I Wear My Orange Fleece Everywhere

Hunting is a big sport in these here parts. And just yesterday, the winter caretaker of the farm warned me that today is the start of deer hunting season in the immediate area.

The missus and I were discussing hunting and my getting shot a few days ago, and she was of the opinion that my fear of wandering into the woods only to get shot by a hunter was ridiculous.

When I reminded her that hunting accidents happen all the time, that indeed our former Vice President once shot a fellow hunter (and friend) in the face, she thought me no less ridiculous. I think she didn't believe that the example I cited was actually an accident.

Either way, there's a lot of hunting happening in rural Wisconsin at the moment. I picked up a little guide to the area at a local Chamber of Commerce (if I take their free stuff, am I supporting their stance against health care reform?), and according to the hunting pages (!), here are the options for hunters and trappers during the month of October:

- Black bear
- Bowwhite quail
- Cottontail rabbit
- Coyote (trapping is OK right now, hunting with a gun is OK all year)
- Crow
- Deer (bow)
- Hungarian partridge (quite far from home in its Hungarian pear tree!)
- Jackrabbit
- Pheasant (how pleasant!)
- Raccoon
- Red and gray fox (so THAT's how Red Foxx died)
- Ruffed grouse
- Squirrel
- Snowshoe hare
- Wild turkey
- Woodcock (heh, heh)
- Writers (wait, what??)

And I shit you not: I actually just heard gunfire echoing through the hills.

Not to worry, B&E readers. I spend the majority of time inside a cabin. And cabin season isn't until February.