It's That Time of Year...

It's that time of year - the sun has disappeared behind steel-wool clouds, only a smattering of forlorn leaves remain on the trees and the jack-o-lanterns are popping up: ALMOST DEER SEASON.  The shorter days are getting the bucks and does in the mood, and sending the hunters to their basements to dig out their blaze orange apparel, pocket warmers and that well-worn box of shells they bought at Gambles back in 1981.

They've been showing up around here for a week or two now, coming up to check their stands, clean their shacks, clear trails, etc.  You can tell what they're up to when the pull up with a trailer full of four-wheelers, lumber and ladders and step out of their rigs wearing camo baseball caps, almost giddy.  A few of them come disguised as grouse hunters - any excuse to go out into the woods.  It's the favorite time of year for alot of us Minnesotans.

Of course, the bow hunters have already been out for a couple of weeks.  These folks are really dedicated, spending hours in their stands, moving nothing but their eyeballs.  A lucky few get their deer, but most will trade in their camo for blaze orange and head back into the woods with their rifles come November 3rd.

Bob Hoffman is one of the lucky ones, registering this nice 10-pointer this morning:

That should get the blood flowing. Got your gun sighted in?  See you in a couple of weeks!