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Ah, September is here!
First I sincerely want to thank everyone for your calls and cards during the recent loss of my son, Mark. He was my only child, my best hunting buddy and a great son. I know I will never get over it but life must go on and archery season is just around the corner.
You'll soon see lots of camouflage clothes hanging outside to air all the human smells out of them. Hay bales will appear in back yards for archery practice sessions, and sporting good stores will have huge upticks in sales of broadheads, arrows, boots, clothes and smelly cover scents and scents that are intended to draw a raunchy buck within range. And don't forget, the trail cameras are going up. So much to do now.
Things change in the woods, too. Bucks are vigourously rubbing the velvet off their antlers and polishing their horns. They are ready for the fights they are going to have with rival bucks for the favor of the does.
May I share an incident I had last deer season in the woods?
I do this to warn you that before you take a pit stop in the woods, look around to see if there are any cameras attached to nearby trees that will provide someone with a photo you really don't want them to have.
Last year I climbed out of my blind to attend to this business. I walked to what looked like a good spot to attend to it and happened to look up and see a camera on a tree in front of me! I wondered how many times that has happened to me that I didn't realize.
September is an exciting time to be in the woods. Wildlife is moving. Birds are beginning to flock up to migrate,wild turkeys are freely walking around, feeding and clucking and it is exciting to watch. Bears are stolling around feeding endlessly, just starting the preparation for their winter sleep. And deer are running around the woods freely. The bucks are ready for action before the does are and so the chases are on.
If you listen carefully you can often hear a couple of bucks sparring in the distance. If you are just sitting quietly some place, it may all unfold right before you.
Squirrels are racing around the woods, leaves are falling, bucks are busy making scrapes, with those clear patches they scrape for a place to meet with does.
Hunters are sneaking around the woods looking for the right spot to put up their tree stand or to find a suitable ground stand that will offer them good bow shots at deer.
Hunters are going everywhere trying to find ammunition.
Last year, my son realized that my guns -- that I have been using for many years -- were getting heavy for me. So for Christmas he sent me a new rifle. Then for a combination birthday and Mothers Day gift I received a new shotgun and a tripod. I am probably one of the few women in the planet who gets this sort of thing for a present. These will be the last from him, however, so I'll have to do this alone this year. Once again, thanks you all so much for your kindnesses to me.