Tis The Season

It's the time of year when the men folk around here are making their preparations for the arrival of the first Autumn hunting season. Guns are lovingly cleaned and polished, the spider webs are shaken from hunting coats, ammo belts, and game vests, and plots and plans are made to bring home meat for the table. A glow surrounds them and this strange gleam shines from their eyes as they gather to talk of their aim to kill the poor, defenseless, animals that they'll stalk for the next few months.

I have to tell you, most of the animals are fairly safe from the great hunters of this family because, although they profess skill as hunter-gatherers, we'd most likely starve if we had to depend on them to keep meat on the table. If, and when, they do bring home game, it is at great cost, so great that I believe I could have filled the freezer with a winter's worth of well cut, beef steaks for the same price.

For instance, dove hunting season begins this weekend and the projected expense is,,,

Sunflower seeds planted in May for a field for hunting, approx. $125.
New hunting license and a case of shotgun shells $ 80.
Insect repellent (cause those skeeters are rough this time of year) $10.
Incidentals $25.

Total: $240.

That'll be the cost of the meat for maybe 2 dinners made from the doves they'll kill. I do believe I could buy some fine beef for several dinners with $240.

Deer hunting season is even more expensive due to the costs of the deer stand, the arrows (for bow hunting with the $250 bow), the shells (for rifle hunting with a $700 rifle), the food and supplies for deer camp (if they go), the hand held GPS, at least 2 compasses, the atv, the gun case, gun sling, and don't forget the incidentals.

Is it worth the money? OH yeah, even if they don't bring home meat for the table, it's gotten them out of the house and out of my hair, and like I mentioned, the animals they hunt are mostly safe.


My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Lousiana and Mississippi who've had their worlds turned upside down and I hope John stayed safe!!