Looking for deers (sic)

Our deer season opened here on Sunday November 1. I had bought a license on Saturday and was ready. But Angie had to work Sunday and Monday so it was Tuesday before we went to sit and watch to see if they would come out where we might get a shot.

Does are off of the ticket this year, only thing legal to take in our area are antlered. So that is what we were hoping might come by. There had been a small bachelor bunch bucks hanging out in the field east of her house, but they must have read the hunting regulations, because they were gone by Monday. 

We did see some Tuesday night, a couple of does and a couple of fawns, one fork horn buck, but they went out on the other side of some stuff, and we couldn’t get a shot. I always figure if I see deer the hunt isn’t wasted.

It reminded me of a time back in the 1990’s when I was hunting. I liked to take the pickup that Rick always used for summer irrigating and other farm chores. I would park it someplace where I could see across the field and watch all the angles that deer might use to enter or leave a certain field. I always wanted to be there long before they started to move so I usually headed out about 2:30 or 3:00 p.m. Then I would just sit and wait, I always had a book with me and would read while periodically checking around for movement. I knew they would likely not move much before 4:30 or later. So, it was a good opportunity for some private reading time.

One afternoon I was in place in plenty of time and did a scout of my position. I was facing the west where the deer were likely to enter the area, I had a great view across the field and a good shooting field. I took out my book and started reading. It was a good book, and I was really getting into it when I had a feeling that I was being watched. I slowly lifted my head to see at least four does looking at me over the hood of the pickup. I mean like right over the hood. Their chins could

have been resting on the hood. In between them I could see the ears of the fawns that were with them.

I looked at them. They looked at me. Suddenly I wanted to laugh out loud. I couldn’t though because that would spook them. I wanted to laugh because the words of an old country song popped into my mind.

“I was looking back to see if you were looking back to see if I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me.”

Instead of singing I held my breath until the desire to sing or laugh left me and I just watched them. They literally filed past my pickup single file, almost touching my driver’s side door. After they left, I settled in to keep watching and there were more that came out. I didn’t get my deer that night, but a few nights later I was blessed to be able to harvest a nice 3-point buck. The patience paid off. I still like going out and “looking for deers” even when I get held hostage by them.

Hamburger Macaroni Skillet

1 pound hamburger

1 green pepper chopped,

1 medium onion, sliced

2 cups cooked

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup catsup

1 cup uncooked macaroni

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.

Brown hamburger, pepper and onion until the burger is no longer pink. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until macaroni is done.