Our original plan had been to camp at the pond but due to two factors we had to relocate. First, was the previously mentioned cow pies. It was hard to find a soft, level spot that hadn’t been defaced by several recent bovine deposits. Secondly, it was the first weekend of hunting season, and the normally secluded nature of the spot was ruined by several groups of hunters. So we continued further into the forest and finally found a quiet spot to camp. In fact it was almost too quiet. I’m used to quiet nights at our house, but this was the quietest night I’ve ever spent sleeping outdoors. No wind, no birds, and almost no animals all night long. I did wake up at one point to something crunching through the forest duff, and shining my flashlight I spotted a startled doe just a few feet from our tent.