And no, I’m not talking about the holiday season quite yet. Starting two weeks ago in Minnesota and North Dakota, deer hunting season began. Now in most areas of Minnesota, the season is over but in North Dakota, the hunt continues.

Hunting season has always meant much more to me than just camouflage and blaze orange clothing. It has been a time for me to connect with loved ones and have fun.

I started hunting with my dad when I was 12. It allowed us to spend some quality time together. He was with me when I shot my first deer and we still go out together. My dad has always been a special person in my life and being able to spend time together, doing something we both enjoy is really fun.

Every year, we always get a big group of relatives and friends together at our hunting shack. Each morning and afternoon, the group separates to go on their own hunt, but night time is the most fun. Hearing old stories about my brother, uncles, and dad are always entertaining and we make memories of our own each year too.

Last weekend, we were sitting around the table laughing when one of the girls exclaimed through spouts of laughter, “this is what I love about deer season!”  That moment summed up what deer season meant to me. It’s sitting around telling stories, joking, laughing, and eating and if you just so happen to get a big buck, well I guess that is just an added bonus!

Photo from stormlake.org