One of my favorite all-time seasons will open Nov. 5. It's the time for baying hounds and cottontail rabbits. Bragging about good shots and razzing each other when they miss is always part of the fun.
As I have stated so many times, it was this time in a field that many of lessons were learned, sportsmanship not being the least as we had to follow all hunting rules to the T. The limit was and still is four rabbits per day per hunter. When you had your limit you were finished and became the hound's helper.
Another lesson preached was safety. I was taught to only shoot when it was safe. You not only had to locate your target but make sure both other hunters or your dogs were not in the line of fire. When working an area we were in lines and the direction in which your gun was pointing was very important. It is no fun looking down the barrel of someone else's loaded gun.
What made this special was that all lessons were taught by my dad. Others included respect for the game we hunted, the land we hunted on and other people's rights. What made this great was we were having fun while learning.
I guess one of the greatest things was hunting rabbits together with a dad who was usually at work. So many of these fall hunts I can still relive in my memories. I hope that your family can have these memories in your life.
The great outdoors, that big playground that we enjoy so, is growing smaller. It is up to each and every one to see that it protected for the future.