What to do when it's cold...

All the locals talk about going to see the deer in the fields near Mayfield, so one evening when Jason got home early, we loaded up and took a drive. We left later than we probably should have, but we were able to see about 20 deer that night. One doe just about stepped right in front of the jeep before she realized we were there. Then backed into the trees where we couldn't get a good picture. But on the other side were these two.


We had one small herd cross the road in front of us and finally spotted a buck. The girls thought it was SO cool!

My Christmas present finally arrived Thursday, so when Jason worked just a few hours Friday, we went to play with it before the older girls got home from school. On my eighth shot I hit a clay pigeon! Then proceeded to hit the next 3 in a row! When it was time for the girls to get home, I talked Jason into going to spot more deer.

Very good idea I had, if I should say so myself. We stopped to look at all the deer tracks in the snow, and looked up to see 3 does cross in front of us. Chey then spotted the next group. She was so excited she could only scream. Then it was, "Mommy, Dad, Mommy, Dad, Bee, Mom, Kay-da..."


On our way back down that road, we saw many more coming out to eat. They were farther away up on a hill or on top of a ridge, but there were about 30 of them throughout. We saw a nice buck high on the ridge, looked like a 4-point. Then we found THE honey hole! There were probably 15-18 deer grazing in the same spot. Another jeep came down the road towards us and spooked them up the hill so we were unable to get any pictures. There were 2 2-points, a 2 by 3, and 3 with RACKS! Jason guesses the big one was 30-32 inches wide. It was absolutely amazing to see them and it gave Jason buck-fever! Too bad the hunt isn't for 10 months!

So of course the next night Jason was more than eager to spot more deer, especially that same herd. We to the same spot but we got there earlier than the night before, they weren't there. But across the road on another ridge we saw the 2 by 3 again. The big ones were either still bedded down or hidden, so we went looking elsewhere for the time being.

I got a picture of buck here, but he is the one standing right in front of the bush.

I stopped counting deer after the 20th one on this hill.

Although we didn't end up where we wanted, or see those big bucks again, we did see more deer and had a blast just exploring and spending time together.

Sunday we went ice-fishing with Uncky Eric and Aunt Leslie. Went to Palisade and didn't produce anything for our efforts. It was snowing and cold so we went to Yuba. Everyone seemed to be at Yuba, but the perch are biting and you can now keep them.



The girls weren't into ice-fishing much, they just wanted to play, so they were sledding and making snow angels. I spent most of the time in the jeep; Chey was so tired but as soon as we'd get in the jeep she wanted to bounce around and play with the windows. It was still fun though. Leslie was saying she has never caught anything out of Yuba and then, tug, she hooked one! She even caught another one! Eric got a little tiny one, Jason caught 4 and reeled one in on my pole.


We all had a good time and a lotta fun!