The Gully Point

For years the gully point was just a place I walked past on my way to somewhere else.  I ignored the obvious as I made my way to better hunting spots.  The gully point ran out of a corner of an overgrown field down into a steep, wooded, ravine.  I never gave a second thought about how the top of the steep ravine the gully formed or the field corner by themselves were perfect funnels, much less how great they were together.  I never thought twice about how every year there was at least one scrape located on the point, I just looked down and kept walking.  I was always certain the camera I posted here every year was going to have at least one good buck picture, though I never thought about hunting the spot.  I just kept walking past the gully point, oftentimes watching deer race away in front of me as I passed through -- I didn't care -- I was going to better hunting grounds.

For several years a three-inch cedar tree seemed to be the spot where every passing buck left his calling card. A wicked ice storm bent a bigger cedar over the top of the small cedar, so now the bucks use the tulip and sumac saplings at the gully point as their calling card instead.  The tulips and sumacs aren't as tough and resilient as the little cedar, but every year there are new ones taking the place of the ones the bucks shred. 

 

But this year I have finally wised up.  I have picked out a long, tall, tulip poplar that is just perfect for my old loggy bayou climber.  From my perch I can look down onto where the gully point and the field edge meet, and the old cedar tree sign post.  Tomorrow morning I will be up in the tree.