The mailbox came through

OUTDOOR

Last month I took it upon myself to replace Ground Hog Day with Happy Turkey Postcard Day. My reasoning behind doing that was simple: With Ground Hog Day, no matter what happens, you’re still dealing with some winter and in the worstcase scenario, even more winter. Regardless of what the ground hog sees, your reality includes wool socks and snow shoveling. When you realize that the white postcard you found in your mailbox is your turkey permit, your mind’s eye immediately flashes to a strutting tom stepping into range. Whyyyyyyy – there’s no comparison.

Last week I had another mailbox moment. Sandwiched in the middle of some uninteresting mail was a bright orange postcard. Veteran hounders and baiters already know what that is: A 2022 Bear Hunting License Notification. WOOO WHOOOOO!!

If that wasn’t enough of an unexpected surprise, that same day I received the 2022 Colorado Big Game brochure. When your mailbox comes through for you like that, you don’t even care that it’s two degrees below zero. Maybe next year we will celebrate “Big Game Brochure Day.”

The only time that I ever went bear hunting was some 15 years ago. I hunted with the aid of dogs. It was a great experience and an eye opener to see how skilled, determined, and well trained those hounds were. Being that it was my first time I just tried to stay out of trouble and prayed that when my chance came, I had the fortitude to do what I was supposed to. When my moment of truth came, the hounds were barking so loud that I couldn’t hear myself think. The noise was so deafening that I had to yell to be heard. When the dust settled, I was no longer a bear hunting greenhorn.

As much as I enjoyed bear hunting with hounds, this time around I am going the baiting route. I know enough about it to be dangerous but I look forward to learning more and leaning on some of my bear hunting cronies to guide me through the process.

Regardless of how you decide to chase bears, the point is that another postcard day is upon us and right now we’re not thinking or talking about winter. We’re talking and thinking about chasing bears and we just got one day closer by doing just that.

Happy Bear Postcard Day! I hope you got yours as well.

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BY DAVE BECK