I was gun hunting about 10 years ago when I discovered that someone had stolen the ladder that I used to get into my gun stand on my families property....Crap![:@] Well the stand is about 17 feet off the ground and built between four trees so I figured I'd just shimmy up there. So I tied my rope (to pull the shot gun up with) to my fanny pack/vest with all of my gear in it, thinking It would free up both hands for climbing.

Then in a shear stroke of genius, I remove the pack thinking "I don't really need that gear and I can climb better without the extra weight and bulk" So I procede to haul my large arse up to my stand bracing myself between the two trees that were the closest to each other, flashlight in my mouth.What seemed like an eternitylater, dripping in sweat I relish in my accomplishment only to realize what I'd done! Down below was my shotgun.......Crap![:@]

Down I go......in the pitch black of the early morning with flashlight again in my mouth to retreive my gun. Going down was just as difficult as going up but I managed to make it back down to terra ferma without falling. I then re-attach the gun rope this time to my belt and again begin the climb back up said tree. By now I'm so wet with sweat I think I'd be dryer if I had just gotten out of alake but I again manage to reach the top. I start to pull the gun up and realize that the shells are (you guessed it) in the fanny pack with the rest of the stuff I thought I didn't need..........on the ground! After about ten minutes of trying to hook the pack with my shotgun I knew there was only one thing to do.........

Baaaaaaaaack down the tree I go....again. By now the sky is starting to lighten up as the dawn was approaching, at least I didn't have to chew on a flashlight to see where I was going. I tied my rope tothe vest and once again headed for the stand that by now felt like it was 50 feet in the air. About half way up I stopped to catch my breath, with my feet and butt wedged between the two trees I was able to rest for a little while. I tell ya it's not easy hauling 325lbs up and down a tree all morning.

It's just about this time that I notice three does in the middle of the field that the stand over looks starring at me no doubt saying to each other "that's gotta be the dumbest hunter I have ever seen."

At the time I didn't see the humor but looking back I makes me laugh.