Hunting fever

It only took me a couple of days to process my meat. I was eager to learn and just as eager to get back to the woods. A fire had been lit under me and I was ready to try for a buck. I was ready for my first official solo hunt. 

Here we are just two days after my first ever doe. Dandy had given me a pair of blue coveralls from a company he used to work for years in the past and showed me how to work the wench system he had put on the front rack of the fourwheeler to help load deer. After going over everything with me he went into his shop and came back to me. He handled me a black and green handled knife and had carved my initials into the end of it. 

Excited was an understatement. I packed my bag and put the gun strap over my head. I climbed onto the fourwheeler and made my way back to the woods. Out of possibly 10 stand options I decided I would go back to where I harvested my doe. At the front gate it was 1:30 pm and I tagged into the "Condo" and walked the remainder of the way in. 

3:30 pm and I am in the stand to hunt the remainder of the day. My husband was at work and again this was my first ever solo hunt. I didn't expect to see anything but wouldn't you know it a buck entered the same field that my doe had entered 2 days prior. I scoped him and without a second thought I shot. 

Not only did he drop... he dropped in the same spot that I had shot my doe. I called my husband and he picked up. " He dropped.. I shot him... he dropped. I got a buck!" I don't even think I made full sentences for several minutes as I talked to my husband on the phone for roughly 10 minutes before I got down. 

I hurried over to him and I was in awe of myself. How could I of all people be capable of hunting by myself. I walked to the fourwheeler and brought it back to load him up. I felt so fierce. So strong. Hunting at this point gave me a different feeling of purpose that being just a wife and mom never could. It gave me individuality. An identity outside of anything anyone had ever known me for. 

I drove that fourwheeler so proudly with my small little 6 point dink buck. No one could tell me anything. I had officially picked up hunting fever. I made it back and asked Dandy to help me gut and clean my buck. Per usual Dandy wanted to take over and just do it for me as he has for so many others. I had to stop him. I'm too independent to not learn how to do every part of the process. He slowed down and showed me somethings but also talked me through other steps. I learn by doing not by watching and I knew this was a skill I could use forever.  

Tagging out- The Freckled Hunter