After last season I had not planned to hunt in Virginia any longer. After finding out some clarifications about transport of carcases across state lines I got permission from the landowner to hunt there again this year. I went out last Sunday to a the small piece of private property to set everything up since I removed all of my gear at the end of last season.
It was a chore. I spent about 4 hours clearing a trail with a mower and weed-eater. I carried about 300 pounds of gear up about 200 feet in elevation and erected a heavy two-man stand and one hang on with a climbing stick. It took four trips up the elevation climb to get everything set up.
I decided not to set up my ground blind due to the lack of level ground so I packed it back out as I left. When I got to the bottom of the hill near the freshly mowed trail I noticed that I still had my deer dolly and a foam cushion that needed to stay. Since this is private land and I have never seen any other hunters on or near it, I decided to leave the dolly and cushion at the bottom of the hill. I figured I would pick up the cushion on my next trip up the hill. I was just planning on leaving the dolly at the bottom of the hill since the dragging down to that point is normally rather easy. It would come in handy for the last few hundred yards out to the truck.
When I took my son out on the youth hunt Saturday my dolly and the seat cushion were gone.
Neither of the items that were stolen were of significant value, but just the thought that someone would steal them bugs the crap out of me. Honestly, I'm glad that they stole the dolly. That thing was the most frustrating piece of crap that I've ever taken into the woods. It probably had more deer strapped under it that on it. I only hope that whomever stole it owns if for the rest of their life. That would be karma.DuckHunt
Whoever did that needs a good ole fashioned whompin' and a stompin'!