Time is getting near

Here is South Carolina, our deer seasons open early. In some parts of the state they open August 15th. Where I hunt it Archery opens September 1st, and firearm season opens on Sept. 15th. I spent a few days about a month ago getting the stands ready, hanging them, cutting lanes, scouting and moving some stands.

This will be the 6th year I have hunted this property and every year the hunting gets better and better. I have learned the land and scouted extensively. In the past i thought that 285 acres was not enough to hunt, I have since learned otherwise, sure some deer will travel through but a good many live their entire lives within the boundaries and that has made me a better hunter. I have been fortunate enough to take two real nice 10 pointers off of this land, several nice 8 pointers and many doe. And like most of you, I missed the largest deer I have seen there one December morning while hunting with my pistol. But knowing he is there keeps me going back.

It always happens this time of year, I begin counting down the days until opening day. When I can again go sit in a tree and wait, when I can watch the sunrise and listen to the woods awaken from a long slumber. I long for the mornings when all is quiet, and then the birds start to chirp and the squirrels start to bark, when the light begins to move through the canopy and I strain to see movement and make out the faint outline of a whitetail moving through the brush heading for its den from a nighttime of feeding. I long for the hours of sitting still where every movement is calculated and as slow as a sloth. When the sound of crunching leaves startles me from my day dreaming and I notice a fat doe, or a nice buck making its way towards my stand. When I can stand slowly, grab my longbow from its perch and prepare to loose an arrow on its way only to see the deer move just out of range.

The game is on, the chess match begins again, as I watch and marvel at their seemingly 6th sense to know something is amiss.

Then there are the days when everything comes together, when they have no idea you are there, and the deer prances just into range and the arrow flies, finds its mark and the stories are forever etched into our minds.

I am counting down the days, I am anxiously awaiting the moments when I can hurry up ad wait when the season again comes in and the hunt begins. This year I have different plans, there is a place where I know a buck frequents and there is not good tree to hang a stand in, a place where I will have to sneak in on ground level and see if I can match wits with him on his level. Watch the wind, move slowly, sneak within range and see what happens. There is no greater thrill than sneaking within bow range of a wary whitetail and I cannot wait until the opportunity comes when it will all come together.