Ilike people who need no excuse to go fishing. You simply broach the subject, and the conversation quickly turns to matters of when and where—logistics—not why it can’t be done. That’s Mark Emory for you. The 44-year-old Richmonder recently shut down his audio-visual consulting business of 14 years because of the sour economy. He’s making ends meet with savings until he finds another job, for which he spends most of every day looking. But Emory is a fisherman, a fly angler usually, and he doesn’t have to be reminded of the value of a day spent on a mountain stream.

What is that bird you’ve just spotted? Whether you’re in your or away from home, there are times when unfamiliar species challenge your ability to identify them. Birds that have unusual or even similar markings are often difficult to sort out. Birds that pass through our backyards and neighborhood parks as they follow the Atlantic Flyway during spring and fall migrations can be particularly vexing. Spring birds often feed near the crowns of trees amid dense foliage. Even though they’re apt to sing and have bright plumage, it’s not easy to find them. During fall migration, birds often have confusing colors or markings, are silent, and pass through unnoticed by birders.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports Frank Gibson caught a 34-pound bluecat from the bank at Dutch Gap. Last week was messy because of the storms, high water and abnormal tides. Most anglers went to ponds and lakes. Things are expected to turn around this week should the weather stay favorable. Dr. Julie Ball reports the northerly direction of the wind will continue to push the inshore water temperature down, encouraging larger rockfish to head our way. School-sized fish are keeping local anglers busy. Schoolies are available in lower bay waters, with the outgoing tide providing the best luck. Casters working the pilings of lower bay structures and the 3rd and 4th island tubes at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel are hooking dozens of fish to 28 inches on Wind Cheaters and Storm Lures.

Chesterfield County supervisors last night unanimously agreed to wait three months before voting on an ordinance prohibiting the use of a bow and arrow within 600 feet of a home. The issue arose in response to complaints from Salisbury residents in the Midlothian area concerned that bow hunters were hunting too close to homes where children were playing.

Before they vote, Chesterfield County leaders will hear from the public tomorrow night about a proposal to prohibit the use of bows and arrows within 600 feet of a home. The ordinance change was initiated to address concerns from homeowners in Midlothian’s Salisbury community that people were hunting too close to homes. Currently, Chesterfield property owners and permitted guests are allowed to use bows anywhere on their property, so long as the arrow does not cross the property line. Because of growth in the county’s deer population, the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries allows additional bow hunting with site-specific “kill permits” on property adjacent to or within residential neighborhoods.

An injured owl that was wise enough to find a federal wildlife office has damaged eyes and can’t be returned to the wild. The great horned owl is being cared for at the Wildlife Center of Virginia, an animal hospital in Waynesboro. Because some of the eye damage is old, it’s possible the owl was hit by a car months ago, said Elizabeth Daut, a veterinarian at the center.

The Marlboro Man rode a horse; Oscar Mayer wiener men (and women) drive Wienermobiles; Red Bull dudes drive Mini Coopers. Chuck Carlisle is the Remington Man, and he drives a custom truck that could swallow any of the above modes of transportation whole. Carlisle is also a Chesterfield County native, a Trinity Episcopal grad, a former forester and a lifelong outdoorsman. His job is to travel the Mid-Atlantic, park the Remington truck in front of outdoors stores, answer questions and show off Remington products.

Yesterday morning marked an annual ritual for thousands of area hunters, who hit the woods for the opening morning of deer season. It has been legal to hunt deer using muzzleloaders or bows for weeks now, but the general firearm season—the season people mean when they just say “deer season”—kicked off for all but a tiny corner of the state a half hour before sunrise yesterday.

On the side of a mountain, tired and underfed, strange things can creep into a man’s mind. In that very situation this past Sunday, I found myself thinking: “Man, I could really use a pair of those 3D movie glasses.“ Bizarre, I know. I was standing in a pine thicket holding a topographic map when this thought shot up from my burning quads, through my empty stomach and into my head. “It sure would be nice to look at this two-dimensional map and have it come to life in 3D, to have the valleys, ridgelines, spurs and hollows rise off the page.“

On Dec. 19, the Central Virginia branch of the Quality Deer Management Association will hold its annual youth hunt at the Doodlum Hunt Club in Purdy. Hunters 15 and younger are encouraged to submit a letter of no more than 100 words explaining why they should be chosen to participate. The letter also should include the hunter’s name and birth date, address, daytime and evening telephone numbers, and an e-mail address of the parent or legal guardian who will attend.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following blue cat catches: Mitchell Hughes (Colonial Heights) 33 pounds, Keith Wilkins 34, Frank Williams 31, Robert Waddell Jr. (Chester) 56. Crappie are schooling up in the river and striped bass fishing is coming on strong from Richmond down to the ocean. Stretch 25 and 30 baits are working.

For the record, I considered taking this column off. I figured I’d get the editors to hang a sign in the spot where they normally put me: “Andy Thompson is out of the office. His column will resume when he comes down from a tree stand in Fluvanna or Prince Edward or Caroline counties or wherever he is. Don’t hold your breath.“ Instead, I’ve emerged from the woods to bring you this dispatch. I do so reluctantly because, frankly, I’d much prefer to be out there still.

This past spring, the game department announced that it had found white nose syndrome in bats at two different caves in western and southwestern Virginia. The news was alarming on many fronts, not least of which is that so little is known for certain about the condition - how it is contracted, how it operates, how it kills. What is obvious are its outward signs: Infected bats exhibit a white fungal growth around their noses as well as on their wings, legs or tail membranes.

The 75th Running of the Montpelier Hunt Races will take place tomorrow on the grounds of James Madison’s home in Orange County. This year’s race day will feature traditions, such as the Jack Russell terrier races, children’s stick horse races and the Dolley Madison tailgate competition. New this year will be a special opening ceremony to mark the diamond jubilee of the event. Gates will open at 9 a.m.

Is it a curse or a blessing to know the sunlight is fading, that you can count your last moments on Earth on one hand? Your body is failing, wracked by a cancer that invaded your liver and spread quickly. You don’t know how long you have, but it doesn’t feel like much. It’s a double-edged sword to know: You can count the precious few moments on one hand, but you also hold them in that hand. They’re yours.