuck in him but I heard a crash shortly after. I wasn't positive the noise was him going down rather just barreling through the brush to get away. The shot placement felt great but I was worried I hit the other shoulder on the exit and didn't get a pass through so my blood would be minimal. I texted my husband and told him we should wait at least 30 minutes to give him plenty of time to expire.

As I sat there I looked around at everything that was going on and realized what a hot mess this whole situation was. If I had waited just 2 more minutes before packing up I would have been set up better and more comfortable, but nothing ever comes easy for me and I laughed.

30 minutes later my husband came to meet me to help track and to my surprise there was good blood at the impact site and we immediately picked up a blood trail. I was pumped and within just 35 yards I saw him laying in the brush...exactly where I had heard the last bit of crashing after the shot! I couldn't contain my excitement when I saw him because I could see the bubbles and lung matter coming out of the entrance wound and he was much bigger than I was expecting! Of course he went into some pretty thick brush but we were able to drag him out.

As we hung him up to weigh him, he registered 143.4 lbs on the scale and as we cut him open we saw that my arrow had pierced both sides but it just wasn't a complete pass through. He broke my broad head off on the exit wound side and splintered my arrow into 3 pieces but the loss of an arrow and broad head couldn't stifle my excitement! The anatomy inside told the story of the shot and why he died so quickly! My arrow clipped the top part of the heart and punctured both lungs!

It was another great night in the woods with my husband and we broke the curse too, although I had to wait a bit longer than he did for my success and almost blew it by leaving too early! What a hot mess of a hunt!

Video of the hunt here:

A Dandy Dirty Doe

2015 started off with a trip to Deep South Texas for a hunting trip with some friends. We had hunted this part of Texas before but never this exact spot so we took 4 pop-up blinds to help keep us mobile for changing deer patterns. Most of the set-ups already there were for rifle hunting so we needed to be prepared. The forecast was for rain, rain, cold, and more rain.

On New Year’s Eve we made our way south nearing the Texas/Mexico border; the rain had made the roads extremely sloppy and our trip took a nasty turn when our truck and flatbed trailer with the Gator on it slid off the road into a small ditch. It was a mess. We had to unload the Gator to use it to pull the truck and trailer out of the hole, all while it was 36 degrees and raining. Needless to say after a lot of messy, muddy work we finally made it to deer camp, completely soaked and covered in mud, but still excited to hunt.

 

The next morning we headed out to scout a few spots for blinds and found a some senderos that looked promising. After a few hunts with no success we moved one of the blinds to a sendero with a feeder on it. The brush in South Texas is extremely thick leaving only small roads or senderos to hunt, therefore baiting is almost necessary. Regardless of hunting over bait, this wasn’t going to be an easy task. We set up the ground blind in the new spot and brushed it in completely. I knew these deer were going to notice this new “bush” in the road but had to take my chances; leaving only a tiny opening for a shooting window I had to be as concealed as possible knowing these deer would be on high alert. I was 30 yards from the feeder and we had thrown out more corn in the road to help.

As I watched birds scurry about it was 5:15pm when I saw a very large doe step out into the road 17 yards away. The brush is so thick you cannot see the deer walking toward you or if they are in your area unless you are elevated in a blind rifle hunting. The trees aren’t tall enough to put stands in to bow hunt out of but the brush is just high enough to cover the heads of deer. The windows of opportunity bow hunting here were slim. As she stepped out, she immediately looked at my brushed-in blind and walked back in the brush. My heart started racing because for the brief moment I saw the front legs and chest of this doe, I knew she was a big, mature doe and was ready. I steadied my bow and waited for her to calm down and hopefully make a return appearance.

 

As I tried to calm my breathing and nerves she came back out into the road and headed to the corn. I decided to give her a little time to get comfortable (animals are always more alert when eating) before I took the shot. She finally turned completely broadside as I drew and released. I saw my arrow fall out the other side of her as she darted into the thick brush. I was shaking and just knew I had made a good shot. As I went to nock another arrow my heart sank. A bobcat crossed the road and stopped for a brief second (not long enough to get my bow drawn again) and headed in the direction of my doe.

 

Just my luck. (I have mentioned before that I have never shot and recovered a deer while bow hunting during a morning hunt. All of my kills have been afternoon or evening hunts where tracking and recovery is usually after dark or at dusk). It was raining, foggy, only 45 minutes until dark, and a bobcat was traveling in the same direction as my doe. So I prayed. Then I text my husband and a few friends to pray for a quick expiration and hope that the bobcat didn’t run my doe into another county or start destroying her. I was torn between going to search for her and keep the bobcat off of her or wait the full 30 minutes. I compromised instead.

 

I exited the blind quietly to check the impact site and arrow for blood to determine my shot. There was blood where I had hit her and my arrow had bubbly blood on it. I had a feeling she probably ducked a little when I shot and hit lungs instead of heart but I was confident after seeing the arrow and blood at impact site as well as blood on the cactus right on the edge of the road. I sat back in the blind and prayed again that the rain wouldn’t wash away the blood and this would be a quick recovery. I waited about 25 minutes and decided to go look before I lost light.

