I
was talking to someone about hunting. Conversation didn’t start
there. It just kind of moved along and progressed in and out of
a few different areas, eventually meandering into the woods.
One
of the things that stuck with me from the conversation was when
he told me he would never go out hunting alone. He had known a
few people that had gotten hurt while out hunting solo, and beyond
just wanting a second (or third) set of hands, he believed it
was always good to use the buddy system proactively instead of
regretting it later on.
I
was thinking about this conversation today as I drove some along
backroads near my house. It seems like an incredibly strange winter
so far. And, as evidence, I would direct anyone’s attention to
a massive increase in snowmobile activity.
I
don’t understand why there have been far more snowmobiles and
riders around on the trails near my house this winter. We’ve had
snow… lots of snow… in previous seasons. I’m not aware of any
massive sales offered for equipment. I don’t believe any special
efforts have been given to preparation or upkeep along the routes.
In
the previous five years, I have never seen a single snowmobile
moving along anywhere except in a neighbor’s yard or along a marked
trail. This year I’ve seen them pulling in to gas stations, parked
in spaces at a coffee shop and other assorted locations. Multiple
times. Of course, I get why a snowmobile would be moving toward
the gas pumps. I’m just saying that I’d never seen it before,
but somehow this year I’ve seen it easily more than five times.
What
I do know is what you may guess as well: most of 2020 and now
into 2021 has been driving people stir crazy and they want to
get out.
Every
so often, I try to explain that I approach nature with a naïve
thought process. If I look along the side of the road, see trash
tossed randomly all over the place, then I don’t need an expensive
research study to attempt explaining to me that people treat the
planet horribly. It’s right there.
As
I drive around—yes, cautious for the potential surprise of a snowmobile
racing across the road unexpectedly—I feel like I’m seeing more
wildlife than ever. Lots of deer. Lots of turkeys. You get the
idea.
Person
I was talking to said the hunting wasn’t going well this season.
His particular thought was that a lot more licenses seemed to
be getting awarded, and that there were more hunters around. He
went further, saying that with so many new to the sport, they
weren’t really as tuned in to how easy it is to disturb and scare
wildlife. It doesn’t take much noise at all, never mind not understanding
visual clues, wind direction and so on.
I
mentioned at the start of this that I don’t hunt. So, how did
I get into a conversation with someone that knows me and that
I don’t hunt about hunting? Easy. Snowmobiles.
Yup.
We had begin talking about how people seemed eager to get outside.
And more than that, the snowmobiles I was seeing involved groups
of people and, this year at least, never just one on its own.
I’ve
seen some articles and news reports about the activities of animals
while we’ve been locked away in our isolation efforts. Idea is
that the racoons and bears and others have been creeping into
our yards more often since we aren’t outside making as much racket
to steer them away to quieter neighborhoods. Makes some sense.
But
has anyone else noticed?
I
am seeing more deer. I am hearing less gunshots. The stories and
observations add up on that naïve level. I’m just wondering
if it’s really that basic.