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Oh, to be hunting would be grand
Emily Plihal
for Smoky River Express
This has to be the worst year in history for my hunting extravaganzas.
Each day this fall, I have seen a plethora of hunters getting out their quads, hunting gear, and thermos of coffee to go spend a day, week or more out in the bush... and for the first time in my life, I will admit, I am jealous.
My life each year generally consists of 4-8 weeks of guiding, then at least one week of straight hunting opportunities. However; this year it seems a major alteration has occurred in my schedule that I am not excited about. Actually, I am getting incredibly cranky and know this is the time I should be breathing in fresh air instead of fumes.
Unfortunately this year the economy in the United States was sub-par. As a result there was some interest in hunts, but not at the level of a typical year. Thus, I’ve had to live in the indoor environment, ignoring my passion of the outdoors.
Indeed, I am starting to feel a little cooped up. Working between 10-20 hours each day, driving all around the countryside and not actually getting out to my farm or to my favourite spots in our region.
It is really not all that bad, though. I have one of the best jobs in the world. I have the opportunity each day to meet new people, cover different events and get to go to various sporting events and other local engagements.
I long for one day to spend with my best friend, who just happens to be my father.
He seems to keep me grounded, even when we argue because we’re too much alike.
My favourite thing about springtime is having the opportunity to go out baiting bears with my dad. Which, before nay-sayers say anything about baiting, it actually promotes the survival of cubs and increases bear populations. (Check out the University of Alberta study done a couple of years ago by an anti-hunter.)
Dad and I will go out with a bagged lunch and spend the entire day trudging through the snow to get our primary baits going. Surprisingly having snow up to the waist is really not such a bad thing when you’re doing something you love.
The only time I truly sleep well is after a day of being outside in fresh air. Generally I’ll get three or four hours of solid sleep and for the remainder of the six hours in bed I’m tossing, turning, and looking at the clock. However; after a day of guiding, hunting, or baiting I sleep for six hours solidly.
So if you see me anytime soon, and I appear to have circles under my eyes, it’s just because I have not had the opportunity to spend time outside.
Hunting this year is essentially out for the year with work restraining my available hours, but there is still a wealth of opportunities for me outside. I want to take a day to walk the trails near my land, maybe see some moose, deer or elk.
I would love to sit under a spruce tree and take an hour nap, waking up to a doe and fawn only a couple of yards away.
Country Music Awards
A very sad moment surfaced at the CMAs on Nov. 11. Brooks and Dunn (which whoever knows me knows I’m a B&D junkie) played for the last time as a country duo.
There were a lot of great moments at the CMAs this year though. Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley were hilarious as the Masters of Ceremony. My favourite moment was when they sang “Momma Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys.” They switched it to “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to be Kanye,” a little play on Kanye West’s interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for an award last month.
I guess if I don’t have the outdoors, at least I have country music and hockey!
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