We settled into the stand about an hour before light, with bow in hand, my brother was ready to bag his first deer with a bow. We had been planning on this hunt for quite some time, but we hadn't planned on the temperature drop. It didn't take long for us to realize that we were dress a little light, but not wanting to miss the chance on a good deer we sat still and quiet. The night before I laid my hunting equipment out and went over everything I would need. My Dad used to archery hunt a lot, and when he'd go out, he'd have his 422 on his hip, ready for use. I decided to take mine for this mornings hunt, just to keep up a little of his tradition.
We sat there in the dark, till finally the morning broke. It became alive with all variety of small game, but no sign of the true quarry. Time passed us by and it was almost two hours after first light. We we bored and a bit chilled, besides the fact that we had been tortured by small game ripe for the hunting. We climbed out of the stand disappointed with the lack of big game action, we headed home and discussed the mornings events. As we walked home, we decided to stop by our grandfather's place and see how he was doing, we stopped in hoping to kill some time before heading home. Our Mom had a tough day at work and needed some extra sleep before starting her day off. Our grandfather was happy for the visit and the report on the farms small game herd. Then he looked at us and said, "you know you don't have to go home, right"? we looked at each other and knew that meant some small game hunting was in order. He loaned us a couple old guns, one being a 410, 22 over and under combo.
And with the show of small game, we knew that we could have some real fun.
Making our way back to the hollow, we stopped to listen and load. We decided my brother would be the shooter for the day, and that didnt bother me at all. I tried to kick up a few rabbits for him, but I didnt have any luck. Then we headed for the ol oaks. We leaned up against one of the old old giants and waited, but nothing showed. Now with this lack of action we figured our hunt was over, so we headed for home through the oak hollow. As we slowly walked along ours eyes were fixed on the branches overhead. Finally, I caught sight of a squirrel making its way to the end of a branch to sun himself. He laid out on the branch about forty yards out, but as soon as we tried to sneak closer he looked up and froze, we new he would be there long. My brother set the rifle on my shoulder and steadied himself, then, the 22 cracked. I was a bit surprised the squirrel actually fell.... my brother wasnt the best with iron sights.
I was ready for deer, so when the squirrel was in hand I was a bit disappointed I didnt have a slipjoint on me for the job. I found a little bit of scrub to lean against and started the chore, the 422 didnt disappoint and it showed me it could handle every season. And I trusted it on the trout streams a few times after that, and it was a great friend in the deer woods too, it also goes on every turkey escapade as well. It just feels like its jotting down each story after every hunt in the fields.
Itll do.
... ITE ... :thumbup:
