This time of year is one of my favorites. The month of August is normally hot and, though this might sound a little strange, I like it that way as September nears.
So far, August has lived up to its normal billing. We’ve experienced a few days of 100 degree weather or at least near the century mark.
Heat indexes have been well above 100 in recent days. This summer overall though has not been a sweltering one.
Some areas, however, are becoming dry again and I know our and the areas around us that don’t have watering systems are also..
There are parts of the state that have received much-needed rain.
September 1 is only a little over two weeks away. That day marks the opening day of the dove season. It doesn’t need to be 100 or more. The mid to high 90s on that day and throughout the Labor Day weekend would do.
I’m thinking more of those who will have the opportunity to go to the dove fields to hunt. I’m sure with this cancer I probably won’t get there.
That’s because the hotter it is, the thirstier the doves will be and that makes hunting them around a pond a lot better.
A few years ago I started not caring as much care what the temperature might be on that date or throughout the Labor Day weekend. I had marked it off my calendar insofar as hunting was concerned.
I didn’t plan to nor did I hunt opening day of the 2018 dove season and for good reason.
Now to those of you who know me at all, especially those who are well acquainted with me and are my friends, this would sound rather odd.
Our daughter Meghan, and her husband Terry’s son and Pat’s and my grandchild was born on Aug. 31.
When she first told me she was pregnant, she quickly added, “and dad the due date is in early September which might conflict with your dove hunting.” My response to her was, “Guess I’ll just have to put that off for a while.”
I made and kept that promise and of course made it the priority. I know I can always hunt doves.
Even if I don’t get to go in a season no longer is it that big a deal.
The month of September also signals the start of the fall hunting seasons. As you can tell, yes, I enjoy hunting. It’s something my late dad taught me. I was picking up the doves he and others downed from the time I was 3 or 4.
Dad had me sitting in a duck blind with him when I was that young as well. You see, my biological mother died when I was 3 ½ years old of acute leukemia, so dad spent as much time as he could, teaching some of the things he hoped I would carry with me through my life.
It has and I’m glad of it. Hunting can be either work or provide a form of relaxation. For me, it’s the latter.
During my lifetime, I’ve had the opportunity to hunt doves, ducks, quail, pheasant, deer, turkeys, even rabbits, a few squirrels and frogs.