Lots of times deer hunters will get up long before daylight, so they can make it into the woods in plenty of time to be settled and still when the sun comes up. Anytime you hunt from a stand, this is a good idea. That way the noise you make getting to your stand will be forgotten. This is good in case deer had been bedded down close to where the stand is.
But many times, hunters can face other challenges long before they reach their tree stands. One of these challenges, is escaping from the house without waking anyone. Making a quiet exit can be a real trial. I have attempted this many times, only to trip over a dyson all floors vacuum that my mother left out, and dropping my gear all over the room. The noise was earth shattering.
I have just stood up out of my bed, still about half asleep, and knocked over my alvarez acoustic guitar, and the sound from that would wake the dead. I could hear mumbling from other rooms as I picked it up and put it back in its place. Sometimes, the whole day just starts off wrong. Very seldom have I ever made a totally quiet exit. But the few times I did, I was very proud.
All these happenings would ultimately lead to me running late. Once I managed to get the last light turned off, and get out the door, I knew I would have to make up lost time. I checked my old worn leather watch to estimate how fast I was going to drive in order to arrive at my spot at the desired time. I would toss my gear in the seat, and hammer down to my destination.
After finally arriving at the right spot, I checked the time once again. I had gained some of the time back, but still needed to hurry to my stand and get situated. I had a few tricks for hurry-up times, and was soon on my way, flashlight in hand, along the path to my stand. I made good time through the woods to where I climbed up into the stand.
I checked my watch again once I was securely in my stand. I had managed to make up for the lost time inside the house. I thought about how clumsy I had been trying to slip out of the house quietly. Before I knew it, I was laughing out loud at myself, and feeling sorry for the others who had to go to work, and lost out on precious sleep.
It was hours later that I realized that my giggling was the only enjoyment I was going to get for my efforts today. I never saw the first deer, and all I ended up with was a cold nose and cold feet, and a hungry belly. I still had to laugh. I was seriously considering beginning my hunting around noon from now on, and letting this early stuff go. But I found that hunting really can be funny sometimes.
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