Snow fell today in northern New England, white stuff of the wet sort, though some stuck to the grass outside this window, and to the leaves I've yet to rake.
For me, this early snow marks the start of the home-office season, which falls a handful of months before spring gobbler hunting commences. I'll start all that turkey chasing in Florida first, and South Dakota a little later, and Maine at the wire. New York State tags (2) hang on my office corkboard too, so there's that. Several other tags from different road-trip states will fill my wallet too.
Not to say that I don't get out much during this November to March phase: bird dogs demand it, if only for the exercise. Here in Maine you can train dogs on wild birds year-round, so we're covered there.
As for the late-fall/winter home-office season, mine will involve two book projects (one due March 1; one due May 1), a host of magazine assignments deadlined through August '08 right now (Turkey & Turkey Hunting, Cabela's Outfitters Journal, Turkey Call . . .) , some winter seminar appearances and book signings (Nashua Public Library, Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expo . . .), plus providing online content for other several markets (Realtree.com, etc. . . .), and my usual Sunday column and photo space with Foster's Sunday Citizen (www.fosters.com).
That's good, because keeping busy during the months with less light is crucial here in Maine . . . after all, it's 3:55 in the afternoon right now, and dark outside.
--S.H.
