'Deeritis' hits northern Minnesota

The weeks leading up to a deer hunting season are filled with anticipation. For those of us who celebrate Christmas, the feeling you had as a child is probably similar to what I feel in the weeks prior to the opener.

Fall is a time to make sure your deer stands are in good shape, game cameras check out, cleaning up the shack and, of course, getting the provisions together. Everyone needs a new blaze orange hat, jacket, boots and socks. Don’t forget you must get a new box of ammo and check out on all the great deals at our local stores for something you might have missed.

Usually the first pangs of “deeritis” hit in late September. The temperature begins to cool a bit and thoughts turn to getting out to the shack. This year, the woods were wet and it never got better. Constant rain left mud holes where usually you might see only a small puddle. Getting to the shack became a chore but that was a minor inconvenience to be able to get in the woods and prepare for the big day.

As September wound down, most hunters realized that time was running short. It was a must to get the rifle sighted in and it was imperative to have all the food packed and ready to go. Propane for shack and stand. Check. New burlap on the stand to provide cover, perhaps making the difference between seeing that monster buck or seeing nothing at all. Check.

At last, Friday comes and tomorrow the hunt is on. Leave work early, get ice for the beverages and food, pack up the truck, load the wheeler and it is off to the shack.

Greetings are the norm with trash talking already beginning. After unpacking and getting camp set up, the evening meal leads to conversation of hunts long ago. Stories cover big bucks, bad shots, and just odd things that have occured in the past. All have been shared time and time again, but none get old as each year a new twist is added to an old tale.

As the evening comes to a close, lights are drawn down and everyone hits the sack, snuggling into sleeping bags to perhaps sleep until the morning alarm sounds that the hunt is on.

Not all hunters are of the die-hard variety. Some hunters rise early and stay in their stands all day long. Others get up, have breakfast and shuffle off. Some may just sit around until feeling motivated enough to take their place in the woods. No matter what their preference, they all have a place in the shack and all are important cogs in the wheel of the hunting regime.

As the season goes on, hunters come and go. The toughest day for me is always the final Sunday, especially with my bad luck of missing out on a deer for sixth year in a row.

There are usually a few hunters in the woods making last-ditch efforts to put food in the freezer, but this year the woods were quiet with no one around except a friend who offered to help me clean up the camp. We went about the job of undoing the propane tanks. Food was packed, floors were swept, other items were stored in their bins and cupboards. Clothes were folded and put into storage lockers. Anything to be brought home was loaded onto the four-wheeler and brought out of the woods.

Driving the half-mile out to the parking area, my mind wandered back to the beginning of the season and all the anticipation of what was to come. It gets measured against the wistfulness that comes over me. I thought about the fun that was had and the memories that were made. I thought of the coyotes that were howling on opening day as we walked into our stands.

Thoughts turned to the afternoon in the stand with snow falling and a slight breeze with no one else around. I thought back to the beautiful sunrise on the first Saturday and how lucky I was to get a picture.

Did I get a deer? Nope. Do I have memories? Absolutely. Will I be as excited next year? For sure.

Congratulations to those who were lucky enough to get a deer and good luck next year. We all have another year of memories to file away. Memories that will become part of the stories we tell when gathering next year.

WKLK Radio personality Kerry Rodd write sports for the Pine Knot News and looks forward to hunting every fall.