Last October, Laurie and I, after visiting Todd Sanctuary for a hike spotted a Bald Eagle on Buffalo Creek. I managed quite a few photos of the beautiful bird. The eagle was feasting on a dead deer and did not want to abandon the easy pickins.
Archive for the ‘Wildlife’ Category
Bald Eagle
Posted in Wildlife on January 19, 2021| Leave a Comment »
2020-21 Flintlock Season
Posted in Flintlock Hunting, Misc. Nature, Wildlife on January 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Unquestionably my most favorite time to hunt deer is with the flintlock rifle. “OLD JACOB” is the name christened to him in honor of the Kit-Han-ne war chief, Captain Jacob. He was a Delaware warrior during the French and Indian War and was killed in 1756 in, what is now, Kittanning, Pennsylvania.
OLD JACOB is fifty caliber flintlock rifle made in the Andre Verner style from the latter eighteenth century. This particular rifle has taken more deer than I can remember.
The primitive season always begins on the day after Christmas. I am almost exclusively alone in most areas I hunt. Another reason to enjoy the season.
This year I harvested two deer within the season. The first one went approximately a hundred yards and the second one moved about fifteen yards. I butchered them myself and this year made all the meat into burger. I kept some meat back for jerky.
I saw a lot of deer this season with seven hammer cocked scenarios. Most non-hunters can not believe I can be as close as eighteen steps away to thirty steps and not get the shot. Much can happen when deer are close. One problem is getting the rifle up to the shoulder without being spotted. Terrain and underbrush ca, also, bring about failure to shoot.
I did see one buck in the season, but I believe he was a six-point which is illegal to shoot in Pennsylvania. The last day was January 18th. I told my wife I was only going to go hunting if the ground was white and it snowed. Around ten-o’clock while still hunting I spotted a doe feeding at about thirty yards. I prepared for the shot when my thoughts abrupted me into deciding I didn’t want to shoot the deer. I allowed it to walk broadside offering a great shot. I am totally satisfied with the decision. I went home to work at cleaning the firearm.
One other day found my sights on a doe. Two of this year’s fawns came up behind kicking their legs into the air in a playful mood. I didn’t shoot.
Box Turtles
Posted in Wildlife on January 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
I usually see Box Turtles in the spring and early summer, but I was surprised to find three while hunting this fall.
Pennsylvania’s Muzzleloading Season
Posted in Early Flintlock, Wildlife on November 30, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The year was mostly a failure with the covid issue and the mandates damaging America. That subject is another issue. My mother had a mini-stroke in April. I still see some damage from that event, but overall she is doing rather well. My stepfather, Bob Miller is still struggling with his cancer issue. Last weigh-in showed a hundred and forty-four pound man. he eats very little and has grown weaker to the point he can not walk.
The Monday after Thanksgiving, I took him to the hospital for a visiting nurse believed he may have had pneumonia. We discovered, he, also, had Covid-19 and spent sixteen days in the hospital for all the issues and therapy. The following morning I took my mother to the ER under doctor’s recommendation and we found out she had the virus. She was sent home under quarantine for fourteen days. Her 91 st birthday went without a party. We sent flowers an Laurie made he a cake placed n the table. My sister had the virus as well. With all that traveling with infected people I failed to get it.
However, I did find time to enjoy the early muzzleloading season in 2020. I missed a shot on the first day and passed up around ten-twelve shots on small deer. I did see a lot of nice buck. I have included some photos of buck here.
Reasons to Hike!
Posted in Misc. Nature, Wildlife on October 7, 2020| Leave a Comment »
One can initiate many reasons to go out for a woodland hike. Time afield could be for scouting for a big buck or turkey and bear activity if hunting is on your mind. One could be out searching for mushrooms in season. Some could go for exercise and others simply to take photos of the natural world and wildlife. I have been doing all, but I have been walking for other reasons, also.
Monday I came home from a walk in a familiar hunting area. I didn’t find any Sheepshead mushrooms, but I did see some deer and turkeys and lots of squirrels. the mast-producing trees such as the oaks, dogwoods, wild grapes, crabapples and hickories were abundant with their crops this season.
I saw one spike buck with a doe early into this walk and later saw two additional bucks. The bigger of those two deer produced fuzzy images as he walked through the pines not allowing any time to get fully focused. the second buck above cooperated very well.
Another reason for my hikes is to reflect on issues in my life. This year has been rough on me from a stress-level. The Covid-19 hysteria angers and disgusts me. All the goal-post moving and unconstitutional “mandates'” irritates to me to no end. And all of this for a virus no worse than the yearly flu. The survival rate is over 99%. I refuse to hear of this new normal.
Let us getting back to the reasons for my walking. I am. potentially, facing a health issue for myself and will be seeing a specialist soon. So my time afield, also, has me praying as I walk along.
I have found in times of feeling low something always happens to alter my thoughts. In a recent hike while feeling poorly, I looked to my right and a flock of turkeys were feeding within shotgun range and the birds were not aware of my presence. I was happy to witness this event.
