The Schooler's

Readers be warned - I went deer hunting this weekend and will proceed to tell tall tales of my expert marksmanship, super human tracking skills, and all around manliness.  No, not really, but if you're not a fan of hunting - you may not want to read on, so I thought I'd be nice and at least give you a heads up.  First off, this was a really fun opportunity to get outside of Austin with some good guys and have some fellowship.  We made a quick trip up to Matt's father-in-law's place in Bertram.  Scott and MattR are both experienced hunters, while MattD and I are novices.

Since moving to Austin, I've enjoyed going dove hunting during several seasons, a few trips to outdoor and indoor ranges, and an occasional trip shoot trap and skeet.  I did not grow up hunting, but did get a lot of exposure to fishing through family and friends.  I had the requisite BB gun that I think all boys desire, and I had fired rifles at Scout camps and on trips with my cousin Bill, but that all seems like an eternity ago.  I did purchase my first 12 gauge (Winchester Super X Model 1, used from McBride's), which brought the total number of firearms to more than 1.  Yes, that's right, my Beloved has her own shotgun and besides being beautiful, intelligent, charming, blessed with an incredible smile and all around exceptional Mom, she can fish (our 1st anniversary trip was to Gaston's - her idea) and hunt.  That's right - the total package.  Yes, I am that lucky, but I digress...

So we're off for a rather short, roughly 24 hour jaunt to bag some deer.  The ranch is situated just over an hours drive from Austin, so after finally getting off (yes I was the reason we were a little late) we use our time up to cover where we're going to be hunting, who is paired up with whom, general safety, correct target areas for the kill shot on a deer (Scott - I actually kept the sketch), confirm we all have our hunting licenses, talk about gun safety again and individual experience for the newbies, etc.  We arrive and quickly unload so we can be in our spots before the feeder goes off.  WHAT???  Did I just say "feeder"?  Yes, yes I did.

If you've ever asked me about deer hunting, my historical response was something like this ... I like the idea of deer hunting, but I've always pictured it as more sporting, you know, out on a ranch, waiting for the shot, or stealthily tracking the game in the wild, not the Pavlovian response to a feeder.  That's like fishing a stocked tank (and since I grew up fishing more than hunting, I know that few, if any, self respecting fisherman will ever fish a stocked tank).  Well sports fans, I can tell you all those thoughts went right out the window, when I turned and finally saw an 8 pointer in clear view.  Queue adrenaline, queue time slowing down, queue target fixation ... check, check, check.  With that over, I took another slow deep breath (I was already relaxed, knowing that being jumpy and amp'd on adrenaline before I even had a chance at a clean shot would not yield steady hands - thank you Tom Clancy, thank you Vince Flynn), dialed the scope up just a tad, and settled the cross hairs on the deer.  Slow, steady, pull, don't anticipate the shot ... BAM!  I'm probably 100 yards out and when he fell, he did not get back up.  Not a shot worthy of Mark Wahlberg in Shooter, but I'm really pleased.

I am really happy now, and the adrenaline definitely is noticeable.  I sit tight so we can see if there's another deer before light fades, but I've got mine, so what's the first thing I do - text Christy.  I like hunting in the 21st century - easy to share an enjoyable moment with my bride.  MattD and Scott didn't take a shot that first night, so we got back to the cabin, and got a lesson in field dressing.  Check that off my life to do list.  Great dinner and fellowship with guys over some venison that Scott brought, and we bunked down for the night.  MattD took a deer on the 2nd day that required a lot of tracking, but he made a good shot and we brought the deer in, and I was able to put my field dressing lesson to practice.

A few random thoughts on the trip and experience:

(a) Yes, we're holding a bottle of Jack in the 1st picture.  No, we actually did not drink any of the Jack on the trip

(b) If you look really, really close in the deer blind shot - you may be able to make out the feeder about 100 yards downrange where I shot the deer

(c) View from my blind is where I was basically looking when I finally saw the deer and took the shot

(d) I thought about photo-shopping out the deer's tongue hanging out in the photo, but decided nope readers would definitely enjoy it.

(e) Yes, I am wearing a sidearm in one of the photos.  Who doesn't enjoy that when out in the country???

(f) Yes, I am a movie buff, and to pass the time in the blind I was running through various movie scenes - they include Marisa Tomei from My Cousin Vinny, already referenced Shooter above, Tom Berenger in Sniper, and yes Bill Paxton in Navy SEALs - are you sensing a theme here???

(g) I turned in 80 lbs of venison for processing at Hudson's

(h) I'm going to get the deer head mounted - European Style

Our first annual (hopefully) Balcones Woods Fellowship Group deer hunting trip is complete.  A memorable experience that I'm pleased to have shared with MattR, Scott, and MattD - great time gentlemen!

Pictures are updated in the Photos tab at the top ...