Nearly everyone has already reported a slow start to the general hunting season, and that has been the case among North Fork residents, too.

Neighbor Lynn Ogle shot a nice white-tailed buck this week, and since I was with him, I don't really feel skunked. That is the only legal kill I'm aware of.

Two white-tailed bucks were illegally killed on Trail Creek on private property. A license plate number was written down by another hunter and, if correct, the shooter may be arrested. Trouble is, the plate was somewhat dirty, and the miscreants were departing as fast as possible.

Either way, thanks to the quick response by the landowner and guests, these folks will probably steer clear of this area in the future. Still, I hope they're caught and lose their hunting privileges for several years and have to pay a hefty fine.

The two deer they shot were quickly cleaned and turned over to a Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden. No doubt they'll end up at a food bank and be given to needy families.

Most locals don't really hunt hard in the early part of the season. Lack of snow and warm daytime temperatures make hunting difficult, and it's unwise to hang meat for several days if temperatures are above 50 degrees. I go out every day, but I'm just scouting and enjoying the fall colors. Like everyone else, I won't get serious until about the middle of November.

Of course, there are other good outdoor activities in October. Up and down the North Fork, most gardens have been harvested and preparations are underway for next year. Becky Braunig and Margaret Heaphy are transporting mule manure and putting potted plants away for the winter.

October is also a great time to put in firewood for the winter of 2012. It's a little late to start getting wood for this winter.

I always like to have at least two years of wood on hand in case I get sick or hurt. This year, I have a full supply in town and at the cabin. In fact, both wood sheds are overflowing, and I have several cords stacked outside at both places.

Even so, I found a nice larch snag last week and added another cord to the pile. Shared a little with a neighbor who had no larch but plenty of lodgepole. Lodgepole is great firewood, but the denser larch gives more heat per pound and is nice to have for a night fire when it's below zero.

The larch are at their peak fall gold, and with snow on both the Whitefish Divide and the Continental Divide, it's a great time to just be outside whether you're taking pictures or just watching the clouds or listening to the river flow south.