[bowjunkie]

Bobster....NOPE...I had to change the hunt dates till the rut (not a bad thing) I leave in the morning to go to Tulsa, so I had to reschedule at Brushy Hill. I had an invite to go to SP!KES farm in Chester, but due to short notice, went to the SHNF instead for my ritual opener, should of gone to SP!KES since he shot that doe out of MY stand 8) (J/K) I'm buying the brisket and ribs for next weekend Sp!ke!.

Hunted the opening morning and saw a doe and two first year deer (no spots, guess you could call them fawns?) with her....but no shot and would not have taken it if I could. Had a big boar(?) hog growling at me at 6am in the dark while I was pullin on the headnet (SKEETERS WERE BAD!) Never saw him but the ground at first light showed it to be torn up under the Pin Oaks.

Wife and kids came up Saturday afternoon as did LAWDOG and after we all visited etc....it was too late to go out for the evening hunt...I blame it on Lawdog...LOL (Good seeing ya Brother!!) Slept in Sunday morn and ate a good breakfast with the family, went hiking, played monopoly in camp and then went out for the hunt last night. Had three mature does work into the Pin Oaks/American Beauty Berry bushes I was hunting and just as I was drawing... the forkhorn I did not see snorted from a few yards behind me and the gig was up....HAHA! Ol tinitis in both ears from them shotgun blasts in the duck blinds all them years caught up with me....need to either get a Walkers game ear or hearing aid! :? Soooooo close! LOL...I had a blast and almost could not keep from laughing when that buck nailed my a$$, actually startled me pretty good as I was concentrating on them does pretty hard....good thing it wasn't Bigfoot! 8)

Sooooooo there is always another day and even though I did not get to go to Brushy, or to Sp!kes...I had an awesome time. I introduced Chris S. from the Bowsite (just moved here from Oklahoma and has lurked the site here) to the Forest and we fellowshipped and he was in a good stand with lots of sign. He only hunted Saturday morn, but we got to drive some roads together and have some good bowhunter fellowship Friday and Saturday middady.....it was a true pleasure brother!.

I camped with my family, enjoyed a night around a fire with my children and wife eating 'smores' and naming the constellations in the clear night sky that is not possible in Houston. Had my 4 year old son crawl into the sleeping bag with DAD after the Coyotes started howling cause he thought they were 'monsters'. Took a hike on the hikers trail with them and saw a raccoon, squirrels and an onery opossum :wink: I camped with my family last years opening weekend and may make it a tradition as I truly enjoyed the 'sacrifice' that was not much of a sacrifice....I liked it! Ashlee will gun hunt the youth weekend and during the General Season I look forward to when Gavin can do the same and when they both can pull the 40#'s required to hunt with a bow.

I think maybe I am tired of the "killing" and have begun to relish in the little moments that make me feel complete as a 'hunter'....The enjoyment I get from the joy on my families faces or the satisfaction from introducing someone to the joys of Texas hunting is outweighing the satisfaction I got from the "thrill of the kill".....I finally completed the journey. Thanks Grandpa!