One of the best deer watches on Rip N’ Tear Hunt Club Property is ‘The Knob’. It is also the most hardest to hunt from. This is not because of an obstructed view or a dangerous approach, but from the solitary maple tree that marks the spot to stand. ‘The Knob’ is a prominent rise in a hardwood setting that beckons the hunter to sit at the base of its maple tree marker. Its silent melody is hard to resist.

Many times I have tried to ignore its charms, and many times the angle of the sun and the comfort of the maple backrest have ushered me into a dreamy slumber.

I know I am not the only one.

One particular time, while I was under the influence of ‘The Knob’s enticing song, I awoke to the sound of twigs snapping not far from my feet. When the fog of sleep cleared, I was nearly face to face with two does within a few feet of my boots. The maple tree backdrop hid my presence. ‘The Knob’ can mysteriously impact wind conditions because the deer had NO idea I was there!

Well…you can imagine the rest of the story. After several, quick standing attempts and 1 empty magazine, the deer bounced away from ‘The Knob’s’ invisible tendrils without a scratch. I was left standing in the mid-day sun contemplating my next move.

At that moment, ‘The Knob’s’ silent, sleepy song rang out across the hardwoods. I joined in somewhere on the third verse with a loud snoring refrain.

This was not to be the last time I did something like this. I should probably tell the story about ‘The Throne” - another great deer watch…