Ahhhh, the deer hunt!

[baldopepper]

Getting up there in years now, but every year about this time my sleep and day dreaming is full of memories of deer hunting trips from the past.  Went on my first deer hunt 58 years ago and I still remember it like yesterday.
I remember the excitement and anticipation of a 10 year old getting out of school early and riding thru mobs of other hunters all dressed in red (required color at that time) and thinking we'd never get to our spot.  I remember the opening morning with my father cooking a breakfast of eggs and potatoes and forcing myself and my brothers to " fuel up for a long day" even though the excitement had robbed me of any appetite.  I remember daylight bringing a small oak brush valley into view and at least 200 deer immediately in view and the jumping up and whooping when my father knocked over a big 4 point. 
I remember the first big 5x5 I shot 6 years later (couldn't carry a gun deer hunting until you were 16 then) on opening morning and my surprise at how big he was.  I thought it was only a 2 point because all I could see were the tips of his horns and body when I shot. 
I remember the nights around the campfire listening to my father and uncle (both long passed) talk about the big deer they'd shot, the big deer they'd missed and both claiming the other was completely full of BS.  I remember the off color stories being told and the admonishment to not tell your mom that story!!  The smell of white gas lanterns and three burner stoves still lingers in nose. 
I remember waking up to a tent pressed against my face because the 2 feet of snow that fell during the night pushed it to the ground. Temp dropped so cold that igloo coolers of water froze solid and cans of beer and pop were exploding like gun shots when they froze up. 
I remember the last day of the hunt when I went with 4 good friends who hadn't got anything yet and I was lucky enough to shoot 4 big 4x4's that they chased off a hillside in front of me. 4 shots, 4 bucks.  Party hunting was illegal then, but everyone helped out friends and family who needed their freezer filled.
I remember the big 5x5 I missed cleanly at less than 30 feet (buck fever I guess) and the big 5x5 I couldn't shoot because I was hunting with a scope for the first time and hadn't noticed that the falling snow had filled it up and I couldn't get it cleaned out quickly enough. 
I remember walking down to my younger brother when he was only sixteen and seeing the 37" , 23 scorable point monster buck he had lucked into.  He was so excited he could hardly talk, but I made him come to his senses and clean and get it to the road.
I remember sneaking up a small snow filled draw and finding myself in a herd of at least 15 deer, all bucks and nearly letting them get away as I tried to figure out which one to take.
I clearly remember those nights before the opening when we all sat around the campfire, full of excitement and anticipation.  The last night on the mountain when we all dreaded going back to school or work the next day. 
Guess I could go on and on, I do when I'm sleeping or just daydreaming, but the nostalgia is sometimes overwhelming.  Hunting camp is missing a lot of people these days-passed on to the big camp in the sky, but I think there are still a few memories to be made.  Good luck to all heading out  to that elk or deer camp-hope all the memories you make are good ones!

[Nape.257]

Thinks for sharing that. The memories in my mind are the treasures of my hart.
Hunting season makes the best memories.

[de0827]

Wow, what a great post!  Making memories with family is what it's all about - in addition to putting some meat in the freezer!  Thanks for sharing! 

[subagang707]

I pictured my Grandfather at our Elk Camp reading this post!  Thanks for reminding all of us of the truly important things in life.

[grundy53]

Great post!

sent from my typewriter

[jason stevens]

Great read thanks for sharing.

[grizzlyadams]

Best post I've read on here in years. Thank you for sharing. Good luck to you this year

[pd]

Best post I've read on here in years. Thank you for sharing. Good luck to you this year

I completely agree with this.

[GUHunter]

Fantastic post! Creating the memories is what it's all about.

[hntrspud]

I could picture it all as I read this story. Memories of my own hunts were also coming to mind. Extremely well written, captivating from start to finish. Thank you for helping remind us of all the memories we are making.