Today is opening day of deer season in Ga. Thanks to a lot of help and support from good friends my ms did not keep me from missing probably my 35 year of hunting. But I must admit it did keep my in a chair on the ground instead of in a tree stand. With my legs occasionally collapsing and my balance issues in just sitting in peacefully loving being out here. Thanks to a food chair and my trusty atv in in my favorite spot doing what I love.
Hope everyone is having as good a day as me.
God bless. Donnie
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Doubled51
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Looks like a beautiful place to love. Sorry about your balance and leg stuff, but just breathing in that good air will pump you up. And looking at the picture sure has helped me smile! Thank you, Donnie, and keep up enjoying.
llia1392. First thing let me welcome you to the family. Though we are always sorry anyone is afflicted by ms we are glad you found us. I hope you find that we are an encouraging compassionate group of people. We have so many wonderful knowledgeable people here. We all have a common bond being we either live with ms personally or support someone living with this condition. We laugh together and we cry together to name a few. Feel free to ask questions or or offer your own experiences. We have so many good folks that someone has been where you are because our symptoms vary so greatly.
Thanks to fatigue and legs giving up on me I only got a few hours on this trip but it was worth it. Just to be there. But God willing ill be back out next weekend.
Doubled51 wow, that's such a blessing to still be apart of something you love, I hope everyone had a successful day, but please don't tell me how successful you all were, deers are such beautiful, graceful animals, I love watching them run across our fields. Blessings Jimeka 🦋 🌈 🦌
Well I had a beautiful morning in the woods before major fatigue set in in. Finally got so tired and weak I had to go home and crawl in bed for awhile. But it was a beautiful morning enjoying the beauty and quiet peace of nature along with the cool air. It was 50 degrees but sitting still it sure felt cooler tba that. @jimeka you'll be happy knowing no animals were harmed during this adventure. Haha. But God willing this was the first day of many to come if this old body allows.
It’s Good to hear you got to go hunting my husband brought me hunting for ducks 🦆 a very long time ago, before MS was in the picture. Well he didn’t get anything and never asked me again I kind of let the ducks know we were there oh not a good thing.
@ssdw. Haha. I bet he didn't ask you anymore. I've never been much of a duck hunter. Something about water and cold temperature just doesn't get me excited. Haha.
It was a short day due to ms but a short day in the woods is better than any day working. Haha.
I am very happy 😃 for you on your day hunting, sometimes it isn’t if you get anything it’s the thrill of being in the woods.
And yes I never have gone out hunting with him again.
I also don’t go fishing 🎣 Either because he had me paddling in the front of the Canoeing because I found out that he was trolling/fishing off the back of the canoeing 🛶
But I do like the ocean and we have found many places so that we Can sit and just watch the waves crashing in, he also says he it doesn’t matter what it is as long he spends time with me. I know it sounds boring for him but my sons who are 20 & 28 when they have the time he spends time with them.
Sswd1958. I took my son hunting the first time when he was 7. He will be 40 in DEC and my greatest joy in hunting is that we still spend the entire year planning our next hunting season. This will be 33 years and we both can't imagine hunting with anybody else. Ye had obligations with his son this weekend but he is my biggest supporter in my effort to keep my love of outdoors and hunting alive with the limitations ms has brought to my life. He said if he has to take a recliner to the woods for me he wiil have a place for me.this coming weekend we will be in the woods together. He lives in SC and I'm in Ga but he drives 100 miles back and forthvalmost every weekend to hunt with me.
Doubled51 Although I can’t relate to the love of hunting, I can hear the joy in your “voice” as you speak about it and I am so happy for you. 😀 It’s awesome too the way your son supports you in this passion. I love the idea of him taking you out in a recliner, or whatever it takes, to ensure that you get to be out there enjoying it! 💙
As for me, we have a friend of the family that is allowed to hunt in the woods behind our house (not my preference). I confess that I often try to make loud noises to scare off any would-be prey. I can’t help myself.
Nom_De_Plume you sound like my wife. After 40 + years of my my hunting she still thinks I'm nuts for sitting in a tree in freezing temperatures hoping to see something that in most cases is smarter than me.
Come to think of it I does sound a little crazy. Haha.
Honestly it's not all about how many or even if I see any deer. Its about being out doing something we enjoy and keeping alive love of the outdoors for future generations to enjoy. Much better than spending all their time playing games inside. Its been many years since I've taken a deer. Though over the years I have been very successful I've gotten much more selective.
