Opening day of rifle season can be kind of intimidating, its like New Year’s Eve. Amateur night, innocent drivers do so at your own risk. The only difference besides timing is, and this is big, these amateurs are carrying rifles. So, it goes without saying that if you are going to hunt on opening day, get out in the brush- way out.
You’d think that in Montana that it wouldn’t be a problem- think again. I haven’t hunted opening day for awhile but today I did. Although it was great to be out with my dad and oldest son (not hunting with, say, Dick Cheney), the urban assault on the forest gets a little scarier all the time. We skedaddled off into the woods away from the road hunters and large brigades that were making their own large scale foot assaults and enjoyed a nice day in the forest.
We didn’t fire a shot, the buck got away- but the air was crisp, clear, the sun warm and bright. I made a feeble attempt at fishing after hunting all morning and part of the afternoon but the sun, air and exercise had turned me to jello. The fish handed me my head but I was content with just being outside and warm, trying to absorb all the solar energy I could knowing that it might well be one of my last chances for the year.
Next season I think I will just cast- when the crowds thin out, then I will blast.
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Sounds like a good day to me.
Avoiding opening day has become a ritual for me. Usually go fishing.
Sorry, accidentaly hit the Submit button. Except for the opening day of grouse season, that is still relatively sane. Especially since it is really easy to get away. Now the weather the past week has been sublime. And the fishing not too bad either. Nice pics!