Pennsylvania’s deer hunting season swings into high gear Monday morning as nearly 1 million hunters hit the woods in search of a white-tailed deer.

The tradition is so strong that nearly every school will be closed Monday and retail stores will be seeking for hunters’ business.

I’ve become so accustomed to friends and family participating in the First Day of Buck Season that it sort of took me by surprise when I met a person who wasn’t aware of the tradition and its significance.

I attempted to explain it to her, but her response was, “It’s stupid!”

She had closed her mind to the idea of deer hunting and I wasn’t wasting any more effort to change her view.

But earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to talk to and hunt with several young women who were very much into the deer hunting scene, so I guess there is balance in the world.

As this article reaches thousands of homes in the Butler County area, I will have returned from a deer hunting excursion with 20 friends and family in West Virginia.

The hunting is good but the time with the boys is excellent for my spirits. Although the 4 a.m. wake-ups and sitting on stands all day take their toll on my energy, I feel rejuvenated and welcome the camaraderie.

The elements play a large part in the reunion of civilization and nature. Man can’t control the weather, as the cold temperatures, snow, rain and wind remind us of our vulnerabilities.

Yet there we are facing the elements year after year just for a chance to bag a deer. Ironically, the majority of hunters wish for snow during deer season and likely wishes it would go away after Christmas.

We have time for one deer hunting story and the elements have much to do with it. I was attending Slippery Rock State and the First Day of Buck Season was at hand. A couple of fellow students also were avid deer hunters and we were going to hunt some of the woods near the area.

The hunting knowledge and skills shared by today’s standards weren’t evident in our motley crew. We had minimum experience and no old-timers there to set us straight.

A heavy snow had fallen over the weekend and was hanging on the branches of nearly every tree and shrub, making visibility poor. On top of that, the snow was fluffed over every snag, branch or wet spot we traveled over.

I was wet, cold and tired by noon and was ready to head for some dry clothes and any kind of heat when I heard a shot nearby.

Although I was a rookie, I knew that meant someone got into a deer and it might be heading my way. I checked my rifle and had it ready just in case.

I soon saw brown shapes moving silently through the trees and deep snow in a single file. Nearly 10 deer hopped a fallen tree near me and I counted them as they filed by one by one.

The first seven were all does and not legal game at the time. The next was a spike, but he was mixed in the crowd to well. A few more does passed and then a 6-point buck.

I don’t know how long I looked at that buck to determine he was a 6-pointer, but I knew I had one chance and they would keep moving on.

I fumbled with my gloves and safety, and, just like that, they moved out of my sight.

A moment later, I heard a shot and a excited shout It was one of my buddies and he didn’t fumble the shot.

As I helped him drag the 6-pointer to our vehicle, I thought of my mistakes and learned from them.

Over the years, I’ve harvested many deer and the ones that got away taught me the most valuable lessons.

Good luck on Monday, whether you’re hunting or shopping!