Life’s Been Wild This Year

What a crazy year it’s been, friends! I know my posting has been pretty much non-existent lately, and I owe you all an explanation.

From moving into our new place and welcoming our adorable (and exhausting) new puppy Nova into the family.

Not to mention finding out we’re expecting our first baby right before hunting season opens, life has been absolutely Wild.

Talk about perfect timing, or should I say terrible timing? But hey, babies don’t exactly wait for convenient scheduling, do they?

Now that we’re finally settled in and Nova’s starting to that our hunting boots aren’t chew toys, we’re getting that familiar itch again.

Fall is creeping up fast here in Eastern PA, and you know what that means!

Time to dust off the gear and start thinking seriously about the seasons ahead.

Small Game Season Kicks Things Off

First up on the calendar is small game season starting September 13th, which gives us just a couple weeks to get everything ready.

We’ve been scouting some new spots around our property, and honestly, the squirrel population looks incredible this year.

Plus, with all the acorns dropping early, they’re going to be fat and happy (perfect for the stewpot).

The timing actually works out well since we can start getting back in the rhythm with some easier hunting before the bigger seasons open up.

Nova’s been fascinated by all the squirrel activity in our yard, so at least she’s helping us scout from the back porch!

Archery Season, Life and Baby Timing

Then we’ve got archery deer season starting October 4th.

This gives us just over a month to get our bows tuned and our shooting skills back where they need to be.

BUT…our little bundle of joy is due right around opening day!

I’ll admit, between unpacking boxes, puppy training, and preparing for parenthood, we haven’t been practicing like we should.

But there’s something about that first crisp morning in a treestand that makes all the preparation worth it.

Even if those mornings might be few and far between this year.

Speaking of preparation, we’ve been checking trail cameras around the new property, and the deer movement has been fantastic.

Nova keeps trying to follow the scent trails when we’re out walking, which tells us the deer are definitely using those paths frequently.

Making the Most of Limited Time

The timing with the baby is going to make this season interesting, to say the least.

But we’re realistic about our hunting opportunities being pretty limited once little one arrives.

Those early October sits might be my last chances for a while!

Regular firearms season doesn’t start until November 29th, so hopefully by then we’ll have some kind of routine figured out and maybe I can sneak out for a few morning hunts.

On the bright side, any venison we can get in the freezer before the baby comes will be awesome when we’re dealing with sleepless nights and trying to keep grocery bills manageable with a new mouth to feed.

Life of a Busy Hunter

For those of you also dealing with major life changes this season, don’t let it completely derail your hunting plans.

Even if you can only get out for quick morning hunts close to home, make that time count.

Scout efficiently, practice when you can (even if it’s just 15 minutes in the backyard).

And remember that sometimes the most memorable hunts happen when you’re squeezing them into the chaos of real life.

I’m planning to share more updates as the seasons progress, assuming Nova doesn’t eat my laptop and I’m not too sleep-deprived to form coherent sentences!

Until then, get out there and make the most of these last few weeks of preparation.

Stay Wild!