Hunting for Direction
The sun has not peeked over the horizon as we turn down the gravel road, driving towards our favorite hunting spot. This rifle hunting season is nearing the end. Running down a deer or an elk is possible if the hunter stays with their tracks or so I heard at the office. Will I be successful today? Only the passing of time will tell.
Crouching low in the meadow I wait silently as the sun begins peeking over the landscape. There is a definite chill in the brisk high desert air and sitting is not keeping me warm. I gaze intently about the meadow searching for an elusive Mule Deer. Suddenly another hunter squats near a stump at the north side of the meadow. I arise and saunter off to the south looking and listening for any sign of deer. I top the ridge climbing quietly and carefully over large craggy lava formations. Suddenly I spot movement. A small herd of mule deer start running soon after processing my presence. Immediately I charge after the herd running full tilt. I am running rifle in hand, boots striking the ground, plunging through sagebrush, flying over lava rocks, Pine and Juniper branches whipping my face. I catch up to the herd momentarily and once again they bolt down the path. We are running again up and over the small ridges making up the high desert terrain. I continue charging after the deer, momentarily catching up only to have them bolt again. Losing sight of the herd I desperately search for their tracks. Finally I spot sign of my herd and take off running without abandonment down the hill ignoring the obstacles in my path. The deer hit the single lane dirt road and I search quickly in either direction. Finally I am rewarded, heading up the hill are the tracks I am seeking and once again take off at an unrestrained sprint. I quickly arrive at the top of the hill, breathless and searching. Looking out across the sea of trees, rocks and sagebrush I realize the deer now have the advantage, they have outdistanced me. Spinning abruptly on my heel and I amble slowly down the hill.
Grasping in a moment the enormous distance I have covered in my excitement. With no visible land marks and the sun slipping behind gray cloud cover I begin to understand the magnitude of my predicament. I consider an old logging road for the second time peering carefully at the apparent age of abandonment. There is some similarity to the overgrown logging road on the east side of the meadow. A seeming eternity passes as I stride along the old logging road. Frightening thoughts of detriment flow freely through my mind as I travel along my path. I detect a splash of bright orange and my heart leaps in my chest, I am certain the meadow is there!
Well, running down a deer may be possible or only a rumor. My thrilling experience neither proved nor disproved the theory. Catching up to the small herd of deer was possible, although I became disoriented after running full tilt through the forest. In retrospect investing in a portable GPS would be wise before embarking on another wild chase through the high desert wilderness.
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