Off The Grid

Nothing was awake. The air was crisp like a winter night, the birds weren’t chirping, the fog was near the water, and when we got on the four-wheeler our breath was crystal smoke. It was a good morning. Until, I was putting on my chap stick on and it fell out of my finger tips from a bump on the road. It was no longer chap stick. My husband offered over-and-over to go back and get it. I was so in tune to just get a buck. We hiked 3 miles in a basin where the skies were blue as a young boy’s room wall. It was like touching the clouds. My lungs felt heavy as we climbed further. We stopped to glass and there were 5 bucks chowing down on their usual. I had no fear of heights then. I stepped each foot grasping the mountain grass. Hoping I would get a shot at a once in a lifetime first deer. We sat down near willows about 180 yards from them. My husband insisted we ate breakfast. With our backs to each other- one facing towards the bucks, another facing a different basin. I s

That moment it becomes opening day for your husband and yourself. I am on cloud 9, through the roof, high-levels of anticipation right now. Waiting for that phone call saying, "I got my deer. I got my deer" cannot come soon enough! It reminds me of when my husband was in Afghanistan and I would only get a phone call every 3 months. You didn't know when that phone call was going to come, you didn't know what he would say. My adrenaline is jumping from wall-to-wall helping me clean the house for my parents who are arriving tomorrow afternoon. Then, it's this Momma's turn at the muzzleloader. Monday night is my chance. My first time to ever lay eyes on a buck through open sights. I wonder if my husband still gets buck fever? I know I will.

You see these two? My advice... Never get two doggies that are 6 months apart. It is like having ten children mixed together. Don't get me wrong, they are the most faithful companions to our little family. Let's talk about Daisy Mae. She's a Redbone Hound/Black Mouth Cur Mix. Another name for pain in the butt. We should have trained her to cougar hunt (like most people do). She was sent to boarding school for a month due to temperament problems. She's out of that biting habit now. Daisy is the only family member out of canines that goes shed hunting and scouting. Her love for the wild is outrageous. No leash, no worries. She LOVES to ride on the four-wheeler! Which is a funny story because Opi Finn (our Blue Heeler/Kelpie Mix) is the exact opposite. You'll see Opi running beside it, trying to herd us in the right direction (or thinking he is)! Really, what I wanted to blog about today is the last camping trip we went on. It was a nightmare! We all have those, r

This afternoon my husband, daughter, and I went out to shoot the muzzleloader. Today would be the last time I get to hold the muzzleloader and aim it at a non-moving object or a cardboard box. Knowing that this will be the last day before the season starts is an adrenaline rush. Loading the powder in a measure, pouring it down the muzzle, pushing the bullet down with the ramrod, loading the primer, taking a deep breathe as you get into position, switching the safety off, and fire! It will be my first buck I've ever shot at. Thanks to my husband for going on DOW'S Left-Over List! If it wasn't for him, I would just have my 3rd season cow tag. The thing is, is I haven't ever even shot at anything except at rabbit's and a turkey. The turkey was with my Opa back in Texas quite a few years ago. The rabbit's are every year. Montrose is swamped with those suckers! The hunts that I have done in the past 3 years weren't successful (some might say) but I say differ