This is about the time we are enjoying the leftover turkey and all the trimmings. For years we used to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday at my in-laws because it was hard for everyone to get together on Christmas so this was the only time we seemed to be able to get everyone together. This year is even more special because my wife’s brother, Lynn, and his wife, Margaret, are home from Alaska for a couple of weeks. It’s been quite some time since the whole family has been together on a holiday.

Years ago we would all gather at the home place in Twin Lakes and although the house was crowded it was always a special time. We always hoped for a nice day so that the kids could go outside and burn off a little energy. I can still hear my mother-in-law shooing us adults out of her small kitchen while she was trying to fix the meal. It seemed like we were drawn to the kitchen by some magical force where we would talk and share stories of the past year.

When the kids would go outside we’d always speculate as to which one of the boys would fall into the “crick” first. Brad, my youngest, would always be in the running with his cousin, Tom.

It never seemed to fail whether it was Thanksgiving or Easter one or both of them would come into the house with waterlogged shoes and wet pants; this was almost a tradition.

As my Uncle Orville would say about Brad, “he’s all boy and a mile wide!” I never was exactly sure what that meant but I guess it falls into the “boys will be boys” or “that’s what boys do” family.

While the kids were outside playing the adults were usually into a heated game of Hucklybuck. Although I never was much for playing cards I’d usually make my donation and occasionally would be lucky enough to win a pot.

When I first played the game at one of these family gatherings it was a nickel a game — nickel a buck and then it progressed to dimes and finally quarters.

Then, of course, there was always the dollar showdown game at the end, which could easily wipe out any winnings you had accrued during the last few hours.

Although these days have long since passed the memories will not and any time we get together on this holiday there are numerous conversations about the past and there are always lots of laughs someone always brings up something hilarious that we’d forgotten about. Although the time we spend together seems to be less and less we still try to squeeze in a couple of quick games of cards. This is done, in part, just to carry on an old family tradition. Each time we have a family gathering it adds to the family memory vault.

DNR reports deer harvest down

The Minnesota DNR has issued the following news release about the hunting season that we have just completed:

Minnesota’s firearms deer harvest is down 11.6 percent from 2008 but on track with expectations, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Since the season opened Nov. 7, preliminary results show that hunters have harvested 151,000 animals, 20,000 fewer than last year following the third weekend of hunting. The decrease reflects fewer opportunities for hunters to harvest antlerless deer in about half of the state’s deer management areas.

“The strategy for 2009 is to allow deer populations to build and stabilize by reducing opportunities to take antlerless deer,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game coordinator. “We expect hunters to harvest about 200,000 deer, or one-fifth of the state’s wild deer population. We’re on track to do just that once the final numbers are in and counted for all deer seasons.”

Hunters have harvested about 19,000 fewer antlerless deer than last year, accounting for the majority of the decline. Harvest of bucks is only about 1,200 animals behind last year. Hunter numbers are nearly identical to last year.

“The harvest of bucks is the most stable indicator of deer population,” Cornicelli said. “Nearly the same number of bucks has been harvested, which suggests that deer are still there to be taken. Since fewer hunters have the option of harvesting an antlerless deer, the overall numbers have decreased.”

Cornicelli said hunters also have been especially cooperative in the DNR’s efforts to sample deer for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in southeastern Minnesota and Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in northwestern Minnesota.

DNR-staffed stations in southeastern Minnesota have sampled 2,350 deer for CWD. In northwestern Minnesota, 1,468 deer have been sampled for Bovine TB.

Minnesota hunters harvested about 222,000 deer last year. The highest recorded harvest was 290,000 deer in 2003.

“Hunters are harvesting more deer than we did historically but not as many as when the deer population reached its peak in the early 2000s,” said Cornicelli. “With population goals being met in many areas, harvest numbers are showing that we’re beginning to level out to where we want to be.”

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving and please do what you can to support the charities that are helping area families in need have a good Christmas.

Until next time, there’s still open water for fish’n and while you’re at it, take a little time to enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers throughout the year.