The Hunt

4:4o AM, opening morning of deer season, the alarm goes off. It's a cool damp morning, but the old farmer gets up, eats some breakfast, dresses in the latest camo and blaze orange styles, and heads for the mountains. Well, the wooded hills of central Illinois. Because of the proximity of another hunter, we could not use one of our normal stands. I was offered the use of a bow hunter's small portable stand, so that's where I headed in the dark, Friday morning. I discovered that this stand is not as large, comfortable, or safe as the ones I usually use. I decided to strap myself in with a safety harness. By the time I got all my gear up the tree and was safe and set to hunt, it was already legal time and a small doe wandered under my tree. I watched it for awhile as it milled around under me( I'm 16 feet in the air) when 2 forkhorns following a doe start drifting in from my right. Then I hear noise from my left, and in moves a doe and a button buck and they walk behind me to check out the first small doe that is still hanging around just behind my tree. I decide that this new doe is large and would make excellent butterfly loin chops, so I start to set myself slowly for a shot. Suddenly, a big 10 point buck( Ronno) shows up from my left following my chosen doe. He moves behind my tree to check things out. The two forkhorns now move behind my tree to check things out. Confused yet? I was! Seven deer all milling around under my tree behind me! I make a command decision - I'm now after the big guy. I have to quietly and slowly stand up, decide which direction to turn, quietly and slowly turn around with this goofy safety harness on, raise my gun to my shoulder, all without spooking any of them! As it turned out, one of the forkhorns came face to face with old 10 point and junior spooked. This caused all of them to spook and start moving away. I finished my turn and sighted in as Ronno was on the move, waving his flag at me. One shot was sufficient. By 7:30 he was field dressed and I was dreaming of marinated venison roasts, brats, barbeque snack sticks, steaks, burger, and yes, butterfly loin chops.
Both sons also harvested deer this weekend.
Meat for the winter.

Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat;