I am stuck in the midst of a classic fall dilemma, whether to hunt deer first or fish for steelhead.

Years ago, it wouldn’t even be a contest. I would go deer hunting. But the steelhead bug bit hard about five years ago, and I sweated through early October heat while chasing mule deer up and down the mountain, then froze while casting to steelhead in rain showers and snow storms.

It didn’t make sense. Why not fish in the sunshine and hunt when the deer are more likely to move and weather is better for stalking?

So this fall I pulled the trigger, so to speak. I pulled the old switcheroo. I am going steelhead fishing, then hunting.

But now I drive around and see deer antlers peeking out of the back of pickups and strapped to four wheelers. I see them hanging in trees, and I get anxious. Hunters are getting deer, and I am not. They’re putting venison steaks in the freezer, and I am not. It’s making me crazy.

I better get a line in the water, fast, or I am heading up the hill with a rifle. And I know when I am standing in the riffles in the Salmon River swinging a green butt skunk to steelhead, my eyes will involuntarily gaze up the canyon and look for deer. And there may be a rifle in the truck if I see one.

My ultimate dream would be a cast and blast on the Snake or Salmon for deer and steelhead, but it’s a tough gig because most of the hunting units on those rivers are limited to controlled hunts for mule deer. There would also be logistical hassles, but I can always dream. It would be fun.

Instead I have to make that tough choice. If timing and luck are in my favor, I may end up with a freezer of smoked steelhead and venison steaks. Or I could get skunked on both. You just never know, but I am going to have a blast (and a cast) trying.

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