Time Well Spent

As I sit here at my desk I often wonder how and what I would change about this past hunting season. 2010's season isn't over exactly-but it is for me! December has brought about the cold air and the realization that winter is here to stay. Nebraska averaged about 45 degrees during rifle season this year, a little warmer than I would have liked it to be.

I arrived in Nebraska a week early this year, actually arrived at camp on Tuesday prior to the Saturday opener, wanted to check out the area since it was the first time I had hunted the panhandle. The bucks were chasing does, seems like deer were everywhere you looked, the temperatures changed on Thursday and the deer disappeared only to be found on others trucks and trailers beginning Saturday morning.

As always I get pumped up which leads to a massive downswing when things don't go well. I enjoyed the hunt mind you, just could have been a bit better. They say that a bad day hunting is better than a good day at work, I assume "they" don't enjoy their jobs. As for me the frustration mounted quickly as the realization came that there were too many hunters and not enough deer on the property that we had permission to hunt. We altered our course as any good hunter would do and chased the mighty beasts around State Lands and further into neighboring private property. I would have to say that I saved the lives of more deer than I've harvested! Ben landed a respectable buck on a last ditch effort. We hit a piece of State Land with pine trees on it on our way home and out he popped!


Hunting for me has always been a thing to share, I just don't like hunting alone as much as I do with others. Harvesting a Buck is alright for sharing bragging photo's but it's more than that to me; it's the whole trip! From the time I send out the first email to the day that I pack up and head home is all part of the hunt to me, I enjoy other's excitement more than my own I guess. This year was somehow different, I booked bad land, the weather wasn't right, the Rut was on hold and I just couldn't find deer!

I would tell you that I have a knack for finding the right spots to hunt, you put me on a piece of property and within minutes I have a plan and know where not to hunt! This year my thoughts were all over the place, I just couldn't find the deer! My frustration falls in the area of my hunting buddies, me-if I don't harvest a deer I still enjoy the hunt, this year I invited 3 of my buddies and if not for the miracle on State Land we would have headed home with 2 does for our efforts. A fine feat, but not what I traveled 1500 miles for!
By Tuesday of the week I had turned my efforts to small game, didn't give up on the deer just wanted to do something while I waited for the others to harvest deer. A Jackrabbit, Pheasant, Grouse and Turkey all fell to my Remington, followed by a Doe near the end of the week. It was a multitasking hunt in my eyes and multitask I did.....lol.

It goes without saying that if you put yourself fourth on the list for harvest, you'll probably go hungry. I've been reasonably unselfish for the last few years....It's my turn!
2011 looks to be the best opportunity I've had in a few years to bag a buck, it's back to Saskatchewan I go! November seems way to far off to be thinking let alone planning on a hunt but as I'll tell anyone who understands Remington Country, it comes faster than you think!
Time spent in the field is always good time as long as no one gets hurt. I can't say that I didn't enjoy my November Nebraska trip-I always do! As I look back I've been re-thinking that being fourth on the list thing, I think it's my turn next fall.

As for this fall, it was still time well spent!

Commitment to Canada

It's been hovering around 90 degrees almost everyday for over a month now, it's hard to focus on all things hunting when you step out the door and the humidity hits you in the face. Much has happened over the last few days. On a whim I asked one of my hunting buddies Jim if he is up for a Canada Whitetail hunt in 2011, to which he replied via text message: "YES"!!! I then pinged my other hunting buddy Rich and his response was similar in nature: "Absolutely". And so it goes, the plans have begun and the sleepless nights once again have entered into my home.

It takes some effort on my part to get to Canada, I'm not what you would refer to as a "man of means". I have to save and save and then try to save to make it a trip worthwhile, so save I will! Within minutes of committing to a Canada trip the haunts of today set in, Nanny and Poppy still aren't settled, my wife remains a homemaker and caregiver to her parents where she needs to be and having a single income makes it harder to justify a $6000 trip to the great north woods.

Albeit a short jaunt of depression several things came to mind that gave me a way out of my darkness and into a 747 headed to Saskatoon! In the same week that we discussed Canada I was lucky enough to be led to an outfitter in Iowa that has some real good setups for traditional archery. The more we talked the more I liked him and the more my mind began to change. I couldn't wait to call Rich and tell him about my new found opportunity and suddenly the sleepless nights are back! Having settled in with a definite maybe on either Saskatchewan or Iowa I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a business colleague of mine who told me that his family owns two large farms in Iowa and would probably let us hunt there. Okay, now imagine my dismay!

