My first deer hunt

My first deer hunt, fear, excitement, camaraderie.
The day before, I enjoyed the company of my father, uncles, cousins.

The morning of my first hunt, I felt sick, nauseous.
I still feared shooting that gun... shooting it a couple of times at the rifle range...
It was not enough of a preparation, my nerves were frazzled...

My father woke me well before the sun would even think of rising.. 4 am.
Coffee, eggs, bacon and toast almost came back up...

If a deer would have stopped and did a little jig in front of me
Still it would have escaped me.

Climbing through the pitch black woods an hour before dawn seemed ridiculous
Dad would have it no other way.

I saw only folly in walking through unknown territory with a loaded weapon in such conditions.

I find myself shaking.. is it the cold, the knowledge that bear and wolf frequent this location..
Or are my nerves still so very frazzled?

Finally lunch time comes and I am relieved, not that I am hungry mind you.
My stomach still jumps and flips like a gymnast.

We head back out, and I finally relax..
And sweet slumber fills my head...

Crack! I wake to see a deer all but 5 feet from me...
I can't shoot it! I am frozen like a statue, so tense I can't move!
I can't think either, so a relaxed body would do me no good.

I am relieved to see it go...

My father laments over a wasted day...

I secretly am happy I “wasted” it.

The Wisconsin deer hunter's friend

Sitting in the snow with my orange jump suit on, sitting as quietly as possible.
Nothing stirs, nothing moves. It would be boring if it were not so beautiful.

Then a curious little animal emerges. At first the animal is on a near by tree branch.
Then on your knee. Then there is another one on the brim of your cap.

Then, as if to say “he's friendly” you get one on your gun barrel
and one on your shoulder.

Then it comes time for this unique little animal to greet you.
The animal says “Chick a dee dee dee!”.

As they flutter back and forth landing on this and that.
Cocking their heads towards you to get a better look.

You get a smile on your face.

It's as if this native bird is saying “Welcome to the neighborhood.”

Although I get a sneaking suspicion that some of them are
just enjoying the heat my body is emanating.

After all, bird feet must get cold too, I would imagine.
In either case, I have been entertained and felt delight over my new found friends.