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October is the magic month.
It's a time of anticipation and action, planning and pondering, listening and learning.
It's the somber two-note serenade of a veiled bobwhite hiding out in his bunchgrass bungalow.
It's the whistling of wings filling the morning air as ducks seek out watery delight.
It's a German shorthair or Labrador retriever enjoying a day in the field as much as their human counterparts.
It's an archer sitting in their favorite tree and soaking up all that the surroundings have to offer.
Now that fall is finally here, the anticipation of enjoying outdoor opportunities this month and into the New Year is at a fevered pitch, and honestly, is there a better month in our great state? Hunting seasons have gotten under way, and there remain fantastic angling pursuits from the Panhandle to the Gulf coast. No matter if you're a first-timer or die-hard veteran, there's something for everyone.
Archery deer season already has had thousands of hunters across the state up before dawn in hopes of seeing that special buck they've scouted, and the general firearm season will begin in less than a month, running into January.
While deer are the prime desire for more than a half-million hunters in the Lone Star State every fall, there is no shortage of other critters out there to chase. Dove season is ongoing and cooler weather to the north has a tendency of pushing more birds down this way, making for some tempting late-season chances. If you're going to throw bowhunting gear into the back of the pickup, you may as well tote a shotgun along, especially if you've got access to water, the ultimate draw for doves.
Later this month, hunters in the High Plains Mallard Management Unit will get a jump on the rest of the state with the kickoff of duck season. They will have more days to hunt than those in other regions this year. For wingshooters who enjoy the bursting sound of a covey rise, the end of this month also marks the beginning of a four-month period to chase after quail.
When it comes to goose and sandhill crane hunting, October is the apex of anticipation for those seasons that begin in November and run for three months.
The same mild temperatures that make being outside enjoyable this time of year also are advantageous to anglers looking for bass, crappie, catfish or anything else that will stretch a line. Angling during the heat of the summer can be downright exhausting, but hitting the water now allows for fishing all day if you so desire. Cooler weather also makes it easier to take along a young one on any of these outdoor pursuits since they won't be as prone to overheating.
With hunting seasons under way and more on the horizon, and the chance at some cool-weather angling, it's a great time to be alive for young and old.
All I can say is God bless Texas.
Take a little buddy along
Despite the variety of outdoor opportunities in Texas, fewer people are hunting, fishing or doing anything else outdoors -- or introducing others to the pastimes. Most hunters and anglers took up their pursuit because someone else, generally a family member or friend, brought them along. In the electronic age, it seems people are more impatient -- or aloof -- than ever and are especially less apt to take youths along on their outdoor pursuits.
While technology has given us many improvements, it also has made lazy a full generation of individuals. You almost never see kids playing pickup baseball, basketball or football games, something that was a common occurrence a generation ago. By the same token, rather than slipping out to a local river, lake or stock pond with a rod and reel and some nightcrawlers, youths today would much rather hang out in front of the TV or work out their thumbs with video games.
There's no gift as special as your time, so next time you plan any excursion, look to include a youth or someone who has never gone before whether you're hunting, fishing, biking, hiking or doing anything else. If you don't have big plans, that's a great opportunity, too. Community lakes stocked with catfish and trout or stock tanks with bluegill and bass are great places to spend a weekend afternoon with a Zebco and a bobber before it gets too cold.
More than anything, these opportunities provide a chance to get some insight into what your kids or other youths have on their minds. Try to talk to someone when they're vested in a video game or TV show, and they're likely to give you the huff and puff or wave you away. Try doing the same thing when they're unhooking a fat, wiggling perch, and you likely won't get them to be quiet.
Maybe life is too short to make an impact on a great mass of people, but if you change a youth's life even a little bit with small brush strokes on the outdoor canvas, I can think of no greater achievement.
Big Time Texas Hunts
The deadline to apply for this year's Big Time Texas Hunts is Wednesday to give winners more time to prepare for their trips. Entries in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's hunting lottery are available online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/bigtime for $9 or for $10 at retail locations where licenses are sold or by phone at 1-800-895-4248.
There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may buy, but purchasers must be 17 or older. Among the seven hunting packages is the grand slam, which includes hunts for a white-tailed deer, a mule deer, a pronghorn antelope and a desert bighorn sheep.
Visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.
Will Leschper's e-mail address is wleschper@yahoo.com.
