First Time in a Ground Blind...

Brock(background) and Bryson (foreground) in our brush ground blind.

Sunday October 3rd 2010.

We arrived home from Marilyn’s Miller family reunion about 3pm and I decided I was going to go get on stand and see what I could shoot, Hog or Doe. Well I hurried to the bedroom and got dressed in my camo. Coming out I met Brock and Bryson head on in the hall. They were about to go outside and probably play in the oak tree as they do so much. When they saw me in camo, Bryson said "where you going?" to which I replied "huntin". Brock next question hit me hard as I had planned on being solo on this quick hunt.

Brock-"Can we go?"

Me-"Ya'll are not even ready"

Bryson-"we can get ready!"

Me-"you better hurry...Im not waiting on you to look for something to wear"

Brock-"Come on Bryson, let’s get ready..."

I have never seen them boys get camoed out so quick in their life. I went outside and started getting a few things together and loading the 4runner. Bryson was out there asking for help with his sleeve buttons. Brock was a little slower than little brother, but he still impressed me with his time.

We parked and before we headed into the woods I had a little chat with the boys in order to explain what we were going to be doing….which was sitting still and quiet. Not something either of these boys is good at.

After we had to stop for Bryson to pee, we arrived at the oak tree ground blind I prepared for just such an occasion.

We had been sitting quietly for about 30 minutes when something started rustling in the leave in the thick brush to our left. The boy’s eyes got huge and I had to remind them to be still and quiet. After a brief rush of adrenaline for me I realized it was a squirrel. I sat back down and the questions started coming…

Brock- “daddy”
Me- “What, and be quiet”
Brock- “are moose afraid of you”
Me- “no, moose are pretty mean”
 --Silence for a minute—
Brock- “are there any moose out here?”
Me- “no!  There is nothing in these woods that will hurt you”
Brock- “ok”
--silence—
Bryson- “how bout elk daddy?”
Me-“no elk hear either”
-Rustling behind us-
Bryson-“well there is a lot of something back there” (he points over his shoulder)
Me trying to keep from laughing- “ok…just more squirrels I bet”
Bryson-“ok” He then re-positions himself to face behind us.

Finally they settle down and all is quiet in the brush blind again. A few minute pass and the leaves and branches begin cracking in the woods to the left again.

Brock- “daddy, just shoot in the woods, if its a deer it will kill it I bet”
Me- “don’t be scared Brock, there isn’t anything to be scared of”
Brock- “we should be scared of a moose”

I have no idea where the “Moose” came from, but it was in Brock’s heads that we need to be on the lookout for a moose!

I wanted to go hunting alone this day, but thank God I have two boys that want to tag along behind me everywhere. It is days like this that reminds me what being a daddy is all about. I might have killed a deer or hog had I went alone, but I would not have the memory of the “Moose”.

I write these blogs not to brag or boast, but to preserve memories for the years to come. This is only my second blog, but I hope I can continue it for many years.

Kyle