Winter

Fall in eastern North Carolina brought two snowfalls and two weeks with temperatures in the teens, but winter has been relatively mild. Temperatures have been in the thirties and forties, making for nice running weather.

The new season has taken over the land. Trees are sparse, and you can see farther into the forest. This afternoon, I took a walk to the creek, stopping to watch a large pileated woodpecker, its bright red crest hammering on a dry dead trunk and stopping occasionally to make its loud monkey-like calls. This time of year, it’s also common to hear owls hooting at night, their mysterious songs echoing in the crisp dark air, conjuring feelings of slight spookiness. The icy mornings require you to scrape frost off of windshields and windows before driving off the property, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Deer season is over, so it’s safer to venture out into the woods. This year, a neighboring property put up an elevated deer stand in the middle of a large crop field, and they left a young teenaged boy alone to hunt there. Maybe he was a skilled hunter, but I didn’t feel comfortable walking the tree line that bordered the field. I’m looking forward to getting out into the woods more now.

Today marks the start of the time when whitetail bucks shed their antlers. I’ve always tried to find an abandoned antler, with no luck. Maybe this will be the year. Apart from the high acreage a buck can roam, a shed antler is a resource full of nutrients for other wildlife. Once they hit the ground, they disappear relatively quickly.

Well, the cold season has arrived. Here’s to numbed faces, frozen ears, and throbbing hands. Also, here’s to abundant campfires, frosted landscapes, and aged bourbon for sipping.