tdt5446
Well-Known Member
Started when I was 11, my first hunt was in '63. I did not see a deer all season, but I did see tracks for the first time, so my hunt was successful and the fire was lit! I killed my first TN buck in '69, a trophy with antlers visible above the hairline, remember that regulation? In early '70, I received a letter from the TN Game and Fish Commission, congratulating me for being one of 2,000 plus (don't remember the exact number) successful deer hunter in TN that season! After that my hunting adventures began to be more fruitful, as the state's deer population began to explode to where we are today. Sadly, I have no idea how many I have harvested through the years, (I kept track of my archery kills, but nothing else).
I constantly read about deer, fantasized about them, dreamt of hunts in other states, and spent every penny I could on anything deer hunting! I am still broke from that. After countless hours of sitting around campfires, listening to hunters at checking stations, watching old and new hunting shows, and even becoming part of this campfire, it is refreshing to have become acquainted with people who love to chase what I consider to be the world's greatest game animal. I often wonder, do we really understand how blessed we truly are.
This past season marked my 6th decade of chasing these magnificent creatures, and like some of you, it also marked my decline of being able to hunt the way I used to. I have a storage building that has 15 or 20 lock-on stands and countless climbing sticks, as well as ladder stands and pop up blinds. Unfortunately, they will probably migrate to the dump soon.
The hills have gotten higher, the hollows have gotten deeper, the stamina is getting stagnant, and the breaths are getting quicker, but the desire still grows! Like some of you, I will hunt when I can (physically), be selective before I pull the trigger (I like to watch them too), and enjoy some backstrap from time to time. When my time comes and God calls me home, I hope I am sitting next to a big white oak, waiting on another big un. Thanks again to all of you for sharing your experiences with me!
I constantly read about deer, fantasized about them, dreamt of hunts in other states, and spent every penny I could on anything deer hunting! I am still broke from that. After countless hours of sitting around campfires, listening to hunters at checking stations, watching old and new hunting shows, and even becoming part of this campfire, it is refreshing to have become acquainted with people who love to chase what I consider to be the world's greatest game animal. I often wonder, do we really understand how blessed we truly are.
This past season marked my 6th decade of chasing these magnificent creatures, and like some of you, it also marked my decline of being able to hunt the way I used to. I have a storage building that has 15 or 20 lock-on stands and countless climbing sticks, as well as ladder stands and pop up blinds. Unfortunately, they will probably migrate to the dump soon.
The hills have gotten higher, the hollows have gotten deeper, the stamina is getting stagnant, and the breaths are getting quicker, but the desire still grows! Like some of you, I will hunt when I can (physically), be selective before I pull the trigger (I like to watch them too), and enjoy some backstrap from time to time. When my time comes and God calls me home, I hope I am sitting next to a big white oak, waiting on another big un. Thanks again to all of you for sharing your experiences with me!