An old friend of mine used to call me once in a blue moon and ask me if I was interested in having a sportsmen’s holiday.

This was his version of an all day event that generally included transitioning from hunting to fishing to doing something that would interest an outdoor enthusiast.

For example we might go pheasant hunting and then hit Lake Erie for a Steelhead Trout adventure in the afternoon. My friend Quincy hasn’t called me for such an adventure for a long time, but the memory of a sportsmen’s holiday hasn’t faded too far off the memory charts.

A few of my outdoor buddies renewed our interest in such a holiday when we found ourselves with some time off during the Christmas-through-New-Years week. It is unusual for all of us to all have time off for the holiday season. It just sounded good to hear Beaver boy and the Professor call an honest to goodness sportsmen’s holiday!

The Professor thought we were working too hard during deer season and needed to relax and have fun with less intense activities. The fellows gathered right there and ideas for a sportsman’s holiday started popping up like flowers in the spring.

The first idea was a fishing adventure: Steelhead or lake runs Brown trout off the mouths of the tributaries feeding into the Great Lake region.

Both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario were within a few hours drive and the 40-50 degree weather would be ideal.

We had the right equipment and the time to do such an adventure all we had to do was go for it!

The idea even grew better when the guys decided that each one of us should come up with some holiday sporting ideas. Franklin was just talking up his new beagle pups and the idea of a post Christmas bunny hunt in the snow was thrown into the ring.

With that came a pheasant hunt coupled in with the bunnies at a game farm we used to hunt birds at. Things were shaping up nicely when the black powder season and late grouse season idea was tossed around as well. This was the first year that I actually was flushing grouse with any frequency in the deer thickets.

The guys did not want to get the boats out and do any open water fishing or take off for some late season waterfowl hunting but it was an option. The Eastern Sport Show and the PA Farm Show was discussed as well as some shed hunting and Snowshoe hare hunting.

The thoughts of a bunch of guys wanting to goof off were on a roll and it was way beyond my control at this point. Each guy was left with the thought of coordinating a day and we would see where this would lead us in the upcoming week.

If I run into Quincy I’m going to invite him to go along on a sportsman’s holiday because if nothing else he is a character, fun loving and the originator of the S.H.!

Although the deer hunting season was rough for many hunters (yours truly included), I did see at least five or six legal bucks and several dandies!

I plan on giving the black powder primitive hunt a try for a few days. Of course, if I can’t bag the bucks with a modern rifle, what will I do with a flintlock?

The PGC has announced that the requirement to display your hunting license will expire on Feb. 13, 2012 but until that time you must display it.

The PA State Legislature along with the cooperation of the PGC decided that the law to display your license on your back was archaic and not a necessary requirement with today’s hunters. Those back tag holders will become collectibles now.

Let’s hope that the PFBC soon follows suit and allows the sportsman to put his license in his wallet or pocket too.

Until we meet again have a safe and family filled holiday season and I’ll see you next year.