The season’s first major cool front comes just in time for hunters en masse to get into the woods for Saturday’s squirrel season, which coincides with opening day for the bowhunters in seven of the state’s deer areas.

The other three deer-hunting areas will have been opened for two weeks without much success because of the continued heat and the trouble hunters have had battling mosquitoes that came in the aftermath of August’s record deluge across the southern parishes.

Saturday’s forecast of a morning in the low 60s should be enough to spur a move to that stand of hardwoods in search of squirrels and a couple of hours in a deer stand for the archery folks even though afternoon highs are expected in the mid-80s.

The touch of north wind in the forecast shouldn’t be strong enough to hide squirrels from sight amidst the cover of green leaves dancing in a light breeze, but should hide some hunter movement far below that leafy canopy.

Remember, too, we haven’t had enough recent dry weather to make it a chore to move quietly through leave the leaves, twigs and branches on the forest floor, all of which points to favorable hunting conditions.

And hunters should take note about those reports of mosquitoes. The weather won’t be cool enough to push mosquitoes back to wherever it is they take up residence when temperatures drop. You’ll need to carry, and use, insect repellent, and if you don’t, then remember the young hunters who need your help in protecting against all the diseases mosquitoes carry.

Yep, we know deer can smell, and insect repellent has a scent. But what’s it worth to take the risk of a hunting season-ending illness — or worse — by not using repellent at a time when you need it the most?

There are excellent repellents for youngsters, but because those products often aren’t loaded with high percentages of DEET (the repellent), you’ll need to apply them more often to young hunters.

For adults, the best recommendation is Ultrathon, the 3M repellent best used in a liquid rather than a spray, although you can use the spray around collars, cuffs and waistbands to fend off the annual late summer-early fall infestation we have from ticks.

All that done, know there is a solid crop of acorns across south Louisiana, and from what the squirrels are doing to the oaks in Broadmoor backyards, hunters finding stands of oaks should be able to get close, or take, the eight squirrels allowed in the daily bag.

Then all you need is a good recipe for squirrel sauce piquante.