Outdoor therapy

 

I was so excited to get there.  After a short night’s sleep, I filled my thermos, packed my gear and raced off to the property for an early morning whitetail bow hunt.  I parked on the gravel shoulder and quickly geared up.  I took the familiar walk to the stand in darkness, the moon providing just enough light to navigate the trail without needing a flashlight.  After climbing into the ladder stand, I tied into the tree and hoisted my bow up to me.  Up to this point, I had a singular focus of just getting here.  Now, at last, I can sit back and breathe.  Spending time in the deer stand waiting for first light is my kind of outdoor therapy.

The cold front the day before and clear skies led to a chilly morning, our second frost of the season with temperatures around 28 degrees.  I was confident that the deer would be active, and hoping that one of the big bruisers that had been showing up on the game cameras would make an appearance.

I was also hoping to reboot my mind and body, as the past few weeks have been difficult.  First Debbie’s uncle, a 64 year old father and grandfather, died suddenly while visiting his daughter at the hospital. Steve was a jovial, welcoming man who was always there for guidance as well as for a practical joke, sometimes at the same time.  Then I received word that my dear friend of 25+ years, a fraternity brother, roommate, and groomsman in my wedding had died suddenly.  Chip was recently married, and father to two young boys.  We stayed close through the years, getting together at least once a year and communicating via text messages on a regular basis.  We all need friends like Chip.  Somewhere between the funerals for these men, I also managed to make a rare and embarrassing mistake at work that cost the company money.  I really needed this time outdoors.

Mother Nature did not disappoint.  Barred owls hooted in the distance, signaling the arrival of first light.  A coyote crossed the creek in front of me and raced by.  I heard the first White-throated sparrows of the season, a few even singing their spring song.  I always enjoy the arrival of these winter sparrows, signaling a new season for birding.  Incidentally, I also love when they leave in the spring for much the same reason.  I heard the sound of turkeys descending their roost, and eventually sighted two gobblers 70+ yards out as they crossed the field on the way to the timber to scratch up some acorns.  Squirrels barked near and far, and Carolina wrens scolded me.  The symphony of an early morning in the woods drowned out the sounds of nearby traffic.  This is how it is supposed to be.

And the deer kept things interesting.  I am always amazed how a little squirrel can make so much noise, then a 150 pound deer can sneak right up on you without a sound.  I first saw the doe when she came out of the trees about 25 yards away.  She skirted the woods and eventually walked broadside in front of me, less than 15 yards away.  As I turned to see who was following her, she saw my movement and darted away.  Busted.  But that is OK I guess.  Two other does, joined by three yearlings, soon loitered directly under my stand for about 10 minutes.  The leader seemed nervous, but she never ran and never alerted to my presence.  A few minutes later a very small 4 point buck, one I had on camera numerous times, walked the trail 15 yards away from me but I let him walk as well.

I waited it out for a few more hours, but never saw any more deer.  By lunchtime I was ready to climb out and soak up the sun.  The day had warmed up nicely, and I just sat in the sun on the edge of the creek finishing off my thermos of coffee.  The sound of the water, the sight of a large great blue heron cruising, and the comfortable sunlight combined to provide the best outdoor therapy I could hope for.  I did see the pair of turkeys again, but of course they saw me first from a country mile away and scurried into the woods.  I did not harvest a deer today, but that really doesn’t matter.  Again, for me, it is so often about the journey and not the destination.

I came home refreshed, and happy.  Debbie was on her way out for a walk, so of course I had to join her.  We opted for a short hike at Emmenegger Nature Park, a nice wooded trail on a bluff above the Meramec River.  The early fall color added warmth to the day, and the busy birds gorging on berries throughout the woods provided entertainment.  And of course it was great to catch up with my wife, as the past few weeks led us different directions far too many times. I am thankful for the opportunity to get back on track in the MO-Outdoors.  I need to make days like this happen more often.

Today was a good day.

https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/emmenegger-nature-park