I went from an expensive Canada hunt to a less expensive and exciting Iowa hunt to a non-outfitter cheaper than dirt Iowa opportunity in a flash! Man is Rich getting tired of my emails.

The point of this post is in the Love of the Sport. There are great things to say about any hunt and Canada and Iowa alike are producing massive antlered deer. Either one of those opportunities would do for most of us, but it's Canada for me. In an earlier post I talked you through a Canadian Hunt from inception to conclusion and so it will be again, I'm off to the great north woods in 2011!

Although Canada is as close as you can come to a guaranteed harvest there's so much more to a trip there than can be explained. My outfitter and friend has over 350 square miles of great north timberland. Most will tell you that the really big bucks are south of the Saskatchewan Mason-Dixon line known as Meadow Lake however there are no shortage of bucks 60 miles north of there and nothing like the feeling of being on stand knowing that there's not another human being within miles of you. the sheer excitement of seeing a wolf or moose wonder through without any regard to you is nothing short of amazing. Seeing 10 to 20 shooter bucks a day doesn't hurt either!

Is it worth going up there for what it costs? Let's just say that I'm on the brink of saving my pennies, selling some guns and alienating my wife to go, so I'd say so!

This time of year I should be focused on golf, work, lawn and the lack of rain and yet somehow I find time to let my mind wander into hunting. I have two fishing trips planned this year and still I see antlers when I close my eyes at night.

With my Nebraska trip planned and settled for this fall and the potential for a Canada hunt in 2011 I'll be a mess for another 15 months or so! I think sometimes that it's all things hunting that keep me sane and yet it's also what makes me crazy.

Today I built an Oak rack for my longbows (shown above) and tomorrow I head out for central Pennsylvania for a two day golf outing and I'll probably no doubt spend much of the time talking about hunting. I can't help it: as Ursala says in the Little Mermaid-It's what I do, it's what I live for!

So off to bed for yet another night of tossing and turning, the kind that a commitment to Canada brings.

There are certain days

I find it harder to get motivated towards the art of hunting when the average daily highs are in the low 90's. When walking from your house to your truck in the driveway gets you sweating the thoughts of climbing a hill or setting up a ground blind couldn't be farther from your thought patterns.

Once again I find myself sitting in the office surrounded by what was and items that have yet to be and thinking about this upcoming fall season. Due to unforeseen events this fall is going to be a one and done hunting season. A Nebraska Sandhills rifle hunt will be the thing my dreams are made of from now until November. With two (2) either sex hunting licenses and attached Bonus Doe tags there are four (4) deer somewhere out west who may be feeding multiple hungry families.

My plan is to harvest the first nice buck I see and then focus on that one of a kind Mule Deer Buck, unless he appears first. The area where I'll be hunting houses about a 50/50 mix of Whitetails and Mulies, with river bottom land and several square miles of sandhills on the property so both will come into play. With this confounded heat wave we're having it was quite inspiring to wake up this morning to rather chilly temperatures outside.

At 5:30am my Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Lorrie) decided that she would like to go out so she woke me up and out we went, I'm glad she did! As I walked out of our master bedroom door into what was a bit of a chill my thoughts immediately turned to being in a tree stand or on the side of a hill overlooking a valley. Funny how fast your thoughts can turn on certain days.

I mentioned earlier that this was a one an done season however that's not exactly true. Last fall I cleaned out my safe and traded a few lesser rifles and shotguns for two Remington CDL Stainless Fluted rifles in .270wsm and .300wsm, what else could a man want? With two new rifles and two Nebraska either sex licenses I figure I'm really looking at two hunts! I think maybe the .300WSM first followed hopefully by filling a tag with the .270WSM later in the week. Imagine if you will, two trophy hunts in the same week!

There are four of us going on the trip this fall, my hunting buddy Rich of course followed by my long time grade school buddy Ben to which we've added a business partner and friend Gary from Missouri. I find that the quality of a hunt is directly effected by the quality of the persons on the hunt and you couldn't find 3 more quality guys than the crew we've put together. Each in and of his own right a hunter but mostly each in and of his own right a genuine nice guy!

I find that the stories told after the hunt seldom enlightened the harvest but more so the events of the trip, you need good people to have good events! Today is yet another 90+ east coast day yet being a Saturday I'm sure that it will be filled with all things hunting for me. I need to get my longbow(s) out and loose some arrows before Rich calls me to the carpet, I think a quick cleaning (wipe down) of the guns in the safe is in order not to mention finding my hunting clothes containers now that Poppy and Nanny's household goods are stored in our garage. To me getting ready is half of the fun of a hunting trip.

