Last year was the worse year of my life - I lost my wife of 48 years. While nothing can compare to that loss, last week, I took a ride out to the farms where I hunt varmints, sort of a recon mission.to scout out the upcoming spring varmint hunting season and renew acquaintances with the farmers.
Because of farming practice now being used and land development, hunting this area has become problematic for about 5 years now but these farms were still huntable. I lost a few others over the years to land development, but I still had 5 good places.
One of the farms where I hunt, my favorite, there were numerous no trespassing signs posted which the farmer never posted in the past. No one was home so I inquired at the adjoining farm where I also hunt. There I learned that the farmer passed away and the family sold the farm to a developer, hence the no trespassing posting.
Once development starts, this will also wipe out the adjoining farm because of safety zone restrictions but more so because it would be too close to the other farm for safe shooting.
This takes me down to 3 remaining farms. Two of which, the farmers are quite old and it's just a matter of time before they too sale because their family has no interest in retaining those farms.
Well, looking at the positive, nothing last forever. I had a good run, close to 2,000 hogs since 1999 and many enjoyable hours in the field, 669 logged hunts. I could always try to find other farms further out, but I just don't have the enthusiasm for it. Approaching 75, with a bad back, I just can't roam the fields like I once did and enjoyed so much.
While I'll continue to hunt the remaining farms until they too are gone, it may be time to start to transition to target shooting since I do enjoy shooting and it gets me out of the house. However, with the component shortages that may become problematic also. Such is life, and we must adapt to change. I feel blessed that I had so many good years hunting since many of my friends are gone or incapacitated.
Because of farming practice now being used and land development, hunting this area has become problematic for about 5 years now but these farms were still huntable. I lost a few others over the years to land development, but I still had 5 good places.
One of the farms where I hunt, my favorite, there were numerous no trespassing signs posted which the farmer never posted in the past. No one was home so I inquired at the adjoining farm where I also hunt. There I learned that the farmer passed away and the family sold the farm to a developer, hence the no trespassing posting.
Once development starts, this will also wipe out the adjoining farm because of safety zone restrictions but more so because it would be too close to the other farm for safe shooting.
This takes me down to 3 remaining farms. Two of which, the farmers are quite old and it's just a matter of time before they too sale because their family has no interest in retaining those farms.
Well, looking at the positive, nothing last forever. I had a good run, close to 2,000 hogs since 1999 and many enjoyable hours in the field, 669 logged hunts. I could always try to find other farms further out, but I just don't have the enthusiasm for it. Approaching 75, with a bad back, I just can't roam the fields like I once did and enjoyed so much.
While I'll continue to hunt the remaining farms until they too are gone, it may be time to start to transition to target shooting since I do enjoy shooting and it gets me out of the house. However, with the component shortages that may become problematic also. Such is life, and we must adapt to change. I feel blessed that I had so many good years hunting since many of my friends are gone or incapacitated.
