HISTORY: Hunting Season, by Marie Templeton and The Rimrocker Historical Society

Permission to use this article given by Ruth Johnson. She is Kathleen Wares’ sister.

Picture Credits, Carol Sue Latham

I guess that I am going through a stage of “I remember when.” Remember when all the big game hunting seasons were together; this was just a rifle season. There was no bow season, no black powder season, no separate seasons and the deer and elk seasons were together.

The season traditionally started on the first Saturday after the 15 of October and went to the end of the month. I remember that one time it started on a Monday and the local hunters were very mad. Around the towns and on the Uncompahgre it was mostly deer that were hunted. If you wanted an elk you had to go up on the Lone Cone or over in the San Juans. I was in my late twenties before I heard of an elk being killed on the Uncompahgre.

Then too, the weather was a lot different than it is now. The first part of the season could be Indian Summer weather. However, before the season was over it usually got cold and nasty, with snow or icy rain.

I found this poem in a book by Kathleen Wares and it reminded me of all the changes that have occurred through the years. For one thing the women go hunting now. I hope you get a laugh out of this poem. I know I did.

Hunting Season, by Kathleen Wares

Watch out! Watch out! Watch out, I say.

My mighty hunter’s on his way.

He’s cleaned his gun; his gear’s all packed.

Now - upstairs in his bed he’s sacked.

Just let him sleep for heaven’s sake!

More hunting boasts I could not take.

Of ducks he dreams; of antlered deer;

And big tough game no longer here.

Like good cave wives of long ago

I humbly let him brag and blow.

I just stay home and tend the fire

And try to hope he’s not a liar.