WHAT TO DO WHEN ALL YOUR TAGS HAVE BEEN FILLED

Wishful thinking for some, right? Well, maybe you have just run out of time to fill those tags. Follow along as I break down three of the best animals to pursue when the big game tags have run out.

Don't get me wrong; I love big game hunting. More than love, I live for it. But there are only so many tags to go around and only so much time during the season. This is why it is so important to become a well-rounded outdoorsman. It affords you the opportunity to explore other avenues of hunting besides the norm.

So how are you going to bide your time and make the most of the hunting season?

I'm going to provide you with 3 different pursuits that you MUST try this fall after all of your big game tags have been filled.

1. Squirrels

I would consider squirrels the most underrated game animal in the eyes of the general public, and it honestly doesn't make sense. Why would such a tasty critter carry such a poor reputation?

It's all about perception. People hear "rodent," and immediately turn up their nose. For those that resonate with the statement, I ask you to just give them a chance. Because in my next article, I will cover a squirrel wing recipe that even the pickiest eaters will love.

1. Rabbits

Next in line is the cottontail rabbit. The reason these fall second on the list is because they are everywhere. You can find them all the way from Asia to Alaska, but more than half of the world's population of rabbits resides right here in North America.

Why not take advantage of this highly abundant food source? You can prepare dishes with these animals that you could easily pass off as chicken. The tender light meat can be cooked down to anything from stews to fried legs.

And the pursuit of rabbits can be a social and fun event for the whole family. Go out there and take a walk in the woods with a shotgun, and you are sure to bump into a few if you know where to look.

3. Pheasant

This is my favorite of all the species on this list. Not only are they tasty, fun to chase, and have open hunting seasons in most states, but you can involve a four-legged family member in the pursuit. If you have a dog and want to develop a deep connection as well as provide them with unlimited mental and physical stimulation, take them with you!

And don't let a specific breed deter you from giving this a try. I have heard people flush pheasants with dogs from GSPs to Mini Schnauzers. Hell, I took my parents' 10-pound, 12-week-old King Charles Cavalier, and he had the time of his life and stayed with us the whole time!

You'd be surprised what man's best friend is truly capable of. After all, the domestication of dogs happened because of the common interest in hunting and eating wild game.

So next time you are sitting at home embracing the onset of cabin fever after the grind of big game hunting seasons, take a look outside the box. It might surprise you how much you will be able to learn not only about yourself but about the woods around you!

Happy Hunting!