“I’ve been hunting with my father ever since I was a young boy. He taught me how to hunt and shoot, firearm safety, and have respect for the outdoors.”
— Jon Pardi, country music singer/songwriter
Last week I ventured to the end of our gravel road to pick up a friend. Along the way I spotted a unique posted sign. I fell in love with it and returned the next day to get a photograph. Another neighbor has a rustic sign on her barn that reads “The woman that lives here owns a gun.” That made me smile too. OK, guns are a little political and I am not, but this is the South and such signs appeal to my peculiar brand of humor. The posted sign reminded me that hunting season is just around the corner. I am not a hunter and there’s no hunting on our land, but I did grow up with hunters.
One of my fondest memories with my dad was when the whole family gathered at my sister-in-law’s family hunting cabin. The women spent the day cooking and planning and visiting. There were board games and time spent sitting on the porches. When I was 8 years old, I accompanied my dad to the hunting stand. Dad had really lost interest in hunting by then so we lolled around on the ground and soaked in the warm sunshine while eating egg, ham and biscuit sack lunches the ladies had prepared. I won’t ever forget lying back in the warm fall sunshine, the golden leaves fluttering down on me, biscuit lunches, and dad and me counting birds in the trees.
Fall hunting season is coming around again. For everyone’s protection there are lots of rules and regulations for safe hunting. Here’s just some basics but best to check out the website mdwfp.com. Everyone from age 16 to 64 must have a hunting license. Anyone born after 1972 must attend an approved hunter safety education class. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset in most cases. Raccoons, fox, possums, beaver and bobcats may be hunted at night. Hunters must wear 500 square inches of florescent orange anytime firearms are allowed. I’d add anytime anyone is walking or hiking in or near hunting areas to wear hunter orange. When you live in the Prairie it’s not uncommon to hear nearby gun shots loud enough to rattle the windows. Youth season starts Nov. 11 and antlerless primitive weapons start Nov. 11. Gun season starts Nov. 23.
In preparation for hunting season it’s a good time to clear lanes for visibility from the hunting stand or shooting house. It’s best to have two people so one can sit in the stand and advise the other on the ground what needs to be cleared. Vision from the two points can be quite different and you don’t want to over-clear. Be aware deer can see, hear and smell better than you, so cover your tracks and be selective in the tools you use. Avoid noise and gasoline. Clear as best you can while making as little impact as possible.
Then go where you’re invited, stay where you’re well-treated and enjoy the season as often as you can.
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