By Tom Reese: I arose to a cold 2 degree, dark morning at 3:15, but no real wind thank the Lord! My spouse gathered necessary items (including a Stanley full of hot coffee...), and my son, Tom 3, prepped the Great Blue Whale (a Chevy van; eager and willing to go..probably more than we were).  An hour later we depart for Marriott Ranch near Hume Virginia for the Aaron Mountain Strutters first Wheelin’ Sportsmen hunt.

It's in my county and I am already familiar with the location. In my old 9-1-1 days, I had sent Deputies and Game Wardens there for trespassers and poachers too. I knew this was a good deer area...

As we approach the entrance to Marriott, a volunteer (I think it's Winston Streeter from the Gray Ghost chapter) is guiding us in from Hume Road. The path is well marked with signs announcing the hunt. Tom 3 follows other traffic back into the ranch. It's hard for me to see as I am riding on Matilda; my X5 power chair. I reckon she's a little more fit for duty in an Ameristep Penthouse blind than ol' Sherman. He did a tour in one at the Streeter house a few years ago and it was tight, but it worked. I reason Matilda can fit better.

After we park at the end of a large outbuilding, we meet up with another hunter from Culpeper County. It's dark back to the rear entrance, so Matilda sheds some light on the path. Upon entering the building, we were met with a host of people prepping for the day. I counted five of us in wheelchairs and I believe two on crutches.  It's cold inside. Tom 3 confirms -1 degree by the weather service. Ronnie Lambrich's new Ford pickup there says -4. The freezer in the building says 28 degrees, so someone suggests we go in there to warm up...

A couple of kerosene jet heaters crank up in an attempt to ward off the chill. I hear one NWTF person state that they thought no hunters would show due to the cold. We fooled them. I figure if they are willing to work this hard for us, we owe them the hunt, and that we will do.

Breakfast is served: Scrambled eggs - Sausage gravy and biscuits - Sausage links – Bacon – Coffee - Orange Juice - etc

Man, they want to make sure we have enough body-warming products inside us. We are encouraged to take all we want and we do. I eat with my gloves on for most of the meal. When my hands are cold, I am about through, and I have only brought two sets of hand warmers today (dumb dumb dumb). I gave them to Tom 3. He'll need them for his feet more than I will. Besides, since I can't feel mine, I'll probably burn them...

After meeting each other and getting instructions for the hunt (It's a DMAP program here...does only), we are loaded into our vehicles and driven to blinds. NWTF folks were going to trailer us out, but it's so cold they changed their minds.  Around 6:15AM, Tom 3 and I arrive at the blind area with two NWTF folks. They drop us off, get us set up in the blind, then move the van about 700 yards away or so. We await the morning...

0653   Legal shooting time. We have seen no deer at this time. It's cold, but the little Mr. heater that the NWTF has furnished (plus 2 extra propane cylinders...) is working. It takes some of the edge off but with the windows askew the heat rises up and out almost as fast as it is made...NWTF has also provided a piece of plywood for flooring, which makes using a wheelchair much easier.

By mid-morning, it was so cold the headlight stopped working on my chair; the cellphone battery dies quickly, and the seat elevator won't elevate. Tom 3 has taken some fitful naps with his feet to the fire...so to speak. The wind begins and things chill again. Brrrr... At 11:30 the NWTF folks come get us. I load into the van and depart for the main building and lunch and probably a few lies as well. Other than crows and one cow, we see or hear nothing.

For lunch we are fed two kinds of hot soup, hamburgers, various salads, and a ton of coffee and desserts. The NWTF folks have really tried hard to make this work despite the bitter cold. There are also baked potatoes, but I have to wonder if it was really necessary to put them in the freezer to warm them up....ha!

The Marriott Ranch has furnished us with a very much appreciated souvenir cap of the ranch. NWTF folks announce it's time for the group photo. We line up outside for the cheesecake and photogs snap away. We gather back inside and prepare for the next onslaught into the cold. No, no one has seen any deer yet...but there's always the afternoon. One of the NWTF reps asks me if I would return for this hunt next year, and I quickly say "yes". He is pleased with that answer. Again, if they hold it, I will honor them by coming. They have simply worked too hard for this not to.

At 1:30 I make a decision to leave due to the cold I am suffering in my legs and feet. My upper body is A-OK but I am concerned about my lower circulation and I feel bad for Tom 3 as well. I tell one of the NWTF reps of my thoughts, and he immediately tells me that if I can shoot from the van, they'll let me hunt at the blind area that way. Tom 3 gives me a thumbs-up. It's a go! I drive us back to the blind area. NWTF folks take the Penthouse down, and we park at a good angle to the hunting area. The rep states that vehicles go through here all the time and the deer don't care. I have seen that myself so I am ready to go. Tom 3 settles into a well-deserved nap. I settle in, but still keep the flintlock primed "just in case of that close dumb one"...

5:38 and we have been here all afternoon, using the heater when necessary. No deer seen, but it sure has been a nice day other than the cold. Unfortunately, the wind never went away either. Pity. We pack in our gear and head for the main building. I tell Tom 3 that we will probably now see deer...too late.

We pass the first blind area and three deer bound across the area. Oh well...at least we saw something.

The hunt is officially over. We arrive at the NWTF area and bid all farewell and thanks. Heading home, we agree this was one cold hunt, but it was run very well indeed. My thanks go out to the Aaron Mountain Strutters Chapter for their hard work in making this bitter cold hunt happen. Maybe it'll be a little warmer next time. Of course, I won't forget the "hunt from the van" idea either.