Opening Day, A Short Story

“Man….when is that alarm going to go off?” Laying here in stale darkness, waiting for the lingering silence to be shattered by the too well known jingle of my phone. I could just get up now, but I know I need as much sleep as I can get. Of all the off season practice and preparations I have put energy into, getting up earlier than normal was not one of them. And I certainly did not go to bed any earlier either in preparation. Stories from last year roll through my head as I somehow simultaneously flash through every trail camera picture that briefly snapped me out of my trail camera photo reel scrolling sessions. As awake and excited as I am now, I know it will certainly catch up to me. The business of years of hunting memories blending together with what may be to come and manage to blur and fade as I finally begin to doze off. Just as soon as my mind settles…..zzzzzzz-“beep beep beep”-zzzzzz-”beep beep beep”. My phone vibrating against the dresser snaps me back, it is finally time. 

First step, coffee. I get the liquid gold brewing and head out to the garage. Inventory check and car load prep. All of my field camo, scent free and stored in an airtight container, check. My bow and bag, check. All my field equipment and accessories; electronic license and tag along with paper copies, knife, calls, rattles, extra rope, safety harness, lights, carabiners, and the list goes on, check. I move my hunting gear from the garage to the back of the car and set it on the ground while I mentally continue to check off boxes. I try to keep it simple. I am covered (my camo), can I kill, can I tag, can I clean, and can I carry (well drag)? Each having their extensive individual lists, but I have to keep this system to maintain some level of sanity. I grab the only piece of hunting equipment I bring inside my house, towels and drive clothes, which also have gone through the full scent elimination regiment and live in an airtight tote until it's time to get ready. 

The smell of coffee immediately hits me when I walk back in. I hadn’t forgotten about it, but I hadn’t been thinking about it either. A little jolt of excitement runs through me as I drop my towel and clothes off in the bathroom and make my way back to the kitchen. I pour a cup, open the laptop, and start flipping through the folder of saved trail camera pictures. I wonder if I will see any deer, if any buck will come through, if THE buck will come through. The biggest success would be kinda a bummer too. Drop one on opening day, that would be awesome, but then what would I do? I have kids so I know what I would do, just hypothetical I guess. I finish my coffee, take my shower, kiss my wife without trying to wake her (never once have I completed successfully), and out the door. I get the gear in the car, hop in, and am on my way to the woods. 

Depending on the mood, it's always one of two songs; usually Enter Sandman - Metallica (S&M Live Concert Version), though lately I have been more partial to Sleeping on the Blacktop - Colter Wall. Windows down, I can feel long overdue chilled air flow through the car. Only hunters understand that incomparable bite in the wind, barely tolerable at times in the stand. But, in the off season when you’re outside in the shade, the temperature is just right, and the wind whips through, you get that flash reminder of what is to come. The drive seems painstaking long, though I have made it dozens of times over the summer. The streets are empty and my mind is full. From past seasons ending in October all the way through hunting the very last day with an empty freezer still at home. What will this season bring, what new lessons do these deer have to teach me? Regardless, I don’t care. Ohio whitetail archery season is finally here.

Probably a good mile out still and I turn down the radio to nearly a whisper. I know the deer can’t hear it and probably wouldn’t care if they could, I park far enough away as it is, but I just can’t not. I roll in, park, and unload. A quick clothes change out of my driving clothes into my hunting clothes, safety harness, bow in hand, and I am ready to go. Run through the list one more time; I am covered (my camo), can I kill, can I tag, can I clean, and can I carry (well drag)? This may sound redundant, but I have managed to forget just about every piece of hunting equipment at some time or another in the past, including my bow. Early in the season, crops are still up and the underbrush is thick as can be. The red head lamp comes on. It pushes its way an impressive 6 feet or so through the standing corn, if I am lucky. Clear skies and a full moon light up the field enough to where I could probably get by without it. But, I still can’t see the ground and once I hit the woods I know it's as dark as midnight. Standing on the edge of the field, I thank God, and head in. 

I work my way down the field edge with a purposeful and steady pace. There is no longer room for all of the wonders and what ifs. That is one of the most rewarding aspects of archery hunting when you do find success. You cannot put in 99% effort, it must be 100% across the board. Every time you step in the woods, every hunt, stand move, every shot. You can have the perfect analysis, location, and can shoot a quarter at 50 yards, and then you trip on a dead log walking in and without ever knowing it you kick up that buck out of his bed you’ve been after for years. Everything must be perfect, and even with the excitement of opening day, when I step into the field it is time to lock it all in. After a short trek I find myself staring down a black hole at the edge of the woods outlined with trees, twigs, and grass highlighted in red from my head lamp. I follow the silent path, raked and cleared of debris ahead of time, to the base of my tree stand. Bow goes on the hanger, safety harness locked in, headlamp off, and up I go. After months of preparation; working out, running, shooting, scouting, equipment checks and maintenance, losing permission, gaining permission, and so much more, I lean my head back on the tree for a brief moment taking it all in. Opening Day is here.