Larry A. Smail's Blog

This was a potato field of the Smail family many moons ago.

   Bob and I began our hunt walking up a gradual slope from the township road. The one and a half inches of snow would help seeing deer as well as tracking if the need be. The 25-30 MPH winds were present all morning too. Small snowy tornadoes could be viewed from time to time. The zero degree wind chill was hardly noticed as I trekked around the woodlands.                                        

Deer bed

One of many bird boxes I erected in the woods

  We hadn’t gone 300 yards when I noticed a deer’s body among the six feet high briars. Although, the deer was only about 40 yards as I pointed Bob couldn’t see it until the deer turned to flee.

The morning hours were exciting as I walked about known deer bedding areas. I was hoping to move deer past Bob. Three deer removed themselves from a multiflora rose growth. The deer, although spooked, failed to identify me and they stopped within sight and milled around. I failed to move them in the proper direction for they went 180 degrees opposite from where I wished them to go. Deer are funny like that!                                

Last year's hawk nest

As I approached the gas line where Bob was posted, I could see two deer laying among some tree top and briars. They were only about 100 yards at the most from Bob. Shortly, three more appeared and ran the opposite way again.

The remainder of the morning had me seeing more deer. Only three actually went past Bob, however, they were in high gear. We began our exit by 11:00 to head home and torment my mother and eat.

I saw 17 deer in those morning hours and another 7 while in transit back home. I only saw one squirrel, although plenty of tracks could be found. Lots of fox tracks encompassed the woodlands this morning. I placed some deer parts and fat in some trees for the little birds to chew on. Hopefully, the extra calories will help them survive the cold.

Steep hillsides

  What a great morning to be in the woods. Oh how I wished I would have saved my early muzzleloader tag!!

Last Thursday, Bob and Cousin Donnie spent some time hunting deer. We all saw deer but no shots were fired. However, I chased one past a hunter and he got it. Later in the day I was walking a gas line when I saw the hunter tieing the deer onto his vehicle’s rack. Forgetting just how quiet I walk at times I watched the man grab his chest in fear when I was only about five feet from him. I apologized for he said he thought I was a bear almost at his kill and him. Kinda funny now!