Reading the Hunting section reminded me of what a mighty hunter and outdoorsman I really am. NOT!
A couple or three years ago, I was trudging around in a section and a half of pasture that I've hunted in for nearly 50 years. Adjacent to it is another 1/2 section of pasture that I usually stayed out of because I didn't really know who owned it.
I am plodding along, and a good old friend comes driving along , heading home from his hunt. He offers to take me over to the next pasture, and "You'll likely get back to your own truck just as hunting time is over." Wonderful idea. He assures me that it is fine to hunt there. We are both local boys and know all the farmers around the country.
He drops me off and drives away. I set off on a nice big arc, planning to end up at the fenceline that will lead me to my truck. After a while it closes in and starts to snow. It is not cold and only a slight wind blowing. Hmmm. It seems to me that I am not getting to the fence. Hmm. After giving it some thought, I realize that I am mixed up in my directions. The half section is fenced, so at least I won't get too far out of whack.
Luckily, I could still see a fair distance. I looked around every few yards and spotted some nice big old evergreens at a cemetery where my paternal grandparents are buried, just over 1/2 mile away. Bingo! I knew where to go, at least. I was still mixed up in my directions and had to take a moment to lay it all out in my mind which way was which.
I sauntered off, and during my stroll, I came right up on a doe and a yearling whitetail, to within 30 feet! I chuckled and carried on. By then, it was snowing pretty good, plus legal shooting time was probably up.
I guess I could say that I wasn't "lost", but I was certainly mixed up in my directions. I can see how a hunter can get panicky in short order when hunting in unfamiliar territory. For a few moments, I had a cold feeling surge through me. I knew I was in a fenced area, plus I had a cell phone, and matches. At the north edge of this area is the Qu'Appelle Valley, to the south is a little old road, to the east is a big pasture on the Sakimay First Nation, and to the west would be farm land.
When I saw my friend next, I told him what had happened. We had a good laugh. I tell this story so others can snicker and recall some of their "mighty hunter" stories.
A couple or three years ago, I was trudging around in a section and a half of pasture that I've hunted in for nearly 50 years. Adjacent to it is another 1/2 section of pasture that I usually stayed out of because I didn't really know who owned it.
I am plodding along, and a good old friend comes driving along , heading home from his hunt. He offers to take me over to the next pasture, and "You'll likely get back to your own truck just as hunting time is over." Wonderful idea. He assures me that it is fine to hunt there. We are both local boys and know all the farmers around the country.
He drops me off and drives away. I set off on a nice big arc, planning to end up at the fenceline that will lead me to my truck. After a while it closes in and starts to snow. It is not cold and only a slight wind blowing. Hmmm. It seems to me that I am not getting to the fence. Hmm. After giving it some thought, I realize that I am mixed up in my directions. The half section is fenced, so at least I won't get too far out of whack.
Luckily, I could still see a fair distance. I looked around every few yards and spotted some nice big old evergreens at a cemetery where my paternal grandparents are buried, just over 1/2 mile away. Bingo! I knew where to go, at least. I was still mixed up in my directions and had to take a moment to lay it all out in my mind which way was which.
I sauntered off, and during my stroll, I came right up on a doe and a yearling whitetail, to within 30 feet! I chuckled and carried on. By then, it was snowing pretty good, plus legal shooting time was probably up.
I guess I could say that I wasn't "lost", but I was certainly mixed up in my directions. I can see how a hunter can get panicky in short order when hunting in unfamiliar territory. For a few moments, I had a cold feeling surge through me. I knew I was in a fenced area, plus I had a cell phone, and matches. At the north edge of this area is the Qu'Appelle Valley, to the south is a little old road, to the east is a big pasture on the Sakimay First Nation, and to the west would be farm land.
When I saw my friend next, I told him what had happened. We had a good laugh. I tell this story so others can snicker and recall some of their "mighty hunter" stories.
