Dewey's Pumpkins (and other things)

Last year I harvested 15 pumpkins. Thought I'd increase my production this year as the deer love 'em. Well, now I have a boatload. Uffda it's gonna be a bit of work carting them back into the woods. I always overdo it.....
Turkey and archery for deer opened up on the 14th. My plan was to hunt those three jakes I've been watching all summer. Well. the evening before opening Cody and I walked back to the meadow an hour before dark. My mistake! The three birds were standing out there. Cody saw them and took off after them. They, of course, flew away and I haven't seen them since. Cody was quite proud of himself. What are you gonna do......
I did set up my portable blind and hunted for three days but no birds. I finally took the blind down after two nights, I felt I was stretching my luck with the bears around. They did crunch my blind last fall. I had the bright idea to hunt out of a tree stand I have in the area. So, for two nights in a row I had deer in front of me. One big doe literally walked under my stand and stood broadside at 18 yards. And me carrying a shotgun.... I did have a hen turkey walk by a couple of times and though hens are legal in the fall, I passed on her.
I finally got serious and hauled out the bow. Kurt and I spent two days in stands and saw nothing close. I later discovered that the deer were hanging around another stand of mine we weren't hunting. Figures.... Once Kurt left I hunted one stand while the deer were walking by the other one we had been hunting. If only there were two of me.
I took the last two evenings off as it's around 70 degrees and I don't like hunting when it's that warm. Plenty of time left.
So, we drove to Bayfield today and picked up a bushel of Cortland apples. We have apples coming out our ears! But, I get fresh apple pie tonight and the deer get the leftovers.

It's Tough Being a Puppy (Living with Dewey)

Mike and Sue paid us a visit this week and we thought we'd take the dogs down to Lake Superior. Cody had never fetched out of water so thought I'd work a bit with him. The first retrieves went well as I kept the sticks close to shore. Well... the next one went a little deeper and my poor pup, knowing nothing of water depth, plunged after the stick. He went under. I can still see his eyes, wide open, under the water. Well he made it out and it took me another 15 minutes before he'd go back in the water. Finally got him swimming. AND, he did need a bath.
We drove up to Bayfield and picked blueberries. Took in some sights and walked a few trails with the dogs. Came home and picked wild blueberries back in our meadow. Raspberries are almost done but the wild blackberries will be ready in a couple of weeks.
Everyone was tired last night so Cody and I took a walk back to the meadow. Pulled the SD card from a trail cam and discovered a bear had been there about 4 minutes before us. Just missed him. Glad we did as I didn't need to be battling a bear over my dog. And, of course, I was unarmed.
Took this pic of Cody with his swollen right eye. Deer fly got him and he looked pretty tough all day. He's laying at my feet as I type this. With everything I put him through, he'd still follow me anywhere. Undying devotion and undying trust.....
Mikey and I managed to pick up some nice crappies and sunnies on a local lake so at least I was able to send them home with some fish. Fishing can be tough in August but with my secret bait and secret fishing spot (thank you Alva), I seem to do OK late in the season. First time I've had the boat out in almost two months. Glad I've still got Mikey.
Fall is coming. I can feel it in the air. One month until fall turkey and bow hunting for deer. It's time......

Walking Ditches - 2013

I sometimes wonder when people will say "enough is enough". I know some have but we still have a core of great friends who make every effort to help us clean those two miles of highway.
So, thanks to Kurt, Stone, Mike, Sue, Dean and Tracy for, once again, walking with us.
As I said last year, John and I would walk those two miles by ourselves if we had to. But, I don't think we will ever walk alone.....

Fishin' With Ty and Damen

After lowering Long Lake of numerous panfish, it was time to fish closer to home. Though the fishing isn't as good here, I could have cared less as I took Al's boys out for the day.
We only picked up a couple of keeper crappies in the morning. At noon, we motored over to the local bar, docked the boat, and stopped in for a burger and fries. After lunch we tried a spot where we had some luck last August. Well. maybe this August as we marked nothing.
Trolling another shore, I lost what appeared to be a trout. Moments later Damen did indeed catch a trout. Heck we didn't even know there were trout in the lake. Though the boys had trout stamps, none of us knew if the season was open so we let it go. I checked later and indeed the season was open and the fish was of legal size. No big deal. We all had a good laugh over it.
I expected the fishing to be better but there's always next time. I wouldn't have traded this day for any other.

Back to Long Lake once again.....

Just can't resist the temptation to drive 225 miles just to catch crappies. Fortunately, for me, I've still got Mike anchoring the front of my boat. We share the same desire to ultra light for crappies and sunnies. We probably caught over 400 fish the three times we hit the water.
Now I guess it's time to hit up one of my local lakes. The action is no where near what I have on Long but it does help to keep fishing in it's proper perspective. It's not the catching so much as it is just being able to get out on the water, and hopefully, have someone along to talk to and tell stories with.
Don't know that I'll have that luxury but I do have that new secret bait I need to try out.......

50 Years Ago In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

When I was in 8th grade, I met a couple of guys. They are still my friends. I was honored by being chosen to be the godfather of two very nice young ladies. A daughter from each of them.
Saturday we were down at Macalaster College as Jim's daughter graduated. Jim lives in Montana so we don't see each other very often. Last weekend we were able to spend some time together both catching up a bit and, of course, reliving some of our past history together. We had more than a few laughs. It's amazing that we can remember so much stuff with our advancing age and all. Fortunately, if one of us forgot something the other usually managed to fill in the blanks.
We're planning a road trip out west next year and plan on stopping by to see Jim and Chris. I'm already looking forward to it.
I've had people tell me that it's pretty rare to have a friend for 50 years and I have two of them. That says a lot about them. They've had to put up with me....

Spring Turkey - 2013

I've been hunting turkey for about 30 years. Only 5 years ago did I start doing it in Wisconsin. Since you don't get drawn every year in Minnesota but can in Wisconsin, even if you are a non resident, I asked my buddy Al if I could hunt with him. We hunted 4 years together down in SW Wisconsin. He had some contacts and I was introduced to some really great people.
After Al was killed last year, Johnny and I had to make a decision. We had already applied with Al for this year. Should we go or not? We decided to go. It was what Al would have wanted. My buddy Kurt was interested in joining our party and so, well, a new hunting party was born.
I wasn't sure how we would be received with Al being gone, but the local people were absolutely wonderful to us. I now have new friends....
We hunted hard for 4 days. I was the lucky one as I called in this big guy late Wednesday afternoon. I clobbered him and told Al this one was for him.
We had some other opportunities but were unable to connect with another bird.
As is always the case, we continue to learn each time we hunt and will be just that much smarter next year. Is that possible??
We'll keep on keeping on. I know no other way. It's what we do.....