Fall has arrived, leaves are covering the ground, snowflakes are approaching over the horizon and hundreds of thousands of people are outside experiencing the best and worst that Mother Nature has to offer. What more could you ask for?
Every year, passionate outdoorsmen and women anxiously await the changing of the seasons so that they may take part in rituals that have been passed down from generation-to-generation for centuries. Whether it be chasing wily roosters, bagging a few green heads or harvesting a mature deer – it's all the same – we're giving in to our primal urges to truly be a part of our natural surroundings. Unfortunately, we sometimes lose sight of the big picture.
So far, this hunting season has been difficult for many. The abundance of agricultural cover is making roosters difficult to find and our avian friends who inhabit our wetlands have (at times) been more elusive than ever. However, we should all be able to take a step back and realize how good we have it.
Whether or not game numbers are down or at their peak, if you're lucky enough to have been introduced to the outdoors then you're lucky enough. Having the opportunity to get outside and hunt is something we should not take for granted. Sometimes you may bag your limit in an hour, other times the barrel of your gun may remain cold as ice. Either way, we shouldn't let the pressure of always wanting to be successful cloud our judgment of what makes a day in the field special.
This season I've already been skunked a few times, but this only reminds me that there is more work to do when it comes to conserving and improving our natural resources. On the days that I've had good shooting, I'm thankful to have been able to spend quality time with my friends and family in a way that is unrivaled to anything else.
Next time you fail to head home with a heavy game bag, don't be upset. Be glad to have the opportunity to hunt in the first place. Realize how lucky you are to have been introduced to a lifestyle that many people will unfortunately not have an opportunity to experience. So don't worry, be happy and hit it hard next time. After all, those roosters can't hide forever.