Apologies for the time span. I know I have some other promised entries and I do plan to get them out but I have something I am really excited to share.

For the 1st time ever I am going deer hunting this season. To understand the significance of this I need to explain a bit.  First, I live in Minnesota, where outdoor sports are not only popular but real parts of who Minnesotans are. Growing up as a kid I always had friends that were fishing or hunting or snowmobiling all the time. I didn't get the chance much as I was a city kid with a single Mom. This isn't going to be a sob story just a statement of fact. 

My Uncles liked to fish so we at least went on a few trips every summer but none of the males in my family growing up hunted. Now that I have a young son of my own, I want feel compelled to give him the chances I didn't have. That means taking him out into the outdoors as often as I can and sharing with him, and my daughters as well. So far all 3 love to fish for Sunnies off the dock at the lake and we are almost at the point they can hook their own bait and unhook their catches.

But on to hunting.  My step Uncle lives in Akeley, MN. He has a spread of land that he hunts every year and according to my folks he gets a deer every time. I was planning to ask him to take me in 2011 but an unplanned for deployment to Kuwait stopped that. I contacted him early this year and the hunt is on!  He has 2 stands for both of us and a couple of Remmington 700s I can choose from to use. I'm not the expert shot that I once was back in the day but I still do pretty well at my bi yearly rifle qualifications in the MN Army Guard so I think I can make a 100 yard shot with a scoped rifle that isn't quite zeroed to me.

Anyway I am really excited and so is my Uncle. He has called me several times to tell me how much he is looking forward to the hunt.  I really hope this goes well and becomes a family tradition I can pass on to my kids if they choose.

And if nothing else I hope to put a little venison in the freezer for the winter.