You would think that with almost 68 years of experience, I would no longer be surprised, or perhaps disappointed, is a better word, that the summer somehow passed and now I wonder where it went.
Not literally, but you know what I mean. All those plans you had for fishing trips, family reunions, hikes, camping, summer ball games, camping trips, bird watching, and just some good old-fashioned relaxing nights on the porch with a bowl of strawberry-topped ice cream , Where was it? they go?
Some of that happened, but not to the extent that I had imagined. And she never does. Plans change, bad weather strikes, and unexpected things come up. Lawnmowers break, AC units go off, paint peels, weeds grow (well, that’s not unexpected), and illnesses occur. You just didn’t do all the fun things you expected. But, there is hope. There is always next year.
And now, with the calendar moving into September, it’s fall, my favorite time of year. As a nature lover, the possibilities are endless.
Autumn is coming, and good fishing, hunting await
And while fall lends itself to some of the best fishing of the year, it’s the time every hunter has been waiting for. Whether that means taking the grandson squirrel hunting in the woods, sitting in a duck shelter waiting for the fog to clear, or hunting deer early in the season, it’s time for camouflage and the smell of freshly fired shotgun shells. . It is to enjoy cool mornings and cool evenings enjoying nature, even if a deer does not pass by your post.
Fall is deer scouting and trail camera viewing. He’s hanging deer stalls and cutting down shooting lanes. It is practice with your bow and practice with your weapon. It’s deciding when to take a doe, or if you’ll let the 8 pointer walk. Do you wait for the monster or do you put meat on the table?
Autumn is your back against a row of corn, overlooking a field of pigeons, where you hope your shotgun practice will pay off in the harvest of some fast-flying birds.
Autumn is driving to his duck shelter, where he makes sure everything is okay for that day when he calls a flock to his spread. It’s when you work on that hole in your boots, maybe buy more decoys for the hunt, or practice a little more with your duck and goose calls.
Fall is turkey hunting (although this year’s season has been shortened to 37 days due to a decline in turkey numbers) and the chance to put a real wild bird on the table for Thanksgiving.
Hounds howl, perch on the line
Autumn is the sound of warm beagles following the scent of a rabbit, or dogs hunting a raccoon.
Fall is also the prime time for bass fishing on Lake Erie and the start of some of the best walleye opportunities of the year. Fall is when the chance of a double-digit “Walter” trophy increases with each passing day. Fall is when rainbow trout begin to gather at the mouth of Lake Erie’s tributaries before they head inland to spawn, and when smallmouth bass continue to feed frantically as they fatten up for the winter.
Fall is pumpkin and apple orchards; is changing leaves; monarch migrations and holding hands on wildlife walks. Fall is for campfires and s’mores, the last canoe trip, firewood gathering, and sadly, preparing for winter.
This fall, go out and enjoy it, and don’t let it go.
OPENING DATES − The squirrel season opened on September 1, along with the pigeon, the rail, the snipe and the moorhen. Canada geese and teal (blue-winged, green-winged, and tan) began on September 3. Bowhunting season for deer is not far behind, with the state season beginning September 24 and a season in a few specific counties beginning September 2. 10
Hunters are reminded to check the regulations for changes to season dates and daily limits as the fall 2022 seasons begin. A summary of the 2022-23 hunting and trapping regulations can be found at wildohio .gov, on the HuntFish OH app, or anywhere licenses are sold.
Outdoors correspondent Art Holden can be reached at [email protected].