Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Wildlife’ Category

Great Day Afield

Posted in Fall Turkey Hunting, Wildlife on October 31, 2011| Leave a Comment »

     I was hoping to get my step-father, Bob in place for a fall turkey this day. One obstacle we encountered early was the left over snow from Saturday. The remaining snow patches were iced and very crunchy. We tried to stay in the areas melted off when possible. I stopped higher on the hill to listen because of the noise. Within a short time I heard something walking when a buck walked by at about 18 yards. I believe it was a 6-point. 

As dawn lightened the area we proceeded farther down. I heard a little bit of turkey talk and moved in for a break. Apparently I failed for Bob and I set and called for over an hour and did not hear any lost turkey calling. However, we saw two more small buck. I took over 30 photos of the one with most photos being acceptable.          

Big problem was keeping glass fog-free

Small buck

Later we began searching for other turks when I saw one sneaking out ahead. I circled and saw more. I tried for a break and one bird broke away. Later I called this bird in but Bob’s movement while trying to manuever the shotgun spooked the turkey. We remained for a while when a buck was observed coming through the trees. This buck came within 10 yards of us. He was a legal eight point. I didn’t have my camera out of the case due to falling snow from the limbs. The buck when upon us yielded some sad information. He was blind in his left eye. I went for the camera and managed a few shots but the best opportunities had been lost!                          

     We quit hunting a little after 1:00.  I came home and did some yard work. All in all, we saw about 12 turkeys; some squirrels; 4 buck and some doe. We are planning a Wednesday hunt. I removed over 40 ticks again this day. I placed them in a container with Chlorox. However, one was later found beginning to dig into my back after I was home. He, like the others didn’t survive.

Read Full Post »

Another Fine Autumn Day

Posted in Early Flintlock, Wildlife on October 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

     Bob and I walked up the hill in the pre-dawn grays. Recent rains had ceased but the cloud cover still darkened the sky. This changed as the sun came through around midmorning.

Bob, using a .44 magnum elected to watch a field until about 9:30 when he had to leave. He saw 5 deer. My smoothbore “Jeremiah” and I still hadn’t prioritized a desire to connect on a deer. Turkeys and photos were more important.

I listened for turkeys and was blessed to hear a Screech Owl and a Barred Owl too. Always enjoy their eerie wavering call. I had seen various deer by noon including two different buck. Around 11:00 I noticed a deer in the multiflora rose and autumn olive patches. I under estimated the range by, at least, twenty yards.  The deer was about 75 yards. I try to limit my shots with the smoothbore .62 caliber flintlock to 40 yards or less. Anyway, I missed! I spent an hour zigzagging around to ensure my hopes of a miss.      

Small buck at 5 yards

  I crossed a road where I saw other deer including a nicer white-racked buck and turkeys. However, the highlight of the day was while sneaking through a timbered area. I saw a black mass about 40 yards away and knew I was seeing a bear in its bed.  Shortly, the bear caught my scent and got up and soon began walking away. I couldn’t get a photo through the dense brush.

I was debating leaving for the day close to 5:00 was the time and I was tired and hungry. Within sight of my vehicle I could see a feeding deer. The stalk began. I passed up a couple of 50 yard shots waiting for a better one. The one deer became three. When I was about 40 yards from them a fourth deer spotted me and reacted. I hurried a shot from an uncomfortable position and after much searching realized a miss was indeed.                                                            

Groundhog

     I again, began heading towards the vehicle when a deer  stepped out in front of me. I cocked the hammer and lowered the gun. I was chancing this 50 yards shot the way the shooting was going for me this day. The deer back tracked and my exit continued.  Suddenly, that same deer was spotted about 35 yards away in the goldenrods. I instinctively raised and fired. the deer dropped immediately.

I had the deer home and skinned before 7:30. This deer will become steak and burger.

I saw the first juncos (commonly called the snowbirds) this day. Many robins were enjoying eating the grapes and dogwood berries.

Read Full Post »

Beautiful Autumn Day

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, Wildlife on October 20, 2011| 2 Comments »

Jeremiah and my "stuff"

Dogwood berries

   Last Monday, October 17th, I spent the day completing various tasks. My step-father, Bob and I hauled a new refrigerator to my basement. Earlier this year our fridge went “kaput”. Laurie and I decided a new one would be of benefit since deer season was upon us and meat storage would be of necessity since I do my on processing.

