ND Live Fishing Reports

Fishing reports are updated every Friday and follow the ND Live radio program heard throughout North Dakota

Greg Schoneck

I had hoped . . . .

Thousands of shots. Day in day out he would never tire. Stick and string in hand, stalking the next target. Master Hunter at age 8, the land he hunted included the entire outer reaches of our backyard.

Jesse shot his first buck at age 10 from a tree stand. That was five years back and he has been lucky enough to get a deer every year since. Normally that means some pretty cold weather hunting. This year was to be different for us. His younger brother Levi already scored on a great buck and his first bear. The pressure is on.

Levi was first to bat this year with a velvet buck in mind, a split brow tine 4 point.  We tried to get out early in the season but wind would not cooperate. Sept 6^th came and with it the right wind.  First night in the blind Levi gets his deer. Only problem, it was the wrong deer. Turns out the velvet 4 point I was hoping for comes by and Levi is still smiling.

That leaves the split brow tine buck for Levi’s older brother Jesse. You have to know Jesse to understand. It has to be right, everything in order, as HE needs it to be. He wasn’t jumping in his boots, running out the door and wait’n in the truck when his turn came up. We looked at the trail camera pictures once more and I finally convinced him. If he didn’t want it I certainly did.

I like sitting in the blind but I also like some entertainment. I don’t require much; few birds, squirrel or two and a flock of geese going over will keep me smiling. Our first night was a no show, not a deer. The evening could be summed up in three words. I had hoped. The summary for way too many hunts. The summary for too much of life.

We try not to over hunt a location. It’s tuff to find a balance and there is no formula. Each area is different and each deer is unique. For now we had the buck right where we wanted him. If we didn’t make our move things could change. If we push too hard things could change. I normally hold back but next good wind we were back in the blind.

Our second night in the blind and another no show. I always worry that I’m unzipping the blind as Mr. Buck is sneaking by. The uncertainty of what is going on just out of sight keeps me wondering. Did I spook the buck, unaware he was watching us leave?  Once in a while if it doesn’t feel right, I will clear out before shooting light is over. Making my escape before it’s too dark to see.

The trail camera showed he was still moving through but not as regular as earlier in the season. In fact for a week he was nowhere to be seen. Someone get him? Did we blow it and push him out? Then he was back and so were we. Good wind out of the North West and even a little front to go with it.

I like wind when I hunt. Not tree bending; blind shaking gale force, but a good steady 15 is perfect. Maybe it’s just me but when clouds are sailing, leaves are rattling, grass is moving, and tree branches are waving I figure I got an advantage. Seems deer have a harder time picking up my movement.

Jesse is dressed in black to help with the movement thing. We don’t use a screen on our blinds and we keep’m pretty open so we can see. More light gets in but so far it has been working for us. A coon is moving off to our left and I have the camera on him getting some video. That’s when I feel the slow, gentle pressure of Jesse’s hand. Code for BUCK!

I get the camera swung over just as the split brow tine buck comes into view. It can’t happen better. Broadside, slow walk, 20 yards, stops in the perfect spot. I whisper, “Can you take him?” Crack, deer down. At my introduction to archery a seasoned hunter told me, “If you hunt, sooner or later you’re going to make a bad shot.” Sure enough I have. Today is Jesse’s turn.

Great deer, great hunt, but the not so perfect shot has stolen much of the joy. I can see it in his face.  Six weeks have passed since and still Jesse doesn’t like watching the video as the buck stiffens and drops. I understand. I shot a buck once straight down, thru the spine. I’ll admit I would rather not. You practice, train, tune equipment, make adjustments all to keep this from happening.

Hunting is just like everything else in life. Mistakes are going to be made. Consequences will come like it or not. Sometimes they are the result of our own doing. Other times they are the result of someone else, but come they will. It’s the pain, the disappointment I’d rather pass on. As a Dad I’d prefer my kids get a free ticket as well.

Reality is, most, no make that all, of the really good lessons in my life have been the result of negative experiences. They seem to stick, teach me things that last. I don’t like the painful lessons but looking back I generally like the results as seen from the perspective of time. Perhaps it’s been similar for you.

Jesse got his deer, lost some joy to a spine shot, is learning about life and will continue to hunt. He can let it chew at his insides or let it be ok and move on as best he can. Likely it will be a mixture of both. More difficult for a perfectionist, I otta know, but still doable.

I had hoped. . .

Remember fishing is a learned sport. More you practice the better you get, so better get fishing!

Greg Schoneck for ND Live