So far, my hunting experience has involved Bo and I sitting in a blind for an hour at a time before he completely wakes up to the realization that he is trapped in a tent staring at the trees while being hushed every time he makes a noise – not exactly a 5-year-old boy’s idea of a fun Saturday morning. Real hunting is not like the instant gratification of video games, patience is the best strategy for getting close to a deer and he is still too young for that.
Deer hunting is not a young child’s sport, so I will give him credit for getting up early, hiking through the woods, and lasting at least an hour in the blind before getting too restless. The idea of hunting for a boy is much more exciting than the reality.
Winter feels close with temperatures dropping fast and snowstorms leaving up to six inches at a time; unfortunately it melts away by the end of the next day. It will continue to be a sloppy mess until the temperatures stay below freezing throughout the entire day and the ground begins to freeze. We might live in the only place that wishes for colder weather, but these in-between seasons can be a nightmare if the temperatures are too warm.
Warm Novembers can also make it difficult to find deer. They tend to sit tighter when it is sleeting, and harder to find when there is little snow on the ground to show their tracks. I will start taking it a little more seriously this week since I am finally getting my list of winter preparations accomplished. I have a hard time enjoying myself in the woods when there are still things to do.
Soon the lakes will freeze over, and the buzzing sound of snowmobiles will fill the air, until then we will have to deal with sloppy roads and muddy boots. Bring on the cold.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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