Deer Season in the Wilds of Big Sur

After 20 years, and dealing with all kinds, I have made friends with the regulars. Most even wave to me. Generally, they sleep on cots outdoors, not tents, don’t have campfires, and finally respect me, my land, and my critters.

Last night, I ran into a different breed.

I ran into a UFSF patrol, a guy I have known forever, he even went to our school. He told me about these guys camped outside my gate, and how he had asked them – nay, told them – to move. I ran into them, also, still on private property. They confirmed “oh yeah, we are leaving.” I went around a corner, they went out of sight, and I saw they had left their tent and two chairs set up. I honked and honked. They ignored me.

I grabbed the small pop-up tent, the two chairs, and loaded them in my Jeep. I took them down past the private property to a flat spot right next to the road and unloaded them. I left a note.

I let my neighbor know, my dog sitter, checked my .357 and took out the snake shot and put in .38 hollow points. I was ready. It didn’t hurt that I will have the Ox, and the ex-Marine Mountain Man here at 7 am.

Really, nothing new, just haven’t had to deal with these kinds of idiots in 10 years or more. I do have a great early warning system in my dogs – NO ONE, and I mean NO one can sneak up on me here -EVER.

I do finally find guys like this funny. They really think they will find deer up near my property where there are 5 dogs barking, scenting, and otherwise warning? The deer don’t even come into my garden!

Opening of Hunting Season, 8/8/09

Dawn and dusk … gun fire permeates the best times of the day. The quiet and serenity of the place I call home is disturbed. The critters are disturbed, and somewhere, a buck may be fighting for his life — running in fear from the guns that populate these hills. I prefer the bow hunters. They are silent, the bucks have an equal chance, and only the best hunters are rewarded. With guns, even an idiot can get lucky. My experience is the bow hunters don’t use 4 tracs, either. They are stealth. They are swift. And they really know how to hunt. I have complete and utter respect for them. Kelly Collins used a bow. He was a real hunter.

Since dawn … one dog hides under the couch — Dakota has always been frightened of the sound of gun fire. (BTW-the inside is completely healed, finally. The outer skin has not yet closed, but I expect to lift her “house arrest” in a week or two.) Bear, on the other hand, barks constantly at the sound of gun fire. Gideon and Miranda seem indifferent, until the shots get closer, as they are now.

I have the wonderful task of dodging the idiots as I make my way down the coast to restock on everything. Debating the trip. On the one hand, I can get photos of all the yahoos and their vehicles, just in case someone does something stupid. On the other hand, do I really want to be dodging bullets? Hmmm …