In my never-ending efforts to find new outdoor activities to not be good at, I tried deer hunting last year. The 2008 season consisted mostly of me wandering around aimlessly in the woods near Hillman hoping that the world's stupidest (or most suicidal) deer would saunter up to me.Perhaps taking pity on me, Noreen's brother Norb (the slender guy at left in the picture above) invited me this year to a real deer camp with his friends in Michigan's Upper Peninsula near Au Train. We would be hunting in the magnificent Hiawatha National Forest, which qualifies as wilderness by anyone's measure.
The three other hunters have well over 100 years of deer hunting experience between them. Ted alone, at the tender age of 81, has more than a half century all by himself. I hope that I'm as tough a bird when, and if, I reach that age. So hopefully I could learn something from these guys.
The cabin is right on Lake Superior with a spectacular view of the lake. That's it nestled in the trees at the left of the frame.
The first morning found us trudging through the woods to our blinds with a heavy frost causing the leaves beneath our feet to crunch like potato chips. My headlamp cast a narrow cone of light and I occasionally thought of the many tens of thousands of acres of forest that I COULDN'T see. I sincerely hoped that nothing was hunting me while I was hunting. Once settled in my blind, I opened my small thermos and had my first cup of coffee of the day (Note to experienced deer hunters: I know, I know. The fresh coffee violates the "no odor" rule, but cut me some slack. Addiction is a terrible thing. And it sure tasted wonderful!). One thing I learned over the next couple days was that 2 1/2 hours motionless in a blind is about my limit. Yep. After 150 minutes, I have to start walking or I'll lose my mind.
The cabin is right on Lake Superior with a spectacular view of the lake. That's it nestled in the trees at the left of the frame.The first morning found us trudging through the woods to our blinds with a heavy frost causing the leaves beneath our feet to crunch like potato chips. My headlamp cast a narrow cone of light and I occasionally thought of the many tens of thousands of acres of forest that I COULDN'T see. I sincerely hoped that nothing was hunting me while I was hunting. Once settled in my blind, I opened my small thermos and had my first cup of coffee of the day (Note to experienced deer hunters: I know, I know. The fresh coffee violates the "no odor" rule, but cut me some slack. Addiction is a terrible thing. And it sure tasted wonderful!). One thing I learned over the next couple days was that 2 1/2 hours motionless in a blind is about my limit. Yep. After 150 minutes, I have to start walking or I'll lose my mind.
And beautiful walks they were. It really is a spectacular place. Here's a photo of the lovely pond that Ted had his blind hidden above.
Even though it's only mid-November, the pond had a layer of ice on the surface. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a harsh place as well as a beautiful one. One of the "thoroughfares" that I walked a couple times was the North Country Pathway, a hiking trail that stretches from the east coast to the Dakotas. I obviously didn't walk THAT far, but I did about seven miles on it the one day with just my rifle and a daypack.
Even though it's only mid-November, the pond had a layer of ice on the surface. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a harsh place as well as a beautiful one. One of the "thoroughfares" that I walked a couple times was the North Country Pathway, a hiking trail that stretches from the east coast to the Dakotas. I obviously didn't walk THAT far, but I did about seven miles on it the one day with just my rifle and a daypack. At one point I sat on a log and rested for ten minutes. I was suddenly aware of something approaching. It was a doe. She was wary and moving slowly. My camouflage was effective because she came within 50 feet of me and gave no indication of seeing me. She would pause and lift her head and sniff the air. She couldn't see me, but she seemed to be able to smell me. Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, she left the path and headed east through the woods. As soon as she entered the full cone of my scent downwind, she hastened her pace and disappeared. Where's your boyfriend, I wondered. But he never showed. Nevermind. It was a magic moment in a magic place.
