If you’re a grouse hunter, this may very well be the very best time of the year to be in the woods in search of the King of Gamebirds. The leaves are off the trees, there’s not yet any snow on the ground, the archery and turkey hunters are gone, and temperatures are still rather pleasant.
From all I’ve been able to gather it’s not going to be a very good year for grouse chasers in the Keystone State. Heavy spring rains throughout much of the state played havoc with nesting grouse and turkeys. Re-nesting was largely non-sucessful, so bird numbers will probably be down this year. Most of the birds found will likely be older, therefore smarter, birds. Not good news for those of us who love to run bird dogs, but I’ll still be out there trying to beat the odds.
I lost a couple of the best weeks of woodcock hunting this year, but when we did get out we did very well. Grouse numbers, however, were another matter. We moved about one bird per hour, which is not good. I’m of the opinion that we don’t have a definite grouse cycle here in the east like they do in the upper Midwest. In my opinion our numbers are governed more by year-to-year weather and food factors, rather than a predictable 10-year cycle.
If the grouse population is down, the tick population certainly is not. I’m getting reports of dedicated hunters who have actually given up taking to the woods because of the tick infestation. I have a Potter County friend who has actually come down with Lyme disease and is on antibiotics. Lyme is nothing to mess with. It can end up being a very serious ailment which can affect your body in many ways, both physical and even mental. If you’re heading to the woods, take precautions to protect yourself from ticks, such as using repellent containing DEET, tucking your pants into your boots, and checking yourself for ticks as soon as you leave the woods. If you’re running a dog, be sure they’re protected by one of the topical products, such as Frontline, Advantage or Bio-Spot. These products get into the bloodstream and kill ticks before they can spread disease. I find them to be very effective, and well worth the cost.
The traditional firearms big-game seasons begin tomorrow in Pennsylvania. Bear season is this coming week with the two-week deer season to follow starting the Monday after Thanksgiving. Regional Wildlife Conservation Officers are reporting excellent bear populations in most areas. Deer numbers are also said to be good, but I’m sure there are a good number of hunters who’d dispute that claim, especially with regard to deer numbers.
The PGC is reminding deer hunters to report all deer kills. Hunters can now report their kills online. Just go to www.pgc.state.pa.us, click on the blue box marked “Harvest Reporting”, click on the “start here” button at the bottom of the page, and follow the directions.
The PGC is also reminding hunters that it is still necessary to display your hunting license on an outer garment, just as it always has been. The Commission is backing a bill in the legislature that would end the requirement, but, at least for this year, the display requirement remains.
-- E-mail comments to jdsteese@yahoo.com.
Sports
A reason to grouse
- Sports
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
H.S. softball: A great team by any other name