As for those two rifles, they both need the barrels worn in on them, the Winchester XP3s are sitting on the desk, the range is open and I have the targets made up for 200, 300 and 400 yards however did I mention that it's 90+ degree today...lol, they'll just have to wait to take their first ride to the range.

There are certain days alright and today is one of them, if only to have a time machine! My wife often comments that I wish my life away waiting for my next hunt, she's probably right-she usually is. However wish it away I will, because this is one of those certain days!

Nebraska Sandhills

I think that I'd be safe in saying that about 98% of Americans probably find no allure in the Nebraska Sandhills. Rolling hills of sand topped by weeds for the most part. Evergreen bushes seem to be just about the only thing that grows well, should it have opportunity to grab foot. In the middle of nowhere there's a line of oaks and cottonwoods giving away any water to be found in the area. As I stated earlier: miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles.

To me the Sandhills are a place of refuge, comfort if you will. Early mornings show dew covered landscapes only to bring back the sheer magnitude of space as the sun slowly rises and the shadows recede to bring the day. Most would think that barren land relates to barren wildlife yet wildlife flourishes at every corner. From Mule and Whitetail Deer to Mountain Lion with the breadth of upland game and waterfowl between, the land slowly comes alive late afternoon. Out of nowhere a hunters paradise.

I've been lucky enough through my contacts to have gained access to a northwestern ranch near the panhandle, 3600 acres of ranch land, shared with few. The landowner, a 78 year old gentleman with Parkinson's and Cancer was more than hospitable and so it was, another hunting trip was born!

If you read between the lines in early posts you'll easily see that I've invited my hunting buddy Rich to join me out west, 3 years in a row now. My plan to take him began while sitting in his basement looking at his mounts on the wall. As with any hunter the trophy sits prominent. I asked him to tell me the story about his mounts and a friendship was formed. It has been no secret between Rich and I that I am out to put him on the biggest buck he's ever shot, defining biggest as in rack size.

We've been to Nebraska twice now, missed one opportunity, noted another before sun up and now look forward to hunting by far the best piece of property for achieving that goal that we've hunted to date. Although I tend to the hunting fires throughout the entire year, this year is different. I am actually giddy about the upcoming opportunity. Not only did I acquire a set of Remington CDL Stainless Fluted Rifles in .270wsm and .300wsm this year I also acquired my first (second and third) Leopold Vari-X3 scope(s). Atop the .300wsm sits a 4.5 x 14-50mm silver Leopold with fine duplex reticles, soon to be sighted in at 200 yards. New Rifle, new Scope, new Land and a new year! Who wouldn't be giddy about that?

With all that I have to smile about for the next 198 days, 18 hours and 35 minutes it came up in conversation that Rich would like to invite someone along with us this fall. At the time that the subject was broached I had lost access to over 2000 acres and was struggling to find land to achieve my ultimate goal, so I just kind of blew it off. Once confirmed that we had gained access to not one ranch but four, the subject was gently brought up again by Rich. Upon going just a little further in our conversation it became clear to me that Rich wanted to bring a long time work partner of his who also has become a new found friend to me.

Being born and bred in the heart of the Husker Nation I'm having a hard time bringing a Mizzou fan out with us but I think I can make it the week without bringing last year's game up, I said: I think!

So, with my long time friend Ben, new found best hunting buddy Rich and our friend Gary in tow this looks to be an exciting week out west. The motel reservations are set, the trip out and back is planned down to the hour I need to leave. The rifle is cleaned and oiled and readied for a trip to the range and the scope is centered and bore sighted to a street light about a half mile away.

Yet another fall season, yet another opportunity and yet another story to soon share with my friends.

Now that's Remington Country!

It's what I dream of at night!

It will start out early in the year as an innocent desire to hunt whitetails in the great north woods. it will end with a smile and a memory. The day you write out the deposit check and send it off to the outfitter seems like years before the season opener, yet it goes by in a flash.

I remember searching my computer for my packing list for a rifle hunt, once found I query as to why I have so many things on the list. By the time I've gone through my gear and hunting clothing I've found a bunch of things I'll need that weren't even on the list. As I shuffle through my office guiding through the piles of clothes, boots, ammo and more clothes I begin to think that somewhere along the line I must have went crazy and nobody told me.

