Buck Season 2006
The Hunters;
Bill Hobaugh (The Mystic)
Joyce Hobaugh (The Huntress)
Cousin Wes (The Prophet)
We arrived at the Camp on 25 Nov. I arrived first and put away some chores while waiting for Joyce and Bill. Along about dark the others arrived and we set about caching the provisions for the Hunt. Altogether I believe we were set for a 30-day hunt, which is exactly what we traditionally pack for a 5-day hunt. Perfect.
An early rise on 26 Nov. and we set about trimming shooting lanes on the stands and then sighting the rifles. This was accomplished in the morning and we vacated the camp in search of cable TV for the Steelers game and shopping for the necessary things that we failed to bring in the 450 lbs. of provisions that arrived in our vehicles.
Sunday evening and Joyce and Bill provided an exquisite dinner of grilled steak, baked potato and salad. Failing to have proper starter for the grill, Bill resorted to Boy Scout water. I warned him by way of a McManus story entitled Poof, no eyebrows of the potential for conflagration. Bill succeeded in starting the grill with no apparent singe or smolder. His insistence on an impromptu haircut the next night did raise some suspicion regarding the aroma of singed hair.
During the chores of preparation on Sunday I expressed to Bill my good feeling and positive outlook for the hunt. Despite the recent years difficulty and challenge in finding shooter bucks I felt this was a good year and we would score on at least a couple of deer. Bill had already got a doe in the early muzzle-loader season and Joyce had both an antlered and antler less tag. I had only my buck tag and even so felt confident for the hunt.
Monday 0515
The hunters awoke and prepared breakfast and a slow cook dinner for the end of the day. Breakfast done and lunches prepared we all set out for the stands before the break of day. Bill (The Mystic) would occupy the lower stand in the pine bottom. The Huntress chose the stand in the Big Oak. I occupied the stand on the power line, as this area could not be left unattended. The day would unfold with numerous sightings of various indigenous species, none of which were the sought quarry. The Mystic shot and missed a buck through heavy cover and The Huntress missed an antler-less deer by mis-sight through the brush.
Somewhere around 1200, a flock of Turkey to the left of The Mystic began to focus his attention. Out of this flock he conjured two bucks and they ambled into his sights. There is no explanation but the second buck was a shooter and The Mystic made good with his shot. I cannot begin to fathom how a flock of Turkey could engender a shooter buck but such is the riddle of the hunt.
The Huntress and I spent the rest of the day viewing a plethora of fauna. No, thats not a term for racy movies (though who knew what DVDs were brought along). Turkey were calling all day long and more deer were sighted. I saw a flock of gold-crested chickadees, Turkey, male and female cardinals and half dozen blue jays. No need to mention the infestation of elephant squirrels. I could have shot a deers weight worth in the afternoon.
Headed to the camp at dark for a crock-pot of beef pot roast and a discussion of the days hunt and the next days plans.
Tuesday 0515
Cousin Bill, ever the trooper, roused us in good time for the second day of the season. A hasty breakfast and lunches packed, I headed for the power-line stand again and Joyce to the lower stand in the pines. The Huntress convinced The Mystic to join her in the stand as an extra set of eyes and potential to conjure another buck. I suspect they were playing kissy face all morning though there is no proof of this.
The early morning passed with the usual squirrel and Turkey sightings. I had three doe come from the pine thicket and mill about across the power line with little apprehension. At 0900 Bill started a walk around to try to move deer to Joyce and me. He walked to the road then up to the property line making a wide loop below the blow-down area. About 1000 he radioed me that he was at the crossroad and would walk to the shale bank then turn through the pine bottom along the property line back to camp. I acknowledged and began to look sharp in that direction. 1015, THREE bucks came across the road into the creek bottom to the right of my stand. I scoped the first and he was a long spike perhaps 10 or 12. Quickly moving to the second deer I saw a small fork on one side of the antler, wasting no time I moved to deer number three and BINGO, three on one side. Holding the cross-hair on the shooter the deer moved into the brush lining the lower edge of the power line. I decided to hold my shot to see if they crossed the heavy trail onto the power line clearing. With pulse pounding I kept the shooter in the scope through the brush and watched over the scope for the spike to appear on the clear side of the brush. Perhaps 2 minutes passed since first sighting the three bucks though it felt like an hour. The spike passed into the open. I knew if he did not spook the others would follow and I shifted my aim. Here comes number two
..and there is the shooter
.steady
.squeeze. BANG. The buck stood straight up on his hind legs then fell over backward. He scrambled back through the brush and could go no further. I kept him in the scope and put a finisher in the neck. The Mystic had again produced bucks from thin air or thick pines as the case may be. Bill radioed and I confirmed the kill. He came along with the deer cart, now called the meat wagon before I could start field dressing the buck, a fine 7-pt. As the excitement settled in me, Bill and I dressed out the deer and loaded it to haul to the camp. By 1145 we were in camp heating some soup for lunch.
About a minute after turning on the stove the radio came to life as The Huntress said I got one down, I got one down. Bill and me gathered our gear (including my freshly cracked frosty barley pop) and headed to her stand with the meat wagon. Perhaps 50 yards from the bottom stand there stood The Huntress with a smile as wide as the spread of her 8-pt. Rack! What followed the congratulations was a spectacle termed the Happy dance between The Mystic and The Huntress. For my part I offered a swig of my beer which she proudly accepted.
While Bill and me (mostly Bill) dressed out her deer The Huntress stood with rifle loaded pronouncing that she still had a doe tag to fill and kept her watchful eye on the surroundings. As we began the haul to camp The Huntress announced she would stay in the stand waiting for a doe to come along.
At dark, we all were in camp with another smokin hot meal of pot-roast and a bottle of nice Merlot to celebrate the remarkable day. That night The Huntress told her story. There were two doe that came into sight. She could have taken either but instinct told her to wait. Sure enough there came a shooter buck, she waited for a clear shot and hit the deer a bit low. The buck did not move far and though the shot was vital The Huntress put a second through the base of the spine dropping the buck instantly.
Wednesday
Odark-thirty
The Mystic awoke me but informed me that I could sleep in while he and The Huntress went out for a couple hours seeking to fill her doe tag. Graciously accepting the chance I snoozed until 0700 then set about packing and breaking camp. No deer were to cooperate this morning and by 0900 Bill and Joyce returned as we all had some appointment at home in the early evening. We cleaned and packed and closed the camp. We took the bucks from the shed for photos and loading in the cars. Along about 1115 I took leave of my hunting partners and began the drive home pondering the remarkable season of 2006.
My Sincere and heart-felt gratitude to Bill and Joyce for a wonderful and memorable hunt. Cousin Steve, we missed you again this year but hope for another hunt soon. All the years weve spent hunting and fishing and all the memories weve created are a deep and precious part of my recollections of the tradition. Our Fathers are smiling.
Cousin Wes
