You know how when you talk about something you jinx it so that it happens? Well, I need that something to happen in a big way. That’s how desperate I am to get on the other side if this…..thing.

That’s how last week’s column started. In review, it was all about jinxing the warm weather in hopes that some cooler hunting weather would arrive and soon. In other words: from Dave’s keyboard to Mother Nature’s ears, my prayers were answered and cooler weather arrived. Now I didn’t want any Polar Plunge weather, I just wanted it seasonal enough to make bowhunting tolerable and enjoyable plus it would get rid of those pesky black gnats.

When the first cool day arrived, I did indeed head to the woods. There is something about that first bowhunt that ignites a spark inside. I checked the ten-day forecast option on my weather app so often that I should have made it my screen saver. With the cooler weather, the bowhunting season quickly becomes my outdoor pursuit of choice while fishing takes up smaller chunks of my outdoor time.

I could easily write a couple paragraphs just about the sights and sounds of a bowhunting afternoon in the woods. Listening to the crows, squirrels, gusts of wind, the occasional pheasant, a far-away honking goose, and then throw in the peak leaf sights, makes for an awesome time, but when I’m on the first bow hunt of the year I’m looking for the first deer sighting. That happened at 5:21 p.m.

For me, seeing the first deer is confirmation that I put the stand in the right spot and I picked the right wind conditions to sit in. It didn’t matter that the deer was a yearling followed closely by its identical twin. Neither were obviously on my hit list but maybe if a big mature doe came along I’d take the chance to put some venison in the freezer.  

Right on cue a big doe stepped into the field and the entire deer family grazed in front of me. They stayed far enough away to avoid me becoming a serious threat but close enough to provide entertainment. The young twins gallivanted around and occasionally stopped to browse on the green alfalfa. The big doe was all business, using the late afternoon to load up on the greens before another round of frost zapped more protein out of the crop.

The only thing missing from my first afternoon hunt was a buck sighting but that wasn’t necessary for me to consider the night a success. I had already penciled in a “W” when the three deer stepped into the field. I can wait for a buck. That can come later. I don’t mind sitting out in the woods, just being there. Then again, I don’t want to be sitting out there when the snow flies…still waiting for that buck.

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal