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Archive for the ‘Misc. Nature’ Category

Deer-1: Me-0

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, My Family on October 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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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Benezette-Elk Country

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, My Family on October 20, 2010| 1 Comment »

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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Early Season Surprise

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature on October 18, 2010| 6 Comments »

   The second day of the early muzzleloading deer season and what a great day it turned out to be. “Jeremiah” and I had hoped on making venison this day. The deer sightings were numerous. I saw, at least, three, maybe four, different bucks. One sported two tines that were about three inches each. This buck would have been close as being considered an   antlerless deer by Pennsylvania Game Commission laws. I didn’t take the chance. Oh, by the way, “Jeremiah” is my .62 caliber smoothbore  French Fusil. I limit my shots to under 60 yards.  

Jeremiah my smoothbore.

I saw numerous squirrels..grays, fox and pine squirrels. I saw and heard turkeys. The big birds did a lot of yelps, cackles and some gobbling for about 45 minutes. I, also, watched a red fox sneaking through the woods. 

Although, I made the claim that this day was to be deer day I failed to connect. However, that failure was due to my decision to hold off. I had a doe approaching me head on. I was cocked and aimed. I decided I would allow the deer to turn broadside. I feared the head on shot could damage some valuable meat if my shot veered to the side some. That decision soon made reality of a humane kill null and void. The deer sensed or smelled me at about thirty yards, snorted and leaped into the goldenrods.

A Fisher!!

  However, that decision not to shoot lead to my surprise of the day! While walking along a field’s edge something walked out from the spruce thicket. In short order, I realized I was gazing upon an animal I never thought I would see in Pennsylvania… a FISHER!! This specie was exterminated years ago mainly from the vast clear cutting  of Pennsylvania’s  forests during the 19th century. The game commission restocked them ten or so years ago. the mammal is, indeed, making a comeback!

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Early Muzzleloading Season

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, My Family on October 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

   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

  After lunch, Bob suggested going back out for a little. I obliged. In the Blose Hollow area of Armstrong County, I saw 7 more deer. I almost was able to shoot at a bedded down  deer. I saw more grouse and squirrels. We quit at three in the afternoon.

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

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Buttermilk Falls Hike

Posted in Misc. Nature on September 29, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 

Cowanshannock Creek

 I left this morning to run a few errands prior to strolling along the Cowanshannock Creek trail. The trail parallels the creek heading to an area known locally as Buttermilk Falls. I left the trail to follow the actual waters. The beauty of this creek always mesmerized me. The features are rocks and lots of them. Some of the boulders are bigger than trucks. Crawling around and over these features can be interesting as well as dangerous.

  The rocks in the morning hours are usually slippy to walk on due to the dew of the early morning hours. The waters are some of the most beautiful in Armstrong County. I noticed a number of fish while hiking along the creek. I saw carp; suckers ranging in the 15 to 18 inch range. I, also, saw some bass here and there darting along in search of minnows. 

Buttermilk Falls

On a sad note, much vandalism occurs in the area. Rocks are carved into. Others yield satanic and perverted symbols. Beer cans cover any areas where ATVs can get into. Trash can be discovered along the stream from high- water times. This “stuff” washes down from miles upstream and settles along the trees and rocks.

  However, the landscape, as a whole, still is beautiful. There are big, towering trees; hemlocks and rhododendrons make for dark green contrasts against the fall foliage. The colors should peak in a couple of weeks.

The acorns and beech are everywhere this year. the food supply will be long-lasting for the many critters that feed on them. I did see one turkey and several squirrels on this hike. 

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Pittsburgh Zoo Morning

Posted in Misc. Nature, Wildlife on September 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Laurie and I spent the morning hours at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. We arrived at the site around 8:40 and surprisingly I spotted two old gobblers walking around the parking lot. They were both old birds with long beards. Although we were at the zoo, I managed to take flower photos and several of native butterflies. I hope you enjoy a few photos.

         

    

Laurie's favorite!

