A Year in the Life of an Outdoorsman in New England

 

When I was 14 years old, I had a basketball coach who told me that I wasn’t great at any one skill, but I was pretty good at a lot of skills. I wasn’t sure whether or not to take that as a compliment or a criticism, but it explains a lot about my personality. I have a hard time focusing on just one passion.

Like most hunters, I was introduced at an early age by my Father. My Dad took me deer hunting a few times, but quickly changed tactics when he realized I was doing more sleeping than I was looking for deer. So he started introducing things like hunting for turkeys, waterfowl, and upland birds, along with getting the occasional bobber wet. It was a great way to get a kid into being outdoors, without having to be totally quiet and sitting still. I have thought about taking a similar approach now that I have kids of my own, but I also blame this tactic for the addiction for all things outdoors. I can’t decide on one thing.

When I met my wife, I had a serious, sit down conversation with her, early on in our relationship. I built this up by saying, “We have to talk.” This of course got her attention, but that brief moment of concern quickly turned to laughter when I followed up with, “I’m a hunter, and hunting season is coming up.” I proceeded to explain how I would not be around much in the upcoming months, which she brushed off and said, “Ok, sure.” This attitude quickly changed, however, a few days into opening week, when she started to notice my absence. Even today, I bring up this conversation, “Well, you knew what you were getting into.”

I have been hunting for over 20 years, but I find myself in a cycle that is ever expanding. I enjoy everything there is to do outdoors, and I don’t have to travel far to do it. If I had the budget, sure, I’d like to check off some bucket list items in exotic locations, but I find just as much pleasure being able to pursue a passion right out my back door. New England offers an abundance of opportunities.

In March, as the weather starts to warm, and the days are getting longer, the winter ice gives way to many ponds and lakes where stocked trout can be found. Soon after in late April, Turkey season begins up here in the Northeast. Out season is later than the rest of the country, but this allows for most of the breeding to take place within a turkey’s complex social structure. Along with the suburban landscape, this has made the turkey population explode. It seems like every year they are increasing the bag limits. Nothing beats hearing a tom ripping in the spring, just watch out for ticks! I had a Canadian spring bear hunt scheduled this year, but it looks like COVID-19 is going to put a stop to that.

I live on Cape Cod so most of June through August is spent chasing stripers. I have been on the occasional blue fin tuna trip, but just don’t have the necessary funds to fuel that avocation. When a single leader costs upwards of $90, I don’t even have to look into the other essentials to know it’s out of my price range. I have owned a few boats from a Nucanoe kayak, a 16’ skiff, and now a 23’ center console, so I like to spend as much time as possible on the water. In early May I stock the freezer with delicious sea bass, and I’ll keep the occasional blue fish for my Portuguese in-laws, but I mostly enjoy fishing for the thrill of the chase. When September comes I switch gears to chasing albies (false albacore) on the south side, between Craigsville Beach and the Vineyard.

As the fishing season is winding down I start the transition to hunting. In past years, the end of September marks the beginning of the hunting season with a trip to the Northeast Kingdom, VT for my annual upland trip. This year, however, in early September, I plan on doing a first ever bear hunting trip with hounds men in the NEK, (just one more endeavor to hijack my time). I have two bird dogs, German shorthair pointers, and my Dad has a springer that we like to get on wild birds as soon as possible. The warm weather and changing foliage makes for a great time to be in northern VT. The grouse, (or partridge, depending on where you’re from,) are still brooded up, so it makes for a better chance of shooting one.

Soon after the VT trip, the archery deer season in eastern Massachusetts kicks off. The past few years I have spent the opening week hunting Martha’s Vineyard. Although a challenge to find areas to hunt, the overall deer density keeps me coming back. After the opening week, I start to divide my time between bow hunting and bird hunting. Massachusetts Division of Wildlife does a great job with stocking pheasant in local WMA’s. I will also travel back to western, MA or southern VT for the woodcock flight. Periodically, if the weather is poor, and if the season is open, I’ll throw on my waders and get in a duck blind.

When the rut starts to heat up, it’s hard to get me out of a tree. Then, just like that it’s Thanksgiving, and I need to hurry up and make sure my shotgun is sighted in. Shotgun season opens on the Monday after Thanksgiving for two weeks in Massachusetts. The orange army hits the woods. As a bow hunter, I like making fun of the cigarette smoking, Elmer Fudd hat wearing, group of stump sitters. On the other hand, after a few months and many hours sitting in a tree stand, I enjoy getting on my feet and doing a big effort drive, (or push, depending on your region of origin).

After shotgun season, I always look forward to black powder. This time of year is our best chance at getting some tracking snow to hunt in down here in southeastern New England. It’s a last ditch effort and a great time to do some scouting.

When deer season ends on New Year ’s Eve, I am fortunate enough to live in a coastal waterfowl zone that keeps the season open for almost the entire month of January. When coastal duck ends, late season goose season is open, and coyote season is stays open until early March. This year I did a trip tp Markover Hunting Preserve in CT that stocks pheasant through March. Therefore, the excuse to my wife, “It’s only a couple months,” doesn’t quite hold true.

There is a vast array of things I have never tried. Fur trapping, squirrel hunting, mushroom collecting, raccoon hunting, ice fishing, and fly fishing, just to name a few. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy doing those things, I just don’t have enough of life’s most valuable commodity, time. I have a full time job, with regular overtime, along with a wife and kids at home. There is nothing more valuable than my time.

They use the term, Renaissance man, as a person who has an overall understanding in multiple different areas. I suppose I am somewhat of a Renaissance outdoorsman. I like to use the analogy of a doctor. You have general practice physicians, but most medical professionals find a specialty. Well, as an outdoorsman, I guess I never really found my specialty. I love it all. I am not an expert on any one thing, but just as my childhood coach stated, I’m pretty good at many things overall.

I think that everyone should find something they are passionate about. I think it’s important to our overall wellbeing as humans. The complexities lie in balancing act we all play with when it comes to our time. I’ll let you know when I figure that one out.