Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023

  We got hammered with snow/ice/rain last night. In the end, we got about 6-7 inches of snow, and rain immediately followed it. When we got up, it was a disaster outside. As we got ready, the rain continued pounding off the roof. 

  Dad decided to venture out into it, but Brian and I decided to wait until it stopped. We headed into the woods about 7:30. I decided it would be a good day to sneak and peek on the soft, wet snow. After taking a track from the road, I didn't get too far before deciding it wasn't one I wanted to follow. Instead, I would head toward a patch of woods that gave me the confidence I might catch a good one off-guard. 

  I went almost a mile and a half before cutting a track after leaving the one I was on. Where had the deer gone? I couldn't believe I had to go that far before seeing one track. I figured the deer would be moving well after the storm, but I also know that it usually takes a full day for them to get back into the swing of things. I always try to convince myself they will be off and running the same day, but it never happens. 

  After poking around for the better half of the morning, I came over a hill and stopped. I sensed something was about to happen. Call it a sixth sense if you will, but I'm not entirely sure what caused me to stop. 

  A few seconds later, I caught some movement to my left. Pulling my binoculars out of my pouch, I quickly saw that it was a nice buck. Looking closer, I could see a wide rack, but the rack only carried six points. Instantly, I knew this buck had great potential for the future. I never shouldered the gun. Instead, I took a few pictures and a few videos. 

  The buck seemed on edge but also totally unaware that I was in his world. He was acting as if something else had all of his attention, but I couldn't grasp what it might be. When he got to my tracks in the snow, he stopped, turned around, and retreated along the rim he was on. After taking about 20 steps, he turned around and decided he would give it another whirl. 

  

  This time, when he got to my tracks, he jumped over them and scurried down he finger he was on. It was thoroughly entertaining to watch. I hope this young buck survives. Unfortunately, snow makes a lot of bad hunters good hunters and the deer become severely compromised. 

  About a half hour after seeing the buck, I heard a stick crack. Looking closely through the trees, I couldn't see anything. Then, out of nowhere, a man appeared. I watched him closely and scanned his features with my binoculars. I'd guess he was about my age, and it appeared he had enough gear with him to climb Mt. Everest... maybe he was a sherpa for all the other zillion people in the woods. I'll never know for sure. 

  It was also entertaining to watch him, as he never saw me, and he was no more than 40 yards from me at one point. As I watched him angle up the hill, I was interested to see what he was going to do when he cut my tracks. Well, it did't take long to get an answer. He almost trotted away while following them in the opposite direction. It was definitely and odd few minutes while he was in my presence, never knowing I was in his presence. 

  The amount of people around this year is definitely discouraging. Brian saw two more guys today. It's never-ending this year. They're coming in droves. I wish I could escape it, but it has happened everywhere I've been. 

  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Although we've done well over the years on Thanksgiving Day, it has been a while since we connected with one. I'd like to have a little of my dad's 1983 luck when he scored on the Brow Tine Buck.