Lol! 😂 I understand the arguments both for and against hunting, so I’m not judging it. I am personally faint of heart when it comes to that. I completely agree about the family bonding, tradition, and how much better it is to be outdoors enjoying nature and getting some fresh air than to be inside playing virtual games on a tv. It obviously gives you great pleasure and I am really happy for you that you can enjoy it, especially when MS takes so much away from us! I hope you get plenty of good weather days this season.🌞 God bless you, my friend!
Nom_De_Plume this ms monster with its fatigue weakness and balance are fighting me tooth and nail but I'm fighting with all my might not to let it win.Plus I just can't tolerate the cold like before so that's gonna make it that much harder. But til I can't take it any more ill keep pushing on. Lol. Now days good weather is over 50 degrees instead of below freezing. Lol.
Donnie, I am glad you had a good day because joy is always great, and I hope that you don't take this personally, and I am sorry, but I just have to say RUN, BAMBI, RUN! Wish you the best anyway. Sukie427
Sukie427 def don't take it personal. Lol. I'm the kind of Hunter that doesnt Hunt with the mindset that I always have to take every thing is see. I'm looking for a trophy. But I do love venison. Nothing goes to waste if I do..
My husband took our youngest son out not to far from our house there was a foot of snow on the ground my son was 4or5 years old my husband knew something was out in the woods come to find out it was a pack of coyotes well my husband had his gun in one hand and picked up our son in the other arm and quickly left the woods. They were fine thank goodness. My son is now 20 year old. It is amazing how many coyote packs are around our area. We live Northshore of Massachusetts.
ssdw1958 i have learned that they’re more afraid of us than we are of them. You just yell at them and they take off. Of course, they may be more aggressive in a pack. I didn’t know. I’m in eastern Massachusetts. 🙂
Nom_De_Plume , I was riding my horse in the national forest and all of a sudden a teenage coyote appeared and was basically playing with us. He didn't get close and neither my horse nor I panicked, and he ran away when we got to the next gate, but my horse refused ever to go through that first gate into the forest again unless he was with other horses! If you see a lone coyote, no problem, they are much more afraid of us than we are of them, but if you see a pack, watch out. The pack can be extremely aggressive, and I don't know if yelling at them will scare them away or make them charge. I have yet to encounter one and I hope I never do!
ssdw1958 the southeast United states is being overrun by coyote. They are devestaing to our deer population. An study in SC results showed that 60 percent of the deer fawns never reached 6 months of age. That's why there is open season on coyote year round. Last year on a Facebook group ga hunting and fishing. I think I saw more coyote killed than deer. They are epedimic levels to our wildlife.
In my area a lot of people about 15 years ago it started around here with the coyotes seeing them walking down the road during a snow and Neighbors missing there house cats we knew what got them if you know what I mean.
Doubled51 That is amazing. Yes, we had a ton of them around here this year. 🐺Peoples’ small pets would disappear. You could clearly hear a pack of them howling and crying when the local train sounded it’s horn. It was eerie. Right in the back yard sometimes. Turns out they’re chicken one-on-one, but I’ve never come face to face with a pack. Someone must have done something or have gone hunting because they are few and far between now. It’s much more peaceful around here! 😀
@nNom_De_Plume people we lease our land from raise cattle. He request us to come in and hunt them any chance we get because they kill calves as well as deer. I hear them regular when outside at home. But they are very smart animals. You hear but seldom see coyote.
Doubled51 Oh, haha, we must have the dumb variety around here then...I see them on the back deck, in the driveway, and in the yard! My folks have them at their house too. Dad was joking about putting up a "Coyote Crossing" street sign out front with Wile E. Coyote's face on it.
@Nom_De_Plume I wish our would get brave enough to come out. I would not have any compassion on a coyote. I would gladly shoot them on site. As I said before coyote season in Ga is open year round. I've only seen one while hunting my my son saw 5 last year but with a bow they are hard to hit. Lol.
Yooper I'll be out there as long as there's a way. So Nide and peaceful in he woods. Didn't make it to long this weekend but it's only the first weekend. Thanks for the encouraging words.
So Happy you got to spend time doing something you enjoy so much. I was born and raised in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.. I married a city boy so much of my time is dreaming of the old days. Never realized as kids how good it was. Had a river to fish from, crawdads to catch. A mountain right behind the house. We could play up there all day, parents never had to worry about us. I still love to go fishing, but these days it's gotten very expensive to just do "catch and release." Most nearby lakes, there is a vehicle entry fee, a person with a fishing license fee.. It's still fun to cast a line and get a bite.
