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By Randall Ware
Contributing Writer
On a typical Saturday in mid-winter, Jerry Utz often spends the day in a tree on his 700-acre property in Somerville. From this vantage point he waits patiently for a deer to approach. If he is lucky, he sees one and shoots it.
Deer hunting provides Utz with a good supply of meat for the year. It is also his favorite hobby. “I enjoy the outdoors,” said Utz. “It’s peaceful and there are no cell phones.”
This past Saturday, however, was different. With temperatures reaching an unseasonable 73 degrees, Utz wasn’t really in the mood to hunt. “It’s too hot,” he said. *Td like to see it snow starting in November.”
For most hunters, their sport is not just about the kill. It is about seeing wildlife and appreciating nature. The weather is a big part of that enjoyment. On a brisk winter day, spending time outside is a fresh and invigorating experience. But days in December and January this year — up until Monday at least have felt like a particularly balmy September, or even June.
So far this season, the thermometer has hardly dipped below freezing in Fauquier County. The warm weather trend is not what most hunters expect or want during the few weeks of the year they have to pursue wild game.
“You have to change the way you hunt,” said Utz. Instead of waiting in a tree stand for a deer to approach, hunters must walk around to find the deer. When it is warm, many deer lie around in the brush rather than move
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