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On the last day of the year, the best place for me was sitting in a tree stand taking a last look for a buck.
The archery season ends on Dec. 31 each year. And when the state changed the law to allow crossbows, archery became a higher priority for hunters.
Last year was the first year crossbows were allowed but I had venison in the freezer from muzzleloader season. So we spent Dec. 31, 2023 grouse hunting. It was an enjoyable day up in Crane Lake with Bruce and Nancy Beste, who each bagged birds that day.
Tuesday night it was just me sitting 20 feet up in a ladder stand. My schedule only allowed for a few hours but I would’ve gone if it was only for 30 minutes.
There’s just something special about being in the woods and sitting without moving or making a sound. The goal is to blend in as much as possible. And that a buck will not notice you are there.
The birds flitting around didn’t seem to mind. The woodpeckers were the busybodies, checking tree after tree for a meal. And yet when a beak pecked at a curl of birch bark, I was hoping there were four hooves involved.
Talking to folks who feed deer I knew bucks were already dropping antlers so even if a buck did come by there was a chance I wouldn’t know it.
I was okay with that. My buddy Dave Merhar bought me a nice-sized Otter sled for deer hunting a few years ago. When there’s snow on the ground pulling a deer in a sled is the cat’s meow.
But I could’ve jinxed myself by putting the sled in the truck before heading out. Some deer hunters are a bit superstitious about those types of situations. Put me in the group as well.
There were fresh deer tracks on the trail I walked in on. I kept my eyes peeled and the crossbow at the ready. Can’t say I’ve shot anything but targets with this weapon but I was ready to pull the trigger if the opportunity arose.
I was also okay with just taking a walk in the woods, climbing up a ladder stand and sitting for a couple of hours.
As the sun began to set it was a good time to reflect on three seasons of hunting. Two gun seasons, rifle and muzzleloader at 16 days each and archery that runs from mid-September through the end of the calendar year.
Throughout the days I hunted there, weren’t many deer that came by. I had a shot at an eight-pointer but the primer malfunctioned on my muzzleloader. Now I look back on that day and smile. Not getting a deer while in a stand is much better than sitting at a desk and not getting a deer.
There was also a lot of time at the shack with family and friends. Plenty of laughs, some great food and many memories made. The low deer population we have here makes it tough to be a deer hunter. Being able to go back to the shack each night keeps hunters buying licenses.
For me, I would hunt out of Camp Cholesterol if there wasn’t a deer for miles. Sometimes I think that’s the case. But I still go out. I’ll climb the ladder, sit in the tree and blend in.
