[Jericho]

The adrenaline when you see deer coming through the
woods on the first day of rifle.
Having game walk by silently and suprising you.
When you fire your rifle at a deer and dont feel the
recoil, and sometimes the report sounds like its far
away.
Watching the sun rise on a cold crisp calm morning
while squirrel hunting.

 

[Swift]

Just the time afield, usually with my boy.

All the other things are just icing.

 

[GRIFF]

Doves falling from the sky bouncing off round bails.
Watching the pure white snow turn red at my feet while we clean rabbits.
The sound of beagles on a sight chase.
Thinking of friends before and after a hunt and longing till' we can do it again.
Watching dogs sleep by the fire after a long day afield.
The feeling you get when your dogs are getting berdie.
When you get home and have a hot meal on the table and get to share your stories with your wife as she pretends to be interested.
Finally but not finished, at the end of the season, you sigh and smile and begin to plan for the next season.

 

[Backwoods]

That first bird "chirp" of the morning
Watching the sun rise over the mountain from my treestand
Peace and Quiet
My conversations with God

 

[eyefromthesky]

Being out on an October evening hunt when the air gets a really cold nip to it for the first time. Then you know fall is truly here.

Being on stand when the leaves really start to come down with every gentle breeze.

Walking to your stand before dawn by moonlight.

 

[quackmaster4]

The sound of geese flying over.. Doesn't matter what I'm hunting; I'll stop and try to check them out.

I love when a flock of winter birds pass thru. I'll check out the chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, and titmice with my binocs whenever I can. Yeah, I've missed chances at game doing this, but it's part of hunting to me.

I love the taste of a cold Coke when I get a deer back to my truck.

The sound of claws on bark when that first squirrel comes down from a tree on a cold morning.

 

[turkey4life]

going for a drive down a dirt road and having a flock of 50 turkeys, or a monster buck , or a bear cross and sit and watch them for a few minutes.

 

[long hunter]

The feel of my bag and powderhorn on my side
the way the longrifle fits my hand and carries effortlessly
The anticipation when you hear the foot steps of deer but don't see them
The smell of black powder smoke
the feeling of first putting your hands on a set of antlers
the feeling of respect for your fallen quarry.

 

[jmls1994]

Just sitting in a stand with one of my two boys. Nothing being said, every once in a while just giving one another a look, followed by a smile.

 

[Lewellen]

Feeling the rough wool of my dad's old coat rubbing on my face as I turn to try to see if that crunching sound is him on the way to his stand, listening for his whisper from the dark: "Just be patient, there's more deer in here than you have ever seen before.", hoping that just once I get a better buck than he does, then remembering that he has been gone for 25 years - but is still out there with me.

Terry

 

[doubleT]

My five year old saying " daddy can I try it now"

 

[remington_gal]

I Enjoy...When they drop dead in thier tracks.
...A twig snapping
...A jake tryin to gobble
...How proud my dog looks with a bird in his mouth
...Not sleeping the night before
...watching the woods come alive at sunrise
...being addicted to Spring Gobbler
...memories with good friends
...camp fires,good stories,and cold beer to end the
day

 

[JTman]

Good stuff guys, no doubt. I can relate to almost everything that's been mentioned.

I think my very favorite "little" thing is watching the dead leaves, with their awesome colors, flying off the trees and blowing everywhere on one of those windy sweet fall days. You have to be out on just the right day or you miss it.... I can remember one day several years ago while driving a back road to the woods I just stopped my truck and sat there taking in the majesty, leaves swirling everywhere. One of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen for sure.

 

[b&ghuntre]

i like big ol fright trains in the middle of the nite like it use to be in slate run, hearing that first deer in the morning of rifle season, a nice sharp knife hearing a coyote howel, seeing a good stand of pine trees and a snowed in cabin and the smoken chimney and walking up to my buck and seeing his rack looks better then it did in the scope...later

 

[Rugged Hunter]

I enjoy watching the birds nearby...a hawk at eye level 10 yds away...or chickadees and titmice...or the woodpeckers.

The moment when you first detect a deer...the way your heart stops for a second and the adrenaline fills your body.

Watching the woods wake up in the morning....and shut down at night.

Butchering deer.

Connecting with dad on a two mile, rugged hike every morning and evening during rifle.

I think I like scouting just as much....finding and charting scrapes and rubs....finding turtle shells and shed antlers...exploring new areas deep in the woods.

It's really kinda fun to be caught in the woods by a thunderstorm. Scary too.

 

[eyefromthesky]

All great stuff posted here! I never expected this much response but maybe we can keep it going till next season.

 

[Lewellen]

I agree - GREAT STUFF. It is only when these small things lose their ability to make us smile, remember other good days, and dream that we lose what is best about the days we are alotted to spend out in the wilds with our family, best friends, God watching over our shoulder and the animals for company.

Terry

 

[gobble4me]

The chess match between that old boss gobbler and me

Hearing Dad's gun go off

The frost on the ground as we setup on a roosted Tom

A flock of Geese, cupped and commited.

My lab coming back to me with a duck in his mouth ,I'm not sure who is prouder, me or the lab!

My 2yr old sitting on "deer stand" with me watching deer in the back yard from the kitchen table.

Adding another year of memories to the photo album.

The smell in the air on a cool crisp, Oct morning.

Hearing a boss gobbler drum. For those of you who have never heard that, it's amazing!!! (plus you know he is close)

The site of a well thought out decoy spread for geese just as dawn breaks, not taking into count the hour of setup time!

Hearing my wife say I'm crazy to get up at 4am to chase turkeys around. After 10 years of being together she still shakes her head the entire spring turkey season.

The warmth of a wood stove on a cold December day.

A long warm congratulations hug as Dad and I celebrate a successful hunt.

Just a few of mine.

 

[timberdoodle12]

The geese honking their way off of the beaver pond at first light.

The first shot ringing out on the opening day of gun season.

The trip up to camp and everyone stowing their gear.

The hanging of the deer back at camp on the first day.

The woods coming alive at sunrise.

Watching a small buck that is legal but too small to take.

Finding a tuff of hair and blood spray.

 

[410-er]

Scouting for deer to come out in September and thinking about the upcoming hunting season and how many I've seen then.........BLINK......They are over till next year!