The date comes to send off your rifle customs form, you get ready pen in hand and then mull over which rifle it will be. I do it in my own fashion, which rifle has yet to be successful on a hunt and that's the one. Write out a check, attach the form and put it in a envelope, seems easy enough.

About 30 days later you get a letter from Customs that your form has been accepted and your all but there. I have some quirks when it comes to hunting, for some reason I need to leave a day or two earlier than I really need too. I don't know maybe it's my former military service or my desire to get there. I often stay at the motel located at the airport just so I can catch an early flight out. The night isn't sleepless though, you just can't call the 30 or so minutes you'll get-sleepless!

The alarm clock rings as does the phone and like a shot your showered, dressed and waiting in the lobby, I'm not sure why I get to the lobby two hours before my shuttle, it's boring sitting there. Onto the shuttle and it's off to the check-in counter.

Hunting Canada entails passing through customs on each trip there and back. I personally fly out of Newark airport, directly to Minneapolis and then on to Saskatoon. You don't hit customs until you get to Saskatoon and it's about a 15 minute inconvenience should you get picked for inspection. Out of the airport and into the motel shuttle.

Its somehow comforting when you set your rifle and gear down on your motel room floor and take a deep breath, you've arrived. For the most part you'll either be picked up at the airport by the outfitter or in my case the first one's in pick up the rental SUV's and take them to the motel. In the morning other hunters meet you in the lobby and you load up the gear, divvy up the seats and your off for a 5 1/2 hour ride north.

I'm not an unsociable man but somehow the ride is a time of reflection and solitude for me. I just like to sit and look out the window at the miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles. The occasional deer or wolf in the distance or crossing the road ahead. The distinct chill of the northern air and the feeling that your slowly putting miles between yourself and civilization as you know it. Once you arrive in camp it all seems to go so fast: get to your assigned bunks, confirm your sights, get a meal and begin to talk smack about past hunts.

After dinner the outfitter goes over the rules and fills out the licenses. Tag in hand and guide assigned your all but sitting in your stand, only a nights sleep between now and then. 5am comes early and the trucks are already gassed and running. The guides are chomping at the bit and ready to go. While you put on your hunting clothes you'll open the door to let some cool air in so you don't sweat in the layers. Your rifle sits outside the door so the optics get chilled and clear up. Ammo clinking in your pocket. A quick breakfast, a lunch bag and your off to the stands.

It's hard to realize that once you climb into your tree or ground blind that your finally there. Months and months of preparation, planning and of course-dreaming; and your finally there.

As the sun breaks through the trees the deer have already shown themselves and are milling around your stand. You can hardly breath as the does and bucks just seem to come and go all day. I don't know if it's the chill in the air, knowing that I'm miles from any human being or that just realizing I'm hunting in Canada that takes my breath away, it's like asthma.....you actually have to make yourself breath!

Hunting in Canada is a 15 second event. From the moment you identify your target, engage and harvest, your entire year had come down to that 15 seconds. I can't tell you how hard it is to sit on stand waiting for your guide to arrive. Your harvest is a mere 100 yards or less away and you can't go see. Funny how your mind plays games with you during that time: It's a 12 point, maybe a 10, probably an 8! Then you think to yourself, good God I hope a bigger one doesn't come walking out!

It's back to the camp, harvest in hand, an opportunity to share stories. I've posted my last Canadian buck on the front page of this blog. I sit most days and smile at the opportunity, the memories and the harvest. It's as if it were yesterday. Whether you take a shot or not, it's a trip of a lifetime.

Yes, there's something about the great north woods for those of us who seldom see beyond the concrete and steel. the paved roads are miles south of your location and most deer you come into contact with have probably never seen another human. It's the kind of wilderness that Teddy Roosevelt would write about, protect and enjoy. Miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles, that's what the great north woods are, miles and miles of the very thing that hunters dream about: big deer, cold days and sleepless nights.

It's what I dream of at night!

Fathers and Mentors

As with most northeasters we woke up to about a foot so snow this morning, there's another foot on it's way. I can't say that it's Richard Proenneke kind of snow, but it's a blizzard for New Jersey. First Things First: the dog has a trail to follow to her favorite early morning spot.

I sat down this morning wondering what today would bring. It's my intention to sit and relax, not much to do with the snow still falling. Nanny and Poppy have groceries enough to last a few days, there's no construction going on due to the weekend: and snow. My money says that Wendy will come up with something. In my opinion it's a good day to sit and enjoy my custom arrows and Leon Stewart bow, not sure that would be Wendy's opinion.

