Deer Camp - Part Deux

The official Rustlin' Oaks Deer Camp took place this past weekend at Larry's cabin in Hale, MI. There were four guys, lots of beer, many poker and euchre games, but no deer hanging on the buck pole. It was cold in the mornings, usually in the teens, but other than that, the weather was good. Not as much snow as we had hoped, but we did hike some beautiful areas. LaCoe, Duane, Larry and myself bagged about 3 cases of beer, and 0 deer. Here are some shots, as well as some Thanksgiving photos at Roxannes.

Here is the infamous cabin where the Rustlin' Oaks Deer Camp is the tradition.

Inside the cabin, Duane and Scotty prepare for the hunt.

Right below my ladder stand, there was a bobcat den with fresh tracks. They are putting a hurt on the squirrels in the area, but I think bobcats are cooler than squirrels.

Duane, Scotty, Larry, and myself standing on the bridge over the South Branch of the AuSable river. Walked 5 miles, saw one doe, drank some Captain Morgans.

The mighty AuSable river

This was a field we pushed. Saw no deer. Drank a beer when we were done.

Becoming one with the elements. I also became one with Budweiser during this hunt. Saw no deer.

This is the spot where I dropped a spike the previous weekend. Saw nothing this weekend.

Uncle Jason was very excited about Pumpkin Pie at Roxanne's place. Maybe too excited.

Traditional Thanksgiving family portrait

Deer Camp - Part 1

Larry and I were both successful during opening weekend in Michigan. We both took spikes on the 16th, 30 minutes apart and only about 100 yards from each other. The deer even looked the same. My buck came in on a grunt and I hit it at about 75 yards. It ran about 200 yards before it decided to fall. Larry took a 100 yard shot and the buck fell in it's tracks. It was a great hunt on State land near the South Branch of the AuSable river. We are going back this upcoming weekend for the Official Deer Camp. Larry, LaCoe, Duane, and myself will take to the woods to play havoc on Mother Nature's bounty. If it's brown, it's down.

Using the antler on my buck to pick the cute furry bunny rabbit out of my teeth.

Coming back to MI

I will be back in MI for a couple of weeks. I fly in the day before opening day gun season and am driving up to the cabin to hopefully take a big buck. I am going up with Larry "sure shot" Schmidt. For $138 out-of-state deer license, I gots to bag me a buck. Here is a picture of the buck Larry took off his property two years ago. I knocked out two does last year. The hunting forecast is very good this year in that area. Plus, Duane and I planted some food plots out there a few years ago that should have the bucks straining to keep their heads up because of the sheer antler mass.

Halloween

Halloween was very nice here in Pcola. The weather was in the low 70s all day. I took the day off of work to go to Mikey and Sam's open house at the school with Ras, Grammie and Grampy. Then the kids got home and got in their costumes. Sam was a witch, like her Grammie, and Mikey was Anakin Skywalker. Grampy went as a wise 'ol wizard. Ras put on her hot 70s outfit and I threw on a tight blond curl and some platform shoes for a lack of a better costume. Not many folks in our sub yet so we walked around the sub in front of ours with our friends. It was a good time.

Looking in on Sam's class. The kids don't dress up for Halloween at school. Some sort of political correctness or religious junk. They were allowed to dress up as cowboys though. I wore my cowboy hat. Sam's teacher is on the far right. Ras is pictured in the middle, not dressed like a cowboy at all.

Barley got stuck wearing the same costume he wore last year. You can see his disappointment in his expression.

Sammy getting ready to soar.

Mikey using the force of the dork side.

Lacey, Sammy, Caleb, Wyatt, and Mikey

I got next...

Grammy making the doughnuts. Terrifying.

We ate at the Fish House yesterday. Mikey ate Mahi Mahi. Sam had a salad.