Good luck to area hunters on Saturday

Saturday, November 14 marks an important date for many area hunters. It is the opening day for Indiana deer firearms season. For many hunters, this weekend represents the single best opportunity of the year to harvest the trophy buck that has been on their mind since the previous season. A chance, perhaps, to redeem a near miss from the year before.

For me, the opening day of a new season springs forth a well of optimism. A wonder of what lies just beyond the darkness before the dawn.

Of equal importance to opening day for me, as well as many other hunters from the county, is an event that happens each year the day before the season opens. This event is deer camp. Deer camp started innocently enough eight years ago when we were approached about letting a young man hunt with us. The farm he had previously hunted had recently been sold and he was left with few options.

We agreed to let him, his father, and close friend come down and join in our hunt. The rest, as they say, is history.

Deer camp blossomed into an event to be anticipated. Vacation days were scheduled around opening weekend and feasts of chili and barbecue pulled pork became tradition.

Friendships have been forged over the bonfires that blaze the Friday before every passing year's opener. Around the fire, stories are shared of years past and hopes are expressed for the hunt to come. Grand plans are laid to increase our success over the last year.

Seldom are our plans realized. Even more infrequently does that trophy buck present a shot that enables the successful hunter to collect on the bragging rights.

When it all does come together, and the hard work and high aspirations reach fruition there is no better feeling than being able to share that with good friends. Friends that have been there during the difficult deer seasons and the bountiful ones. Friends that know how much it means when it all comes together and you are successful.

Some thoughts on safety

Having hunted deer quite a bit the last seven or eight years I have witnessed plenty of unsafe behaviors. On more than one occasion I have sat in my stand for an hour watching a buck in a field with a doe, waiting for them to make a move in my direction. While waiting a truck pulls up on the side of the road looking at the deer through binoculars, innocent enough. Then the binoculars go down and a gun points out the window and fires a few desperate rounds at the deer.

Please think twice before doing this, not only is this sort of behavior illegal but it also puts those of us on the opposite side of the field in danger. Furthermore it puts all hunters in a negative view. Deer hunting is a privilege, not a right. Let's not do anything to jeopardize that.

Hunter orange clothing is another requirement for firearm season. One of the first lessons learned in hunter's education courses is to always be sure of your target and what's beyond it. Hunter orange aids in this.

Disrespect for private property and trespassing is another issue I see nearly every year. In my opinion this activity is just as dangerous as shooting from a vehicle. If a trespasser was to shoot on an unfamiliar property, they would have no idea where others might be and run the risk of hurting someone.

My children will be accompanying me in the field this year and I want them to return home with positive memories of their first hunts.

So stay safe out there. Have a great opening weekend. If you get that trophy buck and want to brag a little please send me a picture and I'll revel in it with you.

Jon is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 21. He can also be reached via email at jonpswaby@gmail.com.