The End Of The Season
By: Jean S. Reeves
“Well, this is it,” I thought as I stumbled out of my warm bed this cold January morning. It was my last day off before the end of the season and I couldn’t let this day pass me by. Just knowing what had been coming to my deer stand every night and occasionally during the day to pose for his picture on my camera had me anxious to put on the gear, sling the rifle over my shoulder, and head on to the stand. Sick or not, here I go. I had been keeping a head cold at bay off an on for a couple of weeks now but it had finally gotten the best of me. The sniffles, the hoarseness, the sneezing, the coughing... you know the whole nine yards, I had it. It was 32 degrees outside and I knew that my chances of making it through a hunt without sneezing or coughing were pretty slim but I just had to take that chance. A warm cup of coffee later, I was ready for anything that walked out.
It wasn’t quite 5 a.m. and still very dark out, so I carefully walked the mud trodden path to my deer stand. The cold air was actually beneficial to me and I could breathe better this morning. The stars were beautiful; the night so clear I felt I could see all the way into Heaven. “It doesn’t get any better than this”, I thought. On the way in, I spooked a rabbit and jumped two deer. “They are moving that’s for sure”, I thought as I stepped up my pace a little with anticipation and a little more enthusiasm. Maybe today will be the day.
As I quietly made my way up the ladder, many thoughts were going through my head. I had been eager to see the 8 point buck that had been visiting my stand. I had seen him the day before when he made a slow stroll through the trees, disappearing into a thicket just as I raised my gun. I had thought about how ghostly they can be; so quiet to be such a big animal. He had just appeared there seemingly out of nowhere in all of his grandeur like the king of the forest. He was beautiful… but he was gone. As if to tease me or maybe to reassure me that it wasn’t my imagination, he circled around and made the same steps and appeared once more about 20 minutes later and again just long enough to let me know he was there before disappearing quietly into the thicket. My heart raced and my eyes widened as I was certain he’d make another appearance and this time I’d have a shot at him. But to my disappointment, he never came.
I had had mixed feelings about him though. I wanted him more than I’d wanted any other deer. But more than that, I’d wanted my husband, Bill, to be home the day I took him. Bill was far away at work and would have been happy for me but I still would have wanted him there to give me a “high five” and a pat on the back as he always did. Even though he’d killed the limit, he’d rather I kill a deer than himself and was always happy and proud of me when I did. It just wouldn’t be the same without him.
As the beautiful morning passed I thought about what a good season it had been. Even though I only have two kills to brag about, a nice 7 point and a spike, it had been a great season. I had taken more notice of God’s work this year than ever before. The thoughts of the beauty and serenity of the woods interrupted by an occasional bird or squirrel had been the greatest enticement to drag me from my warm bed into the cold on my days off from work. As a nurse in a busy hospital, I needed the peace the woods offered and I had been afforded that privilege many times this season.
Before I could climb down from my stand, I smiled as I took a moment to inventory my surroundings. Feasting on the corn I had intended for my 8 point guest were two crows, several cardinals, a black squirrel, a red squirrel, and a brown squirrel with a black tail. There was a Blue Jay in a tree and a beautiful red-headed Woodpecker in another interrupting the silence off an on. As I looked around, I couldn’t help but wonder why we couldn’t all get along in our surroundings as well as these feathered and furry friends were. I was amazed at their ability to share that single pile of corn… all so very different but coming together to share a meal.
As I walked down the muddy trail back to my house I thought of all the things I had to be thankful for but most of all I was thankful for my husband, my best friend, who had turned me into the huntress I am today. Maybe next season he can give me that “high five” and a pat on the back. For now, I’ll have the memories of this season...
Share
Print
Save