When I was a teenager I had an incredible hunt that I will never forget. It was rifle season, and I wanted to put my stand in a place that people did not frequent. I looked until I found the perfect spot. It was down an old, dead-end, dirt road that nobody had driven on in years. The road had grass growing through the dirt and overhanging limbs. At the end of the road was a narrow, overgrown trail, that followed along the sloping edge of a branch head. At the end of the trail, it felt like stepping out of a hallway into an open arena. It was an open hardwood bottom that was beautiful. I could never have known the horror that laid in store for me.
I set my stand on a suitable tree and went back to camp. Thinking about the morning hunt, I could hardly sleep. The picturesque bottom full of oaks, fallen leaves, and acorns kept running through my mind. The next morning I was up early, excited about the hunt. I just knew that I would harvest the buck of my dreams there. The morning was perfect, the air was crisp and cool, the wind was calm, and anxiousness filled my body. The early morning …show more content…
Those feelings were replaced with a feeling of intrusion. It felt as though I were somewhere I should not be. Ignoring this, I continued to hunt there for the remainder of the morning. After hours of boredom, I decided to leave and come back for the evening hunt. On my return, the thought of moving to a different area entered my mind. Regretfully, I decided to give it another try. Once again, the eerie sound of silence was all that could be heard. This time it was different, manifesting in my mind was a feeling of being watched. When I thought about how strange it made me feel to be there, the decision was made to leave at dusk instead of dark. Looking back, that decision was a smart one. Although, moving the stand to a different area would have been the best