Sometimes in life we are faced with hard choices and trying to keep a balance in your priorities can really be a frustration for anyone.

Earlier in the autumn, I had missed my opportunity to plant my garlic when the weather was exceptionally nice. Instead I had committed myself to help at a church dinner.

I don’t regret helping out with the church as I do see the big picture and know that there are more important things to worry about than garlic and hunting!

Now fellows, before you throw me into the deepest part of a lake, keep in mind that I have always been very fortunate in keeping a balance in my efforts and it has always worked out for me. It’s just that we had rain for about two weeks and it was thwarting all of my plans to get the garlic planted and do some archery hunting.

I committed to meet my buddy, Jimmy, on Saturday for a day of deer and turkey hunting and we were blessed with ideal weather once again. Yes ,the garlic was waiting, the yard was full of leaves, and yet I did have my bow zeroed in for bull’s eyes at 30 yards.

The pressure was building up as I knew that the window of opportunity was closing fast and so I had to make some hard choices. I chose to keep my appointment with my buddy Jimmy to head for the woods at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Getting back into the routine of a fall hunt can take awhile, it seems that I always forget something that I wanted to bring or should have brought.

Cotton balls, that’s right, cotton balls … I wanted to put a handful in a plastic bag for deer scent use. I have found a drop or two of lure on a cotton ball does a great job when a buck wanders into range and you want it to focus on anything but you.

Apparently, I wasn’t focused and I forgot the cotton balls, so I didn’t try to use the deer lure.

The morning started out with me having a hard time getting oriented in the deep, dark, predawn hours. As I fumbled about in the darkness, I flushed a flock of turkeys off the roost and they thundered off into the night foolishly as they crashed through the leafy oaks.

I could hear them flapping all around me and I thought it would have been a good time to bring a turkey call as it was turkey season as well as deer season.

Missed opportunity, I guess, as the birds called to each other and regrouped on the other side of a wooded hollow from me. Sitting in my stand, I soon noticed that a gray fox had heard the commotion as well. He wasn’t missing an opportunity as he slinked through the thicket towards the regrouping turkeys most likely hoping to enjoy an unwary turkey for a meal.

The long awaited rut activity wasn’t evident in my hunting area and as the day developed into a perfect Indian summer day, we decided to try another one of our favorite spots.

Scrapes were evident everywhere and we settled into our stands along some old logging roads. Squirrels tricked me regularly with their leaf rustling and commotions that drew my attention all afternoon.

I decided to stretch my legs and take what I always call a scouting walk. That’s when I noticed two deer standing off the trail about 30 yards from me. I had both buck and doe tags, so I was in the perfect position to take what was offered to me.

I pulled my bow up and found them easily enough and in the range that I knew I had zeroed in on many times in the practice rounds. A large doe stood broadside to me and it looked like a perfect shot opportunity. My eyes were drawn to the branch that hung down like a banner on a beauty queen and it was covering part of the deer’s chest area.

Hunting ethics immediately kicked on in my mind as I realized that the branch could deflect my arrow or cause me to take a lesser quality shot.

In this case, it wasn’t a hard choice as I opted to wait out the shot and the deer decided that they stood around long enough and bolted for safety. I would have another day and the week ahead was calling for ideal weather.

By the way, with the great forecast I did get the garlic in the garden and the leaves done with the help of my wife and pal Beaver boy.

Even with the game pole being empty, it was a good day to make not only the hard choices, but the right choices. Until we meet again, keep your wits about you and may your choices be easy!