Last weekend was a bust for hunting, because I was still groggy from the effects of traveling a long way home from vacation. But now I’m back on Wyoming time, so I should be able to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when my alarm goes off.
I don’t have to set the alarm for a ridiculous time, either. Thanks to the Walk-In Hunting program, there’s a great spot to go for deer just a few minutes from my house. It’s on private land, but the landowner signed the area up for the Walk-In program. It allows me to hunt the land without having to bother the landowner to ask for permission, and if I’m successful, the owner gets not only the payment for participating in the Walk-In program, but also my landowner coupon from my deer. It’s a good deal for both landowners and hunters.
There’s no guarantee there’ll be deer in the area when I go, but I can guarantee that if I don’t go, I won’t get a deer. I can’t go Saturday, because I’ll be watching my oldest son run in the state cross-country meet. But Sunday, I’ll be out there, rain, snow, wind or sun, waiting for those deer to come to the creek for a morning or evening drink.
I’ve been out near that area a few times earlier this year, looking for pleasing landscapes to photograph. A few times, I’ve seen that herd of deer, so I know they’re still there. Other hunters might have pushed them out of the creek bottom, but it’s worth a try. A few years ago, I sat on that same creek and didn’t see any deer, but I did get to watch a badger trundling around, looking for a morning snack.
Whether I get a deer, watch a badger, or see no wildlife at all, at least I’ll be hunting. I’ll get up early for that any day.
