Opening Weekend 2021

It is the most wonderful time of year, opening gun weekend. It is filled with excitement, desperation, and happiness. I hope all hunters reading this had an action filled, success filled weekend! Below is an overview of my 2021 opening gun weekend. Scroll to the end for a gallery of pictures :) Lots of memories shared!

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Friday, November 12th

Kick off to the weekend, the excitement must start somewhere. The night before opening weekend is always exciting. Unpacking and repacking your gear, getting your gun prepared, checking the weather, complain about the cold, and picking a spot. Another exciting thing to look forward to is deer camp, and that is where I found myself Friday evening. Wilson's Deer Camp is a long-lasting, fun tradition. Each year the number of those in attendance increases. Each year the passion grows. This was my first year attending, but will not be the last. Click the button below to read more …

Click Me

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Saturday, November 13th

Opening day! My favorite day of the season, and I am sure many hunters would agree. The morning of opening day is just different in a way, almost indescribable. However, I will try my best …

I do not believe myself to be a morning person by any means. However, opening day I am awake and alive (of course the first couple minutes are a little bit of a struggle.) Once you get dressed, prepared, and settled, the magic begins. Reflecting back on the day, my magic day started in the 'magic stand.' Watching the sun rise in the quietness of your surroundings is a experience everyone should experience. My morning started at first shooting light, exactly thirty minutes until sunrise, with a small six-point. After that, the action was nonstop. Bucks chasing does, lone does, lone bucks. My heart rate was raised and my body began to tremble when a debatable buck came close. I made the decision to let him walk. Everything was moving in the crisp morning air. Gunshots, close and far, echoed in the silence. Sadly, none that morning were mine or those hunting alongside me. My boyfriend, Andrew, on his first solo hunt, was unlucky that morning as well. However, we were still happy with the wildlife and activity we got to witness.

After a home-cooked breakfast, sharing of morning encounters, and a good long nap, I was back out that evening. Spoiler alert! I filled my buck tag! Looking back on the night, it was probably one of the best hunts I have ever had. The action was nonstop, deer moving through endlessly. It seemed as one/a group left, new came in. It was constant, until it wasn't. It seemed as if time had stopped from 5:20 - 5:45 p.m. Nothing moved, the wind ceased, the rustling leaves stayed grounded, and I was left feeling cold as the sun went below the trees. Then, all within a minute, my hunt changed. A buck came into the clearance 175 yards ahead of me. He was moving fast and my binoculars were unclear due to the raindrops coating its surface. This combination did not allow me to see him for enough time, but I knew he was big. Now out of sight, I was watching so intensely of where he came from and where he could go. Diverting my eyes in response to leaves crunching, I look down to see another buck coming in. Standing just ahead of me at 30 yards away was a shooter buck. Debating only for a split second allowed the buck to come almost 20 yards closer. I decided to pick up my gun compared to my binoculars (which were pretty much unnecessary at this point considering how close he was.) Making that decision is when I knew my season would be over in a matter of seconds. I flipped the gun off safety, making an ever small noise, but it got the wise, old buck's attention. He looked up in curiosity, locking eyes for a split second. I pulled the trigger and heard the gun go off. As most hunters would know, this is the part where everything happens so fast. You almost have no time to think. I stood up in the stand as I watched where the buck was running his last strides. While simultaneously unloading the gun with excitement and reloading the gun in precaution, I heard him thrash into the brush.

Andrew, only a short distance away, heard my shot and sent a text in excitement. Confirming his curiosity, I replied with an excited "yes! I got one," while waiting for my dad to answer his phone so I could simultaneously share the news. Of course, my dad expected the call as a trail cam had taken a picture of the deer just seconds before the boom. After hanging up the call with him, I called my mom to tell her the news. Waiting at the house, she already knew, but it was still exciting to retell the series of events. Also I am terrified of the dark and did not want to be 'alone' in the dark wilderness.

In our golf cart, my dad picked up my boyfriend along the way to my stand. Still frozen in coldness and excitement, I was still sitting in the stand. I made my way down, hugged in excitement, and started to track my buck. Knowing I made a good shot and knowing a general idea of where the buck ended up, tracking was easy and painless. My dad leading the way found the buck first. Standing back until he poked it (to make sure it was dead of course) I grinned in excitement. The feeling when you first put your hands on the rack is surreal.

After the routine dragging out, gutting, and drive up to the house, I was more then excited to share my story with anyone that would listen. Having this platform has allowed me to do that and more. I look forward to sharing more of my hunting stories and those around me!

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Sunday, November 14th

This day of hunting was short and cold. Andrew, still needing to fill his buck tag, took sleepy me out to the shooting house with him that morning. Falling asleep to the cold air and quiet atmosphere, I did not miss much in the early morning hours. Our first encounter was a doe standing lonesome in the field. After that, it was quiet again. But each new encounter after that came fast. A shooter buck walked through quick. Barely in sight, my boyfriend was unable to get a shot. Sadly, the buck came and went in a matter of seconds. A few moments later, a mother and her younger button buck son came in off the field. Running fast into the woods, they kicked up another shooter buck who was only laying 15 yards away! We were unknowing to his presence as he was bedded down in the snow covered brush. After this encounter, the woods remained silent. We ended the hunt around 10 a.m.

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In overview, 2021 opening weekend was a great weekend. From beginning to end, it was filled with laughter, excitement, emotion, and stories shared. Looking back, I know this weekend will be one for the memories. I am thankful to all I shared it with, as well as with those I am sharing with it now.

Enjoy this array of pictures from the weekend …