Time to take back our hunting rights!

While standing and chatting with my hunting buddy at our parked cars along the foothills of the National Forest, embolden local residents stopped to log my license plate number and report my presence to the local sheriff's department.  Less than 15 minutes later a sheriff's deputy arrived.  The female officer indicated that the department received a report that hunters were in the area and requested to see our hunting permits.  Mind you, my buddy and I were standing at our vehicles without weapons visible.  The Sheriff's department was already aware that it is hunting season.  In many places, hunters wear camouflage clothing to mask their appearance from the animals.

Since my buddy and I were simply standing and talking, I informed the deputy that the permits we hold are valid for hunting, not standing and talking on public lands.  She indicated that she wanted to check the permits in the event we went hunting later.  I asked if she stopped individuals standing and talking in the park and request a valid driver's license in the event they decided to drive later.  Requesting my hunting permit when I'm not hunting is just as ridiculous as requesting my driver's license when I'm not driving.  The deputy repeated that she had the responsibility to investigate the incident because of the call into the office.  We provided her with the information requested and she politely acknowledged that she understood why we were less than thrilled with her presence.  She indicated that the department receives many calls from local residents during the hunting season reporting the presence of hunters in the area.  I'd hate to be the resident needing immediate assistant to only find out the deputy was dispatched to investigate the presence of a hunter in the National Forest hunting area during hunting season wearing hunting attire.  Time for communication...

2013-2014 Deer Season is Now Open

Deer camp opens on Thursday, 9/5/13.  It's meet-up time in Cleveland National Forest for the five guys, plus my eight year old son Gabriel, who will be at deer camp this year.  There's David, Jon, Dane, Toby and myself.  I met David and Jon while shooting at the archery tournaments during the off-season.  Both shoot traditional bows.  I enjoy shooting with David and his family.  For that matter, I also enjoy shooting with Jon and his family.  Jon is a very good shot and a fun person.  I reserved a spot at the same campsite we stayed at last year.

I created an organizational chart for this year's deer camp.  Last year was great, but we ended up with lots of the same things.  This was wasteful.  I'd like to assign specific items to each of us so that we don't bring too many of the same things, and not enough of other things. I'll try to insert or attach the final chart to this blog.g.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of last year's deer camp was the food and meals we shared.  David introduced most of us to the Scotch Eggs that Rebecca made for camp.  They were a great fast and efficient breakfast.  You have the hard boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and bread crumbs -- a complete breakfast.  The dinner made by Manuel and Froilan were legendary.  Manuel brought the private wwreserv e wine and Froilan cooked the hell out of the Filet Mignon.&nbspi; The gourmet desert topped off a meal to remember. Ok, but this year we got Toby. Toby is one of the main reasons that I still hunt. We have hunted every year together since we met in 1995-96. Toby can cook...and he can also eat.. but boy can he burn. He watches the Cooking Network as much as Lauryn. I don' t think we need worry about our culinary well being. Toby won't act as though he wants to invole himselc too much, but he can't stand watching things being done incorrectly or at a lower standandard than he is accustomed. He'll pitch in for sure.