From all indications we’re about to have one of those unpredictable winters, where ice fishing on the lakes will be a little iffy. At least in central and southern Michigan.

We’ll likely have a freeze, a meltdown, and even some rain mixed in with snow, making us cautious about safety on the ice.

While we have but a few days left in the regular firearms deer season, other hunting will be taking the spotlight.

The start of the firearm deer season has been good for area hunters so far, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The first day of the season saw an average number of deer being brought to the check station in Belding, said DNR wildlife biologist John Niewoonder.

There’s an old saying that “what’s past is prologue,” so I trust it is true in this case as well. You see, for the second year in a row I can’t participate on the opening day of firearms deer season. Perhaps that will change in the future, but for now I’ll settle for a day or two at our deer camp sometime during the season.

According to all reports, deer hunters and available deer could set some numerical records this year. Although some hunts are now actually over or ongoing, the firearms season is when we could see approximately 500,000 hunters take to the woods and fields. And that happens Nov. 15 to Nov. 30.

Well duh, don’t we all know that baiting has made a huge difference in deer hunting?

Sure we know it, especially those of us who are older and still remember the ‘old days.’ But, like everything else we can think of, time and tide wait for no man.

Yes, we’ve all of us barked up the wrong tree at one time or another. You know, perhaps wrongly accused someone, said something later regretted, or made a little mistake here or there. Well now, I say that if you really want to bark at something, go squirrel hunting.

The archery deer season is in full swing and I can help but notice how things are changing in out hunting camp.

Oct. 1 heralds some great hunting seasons, and many hunters are anxious to get started after their favorite quarry.

I’ll wager that poultry breeders have about perfected the growing and marketing of turkeys. The tame birds, that is. And I suppose that could cause some to wonder why a hunter would force himself or herself to sit cramped up for hours, camouflaged from top to bottom and in all manner of weather, while trying to entice one of those sharp-eyed birds within shotgun range.