Published: September 23, 2007 12:23 am            

MARTINO: Fall’s coming and so are hunting seasons

Have you noticed? We are beginning to see subtle changes leading to one of our most celebrated and beautiful seasons — autumn. On the wings of cold, crisp air comes the change in color and the opening of the majority of our hunting seasons.

In just over one week, the early archery deer hunting season will be upon us. To some, this is attune to a national holiday. Although the methods in which we enjoy our pursuits have changed dramatically, the outdoor tradition has not.

There was a time when the American hunter lived in the environment of the game he sought. Hunting was a necessity of life. It was a practical endeavor with an obvious end. Outdoor knowledge was an important tool of the profession — without it, you starved.

Hunters of years gone by were ever conscious of outdoor life. They were quick to notice a change in wind direction and could forecast tomorrow’s weather by today’s sunset. Their success as a provider depended on knowledge gained from their own personal experiences. There were no instructional DVDs, books or seminars.

Since wild game no longer plays a role in our existence, a great deal of outdoor lore has suffered the same fate as flintlock rifles and buckskin clothing. In our urbanized society, hunting has taken on a new importance. First, it serves as the most effective and necessary tool in proper game management. Second, it has become an essential activity, entrenched in our primal instinct for a large sector of our outdoor minded population.

Let’s face it, tall buildings, PDAs and e-everything are not the answer for people seeking true contentment. Many of us yearn for a plot of green, an untrammeled scenic view or mere glimpses of wildlife.

We dream of someday owning a wilderness cabin where we can retreat when the pressures of modern times become hard to endure. This temporary chance to reevaluate gives us a renewed positive outlook and the vigor to attack those challenges when we return. Yes, many people are still creatures of the outdoor world, even though we have become enmeshed in the intricate machinery of modern economics and find it difficult to escape.

What we need now is a closer involvement with our great outdoors. Our hunting seasons provide this and no animal fits the bill any greater than our native whitetail deer.

With Indiana suffering the same urbanization as other Midwestern states, we are fortunate in having such an adaptable big game animal. Each year development encroaches into our rural areas. Habitat is lost, the number of hunters increases, yet our native deer herds continues to expand.

There is not a single county in Indiana void of whitetail deer and in an effort to control their population, bow hunters have many opportunities to take part in urban hunts within the confines of Indiana’s largest cities. Unlike other big game animals that languish or completely disappear in an ever changing environment, whitetail deer thrive.

Deer appeal to almost every type of sportsman, from the rugged and determined traditional still-hunter to the occasional gun hunter. Whether you choose to pursue this activity alone or as a member of a congenial group, the whitetail meets all requirements.

This beloved game animal wears the crown among the majority of not just Hoosier sportsman, but hunters from across the nation, and for good reason. They can test the patience and have been known to humble the most experienced outdoorsmen, yet in some cases, provide beginners with instant success. As no hunter can ever be certain of notching his tag, there is never the need to feel inadequate either. Success is generally distributed among all who share in this outdoor activity.

But, regardless of success, any person totally involved in the opportunity to spend the day outdoors, especially during our fall season, will have a good hunt!

Tournament results

• The Kokomo Seniors recently came off a club tournament held on Mississinewa Reservoir. The team of Joe Parent and Ray Huffman left winners after carrying two largemouth to the scales totaling 3 pounds, 7 ounces. Bob Graham took second and the tourney’s “big bass” award with one largemouth tipping the scales at 2 pounds, 7 ounces. A 1-pound, 8-ounce fish was good enough to give Larrell Norris and Mike Bailey a third place showing.

• The father-and-son team of Ken Waisner and Ken Waisner II came out on top after Monday morning’s Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney with two largemouth bass weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces. A 2-pound, 8-ounce fish also gave them the weekly event’s “big fish” pot. Royce Cage and Ron Weigt took second with two fish weighing an ounce shy of 4 pounds. Third place went to Dick Mugg and Doug Pence with one fish pushing the scales at 1 pound, 6 ounces.

• Jim Huffer and Mike Harrison won the weekly Tuesday evening Delphi-Delco team bass tourney, held on Mississinewa Reservoir, with two largemouth weighing 4 pounds, 11 ounces. They also took home the “big bass” award with a 2-pound, 10-ounce fish. A 1-pound, 11-ounce fish gave Brian Lovegrove and Jerry Pickett a second-place showing.

• Fishing solo, Dennis McKee ran away from the other teams who took part in Wednesday evening’s Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney. McKee swept the event with his limit of five largemouth bass sporting a total weight of 11 pounds. He also took the tourney’s “big bass” honor with a largemouth tipping the scales at 3 pounds. Next, it was the team of John Rawlings and Ralph Shackelford with four fish weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces. Brad Parsons and Ken Waisner took third place with three fish weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces.

John Martino is the Tribune’s

outdoors columnist. He may be reached through the sports

department at (765) 454-8574.

        

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