Hunting season gets underway on Friday. Well, the main part of deer season. Bow hunting and black powder have been open for a while, although it doesn’t seem to be bothering the deer much.
At one time, they seemed to know. I can remember years ago, taking a drive around Lake Rossignol and seeing most of the deer, at least the smart ones, almost lined up on one side of the road. The side where the Tobeatic Game Sanctuary boundary began. They almost seemed to be standing there saying, “Can’t get me here.” I used to find it quite amusing. Deer lined up along the edge of the road, pretty much sticking their tongues out at people who went by.
But hunting season starts on Friday, and they don’t really seem to care much this year. I’m still seeing plenty of deer hanging around various roads and highways. Although maybe that’s their plan.
Perhaps they have figured out that those who hunt will spend hours travelling back into the woods to their secret hunting spots. Meanwhile, the deer are standing on their front lawn at home, munching grass.
I will admit that I don’t hunt much anymore. I used to at one time, but it’s one of those things that life gets in the way and I drifted away from it. I have nothing against it. I just don’t partake.
For a while, deer were hard to come by. There didn’t seem to be that many around. Now they’re everywhere. Especially along the roads. But hunting them by using your car is a bit more dangerous and also a lot more expensive. The price per pound goes way up when you have to replace the front end of a vehicle.
So we are getting to that time of year when wearing blaze orange is not just a fashion statement. If you happen to be venturing into the woods Friday or beyond, be sure to make yourself visible. And if you’re looking to enhance your protein consumption over the winter with a little venison, good luck. And stay safe.
I’ll be watching the deer graze on lawns. And I won’t give them a heads up the season opens Friday morning.
