The magic of gun deer hunting begins Saturday

Saturday's the day thousands of us deer hunters have been waiting for and preparing for the past few weeks and even months. Opening day is magical, and with every early-morning shot, our pulses increase and we glance through the trees, waiting for that flash of brown and white.

State biologists tell us there are 1.8 million deer running through the forests, woodlots and swamps of Wisconsin, but we only want a crack at one. Maybe it will be the biggest buck of our life, or maybe just a fat doe for the freezer, but it will be special.

It will become another hunting memory, another special moment in time that is unique and shared with our little hunting group, deer camp and even all the rest of us deer hunters.

Together, we are an army, a collective group of armed Americans in blaze orange uniforms who share not only a love of deer hunting but the enjoyment of so many freedoms that go with it. Hunters as young as 10 and as old as the 90s are carrying and shooting rifles of all kinds, as well as a few shotguns. Despite perhaps 600,000 or so armed hunters, our sport remains one of the safest.

Nine days from now when the gun deer season closes, the gunsmoke clears and the stories have been told and retold, we’ll count up our deer and our blessings, and enjoy some of nature’s finest and healthiest meat.

If the biologists are right about the current deer population, and the fact that despite a lot of snow last winter, most deer survived, we should top the 247,614 deer harvested last year with firearms.

Since hunters also may use vertical bows or crossbows during the gun season, it’s sometimes hard to tell just how many deer are taken during this season.

Weather is the biggest factor in opening weekend’s harvest, as many casual hunters will stay indoors if the weather turns cold, snowy and nasty. This weekend is supposed to be warm and dry — let’s see if the weather forecasters got it right.

For many of us, the weather doesn’t matter at all. We will be out there, and no amount of rain, snow, sleet, wind or cold is going to move us from our tree stands, ground blinds and padded buckets. Not a chance.

I can’t imagine missing an opening day, as long as I can drag myself into the woods on my own power. I remember one year when I was pretty sick with a nasty cold, but I went anyway. I broke through thin ice at Mukwa State Wildlife Area in New London and made it back to the car that morning with soggy boots, but was grateful it was just barely 32 degrees and not much colder. I won’t ever forget that opener.

You’ll always remember those hunts that didn’t go as planned. That’s part of the experience. No pain, no gain, right? Some count a successful hunt by the number of deer hanging from the game pole, but I think a successful hunt is measured by the memories made.

Be sure to take plenty of photos and take a moment to congratulate a first-time hunter on their first deer, no matter how big the body or the rack. Registration stations of old were a place to compare deer, but I’ve seen one too many young hunters chastised for shooting a buck deemed too small by some obnoxious guy. Hunters have enough enemies without fighting among themselves.

I’m grateful for every second I can spend in the deer woods. I can’t sit all day like some hunters. I’ve probably missed out on some deer over the years because I leave my stand for lunch and return in the afternoon. I’ve also probably kicked up a few deer for other hunters by doing that.

If everyone in the state got up from their stands around 11 a.m. and walked around for 15 minutes, I bet we’d increase our total harvest by a percent or 2. Let’s face it, the only reason most of us don’t see more deer when hunting is because most of us just sit and wait. The deer drives of old don’t happen much, but that’s what moved the deer.

The best piece of deer hunting equipment I ever bought was a deer cart. The year I bought it, I killed my best buck and was hunting alone. Don’t try to drag a deer out by yourself if you are not fit for the task. Invest in a deer cart, or buy some beer for a couple strong buddies. A plastic sled works almost as well, too.

Stay safe this season and remember TAB-K. You can’t take that shot back, so be sure of your target and what’s behind it. Let’s see if we can have another gun deer season with no fatalities.

Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.