Blessed Even In The COVID Struggle

Our 2020 has been some kind of year so far. For the last six months, we have altered our lives so much that it would be hard to even believe a year ago where we are now. I never would have thought we’d see parents debating whether or not to allow their children to go to school versus staying at home and doing virtual learning online. In addition, we now have to walk in some retail stores wearing masks just to buy what we need for our homes. While masks may help protect folks from getting or spreading COVID, they are shielding the wonderful smiles that humans often share with each other on a daily basis, and I miss that.

Thankfully, we can get outside and enjoy ourselves mask free. This freedom allows me to put away the thoughts of COVID and masks, even if you temporarily. I certainly hunted a good bit back during the spring turkey season, and I enjoyed that. I also had the opportunity to get out in the woods a number of times this summer and enjoy some day hikes as I took in this wonderful creation that we all live in. I often got to see both turkey and deer during these hikes and looked at them with a renewed awe as they had no idea what we were going through as we continue to deal with the COVID factor in our every day lives.

Every year my good friend Kevin Lowery and I plan to attend the annual adult/child dove shoot at Wilson Shoals WMA. It is such a great time to see kids and their parents join in the event. Kevin sets most of it up, and I tag along to cook a pre-hunt lunch for all the shooters and go through some basic firearm safety instruction before they hit the fields. Although that youth quota hunt will still be taking place on opening day, we won’t be gathering around for the free lunch because of COVID. That good fellowship without social distancing guidelines has been my usual kick-start to the fall hunting season for quite some time. I will certainly miss that this year.

However, I will be spending the opening day of bow season with WRD’s David Dockery to help him with a basic pistol shooting class at Wilson Shoals WMA. I had to find another way to give back, and David’s class will be a great start for my kick-off to the fall hunting season.

For me, it’s still a little too warm to sit in a tree in mid September, so I’ll continue to shoot my bow in the backyard and wait for the cooler days of October to slide in.

As we continue to battle COVID, don’t forget how blessed we are to have these great hunting opportunities in our state. Georgia continues to have one of the longest deer hunting season in the country with one of the most liberal bag limits.

Take a deep breathe of that fresh air when you get into your stand and count your blessings. Good luck and stay safe this season!