Well, it finally happened.
I’m not even sure how to explain the situation I’m in without getting really long winded. Couple that with my general inability to be brief, and this could get dicey. I’ll give a shot at being concise.
My FIL’s property has had a shift in the rules, apparently. Generally speaking, there were no real restrictions on hunting down there. It was a ‘mi casa, su casa,’ situation. The only thing that was really asked was to put in a little time for property maintenance and let someone know when I was headed down that way. Easy stuff. This year, there’s a twist. A friend of the family (I think, I don’t know the guy – but he’s a nice dude) expressed a bunch of interest in hunting there. And, unlike me, he has the ability to get to the place on a regular basis. He’s put in a bunch of work down there to make a spot for himself.
Worth noting, he’s put in a bunch of work with regard to hunting. For himself. He’s not down there doing a bunch of property work (and, disclaimer, neither am I).
Now, today I had a conversation with the FIL’s wife about the ‘rules,’ and it basically summarized like this: There’s only 1 killable deer according to her (I’ve counted 5 mature bucks at one stand), and the other guy gets to hunt as much as he wants to kill that ONE deer before I get to go, because ‘that’s fair, he’s put in a lot of work.’ Kicker, he doesn’t bowhunt.
Please, read that again. Initially I was absolutely incensed. But, here’s the deal – it’s not my place. They own it, it’s their rules, and I need to be cool with that. So, I am. But, there’s now no reason for me to go. I can’t make a schedule and there’s nothing for me to hunt if this other guy is at all successful. And hey, I wish him the best. Carry on smartly, sir.
What this unfortunate situation has left me with is no place to hunt. I live in Arlington, smack in the middle of the DFW metroplex and I’ve never hunted public land. I understand that it’s now way too late for me to do meaningful scouting and make a comprehensive, well-informed plan for opening day. But, I don’t want to miss it. If anyone read my ‘Dear Dad’ post a couple of years ago, opening day is the most important hunting day, for me, for a lot of reasons.
Here’s my plea to the green screen – is anyone familiar with public land hunting areas up here within about an hour’s drive? I’ve looked at TPWD but can’t find anywhere that allows whitetail hunting. My search strategy may be flawed, though. Anyone help a brother out?
-LaS.
I’m not even sure how to explain the situation I’m in without getting really long winded. Couple that with my general inability to be brief, and this could get dicey. I’ll give a shot at being concise.
My FIL’s property has had a shift in the rules, apparently. Generally speaking, there were no real restrictions on hunting down there. It was a ‘mi casa, su casa,’ situation. The only thing that was really asked was to put in a little time for property maintenance and let someone know when I was headed down that way. Easy stuff. This year, there’s a twist. A friend of the family (I think, I don’t know the guy – but he’s a nice dude) expressed a bunch of interest in hunting there. And, unlike me, he has the ability to get to the place on a regular basis. He’s put in a bunch of work down there to make a spot for himself.
Worth noting, he’s put in a bunch of work with regard to hunting. For himself. He’s not down there doing a bunch of property work (and, disclaimer, neither am I).
Now, today I had a conversation with the FIL’s wife about the ‘rules,’ and it basically summarized like this: There’s only 1 killable deer according to her (I’ve counted 5 mature bucks at one stand), and the other guy gets to hunt as much as he wants to kill that ONE deer before I get to go, because ‘that’s fair, he’s put in a lot of work.’ Kicker, he doesn’t bowhunt.
Please, read that again. Initially I was absolutely incensed. But, here’s the deal – it’s not my place. They own it, it’s their rules, and I need to be cool with that. So, I am. But, there’s now no reason for me to go. I can’t make a schedule and there’s nothing for me to hunt if this other guy is at all successful. And hey, I wish him the best. Carry on smartly, sir.
What this unfortunate situation has left me with is no place to hunt. I live in Arlington, smack in the middle of the DFW metroplex and I’ve never hunted public land. I understand that it’s now way too late for me to do meaningful scouting and make a comprehensive, well-informed plan for opening day. But, I don’t want to miss it. If anyone read my ‘Dear Dad’ post a couple of years ago, opening day is the most important hunting day, for me, for a lot of reasons.
Here’s my plea to the green screen – is anyone familiar with public land hunting areas up here within about an hour’s drive? I’ve looked at TPWD but can’t find anywhere that allows whitetail hunting. My search strategy may be flawed, though. Anyone help a brother out?
-LaS.
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