It’s February 15th.
It’s 6°C.
It’s raining.
In Rainy River.
In February.
And even though I fully understand this is temporary and March is going to throw at least one heavy, wet snowstorm at us… it still flips a switch in my brain.
I know better.
But I’m planning anyway.
The snow is still deep. I can’t actually do anything at the hunting property right now.
I’m not hauling lumber through waist-deep snow to build deer stands.
I’m not cutting proper trails when everything is buried and bent over.
I’m not dragging tools through slush just to prove a point.
But the second it hits 6 degrees and starts raining?
Suddenly I’m thinking about:
• Where I want to put another stand
• Which trail needs widening
• That thick section I’ve always meant to open up
• A new access route that makes more sense for wind
It’s like the rain melts the snow just enough in my head to start laying things out.
All winter is maintenance mode.
Keep the snow cleared.
Keep the chickens watered.
Keep things running.
Keep the snowblower attached to the lawn tractor because you know you’re going to need it again.
There’s not much building happening in February.
But one warm day and I’m already walking the hunting property in my head.
I’m replaying last fall.
Where I saw deer.
Where I didn’t.
Where I wished I had a stand.
Where I wished I had a better shooting lane.
You don’t get to build much in winter.
But you can sure think.
Right now the hunting property is still locked up tight.
Low spots are hidden.
Brush is bent over.
Everything looks smaller because it’s half buried.
You can walk it.
But you can’t really work it.
So I’m doing the next best thing.
Planning it properly.
Because when the snow finally goes — and it will go fast — I don’t want to be standing there scratching my head trying to decide what to tackle first.
I want lumber ready.
Tools ready.
A clear idea of where I’m starting.
That way when the ground softens up enough to dig and the trails dry out enough to move around without sinking to your knees…
I’m not wasting time.
And yes.
It’s going to snow again.
Probably heavy.
Probably wet.
Probably at the most inconvenient time.
I’ll hook the snowblower back up (which, let’s be honest, it’s probably not coming off for a while anyway).
But this weather changes something.
It reminds you winter isn’t permanent.
It reminds you building season is coming.
Trail cutting.
Stand building.
Clearing shooting lanes.
Scouting spots you didn’t get to last year.
That stuff doesn’t happen in February.
But the thinking starts in February.
And honestly, planning is half the work.
By the time I can actually get in there without fighting snow, I’ll already know:
What I’m building.
Where I’m building it.
What needs priority.
What can wait.
That’s what a random 6°C rainy day in mid-February does.
It doesn’t mean spring is here.
It just means it’s close enough to start thinking about it.
And even if we get buried again next week…
I’m still planning anyway.
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