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The Last Day

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   The alarm jarred me out of sleep. It was December 8, 2024, the last day of Northern Zone rifle season in New York. I had been going straight-out since mid-October, never missing a day and out of bed every morning before 4:30. Although I had loved every minute of every day, my body was finally beginning to feel the aches and pains associated with bushwhacking through swamps, scaling cliffs, climbing mountains, and crossing rivers. With the exception of two travel days, I had found myself in the woods every day from sun-up until sundown. While I've heard many others say they've done the same, I've often doubted it because I know how difficult a task it is to accomplish.    The embers in the wood stove shone brightly as I cracked the door open and stacked a few pieces of wood on top of the burning coals. Although the fire was just about gone, the fresh flow of air gave it some life, and there was a slim chance of hope that the newly added wood would catch fire and bu...
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Sunday, December 15, 2024

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 Today was my last day of hunting for the year. It was an uneventful day, and we didn't see anything. Dad and I are both optimistic about next year, so we will have to wait for about nine months to give it another whirl.    My body and mind need rest. It's time to get back on the horse and find a job. It has been beyond stressful while trying to find one, especially without any responses from all the resumes sent out. I'll keep plugging along now that hunting season has come to a close. I've enjoyed my time in the woods, but I'm glad it's over. I gave it everything I have this year. So I'll say goodbye until next year. Thanks for following along. I had a lot less followers than previous years, but I guess it's still worth it if people are checking in. 
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Saturday, December 14, 2024

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   Dad and I headed out early today. We were in the woods about an hour before daylight. The thermometer hung steady at about 10 degrees. It was a bit nippy out there this morning.  It was loud and crunchy while walking through the woods in the darkness. We spooked a few deer along the way but figure out early arrival would allow things to settle down around us. As daylight broke, I could hear deer walking across the ridge below me. Before long, three does made their way past me and I could see the buck I have been chasing. He was hot on the trail of a doe, but I only saw fleeting glimpses of him. There was never an opportunity to get a shot. Although I felt frustrated, I knew the day was early.    Within minutes of the deer disappearing, I heard another one approaching. Looking down the hill, I spotted a one-horned spike walking toward me. Within a few minutes, he was in my lap. I would've loved to pull the hammer back and let him have it, but I chose to let hi...
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Friday, December 13, 2024

   Due to severely bad weather, I actually didn't hunt the last two days. I decided to take a break and get some things in order. It was beneficial for me because it allowed me to rest my body.    As I headed up the mountain this morning, I saw a flashlight on a ridge in front of me. I couldn't figure out how in the world someone could've beaten me into the woods. Although I tried to let it pass, the sighting wouldn't leave my mind.    After seeing nothing, I headed over the ridge to take a look later in the morning. I never cut another person's tracks, so I don't know what the light I saw might have been. I guess I may have seen something that never existed.    Another day passed without seeing anything. I know I'm in the mix, but I just haven't seen anything yet. We will see what happens tomorrow when I imagine more people will be in the woods. 
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Tuesday, December 10, 2024

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 When I headed into the woods today, it was bone-chilling cold. I headed back to the area where the deer had been feeding and hoped for the best. After my initial sit in the morning, I wanted to check a few other areas to make sure I was in the best place I could put myself. I decided I would probably try to wait one out due to the amount of feeding sign I found.  In my travels, I found where a doe was in heat and figured it would probably be a good idea to stay in that area. I also found a very distinguished buck track and learned the buck had been spending a lot of time in a relatively small area.    By the end of the day, the bad weather rolled in, but I tried to stick it out until the end. Here's a picture so you get the idea.   
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Monday, December 9, 2024

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   I headed to a spot in the southern Adirondacks to sit for the first few hours of daylight and made plans to scout if nothing transpired while sitting. Well, 10:30 came quickly, so I got up and began covering ground. It didn't take long to find where deer had been feeding regularly.    At the end of the day, I felt good about everything I discovered. I felt confident I would have a good chance at getting a crack at a nice buck over the course of the next week.  
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Sunday, December 8, 2024

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   I woke up this morning to fresh snow and was a little disappointed. I figured the snow would be hanging on the trees and the deer wouldn't be moving much. I also wasn't looking forward to walking out of the woods at sunset with an unfilled tag for the first time in my hunting career. Although I knew I had passed a handful of good bucks, I also knew it would still sting a little, especially knowing I should've killed the really nice 8-pointer early in the season when I had the chance.    As Dad and I drove down the road, we didn't talk. The silence gave both of us a few minutes to gather our thoughts before heading into the woods. It was in the high teens but felt a little colder than that. After parking the truck and gathering our gear, it felt no different than all the other days we have hunted together. However, I knew that another rifle season in the Adirondacks would come to a close at the end of the day, and with every passing year, it means we are a year old...
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