 

I only took my pistol because the brush was so thick I was going to be crawling on hands and knees and didn’t want my string getting cut by cactus, mesquite thorns, and everything else that sticks and stabs. I knew I had to be ready to shoot a bobcat that might have started his dinner on my doe and possibly recruited others. The tracking process was about 15 minutes, mostly because getting through the brush was so thick and the blood was deceiving because of the rain. I was alone because my husband was still hunting and I didn’t want him to miss an opportunity but I knew I couldn’t wait for him.

There she was, about 50 yards from where I had shot her. I could see her, but couldn’t immediately get to her because of the brush. I looked around for a hungry kitty cat but was relieved when I was alone. My eyes began to fill with tears and I tried to jump up and down and do my victory dance but the brush was so thick I cut myself on some thorns and stuck myself with cactus instead (well worth it).

I finally made my way to her and realized since I had been crawling and finding ways through the brush tracking blood, I wasn’t exactly sure where I was anymore or how close to the road I was. I tried to drag her but without my game hauler I wasn’t going to get far. Light was fading fast and the rain was steady; I had 3 flashlights with me (red, white, and green) so I left the white light with the doe pointing upward for a marker and attempted to make my way back to the road. My husband and friend were now on their way to me and somehow I made a quick exit to the road, pushing through thick brush getting cut up more. When I saw them walking towards me I ran to my husband crying and laughing with excitement and we embraced for that amazing moment we live for.

 

As we walked the road we found my white light and realized she was only about 15 yards from the road! We recovered her and headed back to camp to weigh the big girl. She was 130 pounds of beautiful venison, although completely soaked and covered in mud. I know that may not seem like a big deer to my Northern friends but in the Texas Hill Country a big doe is 90 pounds making this southern girl a fatty! She was my biggest doe taken with a bow and I was ecstatic to share another hunting moment with my husband and great friends. We were so blessed to hunt on their ranch and leave with an ice chest full of meat! That was one dandy dirty doe!

I also stayed true to one of my New Year's Lifestyle changes (not resolutions) and documented the hunt in my Rite in the Rain Notebook!

 

My MacGyver Moment

 

 

I always try to be as safe as possible when I am in the field, but sometimes things just happen; whether a pure accident or a result of my mistake, someone else’s mistake, or just me being clumsy. This moment happened during the 2011 deer hunting season. There were 3 of us hunting and the John Deer Gator we were driving truly only held 2 people up front comfortably; so since I was the first to be dropped off, I decided to ride in the back of the gator, while the warnings clearly say not to.

 

My ride was short to my drop off point, so it didn’t seem like a big deal. I rode in the back sitting down, holding my bow and my husband’s bow so he could drive. As he stopped he got out and I handed him my bow for some reason so I could climb out. I put one foot on the mini tailgate to step on and jump out, but the tail gate was not closed properly. This led to it opening and me falling towards the ground. All I could think about was I had my husband’s bow in my hand and I couldn’t let it hit the ground. If I dropped it he might have to re-sight it in, or I might break it. So as I fell toward the ground I raised my right hand in the air with his bow in it which only left me one hand to break my fall.

Instead however, my right knee absorbed the full impact being the first thing to hit the ground and luckily for me, my knee landed right on a rock. As I hit and rolled over on my back wincing in pain, I was still holding my husband’s bow high in the air. He asked if I was ok. My response….I said is your bow ok? He kept saying his bow was fine and checking on me. I looked at my knee and saw a hole in my leaf suit but only saw dirt on it. I said its hurts, but I’ll be fine; I just wanted to get my stuff and get to my stand. They drove off and I began the walk to my tree climber.

It became apparent that because my injury was on my knee, every time I bent it and took a step it opened the wound even more, causing more and more pain. I had on shorts (it was hot) with my leaf suit over the top which was causing more problems. The mesh from the suit was sticking to the wound. So I pulled the leg of it up over my knee to keep walking. I got to my tree climber and realized I was in for more pain. To climb the tree, I was going to have to bend my knees over and over to maneuver the climber up the tree. By this time, the dirt had worked itself out of the wound and blood was streaming down my leg.

 

All I could think about was getting in my stand and then I would figure it out there. So I climbed in pain and got settled in. As I set up all of my gear, I realized the first aid kit was in the Gator. Again not the brightest moment of not having some first aid gear in my backpack but lesson learned. I began to inventory the contents of my bag and put my MacGyver skills to work. I found a lens cleaning cloth that was in my binocular case which would be the wound dressing to absorb and stop the bleeding, at least of a while. Next I found my old back up head lamp that had an adjustable elastic head band. I removed the light and adjusted the band around my knee to press and hold the cloth onto my wound. It became my  homemade band-aid. I was able to pull my leaf suit leg over the bandage and was pretty much good to go.

