Sooo I was blessed to be included in a typical shed hunting day with my husband. He was super sweetie and bought me really expensive hiking shoes with the idea we would be spending some quality time looking for sheds or antlers for all you none shed hunting folk out there.
It was Saturday, the sun was shining, the world was at peace, he had just left to pick up our new BBQ (yahoo a nice one to grace our front yard not the old timer version falling apart in our meat). I was sitting quite nicely on my couch reading a book supposedly getting ready for said trip outdoors. I luckily managed to get dressed just before he got home or we know what I would have heard lol. So off we went to hunt antlers, we stopped at one farmhouse to ask permission...quite a fun practice of driving up someones driveway and praying their home, to beg the opportunity to hunt for antlers on their back forty (supposedly that is polite and keeps you from getting shot). Felt weird but my husband is a pro so no worries there, the person's land we were on had many other parcels of land and was happy to let us trespass as long as we picked the dang things up.
Then off we went to some field on the side of the road...just park your car off the road and jump the barbed wire fence to the utopia of grass and bush on the other side. Scan that ground as if your life depends on it and look for little things pointing out of the snow or ground. I would have been more excited if I did not keep getting my jeans stuck on said fences always in the crotch area...yes officially I have one pair of jeans now dedicated to the sport as they are not pretty to look at anymore. Well after a little looking at different trails we had found nothing so with the sun still shining we headed farther away to look at a field that had the potential to house many antlers.
Now this field, like all fields in Alberta,was experiencing the snow melt so was a little wet (good thing for those boots I tell ya)..we traipsed around there for about an hour. I was hot, getting super sweaty and cursing all deer in the area as the herd that was avoiding us had not shed a stupid antler...where was my prize for being super girl and antler hunting. I did manage to scare a coyote gnawing on some bones but still no antlers...hubbie was also not too happy but the day was not done.
Away we went to another area...now the road to said area looked as though wagon travel from the 1800s was happening on it as it was so muddy and yucky I feared we were not going to get out even in 4 wheel drive. When we arrived at the potential area, we ended up climbing over 4 barbed wire fences (have I told you how much I hate them) and away we jaunted up and down some hills. Scared a moose but still no antlers...by this time I needed a bathroom but was petrified to pee in the woods as I have no talent and always manage to hit myself instead of the ground (sad but true much to my Aunty Betty's shame who truly did try to teach me long time ago). So without any extra clothes in the truck I was determined to hold it...something that I was being tested on by my husband who had decided to make this part of our trek the longest.
So through snow up to our knees ( how do moose do it they weigh more but stay on top) and over a lovely swamp area into another lovely climb. Was I feeling the romance and joy of the outdoors...nope had to pee and that was becoming a real concern. But I must admit I finally gave in and did the deed without any problem...YAY for me...Wilderness trekkers everywhere watch out!!!
Unfortunately after 2 hours we were no where nearer the goal of an antler...I was becoming the cranky wife from hell with blisters. We headed back and just as were reaching field filled with cow pies I really started thinking maybe I did not like nature as this day was becoming a futile effort of hiking with no end. But here we were traipsing through the cow patty field of love when D pointed out something in the distance...I looked and saw...well nothing, what the heck was I supposed to be seeing dammit...he pointed again and I seriously was going to have him commited when in the distance a flash of white caught my eye on the ground ( I had been looking at the sky oops) and there she was a five point antler for my love. YAY the day was not a waste. Unfortunately now he needed the other side so off he went to look for it and I began to trudge down the hill with thoughts of murder in my mind...as I slowly turned around to let him know I spied with my little eye the pair. yahoo my first antler. So my perseverance paid off, my hike ended with the goal attained and I got a bag of chips as a reward...what more could you want in a day!
