SPRINGFIELD – This time of year is no doubt a beautiful season in Central Illinois. The leaves are in a full array of change, the breeze is now cool and crisp, and the days begin to shorten.

It’s also the beginning of a whole new set of seasons: deer (whitetail), waterfowl (duck) and squirrel seasons.

Driving through rural parts of Central Illinois, one often hears “BANG, CRACK, and POP.” Those poor sound effects don’t do a justice to actually hearing the shot being fired, or actually being the one to pull the trigger.

A large number of people from Central Illinois enjoy the outdoors, whether it is being outside in nature or to actually be out in the field hunting.

Jared Spengler has been hunting for 11 years. His love for hunting came from his grandpa.

Austin Bell has been into hunting for six years after a friend’s dad introduced him to it.

I have been hunting for about 15 years now. My Grandpa and my Dad got me into it when I was only 5 years old.

Despite a shared love for hunting, all of us hunt differently from one another. Spengler really enjoys waterfowl season and loves to bow hunt for whitetail deer. He has a more diverse hunting style because he hunts more types of animals and in different ways.

Bell primarily likes to hunt whitetail during bow season. Bow season is a much tougher hunt when you have to be within a 25-yard distance from your target.

I personally like to hunt whitetail during shotgun season, my whole family does, and it’s what I have grown up doing it. It’s the same for Spengler and Bell hunting is something they have grown up doing and have loved doing it.

That’s what connects all of us hunters, the passion of the sport and traditions of hunting. Whether it’s hunting for fun, sport, meat or the trophy animal, being a hunter is much more than sitting in the woods and killing an animal. It’s the time spent preparing for the hunt, the time spent in the field and the time being outdoors surrounded by nature. There is nothing like being in the woods and the cool fall breeze blowing into your face.

For Bell and Spengler, their whitetail season last year was a little unsuccessful and uneventful. They both had the same thoughts, the deer were too small and not mature enough to harvest. Yet, on the other hand, my family tagged out. Seasons vary each year from hunter to hunter, so there is no need to feel discouraged about an uneventful season. There is always next year.

They aren’t discouraged, they both feel pretty confident they will see some action this season, as I hope I will have a good season as well.

We can all agree, whether the season is uneventful or action-packed, the hunt never gets old. Anyone truly into hunting will say the same thing as us.

Even though some can say hunting is controversial, there an accomplishment to actually do what you set out to do. I would say hunting is up there with graduating high school.

“Deer hunting is rewarding. It’s a rewarding feeling: the anticipation, the waiting, and the effort put into the hunt is really rewarding in itself.” Spengler said. “You did what you set out to do.”

Spencer means the feeling of actually killing the animal you spent all the time and energy to get, is now yours.

For anyone who hasn’t hunted, or even killed an animal, hunting is not as easy as waiting and shooting a gun.

Seeing the animal walk out from behind some brush while you have the shot; an entire wave of emotions take over. Adrenaline, excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and then the feeling of sadness overwhelms me and my senses. At the same time, I feel time slows and my senses are heightened, there is a contradictory rush of emotions.

This is my take on the feeling, everyone can feel it differently, but it is a common feeling to have from what I have gathered from fellow hunters, family, and friends.

Target practice and actually shooting an animal suddenly become two different actions.

If you are interested in hunting, here is what Bell’s advice “Just go. You can’t shoot a deer from your couch at home.”

If nothing else, go out there to be in nature, feel that soft fall breeze, see the sights and smell what it’s like to be in woods which is a feeling in itself.

Jack Pugh can be reached at [email protected].