The hunting lifestyle.

If you have read our blog for any amount of time, you probably know we live the hunting lifestyle.  This time of year especially.  Our weekends and almost every day during the week typically involves hunting.  

The first weekend in November we headed to our West Texas deer lease.  The first weekend of rifle season is always fun because get to go two Hunter Appreciation Dinners.  They do lots of raffles and there is always a chance of winning some great things.  We, however, didn’t win anything. 

At the deer lease, there is always work to be done…  Fun work of course! 

First morning of rifle season…

I put down the bow and picked up the rifle.  Not a lot luck all weekend.  I did sit in one of Daddy’s stands and saw a really nice 8 pt that I am regretting not taking right now.  :-)

We have been hunting around the house and at my brother’s land and have typically seen more at home than at either of our deer leases.  Dad got this really awesome 8 point.   Scored 126 and weighed 190.  Very nice! 

Hayden likes to go hunting too.

Dad has been keeping Hayden a lot so I/we can go hunting in the afternoons.   Last night they went to Aunt Barbara’s and Uncle Gary’s house while Jeff and I both went hunting.  I think Hayden had a ton of fun! 

The hunting lifestyle continues…

Jeff nor I have tagged a deer this year.  Not from lack of effort.  That is for sure! 

But, we love it!

Hunting “weekend”

We  just got back from a hunting weekend at our lease in West Texas. With Jeff’s work schedule, our weekends are actually during the week.  Hunting is something we genuinely love to do as a family.  I grew up hunting with my Daddy, so it works great that Jeff loves it too! 

Bow hunting is new to me this year.  I got my bow last year for Christmas and have been preparing and practicing since then.  I am no where near perfect and still need a lot of practice but felt fairly confident that I could make the shot I needed to. 

Dad recently got a cross bow so he went out there with us too to try to get his chance during bow season!  But, Dad said he would watch Hayden on Wednesday afternoon for us while Jeff and I went out and he showed me the ropes of bow hunting out of a pop up blind. 

So, we suited up and headed out to our pop up blind Jeff set up several weeks ago.  Well, we got there, Jeff unzipped the blind and there he stood face to face with skunk.  We thought for a second on what to do to avoid him spraying and to get him out of there.  So, we opened up the blind and threw rocks on the outside to see if he would come out.  Well, he didn’t come out and sprayed inside the blind.  Jeff shot at him in the blind and he ended up crawling out the back and crawling in a hole after Jeff shot him a few more times.  There wasn’t any way we could hunt in there that afternoon.  So, we headed over to Dad’s blind to hunt that afternoon. 

It looks like we smeared grease all over our face, but it is camo paint so our face didn’t stand out as one big white spot.

Our view…

Hunting from a pop up blind is so different than hunting from a stand 10-15 ft off the ground.  In a blind, you have a very limited view.  You have to contain your scent so  you can’t open a lot of windows since you are so close to the feeder/area you are hunting.  With a stand that you rifle hunt out of, you can see so far and see what is coming your way long before they get this close to you.  This afternoon, we saw nothing! 

The next morning, afternoon, and following morning, I headed out to our blind by myself.  Jeff sprayed scent killer and opened some windows and let it air out.  Surprisingly it wasn’t bad in there at all!  The only real time I could smell the skunk was that afternoon when it was pretty warm.   I saw absolutely nothing.  And, Dad never saw anything in his blind either.  Kind of discouraging.  

While I was hunting, Hayden spent time with Granddaddy on Wednesday afternoon and Daddy (the rest of the time) shooting turtles with his bb gun, throwing rocks, riding our ATV, and just enjoying the outdoors.  He really wanted to go hunting, but that really isn’t an option in a pop up blind.  Friday afternoon, Jeff and Hayden went into town and explored a bit, played at the park, enjoyed a little Sonic treat, and imitated statues. 

They also went to pick up Jeff’s axis hide he had tanned from a hunt last December.  I am not real sure what we are going to do with it yet, but we think it is super cool.

Our boy was a little worn out on the way home. 

Friday afternoon after we got home, I decided I would go hunt in Dad’s tree/ladder stand about a mile from our house.  This is something I have never done before.  I have never climbed a tree to hunt.  Particularly climbed 15 foot up the tree, harnessed up and carrying my bow and backpack all by myself.  But, I did it!  I had to wrap/connect my harness to the tree in case I happened to fall.   I was so proud of myself and Jeff was quite proud of me too. 

And guess what, I saw deer!!!!  I had two does come in and one shooter (legal) buck.  He only came in within about 40 yards (I need him within 25-30 yards), so I didn’t get a chance at a shot.  In our county, their horns have to be wider than their ears or only have a spike on one side.  I think they all winded me. But, I was so excited that I actually saw deer!! 

It was pretty funny after I came home because Jeff  told me that he had to explain to the UPS man and some of our neighbors that saw me go by on our ranger why I was the one hunting while he was home with Hayden.  LOL!  He will get his chance this next week while we make our way to the OK lease for him to go (bear) hunting.  EEEEEK!

Dallas Safari Club Convention

Yesterday, Jeff, Hayden, and I loaded up to meet our friends Bo and Rhonda at the Dallas Safari Club Convention.  I had no idea what to expect, but figured it might be pretty cool for Hayden to see some animals.  And that it was!  There were tons of animals on display.  If you were in the market for any sort of exotic hunt, that was the place to be! 

We thought this was really cool looking with the bronze metal effect.    Jeff is thinking about doing this with a set of his horns he got this year. 

Check out this machine!  A Hummer with a party wagon on top.  Ha Ha!  Or a hunting wagon. You can drive it from up top.  So cool! 

Hayden kept saying “Like me” as his was sticking his tongue out and opening his mouth.  So funny! 

