Week 127: Well, since Thursday, I’ve been getting up at 3:30am to shower, gear up, grab my Bow and Backpack and head out to the woods. Since I hunt a farm just across the way, I simply walk from the house. (So yes, this doubles the distance) This is also over half a mile to get to where I hunt, and this morning I had to also carry my Decoy. Something I haven’t used in many years. But I had a Giant Buck come in on me Friday morning, and unfortunately I had one big branch that literally blocks my view of the back of the field, so he was able to get well within bow range before grunting and letting me know he was there, behind the branches and leaves. I had been watching a huge Doe prance around for 20 minutes, with the first 10 before legal shooting light. So I never got a good chance at her and simply watched her walk away. The Buck showed just 20 minutes later and was extremely close too, but the winds were swirly, and he got spooked and dashed across the field. (He was extremely large and definitely one of the largest Bucks I’ve seen, top 3 at least.) But it just didn’t work out and I won’t take chancy shots. … But the walk in, along with carrying my stand in the first day, and the Decoy today, has got my knee a little sore to be honest. But it’s not too bad… yet. But for the next week it should be a little better, being just my Bow and backpack, which is enough for this walk, not to mention it’s through some really thick Soy-Beans. It’s like walking through 3 feet of snow in some areas, and not the easiest to get in quietly. (Pretty much impossible really), so I’ve been getting to the stand about an hour before shooting light to help with this. … Had a little spike come visit this morning, feeding pretty much under me, and then saw a 6 Point or so running along the field edge on the other side from me. But it was quite hot for this time of year, so headed out a few hours before dark, pretty sure Deer would be bedded up with the temps nearly 80°. So I’ve been pretty much just eating OMAD, since I’m hunting most the day, and simply eating when I get home. I actually forgot to weigh in this morning, but I checked when I got home around 2pm, and it’s pretty much unchanged from last week. - Not sure if soreness weighs anything, but I’m definitely feeling these trips in an out of the woods… but in a good way.