Hunting
in the off-season
A
true hunter knows the full particulars
of nature’s offerings during a hunt.
He camouflages himself in the trees,
stealthily perched in a space he has so carefully
chosen. His arms are strong and still, his weapon
drawn and ready. His muscles tighten with every
rustle of a leaf. He is patiently waiting for the perfect beast to approach the clearing. Winter’s chill
carries his short, low breaths out in front of him,
and between those ephemeral, white clouds, he
spots a buck in the middle of the forest. A magnificent creature, purely his for the taking. The timing is perfect, the movement is minimal, and he
fires his weapon. The buck is nature’s gift to him
but the kill is the result of his own keen eye and
apt persistence. The hunter takes the buck with
pride. He has won the fight and earned himself
a dinner.
The thrill of the hunt is a feeling that lingers within a true hunter when winter passes and summer
arrives once again. Another season gone, one
following in the months ahead, but the wait is
dreadful. If only we could hunt year-round. You
can’t get that buck any time you’d like, but there
are some animals you can hunt whenever and
however you please.
Varmint hunting is one way to keep your senses sharp in the off season. All animals labeled as
“varmints” are considered to be non-game wildlife. Varmints are labeled as pests because there
are lots of them and even though hunting them is
more so a form of control, they can make a good
meal if you take the time to properly clean them.
They are unprotected species that can be hunted year round in most states.
These animals include but are not limited to:
squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits, feral hogs, woodchucks, and raccoons. Regulations on these
hunts only appear if you’re looking to hunt in a
concurrent season. In other words, if you want to
hunt raccoons during deer season, you may not
12 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors
“Varmint hunting
is one way to keep
your senses sharp
in the off season”