Gods Creation...Beautiful...thanks for sharing! :)

You delivered a well written report. And it's true what you say. I used to live in New Jersey. I was raised on a farm not far from Exit 8A on the turnpike. At that time the'pike was two lanes either way and native brook trout were still to be found not far from Freehold. As I grew into my teens the area changed dramatically. I watched much of the quaintness of the Midlands get swallowed up by developments and strip malls. And still, I too found some amazing hunting in some awfully small lots. I can also say that one day I went back into the woods behind the gravel pits near Jamesburg. There was an old spring fed irrigation pond back in there, and a tiny brook flowed from it over a waterfall that was just a foot high. It fell into a golden pool of water and once as a boy I fished it with size 18 salmon egg hooks and garden hackles. All I caught were sunfish, but they fought dramatically and were jewel like in color. I released them of course. And so I found myself 15 years ago walking back from where the gate used to be to enter the pits. It was paved. So I parked.Wigwam Pond, which was where missionary David Brainerd proselytized the Lenni Lenape, was gone. Dry. The pond that defined my boyhood has been wiped away. It was now a thicket. Inwalked into the woods. The old path was still there. It seemed smaller somehow though. I came to the bottom of the hill. The irrigation ditch was dry, but the outline was still there.I looked carefully and found what had been the outlet. A small depression outlined the waterfall pool. The stones were still golden, but also dry. I am not ashamed to say that I sat there a moment and my eyes filled a bit. I mourned the passing of the magic that my boyhood had been in those old growth woods. I left the woods knowing that the town in which I had grown up was gone. I also realized that every generation has an idea of a place and "how it's supposed to be." But those things change even as we watch. We sort of live in photographs rather than video. Now I am old and live in the Maine woods.There is a tiny brook not far from our cabin. It has a small waterfall and a tiny pool under it. I may fish it this spring. But I certainly will bowhunt behind my house even though I can hear gravel trucks from time to time from my stand. The "magic" is recognizing reality, but allowing for God's grace to take you back in time.....even for a few moments, to that place where things are how they're supposed to be.

Craig, I’ll take either. It’s all about just getting out there in the fresh air. It’s never really quiet here in farm country but tonight wasn’t to bad except for the 3 pileated woodpeckers squawking all evening.

I hunt a big Dairy farm- always stuff going on there the Deer care less

Hi Craig, I have been in a very similar situation for most of My hunting career. I have hunted the Berkshires of Ma. which is big woods, mature old growth forest, which does harbor some big bucks, but are REAL tough to pattern, and I have some spots in Ct. that are just like what You described. My last 2 nights this past year I was hunting behind a friends house, where I could see the kitchen lights, the neighbors house, hear My buddies trucks back up alarm, and so on and so forth. I like both for what they are. I'll be 63 in about a week, and I have done ALOT of the big woods hunting, so I kind of like "the company" out there sometimes. Craig, You put Your story together well, and Rich did also. I enjoyed reading both, a couple nice Short Stories. Brian...

I do not mind putting up with...

I used to hunt from a tree and watch the dairy farmer load the sweet wagon then spread the liquid on a field. I would hear the school bus and some kids. But just before sunset the world would go quiet and sometimes the sound of hooves would approach. Thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest. I had fun hunting corner woodlots.

Living out west, most of my hunting is done with little or no human noise in the background. That said, I have had some great hunts in the midwest with the sounds of farming in the background.

Hello darkness my old friend I've come to talk to you again :-).

"and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains"

nice, WHITTLER thanks for taking us along, CRAIG

Steve Long

Oh to be back in those small farmland woodlots again ! Grain dryers humming in the distance, the girls heading in at milking time, the smell of fresh chopped silage, and then witching hour when everything go silent and all of the sudden hooves crunching nearby......I do get homesick in the last half of oct first half of nov !! You guys understand ..........cool thread

I’ll hunt anywhere. I once hunted within earshot of a spirited basketball game, where at least one of the players was fond of yelling out “Meat” - presumably after every good play. It was a unique experience.

Craig , guess I didn't directly answer your question. Never minded the everyday human farming activity at all, but one area I hunted was 50 miles from a major airport[BWI]and was right under the westbound flight path, when one plane was just about out of hearing you could hear the next one coming. Now that DID get old in a hurry!

