Over the years, we have all been taught to hunt and fish before a front arrives. How many times have we found ourselves sitting out a storm just knowing how good it will be when it’s over? How many times have you sat it out and then nothing? Well tonight was one of those nights. The weather has been warm. The forecast called for a cold front to come through mid-day today. Rain and falling temperatures throughout the evening. I got into the woods around 2:30 pm; well ahead of the front and climbed a tall pine with the climber stand and got set up. It took a few minutes to cool down, even though I wasn’t even wearing long sleeves. One of those things that you have to get used to hunting in Georgia. About 45 minutes after getting in the tree, the rain began to fall. The advantage of sitting in a pine is that it blocks a lot of the rain. Not even the squirrels were moving. The rain began to fall harder and more leaves began to fall. The rhythmic pattern of the rain, along with the dreariness of the low hanging clouds made me sleepy. Not a fan of sleeping in a climbing stand though. Just far too many risks outweigh the much-needed nap. The rain began to ease up with an hour until the end of legal. Darkness came quick. I could hear deer moving down by the creek, but there was no way to see them. Between the leaves on the trees still and the early darkness, it was impossible. I have never had a night when 15 minutes after sunset, you couldn’t see anything through the scope.
I carefully came down the tree and began putting the tree stand back together to pack out. Then came the strange sounds through the woods. Even after years of hearing them it still makes you pause. The coyotes started their evening symphony for all to hear. Although every hunter knows that they aren’t interested in you, I chambered a bullet anyway. I finished getting everything together and headed towards the truck. Walking through the brush, I quickly became soaked. It was a welcome sight to get back to the truck after the half mile hike. The water-logged packs seemed extra heavy and it was a relief to throw them in the truck. Pulling down the dirt road, I passed a campsite. Talking to the camper, he had hunted without any success this evening too. I asked if he had heard the coyotes and he said that was when he loaded his pistol. We both laughed and wished each other luck as I headed home.
Even without any success tonight, I will continue to get out on these days when the fronts move through. It doesn’t matter whether you are tired, drenched, or haven’t seen a thing, it is still always worth getting out and waiting to see what can happen. Nothing cool ever happens from the couch or the office.
Dirt Road Dispatch 