Tempus Fugit

I don't know what genius decreed that mid-semester should occur at the same time as deer season, but that's where we currently find ourselves. Plus my wife made the poor decision to marry me in late October (the poor decision was the timing, not the decision to marry me).

Bottom line - too much going on, not enough time.

I have mid-terms scheduled for my classes this week. Next weekend (Halloween weekend, no less) is opening day for kids, and the following weekend is opening day for adults.

In Texas the kids get their own opening day, which I think is a great idea. However, it does complicate things. I'll take the grandkids next weekend, then I get to go hunting the weekend after that. However, I have to squeeze in a 20th wedding anniversary celebration sometime between the two (that is, if I want a 21st anniversary). Not to mention grading a whole passel of exams.

I did get a chance last weekend to visit the deer lease and get things in shape for the upcoming season. Blinds were repaired, shooting lanes were opened, and scouting was done. The ongoing drought has had a severe impact on the deer herd. Body conditions are marginal, antler development is minimal, and the fawn survival rate is way down.

That last has chilling long-term implications. Most of the deer taken every year are in the 2-3 year-old range. Given that last years fawn crop also had a low survival rate, that means that the next few years will have a relatively small number of deer advancing through their age brackets, resulting in poor hunting for the next several years.

On the bright side (sort of), the feral hog population is booming. Those damn things are the mammalian equivalent of cockroaches. I swear that they would survive a nuclear war. Since there is no limit or season on feral hogs in Texas, I foresee a hog-rich deer-poor hunting season this year.

Hmmm ... bacon ....