Paul in Idaho
Well-known member
Randy, I'm writing this to thank you publicly for the work you are doing in creation and publication of OYOA and Fresh Tracks. While I have enjoyed your shows in general since discovering them, the reason for this post is that your work directly contributed to the success of my deer hunt this week.
To explain how this is, here's my background: I am the only hunter in my immediate family. Also, for a variety of reasons, I switched to hunting big game solo several years ago. While I enjoy hunting alone, this situation has slowed my learning opportunities. I have little confidence in my skills or intuition on where, when, and how to hunt. My doubts have sunk more than one hunt.
The best thing about Fresh Tracks is you show hunting how it really is. It's very helpful to see that even someone with as much experience, knowledge and opportunity as you do still has hunts in which animals aren't found. (Not that I want you to go on a steady diet of tag soup.) Also, and more importantly for my hunt, you have chosen to include the times you have had to deal with health issues while hunting.
This year, I had a late muzzleloader tag. I arrived a couple days before the opener for a final scouting tour. I wasn't feeling well to start with, and by opening morning I was really weak and nauseous. My intent for long treks in the high country was reduced to short loops near the truck. I found no fresh tracks despite apparently ideal habitat. The second morning, I was so weak I turned back after a half mile. I packed my gear into the truck and drove out.
As I was approaching the nearest town, I was trying to decide whether to head for home, or stay at a motel and hope I felt better the next day. Thanks in a large part to having watched the Nevada mule deer hunt in the first episode of Fresh Tracks, I decided to not give up. Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to hunt the way I had planned, and finding a big buck would be very unlikely, I would keep trying within my current ability. I checked in at the motel. After resting a while, I explored a bit of the part of the unit closer to town.
The next morning, I was feeling a little better. I returned to a spot where I had seen deer the previous evening, and tried to position myself to ambush deer going up the mountain after feeding in the fields. It didn't turn out according to plan. As I was trying to get ahead of a herd I knew had a buck in it, I found myself nearly surrounded by does. I figured spooking any of them would likely spook the buck.
I sat still, trying to figure out what to do. Then a deer appeared below me. It was a buck, walking at a quick pace. For some reason, he stopped and put his nose to the ground straight in front of me. I ranged him at 101 yards, and brought the gun up. He must have seen that motion, as he swung his head up and looked at me. The trigger was already moving, though. Through the plume of white smoke I saw him hunch up and kick both hind legs out. He piled up less than 100 yards away.
I was very surprised, and relieved. What I had thought was a doomed hunt had become successful. It was a great lesson that the only time failure is guaranteed is if you stop trying.
To explain how this is, here's my background: I am the only hunter in my immediate family. Also, for a variety of reasons, I switched to hunting big game solo several years ago. While I enjoy hunting alone, this situation has slowed my learning opportunities. I have little confidence in my skills or intuition on where, when, and how to hunt. My doubts have sunk more than one hunt.
The best thing about Fresh Tracks is you show hunting how it really is. It's very helpful to see that even someone with as much experience, knowledge and opportunity as you do still has hunts in which animals aren't found. (Not that I want you to go on a steady diet of tag soup.) Also, and more importantly for my hunt, you have chosen to include the times you have had to deal with health issues while hunting.
This year, I had a late muzzleloader tag. I arrived a couple days before the opener for a final scouting tour. I wasn't feeling well to start with, and by opening morning I was really weak and nauseous. My intent for long treks in the high country was reduced to short loops near the truck. I found no fresh tracks despite apparently ideal habitat. The second morning, I was so weak I turned back after a half mile. I packed my gear into the truck and drove out.
As I was approaching the nearest town, I was trying to decide whether to head for home, or stay at a motel and hope I felt better the next day. Thanks in a large part to having watched the Nevada mule deer hunt in the first episode of Fresh Tracks, I decided to not give up. Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to hunt the way I had planned, and finding a big buck would be very unlikely, I would keep trying within my current ability. I checked in at the motel. After resting a while, I explored a bit of the part of the unit closer to town.
The next morning, I was feeling a little better. I returned to a spot where I had seen deer the previous evening, and tried to position myself to ambush deer going up the mountain after feeding in the fields. It didn't turn out according to plan. As I was trying to get ahead of a herd I knew had a buck in it, I found myself nearly surrounded by does. I figured spooking any of them would likely spook the buck.
I sat still, trying to figure out what to do. Then a deer appeared below me. It was a buck, walking at a quick pace. For some reason, he stopped and put his nose to the ground straight in front of me. I ranged him at 101 yards, and brought the gun up. He must have seen that motion, as he swung his head up and looked at me. The trigger was already moving, though. Through the plume of white smoke I saw him hunch up and kick both hind legs out. He piled up less than 100 yards away.
I was very surprised, and relieved. What I had thought was a doomed hunt had become successful. It was a great lesson that the only time failure is guaranteed is if you stop trying.
