Hunting Season 2008
It started at 4:30 am, 12 degrees, Chris picked me up at My dad's in his truck & we headed out to get Chris's dad Paul at his house. We picked up Uncle Paul & went to McDonalds to get breakfast before we set out on our day of hunting. On our way to Scottstown,OH :) . I myself had never been to where Chris was taking me, but he assured me we were going to a good spot, so I was ready, It's game time. The whole way there Chris, Paul & I were laughing & teasing each other about stupid little things & sharing past hunting season stories. When we get there its about 6 am a little warmer 19 degrees, but we weren't worried about the cold, we were thinking about the climb up the hill...lol... cause believe me when your not in the best shape or at least the shape you used to be in, a 45 min climb up a mountain, when its early & cold is not the easiest thing to do...lol... & did we find out...lol... after walking for about 10 mins Chris & I started stripping clothes, 1st it was the sweaters, then it was the tee shirts, before long chris had a white tee on & i had a tank top white tee on, we were both laughing at how outta shape we were & at the fact that even though it was 19 degrees we were both pouring sweat & chugging water...lol... after about another 25 mins of walking Chris & I come to were it's decision making time, He told me to pick were I wanted to sit, I looked around & about 75 yards up the hill further i spotted a tree stand, I asked who's that was & Chris said "his", I said "I'll take that one", he looked at me & laughed & said "Ok I'll be over around the hill about 100 yards", I said "Ok" & we split. Paul had gone his own way up the hill. I got up in the tree stand & sat about an hour when I spotted a nice buck off down in the valley about 150 yards away, so I just watched & watched as the buck continued to walk closer & closer up the bank of the hill from out of the valley, the buck crossed to my left about 50 yards from me, but due to the amount of trees and thick folage I wasn't able to take a clean shot so I just held steady & waited for the right time. The buck turned back torward me & gave me a broad side clean shot from about 35 yards, shot was clean, the buck ran about 10 yards & collapsed. 7 point. Well at this time I expected to see Chris coming up back to me cause I told him "If you hear me shoot, I got one, cause I don't miss", he said "Ok I'll be there", I field dressed the buck & continued to wait on Chris but noone showed, I tried to call Mawmaw on my cell phone but service was bad & I could only hear bits of what she was saying. Chris had left his cell phone in the car so he couldn't be reached that way, I just started yelling for him, I mean I got to get this 200 lbs buck back through 400 yards of mountain, down a huge steep bank & a long walking path, but does Chris show to help his cousin, to aid his family in need? "NO"...lol... he dosent show, matter of fact I had to drag that buck all the way back down the hill myself & wait 1 1/2 for Chris & Paul to make it back to the truck, Of course I had enough adreneline flowing from the hunt to take care of the job at hand, plus I was happy I got one so when I got back I was just thinking " wait till they get back & see this one" :) . They came back & we left to go check the buck in at the game office. Later the evening we went out to the same place again, this time the climb was a little easier, I don't know if it was because we had already done it once or that it was later in the day but im telling you it was easier...lol... I went to the same spot, they went a little further up & around the hill, I sat for a couple hours & didn't see anything & it was getting a little darker, plus with Chris's previous track record I wasn't counting on him coming back for me...lol... so I headed back down the hill torward the truck, after I get back to the truck, im there maybe 15 mins when I hear a shot go off, then another, then another, then another, after about 4 shots I start thinking someone needs some target practice...lol... then I see Chris way up on the hill signaling me to come up, so I put down the 12 gauge & headed up to him. When I get up there its him & Paul & as I look down the hill side there's a deer with some bad leg wounds, so Chris & I drag the deer back down to the truck & field dress the deer, load it up, were on our way, we go to my dads & when we get there we go in & get my dad & brother Tyler to come out & see what we got. Well dad comes out & he's like you know "Good job & those are some big deer" cause they were, & Tyler comes out & says " Wow bubby that's a big buck you got there", & he looks at Paul's deer & says "What happened to that deers legs"...lol... & Chris says "Dad's a professional leg hunter"...lol... thats just one of the many memories Chris & I had together & just one of the many I'll never forget, We'll get another big one together next year partner, & many more hunting seasons to come. :) Thank You Chris for sharing this one with me & so many more, we'll get to those in time. :) . I LOVE YOU COUSIN
