Oh Deer!

[Jen528]

Bright and early this morning, when the sun was slowly coming up over the horizon, I was just starting to get out of bed!  LOL!  Anyway, as I was making my much-needed pot of coffee, I closed my eyes and imagined shots ringing out and the joyous shouts of the mighty hunters congratulating one another!  Today is the first day of Rifle Season and my beloved, the mighty hunter, is among the many out there waiting for the next big buck!  As he left last night to make the 1 hour trek to our leased cabin, I wished him luck and told him I would keep my fingers crossed that he would get the buck he's been dreaming of since he was a small child and I meant it.  Venison is one of my favorite meats and not only is hunting something our entire family enjoys, it brings cheap meat to our dinner table.  So, when he left last night, he mentioned that he would love for me to be by his side and maybe, after the first of the year when Doe season starts, we could find someone to watch the kids for a few days so I could join him. Well, as the evening went by and I had time for some quiet contemplation, I realized that I really enjoy being the hunter's wife, but I don't know how I would feel to actually be the hunter. 

Yesterday was actually quite enjoyable to me.  I ran all the errands he needed done before he left.  I washed all his hunting gear and made sure it was packed the way he liked it.  I cooked up some dinners so that all they had to do was heat up supper and I baked several goodies to satisfy that occasional sweet tooth he gets.  I called and reminded him to get the deer tags (which was a good thing, because he got busy at work and almost forgot.)  All in all, I knew by the time he got off work, he would be ready to go cabin and it was due to my efforts.  I take pleasure in anticipating my man's needs and he is very thankful.  After he left, I found a note on the counter he wrote telling my how appreciative he is and that he doesn't know what he would do without me.  It made me feel very warm inside, knowing that he appreciates what I do for him and to say the least, I was very proud of myself. Not to be a braggart, but I think I make a pretty good Hunter's Wife.  I don't even complain when we have to spend days butchering the meat ourselves.  LOL!

As for becoming a hunter, I don't know.  I have never shot and killed anything in my life.  Don't get me wrong, we own guns and we like to spend time shooting clay pigeons or just plain target shooting.  Other than our youngest, the older kids have their own rifles and my son has a shotgun.  In general, we are very respectful and responsible when it comes to guns and as a whole, we all are fairly decent shots.  Plus, it's an activity that we do as a family. But, I honestly don't know how I would feel shooting an animal.  Would I be happy, ecstatic, victorious, sad, overwhelmed, sick? 

My sister-in-law who is a few years younger than myself is an avid hunter and I am just in awe.  Last year, she went to the cabin by herself, which is basically in the middle of nowhere with no amenities and no signal for a cell phone.  She killed a gigantic buck, loaded it herself, hung it to bleed out, gutted it, skinned it and all the other stuff they have to do - all by herself.  Now this woman barely weighed 120 pounds and only stands 5' 6".  I liked her from the moment I met her, but after last year, I have the utmost respect for her.  To me she is so brave and strong and when you bring it up, she acts like it was no big deal.  Wow!  Could I do that?  My husband tells me my day will come, but that may be the day I just have to tell him that I will leave the hunting up to him.  It's not that I feel as though I am unable to do it, I just don't know if it is something I want to do.  Maybe I just need to go with him once and see how it feels.  Yes, that is probably what I will do.  But to tell you the truth, I will be the one shaking in my boots, not the deer!  LOL!

 

[princess_pip25]

Dec. 9, 2008 at 4:12 PM

The more I read your posts...the more I come to realize that we are a lot alike........we both have come out of horrible relationships....we both are have our dream man.....just like a fairy tale........

After reading this one I had to comment.......growing up..my dad and my brothers always hunted...of course I was the only girl..and then girls just didn't seem to want to do that...back then I don't think I could have went.......after meeting my dream guy..I found out he was an avid hunter....he loves hunting pretty much everything....from squirels, to deer to coyotes..........he even travels to Canada about every other year for a week of hunting...........well this Spring......my ex had the kids..it was his weekend...andit happened to be Spring gobbler season....not wanting to stay at home by myself all day....I decided to go out in the woods with him...kinda tag along to see what this was all about..........well that day..he was able to call in a gobbler.....as I sat there and watched it and waited for him to shoot......I couldn't help but watch the turkey and get excited my own self........unfortunately he missed the turkey.........but I loved it......

He then started to talk to me about maybe going deer hunting with him....I wasn't sure...I never even fired a gun...finally I decided I would go.....not just for the experience..but because I got to spend time with him doing what he loved..........I didn't get to go out the first day...but I did the second.......we started treking through the woods as quietly as we could....after walking quite  a ways..he decided we should take a break and have a little snack........as we are sitting there I see a buck down behind him...he tells me to grab my gun..as I sit there it comes into view......so I line up on it and I shoot.......I wasn't entirely sure if I had hit it..so we walked down to where we though it was..and found that I indeed had......I was so excited.....I was shaking......unfortuanetly we was not able to find that deer...but the excitment of it...was so awesome...so I say...go out with your husband and tag along into the woods.......hopefully he will be able to have soemthing to come in....and you will get to see how exciting it can be.........

[LavenderMom23]

Dec. 19, 2008 at 11:50 AM

I'm so glad that you are happy being a hunter's wife. You're tougher then me. I can eat bambie, but I don't think I could see him die.