Into the Woods

I remained in bed this morning an extra 45 minutes - until sunrise.   It's the start of holy week in the Northwoods (i.e. Gun Deer Season).  Shooting can commence during the later part of  twilight.   Decided to wait until I and the dog would be very noticeable on our walk.  To be even more obvious, I pulled out the blaze orange windbreaker the dairy owners had given me when I worked for them (protecting their investment I guess).   State wide 600,000 hunters will track into the woods this week in hopes of shooting one of the 2 million deer here.  Half of those hunters will be successful.  I listened to the state hunting czar explain to a TV reporter how hunters are  helping their individual communities by reducing the deer population and thus decreasing deer/car collisions.  To be sure, the local paper's question of the week was "Have you ever hit a deer with a car?"  The final percentage was something like 87% had.  (I could only vote once though I've hit three.)   I don't believe altruism is forefront in hunter's minds these next nine days nor do I think most hunters are out there to put venison in their freezers. Personally I don't get what causes this frenzy though local businesses feed into it  and feed off it by offering prizes for the biggest buck, the first buck, the one w/ the most points, etc.  There isn't any hunting on my land but I'm surrounded by property that is.  I'll stick close to home until the woods are quiet again.