The regular deer season comes to a close this weekend, but because I’m composing this column with several days left in the second week, I can only report I haven’t acquired any venison for the freezer so far.

But I plan to be out trying to rectify that situation before time runs out this season. Having snow on the ground for almost all of the first week was enjoyable.

One afternoon last week I sat on the side of a steep hollow. I had shot a nice 8-point at that spot a couple of years ago on opening day, so I was hoping for a repeat of that success. No deer happened by on that watch, but I was awestruck at how peaceful and serene the woods can be with a soft layer of snow on the ground. There wasn’t a breath of wind to break the stark silence, and not even a single bird or a squirrel was out to challenge the stillness.

My favorite method for hunting deer is still hunting, which is walking slowly and stopping frequently while looking ahead to spot deer before they run off. An older mentor who introduced me to the technique used to say, “Walk one step and stand for three.”

A couple of inches of soft snow creates ideal conditions for walking silently and seeing deer at a distance. I was able to cover a lot of ground last week. I don’t know a lot about geology, but after those treks, I’m convinced some of those ridges where I’ve been pursuing deer for more than 50 years are suddenly getting steeper.

The end of the regular deer season doesn’t mean the end of all hunting opportunities for another year. Small game hunting returns on Dec. 15 for squirrels, rabbits, pheasants and grouse. Archery and muzzleloader hunters who still have an unfilled deer tag can participate in the late archery and flintlock seasons that begin on Dec. 26.

Again this season, a special antlerless-only deer season will be held in WMUs 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A from Jan. 2-19. Be aware that Sundays are not included in any of those late-season hunting opportunities.

While a wintertime hunting trip or two will help ward off some of the inevitable longing for the return of spring, good weather and lots of good fishing opportunities, I know I must prepare for passing a couple of months mostly indoors. Catching up on my reading will occupy many winter evenings, and a tall stack of books on my coffee table already awaits my attention.

The diversion I’m most looking forward to, however, is spending plenty of time tying trout flies. Fly tying has been a constant source of fascination and satisfaction for nearly my entire life. No two hobbies complement one another as well as fly tying and fly fishing do.

For anyone who has been contemplating learning to tie flies, the John Kennedy Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be offering an eight-week Beginner Fly-Tying Class on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. until noon, starting Jan. 3 through Feb. 21 at the Allegheny Volunteer Fire Department located at 651 Sugar Run Road, Altoona. The program is free, and all the necessary tools and materials will be provided.

Class size is limited to the first 25 participants registering for the course. For more information or to register, contact Scott Kavanagh at 814-515-4788 or Lexi Trenger 814-312-8559 or email to johnkennedytu@gmail.com.

When I began tying flies back in the 1960s, I would have loved having access to some in-person fly-tying instruction such as this.

Back then, most avid fly-fishermen tied their own flies for several reasons. One big one was that flies were not available in the quantity or variety that most tackle shops currently offer. Another was saving some money. Once you have incurred the initial startup costs for a basic assortment of tools and materials, you can tie a fly for a fraction of the cost of buying one at retail prices.

As new tiers gain experience, they tend to experiment, which can result in the creation of a personal custom fly pattern or two that become real fish-takers. And finally, fly tying is a great hobby in its own right, so if you’ve been tempted to learn what it’s all about, these free wintertime classes are a perfect opportunity to do it.

And if you are still in need of a gift for an angler on your shopping list, the 2026 fishing licenses are now on sale and can be purchased online at HuntFish.pa.gov or at any of the more than 700 issuing agents around the state. A fishing license makes a worthwhile gift for any anglers on your holiday shopping list as well.

Even the most hardcore fisherman who already owns every conceivable piece of tackle still needs a new fishing license each year. A voucher can be purchased online or from any license vendor, and the recipient can redeem it for an actual license.

Multi-year license options are also available in 3-, 5-, or 10-year increments and will enable the recipient to be properly licensed to fish for years to come. A trout permit, a Lake Erie permit or a combination permit are necessary add-ons for many anglers as well.