To some, the term “hunting” implies a vision of the hunter being totally consumed in his or her quest of the prey. In reality, though, what occurs during any hunt is a cornucopia of lateral interests and activities of which the actual pursuit of game is but a very small part.

Take, for example, the average squirrel hunt I often partake of in autumn. On the walk to the woods I’m forever gawking at the distant hills that are ablaze in autumn foliage. Then I may be distracted by a passing flock of Canada geese or a small group of Monarch butterflies, gathering and preparing to migrate. Looking downward, I may spot a small white cluster of meadow mushrooms or puffballs, and the lingering memory of tasty fried fungi stirs me to make sure I take time to harvest some on my way back from the hunt.