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| October sunrise over the barn |
It
has been a beautifully warm fall in our region, but highs at 80+ this time
of year bring drawbacks. Lows have been in the 40s and 50s – no frost. The lack
of precipitation means the fire danger remains high and some hunting areas are
closed for that reason. Pesky insects abound. And for hunters, the preservation of meat in the field is difficult.
“This
is the last day I’m getting up early for a while,” a weary Mike announced as he
dressed in the dark at 5:45 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 17), the third day in a
row he had gotten up before dawn in order to hunt deer.
Mike
doesn’t really enjoy deer hunting. He’d rather take his shotgun, a dog (or
two), and hike several miles in quest of game birds than sneak up on a deer. Be
that as it may, every year he buys a deer tag.
Saturday
he got a good-sized doe. He was back at the house to get the 4-wheeler and an
assistant (me) about 7:30. As we rode out, Bess ran along with us. Nellie
appeared interested, but I thought she would stay in the yard. Beyond the pond
we went, down into Stove Creek where the plum trees grow, through the CRP, and
up into the field. Bess stayed right with us, but before long elderly Nellie ambled
up. I suspect she knew what was up and wanted to participate. 
We
loaded the 4-wheeler, and the cargo usurped my place, so I walked back to the
house – probably half a mile. Preparing the meat is a distasteful task, but it
has to be done, and I had to be the assistant. As we worked at the maple tree with
eastern exposure, I was amazed at how quickly it became warm in the sun.
The yellow-jackets were upon us immediately.
“It’s
going to be hot out here today,” I observed, meaning that we couldn't leave the
meat hanging in the sun. The
closest meat-packing plant is actually in Clarkston where we also reside. I thought we should leave soon.
But—we
weren’t quite ready. Mike says that if that beautiful fallen pine tree
has to go for firewood, he’ll take ours first, and with this stay at the farm he
began to saw it up. It’s hard work, so he paces himself, and he had some cutting
he wanted to do before we left. But, as the morning progressed, we knew we had
to get that meat to the plant -- and soon.
After
lunch we packed quickly. We didn’t have room for everything we usually take,
but I made sure my electronics satchel got into the pick-up. We hardly left behind
anything we needed – just Mike’s billfold. KW
7 comments:
Maybe someone will find the billfold 50 years later. I really suspect he knows where it is and he will have it back, and soon.
Hmmm...probably not going to readily volunteer to eat the meat that sat in the sun for several hours. Ick!
Hi Chuck! Yes, Mike knows where his billfold is. And anyway, it would never be as interesting as the one you lost -- no pictures.
Hi Hallie! The meat didn't sit in the sun all that long. We did our best to protect it. And you would never volunteer to eat it anyway.
Ha! True. :)
I figured you (and others) wouldn't care to hear the details. It involved parking the pick-up in the shade and using ice.
Hallie and Kathy, you two are cracking me up tonight!! Or maybe I'm just tired from driving... At any rate, congratulations to Mike, who can now sleep in with a clear conscience. :-)
Nice to hear you're home, Chris. We actually drew a second deer tag this year, but Mike hopes Clint will join him in that hunt. It's better with a couple of guys. I definitely prefer it!
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