Whitetail hunters have two huge strikes against them for the next 1 1/2 weeks, and here’s why:

Are you looking for a bit of adventure in your life? Does a marathon or even a triathlon seem a bit too easy for your tastes? Well, you aren’t alone. A new breed of races built around obstacles, high stakes and sometimes-dangerous conditions has grown in popularity in recent years. Indeed, there are a number of these races to pick from here in Maine.

The season opener of deer season across much of the U.S. ranks as an unofficial holiday for hunting families, and in the past, at least one state closed schools on that day. Yup, whitetails meant that much to the culture.

Upland-bird hunting for central and mid-coast Maine woodcock and grouse once appealed to me in a huge way, and one allure began with lots and lots of action. It was unbelievable at times.

In childhood, my whole family hunted deer, grouse, squirrel and hare. My father concentrated on deer and dabbled with grouse and hare, and my mother chased deer and squirrel, the latter since we had oak stands by home to attract these gray rodents. Naturally, those critters interested me.

Most hunters own a .22 rimfire rifle — and for good reason. For starters, novice shooters can easily master the mild recoil, and in fact, this rifle has virtually no kick. Period.

Often enough each October, Maine’s upland-bird hunting offers woodland wanderers a magical experience that may include agreeable temperatures, snapping dry air and cerulean skies splotched with fleecy white clouds. Nature’s touches prove really enticing up north, where lighter development means more open land for hunting grouse and woodcock.

The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) hosts a Coyote Hunting and Trapping Workshop on Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at SAM’s headquarters on 205 Church Hill Road off Route 3 in Augusta. For info, please call (207)-623-4589 or check www.sportsmansallianceofMaine­.org.