Season of Exhaustion! Week of October 11, 2026

It always feels like May and August are such a rush of a season, but October is another story, bringing on the exhaustion. It is supposed to be when fall kicks in and it’s time to slow down. The mornings take longer to bring light to the day. Evenings shorten to where you know they will no longer be in a few weeks.

In reality, this ’s the kickstart between the summer busy schedule and the realization that outdoor cleanup, outdoor projects, and everything outdoors needs to be completed very soon before snow and winter sets it.

Working with the Dogs

So, of course with the feeling of being overwhelmed, we work with our dogs. Rudy is fast growing puppy, ready to be one of the big dogs, at just 11 weeks. That bird dog instinct and natural ability is in him, as he runs around the yard smelling where the frozen bird was thrown.

Rudy has learned to love being closer with the older dogs. Molly is his best friend. Bella tends to be his new personal trainer. And Ruger, his boss man.

Preparation for Muzzleloader Season

For any hunting season, even if the hunting season is just a week long like early Muzzleloader season here in Pennsylvania, it takes a week before and week after to accomplish everything.

Beforehand, trying to get things done that will definitely be pushed off to the side of less of a priority- dishes, laundry, cleaning up. Knowing the dogs won’t get as much time out of their fence, so letting them outside every day to run in the yard. And most importantly, gathering and preparing the supplies for hunting. Sighting in the guns, checking ammunition supplies, taking some practice, reteaching how to load the gun.

Afterwards, knowing that whole week will be finishing butchering and preserving any venison, shooting off the guns, and putting guns away until another day.

First Day of Muzzleloader

Some first days of the season, I tag along with Shawn and his hunting, while other times, I just chill at home. This was one of those years I chilled at home with the dogs on the first day.

Muzzleloader season is such a dedicated week. That’s all we have for it. And we can only shoot does. It’s a season I’ve learned that it is easy to become burnout over since it such a short window. If the week is feeling overwhelming, which calculate in a DIY building project, a new puppy chukar challenges for most of the previous weekends, ending of the gardening season, making homemade recipes, and both of use working full time, yes this week was the greatest mixture of overwhelming and exhausting all in one.

Build a Farm Life

What growing up with a farm life off the farm taught me the most is that seasons come and go. Busy seasons come; busy seasons go. It takes knowing how to prioritize what needs done versus what needs to wait. It takes working hard with taking rest when needed. Everything is possible with God, but that doesn’t mean you fly down the mountain without brakes.