Hutch’s quote of the week:

“A bullet out of a high powered rifle can travel for miles if unobstructed.”

Greetings,

By the time this newspaper prints, Oct. 27 will have passed, which around here is known as almost a national holiday. Yes, all the boys were fired up, as last Saturday was the opening day of firearms season for deer.

I got a phone call from my “Uncle Joe” the week before. “What’s the action for Saturday?” and his next line was “You got one tied to a tree for me?” then a big laugh.

My uncle still loves to go deer hunting. He always gets his deer but doesn’t really care one way or the other if he gets one or not. What he really enjoys is the congregation of family and close friends. The man looks 50, goes through the woods like he’s 40, shoots like he’s 30, and has the hunting enthusiasm of a 20-year-old, not to mention he’s the biggest comedian around.

My uncle just turned 80 years old in mid-October and he is the patriarch of our hunting party.

Saturday morning he showed up with a massive grin and four times the Dunkin Donuts a small army couldn’t consume.

Uncle Joe makes deer hunting fun, and that’s what it’s all about. We’re very fortunate to have him.

I hope some of you have an “Uncle Joe” in your hunting and fishing escapades. If you do, you already know how I feel.

I think this November will break the record deer kill if the weather cooperates. Deer seem to be very plentiful and most people I have talked to have sighted deer virtually everywhere. Record amounts of any-deer permits were issued this year in most hunting zones, so as a game processor, I think I’m going to have my hands full.

In closing this week, remember that houses have sprung up everywhere, a bullet out of a powered rifle can travel for a few miles if unobstructed, so be careful and always think safety as any deer in the world is not worth a hunting mishap.

Until next time, fish hard, hunt hard and be safe,

Hutch