It seems that every year you hear people say, I seen the big one but he got away.  I usually say that every year myself.  To me, this is the thrill that keeps me coming back every year.  The anticipation of will he come his normal route, how is the wind, alright remember hold steady and wait for the open shot.  Then when you do see him usually he is somewhere you didn't think he would come and are not set up for the shot or can't get a shot due to brush in the way you didn't think would be.  After all the time, scent control, deer lure, shooting, scouting and it all comes down to, why the heck did he come out that way.  This of course happened to me this year several times BUT then the time finally came when the Big One came the right route and the wind right was right, I was cool and calm, he steps out broadside and I shoot.  Did I hit him, is there any blood, remember where you last seen him.  I get up start down to where I shot take my time look for blood then I hear something soft and faint, Michael....Michael......MICHAEL.  Who is here, I am on Posted land where are they and then reality hits, its the wife waking me up from the perfect dream to say the baby is crying it is my turn.  I guess the Big One gets away again until next season.  Bad enough he haunts me through the season now after the season, it will be a long wait until October. 

Saturday the geese and ducks will be falling.  Decoys ready, the stove is ready for some good cooking and all we need now is for the work week to end.  Watched lots of flocks of geese tonight flying over our honey hole.  Can't wait to get so shootin done.  By the way it looks we need to do some more fox hunting also cause we seen three driving through the field. 

Well to say it started fast is an understatement.  Opening weekend brother killed his second buck ever an 8pt that weighed 115lbs.  The second Saturday of muzzleloader I killed a 6pt with no brows that weighed 150lbs.  Not big but for a mountain deer that was aged at 7yrs + it was nice to take out of the herd.  Then that next Monday I shot a 307lb field dressed black bear and passed on a great 9pt that needs another year or two.  Then all the sudden no deer, they are rutting hard everywhere else but I cannot find even a tail walking through the woods.  We will be hunting our other property this Saturday where the sign is even better and scrapes a plenty so lets see if it ends with a bang for 2009.