Well it's been a good year for me but just like Greg, I'm now done but for slightly different reasons.
Friday night as I was in the car on my 4 hour commute to my camp in PA, I recieved the phone call that I have been anxiously waiting on for quite a few days. Turns out Lisa and I are buying our first home
.
After hearing the good news on the way to camp on Friday night, I was unable to fall asleep until late, and as a result I got up late on Saturday. Realizing that the next several weeks would be scheduled full of house closings, moving, honey do lists, etc...I decided I was going to take out the bangstick on Saturday morning in an attempt to take one more doe for the freezer and to make a best effort to accomplish our doe harvest goals. I had a lot of mixed emotions on Saturday morning as I climbed in that tree, knowing this will probably be the last time I am able to do so for almost 10 more months. I felt closer to the man upstairs than I have in quite some time as I sat there watching the beautiful snow covered woods from the "Sweet Spot" stand.
Just as Ibecame convinced that I would end up going home empty handed this last hunt, I realized how truly fortunate I have been in the 2007 year.Lisa's been so good to me and patient with my hunting time this year, I have been able to spend as much time this year hunting as any in the past. This year alone, I've been able to take my first spring gobbler with a bowwith my father by my side (also my biggest yet), as well as a second bird with a shotgun that put on a great show for me. I was able to teach my best friend enough about turkey hunting so that he was able to kill his first bird, and I was able to call in a second bird for him the following weekend. Lisa shared her first hunt in the woods with me and enjoyed it as well and looks forward to next year. I've taken my biggest bow buck this year and seen more mature animals in the woods than I ever have in the past. I know that 3x seperate 3.5+ year old bucks have survived the PA orange army on my property and will be there to hunt next year. I've been able to be there with the ups and downs of Dan's season as well and able to see him score on a nice 2.5 year old 7 pointer, and watched over Rob's shoulder as he kneeled on his gimp leg and shot a beautiful 2.5 year old doe that was standing in one my my food plots.
Just as I was thinking about all this in the stand yesterday morning, and really giving some thanks for such as awesome season,I heard those familiar footsteps breaking the snow and disturbing the leaves. Over my right hand shoulder at 50 yards they stood, completely unaware of my presence, as if they were placed there purposefully tobring closure to my year. I have never been so thankful to take a doe with a rifle, but after my .270 broke the silence andI walked up to where she fell I gave thanks for this doe and for what an awesome season I have had, and for the opportunity to start a new chapter inour life with this house.
I hope you all had as great a season as I have this year guys, below are a few quick pictures recapping some of the better parts of the last 12 months for you to enjoy!!!
Fat lady sings for 2007......
.s. -"Oh yeah. Rob shot a doe". "Whatever".
