Deer Hunting –
In West Texas this year, cottonwood trees went straight from green to black leaves dropping. There wasn’t a golden yellow phase that makes the landscape seem magical. The early hard freeze nipped everything, which also meant the deer rut started a bit early. The rut is when bucks act crazy, chasing does and fighting each other, without looking out for hunters.
The bucks are not the only ones who get excited during the rut, hunters get buck fever and miss easy shots. Some hunters can only think about getting a 10-point buck. It is nice to get the biggest buck, but that’s not what hunting is about. What is it about? Spending time with friends and family in the outdoors is a good start. Getting out there and making meat for yourself, instead of buying it plastic-wrapped, that’s a big part of it too.
People don’t say it is the best time of the year for nothing. Waking up early and sitting in a cold deer stand makes you feel alive. On the other hand, sitting in your bed until noon on a Saturday morning feels bad, and not near as valuable as walking through the dark and killing a deer with your grandpa. It’s the time to get every second you can out of daylight. You never know when your last Fall might be.
