Hi folks,

Sunday, 10/1, marked the 2006 Michigan archery deer opener. Sunday also marked one day shy of 3 weeks since I had total knee replacement surgery. Prior to the surgery I put up a couple treestands just in case I could somehow manage to climb into one before the season ended. The stands were placed not too far from the road, with not too difficult a walk, in anticipation of limited ability on my part.

Sunday, I was feeling my oats a bit (and my pain meds) so I got up with the other hunters in the house, dressed the part, and struck out toward the better stand. I had no problem climbing the Rivers Edge ladder stand and getting into position. Experience has taught me to cut good shooting lanes and position my stand such that I can shoot in those lanes with minimum of movement (e.g. not standing and turning). At 10:00 A.m. a 7-pointer stepped into my best lane. I stopped him broadside with a "nyatt." He was 25 yards out. Just after I released the arrow he turned his head as if to go back from whence he came. The arrow struck the white throat patch and proceeded down the throat and pierced the heart. He struggled noisily for 20 yards and then lay still. My wife and young son helped me get him out of the woods.

I thank God for the way he blesses me and helps me in life, and for the excellent family with which he has blessed me. "All things work together for good to them that love God." Best of good fortune to you in your hunting ventures this fall.

Live well

Congrats on the deer, the ability to hunt and the successful knee surgery. Doesn't get any better than that!

Had knee surgery the last of May. Things didn't go all that well (screws pulled loose, wires broke) so it has taken a while to heal. Naturally, this was the year I was drawn for both a coveted elk tag and a whitetail tag.

Have to have the knee re-opened next week and will be laid up for at least several weeks. That means I have to eat the tags. Have refigured the hunting schedule to at least hunt whitetail in Texas in December.

I'm sorry to hear about your knee problems, Kdub. Trust in God and do what the doc says. It's what we can do.

Thanks for sharing. All I saw was a spike, but then I didn't have knee surgery either.

Long