I often think of my father on days like this, wearing his bib Carhart overalls with Remington 1100 in hand on his the way to the truck. I'm sure that a duck or a pheasant could be found if one looked just a bit. Headed into town for some gas and milk, mostly just to sit at the diner and visit with the others. Who are the others you ask? There's a whole lot of folk just like my dad in central Nebraska, no surprises there. Put on the coffee and they will come!

I take great care in my thinking when it comes to nostalgia. Proper memory is needed to truly feel the days of yore. Standing in the driveway waiting for dad to unlock the door of his Ford Bronco so I could mount up and head out for some looking. I'm not sure what others were doing however on snowy days like this I spent most of my time looking and very little time actually hunting.

I still find time for some "looking". There's nothing more fulfilling to me than taking a ride in the country, as country as New Jersey gets, and just looking to see what I can see. A time to reminisce I guess, to relive that which can not be relived.

Lately I've spent some time talking to some High School friends and acquaintances on Facebook. Some will read this post possibly so I'll apologize up front, nothing is meant by my following statement; I'm not sure that it's been all that good for me to have went back in time via the Internet like that. People that I remember don't have a clue who I am, others remember me in ways, well, I'd rather not be remembered in. Old memories have surfaced, mostly good, a few well let's just call them memories. I think to some point that it has only strengthened my feelings about not being able to go back.

There is one person of note that I'm going to mention outright: Don McKee. Mr. McKee as I will always know him was my science teacher in Jr. High. You would think that in a small town like Overton Nebraska the need or desire to learn Science would be near the bottom of the learning priority list and the mere meaning of the word "why". Why would you worry about Science in a small farming community where the focus is on crops and will it be a good or bad year? Mr McKee transcends all of that, a firm hand and an open heart! All that I would want to be when I grow up.

Teachers most often stand out for what they do outside of curriculum. Mr McKee was no different. Although I've only graced his door infrequently, combined with being one of the lesser Science students you could conger up, I was welcome when I did appear! There has been no less than a thousand times that I thought of him while amidst a tough time or decision over the years. A lasting impression to say the least!

For all that my father did wrong, for all that he lacked in not being able to fulfill my selfish desires, for all that I can fault him for should I choose to inventory said things; I could just never thank my father enough for having raised me in Overton Nebraska. The gifts that often go unseen are there for the taking. It sometimes takes years for us to see them. Don McKee was one of those gifts. I'll forever remember you: Don McKee.

Nostalgia is a double edged sword to say the least. Remembering is a good thing at my age, but it's certain memories that I sometimes wish would go away.

I do so long for the simpler times, a time when I could walk 3 miles into town and no one ever mentioned or worried about a stranger and the harm that one could bring. Doors were left open on warm summer days, pickup windows down with rifles in the back window gun racks. Kids laughing, few crying. There were no doubt worries and strains, tears behind closed doors however there were more mentors then there were bothered children. There seems to always be an adult near by that one could find comfort with.

As I look back I find the very examples of what I'd like to be when I grow up however mostly I'm just thankful that they were there. To all who would teach: teach not to a grade but to a life, for each child will grow one day to be someone and your someone too! To Don McKee I say "Thank You", thank you for making me feel welcome in your world even today, from a scraggly little runt of a kid in small town USA.

To my father who dawned not a book nor a classroom your lessons of life have gotten me through! A rough road at times however never has there been a bump or mountain that I couldn't get over. May God Bless, more than he already has!

God's been good to me!

It's been a while since I sat down to write, mostly because hunting season is over and the weather still shows remnants of winter, who am I kidding...It's cold!

It's hard to extend feelings and aspirations about hunting without making it yet another story about the long shot or the buck of a lifetime. Hunting is a much deeper thing than that to me. It seems that there's something missing this time of year, oh, the hopes for the upcoming season, planning and dreaming are in full tilt but still there's a sort of emptiness when I look at my mounts, guns and equipment. Time spent alone at the computer at night researching seems to be all for not, yet I keep typing, entering and deleting.

Recently I've come into contact with a few of my old schoolmates. Most from grade school and into Jr. High. Some with good memories others with, well, I was young. All in all they are a large part of my growing up in the heartland and the memories have come flooding in. One of the things that I noted today is that out in farm country all of the kids jump on the bus and go home at the end of the day. I never realized how lonesome it could get. To have the hustle and bustle of a day come to a close with some play time and no ones around.

