The leaves have changed color and started falling. The mornings are crisper, the cold wind from the North is reminding us of the annual ritual, the same ritual that mankind has faced for thousands of years. The time of planting is over and now the time for harvesting is upon us.

 

Before the harvest can begin preparations must be made. We have to check the equipment, get the gun sighted in, find the clothes we’re going to wear, both to stay warm and to look fashionable in the woods. To be adequately prepared we’ll need some liquid fortifications for “apres le chasse”. These days, however, it’s black coffee.

 

 

Most important is hanging out with your hunting buddies a month before season, to revisit the hunts of yesteryear and to review the reasons of lack of success. As with fishing these are best prepared in advance. A quick reminder may be necessary.

 

Too windy, the deer are hunkered down.

 

Too sunny, the deer aren’t moving.

 

Full moon, deer are feeding at night.

 

There are lots more, improvise.

 

Then, in the event of a missed shot, explanations may be necessary.

 

It was really brushy, I didn’t have a clear shot.

 

The deer was in overdrive, a quick shot was all I had.

 

Scope was fogged up but be careful with this one.

 

Dog barking, ATV started up, another hunter shooting.

 

Again, improvise as necessary, pay attention to what your buddies are using. Under no circumstances admit to having fallen asleep or forgetting to load your gun or buying the wrong ammo at Fleet-Farm. After all .30 caliber is .30 caliber, right?

 

 

I started deer hunting at about 14, I had a 30-30 Winchester, model 94, that my Dad and I had picked out at a pawn shop in Minneapolis. I paid for it myself, with my paper route money, forty bucks, as I remember, 1951. Deer were scarce in those days, I didn’t get one for a year or two. I hunted every year until I left home at 19.

 

For the next 30 years or so I didn’t have a chance to hunt deer, busy with life things. Finally in 1987 I had both the time and the place and restarted, with my two brothers and a couple other friends. Deer are much more plentiful, hunting tactics have changed and instead of us chasing deer we wait ’til they come to us.

 

Now, as I’ve said, my Dad sits with me in the deer stand, at least in my memories. My brothers are gone and we’re down to two hunters, my bee partner and me. It’s not so much fun as before, the camaraderie isn’t the same but we still have to keep the tradition alive. It isn’t as important now to shoot a deer, harder to have bragging rights with only two guys but I still keep a list of explanations for any challenges that go unmet.

 

 

We have two vacant deer stands if anyone wants to join us. More people, more fun. No guarantees on the deer but the calendar doesn’t care, the pages keep flying off.