He kept posing, so I kept taking pictures!  ;-)

The taxidermy work was crazy good {and wild}! 

They had rhino’s and elephants too.  I guess we didn’t get pictures of those.  Probably because we were stunned by them! 

We had a good time! 

2nd Weekend at the Deer Lease

Well, after 4 days of hunting hard, I came up short again!  I saw a lot of deer, but no shooters.  Luckily, Jeff killed a nice 9 point during bow season and filled up our freezer, so I can afford to be a little picky. 

It was a good weekend.  Even though I didn’t get anything, we have such a great time out there.  Mostly because there are no worries.  I also take the best naps at the lease! 

Here is our little routine…I wake up about 5:40 AM, get dressed and out the door.  (Jeff and Hayden still snoozing for a while longer.) Hop in the explorer and drive to where I will park to walk the rest of the way to the stand.  I didn’t ever need a flashlight this go around.  That moon was shining bright!  I can say it is a little freaky walking in the dark all alone and all of a sudden a dumb bird flies out of the bush you walked past and you nearly fall on your face because you tripped over a rock trying to get away.  I know, go ahead and laugh.  Then, get in the stand by 6:10 AM or so.  The goal is before the sun starts to come up.  Wait for the feeder to go off around 6:20 or 6:30 AM depending on the stand you are sitting at.  Then, watch for the action!  Sunday morning, I saw NOTHING!!  I stayed there for 4 hours and saw NADA!  So, head back to camp around 9:45 or 10:00AM.  Then, cook up a good breakfast.  Usually biscuits, bacon/sausage, and eggs.  Around noon Hayden and I lay down for a nap!  Jeff usually find something to do (with Dad or one of the other guys on the lease).  Yesterday he went and sat in the stand.  I love nap time at the lease because I don’t feel guilty for taking one because there isn’t work to be done around the house or on the computer. 

After nap time (usually about 2-3 hours later), time to get up, grab a snack, and head out the door for the afternoon hunt.  Hunt from about 3:45-6:15 PM.  Head back to camp and make plans for dinner.  Sometimes we go eat in town (about 20 minutes away).  Sometimes we eat at camp.  Last night we cooked a pizza.  Baths for everyone and then to bed usually by 9:00 PM.   Roughin’ it I tell ya!  See why I love it so much?  :-)

Here is a little peak into what went on this weekend…

Lots of father/son time!  These boys played their little hearts out!  Hayden actually has his own little room in the camper.  It is so nice! 

We just pick up the pack and play during the day and it turns into a playroom!  :-) 

Can’t play all day and not do any work!  :-)

Jeff brought a bucket of dirt from home so they would have some loose dirt to play with.  Such a good Daddy!

Play dough!  Hayden’s new love and will entertain him for quite a long time! 

He is really working hard on learning those letters too!

Me and Hayden before an afternoon hunt.  Hayden now says, “Mommy Hunting!”.   I hope he grows up loving to hunt as much as Jeff and I do!  

Marla, I told Jeff I was going to use this as my “What I Wear Wednesday” blog post since I pretty much wore this for 4 days this week!  ;-)  Hat-Bass Pro, Shirt and Pants-Academy, Snake boots-Bass Pro! 

This afternoon we got home around 4:00 or so.  Jeff was kind of itching to go sit in his bow stand behind the house.  I encouraged him to get out and go have some “him” time since he really didn’t get much this weekend.  Well, next thing I know, he is running back in the house telling me to call mom and see if she can watch Hayden because there is a big buck behind the house and he can’t get close enough with his bow.  He runs Hayden down to Mom and Dads and I change clothes and grab my rifle.  We sneak (a long way) down the pasture toward our feeder.  I was so out of breath.  Not kidding.  Squatting down trying not to be seen, holding my gun, and trying to keep up with his long legs was a work out!  My legs are going to be sore tomorrow, I can already tell.  We would sit and wait and look, then move a little closer.  I felt like I was in the Army or a sniper or something.  Ha!  We finally sat down and waited until dark.  The big buck outsmarted us.  Oh well, it was quite a fun adventure with my  hubby.  Jeff said, “I love you.  I am so glad you enjoy doing things like this with me.  I love that you don’t mind getting dirty and getting  a little cow poop on ya.”  Ha! 

Glad to be home!  We aren’t heading back to the lease for a few weeks.  Hope you are having a good week!

No deer stories

We made it back home safely this afternoon after a great weekend away at the deer lease.  I didn’t see a whole lot and certainly no “shooters”, but we still had a great time.  Dad saw quite a bit more than me, but nothing worth the taking.  Yet.  :-) 

We attended two different hunter appreciation dinners.  One Friday night and one Saturday night.  Friday night, Dad won a gun (Remington 22).  Saturday night, Hayden won a gun.  A BB gun, but hey, its a gun!  ;-)  Hayden had the best time Saturday night.  They had a huge area for kids to play in the dirt and Hayden was loving it!  He and his daddy went around and around those huge wooden spools chasing each other.

Jeff and Dad both went to the doctor on Thursday to get some antibiotics before the weekend trip after had gone to the doctor on Tuesday for the same.   Jeff actually lost his voice over the weekend.  But, I think everyone is finally feeling better now! 

Hayden and his Daddy had some really great bonding time!  Jeff had gotten a buck earlier during bow season, so it was my turn to hunt this weekend.  I think it was so good for both of them to spend so much quality time together. I was pretty much just around for meals and naptime!  ;-)  They played with cars, trucks, trains, and animals!  Oh, and toothpaste boxes.  It’s the little things! 

They also ate things like banana pudding pie for breakfast.  Oh my!

I think this baby was worn out after his weekend of hunting! 

This Momma is worn out too!  Off to bed!