Group Meals,Group sleeping quarters, Group chores. The way of life at camp.Not knowing my sleeping arrangements would be my biggest worry but not before hunting.
Duffel bags unloaded and truck organized for efficiency as it would be my storage area for extra cloths, Food and supplies.
A quick layering job of not so winter type clothing as temps would be near fifty today but there was a chill non the less.
The Day pack was supplied with first aide, deer processing, snacks, extras ammo, knives, saw, compass. and general supplies which could handle any emergency I would encounter . My belt was stocked with a Buck Knife, A GPS and a pouch containing Candy Bars and water proof matches.
I was not going to push myself today but the plan was to walk and get to know the woods again and just generally see how I was feeling. The plan was not to get back until last light and then asses how the entire body was feeling. If I saw deer it was going to be a bonus as it was not a priority today.With hundreds of acres of State and Federal land waiting for me I left camp ad started my journey. Walk slow,take your time,use your eyes and your ears, sit and take in the woods.
As I topped the slope and accessed the public land through a series of trails I heard the hoof echos and as I looked up and caught glimpse of my first loo she stopped briefly to check me out and in two bounds disappeared into the forest ahead of me.
My first stop was the trailer stand and the plan said stop at any stand that was not occupied and spend some time in it. GPS its coordinates and move on. No straight paths or trails just keep changing it up and learn the lay of the land.After leaving the Trailer Stand I first headed East than cut South until I hit a snowmobile trail which brought me East some more and the headed north. As I walked I was focusing on signs that animals had been in the area and I was not disappointed.
Deer are not supposed to be in Big woods but yet there had been 13 Bucks harvested from this area over the weekend.
Six and a half miles and 12 stands and a few rest stops complete it was time to head back to camp for the evening,
With the sun setting and the temps noticeably cooler I entered the camp and the talk of the day. My brother made his way over to ask how the day went at which I could only reply fine as that is what it was. Would he or the others understand how excited I was just to be here and be walking in the woods again.
A hearty beef roast with all the fixings and a few glasses of wine were all this boy needed to put him to sleep on this,his first night at camp.
