A few years ago, I was deer hunting with friends and I was experiencing one of those hunting seasons that you want to forget.

I had just let out a string of shots at a buck that got the better of me and I realized that I was low on rifle cartridges. I considered that having a popular caliber in the .270 Winchester would assure me of finding replacement ammo in short order.

Unfortunately, I couldn't locate even one box of .270s and knew that I'd have to wait until I could drop in on Gun World for my needs.

Trying to console me, my buddy said, "Don't worry about it. From the look of the supplies, I think a lot of guys are missing."

From reports of my shooting and hunting companions, the supply-and-demand issues of ammunition and sporting arms have been very spotty and you shouldn't wait until the last minute to buy needed supplies.

Both the price and availability have been an issue with over-the-counter sales, as well as those who are into reloading.

This spring, I drove to a big sale for reloading components and the place was picked clean. Some reloading advocates made bulk purchases to the dismay of us casual hand loaders.

Stay on your toes and take advantage of the opportunities provided by area gun shops and retailers. Some of the larger retail chains offer sales at times, but there are no returns of ammunition if you make a mistake.

Speaking of making mistakes, don't be caught sleeping with the new license changes for the 2009-10 season. In particular, the antlerless license and the youth mentor hunt will be changing.

The deadline for doe license applications is now three weeks earlier than in the past. They are due July 13 and must be mailed in the new pink envelopes to the county treasurer with your top three Wildlife Management Unit choices on the form along with a check for $6.70.

The pink envelopes will be available at all of the license sales retailers. All of the county treasurers will handle the applications for all WMU's, and if they are sold out. the treasurer will select your second or third choices, if necessary.

The newest license for 2009 is the youth mentored hunt for youngsters under the age of 12. In this hunt, a youth accompanies an adult hunter in the field for a mentored hunt that is supervised on a one-to-one basis.

In the past, there was no formal license or reporting system in place, which now has been corrected. The $2.70 license is now required for all youth 12 and under who participate in the antlered deer or spring gobbler hunts. The license will have both a field tag and a harvest report card.

Archery hunters who want to hunt with a long bow, a compound bow, a recurve bow or the newly approved crossbow will have their license fee set at $16.70. That fee, along with the general hunting license fee of $20.70 brings it to a total of $37.40.

Many of the seasons overlap with early muzzleloader and/or late-season flintlock, which require additional licenses. The muzzleloader license has been set at $11.70, and the bear license now is $16.70. If you plan to hunt bear in the early archery season, you'll be required to have all three, licenses.

The elk hunt continues to be a great opportunity for hunters. The non-refundable application fee is set at $10.70 and gives you the chance of drawing 1 of 59 licenses available this year. The odds are about 1 in 300 your name will be drawn for a shot at one of these fine animals.

The success rate for license holders is more than 90 percent for a bull elk and nearly 85 percent for a cow.