Wow thanks I needed that. Sitting at home recovering from a rotator surgery. Thanks for the ride along.

I've hunted in some super noisy urban areas, but i'm always at awe to realize just how silent things can get deep in the wilderness. It's in the silent places that my senses really come alive.

Years ago, my neighbor and I drove up to the mountains to hunt turkey. He shut off the engine and we just sat there in the blackness of 5:00 am. We had the windows down and we're letting the silence soak in. It was so quiet that when a lone peeper frog, peeped, it sounded like some one blew a car horn. While I don't mind the noises while hunting around home, I really like the solitude and silence of the deep woods. wpab

As much as I love being out of earshot of all things human… The truth is that when I hunt a designated wilderness area, I can see the lights of a shopping outlet mall several miles up-river. Assuming I can climb high enough, early enough in the day. What really matters to me is whether I am Hunting or not. Even in the very same spot, I have taken deer as a result of Understanding how they act and react to perceived threats and in the absence thereof.... what makes it worth doing is Upping My Game.

So as long as I’m learning something new, I am a happy camper. But honestly, sometimes just making a solid shot on some thing that is going to fill my freezer can be satisfying enough. I have hunted in areas where the deer have all gone nocturnal, and even though it’s a challenging Hunt, it can also feel like an exercise in futility. So mostly, I am looking for the balance.

I hunt farm country. The only big woods are a 6 hr drive straight up north. If the wind direction is right, I hear the highway traffic while in my stand, but I hike far enough in so I mostly hear the natural sounds.

If I hunt one particular spot, across a small river from a farm, every Saturday night, the farmer has "hockey night in Canada" blasting through speakers...guess he listens while he's doing his chores. Funny thing is that this is a very productive spot...just can't get absorbed in the game and not pay attention to my purpose in being there!

Yellah Nocks x 2...Amen! I'm blessed to have that "oasis" in the Blue Ridge to restore my soul in my silver years. 40 years ago as a guest on this small property I knew I'd someday buy God willing, you could go days without seeing another human being. This year it was overrun with humanity in backroad safaris on golf carts, 4- wheelers, side by sides. etc. I can't fault those fleeing over- crowded, urban areas in a pandemic. It's just that I no longer look over my shoulder to see if the "grim reaper" is gaining on me. I will finish out my years without fears or regret. As someone else on this forum (I forget who) correctly observed, death is merely God's "perfect healing" for the believer and I've been blessed by Grace!

I would take either depending on what mood I’m In. Sometimes like the solitude and silence other time enjoy the “noise”. Great post!

Thanks Monkeyball and yellah nocks. You guys described most of my hunting spots to a tee.

I fact a lot of my hunts are chances of opportunity. I’m making a lot of those farm noises. My bow is always close by. If I have enough trucks for the combine I pick up my bow and seek out those places that the animals travel. I settle in watch and listen. Often times my chances are slim, but sometimes amazing things happen.

When I do get the opportunity to truly hunt . It is in these busy yet peaceful areas. On really calm nights you can hear so many things going on around you. The neighbors talking. The first sugar beets landing in the empty box of the next truck to get loaded. Traffic, tractors and combines. Cattle, chickens and dogs. All mixed with the sounds of the wildlife. The squirrels are busy gathering the walnuts. The birds are going about their normal activities.

Then the busy world seems to become quite. Maybe not completely, but it does settle down. The deer silently work their way to browse. Sometimes giving me a opportunity and sometimes just giving me the enjoyment of watching them. As the sun dips below the horizon and the stars replace its place in the darkening sky. The first coyote howling prompts the immediate response from others all around me.

I have never hunted the truly big woods void of these sounds. I may be missing something. However I know I’m blessed to be able to experience what I have. I’m perfectly happy in my peaceful busy spots.

Bjrogg

Silence can be a wonderful thing until you start to lose your hearing. I've lost most of my hearing in my left ear and 50% of my hearing in my right ear. The Ear Doc told me not to bother with hearing aids in my left ear. If I want silence I just take the hearing aid out of my right ear. The thing that I miss the most is hearing the leaves crunch when a deer is walking through the woods. Listening to a Gobler sound off at dawn or a song bird singing. When I do hear something I can't tell what direction the noise came from.

Great post!

