My first time in a deer stand was two weeks before the season opened and my husband, Mike, wanted to take me out to just “look” as he would say. After my first walk in the woods with him, I was quite hesitant and adamant that I was not traipsing through the woods and was not really thrilled about sitting in the heat of early August. I just could not disappoint him and not go after holding fast to my dislike of walking in the woods, so I toughened up, put on a cool outfit and headed out to the deer stand with Mike.

Having never been in a deer stand, I had no expectations. Oh, I had some fears, and mainly it was of snakes and ticks, but I put on a brave face (and tons of insect repellent) and headed out. We rode the four wheeler out and walked the rest of the way in so as not to spook his white-tailed friends. I must say, when I saw the stand perched high up in the tree, I thought for sure I would die before I made the climb up. Those who know me know I am not fond of heights. I know, I know, I have a lot of quirks, but hey, remember, I’m the princess! Trying to stay quiet was pretty hard when I was sweating like I had sat in a sauna for hours and really felt like hyperventilating. Try having a panic attack and remaining quiet. Doesn’t work well!

Mike had me go up first and as I put my hand up to pull myself through this tiny opening, it landed right on a tree frog. Again, trying not to panic, I suppressed my scream only to go into full hyperventilation. Mike kept giving me “the look”…the same look my mother would give us kids during the priest’s (yes Father Underwood, that is why we were the most well behaved children…the look) Sunday sermons growing up. Once we got situated, I relaxed, got my breathing under control and for the first time began to absorb what was around me. I quickly went from feeling like a woman writhing and sweating through labor pains to feeling like a bird perched up high in a tree with nobody knowing I was there….until I had to sneeze. I thought Mike would pull out his knife and slit my throat if I dared sneeze one more time. Those of you who know Mike, know how seriously he takes his sport. God forbid I compromise the sanctity of his stand.

After the near passing out from hyperventilating passed, my sneezing settled down, all I had to do was try not to let the sweat pouring off of me make dripping sounds like a leaky faucet. I could only imagine what Mike would do. What was probably only 10 minutes felt like 30 to me, but then it started. The nudge on my arm from Mike and the pointing began. The deer were coming out to feed as I sat there totally in awe of what was before me. Sure, I had seen herds of antelope racing across plains before, met a bear outside of a bar in Glacier Park, Montana, met a rattlesnake up close and personal in Pima Canyon, Arizona, but never in my life had I saw such true forms of nature at its’ best. That evening we counted more than 60 deer come out to feed. The grace and beauty of these animals completely took me by surprise. Their interaction with one another was amazing to me….it was just like “Bambi” in real life. As a side note, my mother took me to see “Bambi” in the theater when I was quite young. I loved it until the fire scene, I cried hysterically and mom had to take us all out of the movie. To this day I have never seen the entire movie, nor did I buy it for my own child when she was young. Scarred me for life, but that is another blog all together!

I took a few pictures but soon found out the digital camera I had made too much noise and each time it chimed I again feared for my life. It was that “look” again…I never thought that “look” would ever scare me like those we got as kids in church, but that “look” from Mike….it ignites a very unsettling feeling in you. I thought for sure the end of our romance would come soon if I disappointed him in his environment. We spent hours just watching the deer frolic, eat, and socialize. It was quite relaxing and very refreshing to know such beauty exists all around us. To know our environment thrives from quality deer management and to actually see just what excites a hunter like Mike. All was right in the world.

Once all the deer left and the sun went down, only then could we retreat from our hiding perch and head back to civilization. Mike was excited, I was exhilarated, FINALLY, after a visit to his world……..and hey, no ticks!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!