2011 Ryan Outdoors Writers Camp is Sponsored by: ATSKO, Grim Reaper Broadheads, ThermaCELL, HECS – Human Energy Concealment and outfitted by Trophies West Outfitters.
Collin Cottrell
The sun was just starting to crest over the hill behind me. Day 2 was about to begin. Still beating myself up over missing yesterday, I was hoping for some redemption today!
I began this morning with the usual: Setting up the ThermaCELL mosquitoe repellant, Spraying down with Atsko N-O-DOR and getting my video cameras set-up.
It was a little cooler this morning compared to day 1. I’m glad I brought a vest top to put over my HECS suit. I figured the cool weather wouldn’t last long though, as it was supposed to be a hot one again.
I started to go to town on my book again today. After a long day in the blind yesterday, I was over half way done with it already. I knew I should have brought more than one book!
Today was turning out to be a long day in the blind. I would take a break from reading every so often and glass the fields around me, just hoping to have another buck come my way. I still couldn’t believe I missed a nice speed goat yesterday! Thinking about the shot over and over again was beginning to get to me. I told myself, “It’s okay, it’s part of bowhunting – you WILL get another chance.”
Glassing, glassing and more glassing...
As the day was coming to a close, I spotted another buck heading my way, Finally! He began to feed in the field to my right. I continued to watch him from the blind.
He wasn’t moving very fast but was getting closer and closer. There was hope that I might have another chance. I waited as patiently as I could. After sitting in a blind for 13 hours the first day and another 12 today, it was easy for me to get restless.
The buck finally turned my way and it looked like he may come in for his nightly drink of water. But his commitment didn’t last long. He came a few more steps and fed again and then made his way back up the hill. He was gone.
As I sat in disappointment, I looked out a window to my left and the sun was beginning to set. There is a beautiful butte to the west of me and the sun was coming down right behind it. It was a great view and I immediately decided to change my attitude. What more could I ask for? I am in God’s country, doing what I love, watching God’s beauty in motion. I got out my video camera and got some great video and snapped a few pictures. Tomorrow would be a new day.
When I was back in camp, Terry had a great steak dinner waiting for us. Everyone conversed about their sit and basically, everyone had the same luck on this day; antelope feeding close, but no shot opportunities. The antelope would have to break soon!
2011 Ryan Outdoors Writers Camp is Sponsored by: ATSKO, Grim Reaper Broadheads, ThermaCELL, HECS – Human Energy Concealment and outfitted by Trophies West Outfitters.