 

    The nice warm weather, also, forced me to change the oil in the car. Yard work is always present. I mowed, trim some rhododendron and cut some spent flowers back. Monday evening, however, I decided to take “Jeremiah” for a walk  and a turkey scouting venture come morning. Jeremiah is my .62 caliber smoothbore French Fusil. The flintlock was a custom-made piece and is flawless. The firearm is very dependable.

 

    

Pretty colors of autumn

   Tuesday morning began very cloudy and later became sunny, warm and breezy. A saw a number of deer throughout the morning. At one point I found my front sight almost aligned on a deer. Two seconds more and the shot would have been completed. Of course, the deer’s curiosity soon became a concern and two steps placed it’s form among much foliage.

Turkeys seemed everywhere. I heard a little morning chatter followed by the sounds of many feet scratching the leaf litter in search of mast. Two different times I heard the sounds of feeding birds. Several other times I saw birds including gobblers.     

I was edging along crab apples and dogwood trees when a red fox jumped up. The beautifully primed fox went about 25 yards and looked back at me occasionally scratching itself.

My earliest memory of this area was when I was about five or six years old. My father and I searched a ridge for morel mushrooms one spring. The trees, at that time. were huge. Remnants of those monsters are still present here and there. Some of the stumps are around 6 feet across. Of course, they are now badly decayed and a handful of years from now they too will be gone. I, also, remember hearing my first great-horned owl that evening.

I located a chestnut tree growing. Some time ago I would carry chestnuts, hawthorns, etc and plant in places where the sun light could reach the ground. This tree is about three feet high. Few seem to make it when planted like this.

       I saw a lot of squirrels and I hope to take a few more for a fried squirrel meal. I saw a curious groundhog along a trial too.

Rain was being forecasted so I promised Laurie we would go to Butler shopping on Wednesday. Of course, the day was mostly dry but later breezy.

I may try to get out with Bob on Friday and Saturday for some deer hunting. Weather will play a part in that decision for Friday.

******************************************************************************

I was having an issue with a young raccoon eating my bird seed from my back deck. On several occasions I would peak out to see that critter laying on the deck rail sleeping. After a few “banjee-style” war whoops and chases failed I decided to try a more aggressive approach. The ‘coon would run behind some flowers on the deck. This time I armed myself with a pole and chased and pushed on him. He leaped backwards the 12 feet or so from the deck. I haven’t seen him since!

Read Full Post »

Walks; Music; Events; Bible Seminar; Shooting…

Posted in Hikes, Historical, Music, My Family, Wildlife on October 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

On Saturday evening, October 1st, I received a call from Lori Harris of the Family life TV Station in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. She and her husband, David Croyle were in need of some music for their Sunday Night Live show. Some phone calls were made and by evening’s end some music would be present for the show. The “band” would consist of Danna Vernon on vocals and her husband, Dick Vernon would play bass guitar. Walt Marr would play drums and I chose to play rhythm, acoustic guitar. We managed to perform a few songs.                                                                                     

Gobblers

  With a warming spell coming on I elected to complete some signing issues at the Kittanning Free Methodist Church.  prior to using adhesive and screws to install the sign I went for a walk on the local state game lands 147. This walk produced one deer and three longbeards. I went in search of a small buck I found last spring, but failed to win out over the multiflora rose brambles that had covered much of te area where the buck had been . I aborted the mission after many gouges on my arms and legs. I eliminated about 8 ticks on this walk.

Bob Miller with .22 rifle

Thursday morning , my step-father, Bob and I went to the Cherry Run Gun, Rod and Reel Club to do some shooting. I chose some back roads to see what wildlife would be visible. We saw some deer  and two flocks of turkeys, one flock consisted of five gobblers. We shot our.22 rifles. I had taken a bad fall and knocked my scope off and wanted to adjust the crosshairs. I had some issues with this process until I realized this scope’s adjustment was not what I thought. I had assumed each click represented 1/4 inch on the target, but my scope” click represented 1/2 inch on the target.  Duh! I, also, shot the 30.06 a few times.                                                                                           

Cherry Run Gun, Rod and Reel Club

  

Susan Thomas (Belle Boyd)

  Thursday evening, Laurie and I were to attend the “Armstrong County Historical and Genealogical Society” fall dinner.  This was held at the Kittanning Free Methodist Church too. The signing issue was right on time! The guest speaker was Susan G.F. Thomas of Butler. She did a 1st person interpretation of “Belle Boyd-Confederate Spy”. She was dressed in Civil war era clothing along with a southern accent.

