SPORTS COLUMN: Cold February day offers a great hunt

One of the best hunting trips of the year came last week while waiting for the trout opener. While hunting for shed antlers, I saw at least 13 different species of game.

First off, as I stepped off my back porch, and heard a turkey sound off. So, I looked in it's direction and counted more than 40 turkeys at the edge of my pond while all the while snow geese were passing overhead,

Next, as I walked beside an open field and saw a sight that is getting rare, a covey of 10 to 12 quail exploded some 10 yards in front. Then, as I approached a pond, a woodcock took flight followed by three more. I watched as they flew into the woods and wondered what I would see next.

It didn't take long to find out. When I looked over at the small pond, there were eight wood ducks playing around while on the other side of the pond four Canada geese were feeding on the submerged weeds.

While walking along I stopped to rest on a fallen tree and as I sat there, a sound of something walking in the woods made me slowly turn around to see four deer looking at me.

In a short time the deer moved on followed be a pair of racoons.

To add to the hunt, a cottontail rabbit zipped by me and I saw a coyote chasing it. Picking up a nearby stick, I threw it in the direction of the on coming coyote and it gave up the hunt for the bunny.

Wondering what would happen next, a pair of red squirrels circled around a hickory tree while three opposums came into the picture. When a skunk walked within 20 yards, I decided it was time to move on.

As I neared home, I spotted what I was hunting for, an antler with five points. With all the activity, I nearly forget what I was hunting for.

It was a great hunt for a cold February day and I didn't have a gun or a dog along with me. However, it was one of those feel good days, seeing all the game and knowing that inspite of the cold and icy winter even the quail survived.