About a year ago a lady wrote a letter to the editor about this column. She stated she didn't like me “giving the score” in the big game of the hunter vs. deer. I found it even more humorous when she stated that I sounded like I was giving a play-by-play review of the big game (or something of that nature anyway).

Well folks, it is that time again. The modern gun season in just over a week from today (Saturday the 10th), with the majority of small game and trapping seasons opening on the following Monday.

Up to this point, with Archery season still in full swing, a youth and muzzle-loader seasons out of the way hunters in Logan County have taken a total of 143 deer. The Quality Management folks should be really pleased in that 65 of those are bucks and 78 of them does. That is a 45.5 percent to 54.5 percent ‘score.' Of course those numbers may well skew in the other direction once the modern gun season opens. In reality though, I hope that folks will remember that does taste better this time of the year.

I saw a nice buck the other day, already showing signs of the rut. Once that starts happening, in my opinion, the buck isn't fit for the table.

It's ‘halftime' folks, and the hunters have the lead, and receive in the third quarter which starts in just over a week.

The fur markets are beginning to establish themselves, and while no solid quotes on dollars have been made, we can expect to do better on our coons this year in comparison to years past. Obviously dog bitten and otherwise damaged coons won't be worth much, but it is still worth picking up, and good clean coon, undamaged by dog or car will be worth quite a bit more.

As stated in last week's column, beaver will open at around what it closed at last spring, as will muskrats, bobcat, and red fox. I will buy your skunks, but you have to skin them. Good broad stripes are supped to be worth up to 6.00. Coyotes will be down a bit from last years levels, but I wouldn't ignore them.

I will start buying from opening day forward.

Some reports I am getting on area lakes (while sparse as usual) say that the crappie on Lake Malone are holding at about 6-12 feet and over cover. I haven't heard of any really big slabs being taken but good, average eating-sized fish.

Duck Duncan seems to be the only guy who will talk specifics about fishing with me these days. He stated to me on Thursday that he had caught some really nice bass, one of which was a very healthy looking 3.5 pounder.

Over on the big lakes, below the dams (Kentucky and Barkley) the catfishing is really warming up with TVA moving more water.

While above the dams, the fishing is as I reported it last week.

There has been no update to the ginseng market this week and yellow root remains at about 22.00 a pound.