     Friday morning , another hike was in the making as I transversed near the Limestone Run area of Armstrong County. The two and half hour walk failed to see any deer or turkeys. However, a few squirrels were viewed.

Commander at Rest

   Saturday afternoon, I dressed and transported the painting, “The WHEATFIELD-WHIRLPOOL OF DEATH”to the Worthington Library. A Civil War informational event was present and approximately 15 people were in attendance to see and hear about what our Armstrong County boys had been involved in during the Civil war.                     

Painting at the 62nd Pennsylvania tent

    

Today, October 9, Laurie and I attended a Bible Seminar near Duncansville, Pennsylvania. Of course, the weather was beautiful and the leaves were well on their way in color. The speaker at this event was the 84-year-old, Les Feldick, a man I have grown to admire greatly in regards with his Biblical knowledge.

Read Full Post »

Late Season Wildflowers

Posted in Wildflowers, Wildlife on September 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »

    Last Wednesday, I was to help my cousin, Donny with a task of netting numerous goldfish from his landscaping pond. The pond is five feet in the center and around 12 feet long and 6 feet in width. The pond features water lilies and water iris plants. The net we were to try was a 6 feet by 4 feet  net with strings attached. Needless to say all attempts failed to catch any of the 2-3  inch long goldfish.  A number of unforeseen obstacles occurred allowing the fish to avoid capture. Donnie said he is going to drain the water!  

   Gobblers!  Anyway, I covered some back country roads en route to mu cousin’s home and saw a number of deer and turkeys. I actually saw some longbeards in a field. Later, I hiked at a local state game lands. Wildflowers are everywhere!                                                              

Behind the house a saw a fairly nice buck and a flock of 18-22 turkeys feeding on grasshoppers.

With the autumn season in the early stage the flowering will soon be over until next spring. Some of the flowers I noticed were: the New England Aster; Ironweed; Queen Anne’s Lace; goldenrod; White Snakeroot; Pennsylvania Smartweed…

New England Aster

  I have many of the New England Aster growing along my creek. They are a pastel blue in color and are quite numerous. They reach over 6 feet in optimum conditions.           

Foxtail

The foxtail is a valuable grass. This plant is not a wildflower, but I decided to take a photo anyway. In my youth, one could walk the corn fields and see foxtail everywhere. The seeds are a favorite food source for many specie of wildlife. I used to hunt doves in such areas.                                                             

Ironweed

                                      

 

 

 

Fall wildflowers tend to be predominately whites and yellows to my thoughts. However, the ironweed flowers are a deep pink-purple in color standing out dramatically within the yellows, white, greens  and beige of overgrown areas.

A Goldenrod Specie

  Call me weird, but wildflowers are a blessing to me. I enjoy following their progress from late winter to early winter. The annual cycles continue and the flowers are always right on schedule!                           

Pennsylvania Smartweed

 

 

Read Full Post »

Flag Day Hike

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, Wildlife on June 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

     My Old Glory Flag waved proudly as I left to drop off the car for inspection. I parked early and headed down the tracks to see what wildlife I would see this fine morning. I traveled approximately three miles one way down the tracks. These are the same tracks mentioned in a spring blog. The back waters of the Allegheny River flow alongside the railroad tracks. The results of this back water are a number of islands directly across Manorville and McGrann, Pennsylvania.                                              

Robin

   

Spotted sandpiper

  One can easily see the importance of wetland sites on such a hike. Wildlife abounds! I saw, at least, 15 squirrels, including two fox squirrels. I, also , saw one deer. Waterfowl abounds her too. I witnessed two different wood duck hens with their young. of course, I saw a few drakes too.  

