Anyhow, last year I wanted to blog my deer hunt from beginning to end but never got around to it. I plan to actually do it this year. Simply put, I love deer hunting. It is one thing I look forward to all year long. Every hunter will tell you their own reasons for why they love to hunt - getting close to nature, the thrill of the pursuit, the freedom from everyday stresses...I love all of those things, but what I love most about hunting is the atmosphere. It is very difficult to describe....but during the few weeks of firearm deer season, especially in the small world near my cabin in northern Minnesota, it is as if the universe acquires all new rules of operation. The whole observable cosmos shrinks down into a county-sized splotch of land, whose inhabitants share only one profession: hunter. Conversations with locals start at the drop of a hat, your matching blaze orange outfits serving as an immediate ice-breaker. Trucks rolling opposite directions down a gravel county road will stop amidships for a moment to compare notes and stories. The local bars are a raucous sea of blaze orange and camouflage each night....the patrons either celebrating a full meat pole or lamenting an empty one over a beer. Heck, even the drive up to the cabin is a surreal experience: an immense column of pickup trucks and SUV's stacked end-to-end, their rear windows stuffed to bursting with orange clothes, gun cases, and rubbermaid totes....their drivers invariably festooned with camouflage paraphernalia. All moving inexorably towards one common goal.
That is what I am attempting to describe: that over-arching sense of communion with your fellow man. All your differences are set to one side for a brief time each November, and every hunter becomes bonded with his fellow sportsmen by their mutual appreciation for the joy of experiencing the natural world in this way. Some might call me crazy, but I like to think of this atmosphere as a thing of beauty. It is this strange, insular aura that I find so captivating. The excitement turns grown men into oversized children....giddy with excitement and dying to tell tales, compare toys, and do a bit of boasting. In a few weeks, things will go back to the way they were....to day jobs, stresses, and drudgery. But for now? It's time to play.
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With that introduction, let us get more to the specifics of my hunt. Opening day is November 9th, and I will be heading to The Compound in northern Minnesota on Friday night November 8th. As of right now I am planning to hunt until November 12th, but that could be extended to the 13th depending on how much I am needed at work.
This year, I have done more to prepare for my hunt than I ever have before. Each year, I've gradually acquired more and more gear, gadgets, and clothing, and I've made several purchases this year to improve my chances of success. Notable among them is a complete scent control system, starting with detergent and including body wash, scent blocking base-layers, and scent eliminating deodorant. I'll also be using a grunt call for the first time this year....we will see if it works. We have a late start to the season this year, so the rut should hopefully be in full swing, making aggressive tactics like grunts and scents more effective.
But perhaps my most notable purchase was a very recent one: a second deer rifle. I sold my Husqvarna chainsaw and picked up a Marlin 336W 30-30 with a factory scope:
I just sighted it in last night, and I cannot believe how well it shoots! I was hitting 1" groups at 100 yards with 150 grain Hornady Whitetail ammunition. I will still bring my old Mosin-Nagant with this year as a backup gun, but I have to say, this new rifle is like going from a moped to a 1000cc sport bike. Light, nimble, and very accurate, I am loving it so far. I'm willing to sacrifice a little power to improve my target acquisition and ease of shooting.
This week will be spent on preparation. Washing and packing clothes, organizing gear, and getting my truck cleaned and ready to roll. This will be a great season....I can feel it already.
Can't wait!
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