Dad started hunting near Elcho when he got out of the service in the early 50's, with my grandpa, uncles and some buddies. Gramps and the Uncles are no longer with us. Dad lives at the Vets Home in King. His best friend is also no longer to hunt due to age and health. But us boys carry on the tradition.
Tradition is what keeps us going back and we'll be together tonight, tipping a few and talking smack. I've seen 2 deer in the last 8 seasons. Wolves and unlimited doe tags took care of the herd. It's looking a little better these days, but not much.
When my girls went away to college, we had built a place in Sayner. We started having Thanksgiving up there, the 4 of us. I got to hunt and spend some time with my girls. the best of both worlds. The girls can't make it home this year, so it will be my wife and I, and one of her brothers for dinner after shooting hours.
I have a neighbor in Sayner who feeds the deer. The trails come from all points of the compass, like spokes of a wheel, into their place. There's a baiting ban on now because of CWD infected deer at a deer farm, so we'll see if they're still feeding. Go 1/2 mile from their place and you'll not see a deer track in the snow. They're all congregated around homes for safety from the wolves and handout meals from those who feed.
So I don't have much optimism of seeing anything, but I'll go because deer hunting is a part of me, just like bird hunting. And you never know, a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, too.