I heard the first shot of season about five minutes after legal hours began. It was to my north and not far away. I recalled talking with Mike and Jared Dagenais the day before and it sounded as though one of them scored.

About ten minutes later, there was a clap of gunfire to the south, followed in twenty minutes with another.

"That's three down.", I thought.

Nearing ten o'clock came the fourth shot - directly east of me where Chuck Derouin hunts on the east side of a long swamp. He never misses.

That's four deer shot within the sound of my spot already this morning. All I've seen is a knobby buck and doe that sauntered by about eight o'clock. Time to head back to camp for breakfast. It's my guess things will have to settle a bit before the deer lose their nocturnal tendencies. Most of the pictures on the trail cameras have shown night activity and this pressure will make them a bit more wary.

Just as I prepared to leave, a text message came over my cell phone from Kevin MacBride, one of the guys from camp who was hunting northwest of me by a good forty acres. His statement, "Haven't seen squat. Headed back to camp for breakfast."

Just getting on the four-wheeler the phone signaled again, this time from son Tony that he had shot one.

I caught up with Kevin and told him the news and that I was headed to see if Tony needed a hand. He didn't answer me when I asked what he got. I figured he was either tracking it or wanted to be sure on the antlers.

Last year he called me, in late afternoon of the third day of season, all excited that he shot the monster 12 pointer that had been hanging around his area. Once found, his count was off as it was an eight, four points shy of what his vivid imagination first told him. He's dealt with a lot of harassment since.

Tony hunts a field edge on land owned by our friend, Bob VanDamme, about 2.5 miles from where I sit. I headed back to see if his truck was still there. It was gone so I figured he'd headed back to camp. Kevin waited on the blacktop road to see if his help was needed so I waived him on and we both steered for the cabin.

There waiting for us with a four foot smile on his face stood Tony, along side his truck and next to a good size 7 pointer he had taken at first light. It was the second shot I'd heard that morning and only the second deer he'd seen. The buck was chasing a doe and the whole thing lasted not five minutes and was over. He saw it, liked it and shot it.

Tony stated that he, "was especially proud of this deer as it was the third he'd killed with Mike's gun. The gun was a rifle he'd received from his long time hunting mentor and friend, the late Mike Albert, who passed away four seasons ago.

That night we celebrated Tony's achievement over dinner after which he headed home for the night and preparation for a college exam scheduled the next day. My other son Jake was back for the evening having had to work opening day. He'll not have much time off so weekends will have to do.

At least that was the plan.

Tuesday morning Jake was headed home about 7 a.m., in order to get cleaned up and ready for work. Fifteen minutes later I heard the rumble of his beat up Dodge. He was back. I figured he had forgotten something. I noticed huge smile on his face as he approached the door.

"What's up?", I asked.

"Nothing, except that I got a ten pointer with my truck right after I got on the main road!", he responded still grinning.

Sure as heck. We went out to what now looks like a truck with a cleft chin, and in the back lay a nice buck, now a nine pointer with the better part of a "G" tine broken off from impact. He tagged it and we quickly field dressed it and cleaned up so he could still make it to work on time. We put the buck in my truck so I can check it in for him at the Rusty Rail. I also promised to make sure it was properly reported to authorities as any vehicle/deer accidents are supposed to be.

Kevin and I will clean up after, have a light breakfast and hunt this afternoon.

All in all not a bad opener. The best from up here since 1988 when I shot an 8 pointer on opening day and a fork horn the day after. I shot both with my trusty old 30/30Winchester.

This year the log will read: Tony - a 7 pointer opening day using his 8mm Mauser. Jake a 10 pointer on the second day using his 318 Mopar.

Memories.