Headed out this morning. What a Fiasco. Here' s a slightly edited version of an Email I sent to my dad. I dont feel like typing the story all over again, but you all will get the drift.

" After thinking about it all day yesterday, I decided to go with Plan B, Hunt the leased farm on the other side of the bottom against the Blown Down Tree. One of these years, I' m finally going to realize that its not a good idea to try something for the 1st time in the dark.

I was down there plenty early. Actually sat in the truck until 5am. Got organized and headed out. Right as I got to the point in the field that the woods begin, I kept thinking something was hitting the back of my leg while I was walking. I stopped 2x but didnt see anything. About another 50 yds down I heard something fall behind me. It was my rattle bag. I then realized that my pack had somehow completely unzipped. I did a quick check and found I had lost half my gear. This included my cell phone, Binoc' s, grunt call, spare water and arm guard. I looked around quick and found the arm guard and water. I had what I needed to hunt so I figured I' d just look more when I left.

Got to the stand. Checked the bait pile. Its been hit but not much. I get the angle I believe I need to head and start out across the bottom. For a woods thats been thinned almost clean by the hurricane, its still mighty dark in there. I figure I got 60 yds before I lost my barrings. Its still pretty soft in there too. So im stumbling around, making enough noise to wake the dead looking for this blow down. Finally I think I see it. Its across an open fern patch which I figured it would be. I start to head across the fern patch. The first couple steps are OK, then soft, softer, then down I go. Right legs in up to the crotch. Boot fills with water and I cant move. Now Im PISSED. But, I stayed calm. Took the stool off my shoulder, used it as a crutch with my right arm and with one thrust with the left leg (still on semi solid ground) and pushing on the stool at the same time, I was out. I would have gone home if I i knew which way was out. But since I didnt, I headed back the way I came about 10 yds, found some higher ground and sat down. It was 40 mins to shooting time.

After calming down, I looked around and listened. Heard cars moving on Rt 6 and by feeling the wind I was able to tell I was at least facing the right direction. As the sun began to rise, I realized I was in a pretty good spot. I was in the open but had good cover to my back and if anything came by it should pass infront of me, so I decided to just stay. I was wet, but not cold. I also needed good light to look for my stuff anyway. Sat until 8:45am. Didnt see anything. All in all I was only about 10 yds from where I wanted to be. I actually passed the blow down I wanted to be at. It didnt matter anyhow, because I couldnt have sat there. Its a pool of muck where the roots used to be. But 10 yds to the left of it is a perfect spot to be on a S or SW wind. Its in the memory now. For an AFTERNOON Hunt....

I checked the entire woods. Not much sign. One deer had moved past where I hunted today within the last couple days. There was 2 sets of really fresh (less than 12 hours old) tracks leading by where you set up Tuesday. No fresh sign by my stand. But, by where we had the ground blind on opening day, the mysterious Big Boy had been through within the last 48 hrs or so. Flies were still conregating on his crap pile and his tracks are HUGH. He' d only been through once though. Man I hope we get to see him this year.

While walking out, I found everything but my grunt call. I' ll shop for one later tonight. Thats probably what I was dragging along with my foot on the way in.

A fronts coming through tonight and it' ll be nice and cool all week. I' m taking Tues or Wed afternoon off depending on the wind. I' ll let you know. Good luck if you go on Monday. Its looking like a great day to be out. The Pre Rut should be starting any day now. Keep me posted and call if you need help with a drag."