One of my favorite things about the Ozarks is when one-season ends and another one begins. It doesn’t seem to matter what season is ending and which is beginning, I am anxious every time. I am not one of those people who prefer one season to another. By the time each season gets here I am ready for it.
As temperatures begin to drop and it starts getting dark just a little bit earlier I know fall is right around the corner. And of course, fall brings a lot of good things with it. In the fall you get fall festivals, football games, Halloween, Thanksgiving and one of the most anticipated things around here, fall hunting.
As bow season approached, I began to get a little nervous. I just started bow shooting last year and I haven’t pulled back my bowstring since February. I’m a little rusty to say the least.
A group of my friends got together on Labor Day to practice on a local 3-D course. I was the least experienced shooter among the group and was very intimidated by their skills. Nonetheless I shot the 30-decoy course anyway.
This was the first course I shot last year and I must admit I did do slightly better this year, although I lost an arrow. I’m lucky I only lost one, it seemed like I did a lot of arrow hunting that day; that’s just part of it though, when you are an inexperienced shooter.
I have good intentions on shooting more, it just seems like life gets in the way. Living in town makes it more difficult. I can’t just pull out my bow and step out into the yard and practice like I could in the country. There is always an open invitation to practice at my parent’s house, but even then it seems like I don’t get to make it home near as often as I would like too.
This fall when you are out hunting, at fall festivals or cheering at a football game, I encourage you to include youngsters in these activities. Fall is a great time to get youth involved in outdoor events. If you are hunting with youth, remember not only to show them how fun and exciting hunting is, but also be sure to teach them about hunter’s safety.
I know fall is just getting started, but I am already beginning to collect recipes for our annual Country Christmas Cookbook. So be sure to send in your favorite family recipes. Recipes can be mailed to P.O. Box 1319, Lebanon, MO 65536 or emailed to [email protected].
Best wishes,
