Much anticipated change

I’ve always enjoyed the fall season, as I anticipate cool crisp nights and that magical time of the year when our forests transform into a palette of vibrant colors. And as fall nears its end, I still find reason to celebrate as the winter season brings with it hopes of occasional days when the substrate is blanketed with snow.

But as the winter ends, I find myself most excited, and for good reason. With the spring season comes opportunities galore. As a photographer, I look forward to capturing scenes of a vibrant green forest canopy and a forest floor that is painted with an array of wildflowers. And one would be hard pressed to convince me that there is a more productive time to go fishing.

But I find little to look forward to as the spring season winds to its end. You got it. Summer is, by far, my least favorite season of the year.

I can recall a time when I looked forward to the summer months, as it was that magical time when I didn’t have to attend school. But things have since changed. And I can’t think of very many outdoor activities that I enjoy when the daytime highs exceed 90 degrees, and the air becomes stifling.

After experiencing a fairly mild summer throughout the month of July, the miserable days of the season finally set in. And as the temperatures neared or exceeded the century mark, I grew even more anxious for the heat wave to end.

Although a few of these sultry days of summer still lurk in the near future, I certainly find comfort in knowing that change nears. In fact, I’m already making plans for the months to come.

Of course, the ticks and chiggers are still out in full force, and the snakes are certainly still on the move. But I must not allow that to stop me if I plan to be prepared for the upcoming hunting season. I’ll simply coat my clothes with insect repellent, don my boots and be on my way.

I have no doubts that several hours will be spent clearing shooting lanes that have become overburdened with limbs and saplings throughout the past several months. And I have intentions of extending my lanes, so I can effectively hunt deer that previously managed to browse just out of range.

And although success was almost immediate during last year’s hunt, I still have intentions of of doing a little scouting and possibly moving my stand. Of course, the deer’s patterns will change as their food sources come and go.

But it still doesn’t hurt to put out cameras early with intentions of learning how many deer might be frequenting the general area. And I anticipate gathering as much information as possible about shooter bucks, and with a little luck, a trophy or two might meander in front of the camera as well.

This is also the time when I should knock the dust from my rifles and hone my shooting skills. In fact, I’ll also send several rounds through the pistol, as I intend to carry it during the modern gun season as well.

But there are other firearms that I must also prepare for the months to come. In fact, there are those that I will use long before the modern gun season is deemed underway. The archery season already nears, and the muzzleloading hunt won’t be far behind.

And I suspect I’ll use my shotguns and small caliber rifles soon, as I’m already anticipating chasing bushytails through the treetops as soon as the morning temperatures grow more conducive to hunting.

But hunting is not the only activity I’m looking forward to in the weeks to come. That’s right, I’m eager to get back on the lake and do some fishing. I suppose there’ll be ample opportunity to wet a hook during September and October. And I plan to spend several hours participating in my all-time favorite sport as November rolls around.

And I must also allow ample time for other activities as well. I have full intentions of logging many miles from the seat of my bike and I’m even considering a backpacking excursion that might last three or four days.

Yep the summer nears its end and the fall season is just around the corner. And I’m eager to spend more time in the midst of Mother Nature following this much anticipated change.