Okay, despite the “official anniversary” having passed, now I know I’ve been blogging for a year, because I’m writing about moose hunting again. The Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt started yesterday, and will occupy a large portion of my time until it ends on October 7th.
I have yet to fully form my hunting strategy this year. It’s complicated by a lot of factors. On the plus side, my brother and sister will be here for some of it, so we’ve got extra help should I bag a moose. I also have some great new camouflage gear to try out. We may even be house sitting in town for part of it, which would allow at least temporary access to modern wonders like freezers and refrigerators. On the other hand, we have a subsistence fishing permit, and have proven we can safely can fish, so, purely from a protein harvesting point-of-view, the same period as the moose hunt might be better spent fishing.
So, while many of the coming days will be devoted entirely to chasing phantom moose through the brush, I’m going to try to balance it with some common sense. I don’t want it to take over my life, in other words. I hope to take Aly with me for some of the forest rambles, for her sharp eyes and the sheer joy of her company, which is becoming even more of a premium as her college career looms. I may even work up the courage to ask to tag along with one of the neighborhood’s seasoned hunters.
As one example of this new outlook, today we’re all planning to go up into the mountains to pick berries. I’ll definitely take my rifle and gear, just in case, but the stationary blueberry will be this day’s primary prey.
What I can’t do is focus too much on what it would mean to bag a moose. As I write this, I’m salivating; moose meat is really, really good! I can’t let my lust for the meat cloud my judgment! Gotta keep a cool head . . . .
To read about my moose hunting (mis)adventures last autumn, type “moose hunt” in the Search Box on the upper right hand side of the page, or start with this post.