Its here, its here! Its finally here ! - The RIFLE HUNT

Just finished checking my trail cameras after being away for a couple of weeks. Lots of deer pictures. Really looking forward to my 2nd year of deer hunting. Good luck everyone!
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Good luck and play safe..It is not looking good for me to make it to the camp this year but my heart will be there listening to the hounds open up on that first frosty morning. That to me is deer hunting. Dutch

One more day of work!!

This just happened to come across my desk today. I thought it was quite well written and worth sharing. Good luck to all.

HUNTERS ARE THE WITNESSES OF THE WILD.
OUR PASSION DRIVES US TO RISE EARLY IN THE COLD DARK HOURS OF THE DAWN AND TO TRAVEL MANY MILES TO LOSE OURSELVES IN FAVOURITE LANDSCAPES, THE ONES THAT RESONATE IN OUR SOULS.
WE MAY GO WITH FRIENDS OR... FAMILY BUT AT SOME POINT WE END UP ALONE, MOVING QUIETLY, TOTALLY INVOLVED WITH THE BREEZE, THE UNDERGROWTH, THE HIDDEN PLACES IN THE VEGETATION AND THE VAST, OVER ARCHING SKY.
WE BECOME PREDATORS, AND THUS ONE WITH THE ECOSYSTEM - NO LONGER CASUAL OBSERVERS, BUT FULL PARTICIPANTS. WE ARE THERE, WHOLLY AND COMPLETELY, AND OPEN TO WHAT WILL COME.
AND SO IT IS THAT WE SOMETIMES COME HOME FOR THE FINAL TIME AT SEASON’S END WITH OUR TAGS UNFILLED, BUT OUR HEARTS OVERFLOWING. A SUCCESSFUL HUNT DOES NOT REQUIRE A KILL, ONLY THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE. IT IS THAT POSSIBILITY THAT PLACES US OUT IN THE HEART OF THE LIVING WORLD WHERE WOLVES TROT CASUALLY OVER THE ALPINE RIDGES, SMALL BIRDS DRAG THE SUNRISE INTO THE WIND AND BIGHORN SHEEP SURVEY THE WILDERNESS FROM HOLLOWED OUT BEDS ON HIGH TALUS SLOPES.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHAT THOSE WHO DO NOT HUNT CANNOT UNDERSTAND, BUT IT IS NOT THE KILL THAT MAKES US HUNTERS. IT IS THE WITNESSING, THE BEING THERE, AND THOSE INTIMATE MOMENTS OF DISCOVERY WHEN THE LIVING WORLD REVEALS ITSELF TO THOSE WHO WORK SO HARD TO FIND IT.
THAT IS WHY WE WILL BE THERE AGAIN IN THE COLD AND THE RAIN AND THE SNOW, WORKING HARD TO PENETRATE TO THE MOST SECRET OF WILD PLACES AGAIN NEXT SEASON. BECAUSE AT THE HEART OF IT, WE ARE NOT SEEKING DEATH. WE ARE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN, AND CELEBRATING, THE INCREDIBLE RICHNESS OF LIFE.
THAT IS AT THE HEART OF WHY WE HUNT.

I'm as excited as a 13-year old girl at a Taylor Swift concert!

Here are some pics from 2014 to get y'all in the mood...

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...psc157e09f.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps892cd355.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps748fd290.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps185fbb4d.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuart22

This is our 105 th year at Middlebranch Hunt Camp, WMU 63A.

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105 years wow! Tell us some more about the history and the events that have happened over the years!

Beauty pics NP - especially the hound and deer under the tree.

Great pics .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuart22

Two weeks at the camp, hounds are ready to rock and roll. We only have two doe tags for 14 guys!!!!!!! We had 7 last year and left 3 on the table by intention. Weather looks great. This is our 105 th year at Middlebranch Hunt Camp, WMU 63A.
Have fun, play safe and enjoy the hunt and your neighbours. We are all in this together.

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Excellent! Our 97th year at our WMU 47 hunt club.

Good luck everyone! Just finishing up my packing and leaving this afternoon. I might throw a pair of shorts in with my clothes.