Back many years when I was a boy, the face of hunting was a lot different than it is today. Sixty years later, we have a proliferation of whitetail deer seasons, a dove season and a wild turkey season. The choice adds a lot to the selection of game by hunters today.

Back then, small game was king and squirrel season was the topper. On the Saturday of opening week in August, cars would be parked along county roads bordering woodlots, and the number of hunters was astonishing. The sound of shotguns rang out, and the woods almost sounded like a combat zone.

All of the boys in town looked forward to the opening of squirrel season. We had sharpened our stalking and shooting skills all summer long on the endless number of groundhogs, and we were ready to see who could be the first to get a limit of squirrels (or just get a squirrel).

School was still a couple weeks away, and it was almost mandatory a proper squirrel camp be put into use. The camp site could be about any flat piece of ground in the woods capable of accommodating several sleeping bags with enough area for a huge bonfire.

By the time we dragged all of our equipment into camp and lighted a bonfire you could see for several miles. I’m sure all the squirrels in the woods knew they were being invaded.

Once in a while, we would have our camp set up next to some young field corn. We’d snag six or eight ears for the cooking pot. When boiled for an extended amount of time, the corn was usually still tough, chewy, strong-flavored and a far cry from good old sweet corn; however, with enough butter and salt, you might convince yourself it was fit forage.

We always had about 20 pounds of canned goods, half a side of bacon and a couple dozen eggs to fall back on should the hunting be lean. The selection ranged from Spam to meatball stew, hominy and Del Monte Fruit Cocktail. I’m sure our parents were painfully aware we had raided the refrigerators and the pantries to accumulate our camp victuals.

(Sometimes when we returned home, we became painfully aware of the fact.)

Of course there was always a lot of bragging on our individual hunting and shooting skills. Stories of fantastic shots and silent stalking of wary game were freely exchanged around the campfire.

My good friend Jim Robbins brought an aluminum skillet to camp. Admiring the light weight, I gave it a try. I loaded it with bacon and promptly burned it beyond consumption. I was used to the slow heat of a cast iron skillet, not the instant heat transmission and incineration of aluminum.

Jim had brought a new single-shot J.C. Higgins 12-gauge to camp. He asked if I would like to shoot it. I said sure, but I need a target – throw your worthless skillet up and I’ll fold it like a bed sheet.

My shotgun was an 1897 Winchester 12-gauge that had an extended recoil pad on the original stock. In order to mount the gun to my shoulder, I had to extend my arms and throw the stock forward. Jim’s gun had a short standard stock with no recoil pad. There was a big difference in stock length!

When I hollered “pull,” Jim pitched the aluminum skillet as high as he could throw, and I swung the Higgins loaded with a high brass #6 up to take the shot. Throwing the gun forward like I was mounting my ’97, I didn’t take into consideration the difference in stock length.

Unfortunately for me, when I pulled the trigger, the gun was about 3 inches off of my shoulder. The hit was dead on and the aluminum skillet did fold almost in half. It would never again burn the bacon. But, my situation was also a little worse for wear.

With the stock not touching my shoulder, the lightweight, hard-kicking Higgins swung up and hit me across the face, blackening my left eye and bloodying my nose. As the laughter subsided and I got my nose to stop bleeding, Jim asked if I would be able to hunt in the morning.

I said sure, it’s my left eye that’s blacked and swollen, but my right eye is my shooting eye. I’ll be fine.

It was a different world back then. I can’t imagine what would be the reaction of people today seeing a half-dozen teenagers riding bicycles, carrying camping gear and shotguns.

The Indiana squirrel season this year runs until Jan. 31, 2019, with a limit of five squirrels per day. You can shoot as many aluminum skillets as you want, though.

Patoka Lake dove hunts

Dove hunters can apply in person for permission to hunt a sunflower field at Patoka Lake’s Jackson State Recreation Area (SRA) on Sept. 1 and 2. Property staff will conduct drawings each day at 6:30 a.m. ET at the Jackson SRA check station #5 parking area.

The property expects to draw about 10 groups each day, and there is a maximum of two hunters per stake. Hunting hours for drawn hunters at Patoka Lake run from 7:15 a.m.-noon. All fields surrounding a controlled sunflower field will be subject to the same time restrictions.

There will be no “standby” or refilling of shooting stations for early departures on Sept. 1 or 2. The field will closed after noon each day. Fields will be considered “open hunting” starting Sept. 3. Shooting hours will be a half-hour before sunrise, to sunset.

For detailed information, call 812-685-2464 and ask to speak to the wildlife specialist.

APPLE reserved bird hunts

Upland bird hunters may apply now for the opportunity to participate in controlled-access hunts on private land through a relatively new Department of Natural Resources (DNR) program called APPLE (Access Program Providing Land Enhancements).

APPLE offers financial incentives to landowners who allow controlled public access hunting. Public hunting opportunities are made available through a reserved draw system. The program is geared toward improving hunting opportunities for ring-necked pheasant, Northern bobwhite quail and American woodcock.

To apply, visit www.hunting.IN.gov and click on the "Reserved Hunt Info" link. Hunters can apply through Sept. 23. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are applying. Hunters will be selected through a computerized random drawing.

Drawing results will be posted at www.wildlife.IN.gov within two weeks after application deadlines. An email will be sent to applicants when results are posted. For more information, visit www.wildlife.IN.gov/9572.htm

Bowhunters needed for survey

The Indiana DNR is looking for volunteer bowhunters to participate in the annual Archer’s Index. The survey relies on them to report days and hours hunted, the county hunted in and what wildlife they saw while hunting.

The reports give a picture of how some species may be changing over time by tracking wildlife seen while hunters are afield. Volunteers must sign up by Sept. 15 to participate for fall. To sign up, send an email requesting more information on the Archer’s Index to dfw@dnr.IN.gov or call 812-334-1137 and ask about the Index.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.