It does cost a lot to do what you love to do my husband loves hunting but he works most weekends and in Massachusetts you can’t hunt on Sunday’s but I believe in N.H. you can That would cost a small fortune to hunt both states. It is crazy how everything costs so much.
Calfee I was born and raised in Saratoga, CA. When there was lot's of space between city's. On the weekends we were either at the delta water skiing or at the Sierra Nevada's snow skiing or hiking. I still get to look at those mountains a lot and then all I do is dream of the old days. It's a catch 22!!! Everything is too expensive now.
CalfeeChick those were the days. I was raised in a little country town called shakerag if that gives you any idea of how country it was. Playing in the woods all day hunting fishing with not a care in the world. Everybody knew us and watched out for us kids. I raised my kids the same way. Kids today don't know what they are missing. My great grandsons 8 and starting to get interested in hunting and fishing and God and health permitting he will learn and enjoy them like I have.
I taught my kids and as long as I'm able I will keep the tradition alive.
But you are right it is very expensive. My son's lives out of state and his hunting license cost over $300 a year. Then we pay $1500 a year for the property we lease for hunting. But it's worth every penny. Haha.
I just can't let the good old days die.
But in Ga when I turned 65 hunting and fishing license are free. One advantage of getting old. Lol.
I've often done well hunting on the ground back when balance was not an issue, remembering the time deer stopped at me sitting on a fallen log, in the path. They (2 does) were looking over my head to see what was down the trail, and the breath of one, fogging my glasses! Then I got scared, imagining getting kicked in the head when they eventually decided to jump over me to make their way! I gestured with a ahum...they finally realized! I have several amazing experiences on the ground during deer season.
To get in a tree, all you need is what I call a handicapped ladder stand. That's one with a means of holding on full time, including that point where you get to th top of the ladder and now have to get in your seat. There are a few. And, of course, use fall protection. You will be limited to the way your seated....but keeping still will equal out your chances with the typical stand hunter. The key is become a statue in the woods! PS, I learned to climb a ladder using my arms only when my legs essentially dangled years ago during a relapse. Don't give up because of your MS. If you still want to, you can!
MarkUpnorth in the last 35 years I have had so amazing stuff happen deer hunting also. To be so smart some of them are pretty dumb. Especially when the rut is on. When they get women on their mind they do some dumb stuff. Ive shot deer and one standing beside not even flinch.
I've had luck in the past hunting from chairs there's just something about sitting hours in a stand that gets me fired up. I just bought a new safety harness. This past weekend my son didn't get to go with me so I was just a little nervous being up there without my trusty sidekick. I had my nephew and great nephew hunting close by but just not the same. If something did happen I know my son could handle what ever came up. We've hunted together for 33 years so we even know how the other thinks. Last year I bought a very nice safe comfortable stand before I even thought about ms coming into my life. So God willing ill be in my deer stand this weekend. As long as my legs fit the seat on my trusty yamaha ill never give up. Ill not give up. Ms will not take that from me. Never give up is our motto.
Kevin_McMillan sorry you had to give it up. I can't imagine how hard it was. I'm truly blessed so far. Just being out there is a blessing. Best wishes to you.
I stumbled and fell a lot in the woods the last couple of years but had my first major flare in April. But so far I've fallen on soft stuff in the woods and hurt nothing but my feelings and my pride.
Thank you Doubled51, it has been really hard! I quit going when my Dad passed, which makes it even harder.
I'm glad you are going and enjoying yourself but I'm sorry you are falling a lot, good thing for the soft ground! I'll pray you have many more years to hunt.
Kevin_McMillan thanks. I'm not doing the best that I've ever done but still trying. My 8 year old great grandson asked to go hunting with me this weekend so how can I turn him down. Haha. Best of wishes to you.
Doubled51 it is great that you are still doing things you enjoy! How could you possibly turn down your 8yr old grand son anyway...😉 that would be tough huh! You are awesome Donnie! Best wishes to you too!
@KevinKevin_McMillan well Kevin his first hunting experience lasted 35 mins. Haha. He was ready to go because we hadn't seen any deer yet. But his camo wardrobe is ready now when he's ready to go again. Haha. But it was good just having a kid in the woods instead of sitting in the house on a video game. We had a ball.
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