Well, it's back to reality I guess. Though I did come up with a theory while I was up north that the actual reality is there and this is all just some bullshit construct. It was deep, I'm telling you.
No luck as far getting any grouse and now I cede the woods to the deer hunters for the next three weeks. I know some fine and responsible deer hunters, but I also know a few bozos. You can paint me from head to toe in blaze orange and I'm still not going to walk any public land during the firearms deer hunting season.
I saw lots of deer, mostly along the roads. I had one close call on I-35 last night just north of Sandstone when a deer crossed the road right in front of me. Thankfully it didn't panic and stop in the road and it bounded off into the night. I had slowed from 70 to about 55 and the car coming up from behind me didn't even slow down. It blew past in the left lane doing about 80. I remember being that stupid. And trust me, this time of year in Minnesota, with the deer moving like crazy, it's stupid to be speeding along on any road at night. I guess the odds are that any given driver will not hit a deer, but I'd rather nudge those odds a little more in my favor and get home with my vehicle in one piece.
It was pretty much cold, drizzly, and windy the whole time. The woods of northeastern Minnesota are not just wet, they are downright soggy. I dressed for it and I didn't mind it so much, but I think it had the birds pretty much hunkered down. It did make it the perfect weather to end the day by coming back to the cabin for a sauna, stew from the crockpot, and watching a movie by the fire.
Oh well. Time to get back up to speed I guess. I see the evil empire has won the series and that the usual bullshit artists are as hard at work as ever on Memeorandum.
Reality sucks.
The frenzy that deer hunters get into every season never ceases to amaze me. You hear about 7-8 fatalities every year on opening day of deer season. At the very least, I think I'd have to skip opening day.
Posted by: Rob | November 05, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Well, I'm probably being a bit paranoid about it. Most hunting accidents here end up with self-inflicted wounds and last year, for those that injured a second party, duck/geese hunting incidents beat out deer hunting by 5-4. I think what bugs me most is that deer hunters are out there with rifles or shooting slugs out of shotguns, as opposed to bird hunters shooting pellets. Pellets can do some damage, but I'd rather take my chances with that than a bullet from a high powered rifle.
Posted by: Dave E. | November 05, 2009 at 06:35 PM
I cannot express in mere words how grateful I am to have private property to hunt on.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life | November 05, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Sorry you didn't get any grouse! Yeah, thanks to the time change now I'm afraid of deer at night instead of in the morning. Ugh.
Posted by: Kate P | November 05, 2009 at 10:23 PM
What are you grousing about?
Posted by: Mr. Bingley | November 06, 2009 at 05:31 AM
Sounds like you had a pheasant time over-all, though.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley | November 06, 2009 at 06:52 AM
Kate-Yeah, the only deer I've hit was in the burbs, and at night. Right about this time of year.
Posted by: Dave E. | November 06, 2009 at 07:25 AM
Mr. B.-Well, it's not as if I ruffed it, though the time just flew by.
Posted by: Dave E. | November 06, 2009 at 07:26 AM
I'm glad you bucked that trend and didn't hit Bambi; the repairs would have cost you some serious doe.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley | November 06, 2009 at 08:06 AM
Ken-Yeah, I dearly wish I had about 80 acres of posted land.
Posted by: Dave E. | November 06, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Mr. B.-I really don't need to rack up those expenses right now.
Posted by: Dave E. | November 06, 2009 at 08:21 AM
Yeah, that'd be a hell of a rut to have to get out of.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley | November 06, 2009 at 08:43 AM
Not to mention that then I'd have to hoof it for awhile.
Posted by: Dave E. | November 06, 2009 at 01:39 PM