What makes a great day hunting.

October 15th. Opening day of small game season here in RI. But not just any opening day... this was the first opening day of my son's first season of hunting. The night before we stood at the sporting goods counter purchasing his first ever hunting license. The morning of the 15th we were up early and out the door to go after some squirrels. Now the squirrels have been EVERYWHERE this year in RI. You can't go one day without one playing chicken with your car. I've also seen more this year than most years laying on or along side the road who lost that game. I figured we would at least come home with a couple and his first day out would be a memory for him. We spent 2 1/2 hours still hunting, sitting, and walking in the woods and saw not one squirrel. The wind was higher than normal, and I hope that had much to do with it, but we went home and I spent mid-day with him and his older brother. Just the three of us enjoying time together. It was great! That afternoon the two of us hit the woods again. This time in a different spot. This time we came across one squirrel. Unfortunately it was a small red, not legal game in RI this year. Bummer! My son was pretty bummed to come home empty handed. But we reflected on the time when we came home and I have to tell you, to be able to spend the day together like that, game in hand or no, was a great day. He is already planning all of my time off this weekend for his next hunts!

Then there was yesterday. I had an unusual day off of work and was able to do both a morning and an evening hunt. I sat out in a stand we had just moved the week before and wanted to try. It was a GORGEOUS morning! Not a deer in sight. The trail camera revealed a deer had come through about 1/2 hour before daylight that morning. I did see something however. You guessed it. Watched a squirrel for a decent part of the morning. Gave serious consideration to unleashing my arrow on him, I might add. Went home, got a few things done that needed doing around the house then headed out for an evening in the stand. The day seemed perfect for it. I set up on state land about 25 feet up a tree on the edge of a standing corn field. The corn had obviously been stripped from much of the stalks on that end of the field with deer tracks in and around. I had a good feeling about it. Sitting there the hours began to pass and I began to see the culprit of the missing corn. Squirrels began climbing and stripping the corn, carrying it and hiding it in their stashes. I watched this for almost the entire time on stand thinking to myself it might be another unproductive day.

At last light I began packing up to lower my gear to the ground. I was standing, fumbling with my backpack, arrow in the quiver when I hear the familiar rustle below me. A small buck and another deer I couldn't make out walked in right under my stand, no clue of my presence. I was able to nock an arrow and turn, but he just wouldn't step out. It was literally the last couple minutes of legal shooting light and too difficult to see for a clean shot. If only they had showed up just five minutes earlier! I packed my gear and lowered it to the ground. I heard a deer trample off as I did and I came down the tree. While walking out I heard another deer scamper off just inside the wood line. Neither one spooked or blowed but stayed close so I knew I had done something right. I left the field "empty handed", but just being so close to the deer again and going through the heavy heart beat and excitement was awesome. I could go home feeling as though I had truly hunted.

In both situations, both days, I didn't need the trophy or the hide or even the meat to have the memory. Just being out in the woods, experiencing time with my son and then being able to even come close to harvesting a deer made memories that last a lifetime. Just pure moments of enjoyment that bring each of us back season after season.