Now that the cold weather is here, many students, teachers and administrators are donning their hunting gear.

Out of 31 people surveyed, most said they started hunting between four and 13 years of age.

Principal Bryan Brantley said he is continuing the family tradition of hunting by passing it down to his son Brody, who will begin hunting with an apprentice license next year.

“Brody is seven years old, and I have taken him with me several times. He will most likely ‘hunt’ with a gun next year by my side. He will not sit by himself for a few more years,” Brantley said.

Senior Jonathan Cantwell said his dad taught him how to hunt, but later he began to go with his grandfather.

“My dad got me started on hunting, but when I got older I would start spending the night with my papa. We would work on his old cars and work out at the land lease and talk about deer patterns and different calls and look at the trail cameras.”

                                                              –Jonathan Cantwell

Many students avidly hunt deer either after or before school and on the weekends.

Senior Kris McCarley said he hunts as often as possible.

“Every chance I get, I go out and hunt deer,” McCarley said.

Half of the students said they prefer to hunt in the morning, while the other half like to hunt in the evening.

Senior Logan Hanley said he would rather hunt in the morning but will make exceptions.

“I prefer a morning hunt because you don’t have to worry about tracking a deer in the dark, but I often hunt in the evenings anyway because of morning duck hunts,” Hanley said.

Few actually track the deer; instead, they hunt either in a tree stand or a blind.

Most favor to hunt with a bow, rifle or muzzleloader.

Senior Tanner Scott said he uses all three.

“I hunt with a Thompson Center Encore 300 mag rifle, a Thompson Center .50 cal. 25-06 muzzleloader, and a Mathews Solo Cam bow,” Scott said.

A lot of the hunters do not have a lifetime hunting license, but rather they buy new ones.

Senior Patrick Kelly said he renews his hunting license every year.

“I buy a new license and tags every year because a lifetime license is so expensive. It is more affordable to buy new ones,” Kelly said.

An annual license for deer hunting costs a mere $25, and a lifetime license for deer hunting is $625.

The seasonal spending varies for these hunters; it ranges from around $500 to thousands of dollars.

Senior Abbey Warren gives insight on her expenses.

“We spend money on new clothes, new boots, new stands, new blinds and hunting accessories, etc. I couldn’t begin to add up how much,” Warren said.

Deer season comes to a close in January.

Haley Anderson and Madalyn Estes

MHS exPRESS writers