With the weather the way it is, and being between seasons there isn't a whole lot going on this week. There is a lot of difference between last year and this though (weather-wise)!

Last year at this time we were wishing for a snorkel and fins, the water was up everywhere with all the rain. Then all of a sudden it dried up again, too late for the trapping season, and too early for the growing season. It hurt us all in one way or another. I reckon the duck hunters enjoyed last winter, though.

Deer hunters have done nothing this week (thus far). I guess everyone is taking a break after a pretty successful gun season, but let's not forget, the “smoke pole” season opens this weekend. I suspect many of you will be out and about during that time, and I can tell you there are still some pretty good bucks running around out there.

The other morning I saw a nice 10-pointer as I pulled into one of my many trap check locations. He just stood there and stared at me for a minute before sort of trotting off into the creek bottom.

I am still working beaver hard, and have a few more locations on the “calendar” to work over, but I am running out of them quick. If any of you know of any areas in need of attention I would appreciate the information.

Muskrat is another hot item this year, and I haven't really worked my traditional lines yet, but I could still use more.

As to the market and its ups and downs. This is the first time in several years I just don't know what to expect. There is certainly demand for beaver, muskrat and mink. Coyotes are holding their own, but fox and coon are real “iffy.”. A lot depends on the kind of winter they have in the Ukraine and the strength of the dollar. When the dollar is up, fur is low, and vice versa.

With the woods now cleared of modern gun hunters the small game hunters are finally getting their time in the woods. I am still hearing that there aren't any squirrels but the rabbit hunters seem to be doing well. I am getting some reports of some great days in the field from some parts of the county while other parts aren't faring quite so well. It seems that North Logan is where all the good things are happening, and I am hearing nothing out of the southern end of the county.

Justin Owen of Auburn (between milk runs) has been doing a bit of duck hunting, with mixed success. From what I have seen in that department, there is either feast or famine. I am on the water every day and I either see lot's of ducks, or none. There doesn't seem to be any in between.

I haven't heard anything from the fall turkey hunters, but I have seen plenty of birds out there and there have been 42 total birds taken here in Logan County.

It would seem the fishing is on hold with this new weather pattern rolling in. Freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and rain has sort of slowed things down a bit, and most likely this pattern will hold for the next 10 days or so. What I hear from over on the big lakes is that the fish have moved into the deeper waters. I haven't heard anything about our local lakes at all.