Well my bow season is essentially over, while it doesnt officially end unil Jan 1, work etc between now and then means its over for me. Nothing fell to my arrows this season, but many close encounters were had. I could gripe about getting skunked, but that would be an injustice to the many days spent in the woods, the new adventures, and hunts at familiar haunts. Every day I can spend in the woods with my Thunderstick in hand is a good day.
But now I look forward to the winter season of spending evenings down in the basement in my hideaway work shop.
Tonight I put a coat of stain on the first of several dozen arrows I'll build during arrow season. Crown paint, cresting, feathers to grind, fletching them up, the smell of burnt feathers and Duco, tinkering, and of course winter indoor family archery league in the basement.
Perhaps I'll tinker with trying something new. I have a couple deer hides I want to attempt to brain tan, and a box of deerskin that really wants to become a buckskin shirt.
While digging around, I was thrilled to find a box of my old Fred Bear videos. As I wiped stain on each shaft, I watched again the Restless Spirit video, my favorite of Fred's movies.
I daydream of another adventure in a far away place.
Thats the beauty of traditional archery, I pity those who only know archery starting a week before the season, and never touch their bow until then. They are truly missing out.....
sometimes the planning for the future hunt can be better than the hunt!
Before "Primal Dreams", the "Restless Spirit" was my favorite video. Still is if you figure in the nostalgia factor. Just the sound of the soundtrack and the narration of "What is a bowhunter..." gets those nostalgic juices flowing.
I've had years like your's, myself, and you're right on in your assessment. And the "Restless Spirit" really helps one look back and appreciate it all.
Now put on Primal Dreams, and start the whole planning for next year.
me too, but then I have the TBG hunt Jan 8-10... Any of you BAMA hunters need some company in camp???
Fred Asbell wrote and article in the Dec/Jan issue of Tradbow that touched on the immense enjoyment of planning. It is a great article worth the read! Like you and Fred, I find great enjoyment in the preparation... tuning bows, sharpening broadheads, string making, etc...
I too find many more gifts from God in the woods beside venison. My friends hunt all three seasons and have thinned the herd a bit this year, so I, as well, may be hitting them up for meat! I have 2 days left in CT and plan to be out today and tomorrow. I did see a herd of does last week move through about 70 yds from my stand position... so I plan to move on up today and see what the good Lord has for me... it may be just the peace of sitting in a tree, blue sky above, listen to the geese land on the near by pond... or it may be backstrap... either way, neither I nor my family will starve and time in the woods always suffices to purges the ills of the world.