The season is rapidly approaching. It is almost upon us! Every day, it gets closer and closer. Now, it depends on your point of view as to what you call “the season.”

To me, it’s hunting season. Oh yes! Believe it or not, it is just around the corner. Once Labor Day gets here, the temperature seems to change overnight and we begin to talk about the leaves changing colors, it will be the time.

Now, I know a lot of you will say that I’m nuts and that it’s way too early to start talking about hunting season, and some of you might be right. But, look at it from my point of view. I just started to place posters into the key stores in the area announcing the fall schedule for hunter safety training classes. For all those in need of obtaining a hunting license, you must first obtain a certificate from an instructor and to do so, you must first complete the appropriate training course. Call or e-mail me to register. So, it’s time to start planning.

 A couple of weeks ago, one of my sons and I took a hike to the “bear den” that I wrote about last fall. I’m glad to say that it is still there and has made it through another year undisturbed by pesky humans. The marker shovel, now closing in on 100 years old, remains right where it was, safely guarded by my fellow caretakers, all of the members of our hunting club.

The hike reminded me that the time to scout out deer trails and bedding areas was almost upon us. It won’t be long before we start seeing antler rubs on little saplings in the area. Time to start planning.

It also reminded me that I have to move my old tree stand real soon and determine where I’m going to place the new one that my wife bought me for Christmas last year and where I want to test out my new ground blind. Time to start planning.

When I got back from the hike, I remembered that I had guns and a bow that needed cleaning and oiling and general readying for this season.  Time to start planning.

Then, the following week, I received my new Cabela’s fall catalog. I didn’t think I needed anything or, as my wife puts it, there isn’t anything I could possibly need. But, she was wrong. I leafed through the 1,398 pages and sure enough, I found a couple of things that I just have to have. Time to start planning.

About a week ago, I received my hand gun permit. First time in my life that I have ever owned a hand gun. I figure that it will be a new adventure for me to hunt with it this season. But, it requires a whole new approach and some new equipment as well. So, it’s time to start planning.

Are you getting my drift yet? It’s not too early to be thinking about hunting. It should be easy to see that it “tis’ the season.” 

Now, like I said, the name of the season is dependant upon your point of view. To me and my buddies, it’s hunting season. To my wife, well, she calls it “scrap booking season.”  When I’m off in the woods hunting, I totally enjoy the peace and quiet of my surroundings. For her, when I’m off in the woods hunting, she totally enjoys the peace and quiet of her surroundings. There’s a connection there somewhere that I don’t think I want to figure out.

When I’m flipping through the pages of my Cabela’s catalogs, she doesn’t complain because a couple of years ago, I built her a new “craft room” in our home totally dedicated to her supplies and working area for scrap booking. I got a tree stand and  she got a whole room. I think that’s fair and more importantly, so does she. Plus, if you think it is expensive to buy all the little necessities for hunting, you should see all the little gadgets needed for her hobby.  When the manager of the AC Moore store sees her coming, the balloons and party streamers start flying! 

I lost almost all of last year’s hunting season because of some major surgery that sort of knocked me for a loop. This year, I don’t intend to miss a minute of it. I thought my wife would have a problem with my being away as much as I plan. But, she doesn’t seem to be putting up the least amount of resistance to my schedule. Seems she thinks that my near death need for  open-heart surgery kind of got in the way of her scrap booking time last winter and she’s got some making up to do.

So, you see, there is peace and harmony in the world.  Hunting season…..scrap booking season…..call it what you will. It’s all in your point of view. Just remember, it’s time to start planning. See you outdoors!