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Todd Sanctuary Hike

Posted in Misc. Nature on September 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

  Laurie and I went for a nice hike today at the “Todd Sanctuary” near Freeport. http://www.aswp.org/toddTrails.html  The lands are owned by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. This hike was sure better than the trek I made on Monday morning. Although I saw a deer, a number of squirrels; bear tracks and found a sheephead mushroom, I was caught in a heavy rain that wasn’t scheduled! I was soaked!

  Our hike today was great! The weather was perfect. We hiked on several different trails that snaked their way through a diverse number of habitats. We saw dense hemlock groves; big timber; pole-sized timber from past pasture lands and areas with large boulders rich with moss and polypody ferns. Another area featured seven-foot high goldenrods making for a sea of yellow.                                                         

            Another site features a nice pond loaded with frogs and newts and fish. We sat on a bench and enjoyed the traffic-less solitude. A couple of rock-laden streams cross through the lands. Of course, the water tables were low due to tha absence of rain these past several months.     

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Hike At Yellow Creek

Posted in Misc. Nature, Wildlife on September 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

   My friend, Dana Gould invited me as a guest to explore a section of Yellow Creek (Indiana County) at the Yellow Creek Trout Club property. We were there for a hike and not to fish. Due to hot temperatures and low water the trout population was in a stressed state. We saw one trout. We feared the conditions may have caused a die-off.  However, we did see bass; bluegills; carp  and one muskie. These specie can with stand warmer water temperatures. 

   The hiking was superb. The day was perfect! We walked the club property and ended at the Yellow Creek Dam and spillway. The water was low. We actually walked up and over the spillway. We saw many deer and two wood ducks. We found cub bear tracks and a rare native flower known as the closed or bottled gentian. A beautiful blue flower.   

Closed or Bottled Gentian

Other sites were the many water snakes among the  rocks normally covered with water. Crayfish were numerous in the small pockets of water. One interesting site was a beech tree clawed into by a  bear in times past.

Dana while watching me trying to photograph the wood ducks looked against a log and discovered two fishing outfits and a tackle box. They were hidden some time ago since bait fishing isn’t allowed. Apparently the person became fearful of being caught and “ditched the gear!” 

Dana Gould

To contact the club call:  724-463-2122 or e-mail:

renosky@yourinter.net

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Emlenton Trail

Posted in Misc. Nature on September 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

    Laurie and I decided to take a bike ride on such a fine fall-like afternoon. My friend, Frank told me about the bike trail along the Allegheny River at Emlenton, Pennsylvania.  He mentioned the scenic river sites.

The Allegheny River , is indeed, scenic anywhere north of  communities of East Brady through Parker and continuing northward. The waters here are much like the waters known to the natives tribes and early colonists and such. A visit to this area will quickly show a river with plenty of islands; large boulders; shallow rapid-like waters; deep colorful holes of green water; narrow and wide river sites. One will, also, see lush vegetation.     

In all we traveled 12 miles. Laurie wasn’t comfortable traveling through a tunnel that quickly lost all light. I wanted to bring along a flashlight , but forgot the device. Here we turned around. I vowed to attack the tunnel on my on some day this fall! Who knows she may decide to “git-er-done” too. 

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Fishing & Hiking

Posted in Fishing, Misc. Nature, Muskie Fishing, My Art on September 1, 2010| 1 Comment »

I am behind with yesterday’s muskie fishing event. I decided to place both onto one blog.

Frank Maus alias "Muskie"

Rosston Island

   We entered the waters early with a fog and comfortable temperatures.  These conditions didn’t last long. the fog quickly burned off and the day reached into the upper 80’s by the time we quit fishing. Several hours of surface casting yielded no luck. More time trolling proved to be the same.  However, we had an enjoyable time in the boat continually laughing about the days of our lives while at work… and the people we had been involved with.

We quit around 1:00 in the afternoon as the heat began to scorch us.

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Acorns

While visiting with Kip, I gave him back one of the box call cases. A friend from West Virginia wanted a case with the eight custom box calls from Kip. However, he wanted me to paint a  turkey to the box.  Kip will have additional information lasered onto the box for this man. Kip is planning a bear hunt later this month to West Virginia and plans to hand deliver the case. 

You may visit Kip’s web-site. He will be adding more to this site in the future. The site is: http://www.ferociouscalls.com/

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