A homecoming - and discounted Extravaganza tickets

Maybe we are on an every-other-month pattern as far as mild temperatures. September was beautiful, October was ugly and November has been nice. I guess I will look forward to January.

By the way, have you bought your Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza tickets yet? There's a promotion going - $20 a ticket through Nov. 30 at Mills Fleet Farm for the Jan. 23 event. Maybe it will be 34 degrees with no wind this year.

Meanwhile, deer hunting has been frustrating as I missed four good days in the woods. My wife and I were in Las Vegas last week at the SEMA Show (the big auto show), representing Mystik Lubricants. I believe the show dates coincided with the peak of the rutting activity. Maybe I will locate a mature buck that was smart enough to make it through the gun season.

It was wild returning from flashy, trashy, noisy Las Vegas to the forests of central Minnesota. We returned on Thursday night and I was in my stand at dark on Friday morning. What a contrast of atmospheres. I will take the forest over the flash any day.

That morning I had my only opportunity to release an arrow at a buck - I rattled in a little bugger for the second year in a row. This year I passed him up and last year I screwed things up.

Hopefully you finish out the second week of deer camp on a high note. My friend Perry took his nephew out last Saturday, and the little guy shot a small buck. You can imagine what was going through that young mind. He told Perry that he thought he was dreaming. Start them early, people, and let them learn an appreciation for these animals.

WALLEYEDAN Eigen may be reached at (218) 839-5598, walleyedan@brainerd. com or www.walleyedan.com.