Leaddog arrives Thursday night to beat the forecasted 5 to 10″ of snow that is to fall upon the Happy Hunting Grounds…upon awakening a snowless world greets him. Rain, snow and sleet (snrain) is creating miserable conditions, but a recon is still in order. Looking for the Big Bad Mean Ol’ Bear, two does are seen not too far away from camp. Nothing follows…..
Saturday:
The rangers are shanghaied by Polecat in order to get a “check the box” hunt in, and all are forced to hunt to the elusive Fire Rock in the back country. Not the Fire Ring, nor Toucher’s Rock(s), or the 15 other watches with a “rock” name of some sort. Two drivers are sent out and around, with three others hitting the “ridge” to the Fire Rock. Much sign is encountered by the two lower drivers, and the three up above are encountering the now matured woods since the last visit to this area. Toucher encounters something big on the ridge, which is using the wind to determine it’s exit strategy. Touch gets a quick glance at the beast, before it exits the area in front of Leaddog only 100 feet from the Fire Rock. Other tracks are accompanying said beast which splits as usual, the doe one way….and perhaps the buck? Robba gets into the mix and all retreats from the area with Polecat now satisfied on his check the box moment! 😉
Sunday: Lindy’s Birthday Buck!
A return to the Bunny Hill is to be performed, as it has been “resting” for some time. Lindy and Probie has the whole Notch to themselves, which is a big responsibility. Polecat goes on what could be considered a watch down below, with Toucher, Leaddog, Digger and Robba setting up and getting ready to perform the drive. As all gets ready to rumble, shots are heard for the Notch. The declaration “Brown is down” comes from Lindy, before any driver makes a step! Since the only way back to camp is in the direction of the drive, it is to be completed. Five minutes into the drive a rather large mule is kicked from atop by Toucher, which runs in front of Leaddog the Bear Hunter down towards Digger and Robba. It must be said if Steven where on his watch he may have seen the beast, as nothing but a larger body was observed by the two top drivers. It as always, seems to have vanished…..
Back to the kill….A nice eight pointer is down within rock throwing distance from Lindy’s watch! All converge and field activities commence, and the drag downhill to the yapping, talking, whining, yelling, salty Polecat (Spike Jr) is started. Piewhore and Polecat gets two vehicles and picks up the Rangers and said mule.