Morning frost has greeted us regularly lately, and lighting an evening fire in the wood stove has become more necessity than luxury.

For many, that means one thing: Deer season is coming. It’s really coming.

For me (and for many of you, too) that means that next Saturday morning, we’ll crawl out of bed in the dark, head over to our local hunters breakfast, then spend a few hours … or more … in the woods.

For adult firearms hunters, Oct. 30 is Opening Day … and we wouldn’t miss it for the world.

But as you go about your everyday tasks today, you’re more than likely to run across plenty of people who have traded in their lucky Red Sox caps and jerseys for blaze-orange hats and vests.

Most of us will wait another week (and hopefully, the Sox will have already won a World Series title by then) before we go hunting.

Today’s lucky hunters will be young. They’ll be eager. And if history has taught us anything, they’ll be successful, too.

Today is Youth Deer Day. And if you’re a junior hunter who hasn’t reached your 16th birthday, today is your day.

The state started the Youth Deer Day program three years ago, and it’s been a huge success. Fathers and mothers can accompany their children into the woods but aren’t allowed to carry a gun. The kids hunt. The adults advise. And according to the people I meet every day, those hunts have been among the most memorable even veteran hunters have ever been on.

You may not have made plans to hunt today. You may have forgotten that it’s even Youth Deer Day.

That’s OK.

Finish your coffee. Finish reading the paper. Then go wake your (soon to be) eager hunter. Go into the woods.

You’ll be glad you did.

Just make sure you remember to change back into your lucky Red Sox cap before tonight’s game.

Of course, I probably didn’t have to remind you to do that … did I?

Speaking of the World Series, I’d have my citizenship in Red Sox Nation revoked if I didn’t pass on a little bit of advice to my fellow Sox fans.

As you all know, even though the team is getting credit for winning the American League pennant and eliminating the Yankees, the Sox didn’t do it alone.

We all played a part. I’m not usually a superstitious person, but when it comes to the Red Sox … well, I guess I’m a bit squirrelly.

We have our lucky hats and lucky jerseys and swear that we have to sit in the same lucky chairs we were sitting in when Johnny Damon smacked his second home run in Game 7.

My advice: Whatever you did during Game 4 … and 5 … and 6 … and 7? Keep on doing it.

In our house, there’s only one superstition (so far). As it turns out, I began sharpening my hunting knife during Game 4. I touched up the edge of the blade during Game 5. Both times, I did so not because I thought it would help the Sox, but because, frankly, the blade was very dull, and I knew I wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while.

When Game 6 started, however, I quickly realized that something didn’t feel right. Something was amiss. I quickly scooted across the room, grabbed the knife and the whetstone, and began filing an already-sharp blade even more.

Somewhat sheepishly, I had to admit to the other Sox-watchers that I had become a slave to my superstition.

Superstitions are funny, though. What starts off as your own private obsession can take on a life of its own. It can become (believe it or not) contagious.

That fact dawned on me after the first pitch of Game 7, as 9-year-old Molly looked in my direction, shook her head, and reminded me that I wasn’t quite ready to watch the game. Not yet.

“Quick!” she said, as I stared eagerly at the TV screen. “You’ve got to get your knife. They won’t win if you don’t sharpen it.”

I did. They did. And here we are (again) sitting on the edge of our seats (again).

By the time the series ends (and deer season begins) I figure I’ll have the sharpest hunting knife in Maine.

A couple years ago, a Down East hunter invited me to visit his family’s deer camp. This man, who is better known because the team he coaches has won more than its share of gold basketballs over the years, had low expectations for deer season, and dispensed the invitation with a warning.

“We won’t see any deer, but I’m sure we’ll have a great time anyway,” Ordie Alley told me that day.

I’ve yet to head Down East to hunt with the Alleys, but I think of that invitation often … and have come to realize that his warning was no joke.

There just aren’t many deer in Washington County.

Mike Look, another longtime Down East coach (and more importantly, another longtime Down East deer hunter) says that a group of like-minded folks have decided to do something.

They’ve gotten together and organized the Washington County Fish and Wildlife Conservation Club.

“Our goal is to bring the deer back,” Look said the other day. “That’s 95 percent of our mission statement. We’re looking at habitat improvement and youth education, but [our top goal] is to bring back the deer.”

Look said Washington County hunters who want to pitch in will get their chance tonight, as the club will host a public hearing on the deer herd (and other issues) at the Washington Academy gym in East Machias. The hearing begins at 7 p.m.

State deer expert Gerry Lavigne will join Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife staffer Greg Burr as featured speakers at the event, and guide Lance Wheaton – a DIF&W Advisory Council rep – will also speak.

Look is hoping the event can generate some added support for the group.

“What we’re looking for is a large group of people who are willing to roll up their shirtsleeves and get to work,” he said.

As you may have heard, an antique fly rod was recently stolen from the Bangor Museum.

According to published reports, local museums, pawn shops, and fishing groups have been contacted by police in hopes that somebody will hear something about the 8-foot Leonard fly rod.

The rod, which was made in the early 1900s, has been in the Bangor Historical Society’s collection since the 1970s.

Chances are good that the thief may try to sell the rod. If you come across the vintage Leonard rod, or know somebody who might be trying to sell it, you’re encouraged to call the Bangor Police Department at 947-7384.

The Quest: It’s that time of year again: Deer season is nearly upon us. And since readers have been so helpful in the past, I’m asking for help again.

I’m always on the lookout for deer camps to visit. If you traditionally head into the woods to a camp you think I ought to see, please let me know.

Maybe the same group of hunters has been going to the same deer camp for 30 or 40 or 50 years. Maybe there are quirky traditions that you think might make a good column. Or maybe you’re in the process of beginning a new tradition and want to share that experience with others.

Whatever the case, I hope you consider giving me a call. I’d love to come visit … share some stories … and maybe even hunt for a day or two.

On a related matter, if your son or daughter had a successful Youth Deer Day, I hope you’ll consider passing those stories along to me as well. I plan to share a few of those tales (and some photos, if we have space) early next week.

Have fun out there. Hope you get a chance to enjoy Youth Deer Day.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.