October 2009 Almanac
This Month: Gonna’ Hunt? Bring a Camera
October begins like more of September with green leaves and moderately mild weather, but by month’s end fall will land like a lion.
And during this time of great temperature changes everything is happening, including hunting for the following critters: Deer (with bow and arrows), bear, upland birds, waterfowl, gray squirrels, raccoons, varying hares and more. Angling is booming, too, as trout anglers chase hatches and bassers work for big bucket-mouths. And did we mention trapping begins now for a handful of furbearers?
And it’s all happening as leaves turn to shades of red, scarlet, pink, yellow, gold, orange and purple — a kaleidoscope of colors — allegedly the most beautiful foliage display in the world with the exceptions of places in China.
A handful of skilled hunters chase bears now in beech groves, hoping to still-hunt a bear, one of the world’s most wary game animals. The fact that they concentrate in mast now gives folks an advantage. A tiny handful of people chase bears with hounds.
Small game interests Mainers in October, and varying-hare hunters with dogs get out now as do woodcock enthusiasts with pointing or flushing breeds. These folks live for the sports and take advantage of the wonderful weather and fast shooting.
This month, folks talk about the advantage of car camping, canoe tripping and backpacking now, emphasizing foliage colors and lack of pesky insects and crowds of campers. Darned few people do it now, though, so it’s more talk than anything else.
Photographers really get out in October, and two undeniable features attract them. Foliage draws the pros and the amateurs, but later, professionals concentrate on browns, grays and blacks after the earlier colorful explosion. Serious photographers live for textures and drab colors that enhance mood shots.