First day of Hunting Season

Today was the first day of hunting season.  Carl, Nathanael and Noah dutifully awakened before the crack of dawn so that they could head up onto the ranch and take part.  Nathanael has been practicing with his bow, because he desperately wanted his first deer to be shot with a bow.  However, he couldn't quite get the poundage up high enough, so Carl talked him into shooting one with a rifle.  They saw some BEAUTIFUL deer this morning and this evening, but they were never able to get a shot that Nathanael was comfortable with.  Knowing my boys, though, they will keep trying.  There's a large white tail running on the ranch right now, and Nathanael really wants it to be his.  I don't have any pictures from today, but here's some hunting pictures that I didn't post over the last couple of months.

Carlye holding her Axis skull mount.  For those of you who missed it, she shot this at 185 yards with a 30-06 from our front porch.  She's frowning because she wants her Uncle David to help her make a wood base to hang it on.

Sam and Carlye on the first day of dove season.  Sam was teasing Carlye about being a girly-girl, and she informed him that she doesn't know of any other girls that will stick their finger up a birds bottom  and tear it's head off.  Dove hunting is VERY glamorous......

Carlye, Boston and Noah with the aoudad that Carl shot.  We've been eating the meat, and I have to say that - even though it tastes great - it is hard to wrap my head around the fact that I'm cooking aoudad.

3 of the best looking kids I know.

Sam, Noah and Nathanael showing off their quarry.

Another one of the old pictures I found in my closet.  Carlye, Sam (both 6 yrs old) and Nathanael (4 yrs old) with an axis that daddy shot.  

Today I am thankful for warm blankets and soft beds and days without alarm clocks.  I'm thankful for cooler weather, changing leaves and yummy apple cider.  What are you thankful for?