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!