Tuesday, January 25, 2011

WE are Going to DIE!

On this particular outing, the DDH and I were to attempt the most complicated of outdoor endeavors the dreaded late night/early morning coyote hunt combined with almost a complete day of ice fishing. While this would be a colossal task, for even the most die hard outdoorsmen, minus17 degree F temperatures kept us constantly watchful for frostbite and the onset of hypothermia, hampering our monumental efforts. At the conclusion of the two days we were rewarded by a ice fishing flag, a short salmon and some blood curdling late night coyote hunting.

The full moon cast eerie shadows throughout the woodlands making my eyes swear they could see movement even when there was none. After 15 minutes of sitting on a granite shelf on the edge of a frozen swamp, the sounds of wounded snowshoe rabbit, blasting on the electronic call, had a chorus of several excited song dogs wailing LOUDLY west of our position. A concerned DDH, slowly turned his head in my direction and whispered "WE are going to DIE!" This was soon followed by a remark inquiring on how many rounds of ammunition I had decided to bring and how fast I thought I could work a bolt action rifle. As a true “friend”, to further frazzle his already frayed nerves, I cranked the electronic call to its highest volume and hit "lone coyote howl". The DDH flinched in his seat (possibly from releasing something in an uncontrolled fashion) and his eyes expanded to the size of dinner plates. I had all I could do not to burst out laughing but immediately choked back this vocalization, as I frantically had to repeat, "that was me" lest he attempt to run for it.

In DDHs defense, if you have never hunted predators like coyotes, bobcats and bears you are unaware of how vulnerable it can make you feel. When a coyote howls or a bobcat or black bear silently stalks past you by only a few feet, the hairs on the back of your neck will stand on end like you are conducting electricity. Goose bumps spring forth from your body and your primitive mind regresses to a time when man was the hunted and not the hunter of these beasts. I sometimes feel it is similar to watching a horror movie, there is something unique inside each of us that simply enjoys a good scare. When you combine this adrenaline packed punch with the challenge of calling and the added struggle against the winter season, you begin to see the attraction of hunting these predators.

16 comments:

  1. If you could turn the heat up a little bit, I would love to be there with you guys!!

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  2. Gosh you are so nice... LMAO!

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  3. I would graciously accept Trey into Duck Power, however he would need to be on team Duckman... for anything else would land him on probation then executive termination.

    Thanks for the pokes, again...

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  4. Does that mean I have to grow the beard out?? I let the goat loose every year for my phesant hunting trip so I think I could manage!!

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  5. I had to relent to my wife's continual demands uh requests to trim the monster. At least now she will give her man a kiss. But I feel lost without my Duck Commander chin mayhem.

    In case you are wondering Rabid, I left my shorts behind your ice fishing gear so now your wife can stop accusing you of fumigating the basement before she does laundry.

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  6. Now that is funny. I'm sure I would have had the same reaction as DDH.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Trey, I think DDH is over stepping his bounds. I believe for someone to be added to Duck Power Inc. they must be granted the unanimous approval of the entire corporation. In addition they must swear an oath to abide by our sorted and shaky set of bylaws and then of course there is the ceremonial keg stand and polar plunge.

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  8. DDH, I can't believe you trimmed the monster. I am letting my grow until the first day of SPRING!

    Man, I was wondering what that smell was. Thought perhaps a rat had gnawed through a sewer pipe and then perished. Gawd awful!

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  9. PassinThrough, Night hunting yotes for the initiated is a strange yet wildly exciting experience. Odd feeling being possibly the hunted rather than the hunter.

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  10. KM, What?!??! Like you wouldn't stoop to do the same thing if you were in my shoes!!! :)

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  11. Keg stand?? No Problem!! Polar plunge?? I do that all the time when I reach in the bottom of the cooler. That ice water is pretty chilly!

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  12. Saturday Blog Rodeo worthy to the MAX! You are a cruel, ugly man... I just love you! Uncontrolled release... LMAO I wish I had friends that I could terrorize like that! I would get one of those night vision cameras and do a whole video series: Terror in the Night!

    I'm having too much fun with this...

    Regards,
    [url= http://af.linkedin.com/pub/albert-rasch/14/623/958]Albert A Rasch[/url]
    [url=http://trochronicles.blogspot.com]The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles[/url]

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  13. AAR, I am sure I could make some sort of arrangement where you can join me on one of our late night adventures. I can even invite along the Duckman (AKA Mr. President) for you to terrorize and abuse. :)

    Glad you enjoyed the story. I connect with Duckman again in a few weeks and I am sure that there will be more tales of terror to follow soon after!

    Take Care!

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  14. That animal needs to be a taxidermy. Check out a friend of mine taxidermy webesite, http://www.advancetaxidermy.com/.

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  15. KDSEO, That animal was actually pelted and tanned by me. It currently hangs on my wall next to a raccoon I preserved in the same fashion. Advtax is very cool! Nice high quality site. Of course, as a rabioutdoorsman I already have my own local taxidermist on speed dial! LOL! Still, thanks for sharing!

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