The Great Shutout of 2005

by Dan Buckley

Any luck this year? Yeah? That's great. Hope you're happy with your meat in the freezer. Did you go out much? The usual huh? Yes, I sat out a lot too.

This year I'm sad to say brought me no great stories and no big trophies. All I have in the freezer are the remnants of last year's buck. Though its not completely over yet, I own no black powder gun and would have to borrow one to scrounge a last hunt or two. This will more than likely be my first season without a deer since I began hunting. Its somewhat of a humbling experience I'd have to say.

I came close though. On more than one occasion I had my chance at a nice buck or doe. The memories of how I lost out will stick with me long into next year. I can only hope that the shutout won't play games with my head as I draw back my bow next year. The first experience I had was on opening day of archery this year. A buck caught me in mid draw. Turns out he would be the best opportunity I would have all season. The next time an 8pt. jogged nearly under my stand following a doe and fawn. He caught my silouette and took another route. Lastly, a doe jogged by me on opening day of rifle season. When I put my open sights on her, she took off again leaving me with a less than desirable shot.

Yes, the sick feelings these experience left me with had me doubting my skills as a hunter. I keep thinking "A lot of good women and men go a season without a deer once in a while right? Right?" Maybe they just don't talk much about it. Or I can tell myself "It just goes to show how whitetail are an elusive and intelligent animal, and the fact that so many people get deer is mainly due to the size of the deer population." You have to respect the whitetail. As an excuse though, most hunters aren't going to buy it. So maybe I'm just lying to myself.

A guy I know comes to mind though. He's a senior in college who started hunting three years ago now. A friend of his sold him a used bow fairly cheap and he fell in love with the sport immediately. After three years though, still he's never got a deer with it. I'm not saying he's never got a deer in archery season either. He never hunted before getting this bow and he's never got a deer period. I worried about it a little at first. I would think "Man, I hope he gets one this year or he's probably going to lose interest in the sport." Nope. The guy still goes out and sits on state or a friend's land. He just loves the experience. What a guy.

So this year, regardless of what happens in the waning hours of black powder season, I'm still every bit as much a hunter deer or no deer. Its the thought of what a great experience hunting is which will keep me. Its the thought of the someone who hasn't even tagged a deer and still goes and sits. That is the kind of person who gives hunters a good reputation. That is the throwback to hunters of years gone by who didn't get caught up in the trophy hunting propaganda. To be a lover of the outdoors is a respectable thing in and of itself. I'll keep putting time in the woods and I'll take the harrassment. To all you who participated in "The Great Shutout of 2005" this year, God bless - you are not alone.