You just have to love October, in spite of the snow this one had. This past week had some absolutely gorgeous fall weather. I finally got out for some archery hunting and though I didn't see much in the way of deer yet, I can tell you the squirrel population is just fine. They keep you entertained while waiting for deer.
For many anglers, it's all about walleye right now. They have been hitting pretty well below the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam and the power plant dam a little further downstream. Boaters venturing out of Shady Nook to fish the lowhead dam at the power plant need to stay below the buoys. It is illegal to go past the buoys. Boaters venturing into the exclusion zone between the buoys and the dam have been fined.
Walleyes will hit a variety of lures and bait. Smoke- and/or chartreuse-colored plastics on 1/8- or 1/4-ounce jigs are reliable producers. The best fishing has been during low light conditions, but as the water cools, they will hit more during the daylight.
I shot a crossbow for the first time the other day. Before you begin the condemnation process, hear me out. The person who owns the said crossbow is an archery hunter who has never used the crossbow for hunting. He got it just to see what they were about. He asked me if I wanted to shoot it and at first I didn't, then I figured what the heck, I'll try it.
I never shot one before and I put the first three bolts (crossbow arrows) into a tight, three-inch group in the bullseye. I was impressed to say the least. Am I going to rush out and buy a crossbow? No, I'll stick with my compound bow for now.
Somewhere right now there's a nose picker in the back of the room badmouthing crossbows. A crossbow inside the 30-yard mark is a potent weapon. There is no doubt that it is easier to kill a deer with a crossbow. Many archery hunters use compound bows, carbon arrows, expandable broadheads, mechanical releases, fiber optic sights and a host of other modern improvements, yet they decry crossbows. It is easier to kill a deer with a modern compound and the techno-gear improvements than it is with a long bow and wooden arrows.
As a matter of fact, the only people I haven't heard complain about crossbows are the traditional archers. They've already seen archery season invaded by compounds and in-lines, so I guess by now it doesn't matter.
Crossbows are here to stay. I would rather have someone cleanly kill a deer with a crossbow than make a poor hit with any kind of bow. It is a matter of choice. The degree of difficulty that you choose is up to you.
Archery hunting in its purest form is traditional archery using fingers, wooden bow and arrows. The compound bow, with whatever gadgetry you choose, is the current mainstream archery tool of choice. Crossbows step up the degree of hunting efficiency, it just depends how much of a challenge you want.
-- Ken Maurer, Herndon, is a licensed fishing guide and a regular contributor to the Outdoor Section. E-mail at kenrose@tds.net
Sports
A lovely October
- Sports
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H.S. softball: A great team by any other name
For the longest time, Warrior Run softball history could be summed up with one name: Laura Harris.
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H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
As soon as the Class AA boys javelin throwers were finished Friday morning, Lewisburg’s Brandon Smith left his fellow competitors at the throwing area and took off for Seth Grove Stadium track, trying to hurry while negotiating the heavy foot traffic of fans, coaches and athletes.
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Keller runs to his first victory
Amazing. That was the simple reply from Cody Keller after capping the long comeback from injury win his first sprint car race Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
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Zaktansky: Life lessons learned from an earthworm
On my hands and knees, I slogged forward.
The steady rain had long before soaked through my clothes and turned the ground underneath me into a slick film of runny mud. My back hurt, my fingers were caked with brown goop and my mouth was aching from holding a small flashlight as I slowly scanned the backyard. -
Indigo buntings grace the Valley
Summer is the best time for viewing a spectrum of colorful birds.
Like most bird species, it is the male who exhibits bright coloration. From the orange and black patterns of the northern oriole to the scarlet tanager and yellow warbler and the rose-breasted grosbeak — all make a spectacle of themselves. -
Don Steese column: Counting the days
Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of the summer vacation season. Kids are out school, the weather is beautiful and all is well with the world ... except for folks like myself, who find themselves counting the days until fall.
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Hartley, Billas fight off heat
Melanie Hartley was drained, a puddle of nerves and perspiration after a brutal 400-meter dash. While the official thermometer at Shippensburg University flirted with 90 degrees on Saturday, the heavy dose of humidity had the packed house at Seth Grove Stadium sweltering.
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Moore bags two medals
Matt Moore is a hard guy to please. Or at least, he finds it hard to take pleasure in his own track and field performances.
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Ken Maurer column: More talk about bass
This past week I attended 2 meetings involving the PFBC.
The first was in Harrisburg where fish commission officials explained to the state senators why they want the DEP to place the Susquehanna River on the “impaired” list. DEP has refused once, and the PFBC has reapplied. -
Scott Dudinskie's high school baseball column: Reich still going strong
Bryan Reich feels it with every pitch he throws. Some would call it pain, maybe discomfort. The Milton right-hander chooses "annoyance."
- More Sports Headlines
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H.S. softball: A great team by any other name
