Minnesota Deer Hunting Opener 2009

Just like many Holidays and Professional Sporting Events the great state of Minnesota has to offer the one that probably most excites Minnesotans is the Rifle Deer Hunting Season opening weekend. The 2009 season opened up this past weekend (Nov 9). I was fortunate enough to be able to get out of work a little early like every other person in the State and make the hour and a half drive up to the family cabin.

This tradition started for me when I was thirteen and passed gun safety watching old guys drink heavily Friday night and snore something fierce into Saturday opening morning. Into my 15th or so season I have yet to shoot a deer with many years of not even seeing a deer. This year was no different then the last however I did actually stumble upon a nice size Doe only to miss it terribly with an easy shot from about 20 yards away. I hate to even admit that as I am sure I will take some crap from my fellow hunters. To my credit at least I saw one and missed one, rather then falling asleep SNORING in the stand as was the case for my grandma's husband which is how I found him after doing a nice drive through the woods hoping to scare something up. Apparently, I did not even scare him! HAHA!!!

Not many of you can say this about hunting as I can in that the most competitive go-at-em' hunter in our crew is my Grandma... YES GRANDMA!!! She is the best cook which is probably the only reason I have gone this long and tells the dirtiest of jokes. It is truly amazing watching her in her 80 some odd years body still strap on a gun and fight the elements on the deer stand for a couple hours even at times taking shots. If you thought senior citizens driving was bad, just think what it is like giving them a gun. YIKES!!! I try to stay as far away as I can even if she has been doing this all her life. She is the one that also made up the rule for if you miss you have to wear the cheesy looking reindeer horns for the rest of the day. It was awfully annoying and embarrassing I must add!

To the Doe that got away this year. Do not worry I will be back next year for the food/beer first, dirty jokes second, and to meet you again third. Next time I just may not drink as much the night before!!! So WATCH OUT!!!