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Enjoying deer hunting this year with all three of the Spock clan (7th grade to 12th grade).

We were walking through a swampy area on Sunday and jumped a deer. A member of our group had shot at it earlier and we were looking for the deer(or blood).

Me and the kids jumped the deer and found the blood trail.

My kids tracked that deer for 2 miles in about 3 hours-it was not an easy trail as there were only small spots of blood. It was neat to watch the 3 of them work together. One would put a hat (or whatever) where they found blood and then all 3 of them would be on their hands and knees(if necessary) looking for the next spot.

I was out in front a ways just in case the deer would jump up or whatever.

I finally had to stop them when they only made about 20 yards of progress in a 1/2 hour and all 3 of them were mad that I made them stop.

By that time, they had tracked it close to a thick patch of woods on a neighbor's land and the neighbors were getting ready to look through that wooded area intensively-they ended up getting it.

Wherever life takes them-The kids will never forget following that trail together. I am very proud of them.

Monday-me and youngest Spock fulfilled our deer hunting tradition of eating a deer heart.

Congratulations -- for outdoor activities, family togetherness, and teamwork. I"m sure some would be shocked and disgusted by both stories, and I'm equally certain that you couldn't give a rat's patootie about those people.

Nothing you described here is my cup of tea, but I don't begrudge you the opportunity to share what you love with your kids. Vaya con Dios.

mrkelley23 wrote:Congratulations -- for outdoor activities, family togetherness, and teamwork. I"m sure some would be shocked and disgusted by both stories, and I'm equally certain that you couldn't give a rat's patootie about those people.

Nothing you described here is my cup of tea, but I don't begrudge you the opportunity to share what you love with your kids. Vaya con Dios.

Thanks-I questioned whether to post it-but decided it gives a glimpse of life that many here do not see, but that is widespread across the country.

That is a great story, Spock -- I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks!

My worst nightmare as a hunter is that I wound an animal and can't find it before nightfall. I send dozen of rounds through my rifle in practice before hunting season, and so far it's paid off.

You were right to stop them. If I read the details in the story correctly, one of them could have been shot in the wooded area.

Generally speaking, carnivorous lefties have absolutely no objection to hunting deer you plan to eat.

Tracking deer you've wounded but not yet killed in this endeavor is just common sense.

Thinking about the kids and their relationship to the land.

Anyone who has driven through farm country lately has likely seen the massive and ongoing bulldozing of every little patch of woods and odd grassy corner to gain a few more acres of corn. I won't even mention the millions and millions of feet of drain tile going in everywhere.

After the dust bowl in the 30's-shelter belts(long narrow strips of trees) were planted to slow wind erosion on the great plains. Now these shelter belts are being bulldozed out by the hundreds. I always say that our grandpas or great grandpas planted them-now guys my age are taking them out.

The excuse commonly given is that the 5 or 6 rows closest to the tree line yield less. Yes, modern grain farmers are that greedy. Another common justification is that modern tillage practices are less erosion-prone so we don't need the shelter belts. Yeah, call me when the ditches in the spring are not full of dirt and I might start to buy that.

In the spring of 2014-the Spocklette and I were looking at properties for an appraisal and for mile after mile the ditches were full of dirt. The Spocklette learned something that day. I think we were both just about in tears. As you may have figured out-I have very little respect for the (supposed) conservation ethic of my profession.

I fully realize that someone like SSS can never begin to grasp the relationship between hunting and conservation. However, we have a 10-acre patch of woods that is only still there because I like to hunt and I like the ragged edges of the land. If any other farmer owned it-It is almost certain that that woods would be gone-simple as that. Little Spock has caught on to this and has said-I get what you mean, if anybody else had this woods-it would be gone.

I keep it because I like it and I want to enjoy it with my kids and (probably) grandkids. It is very common for us to get at least 1 deer out of that woods. Youngest Spock (12) got his first turkey there this spring and the Spocklette and I have found that this woods has the best wild plums around. That is one of our things and the plums there are about twice as big and much juicier than any other wild plums we have found. Part of me wonders if maybe the gift of those plums is Karma for keeping that woods. We found them in 2014 and the Spocklette and I have lifetime memories of finding those awesome plums.

I am horrified that anti-erosion systems are being destroyed. Especially when those systems involve trees that are good for many other reasons as well.

I guess people living in the dust bowl regions don't even remember it? There are lots & lots of pictures.

ghostjmf wrote:I am horrified that anti-erosion systems are being destroyed.

You and me both, Ghost, you and me both.

http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/2012/07/ ... more-corn/

The CRP losses referenced in the article are not really the big story as those were farmed previously and then retired for a period of years. They did provide some good hunting.

Last night, we attended a 50th anniversary for long-time family friends. The Spocklette (14) was the only kid with us. We left when the accordion came out and the Polka'ing started (LOL).

Heard through the grapevine that we left too soon. The 14 YO grandson of other long-time friends wanted to ask the Spocklette to dance. He apparently described her as "beautiful."

I was chuckling today because her, me and Littlest Spock and Maggie (our 3YO black lab) went pheasant hunting. Maggie is not trained so the Spocklette didn't carry a gun as she volunteered to run Maggie's leash.

She was a great sport. The dog dragged her into some pretty heavy cover. As she was crawling through red willows and other thick cover-I was chuckling about the whole "beautiful" thing.

Spock wrote:Last night, we attended a 50th anniversary for long-time family friends. The Spocklette (14) was the only kid with us. We left when the accordion came out and the Polka'ing started (LOL).

Heard through the grapevine that we left too soon. The 14 YO grandson of other long-time friends wanted to ask the Spocklette to dance. He apparently described her as "beautiful."

I was chuckling today because her, me and Littlest Spock and Maggie (our 3YO black lab) went pheasant hunting. Maggie is not trained so the Spocklette didn't carry a gun as she volunteered to run Maggie's leash.

She was a great sport. The dog dragged her into some pretty heavy cover. As she was crawling through red willows and other thick cover-I was chuckling about the whole "beautiful" thing.

If Maggie is dragging Spocklette you need to get a ThunderLeash (http://www.thundershirt.com/thunderleash.html). My granddaughter was having trouble with Nellie, her German Shepard, until I got her one.

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/12/28 ... cemetaries

This is how greedy many farmers are now. They can't/won't leave any little patch of woods/brush on their land. This guy (in a neighboring area) bulldozed out and cleared an old pioneer cemetery. The article is from 3 years ago, but I was reminded of it because of a large/in-depth article this week in the local paper this week.

mrkelley23 wrote:Congratulations -- for outdoor activities, family togetherness, and teamwork. I"m sure some would be shocked and disgusted by both stories, and I'm equally certain that you couldn't give a rat's patootie about those people.

Nothing you described here is my cup of tea, but I don't begrudge you the opportunity to share what you love with your kids. Vaya con Dios.

What Mr K said.

Boonie used to hunt, as did two of my uncles (TLAF's brothers-in-law). Boonie used to make his own venison sausage, as did my aunt Adeline and Dolly (TLAF's sisters).

Boonie also had Sprotsie's nightmare - not being able to find the wounded animal. He said it never happened to him or his friends.

To be honest, I don't think I've ever known anyone who DIDN'T use what they shot for food.