The Great Deer Hunt

by Robert D Darnell
Dec 7, 1982

Dave and Bob had been talking about going deer hunting up in the out-back around Possum Kingdom Lake all winter and finally the opportunity came.

They took off early in the morning with all their gear and guns. Dave had a belly ache so he went by the veterinarian's and go t some horse liniment from Jan to take. He always takes horse liniment for belly aches.

They swung north up through the out-back through Brenham, Caldwell, Cameron, Temple, and Gatesville. Stopped for some hot bar-b-que at Temple. Stopped at Pancake for some coffee; wondered why any place would be named Pancake. It was shut down.

We headed North all day long through the rugged out-back, through Hico, Stephenville, Graford. Late in the afternoon as the sun's rays were slanting, we came into the Palo Pinto Mountains. We stopped for coffee at an old stage coach inn. Saw Chill Wills.

Game was plentiful all through the out-back and we were chomping at the bit to go hunting in the morning.

Got on into the camp about 4:00, and checked in at the lodge. George Monie wanted to talk about the water district so we visited with him for a while.

We walked out to the big canyon and picked out spots to hunt in the morning, then ate some catfish and early to bed.

At 5:00 the next morning we woke up and put on all out warm clothes. It was just moderately cold, somewhat comfortable. The main thing was it was so dark. But Dave had a flashlight, so we were able to find our way to the canyon.

Each of us settled into a nest of rocks and waited for daylight. At first it was warm enough from having walked but as we sat still it got colder.

Bob stayed until 9:00 and didn't see a deer. Saw a lot of birds, including a long blue heron and heard a covey of quail waking up and doing their morning toilet. They make a lot of popping noises. Sounds like small pump going on and off.

Bob went back to the sales office and waited a while. Dave stayed out till noon. He saw a bunch of does, and a one point buck, but he didn't shoot anything.

After noon they both went back and Bob sat in a deer stand while Dave tried to walk some deer up. He raised some but neither got a shot. They then drove down some roads but no deer were showing, so called it quits.

Everything we touched today either stung, stuck, scratched, sprained, strained, broke, or other wise hurt. Wow, what fun this hunting!

Thursday morning dawned cold gray and threatening. We broke camp and made preparations to head back South of this rough out-back. It's good to get out in the wilderness and rough it every once in a while, but there's nothing like Home Sweet Home.

So, after our awesomely, awfully, anguishingly, agonizingly, hair-raisingly, aimlessy, awkwardly, antagonizingly, astonishingly, anxious experience we arrived home in Houston.


end