SNOW DAY!

Well wouldn't you know it.  We got some snow and cold temps in Oklahoma.  I wasn't able to get a big outing in but anytime is certainly better than none.  I got out for a couple hours to enjoy a hot cup of tea.  Temps were in the mid teens.  Well let's get to the pics, making it into the tree line

rabbit tracks were everywhere, a long with dens

back edge of a lake

beaver carnage at the back end

another den with fresh sign in front

only bad thing about carrying a 3/4 axe with this pack is the handle sticking out the top hits branches and dumps snow down your back and neck when you're slipping through the trees.

found a naturally felled tree to use

sawed it up and then split it down

fire base

more prep

getting some kindling

for this fire I didn't mess around as I didn't have the time.  I used the ferro rod to light the birch bark, then I put the curls on that, followed by a piece of fatwood. 

then the twig bundle from cedar limbs

finger size kindling on top of that

went light with the canteen cup today

hot tea and homemade banana bread from the Mrs.  It was a very good combo

warming up before heading back out

the trail out took me back to the edge of the lake and then back into the trees

It was a nice time out enjoying the winterwonderland, they're few and far between most of the time here. 

thanks for looking!

That's how it goes sometimes

First off, Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!  I hope you make it a great day with family!

Well me and the Father-In-Law got out for a day of deer hunting yesterday.  It was a beautiful day to be out.  Morning was cold and crisp, temps were in the teens.  We had enjoyed a sunrise but no deer graced us with an appearance

We made our way slowly through some thick brush and checked pockets of cedar trees.  Here's the FIL ready and anxious with his Savage 111 in 30-06

my gear for the day, pack and good old, and I mean old, Remington 700 BDL in 30-06

and here's yours truly doing the best "Great White Hunter" impersonation

Well the evening proved much more interesting.  We were hunting public land and arrived at a spot early and got setup on a hill overlooking some thick creekbeds and a small green wheat field.  I abide by the first to the spot gets it.  If I see a vehicle or hunters already there I move on to the next spot.  AS EVERYONE SHOULD!  So after an hour of getting setup another hunter drives his truck past mine and parks 200 yards from where we are hunting.  Then proceeds to walk through the middle of the creekbed area.  He saw us as he stared at us on the hill for a set time and then continued on.  Grrr.  Well it was too late to go somewhere else so we decided to stick it out and hunt the small wheat field.  Well we heard shooting all around us so hopes were low.  Then right at dark a doe and a very good buck made it into the wheat field.  The doe bolted towards us crossing the field and then looked right at us.  We couldn't move.  She stared for a bit while the buck was feeding in the back of the field.  Then the doe began stomping at us.  We were busted.  The buck became alarmed and like a flash they both bolted the field. 

That's how it goes sometimes.  I'm still thinking about that buck and probably won't soon forget.  Well it provided some excitement to end the day.  It has the FIL hungry to continue the journey of harvesting his first deer.  We're getting closer each time.  Sometimes it starts to feel like the first one is the hardest...

Thanks for looking

Afternoon spent taking in the fresh air with a special lady

Well I got to spend an afternoon out just taking in the fresh air and relaxing with my daughter. She gets really excited for these hikes in the woods so I'm hoping to keep that going. Not much else explaining needed. Here's the trip

Entering the woods

The Fall look has officially arrived in the Oklahoma woods

Crossed a dirt trail, it's always full of deer tracks.  We had a light rain the night before so it was easy to see the fresh tracks made

"there's another one Dad!"  We started following this bucks tracks and then jumped him about 20 yards from this spot.  A nice 8 pointer!

back into the woods

came to a small clearing

inside the woods to search for a suitable camp spot

and found one

Time for the camp chores.  Sven saw made quick work or a dead oak

hatchet's turn was next to break it down for wood stove pieces

can't leave out the knife

ready for fire.  Just to make sure this worked the first time I used some fatwood as well.  Can't spend too much time lighting the fire with kids or you lose em!

waiting patiently 

finally ready

Hot chocolate and donuts.  A good snack according to Bel, and me

view in the front as we enjoyed the fruits of our labor

quick shot of the tools as we packed up

covered out fire pit and headed back out to look for more deer

didn't take long to see more sign

came across this burl that was a little bigger than a basketball.  It was about 8 feet off the ground

then we saw this guy crossing the dirt trail on the way back in.  He was moving pretty slow after the cooler weather we had.  Bel got a kick out of seeing it of course. 

after that it was back in the trees to head on back

It was a great way to spend an afternoon.  We're both already looking forward to next time...

thanks for looking