A 10:30 a.m. brunch last Saturday was a study in mixed emotions. A well-fed mature doe came sneaking down the trail about three hours before pancakes and eggs and stopped literally within spittin鈥 distance of the ladder stand.
There are far too many 鈥榬oundheads鈥 in my neck of the woods. Pretty much the only walls without horns in the cabin are in the little room with a porcelain centerpiece.
With $650 the going rate for a whitetail shoulder mount and propane prices already up 70% from last year, the big doe was the most pragmatic option to send a round downrange.
Several trailers had to be jockeyed around out in the pole barn to hang the harvest after breakfast, providing the impetus to winterize one of the three outboard-powered boats in the stable.
Have you ever seen a carpenter show up at the job site with just a 16- ounce claw hammer or a plumber come knocking at the door with just a pipe wrench and a pair of channel lock pliers? Of course not.
Most serious outdoor types can count their guns or fishing rods by the dozen.
Three motor-powered boats is not unreasonable. Canoes and kayaks fall into an entirely different category.
The big Lund was going to Jerry鈥檚 Sports Service in Beloit last week for a new 90 horsepower Yamaha. This essential tool was ordered back in October 2020. It took substantial whining to get delivery moved up from March 2022.
Taking delivery of a new Lund Alaskan will have to wait until March 2023. No boats are available, not even for pro staff.
The ShoreLand鈥檙 trailer, which carries the Alaskan to work, is experiencing a similar production backlog.
Basic winterization is packing wheel bearings. Mine needs a new winch, tie-down straps, tail lights and bunks to get through next season.
Fortunately, boat No. 3 remains mission capable. She is a wide 14-foot flatbottom, Yammie powered. Just a meat-and-taters fishing platform with Star Brite fuel stabilizer in the gas tank the only consolation to winter鈥檚 inevitability.
With water temperatures in the stateline now below 40 degrees, lakes could lock up with ice at any time with temperatures in the 20鈥檚 and several consecutive days when the wind isn鈥檛 howling.
Last year, rivers remained a fishable option well into December from a boat. With rivers鈥攁nd weather in general鈥攖he only constant is change. Weather should enable a possible 鈥渓ast call鈥 option this weekend.
Our hometown river continues to run quite low. Saugers at the upper end of Lake Wisconsin are whispering 鈥渃ome catch me.鈥
Ted Peck is an outdoors columnist for 糖心Vlog传媒. Contact him at tedpeck@acegroup.cc