Living
Al Brown | Tracking the Seasons
The year that was
There are just a few hours remaining in 2009 before historians close their books on the year that was.
Among other noteworthy scribblings recorded will be the running battle between hunters and the Department of Natural Resources over how to manage Wisconsin's whitetail deer herd and how to estimate pre-hunt herd size.
Both are subjects of much conjecture, as is the hodgepodge of mini special interest deer seasons.
In the end, whether hunting or fishing, and the seasons are over, the only thing we really have left is our memories.
For me, getting up each morning, warmed with a hug from my wife and able to look out the window to watch the birds at the feeders makes for great idle-time memories.
So do the recollections from the fields and lakes.
Among my favorites from this year is the morning I was turkey calling for my friend Frank Slayton of Oconomowoc.
From inside Frank's two-man tent, which was set up at the edge of a hayfield that offered him a good view down a tractor trail leading up from the woods, we waited silently, save for an occasional seductive hen yelp on my box call.
But no gobbles.
Unable to see down the trail from where I was sitting in the tent, I settled for watching Frank's eyes and trigger finger.
"If you see a gobbler, bring the gun up but keep the safety on 'til you're ready to shoot," I told him.
Suddenly, Frank raised his shotgun and whispered, "It's a big tom.
He's in full strut, about 50 yards out and coming."
"Don't shoot until he reaches the 25 yard marker," I reminded.
Suddenly there was the roar of the gun and I asked "Is he down?" followed by "Is the safety on?"
"Yes" and "yes" were Frank's responses, followed by a series of spontaneous wild hugs, high fives and picture taking.
Whether it's muskie fishing with Dan Busch on Pewaukee Lake, bass fishing with Eric Catlin on Lake Waubesa, picking strawberries from our garden with my wife, Anne, watching the grandkids learn to shoot a .22-caliber rifle off our back porch or tagging an eight-point buck taken with the crossbow after three years of trying, regardless of the happening or the occasion after the fact, the only things left to savor are the memories.
Happy New Year!
- Hunters and mentors
- Don't know what you've got …
- Survival of the fittest
- If you can't stand the heat …
- Let's talk turkey
- Inclement weather!
- Snowmobiling and driving - not a good mix
- Sun, wind, earth and snow
- Survival of the fittest? Or survival of the doe?
- Don't worry, I've got your 'beak'
- Hey Santa: From crimson red to blaze orange
- Where are all the deer?
- Late freeze extends muskie season
- The smell of failure didn't last long
- Happy hunting!
- Bucks come a running
- Confused in more ways than one
- Confused in more ways than one
- Ready ... Set ... Fire
- Sit back and relax - for now
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