Hunting season in Texas has been in full swing for about two months. Doves started in September and bow season (for deer) started the first of October. Now the bow hunters are coming out of the woods and the gun hunters going in. Those of us that hunt have been getting a bad rap as of late. I say it is unjustified. Are there bad, unethical and unlawful hunters and guides? You bet there are. Whether it’s hunting, fishing, work, sports, politics or any other facet of life or in any part of our planet there are bad, unethical and unlawful people. If you don’t want to hunt then don’t hunt. Also, don’t put the life of a lion that was shot above the life of someone in Baltimore or Chicago that was shot. But hey, in our world we’re not supposed to blame all for the actions of a few or one. That is unless you hunt, or you’re a Police Officer and I’m tired of it.
I’m not a Police Office but I have been a hunter almost fifty years. From doves to deer, for me, the act of hunting is the goal. Back in the 80’s I went seven years between harvesting (killing) a deer. My wife thought I was cheating on her every other weekend from November to January! I did try to explain that the deer were either too young or of prime breeding age and we were trying to shoot the old and the misfits. She didn’t buy that. So I told her that being in the woods with Mother Nature make me feel truly free and gives me an internal peace that I seldom get anywhere else. She said “yea I was cheating on her” but she understood. It has been and always will be that way for me. It is also the same with the vast majority of hunters. If the day comes when I don’t get that feeling, well I guess I’ll learn to play Bridge. Ok, that’s enough.
I have talked to the fine people at Ye Old Butcher Shop about this year’s deer. They have taken in an above average number of deer this bow season but the vast majority have been management deer. For you non hunters a management deer is one that is killed for the over-all health of the heard. That usually means that there are more deer than the land can support for overall heard health. If the feedback from the bow hunters is any indication, it looks like it will be a good year in the deer woods.
By the way, Well Brothers has a 50lb bags of whole corn for $8.00. Have a safe season and keep the wind in your face!