The Hunting Times

Driving to Christmas Eve dinner with Sandy's parents & family last night, my bride says to me that TV Channel 18 (WLFI) Lafayette put out a Christmas Movie quiz.  In this one, you answer some questions and the quiz tells you which Christmas Movie you are most like. I immediately said, "I'm Die Hard!"  I was promptly corrected that 'Die Hard' is most certainly NOT a Christmas movie.  I am not sure what cave my bride has been living in, but she should not blaspheme like that!  Die Hard is the ULTIMATE Christmas movie. Well, I was informed that she was 'It's a Wonderful Life.'  And, I was about to take the quiz to find out my movie.  She pulled up her cell phone and started asking me the questions.  You only get four options as answers, so just pick the one closest to what you'd like. I finished the quiz right as we parked the car in her parents' driveway.  Low & Behold, it's Craig for the Win - I am most like the Christmas m...

Poor RePhil, he can't catch a break and get a deer.  But man did we give her the ole college try.  Me?  I got plenty in the freezer and really would not shoot another unless it's a wall hanger.  RePhil on the other hand wants some meat. Final week of firearms season was DEC 17 - 23.  We went out at least four times.  Twice to the golf course and twice to Neal / Marshall. The only time we saw deer were on the Neal and Marshall trips. I ran two doe right up to 20 yards of RePhil.  All he had to do was pull the trigger - they were at a dead stop.  Why didn't he shoot?  He had just used the restroom and was replying to my text that I had not seen anything in the last two hours.  Phone in hand, no gloves, gun leaning by tree.  Nope.  Not gonna get many deer that way. The next trip to Neal / Marshall had the doe walking on the top of Marshall's toward the S.  I tried to push them back to RePhil on Neal, but they continue...

Since it was such a nice day, like 50F, sunny, and only a slight westward breeze, we decided to go call coyotes this evening.   We started here on my property.  Walked to the curve and called W.  Nothing. We went to Marshall's S farm and called S.  Saw a small buck (4 or 6 pt) heading SE.  No coyotes. Drove to Krueger's and along the way we saw 2 deer on Huffers, end of Bailey's, on the E side.  We walked to Kruger's stand.  I sat up there, he on the ground.  We saw 6 deer, including 2 shooter bucks.  We had an owl attack the decoy.  But again, no coyotes.  Tracks?  Yep, saw those.  No 'yotes. So, I must conclude that: There are no coyotes left in Clinton County because Krueger shot them all, or Word is out that I am an excellent marksman and they all ran scared, or We have educated them enough that they aren't coming to our call, or It was too warm and early for them to be out this evening. Of cou...

Just last Friday night (two days ago) I saw a wild turkey fly down into the bottoms on Bailey's Hill.  I was driving back into town about 4:30 pm.  It was sitting on the S side of the creek along the top of the last hill before you hit the bridge.  It flew W to E and landed on Paddock's.  Awesome to start seeing them around. Last weekend, Krueger and I were headed S toward Indy.  We saw a Bald Eagle sitting in the tree line over on US 52 near SR 28.  The are being seen more frequently as well. Stock pictures.  I did not have time to get my phone out and take these...

From the deer we processed earlier in the season, Simpson's has finished our batch of venison salami.  Alex and I had to take a road trip to Young America to pick it up.  Of course we could not go without something to keep us hydrated. We dropped a bunch off at Uncle D.C.'s and chatted for a while.  Then we brought the rest home. However, we could not contain ourselves and since we had a cutting board and a knife - we chowed down. Taken in the parking lot.  No drinking & driving and  No open containers either. Besides, it's not safe to drive with an open knife. We're not THAT stupid!

RePhil and I again tried our luck at the course this Tuesday evening, Dec 11. This time RePhil walked down 10, past 11 & 12, and into the woods at the E end.  I stood over watch on Hole #16. It was a much nicer day.  Slight breeze, 35F, and clear. RePhil walked S to Jenkins, across the creek, and then back W to me.  It took 2 hours.  We saw nothing again. It was just a great evening to be out with friends and enjoying Nature.  At the end of the night, we thought we would cap it off with a nice cold brrrrew.  We were wrong... Remnants of snow, looking E on Hole #16. Sun setting over course on another great day to be out in the woods This is the cooler in the back of the truck. All FROZEN in a solid block of ICE. Thou shalt have no beer tonight!

It was a very cold & snow covered morning on Saturday, Dec 8th, like 20F cold.  Some of us dummies went out and tried to get some more deer. RePhil and I were on the course.  Davey was at the fertilizer plant. RePhil's alarm did not go off, so we got out late, about 7:30 am.  I went to hole #4 and RePhil walked to the bowl on hole #15.  We heard a shot to the N.  My best guess is that RePhil pushed all the deer out North and the hunter up there shot one.  This was later confirmed by the tracks in the field. We, on the other hand did not see any deer.  Squirrels, crows, hawks, and other birds, but no deer. I started texting RePhil about 8:30 seeking his insight to where the deer were hiding.  No response.  I asked if he was asleep.  No response.  About 9:30 I was cold enough and started to walk to RePhil and maybe push something his way. When I got to where RePhil was supposed to be, he was gone.  I searched up and...

Today is Sunday, DEC 2, 2018 and is the last day of firearms season for deer in Indiana.  I finally got to spend a day in the woods with RePhil.  I've been hunting all year with family and spent today with a friend. We hit the golf course at 6:45 and caught up until about 7:15.  We walked in and stayed until 10.  While the weather was nice (50F and breezy), we saw absolutely nothing.  Sure was pretty out there though. Sun coming up over #4's fairway. Had 2" of rain Saturday.  See the puddles? Walking out and calling it a day, looking down #17's fairway. Sure is pretty out here in God's Church. Since we were planning on getting a Christmas Tree at 1 with Nick, Shelby, and Mallory, I called Davey out to put a scope on his new muzzle loader and sight it in.  Well, we tried.  Scope is on, but we can't get it to hit paper.  So we called it as we were both busy.  We have all week to get it sighted in.  Looks like ole Da...