Wood duck family

 

On the return walk I chose to walk along the river’s bank and the backwaters. Here I saw plenty of bird life. I noticed beaver tracks. I walked up to about 25 feet of a feeding raccoon. The critter was searching for acorns in the leaf litter. I saw several groundhogs. I noticed some geese and a merganser on the river too.

 

'Coon

  I am thankful to still be living in America where I can fly the flag proudly. I am hearing of many places where the flag is now considered non-American. Some of our leaders consider te flag a symbol of oppression. Sad!

Hind beaver track

Read Full Post »

7th Day Bear

Posted in 2011 Spring Gobbler Season, Wildlife on May 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

    I chose to go to the state game lands  in hope of seeing and hearing those gobblers again. The rapidly growing grasses were holding much dew. The woods were soaked in with a heavy fog. I was concerned with hunting pressure it being a Saturday, but having less than 5 hours of sleep, the easy walk to listening spot seemed a good idea at the time.

I heard one gobbler twice while listening. Later I saw a hen. I elected to sneak along the hedgerows, mentioned in yesterday’s post, to stop, call and wait. By 7:30, I saw where two individuals had walked through the grass. I decided to go to my usual haunts to see what was going on, but not before speaking for a time with a friend, Vonnie. She was walking the road for exercise.

Garlic mustard- an invasive

  I drove along a road on the backside of a favorite hunting spot and turned onto another road and was pleased to not see any vehicles. I, now, knew that if anybody else was hunting they would be locals. (or ATV drive-ins.)

I walked up a steep gas line and was about to go over onto a plateau when I could see a decoy on the line. I immediately turned around  to walk out and drove to a third place. I did find a lone turkey egg with my exit.

I was walking diagonally towards the top of this area seeing two deer. Shortly, I heard a car door slam and a vehicle exiting a gas line road. Figuring, hunters were behind every tree by now I continued on anyway.

Black Bear!

     Suddenly, I saw some black.. a deep, dark BLACK!  Yes, I was watching a black bear. I managed a couple of photos and turkeys became absent from my mind. The bear turned up the hill. I went in reverse and circled up the hill as fast as my asthma would allow. I crept onward and spotted the moving mass of black again and even closer. Unfortunately, I got few photos, BUT I SAW A BEAR!  I love seeing bear in the wilds!

After an hour of bear huntin’ I came back to the reality of what I originally was out to do and that was turkey hunting.  I chose to do a walk and call method and eventually heard a gobble out the ridge somewhere. I moved tighter and heard one more gobble followed by silence. I left the woods at noon.

Turkey Egg

  I crashed after returning home sleeping over two hours. Must have been tired!

Read Full Post »

Five Miles In The Woods

Posted in Hikes, My Family, Wildflowers, Wildlife on April 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Owl pellet

False Hellebore
Bob walking the plank

 

 After Bob and I ate a hearty breakfast, we left Susie (my springer spaniel) and mom to fend for themselves at home.  We entered the woods after 9:00 to study the Cherry Run area for turkey signs and whatever else we could observe.

The first obstacle we encountered was crossing the gas line bridge. the wood planks have been long gone especially from Hurricane Ivan, but two pipes still exist. Bob, at 76, does very well except when I torment him. This was to be another torment. He was about half way across these pipes and I accidentally began to shake the bridge. (accidents do happen)  I expressed my sorrow with a smile.

We discovered some turkey sign at the two places we walked. We saw nine deer; two squirrels; pileated woodpecker; two hens and a gobbler. We heard some yelping father along, but back, in the woods.

      The honeysuckle and multiflora rose are already greened out. The other trees are  always slower. As the trek continued I noticed a small gray-colored mass among the forest floor. The mass had obvious bones in it. This is owl regurgitation. Owls eat their prey whole and their digestive system push out hair, feathers and bones into an “owl pellet.” Study of a pellet can realize the victim at many times.    

    Other things of interest, at least to me is the plant life. Today, I found  delicate spring flowers known as the rue anemone and others known as Dutchmen’s Breeches. Another plant I like  if the false hellebore. This plant has a tropical look once it matures. They grow and flourish along streams and wetlands. I have planted this plant on my property. However, come summer they have completed their annual cycle and begin to turn brown and fade off the scene until next spring.

