Monday, November 22, 2010

An Anniversary Hunt

We don't get out much.  Not with two little ones at least.  I know there are all sorts of folks who juggle children and adventures simultaneously with much grace, but in our family, Husband and I can only handle so much.  Thus is the same reason we haven't traveled hardly anywhere since we married and began having children.  We reflect fondly on our honeymoon, spent in NYC, five long years ago.  I'd show you some pictures, but our computer was stolen during a move some years back, before I ever thought to back up photos.  I cried that day.  However, I do have one shot sitting on my nightstand, and it is perhaps the best shot--hence the reason I framed it.  

So this year, with the big five on the horizon, and unable to fathom leaving our children and flying cross-country to celebrate in the Big Apple, (though we dreamed of doing so) we opted for something much more memory worthy, and far from our past years' sushi dinners.

This is what I'm talking about.

Some of you are probably wondering if this is serious?
But I'll just tell ya, there are some things you do when you're in love.

Husband is an avid hunter, and comes from a long family-line of hunters.
This year was his first since we've had children that he's been able to get away as much as he's wanted and hunt to his heart's content.  He got himself a buck on Halloween, and I can't wait to tell you more about it.
It is pretty interesting what these hunters go through to hunt animals, recover them, and harvest them.
Husband takes great pride in this process, so it was with much excitement that I was able to learn a few things before and during Friday's hunt.

Thursday, we went to the shooting range.
Yay!  I can cross something off my list,
and good news!  I have a good shot.  I felt all the more ready for my rookie hunt.

Friday it was early rise--4:15am and out the door at 5am.
Husband's hunting buddies drove with us up into the mountains,
where we departed our separate ways by 7am.

It was quite adventurous.
I felt a bit like a female version of Rambo, as Husband insisted I lead the way, rifle-ready.


I think my subconscious may have prayed that we wouldn't see anything.

Husband was quite handsome with his binoculars.


The views were incredible.
What beautiful country surrounds us.



As you can see, the loggers have been at work.
Still beautiful nonetheless.

After we hiked up and through the clearing,
we headed for the trees.
It is there, Husband taught me, that the deer hide.
It was a cold, and at times rainy morning,
so the deer, like humans, take cover under the trees.
The hunt took on a new level of adventure once we entered the dense forest.
The trees hung low in places, often requiring us to crouch or duck under.
There was snow on the ground in places, too, that we had no choice but to walk over at times.
We did our best to be as quiet as possible.

Husband told me before our trip, that this experience would be perfect for me,
"because it was just my pace--slow."
And it was.  Slow and quiet.  It was quite intriguing.


We followed the prints for some time:

{a buck}

and prints I wanted nothing to do with:

{a coyote}

Me with my hat up so I could hear more closely.

A couple hours into the hunt, we came across Husband's hunting partner, Rickey, in the woods.




We continued on as a group, and for a moment we stopped to listen intently
to Rickey's calls and any other commotion.
He even pulled a couple of antlers from his vest and hit them together, so as to call in another deer.
Things got pretty intense for a few minutes, as we heard some noise through the trees,
but never did we see an animal.

Personally, I wouldn't have had it any other way. 
I'd like to get to the shooting range a few more times before I come face to face with an animal.
I think my heart may have near bulged out of my chest if I actually saw one.
Deer really can be quite large, and Elk, they are far too huge for my comfort zone.

We called it a day after our PB & J's for lunch.
I fell asleep in the warm truck, and again as we headed down the mountain for home.
Husband told me he's never had a hunting partner need a nap mid-day,
but I still believe I am his most favorite hunting partner ever.
It was a blast being together in the great outdoors, doing the thing that Husband loves,
and learning from him on our special day. 

In the evening, we had dinner at our favorite, local Italian eatery in downtown Camas,
and settled in early with tea and a movie. 
All in all, it was a perfect anniversary, and the adventurous memories make for perfect segue into this next portion of our journey together.

Husband, cheers to many, many more years!

10 comments:

brittany marie davis November 22, 2010 at 7:39 AM  

What a sweet couple you two are! I love how you are willing to go and do things with him. And how sweet he is to guide you and encourage you in the things he loves. So fun & sweet.

Gigi's Thimble November 22, 2010 at 8:41 AM  

That's great Cass. Fun to read about your adventure and it did look BEAUTIFUL out there. Glad you guys had a fabulous time!

resolute twig November 22, 2010 at 10:04 AM  

congrats!
and I am so happy you too had a great day :)

Cassie November 22, 2010 at 11:12 AM  

Thanks ladies! He's a keeper aint he?! It was a blast!

Unknown November 22, 2010 at 12:30 PM  

That is a really cool way to spend your anniversary. Sounded very fun. I think it's sexy seeing men in their "element". I'm sure you were the best hunting partner! :)

Happy Anniversary and hope you have many, many more! :)

Dee Paulino November 22, 2010 at 1:55 PM  

You are a pretty version of Rambo. Congratulations to you and your husband again on your anniversary!! It's great you get to do these fun things together :)

Shannon of HAPPINESS IS November 22, 2010 at 4:48 PM  

You two are so cute! I'm glad you didn't kill any animals :) Have you guys ever gone paint-balling? xo

Cassie November 22, 2010 at 9:06 PM  

Summer--Yes, it is very sexy seeing a man in his element. It is sort of crazy that it took five years of marriage before I got to see this side of him!

Ana*-Why thank you. ;) It really is fun to bond through new activities together.

Shannon-No, we've never been paint- balling. It sounds like a good time, though. Husband has been before, but imaganing play a game of paint-ball with him scares me. You know?

Erin November 23, 2010 at 11:36 AM  

Love the pictures. Love the writing. As usual. Love your adventurous spirit and your love of "husband." :)

Queen B November 26, 2010 at 9:16 PM  

WOOHOO! Im excited you got to go out and do it! you touched a worm for the first time this summer and this fall you hunted! You my friend, are stepping out of your comfort zone! YAY~! :D Love ya. Hopefully we can all go hunt and get something sometime

“You must write every single day of your life... You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads... may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world.” ― Ray Bradbury
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