Like most people I love the changing seasons. I enjoy the transformation from one to the other and look to each with certain anticipation. Preparing for each individually, and reflecting on each as the year passes along.
For many outdoors persons, the seasons we mark aren't dictated with the changing of seasons, so much as they are with legal dates on a calendar. In our part of the world, whitetail season begins in stages. If you are from the lowcountry in South Carolina it begins in August. For me, its September, and the marking of seasons begins. I mark them all - Dove season, deer season, duck season, rabbit season, grouse, and woodcock seasons. Trapping season, and finally, the last of all Turkey season, which for some is the first season of the year since it begins in spring. But for me, its the last season of the year. My seasons begin September 1 with the opening of deer and dove seasons and end May 1 with the end of turkey season.
As I write this, I am looking at the calendar and see that we have fifteen days until the beginning of Turkey season. Youth Day is March 31, and I am anxiously waiting to take my son on his first turkey hunt. As I wait - might I add I am far more anxious than he, I am reminded that the seasons we mark as sportsmen are also seasons we mark as parents, sons and daughters, friends and colleagues. Seasons come and go, and they are all remembered for their success and for their failures. But more than that, they are remembered for the family and friends we shared them with and we always know that regardless of the weight in our game bag. These are always Times Well Spent.
No comments:
Post a Comment