November 25 was a good day! I had a hunting "apprentice" out with me, same one as last year, and she was so pumped to get out, rattle, sit, spot and stalk, use different tactics, etc. and above all, see deer! Next year she'll have a rifle in her hands.
Long story short: squirrelly winds disrupted our "sit and rattle" plan for the afternoon hunt, so we headed cross-country to get out of the fickle canyon bottom breezes. We hunted through some old timber harvest units, glassing as we went. As we crested a ridge, we heard two bucks grunting at each other in an open timbered draw across from us. There they were- two bucks having a significant difference of opinion over the two does with them. I was tempted to let the bucks fight, but I had a good 110 yard shot at the slightly larger of them. I eased slowly into a seated position, got the buck in my scope, and let the bullet go. He dropped in his tracks, and my student and I glassed him hard to make sure he was down. Then it was celebration mode, and the work that comes with success. We had one of my great lifelong mentors along on this hunt, and he hiked up from the creek valley to help as well.
I thought I'd include a photo of a great gray owl I walked by the prior day while hunting alone. The peaceful and wise aura of the owl gave me a sense of calm and hope.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
