Each year, time seems to stand still between deadline day and the day I finally find out what my fortunes were in the fall hunt drawing. Will it be my late white-tailed deer permit, or an archery bull hunt? An antelope hunt, or (heaven forbid!) my sheep tag? Those of us with this summertime disease suffer through the heat knowing that we have to endure these 110 degree days in order to find out for what we were drawn. Unfortunately, with permit numbers far below demand, many of us get that recorded message that starts, “You were not drawn for…”. Luckily, I have heard this recording often enough to know that it is not the end of my fall hunting season. It only means I will be making different plans.

Many hunting opportunities are in no way, shape, or form associated with the fall drawing process. Two fall big-game hunts available to everyone are the archery deer hunt and the fall bear hunt. To participate in these hunts, simply purchase a hunting license and an over-the-counter non-permit hunt tag, and get into the field. The seasons associated with these hunts vary, and are found in the department’s annual fall hunt regulations. Both hunts offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and participate in a great hunt.

If you don’t want to chase a big game animal this year, the small game and waterfowl possibilities are endless. Cottontail rabbits can be hunted year-round. Starting with the Sept. 1 dove opener and running through the end of quail season in mid-February, you are limited only by your desire to go hunting. When you list the number of different species of small game, you realize what a variety of opportunities exist. How about trying to spend a day this fall hunting each? Most of the seasons are structured to let you combine hunts. A Kaibab squirrel, blue grouse and chukar partridge trip is a great way to escape to the North Kaibab. Although this would be one of the tougher trips, you get the idea.

Do you duck hunt? If you do, enough said: you’re already looking forward to the fall and have probably started dusting off and cleaning up your decoys. If you don’t, it’s probably because you haven’t experienced one of those magic duck days.

Did I mention that I like to predator call? Words can’t describe the look on a coyote’s face when it is twenty yards from you and still coming strong. If you have not called one in yet and this is your first, don’t bother to move. Just enjoy the moment. Your chances of actually bagging this coyote are just about nil. But you are hooked, and I guarantee there will be others.

Now that I’ve heard those dreaded words “You were not drawn for…” it’s time to firm up my fall hunting plans. As I do, I will remember those two key words: “endless possibilities.”

This entry was posted on Monday, August 1st, 2005 at 12:17 am and is filed under Small Game Hunting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.