After standing quietly for a few hours on opening morning, Andrew started a stealthy walk through the forest. "We call it still hunting". He came upon a fresh blood trail (wounded deer) and followed it for some time before it petered out. We decided we would let it rest and come back to pick up the trail in the afternoon.
Andrew led me to the start of the trail, which he had marked with an orange scarf. The trail led us down into a deep ravine which we refer to as the cottonwoods, an area invested with gnarly buckthorn and berry bushes. After a while, I decided that I was entitled to a rest and chose a comfortable rock, upon which to repose. Andrew proceeded on, following the quarry's chosen direction, toward an afternoon stand position. After a short rest, I proceeded to a seldom used stand in the far corner of the oaks and sat down on a well worn old and welcome lawn chair (left out there for just such a purpose).
Within an hour, Andrew furnished all of the gratification and satisfaction a hunt needs. He not only recovered the mortally wounded animal, but kicked up a stealthy buck hiding in the oaks, causing it to run past the old hunter reposing in his lawn chair.
Results, two for two, satisfying and gratifying. Good hunt guy.
