Glory Days

[C.O.B.]

Ask any hunter what his favorite month is and it will undoubtly be October. The same reply will come to the question of "what's the shortest month of the year"?

The glory days of October may seem far off as this is early August but just like anything we long for it will be here and gone befor we can say "point" and walk in behind our favorite pointer for the flush. October brings the best from Mother Nature with the brillient fall colors, the crisp mornings and the touch of Jack Frost. There are upland birds, watefowl and deer to be hunted. For those that fish I hear this is a great time of year also.

Although August is known for those hot humid Dog Days of Summer we have enjoyed cool mornings and evenings and for the most part low humidity. There are Maple leaves already turning red and yellow and the hint of natures paintbrush is evident as I drive the country roads. The cusp of October is upon us and it's time to get ready.

I was once told that failure is due to a lack of preperation and that prior planning prevents poor performance. Our bird season will open in a little more than a month and as September is a tease for October it's time to get things in order. Grouse guns are bought and sold in the vain attempt to find that perfect gun even though we all know it doesn't exist. That short barreled open choked 20 guage goes to the sporting clays course to blow the dust off in preperation for the opening day, afterall it's been sitting in the safe since the end of last season and you know it swings faster and handles differently than the gun normally used for clays. The dog box is cleaned out, the old straw thrown away and the insect condo's removed. The beeper collar is charged and tested, dog collars are replaced and name tags are fastened. there is a first aid kit (mostly for the dog) in the truck and a pair of hemostats in the hunting vest. I can't speak for the rest of you but if Daisy finds a Porky there will be an altercation Hunting cloths are redied and my vest goes off to the taylor for a new zipper.

Lots of things to do in preperation for October so get ready it will be gone befor we know it. After all it is the shortest month of the year.

[charlie cleveland]

rich you certainly have given us a good charge up of the old batterie this morning i no of know things to add to your list of things to do..im certainly looking forward to those days ahead of october...thanks charlie

[MarketHunter]

Been warming up a bit at the trap range with the big DHE and also the Super Fox. Even took Dad's old quail gun out for a couple rounds of skeet. Been shooting everything low gun, even 24 yard trap.

Was getting a bit excited about the early goose opener over in Ontario but it's sounding like the day has been soured. Just heard from the boys and they've agreed to let this guy go along who films some kind of internet based hunting program. I've met the dude and he's not really somebody I want to spend the first waterfowling day with so I guess I'm going to pass. We leave for Quebec on the 20th so my first shot at fowl will have to wait till then.


DLH

[C.O.B.]

Destry doesn't early Goose season open here 9/1? I might even get in an afternoon hunt or two.

[MarketHunter]

No idea, I haven't hunted early geese in Michigan for several years. The couple spots I've got to go never seem to hold anything that time of year.

DLH

[C.O.B.]

Kurt Densmore chases them a lot...perhaps we can organize a hunt.

[MarketHunter]

Keep me posted.

[Fishtail]

I still feel the invention of the choke was the first step in the decline of shotgunning. The next was the repeating arm but that's a different story.

[MarketHunter]

I wanted to choke my friends when they announced this venture. Does that count?

DLH

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

There are no geese flying over my rural property, yet... I'll still put out dekes on my pond. Eventually they will come and my 10 bores and faithful retriever will be ready!