My daughter Meara and I met with a friend of mine that has a small plot of land that borders a small creek just outside of town. He showed us where a good spot would be to put the ground blind. Meara and I agreed as it provided a good shooting lane down into the creek and we could see game trails that were worn into the surrounding wheat field.
As we set up the ground blind I could see movement in the trees that ran along the creek. I happened to see a flash of horns, so I stood really still and waited for the buck to reappear. When he finally showed himself again he was a nice mature 5x5 whitetail. Half of my brain was saying that he would make a nice trophy for my wall, while the other half, told me that we were here only to shoot does. I quickly put my binoculars down so as not torture myself anymore than need be. My friend has graciously allowed me to put up this ground blind with the agreement that I will only shoot Whitetail does. I would never ruin our great relationship by shooting a buck on his property.
My friend’s daughter Myah and her two Lab puppies ventured over and stole my daughter away to play in the creek bottom and back at the house, but my dog Gryffyn stayed by my side. She always had her eye open for any Sage or Sharptail Grouse that might happen by, as she was quickly boring staying with me. I continued on with the setup, trying to think what I could use for cover. I spotted some Russian Olive trees not too far from where we were, and some of the more obvious Cottonwood trees. I cut some good full branches from these trees and threaded them into the side of the ground blind. I think the Russian Olives will mask the blind extremely well, as they are a very plentiful tree in this part of the country.
I finished with the setup, praying a little prayer that the winds won’t come up and blow my blind into North Dakota before I get a chance to shoot any deer from inside. I can’t wait to use the blind, there have been so many days of walking head long into the pounding wind, rain and snow chasing Whitetail does that I think this may be a nice change for a while. I am sure that my son and I will have plenty of hiking time in when we start chasing Antelope and Mule Deer.
