Leading up to Gun Deer Season

 Everything is set for the 'invasion' of the woods tomorrow morning. Our little farm is 25 acres of deep forest with a small meadow. Our property is 500 feet wide and a half mile long with steep terrain and a small creek in the middle of it.

My neighbor to the west sometimes hunts or will allow some other folks to hunt on his land. He always takes them along our fence line and shows them where NOT to hunt or shoot. He is a wonderful neighbor and is always very conscious of our animals and land.

During gun deer season the normally abandoned 600+ acres of land to the east of us is inundated with hunters. Some are from the family that owns the Estate and some are friends of friends of friends who are invited to hunt the BIG hunt. In many years past we've had folks drive down our driveway to our house thinking they could just use our drive to get to the neighbor's land. We've used do not trespass signs, and for years we put a chain across our driveway to keep the riff raff out.

Many years ago a bunch of walking hunters with guns decided to walk through our yard thinking they were still on the neighbor's land. My husband who is a Vietnam Veteran did not take kindly to that.

However. That all said.
In 30 years we have not had a mishap other than a bullet from a hunter hitting the tree that hubby was sitting in.

Thus...
I am forbidden to walk in our woods for NINE DAYS. Can you imagine me getting sidelined like that???

Actually this nine days is always set aside for a deep house cleaning and reorganization of the junk in the basement which includes purging.

So this is where I have been sitting for many mornings with a camera to watch the antics of our local deer.

Just over the thermos, you can see my little 'hut' which looks in a western direction into the woods.

My mules generally stand nearby waiting to catch the morning sunlight.

The view from my little 'stand' which is only about 6 feet off the ground. I can get a pretty nice view of the meadow that is east of us. 

I won't be in either of these places while the big hunt is on. 

I may do a more traditional female thing when I am bored of cleaning house. I may go and visit some of the craft fairs that will be happening locally.

Some photos from this week's sittings at my look out spot:

This little buck had been chasing little doe yearlings....

Yearlings in the early morning...

Random shots from this week:

So from this afternoon until the evening of the 26th, I most likely won't be sitting out in my little place or wandering the woods.

It will be some sort of torture for me. However, the house should get cleaned, organized, and we should enjoy watching the birds at the feeders.

I think there will be some Lego play involved too. We have a Christmas Village to complete!

The Day Before Deer Hunting...

...and all through the house it was quiet...
...you could even hear the ol' fella snoring...
...dreaming of BIG Bucks 
...he dreamt of big Antlers
...a prize winning trophy
...such as never seen before...

...bold and beautiful
...handsome and strutting.

Yeah, then I woke up the great hunter and asked if he wanted some coffee.  He said I ruined his beautiful dream.
But we had animals to move closer to the buildings and chores to do, tree stands to check on, and last minute preparations for the annual WI 9 Day Gun Season.

The first few days I don't like to go outside much.  Too many anxious hunters in the surrounding woods looking to shoot anything that 'sounds' like a deer.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against deer harvest.  I like venison.  I have issues with those hunters who just shoot and wound and don't bother finding their deer.

Tomorrow is opening day.  Blaze Orange will be the outfit of choice.