Yesterday morning I went to another site to reflect and think and pray. A frost was upon the woodlands in the early hours, but the rising sun would quickly warm up the air. I saw some doe and two bucks. Again, I was feeling a little low when I heard some clicking sounds. I turned to my right and I saw a buck approximately thirty yards away. A second buck was immediately behind the first.
As I watched them trying to get a photo through the abundant fall foliage they began to spar with their antlers. I thought this is a site you don’t see often.
Both deer were feeding along as well and were moving towards this game land trail. I eased behind a tree hoping to not be spotted and it worked.
The front buck appeared on this open area and I managed several photos before he spotted something amiss. With his focus upon me the sound of the camera alerted him and he soon exited the site.
Later I would see two young deer in a field and they allowed me with some photo ops.
However, this walk had another issue on my mind. I had found the day before my step-father, Bob Miller’s cancer has reemerged. So, I needed to begin planning for the future with this issue.
As you can see how can one be down with seeing bucks sparring and the rays of light emerging through the trees.
Lomgnose Gar And A Loon
Posted in Fishing, Wildlife on June 26, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Longnose Gar
I set my minnow trap around 4: 20 A.M. in preparation for a fishing excursion along the Allegheny River. I was at the river by six in the morning to catch the “big un.”
The fishing was actually good this morning. The weather was beautiful although we had I witnessed several times where some rain fell. None of these events were long enough or hard enough to make anything wet. the usual swift current was workable for a change. I only lost one hook where I usually snag often. I had watch my broken fishing pole sink into this water here recently.
I caught varied species of fish. They species included: White Catfish; Flathead Catfish; Walleye and Smallmouth Bass. All of these species put up a nice fight and I truly enjoyed their participation. However, I caught two fish of another specie…the Longnose Gar.
The gar is not an easy fish to catch due to an extremely bony long “nose” full of sharp teeth. Simply put; getting a hook to becoming set is difficult. The best wat way to catch gar is to allow them
The narrow-long mouth area with sharp teeth
to run with the bait until they get it into proper position to set the hook. The problems are: most of the time you get a hard bite and do not know it is a gar so the fishermen reacts normally thinking a bass or similar fish is the one biting. the fisherman heaves back to set the hook only to feel no weight of a catch. And if the fishermen actually knows the fish is a gar, at what time does one believe the fish has the minnow in place for a catch. Not easy!
Most of my fishing adventures over my years never once realized any gars. They were native to my area, but had been gone for many decades. The cleaning up if the Allegheny River allowed this specie to, once again, flourish locally. the Paddlefish has been reintroduced and is doing well, too. That specie gets big.
The Longnose Gar will reach 24, or so, inches in length and up to four pounds. However, they put up a good fight. As stated, I managed to catch two.
Interestingly, I believe a school of this specie must have been in the area, for I missed some fish bites. These bites were hard with a heavy pull and a strongly, bent rod. At some pint after catching two, I began to think some of these misses may be other gars. I even tried dropping the bail and allowing the fish to take off before settling down a bit. The fish would take off again and I would heave and fail to catch.
I saw a Musky fish-tailing the water. I saw some Wood Ducks and Mallards, Great Blue Heron and some Ring-billed Gulls, too.
Flathead Catfish
One bird I saw and watched for a time was a Common Loon. This loon was an immature, non-breeding loon. I was fortunate to have the camera on this bird as it raised up and flapped the wings.
Common Loon
Purple Loosestrife
Just Some Photos
Posted in Misc. Nature, Wildlife on June 7, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The Skunks In My Life
Posted in Misc. Nature, Wildlife on June 7, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Mama Skunk
Yes, many know of my experiences with skunks over my life. I have been sprayed several times, once by a direct hit on the face. That one had my eyes burning like fire, but I survived. Many laughs have been enjoyed over the years from when I went to school after entanglements with skunks.
The school gave me some cash and told me to walk to a local grocery store in Elderton, Pennsylvania. The purchase was to be tomato juice. The. supposed. remedy for the smell did not work. Like I said the experiences allowed for many laughs then and those memories from school mates still bring laughs today, at times.
Several weeks ago I was perched on top of a hill waiting to hear some gobblers. I heard something and casually looked behind and failed to see anything. I thought maybe some item in my shoulder bag may have shifted causing a noise. I heard the sound again and turned around only to see a skunk about ten to twelve feet from me. The skunk made the noise again and I knew moving slowly was critical. I walked backwards only to see the skunk follow. I picked up the pace and once out of range I moved quickly. Wheeeew… Close call!
The noise I was hearing was from an action made by the skunk. Many do not know, but a skunk will give warnings out, often, prior to spraying their perfume. The warning consists of the animal raising slightly up and coming down hard with the front feet. This action was the sound I had heard three times. Black Bear will do the same thing. The skunk wants to warn and prepare the intruder first. I reacted wisely and escaped the wrath. I am assuming she may have had a den nearby.
