So it was a morning sit in the pop up blind, started 30 minutes before daylight. After a quick check all around for snakes, I got inside. I had a big rat snake just outside the blind a couple of days before. A rat snake is one thing, a copperhead or rattler is another.
Soon I was comfortable in my Director's style chair as I sat waiting. My selfbow was strung and waiting as it leaned up to one side of the blind. My back quiver was behind me and I had two arrows at ready as well.
I had a small table off to my right and slightly behind me, out of the way of my bow. I had set my head light on the table after putting on my arm guard and glove. Now it was time to eat some Gramm crackers and sip on my hot chocolate, the breakfast of champions LOL.
The wind was blowing the leaves back and forth and I could hear them just fine. Back at the house, I had the slow cooker slow cooking a hearty venison stew. But now I was quietly waiting and listening for any tell tale sounds of critters moving about.
The sky to the east was beginning to lighten up and to the south of me, I could hear the mules braying again. Outside of the blind, the air was a bit chilly withy the wind but inside it wasn't so bad. Besides, I had my electric vest on if I needed it.
I'm sitting in my little bottom, between the mountain and a short ridge and I can now make out the forms of the trees in front of me. The day light is approaching quickly as the various birds come to life. Then if all things, a dog comes strolling thru, checking everything out before heading south.
The next hour is pretty quiet except for the crows that seem to be all over the place. Then I hear something in the leave and I ready my bow but it is a false alarm as a grey squirrel works the leaves in front of me.
I had brushed in the front and sides of this blind and now I hear another squirrel climbing around on it just a couple of feet from me. Twice the squirrel tries to climb the side of the blind so I pop the side with my hand.
So I watch the squirrels as they chase each other back and forth before a woodpecker flies in and starts working on the dead tree next to my blind. Now all I hear is the constant sound of stuff falling down and hitting the top of my blind.
Finally, my time is up and I must get going, no deer again but it is just a timing thing. I am really liking the pop up, I can stand up and move around even with the squirrels just feet away. With my bad back and hip, I seem to move a lot and I can use all of the help that I can get and the pop up hides my movements.
While I may not have seen a deer, the peace and quiet of being out there in the blind was worth it. The chaos and the non stop drama of life can really make any time in the blind precious. Getting to see real life nature happening around you is so much better than anything on TV. Getting to watch one of our gray foxes sneaking around as it searches for food is always an awesome sight to see.
Yeah, some may say that it was a bust of a hunt but not to me. The outdoors is one of the best therapies there is. Jerry
