Larry A. Smail's Blog

Despite my lingering health issues with coughs I elected to try to push a deer past my step-father Bob. We saw a lot of deer in the four hours we were out hunting. The irony of hunting is how the best opportunities today were buck. We both had close encounters with more than one buck deer.

Fox Squirrel

  We saw turkeys, lots of squirrels, groundhogs and of course a number of deer.

Around noon I noticed a deer getting up from its bed. The animal, at about 30 yards, actually fell in its haste to get going. I immediately noticed a second deer. Instantly, I pulled “Jeremiah” to my shoulder and shot before it too got traction to speed off. I knew, at the shot, I had missed. I failed to place my cheek tight to the stock causing the front sight to remain high along the barrel. A high-flying lead ball would be the result of my haste. I guess that is why they call it hunting and not getting.

After a lunch, I decided to not go out again and try to get some rest. Maybe tomorrow will prove to be a better day.

Also, I found a weather balloon and mailed the  weather measuring device back to Missouri. I have found several over the years in such a manner.

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Fog in the hollers!

   Yesterday, on Tuesday morning, I had a sore throat. I went hunting deer anyway. This tends to my nature…avoid sickness whenever I can and hunt! I did see 9 or 10 deer including a small buck; couple of turkey flocks; red fox and a bunch of squirrels. However, I decided to quit early because I feared getting a deer and having to drag and butcher this evening. Also, I had plans to go to Elk County to see the elk. I knew I would need rest to try to beat this sickness.

My mother-in-law, Anne Craft had never been to the area and made comments she would like to see the elk. Thus the plans were made. This morning, I didn’t feel all that bad, so the plans were carried through despite my sniffles.

Nice bull!

   North of Dubois, Pennsylvania, I was quick to see the fog problems. Fog was present for the entire trip to Winslow Hill. Because of the fog, we went to the new Elk Center. Here we had time to look around, see a movie (where snow falls onto the viewers) play on interactive wildlife screens and walk some trails.  After the movie, I was surprised to see how much fog had lifted. We went onward to viewing sites.

    The elk were, by this time, nestled in their beds dreaming of whatever it is elk dream about. All told, we only saw around 10 elk. Most were cows, one bull and another that was screened behind brush. Size and actions of the others indicted that this elk was, probably, a bull too.

We did see the beautiful mountain range. I had always wished I settled in up in those parts. Those sights alone are worth the time. We saw two flocks of turkeys; two deer; a hen pheasant and this interesting little fellow in the photo. 

Anne felt blessed to see some elk and we enjoyed her company. She even bought our lunches!

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   I waited for the designated time and Bob, my stepfather, hadn’t arrived for our Cherry Run hunt. He was having a problem with his flintlock and apparently didn’t get a remedy.

The pre-dawn darkness was not without some pleasures. I heard two great-horned owls (later saw one) and a screech owl. I saw three deer in this part of my hunt. One was a small-racked buck.

While I cautiously walked about I hoped to hear some turkeys on the roost. This was my primary reason to be hunting deer this day at this area.

Pretty Poison Ivy

   I pondered if I would shoot a doe this day.I play this game every year for a time. I enjoy the hunt and challenges, but the removal of a deer terminates this anticipation. This is difficult for a non-hunter to understand. I decided a shot would happen only if the distance of 30 yards or less appeared. During this morning jaunt I saw many squirrels, some grouse and some turkeys. I would see my first junco of the winter season. My records show this little “songbird” usually appears about the middle of October.

AMerican Chestnut

  I always check out the American Chestnuts on the ridge top. My father introduced me to the trees, sometime, back in the 1960 time slot. He explained the killing 1904 blight to me. He remembered seeing big dead chestnut trees back in the latter 1920 and early 30s. All these years later they still live and  grow to a height of 20-25 feet and succumb to the blight and the cycle continues.

I quit the morning hunt at 10:20 and headed to see if we could get Bob’s firearm working again. We did! The lead ball was placed into the barrel and became stuck. There was no powder in the breech. We removed the touch hole and added powder and shot it out after attempts to pull it out failed. 

Bob

I removed and terminated about 12-15 ticks from my clothes. Watch for them!

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