Tag: bowhunting

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Meaningless Drivel Monday: Viewer discretion is advised!

Yep, the photo below ain’t for the squeamish.  I finally got a live animal with my compound bow!  I shot a cottontail in my backyard and have the photo to prove it.  Poor old Peter Cottontail didn’t hop down that old bunny trail fast enough.  And before you start grieving and complaining and whining about me killing a poor defenseless rabbit, let me tell you that we are OVERRUN with them.  They are really cute to watch but they wreak havoc on our gardens, so whether the cats kill their babies, the cars hit them, or the bowhunters use them for target practice, it helps keep the population under control.

Dead rabbit, me, and my Mathews Mission Craze bow.  

Rabbit stew, anyone?

XOXO


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THRIFTY HUNTER THURSDAY: The hunted hunter. . .

It’s finally archery season.  Hunters have been waiting for this time of the year.  They have set up their deer stands and blinds, planted and reaped tempting corn and oat crops, set up and filled feeders, bought or repaired their bows, practiced shooting targets, and bought their hunting licenses.  They, like my husband Jimmy and me, are ready.  Nothing can stop us now.  Or can it?

You’re sitting in your deer stand, and have been there for two hours waiting for daylight.  For all you non-hunters out there, you have to get to your stand early so you won’t scare the deer away when it gets light enough to see them.  As dawn dawns, you begin to be able to see what’s out there.  And what’s out there begins to see you, and find you, and BITE you!

It’s those pesky mosquitoes, the scourge of many a hunter.  Fortunately, there is a weapon out there for the war against mosquitoes.  Actually, there are two that my husband and I use and would highly recommend to anyone fighting the swarm.

Jimmy uses a Thermacell.  Well, he did before he lost his this week.  Luckily, our local Walmart carries them so we will be able to pick up another one for under $25.  These little units emit a warm repellent which keeps bugs away, and they are portable, with a holster and refills available.
As for me, the cheapskate and not yet a “real” archer with a bow kill under my belt, I use the less expensive but in my opinion just as effective Off! Clip-On.  It retails for less than $9 and also has refills available.  
 

Yes, we could spray ourselves down with Off! mosquito repellent on top of our DEET and Permethrin insect repellents.  We have to protect ourselves against ticks and chiggers as well.  But these two devices have cut down on the layers of insecticide we have to put on our clothes and skin and keep us from becoming mosquito breakfast.  Yay for modern technology!  Now I don’t have to swat at bugs while trying to be still in my stand!

 
XOXO
 
 
 
 






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TEACHER TUESDAY: What I Learned Today. . .

When I was teaching and didn’t know the answer to a question, my students would say:  “Why don’t you know?  You’re the teacher!”  That’s when I would explain that teachers don’t know everything about their subject, but what they do know is how to help you find the answer to your question.  And then I would point out that everyone should be lifetime learners, not just classroom learners.  Sometimes they would ask if I was still learning, and I would tell them that of course I was, and I hoped to never stop!

So, today, on our first day of deer hunting in the woods of southern Indiana, I learned a few things. . .

  • You should not attempt to predict the weather even if you have checked it on weather.com and think you know what it will be like.  It was actually much chillier today than the 75 degrees predicted.
  • When you are packing for a trip up north, go ahead and include that jacket you don’t think you will need, no matter what time of the year it may be.
  • In Indiana, it gets really cool when it rains.
  • Turkey ticks are much smaller than seed ticks and breed in the gazillions.
  • I should never get into my deer stand four hours before the deer usually come out.
  • Sisters who have a hot bath and dinner waiting when you return from a cold, damp day in the woods ROCK!
 
 
You are dying to know if I got a deer today, aren’t you?  Well, the answer is NO!  Dang it!  I sat on a wet deer stand for four solid hours until Jimmy came to check on me.  The back of my pants were damp and I was getting colder by the minute so I let him talk me into leaving.  I trekked uphill all the way back to the house, peeled off my damp clothes, and curled up in bed to warm up.
 
Two hours later, my sister woke me up to tell me that Jimmy needed me to help him find the doe he shot from my deer stand!  I left too early!  Then my brother-in-law rode up in the four-wheeler and asked Jimmy to help him with the eight-point he got!  Yep, I was the only one who left the woods empty-handed today.  At least I got a hot bath and hot supper afterwards.  Lord willing and my muscles aren’t complaining too much, I will try again tomorrow. . .
 
XOXO
 
 
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AT HOME MONDAY: Gobble Holler!

Welcome to my blog today from rainy Gobble Holler, Indiana!  I am visiting my sister in Marengo near where her husband grew up in an area they call Gobble Holler.  This is the country, folks.  In East Texas we think we live in the country, but that ain’t country.  THIS is the most country country I have ever seen.  It is some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen as well, with its rolling hills, some rocky hillsides, lush green meadows, and twisty-turny roads.  Even Jimmy said he might choose this area over Colorado.  That’s saying something!

Not only are my husband and I visiting my sister and her husband, we are going to do some deer hunting!  Today was the first official day of archery season and guess what?  It rained. It poured.  So no hunting.  Barry and Jimmy did get the deer stands set up.  Brenda and I had no choice but to go thrift store shopping!

We spent the afternoon shopping in Corydon at Goodwill, the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Big Boy restaurant for lunch, and then Walmart.


On the way back to Brenda’s house, the rain began to slow and the deer began to venture out.  I spotted two does together, and a little later a pretty buck!  Just before we reached her house, I spotted another doe grazing behind a barn.  I can’t wait for tomorrow!  We have decided to hunt even if it means sitting in the rain!  Now if only I can aim true. . .

XOXO




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THRIFTY HUNTER THURSDAY: Countdown to Indiana!

Lord willing, we are leaving for Indiana in two days!  Not only do I get to do a 14-hour road trip, I get to see my baby sister AND hunt AND enjoy cooler temperatures!  Does it get any better than that?  Let’s see if I have everything I need:

  • Black’s Creek bow case with the pink deer plushie my daughter made for me:  check!

  • Pink camo practice quiver my husband made for me with practice arrows: check!





  • Pink camo backpack with all my necessities, including OFF Clip-On, binoculars, deer grunt, wet wipes, knife, gloves, cap, scarf, face paint, harness, and other things I cannot do without while on the hunt:  check!
Hubby and I were outside practicing earlier today.  He was grouping his arrows on the target like a pro!
I climbed up in the 17-foot stand for the first time–yes, in my harness–and didn’t do as well as I do on the ground.  I finally figured it out, though.  Form is everything.

And it’s a lot different in the stand than it is on the ground.  I’m not very consistent, but I did get pretty tired after a few draws. We’ll see what happens!

By the way, here are more photos of the plushie and the quiver.  If you are interested in purchasing one, message me!

Natalie did such a great job on this!  So cute!
Stay tuned. . .
xoxo