Opening day woes

[predatorG]

This year will be the first year I've encountered such a dilemma, and I nearly cried when I realized it.

I've always anticipated and looked forward to the first day of archery season. Something about the rush of waking up early and putting all your gear on just to get out early in the morning. There is always a magic in the air. Leaves are begginning to turn, and the weather is starting to get cool at night and in the mornings. I am always on high alert as I finally get to walk through the woods hoping to get a shot at a branch antlered beast. I've always wanted to have a shot at being one of the lucky guys who tags out a toad opening day. I prepare for this day months in advance, tuning my bow, buying arrows, and dialing in my proper shooting form. I am always pumped full of adrenaline and my blood courses through my veins like floodwaters. I live for this day and this feeling.

However, as I got ready for the first of September and started talking about it, I was notified of something dreadful. Something that I had never had happen before and never thought would happen. School got scheduled to start September 1. Normally they wait unill after labor day, and I can almost always count on at least a few days of hunting. But this year, instead of sneaking deep into the woods at 5 am, I will be waking up. I will be putting on clothes meant to be seen, not clothes meant to keep me invisible. I will be driving to school, only to stare out of a classroom window listening to a calculus lesson instead of listening for footsteps. I will be looking at a history book instead of looking for the twitch of a tail or an ear. This September 1st will be one of the saddest I've ever spent. Not because I had that realistic of a chance at a deer, but because it is symbolic. There will be many other days to hunt, many of them better than the ones I'm missing, but none of them as meaningful.

So to all of you that are able to get out there to your secret spot on the first day, good luck, and I hope you smack that 4 by 5 with eyegaurds you've been dreaming about all summer, mine will have to wait for the weekend.

[fishnfur]

REALLY???    Missing one day of school, especially the first day of school (which is nothing more than learning new locker combinations and meeting your classmates and teachers), is not going to change your academic career nor affect the outcome of your life.  Unless you have a perfect attendance record, and desire to keep it perfect, missing the first day of school is one of the least impactful* days of the year to miss.    Inform your parents that your online buddy with four years of post-graduate education strongly recommended giving you permission to miss one day of school and go hunting. If the bucks are not yet hard horned by the 1st, they will be within the next day or two.  After that..... poof.....gone!

The downside to that is:  Your dad is a hunter and fully understands the your desires to hunt.  If he has already made ruling on the opener, you may not be able to sway him.  Also, unless you have a buck targeted and know where he will be traveling and have a reasonable plan in place to harvest him, more than likely, your day will end up as being a wonderful autumn day in the woods, but ultimately unproductive in filling your tag. 

Good luck - Welcome to growing up and becoming a responsible adult and.     This will not be your last disappointment.

* impactful is not a word - (yet) http://www.business2community.com/communications/impactful-word-0762706#poieWqEO8cEEKtiR.97

[pd]

I second what F&F said.  A few more thoughts:

If your secret spot is truly secret, then 9/1 is no more important than 9/3 or 9/6.  I will not matter a bit.  Sure, there is something symbolic about opening day, and I understand the desire to be "that guy" who tags a monster at 0630, and posts it on HuntWa before lunchtime.  But, honestly, isn't that hubris on your part?  (Ask F&F for a link to that one, too.  )

If you are underaged (a minor), and also attending public school, then I would have no issues with you missing the first day.  My experience is the same as F&F's, in that it would have zero impact on your life.  Go hunt, if your folks agree to the plan.  But remember, all actions have consequences.

[bobcat]

School is important. I sure wouldn't want to miss the first day. Maybe a little better than skipping the first day, would be to skip the second day, which is Friday, September 2nd. Let your teachers know you'll be gone, but I'm not sure I'd tell them you're going hunting. Even better, just wait until Saturday like everyone else does. This is an issue you'll have your entire life. Nice thing about archery hunting is you'll still have plenty of days to hunt.

[JimmyHoffa]

I'd go for the hunting.  School is easily made up, especially one day. 

[RadSav]

I never met a school day that wasn't worth missing for a hunting day!

But then again...I took night classes before graduation so I could get a diploma in that envelope.

[predatorG]

It's definitley turning into a mental tug of war. If a certain deer starts becoming really pattern-able , and makes a habit of scratching his back with his antlers every day at 10:00, 12 yards from my stand, I will make sure I am not at school. But if not, I will probably be forced to afternoon hunt until the weekend. I'm not sure what the first day will be like this year, our school doesn't have lockers, but I'll have to get my picture taken and get my schedule and turn in summer homework for the AP classes I'm taking. Hopefully something comes up and it all works out.

[predatorG]

I never met a school day that wasn't worth missing for a hunting day!

But then again...I took night classes before graduation so I could get a diploma in that envelope.

You ended up successful enough  if I end up with half the knowledge you have when I die I'll be happy.

[JDHasty]

When I was in college @ Saint Martins they usually called my mother's house on the phone ~ the third day of class to ask if I had once again forgotten what day class was scheduled to start.  She would track me down, usually somewhere in central Washington, and I would show up the next day. 

This was a recurring event every year.  And no, I didn't forget, I never paid any attention to it in the first place.   

[kentrek]

I wouldn't worry about missing high school academics.....most schools have a max day you can miss....I'd use up every single one of them if your grades can take it

College is alil different....teachers all very in how much they are willing to work with you being gone...universitys don't cater to individual students much so you have to weigh your options on what's worth it....not passing a college corse is expensive and it only takes one bad exam to ruin a semester

[RadSav]

When I was in college @ Saint Martins they usually called my mother's house on the phone ~ the third day of class to ask if I had once again forgotten what day class was scheduled to start.  She would track me down, usually somewhere in central Washington, and I would show up the next day. 

I remember being at the bakery one school day, picking up maple bars to spice up a bear bait, when my father walks in.  He gave the lady behind the counter a long list of pastries to add to my order.  Then says, "I want to hear how much the principal appreciated you buying donuts for the teachers lounge."  He never mentioned that encounter again!

[jackmaster]

I never missed an opening day of grouse season do to school!! I thought it was a conspiracy , grouse always opened the first day of school

[jackelope]

I never missed an opening day of grouse season do to school!! I thought it was a conspiracy , grouse always opened the first day of school

You spelled "due" wrong.
Just sayin...

 

[Jimmy33]

I had to miss a whole season due to military service. Finish school, get a job you like and that you can take time off to go hunting. Until then, suck it up. You'll be fine.


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[jackmaster]

I never missed an opening day of grouse season do to school!! I thought it was a conspiracy , grouse always opened the first day of school

You spelled "due" wrong.
Just sayin...

 

yep maybe I shouldn't have missed so many days of school, haha . I had to miss 4  years of hunting the mighty blacktail when I joined the army after I gradiated,  . That sucked