Well, here goes. It was the single worst day of deer hunting I have ever had.

1.) On the land that I hunted, there is this gun hunter that also has permission to hunt there. He has been putting the corn out everywhere. In Alabama itis illegal to hunt over it or even near it. So, I have to get into the woods and away from HIS corn to be legal. (The landowner doesn't want to get involved.) So, I have to work hard to get away to hunt legally. The other guy is a jerk (I really get along with most people...really. This guy just has a complex or something....I'll get to that later. Anyway, he has been hunting the land longer than me and thinks the land is his. The landowner has asked that I inform the other guy when I hunt, as courtesy. I certainly don't have a problem with that...It's a good idea...but it doesn't go both ways. I call him, he doesn't call me.

2.) At 7:00 a.m. I see the game warden tracking my boot prints from where I walked in (The firelane were just disked, so it is easy to follow.) Anyway, when I see him, I call him over so we can get this over with. He asked who I was. I told him "Jack". He gets on his radio and says "Hey, its not the guy we're after. It's not (the name of the other guy). He goes on to explain that we doesn't want to give me a ticket, but if I'm not careful he will. He explained that he knows I'm trying, but that catching the other guy is a priority for him and he's going to make it miserable for everybody else so that the landowner will push him. I was aggravated that my hunt was interrupted, but I figured I was there and may as well hunt.

*note: the game warden also said he picked the lock to get in as his key didn't work anymore. Is that legal? I knew he could walk on any property, but picking locks?

3.) I see 6 does. All of them come in as singles or pairs. I finally shoot one at 12 yards.

4.) NOblood on the arrow. Just three hairs on one fletching. I find blood on the ground. I track it for about50 yards. The last place is a splatter about the size of a paper plate. Then it dissappears. I seached for 4 hours. I had two friends come help. I have shot and recovered over 20 deer with a bow. (not that I'm an expert by any means, I'm just saying that its not my first rodeo.)...It never gets easier to lose one. I am depressed. I waited to go after it. The shot was slightly quartering to me, but it still looked ok. I think she ducked and I hit her high. I hope she made it. I'm depressed.

5.) I go back to another spot about 500 yards away to hunt that evening. I'm climbing up the tree and I hear a four wheeler. I can't believe it. I told the other guy I was gonna be out there. So, he comes and rides his four wheeler around for an hour and a half. I think I am going to have to talk to the land owner.

I am going to church tomorrow. Reset my priorities and refresh my soul. Then I'm going to take a couple of days off and go to central AL to hunt with some friends. I'll let you know how it goes.