Decisions, decisions, decisions. The time is fast approaching when some tough decisions need to be made.
No, these aren't the kind that affect home and family. Rather, they pertain to hunting and fishing. However you choose to prioritize is entirely your business.
As for me, I've decided to put a little more emphasis on fall fishing again this year.
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Kim Fundingsland is a staff writer for The Minot Daily News.
For most fishermen, myself included, the fishing season ends when bird seasons begin. Last year I did some fall fishing, not much. I also, you see, sometimes choose to be a fair-weather fisherman. That's a dilemma because fair weather in the fall also makes for a perfect time to be in the field with the dogs.
As I said, tough choices have to be made.
The good thing is that either choice is a darn good one for a sportsman in our state. One rationale in favor of more fishing in the early fall is that a person can always attempt to sneak in a few more hunting days later on to make up for too much time spent fishing. That is sound wisdom to remember for anyone suffering a similar dilemma.
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The trouble lately though, has been that winter has been arriving about the same time as Labor Day. That makes late season hunting fairly miserable, if there is such a thing. It is much easier to hunt in near blizzard conditions than it is to fish!
All that being said, I'm sticking with my plan to keep the boat in the water a few more days than usual this fall. We'll see what results that will bring. I'm even going to chase muskies again, for the umpteenth time. This time, however, it will be at the expense of some days during the hunting season. I actually tried that last year too and got whipped. Muskies will do that. Admittedly, there are times when my dogs are better fishermen than I (please don't show them this column).
I'll report on my success, or lack it, in this column in the coming weeks. I don't expect that I'll permanently put aside my shotgun in favor of the fishing rod, but it may be that I'll gain a better understanding of why many extend their fishing seasons deep into the fall.
Again, the good thing is, a sportsman really can't go wrong with either endeavor. The only real mistake any serious sportsman could make in the fall is to fail to find time to hunt or fish. There's never a bad time to be on the water or in the field. Upland game hunting is less than one month away!