The Hunting Times

The kids wanted to go sledding in the approximately 5" of snow that we received.  They wanted to be pulled behind the truck, since we don't have any hills that make it worth our time.  So, I obliged and drove.  They rode in the back and took videos of our 2 X 2 jaunt through the bean fields.  Don't reckon I made it over 40 mph in the field, but the turbo chargers did kick in once or twice.  They could only go once around the field before their faces got too cold and it was time for a break. City boy Alex did not believe Kathy when she told him that this is what we were going to do.  So this ended up being another "first" for him on the farm.  Shelby, on the other hand, had been pulled by snowmobiles and 4-wheelers before. Good fun had by all.  All photos by Boppum Barb.  Video links at the end.  Kathy and Shelby coming around for a photo op by Boppum. Kathy and Shelby.  Note the "clear" spots on the back window so Nick and Alex can see.

The true story is that Meijer had soda on sale for $5.50 a case.  We stocked up 'cause it ain't gonna go to waste. However, it appears as though we're preparing for the Mayan apocalypse. I'll miss you most of all, Mt. Dew!

Davey, Alex, and I went out on Sunday evening, 23 DEC - the last day of muzzle loading for our county. As Alex walked in, he jumped 8 doe due E and off our property.  I watched them continue E, stop and start feeding after jumping the fence and getting about 1 mile away from the "danger" of Alex. I went back into the woods and jumped 3 more doe, and they ran N.  Seems like Alex and I are both "Bad Dogs."  I ran back N to try and cut them off.  I then cut diagonally through the woods.  I came upon 4 beds, which I diagnosed as 3 doe and 1 buck - due to the location of the urine stains.  I thought that maybe the buck was still in front of me just over the rise. I made the top of the hill and surveyed the woods.  I saw nothing.  So, I got my camera out and took a picture of the sun setting in the SW.  Here it is. Blow it up and look closely, as outlined by the arrow in this picture.  There's a deer in the field watching me. So I pulled up my gun, o

Davey, Re-Phil and I took a day off to head for Batesville to hunt pheasants.  We drove down for 2 hours and walked around 2 different properties on Tuesday, 04 DEC. We saw absolutely nothing.  N'er a shot was fired. We drove on it to Oldenburg and ate lunch at Wagner's.  We had the place to ourselves, so Phil thought he'd have a shot at the bartender lady.  Wow, he can have her. We ate fried chicken and drank Warnsteiner Dunkel.  We left after lunch so we could make it back for the Wildcat Conservation Club's rabbit fry. Re-Tard made the mistake of leaving his hat in the back seat with Dave when he got out to pee.  Come on Man!  You know something like this is going to happen... Yes, that's Re-Phil's hat coming out of Davey's pants.  THAT'S gonna need a washin'!

As I was coming home from Indy on Wednesday, 19 DEC, I saw a Bald Eagle resting on the S of the pond, the very last tree on the NW corner of the woods. I stopped the truck directly below him (or her) and watched it from my sunroof.  I got my cell phone camera ready and jumped out - successfully spooking it.  It flew SW across the field and landed by the creek at the fertilizer plant.  It's very tough to see, but you can make out the white tail in the picture below. Then, as we're coming back from hunting on Sunday, 23 DEC, I tell Nick and Alex that I saw an eagle in that tree right there.  Son of a gun, s/he was back - in the exact same spot. This time, I drove past it about 20 yards.  Nick and I both got our cameras out.  We were too far away for our crappy cell phone cameras to get good pictures; but, we all three saw it this time. Awesome!  It's not every day you get to see a Bald Eagle on your own property in the middle of Indiana. Super neat.

Davey, Alex, Nick, and I headed to Jenkins and the Golf Course this morning.  Neither Nick nor Alex have a muzzle loader, so they borrowed Pa Jerry's.  As Nick and I were sighting those muzzle loaders in, I broke one of the ram rods.  We fashioned one out of a dow rod, but I really suspect that this is a single shot muzzle loader.  So, since I broke it, I used it today. They dumped me out at Jenkins and I grabbed the 3 extra rounds - but neglected to take the primer charger.  This, I realized about 20 minutes into my walk.  There I was, a spectator, carrying a knife and a club.  I would NOT be taking any shots this morning. So instead, I just enjoyed the day.  It was a BEAUTIFUL sunrise.  If you look, you can see the church steeple in this picture.  You may have to blow it up. I continued my walk across Jenkins and toward the course.  I never saw a thing. I picked up Nick at Hole #15 and we walked W.  We heard a shot that had to be Alex.  Alas, it was not.  There was

The storm from Thursday left us with close to an inch of snow on the ground.  It's 15 degrees F and it's all FROZEN.  Which makes it impossible to be quiet.  That didn't stop Nick and me from trying. We chased all the deer off the course as we walked in.  We got nothing but cold. The deer ran N, across #14, behind #12's tee box and continued off property - all 8 of them. Here's a scene that not many people get to see, this is the tee box for Hole #16, facing W, covered in snow. And no, there were no golfers out today - the course is closed.

Oh the weather outside WAS Frightful!  We're talking 47 mph winds, snow, ice, rain, with 32F and dropping at 5 degrees per hour.  And yes, Re-Phil and I were out hunting in it.  You may question our sanity, but you can't question our dedication. Phone screen shot showing conditions. Radar map from truck GPS showing map. We hit the golf course, and after a week of seeing absolutely nothing, I saw 3 tonight and Phil saw 4.  They just all happened to be running AWAY from us.  Had I seen 2 of my 3 earlier, I could have taken a shot, but the wind and their noses conspired against me. We had fun and saw deer and that's what it's about.

Phil, Nick and I hit the golf course this fine evening. Never saw a deer, but we did get to watch a beautiful sunset. That's why it's called "Hunting" and not "Killing."  Heck, if it were easy, everybody would be doing it.

Had the occasion to travel and saw this sign at the airport. Totally in shock!  That's right, fellow citizens, turn each other in so the Gestapo can come and haul them away. Sorry, I have to go throw up now...