 The
vivid splashes of evergreen pines and cedars seemed alive with countless
hues of greens, yellows, oranges and reds to provide a breathtaking backdrop
for the wooded hills and valleys of our chosen hunting ground. The beauty
of the surrounding area could never be captured on a painter's canvas as
it reaches its peak during autumn as the leaves begin their color changes
from day to day like a kaleidoscope. Then, the leaves start to fall.
Hunting days as I sat and
waited on my tree stand, I find myself watching with glee as the leaves
flutter like Spanish dancers from above. The wind conducting the choreography
of each leaf as it tumbles to the ground. The earth was ready to recycle
the fallen leaves as we ready ourselves for the hunt. We have been hunting
every weekend since the start of the hunting season. This time my husband,
Armen and I took one week off for this long, uninterrupted 'Quest'.
So every day of the week, like clockwork we would silently trek to and
sit our tree stand from 5:00am to 10:00am and then 3:30am till dark. So
this particular hunting day, I had that nagging question in my head as
I climbed the tree stand, "Okay, this time, (I promised to myself)
I will not make the same mistake! Hope there are no new unexpected ones!
I've done all the fumbles a hunter could ever do. Now I consider
my self a little more experienced and a little wiser?" Am I?
I could feel the chill in
the air that certain day of hunting as the forest was now preparing to
welcome the frost of winter. I was not. The bowhunting season will be almost
over soon.
 The
saddest part of all was Armen and I decided to give up this beautiful hunting
area. Although we knew very well that it was just a matter of time and
we would have an easy time targeting our prey. We more or less have familiarized
ourselves with the land, the habit of the creatures, especially the deer.
Out of the eight hunters who started with us, 2 hunters dropped out because
of financial reasons, another two-followed suit. In spite of this, because
we loved the area, we carried on with the cost of lease. But then those
that had bowed out of the lease where still using the land and started
inviting others to hunt here. They have broken all the rules of the group.
It was inevitable & sad to say good-bye to the challenging area. We
needed to give it up because of the distance from our home to the leased
place. The hunting area was hard to monitor .
I always enjoyed the quiet
wait on top of my tree stand, being one with nature, savoring the air and
watching the glistening frost of the leaves on the ground melt. The morning
hunt proved unsuccessful but like a trooper, I climbed the tree stand for
the afternoon hunt and waited? The sun sank down the horizon as quickly
as it bobbed up the horizon that morning. I saw down below, remnants of
young sprouts from the berry bushes. The deer loved these sprouts, so the
chances of a deer passing this way were great! I was in the middle of the
deer's food source. The main preoccupation of their entire life was food
other than the seasonal urge to mate.
My entire body was covered
with matching pattern of the woods. I was motionless, only my unmade naked
eyes where exposed and carefully surveying the field. My eyes bulged like
a telescope when I spotted her coming, slowly, evenly, without hesitation.
Again the familiar feeling of excitement and the usual hunter high slowly
crept into my being. Like an addict, all my senses were magnified to their
maximum. Every fiber in my body stood still at attention. Every strand
of hair in my head stopped hanging loosely. I could feel every strand of
my hair rooting itself to my scalp, my brain commanding every part of me
to be still. 30 yards? 20 yards?.15 yards away from me, she stopped
and started to devour the sprouts hungrily oblivious of my bow arm inching
up slowly. I wasn't breathing at all, my back muscles in place, bow up
in the air, when suddenly?. (imagined roll of drums), a tall majestic 7
pointer buck appeared about 50 yards away from both of us. An indescribable
sound came from him with urgency! The doe below me, bolted and approached
him. A brief 'high five' of their hooves up in the air (prancing), a brief
conference between the two animals and the buck was gone as swiftly as
he came, like a ghost! I could not make out what I witnessed.
I waited patiently
for her to come back to her food. I was ready and the state of alertness
came back. Again she came toward me, 30 yards - 20 yards - 15 yards,
her gait was sure - then, 15 yards - 20 yards - 30 yards she moved unhurriedly
away from me!!! She just snubbed the food & passed my stand!
How could this happen? A minute ago she was so eager and hungry. Now she
ignored the food completely and vanished! My mouth literally fell wide
open. A hale of questions knocked me off my alertness!! I replayed the
incident over and over again. Was there a warning from the buck?
Was the ceremonious greeting and all that hoopla a way of communication?
Indeed it was!! The buck nor the doe did not see me nor had any idea
where I was. The buck knew something was up in the air! He trusted
his instinct and warned her of the danger lurking! I started being amused
rather than mad. The disappointment disappeared and a new admiration for
these communicators replaced my feelings. I was lucky to witness what
had transpired between these two animals. My delight was enough to quench
the taste of failure!
As I climbed down from my
tree stand, I concluded my hunting day. I was now imagining a hot shower
and my comfortable bed?back to civilization. I reached our van, waited
for my husband. Sitting on the grass lazily, I relived my experienced with
the animal encounter, still vivid in my mind. Still asking myself
questions, I spotted Armen's unenthusiastic figure approaching. I
didn't bother to ask him about his hunt. He stood beside me, trying to
relax. He had his bow in his hand and arrow nocked in place. I noticed
the light was dimming on us. "Hey put down your bow and we better start
packing up" I quipped. Silence?I looked up to see why he did not answer.
I saw his inert figure, bow in hand he drew back and 'TSUG'! It was quick.
In that short distance I saw the white tail going up in the air and watched
as the doe fell! It was his first deer! Just 20 yards from us! Not a big
one, a regular size that will grace our family dinners for a number of
times.
 A
very clean shot! In spite of the human voices and other noises we made,
she was there just for the picking! It was so simple.
Were we at the right time
at the right place? A phrase often used by hunters who often rationalize
a good trophy or failure. Was it luck? Ha! With all the caution &
meticulous preparation for the hunt, this is how my partner got his first
deer!!!! How will I get mine??? Will I ever get mine??.
|