   Unfortunately, we observed some things that are negative. Why people feel a need to abuse other lands has always forced me to wonder. Beer cans are often viewed along farmer’s lanes and gas well roads. Today was no different. We looked into the winter wheat fields and it was easy to see the doughnut tracks caused by ATV and other 4-wheel drives. No wonder the farmer posted his land.

Read Full Post »

“Critters”

Posted in Wildflowers, Wildlife on March 21, 2011| 1 Comment »

  

Ring-necked ducks

     March is a great month for firsts.  This is a time when a number of “critters” reconvene back to good “ole” Pennsylvania to begin their annual courtship and mating cycles.  Although, a native, I noticed the first groundhog of the spring on March 7th. The little guy seemed slightly confused as it walked along a barren field of white. The snow was still a ground cover on that date. I guess the internal clock caused a stir and a time to see what is up at ground level. I have seen  several more since that date.

A true first of the year appeared for me on March 10th.  I heard that unmistakable call of the killdeer. That “misplaced plover” is a field bird , whereas most plovers are shore birds. The killdeer lays its eggs in sparse covered fields or barren areas.

    On March 16th, I needed to go to Dayton, Pennsylvania to meet a friend, Dana Gould,  and another gospel musician named Michael Coates. We are planning to do some gospel music at the Dayton United Methodist Church on April 2nd. I decided to go cross-country to see what wildlife would be available to observe. I took some horse photos too. I needed some reference detail for a painting.

   Turkeys! I saw a flock of about 20 birds in one area. Also, I saw a lone gobbler at about 200 yards. I could easily see his beard with the naked eye. At a water hole I saw a lot of geese and  about a dozen of a migrant known as te ring-necked duck. A handsome little duck! I saw the first red-winged blackbirds this day too.   

On March 18th while heading to a banquet of the Alamos Square at Frogtown I saw another flock of turkeys and a lone gobbler near Sherrett, PA. I heard my first spring peepers at dusk this day. I love to hear that little tree frog. My dad would always make sure I was aware of them as a young boy. They would be at a nearby pond.

  I would see a small flock of gobblers near Kittanning. This area is an annual siting place. I saw several great-blue herons this week and some squirrels too.We had some wonderfully pleasent weather as of recent. This allowed for some much needed yard work to be completed.    

Coltsfoot

Also, I have noticed the first coltsfoot flowers peeking out. Those yellow blossoms brighten the drab-colored forest floor.

Read Full Post »

Allegheny River Backwater

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, Wildlife on March 15, 2011| 2 Comments »

    Boy, the time has flown past since my last blog. This is not because I was not involved in things. I just haven’t been active with my site. I have been playing  quite a bit of music. I played five times in seven days last week.  I have been doing some yard work too.

High water

   Today, however, I needed to drop the car off for inspection. I loaded up my walking stick (The Tost Stick was mentioned in a previous blog.) and started walking the railroad tracks on the west side of the Allegheny River.  The river has been high for weeks now due to snow melt-off and lots of rain.

Wood ducks

  The walk began walking the railroad tracks. The high water bordered the tracks and plenty  of waterfowl were present. I saw lots of geese and mallards. I saw one scaup, some mergansers and some wood ducks.

I didn’t go far when I decided to scale the steep embankment and walk parallel to the river. The steep river hills are always a challenge. To add more of a feat I would have to find passage across several steep hollows where beautiful spring-fed streams rushed over rocks towards their river destination.

View from the rocks!

   I climbed higher upslope when I noticed a rock outcrop extending out from the hill-side. My boyhood mentality overtook my maturity (A-hem) forcing a further climb to stand on those rocks to peer the valley and river. I wondered how many native hunters and /or warriors may have stood at this exact site to view the same area.

Beaver gnaw marks on oak

   Eventually, on this hike,  I needed to drop backdown  to the railroad tracks. That destination yielded one problem. Those tracks were cut out of the hill so few places were available to descend with ease. I ended-up using the walking stick as a third leg and carefully worked among rocks and trees to the tracks and my trek back towards West Kittanning.

Muskrat

 I saw plenty of waterfowl, one fox squirrel and a muskrat. Of course, there were plenty of various usual small birds here and there.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »