Thursday, Nov. 4 High 52, Low 30

I paddled in the dark, climbed a tree in the dark, was on average of seeing one deer a day but yet to hit it for today and loving life. At 7:45 a.m., I saw a buck about 80 yards away about to cross a marsh and headed my way. I have never been a big buck or nothing kind of guy, but the last few years I have passed up some smaller ones.

Today is day seven of this trip and so far, I have seen six bucks and four does. This buck was world-class big. In no way am I exaggerating when I say it was the biggest buck that I have ever seen in the wild and no one in my gang has killed this big of a buck. Thirty yards before he got to my stand and in some brush, he took a right that would lead him away from me and that was basically the dagger for this trip.

I lived a simple life for 11 full days and loved every minute of it. The majority of my food was grown at my house or caught or shot during my adventures. My work ethic was excellent and, I have to admit, the crossbow question is a big one on my mind. I also could have harvested a 10-pointer, not huge but pretty, on day three had I been using a crossbow. I will not shoot at a deer over 25 yards with a compound bow and in reality, my comfort zone ends at 22.

While on this trip, I had a lot of friends on adventures that would text me and one sent me a picture of a bull elk in Adams County and I hear there are two of them. Rifle hunters better be thinking before you shoot.

Also my good buddies Jeff Moll and Doug Cibulka were on an annual duck hunt on the Menominee River in Marinette County and it was a lot of fun to communicate with them by text while sitting in a tree.

Soon we will be chasing fish on frozen water. Enjoy every day like it’s your last! Sunset