Well, here goes; I've never had a blog but it seems that it might be an enjoyable little hobby.
I just started it today and will be adding to it as time permits. I guess things that are built slowly last longer, so this should last a long time.

I fancy myself a writer so I'll copy and paste one of my essays:





SQUIRELL HUNTING PROBLEM
By
Skully
Monday, October 09, 2006

I have discovered to my dismay that my “hunting buddies” are no more. No, they haven’t gone to the happy hunting grounds in the sky; it seems that they have just lost interest. Opening day of Squirrel Season used to be a big holiday; now it is just me and my trusty side-by-side 12 gauge strolling quietly through the woods scanning for movement in the trees. The standard opening day used to consist of a great deal of fun. We would meet at the cabin on Friday evening and have a feast. We then would get up just before the sun and set off in different directions to hunt the morning quarry. We would meet back at the cabin around 10:30AM for lunch and to share tales of amazing shots and even more amazing sights. The day would end around 2PM and we would head for home to make savory squirrel stew and dream of the deer season to come.

Yesterday I got up at 3AM and headed alone to the cabin where I waited for the sun to rise. The morning was as brilliant as I could have hoped and the air was cool, around 40 degrees. I set off at a very slow pace, stopping every few yards to scan the trees and hillsides for bushy tails. The foliage is still very thick as the leaves have just started turning and only the poplars have lost any thickness. I was able to get only two by 11AM although I saw many more. My heart just wasn’t in it; even when I saw a pack of whitetail doe standing 50 feet away I just didn’t feel the rush that usually accompanies such sightings. I did however feel very much at peace with the woods; my mind was uncluttered and consumed only with what was within the range of my shotgun. I’ve never felt that peaceful in the woods before; normally I am a little stressed about getting my limit. Not stressed in a bad way, more like the stress of competition though I do not actively compete when hunting…well…you know, it’s a man thing. I think I may have wasted my first experience of being at total peace while hunting. I was probably unconsciously feeling sorry for myself; and missing the holiday feeling that has always been there on opening day.

Next week is opening day of Whitetail Archery Season; I am used to going it alone as my hunting buddies do not bow hunt. I hope that as I sit in my stand that I can re-visit the peace that I felt during my lonely opening day of Squirrel season.