And so this season begins.

I am a hunting widow.  As you can tell by the title of my blog.  My husband is a hunter.  He hunts deer. We eat deer.  He hunts turkey.  We eat turkey.  He hunts duck. We eat chicken.  He hunts geese.  We eat more chicken.  I just need to clarify.  I have nothing against eating ducks and geese.  But just because he hunts them, doesn't mean he shoots them.  Someday.  Right now he is still learning those.

See he hasn't always been a hunter.  When I met my hubby all those many many years ago, I would classify him as a prep.  Ask my family.  They will all agree.  It would be interesting to get my cousin's (who is 100% country born and bred) opinion on my hubby when they first met.  I took Mark to my family's Thanksgiving, I guess it was the 2nd or 3rd year we were married.  He was dressed in a nice button down shirt, ironed jeans, and dress shoes.  He sat on the couch looking absolutely terrified.

A few years later we go back.  This time he ditched the dress shoes and put on his tennis shoes and he no longer had ironed jeans (I only iron out of neccesity).  This was the 1st time he met my cousin Jacinda who came in all muddy with a stringer of fish.  He did venture out of the house this time with my step-dad, Lloyd, to go look for someone's deer that they shot and couldn't track.  Any guesses what happened on this trek? He tore his good jeans climbing over a barb wire fence.  I will say it was all down hill from there.  But it did take a few more years for the transformation to be complete from city boy to redneck.

The next step wouldn't take place until he got on the fire department and met a good friend who is an avid hunter.  This friend invited him to go shopping for guns.  He also happened to be single.  They always say hindsight is 20/20.  I don't know if I would change the course that this took had I known then what I know now.

This created the person my husband has become.  Now he has deer stands and blinds, feeders, cameras, targets, etc.  He is getting the most out of his experience.  Today he left to go set up his feeders on my cousin's land.  He is really excited.  The newspaper had an article that stated that the deer will be really attracted to corn feeders this year because of our excessive heat and drought.  He has big plans for the season. Plus my oldest hunts, and my oldest daughter will get her hunter safety this year so she can hunt as well.  (Uh oh - I better watch that, it might be his excuse to buy another gun!!)  I wonder how much deer meat my freezer will hold?

I cook the meat and my husband hangs the trophies on the wall.  It's a fair trade.  Right?

October 1st is the opening of archery deer season.  That is his goal, to final take one down with his bow.  I wish him luck!!!