I hunt both types of areas. In southern Michigan, it's a real goat rodeo of activity.

In the U.P. It is solitude.

I see far more deer down south but if given the choice, I will take the solitude. Especially since killing a deer gets less important to me as each year passes. I'm used to sitting for days on end without seeing a deer.

Craig, I hunt both types of areas. Seems like I frequent the "easier to get to" places more often. My first archery deer, a 6 point was arrowed in one such place. To my north was Buffalo Creek, to the east a railroad spur and about 200 yards further on was US Rt. 219. It was a thin strip of lush creek bottom land with some of the most abundandt oak trees Ive ever seen. An old stone fence seperated the oaks from a very thick whitethorn thicket. It became my hunting paradise. I nicknamed it the "Trophy Treestand". It held big bucks every year! As time went buy I hunted other areas but always went back to this spot, easy access but noisy with sounds of civilization. Its still there today, but the landowner cut down those wonderful oak trees, now its a tangled mess. A neighbor strung up maple sugar lines all through the adjoining property sooo, I dont hunt it anymore, at least not in body, but in my memories I go there often.

personally, I despise man made noise in the woods. The roar of a combine or a corn dryer, or the whine of highway traffic can ruin my evening. I'd almost rather wear ear plugs and rely solely on sight than have to listen to all that sound pollution.

I would trade seeing a deer all day for hearing only the sounds of the big woods.

Those places bring me back to when I was too young to drive so had to hunt those spots that were close enough to the city to hear it all around me. My biggest typical buck came from a farm that one fence was on the city limits line for Columbus Ohio. I hunt where deer are. Noise doesn't bother me. Which would I rather hunt? Woodlots and thickets in farm country.

I prefer the bog woods too. I leave good farmland all the time to go to the mountain to hunt. No people or noise. I leave much bigger bucks that are easy to kill. In fact I have been seeing a huge buck not 100 yards from the house that has been staying in a 5 acre lot. He would be easy to kill. My hat is off to him however. But it is possible to go to the big woods and see deer. I’m glad I have both

"In wilderness lies the preservation of the world".

Your knees must be working good Craig, When I was younger , time dictated what and where I would go , enjoyed being out all day, No cell phones, My grandmother always told me she was worried something happened to me, and glad I was back, it was great to drag in a deer too, She would be happy then. To much high way road noise, jet plans and noise from adjacent property 4 wheelers and chainsaws. Today time on hand still dictates where I will adventure to.

Nice Monkey. My kind of land

I don’t have any problems sitting in this tree. I don’t really have the opportunity to go on a hunting trip to the big woods. I can find this spot very peaceful even if I can hear a little noise pollution.

Like I said. I might be missing something, but I’m perfectly okay with this.

Bjrogg

lol looks like my tree most have fell over. Can’t figure out why sometimes they are right and sometimes on their side

Around home there is some good bowhunting but your always hearing some kind of noise like cars and trucks going by or horns blowing, people yelling, dogs barking, construction noises, etc. So when I want to get away from the noise and want some solitude I head to the big game lands in Indiana, Eastern Westmoreland, or Somerset Counties.

Bjrogg....as long its still there, sideways or not...it is Treasure on loan from the King of the Universe.

It was always pretty quiet up here in Indian Heaven, WA. Nothing but an occasional jet overhead, and it was not near a flight line anyway. Just miles and miles away from anything except a few other hunters maybe. even that was rare. I can't wait to go back there. It really is quiet.

Everywhere I hunt in NY, there is the constant roar of tires on the Thruway and nearby state and county roads, or farm noise, etc. Not here, in the Gifford Pinchot, WA. Nothing but wilderness and quiet. Ravens are the noisiest things out there, and I love the sounds they make. Rarely the same sounds come out of them. They are incredible animals. The last elk I shot was within a hundred yards of this spot.

Nothing but quiet here too. High Peaks region, Adirondacks, NY. Its my happy place.

As long as He's with me, I have peace and quiet. Happy New Year everyone, and may Jesus Bless you all with His presence, and bring you peace and quiet.

Where I bow hunted for elk and muledeer in Colorado numerous times the silence was deafening.

I like both the quiet solitude and the background noise. Living in SATX rarely get far from the hum of town, really I just want to hunt. That didn't happen this year.

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