*no deer have been harmed in the writing of this blog. In fact, there are no photos of any dead deer either*
When we moved up here during the summer of 2012, I had to do the usual calling around to set up utilities and services in our name at our new residence. I called Sunrise Disposal about trash removal. They gave me their rates and my pick up day and then proceeded to tell me the days that were considered holidays and they would not pick up trash that day.....New Years Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Opening Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. "Wait" I said, "you consider Opening Day a holiday?". "Oh yes" she said, in a extremely serious voice. That's rather interesting, I remember thinking to myself. When I was talking about this at work to my new co-workers thinking they would find this as silly as I did, they all looked at me and laughed. Then they proceeded to tell me that not only do they not pick up your trash, the kids don't go to school either. It is called "Safety Day". The schools are closed to prevent the possibility of some poor child being mistaken for a deer while standing at the bus stop. It was then I realized that folks here in Northern Michigan take their deer hunting very seriously.
When I was growing up my dad never hunted. He never fished either. So I have never really thought much about it. Lukes dad wasn't a hunter. Luke wanted to be, so he would beg his dad to take him out on opening morning. (I don't recall the schools being closed though). So Rich would put out a camouflaged pop up in the woods at his parents farm the night before. Then the next morning he would take Luke out and they would "hunt" until he was so cold he couldn't stand it anymore. They never got a deer and there was never venison in my freezer. A lot of folks around here tell me that is the only meat they eat. I don't like it. Never have. It isn't that I don't believe in eating it, I just don't want to. People have told me you have to "disguise" it. Until I can no longer afford beef, I think I will just eat that. There usually is no trickery involved.
Then I married Matt Budrow. He is a hunter. After living with him, I realized that there is way more to successful hunting then just showing up in the woods on opening day and expecting to get a deer. I have learned all about "The Rut", which is where the females go into esterase, and they are ready to breed. The bucks have fattened up in preparation to procreate, because during this time they have one thing only on their minds and it isn't eating. So there is a lot of plotting and planning that goes on long before November 15th, by both the deer and the people who hunt them. Trying to outsmart them not only involves a lot of thinking, but also a lot of equipment that I was unfamiliar with prior to knowing my husband.
If Matt had to pick the single most important piece of equipment in his quest for the big buck I think he would have to pick his trail cam. This camera is strapped to a tree and pointed toward where the deer are most likely to walk by. He takes it out into the woods and after much debate and deep consideration of many other factors, he chooses a spot. The one that he thinks it will get the best photos of what is lurking in the woods when he is not looking. It gets put out long before the season starts just so he can get a feel of what is out there. (this year a woman and her dogs kept walking by his trail cam so that area had to be abandoned and he had to find a new "ideal" place to put it). He religiously goes out to get the memory card every week or so. He will come into the house with it in his hand announcing how many pictures have been triggered since the last time he looked. He puts it into his laptop and then he starts yelling "Look at this" from the other room. I stand there as a good wife should and look at picture after picture of deer that seem alike to me. "Look at his neck" he will say. "Oh wow!" I exclaim, mustering all the enthusiasm that I can.
But since I lack the ability to really appreciate the picture in front of me, Matt will have to make a phone call to Eric, Denny or Jeff, or possibly all three. Then much discussion will ensue about his neck size, amount of points and if he can be lured to come to the bait pile at the right time. This will also be relooked at and discussed anytime one of the three are at our house.
Which brings us to another important component of the hunt....bait. Now it is legal to bait the deer into the spot where you want to hunt them. Everywhere you look around here there are sugar beets, apples and carrots for sale.
There is bait for sale at party stores, gas stations and even in front of the grocery store and a furniture resale.
Anywhere you go, you can buy deer bait without having to inconvenience yourself in the least bit. I even saw a bag of acorns for sale. Apparently deer love them. And they were going for $6.00 a bag to boot.
The next thing is what scares me most about hunting. Not the guns, but the tree stands. How am I to believe that you can haul yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn, go out in the woods, climb into a tree and situate yourself on this little seat and platform and sit there for hours on end safely? So if you don't fall asleep and jerk awake and fall out, how are you suppose to keep your balance while shooting your weapon of choice while adrenaline is coursing though your body? And I am suppose to believe that everyone straps themselves in safety? I am an emergency room nurse, I know better. I ask Matt "what if you fall out?" He just replies, "I won't." So to keep my sanity, I believe him.
Speaking of guns and bows. Most hunters seem to prefer one or the other. But then there is the "super hunter" like my husband who likes to hunt with what ever weapon is in season.
First is a bow and arrow. This comes into play when bow season starts in October. This is actually Matts preferred way to hunt.
This also involves a beat up, ugly styrofoam deer that sits in my yard for target practice. I don't know how many times people have looked out my kitchen window and said "look at the deer standing in your yard." I don't know how many times I have looked out the window and said to myself "there is a deer standing in my yard." It is very difficult to draw back the string of the bow so practice must start months before the season so that you can build up the proper arm strength.
The next thing is the firearm. Shot gun, rifle, muzzle loader. It is legal to hunt with a rifle here, apparently not everywhere. But if you use a rifle there is the long and laborious process of the "sighting in". It is an all day event in this household, which usually involves a trip up to Matts Dad's. Not only does rifle have to be sighted in, but it must be properly maintained and cleaned. It also needs to be discussed at great length with other rifle owners when you are out to dinner, at the grocery store or getting gasoline.
Then there is the hunting wardrobe. Camo of course, but what kind? Mossy Oak? Mossy Oak Real Tree, or how about Mossy Oak Breakup? Scent lock apparel is apparently the way to go, but expensive I hear. Just step into Dunhams in Alpena. The camo there will make you want to have a seizure. There is also the proper boots, ones to keep your feet warm, but not too warm.
The moisture wicking socks are important too. And the gloves. And the hat, don't forget the hat. And, above all else, it must all be scent free. This is achieved by keeping all of your hunting clothes in the designated hunting clothes spot in the back of the garage. It also means you must wash your clothes with scent free detergent. If any of it is put into the dryer, the Bounce Bar has to be removed. Then a week or so before hunting season starts, your clothes must be draped on poles previously used for hanging flowers.
They have to be rained on and dried in the wind so that they smell like the great outdoors and nothing like civilization. You must dress in the garage before you leave and then undress there when you get home to keep human smells to a minimum. This of course means that for all of the fall you don't wear deodorant and you must wash yourself and your clothes with special soap.
Apparently deer have an amazing sense of smell. And this too involves great amounts of discussion amongst the hunters on the phone, when out to dinner, while in the store and while posting trail cam pictures on Facebook.
All of this prep prepares the hunter for opening day. That holiday where trash is not picked up and children have the day off of school (in the name of safety, of course). This also means another sacred ritual for hunters....Deer Camp. This is where a bunch of guys get together to "hunt". They also eat loads of food, drink lots of beer and get up at the crack of dawn to go and sit out in the freezing cold all day long. This is the best time to shoot your deer according to my resident expert. This is what they have been waiting for all year. This is the culmination of all the preparations previously described come to fruition. This is where my dedicated husband patiently waited for the big buck to show himself. The one who's head would proudly be displayed on the wall. This is also where he saw a couple of squirrels and a really pretty fox. This is also where he got to spend time with the"guys" and had a great time even though there was no 10 point strapped to the back of the truck when he came home.
But hunting season isn't over yet. Gun season stretches until November 30th. Then it is Muzzle Loader, which depending on your region, starts around December 5th and lasts till the 14th or so. And in there bow season starting again December 1st until the end of the year. Which means for the multi-tasker you can hunt with both a bow and a gun. Then, to the relief of many its all over until next October.
So, Saturday night, Matt arrives home after three full days of hunting, hanging with his friends, eating good food, walking miles and miles and miles in the woods. I have a delicious home cooked meal warming in the oven, clean sheets on our cozy bed that he has missed while sleeping in a camper. A hot shower is calling for him because he hasn't been in one since he left. He gives me a hug and kiss and tells me how glad he is to be home and how much he misses me. Good, I think to myself. I will have his undivided attention all day, certainly he has had his fill of hunting. So he asks me "what are you doing tomorrow?" "Not sure" I say, thinking that he hopes my day is free so that he can spend it with me. As I start to make a mental list of all the things we can do with a free Sunday he says "I was thinking about going hunting"......