I think that was the last time I hunted turkeys this spring. Allergies, asthma issues, heat and bugs finally convince me to abort the mission.
This morning, June 7, I walked outside around 5:30 A.M. to enjoy the world. I saw a skunk. I have seen this skunk many times here since she has babies around eight feet from my basement door. usually, the sightings are in darker conditions. I quickly reentered the house and grabbed the camera and managed some shots. She walked around and entered the den. Moments later I could see black and white movements around the entrance. BABIES! Due to the area and landscaping I couldn’t get any photos of those little ones. I believe, at least, three different babies were viewed.
Since I was already outside with a camera I took some flower photos.
Blue Flag (Native wild iris)
Yellow Flag (Non-native iris, but naturalized throughout the area)
Rhododendren
Drenched!
Posted in 2020 Spring Gobbler Season, Wildlife on May 22, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Good Morning
I watched the weather and decided to go hunting anyway. One needs to remember the forecasters had said all this week were chances of rain and they were wrong. I made a decision if the rains become too heavy I would simply quit for the day.
I woke up and began to cough due to asthma. I used the inhaler and seemed to have control. I had taken an allergy pill last evening. I hate to take pills so I wait until I am bad. Those with superior knowledge, like my wife, claim I need to take them regularly to build up defense within my body. So I didn’t sneeze much this morning while in the woods.
While traveling in the predawn, I heard two Woodcocks doing their ritual, sky mating searches. I was introduced to this ritual as a boy. My dad pointed this out in the abandoned field beside the house. I heard a Whip-Or-Will, also.
I climbed to the highest point on the hill which is a round top field of about 8 acres. Sometimes after 5:30 I heard my first gobble down over the hill. Of course I headed towards the bird and set up around a hundred yards, or so, from his roost.
Moments later I heard some light hen chatter. Later, another hen was heard. This one actually walked around among the vegetation. I never saw her due to the darkness in the early woods. This gobbler gobbled occasionally at my calling, but others exploded farther out along the slope. I estimated three, possibly four, additional gobblers. I assumed they were Jakes of last year and they were for I would see them later on.
The two hens and gobbler moved uphill onto the round top field. I saw them, and later, would try a break up. The break up actually worked for the hens flew down over the hill and gobbler ran off in the opposite direction. I walked away planning on coming back later, and that was when the rains began. I heard another turkey in a tree but didn’t identify it as male or female. Like I said above, I did see 
the Jakes. I saw a total of nine birds. Did I mention of the rain falling?
By 7:30 I was about fifty percent soaked. I returned to the breakup site and called but didn’t hear any gobbling. The rains increased. I decided to make a tour towards the jeep and try to locate a tom. I did see some deer and an Opossum. The intensity of the rain was gaining and I was getting soaked. By the time I reached the jeep I was 95% drenched and twenty pounds heavier. I thought it best to quit and go home.
‘possum
And The Hunts Continue
Posted in 2020 Spring Gobbler Season, Misc. Nature, Wildlife on May 13, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Hunting turkeys has been challenging so far this spring. I am hearing and seeing birds everyday. However, every time I have moved to a roosting gobbler, so far, hens have been roosting either with them or really close. The norm has been for gobbler shut mouth as soon as they all get together on the ground. This morning, for instance, (May 12) I actually was about a hundred yards away. I could see the birds fly down and in a short time the woods became silent. The cool temperatures and windy conditions made for any time setting to turn into shivering bouts.
Yesterday, May 11, I set up close to a gobbler. At fly-down time I began to hear two hens and then a third. I could see the one hen roosting. The gobbler flew down and all went quiet. I did get a couple of gobbles out of him after he hit the ground until the hens met up with the old boy. I did see 
another gobbler with two hens at a field’s edge, but on a posted property line. The one hen saw me and he followed them farther onto that property.
Jack-In-The-Pulpit
This morning of the 13th looked great. The sky was cloudless and the winds were not too bad, however the morning was cold. I truly expected the day to be a good hunting day. I heard one gobble so far away it was barely audible. I know from experience the birds always go to a field which is close to a homeowner’s place. Regardless, he only gobbled six, maybe eight times. Oh well, I thought, the time is only 5: 40 A.M. I expected hearing gobblers directly below me at any time, but the remaining day was gobble-less. I was disappointed. I hung around this site until eight o’clock before moving to an area I have been having fun with turkeys. I arrived on the hill top at 9 and waited around until a little after eleven. NO GOBBLING!
I did see some interesting sights. I saw a ‘coon and turkey eggs. Lots of warblers are in the area now that migrating season is upon us. As viewed above, I found a little fawn snuggled against a tree’s base.
Rain is being forecasted for the next several days. I don’t know how much hunting I will get in over those days.
Lots of photos below.
Turkey eggs
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Raccoon
Frost on False Hellebore
Bluejay
Black-throated Green Warbler
Toad eggs
Dogwood blossoms
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Larry A. Smail's Blog 