Funny thing middle America, It's all that we should be yet you have to grow up fast. As noted in an earlier blog the buck I harvested in Nebraska is at the taxidermist, I'm looking forward to some news in the near future. It takes about 6-8 months to get them back so it's sort of like opening a Christmas present, you kind of forget what it looked like and you anticipate the joy.

This year comes with yet another present, the new three (3) piece custom Leon Stewart bow will be done in early April. Having ordered two (2) sets of limbs it's actually two bows in one! So much to look forward to this year. Rich and I have decided to take it easy this fall, only one trip in the plans, and yes: it's Nebraska! The focus this fall isn't on wall hangers as much as on multiple species. Some upland game, waterfowl and deer hunting will be the order of the day and so on we go. The duck and goose decoys will no doubt be in tow as will the waders and brush pants. Oh so much to pack and so little time..lol.

I'm not quite sure how this fall will pan out for hunting. Nanny and Poppy are coming to live with us in a few weeks once the construction is finalized. Nanny is in or at least getting into the advanced stages of Alzheimer's. It isn't going to be easy. But then: what would you do in my shoes? God has been good to me over the later years of my life, between the memories of past and the Blessings of late I've come to know a life that for the most part has only been dreamed of. It seems that he has a plan, I'll follow!

Tonight I sit in New Jersey but my mind is afield in Nebraska. A mental break was needed and I took it, all the way out west! For once in my life cleaning a rifle, smelling Rem Oil and watching hunting shows can't cover the reality of whats to soon come.

I said earlier that I'm not sure if I was Blessed for having my childhood or cursed for having the memories, the memories may be all I have this fall, I'm glad I have them!

There is a great sense of accomplishment in a successful ethical hunt, there is a greater sense of accomplishment in helping another, and help Poppy and Nanny I will! For one of the first times in my life I actually feel like a responsible adult. It wasn't that long ago that my life would have been all about me and the challenge of helping in-laws wouldn't have been an option.

I'll have to make the call this fall as to whether it's more important for me to hunt of stay home and assist. Either will be fine with me! That's how I can say: God's been good to me!

January winds

Seems like it was yesterday that I was sitting atop a sandhill watching my hunting buddies across the valley. Suddenly, just like that: it's January and the Holidays are over. I find little comfort in the January winds however Nebraskaland magazine in hand I'll find some time to reflect I'm sure. This is the worst part of the year for me, hunting is all but over, the Internet hunting stores are having some slamming sales and I have a list of things that I wish I would have had for the fall hunts. I won't say it's not fun purchasing equipment and then anxiously awaiting the arrival of the UPS truck. It's just not that fun when the bill comes due and I spend 20 minutes asking myself if I really needed this or should I have purchased something else. Thats the issue with the January winds! I decided that for the most part I'm going to stabilize my arrow supply. Having purchased my first longbow late last year I spent a lot of time and money trying to find the arrow that my bow likes the best: Beman ICS Bowhunters seem to fit the bill. With my traditional archery stash soon to include bows set to 45, 50, 55 and 60 pounds I find myself caught between the performance of the 400's vs the 500's. So I did what any self respecting guy with a credit card would do: I ordered both! I seem to be spending quite a bit of time this January (keeping in mind it's only the 3rd of January) engaged in a search for my 2010 fall hunts. No doubt Rich and I will head to Iowa as planned however I'm torn as to my second hunt. Saskatchewan is calling, Nebraska is beckoning and my drive to harvest a wall hanger is on. But first.......... There will be a change this year, we've invited Poppy and Nanny to come live with us. They are getting up there in years: 85 and 84 respectively, and they need a little help. There aren't many things that I'll put in front of a chance to be where the deer live with the exception of Nanny and Poppy! Frankly I'm gearing up for a "put it on hold" year until I realize the full extent of the upcoming change. Construction is planned and the process of transition has begun. I kind of see it all as a chance to spend time with my father in law and make his final years as comfortable as I can; I'm looking forward to it. It's funny how no matter how much hunting you get to do it never seems to be enough, yet I somehow feel so satisfied the minute that I'm on stand for the first day of the hunt. Being limited to one hunt this fall is not an appealing process for me, I've wasted oh so many years living in the heart of Whitetail country and didn't even hunt them for the most part. Now that I'm older I'm finding it hard to relive or for that matter even catch up with the memory's of my childhood. That's what I think I'll use most when I'm 85, the memory of days afield and the successes as well as the failures. I have time for Poppy and I have time to hunt, for right now: Poppy is more important! I'll one day have a windy January and know that it may be my last and I'd sure like to have someone to talk to while I go through it and I'm sure that Poppy will too!