 

The only problem was I could not elevate my leg sitting in the tree climber so my knee throbbed the entire hunt, but at least I stopped the bleeding. I still have the scar on my knee from that horrible fall, but I was a great wife by holding my husband’s bow in the air and saving it, even though my knee suffered the consequences. If that’s not dedication and awareness I don’t know what is haha!

Piggy Palooza

 

New video uploaded of random footage of some pig hunts I have been on in the last year. Enjoy!

 

 

 

SOSGEAR Review – Custom Paracord Rifle Sling

 

SOSGEAR is a unique company that creates custom paracord products including gun slings, bow wrist slings, turkey totes, lanyards and more. Below is my review of the custom paracord rifle sling that I received. 

Durability/Function/Design:

 When I received the paracord rifle sling I was impressed immediately with the quality and bright saturated colors. The sling was solid and stiff, yet flexed and moved with ease. The loops and knots seem to work together for durability but provided enough flex to mold to my hands and shoulder. I am not familiar with the different techniques of ‘braiding’ or ‘looping’ but it appears that this pattern is conducive to more bending and flexibility for throwing over your shoulder, hitting the woods, and enjoying the comfort it provides.

 

 I used the sling in Deep South Texas recently while chasing pigs and javelina; as I was driving around the land there were times when I needed to jump out quickly to make a move and attempt to get in range of an animal and surprisingly this sling actually made that easier. My previous nylon/cloth sling would easily wrap around the shifter of the Polaris but the SOSGEAR sling did not sag or wrap around any components of the vehicle. This may not seem like a big deal but if you need to jump out and run after a pig you don’t want your gun sling getting hung up on gas pedal, shifter, other guns, legs or anything else in your way. (I am a bit clumsy so things like this are important to me!)

 I also put the sling to test while doing a great deal of walking and stalking on a pig hunt. The entire hunt was 5 hours long with multiple stalks lasting 30 minutes or more. The sling seemed to mold to my shoulder during the long walks and remained comfortable throughout most of the stalks. I have small hands and probably not the strongest shoulders so when I needed to grab it off my shoulder the sling fit right in my hands and my shoulders did not tire from the long stalks. The paracord material sits nicely on top of your shoulder and clothes and does not ‘cut or dig into’ your skin leaving marks. Although I have only had the sling for a few months its durability in warm & cool climates seems promising and will hold up for many years to come.



Reverse Positives?

 I don’t want to use the word negative or ‘cons’ in this review because the small concerns I had will not affect everyone and are not solely the owners misstep. There were a few times on the long stalks where there was a slight discomfort on my shoulder. I noticed that where the sling connects back on itself is a little thicker and slightly bumpy from the extra material but is necessary to hold it together. It did not bother me most of the time but occasionally would move to a certain spot that I could feel.

The only other concern I had was actually just a lack of communication between me and the owner regarding the type of ‘attachments or connectors’ (D-rings, buckles, loops etc) I had on my gun to attach the sling too. SOSGEAR used quality sling swivels but unfortunately did not fit on my pre-attached loops. I made a simple modification with black cables ties (zip-ties) to attach the sling in the same manner as some binoculars have them; problem solved and lesson learned.

 

As I said the only ‘cons’ were minor issues that will not affect everyone and can even be avoided with a few questions and answers during the ordering process.

 

 

 Overall Impression

 I absolutely love my custom paracord rifle sling. I loved the colors I picked out (which were true to color in the picture and in person) and SOSGEAR provides a wide range of colors to choose from that will appeal to everyone from little girls to grown men! The prices are perfect knowing the hard work put into each hand made piece and the friendly customer service is a rarity in today’s world.

Please check out SOSGEAR at: http://sosgearmt.com & Follow Chelsea & SOSGEAR on twitter & Instagram: @SOSGEARMT

 

Inner Savage

An oldie but a goodie! Ha! A poetic blog of such that poured out of my heart and mind in a few minutes....

 

Dear Inner Savage,

I am woman.

I am sometimes girly, sensitive, emotional, and passionate.

I am never completely weak, forgotten or dependent.

I stifle the inner beast during most days and present a polished and put together woman.

I hold back the burning passion of the wild, untamed instincts that seek expulsion.

I journey past the roads and signs into a state of nature.

I become primal, physically, emotionally, mentally.

I am rustic, rugged, natural, and fundamental.

I begin to release the intense, unbroken woman that is hidden on most days.

I allow the ancient, archaic, ferocious tendencies within to consume me.

I am unmodified, unrestrained, unspoiled, and perfect in this moment.

 

I become the savage that is within my soul.


I seek to hunt, gather, explore, harvest, and refresh.

I am the woods.

I am woman.

Sincerely,

My Inner Savage

 

 

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

Ok I am going to attempt to create a blog page...we will see how it goes! I love writing about my outdoor adventures and needed a place to put them. For now you can find me on Facebook & Twitter

www.facebook.com/CamoCandaceCC
www.facebook.com/CamoCandaceCC2
Twitter: @CamoCandace