SUNBURY —
It seems that in order to get sportsmen in Pennsylvania to pay rapt attention to anything an outdoor writer writes, it has to concern deer. Anything else will garner only passing attention from many potential readers. Just a simple fact of life in these times here in the good old Keystone State.
This column will deal with deer — kinda — and getting old — kinda.
John Eveland is a professional forester and a well-trained wildlife biologist. He’s conducted studies for both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service. He’s largely responsible for Pennsylvnia’s wildly successful bear management program. Gary Alt called him “a legend” and “bigger than life.” The guy obviously comes with credentials.
Eveland is also leading the fight against the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s current deer management program. He’s said to represent a half-million Pennsylvania deer hunters. Some would probably argue that he really only represents a few thousand whiners and bellyachers. I’ll let you decide which is true.
Eveland has accused the PGC of a multitude of sins, including downright dishonesty, in their handling of Pennsylvania’s deer herd. He makes a compelling case for his point of view about the deer management controversy here in Pennsylvania. In the past, supporters of the PGC deer management program have pointed to the fact that opponents had, as their spokespeople, untrained, highly emotional, loose canons. Agree with him or not, I think you’d have a tough time making that claim about this guy.
Eveland spoke to a group of Susquehanna Valley Sportsmen recently. Attendance was by invitation only. I was invited and really wanted to go. I had it marked on my calendar and had every intention of being there. Sure enough, I glanced at the clock on the evening of his talk and noticed that it was getting close to 8 p.m. I’d missed the meeting.
I’m sorry that I did, but was glad to see that the event was well-covered. It deserved to be.
My non-attendance at this event could be chalked up simply as old geezer forgetfulness, however, I offer in my defense the fact that I was leaving the state shortly after for an extended time and was very busy getting ready for the trip. It’s a lame excuse, I know, but the only one I can come up with at the moment.
The same forgetfulness, and the hassle of getting ready for a trip, that caused me to miss that meeting, however, also caused me to forget to get my 2011-2012 hunting license before I left, which means that I didn’t get my antlerless application which I was supposed to fill out and give to my hunting buddy, so that we could mail them in together and hunt the “geezer” season in mid-October.
In short, it means that I won’t be hunting antlerless deer at all this coming season. Based on my success rate last year, the deer probably weren’t very worried, however some guy who’s actually a skilled hunter may now get that permit, and another antlerless deer may pay the price.
I called my hunting buddy to inform him of my screw up, which he already knew having called my house several times before I left, (I must not be very good at checking my phone messages either). Anyhow, his reply was, “It ain’t no biggie — you can hunt birds!”
I wholeheartedly agree!
n Email comments to jdsteese@yahoo.com
Sports
Don Steese's Outdoors column: Deer memory
- 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
