Growing up my family was always pretty outdoorsy.

Going camping was a pretty frequent vacation for us starting first in a tent, then moving on up to a pop-up and eventually a tongue-pull trailer.

When you go camping a typical next step is hiking. Sometimes this was going on actual trails at parks or the like, but sometimes it involved us just setting out in the woods and eventually finding our way back.

There was more that I wanted though. Having spent time camping and hiking, what I really wanted to try was hunting.

My dad’s dad had always hunted deer up in New York and my mom’s brother is a frequent hunter in Pennsylvania, but it was something my dad never did and by extension I never really got into it.

Over the last few years it has become something I’ve wanted to try and Monday I finally got my chance.

With a camo jacket on and an orange marker over my head, I was led into the woods Monday morning.

The sun had not yet risen and the chill in the air made my breath look like smoke from a chimney. Bundled in layer upon layer, I was ready for a morning spent looking for that big buck.

Venison burgers were served for dinner the night before and I had had deer sausage before so I was ready to fill my freezer.

As dawn broke we had our first burst of excitement when a buck grunted out in the woods. Barrels out the window of the blind, we scanned the woods with our scopes trying to find our target, but could never place the sound.

As the sun continued to rise, four does went racing through the woods to our right, but we never had a chance to get one in our sights as they went flashing past amongst the trees.

The best chance of the morning came after daybreak when a buck was spotted in the distance, but I was never able to find it in my scope and missed my chance to get some antlers on my wall and meat in my freezer.

The afternoon session was much less productive as the deer we were sure would show never come out in the open, if they were in the area at all.

Overall, my first trip into the woods was not a success. I think it was almost more upsetting that deer were in the area, but not in a place were I could get a shot off.

Before I went, I wasn’t 100 percent sure if I could take down a deer, but as I watched my target disappear into the woods I became sure that given the chance Bambi was going home as dinner.

Despite the lack of success, the peaceful day in the woods was worth it. Hopefully I will get another chance and next time a deer will make the poor decision of coming into my path.

Brandon O’Connor is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at brandon.oconnor@vicksburgpost.com.