Moose at RBC Center for Black Hawks Game. Less than 7,000 fans showed up because of the winter storm and the declared "State of Emergency"
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The duck season ended for most with a winter storm across most of the state. I was suppose to head to Orange county but given the weather forecast and the fact that scouting of the area by a few of the guys had shown that there was very few ducks there the days leading up to the hunt. The snow was the kicker so Friday morning the Saturday hunt was called. What normally would be a 70 minute ride in the conditions we had would have been more like a 2 ½ hour trip. Ducks seem to like the nasty weather so I’m sure those with places to go and could get there they were rewarded with a pretty good hunt.
Yesterdays snow, sleet, and freezing rain has been replaced today with cold air and sun. Growing up in New England temperatures below 20 are cold but I leave the “bone chilling” description, which is getting thrown around here a lot, for when you get down in the negatives. 15 to 20 bellow my bones might be getting a bit cool.
Today with the conditions the way they are would be a perfect day to turn some beagles lose on some rabbits but this is North Carolina and hunting on Sunday is not allowed even those Sundays that most churches have decided to close their doors. The roads are now like many of the roads in places like Northern Maine packed snow and ice but minus the big snow banks to keep ya out of the ditch. There is not much in the line of snow removal equipment in this neck of the woods so we’ll have to wait for Mother Nature to clear the roads which could take some time given the “bone chilling” temperatures we have to endure.
We ventured out last evening to the Carolina Hurricanes game and it was fun to drive on roads that reminded me of my youth. Less than 7,000 of us showed up (over 14,000 tickets had been sold) to watch our last place Hurricanes knock off first place Black Hawks. A great game and good evening of fun. I was glad that we stopped and got something to eat before we got to the arena because it seems that most of their employees stayed home. The only concession stands that were open was on the first level and only about half of them at that.
The thermometer says it is about 18’ right now a warm cup of coffee and the gas logs going... Mother Nature can take her time on clearing the roads. I like this “bone chilling” “snowed in” type of weather while I sit and dream of the sound of beagles on a hot rabbit. I got to wonder if we can't get Hunting on Sunday if the church is closed?
