Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, I will be just about ready to board a plane heading back to Mississippi’s woods and waters from the beautiful sunshine state of Florida. Our annual company meeting sure does seem to come around quicker than once a year, but everyone tells me that it doesn’t. The years have to pass by faster now than when we were kids. Before you know it, 2010 will be gone too.

I don’t want to rush my life away, but in some respects I want the hot, mosquito-infested months to fly by. That just means huntin‘ season gets here faster, but alas, as the rest of the year passes, so does hunting season.

This hunting season is rapidly leaving here. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we still have time for some really good opportunities for some late season action. When I land, it’s a pretty good bet that it won’t take me long to ease back into the swamps. Cold weather and a few straggling does coming into heat may bring out of the thickets what we have been waiting on all season. I have my trail cam that Mel gave me for Christmas guarding some big fresh scrapes while I’m gone. I can’t wait to see what has been lurking around some of my stands in my absence.

JH is still on Christmas break from college. I hope he has slowed on his passing of bucks this week. He has really hunted hard this season, looking at buck after buck. I keep thinking of the old adage, “good things come to those who wait.” Heck, maybe this will hold true for me too.

In addition to having some time left for the mallards and bucks, there are still plenty of other critters to pursue. I have noticed a ton of doves floating into corn and soybean fields lately. We still have some season time left and I plan on topping off the freezer with a few more quarts of the delectable morsels for the grill. Late season dove hunting can be a blast, literally. Dress warm and shoot some high velocity shells. These big migratory birds are heavily feathered and can really take a load. If you get the chance, treat yourself to one more good shoot before we all have to wait on September.

We still have time for some late season squirrel hunting too. The leaves are gone from the trees and it’s a great time for a good squirrel hunt with a dog. A scoped 22 rifle is the perfect medicine for those bushytails hiding in the fork of a big oak. It’s a good idea to have a backup 12 gauge for those missed shots or those squirrels that make a break for it. One added bonus is the opportunity to find those old scrapes and rub lines from those crafty old bucks that have eluded us all year. It’s a good chance those same bucks will be there next year. Now is a good time to plan for the next season.

Don’t forget the rabbits. We still have a lot of time for them too. A race from a pack of loud beagles will bring excitement to any hunter. If you’re lucky, you might just step on a rare covey of quail. A bird or two will make a nice addition to a mixed game bag. There are other opportunities too. Species like snipe, woodcock, rails and gallinules provide ample opportunity for us to get out of the house.

You know, with all the species of game that we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to chase, maybe our hunting season is longer than we think. We just need to take time to broaden our horizons and not limit ourselves to the most popular one or two species. This may also be the perfect answer for not “burning ourselves out” by just deer hunting or duck hunting. I know you have been there.

Who knows, by giving ourselves a break and hunting other species, we may enjoy going back to the stand or blind that much more. I think we’re onto something here. Don’t stop hunting, hunt more by enjoying the other seasons. I’m sure the spouses will love this advice.

Until next time enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.