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Another Fine Autumn Day

October 23, 2011 by larrysmailart

     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.

Posted in Early Flintlock, Wildlife | Leave a Comment »

Beautiful Autumn Day

October 20, 2011 by larrysmailart

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.

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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!

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, Wildlife | 2 Comments »

Squirrel Season

October 16, 2011 by larrysmailart

  

Witch Hazel

  I woke up to winds on the first day of squirrel, grouse and even ethe early muzzleloading season for deer. There wasn’t any rain so I decided to head out to the woods and witness some nature.           

Aspen leaf

I carried a Remington.22 rifle sling across my shoulder as I worked through the darkness of the pre-morning. I walked about a quarter of a mile into the woods to set down and listen and watch.

The morning proved to be gloomy as I listened for turkey sounds. the winds would definitely be a deterrent to hearing this day. I watched two gray squirrels as they silhouetted themselves against the gray sky.               

Sassafras leaf

   

Buck

  I had several primary reasons to be in the woods this day and squirrel hunting was not one of them. First and foremost I hoped to hear turkeys. I was seeking information as to any possible roosting areas. This reason was realized shortly after 7:00 A.M. when I heard a couple of cuts and later soft yelps.

The second reason to be out was, of course, to witness the colors of the woodlands and see how well the trees and grapes produced fruit. This reason was completed all morning long. The leaves are peaked and quite beautiful despite often heavy cloud cover.

The third reason was to try to get some good photos of deer, etc. This reason didn’t do very well for me.

    I walked about all morning and had 10 squirrel sightings. I was not into a hunting mode yet. Eventually, my hunter instinct took over and a bagged one. After the shot i wished I hadn’t done it, but I cleaned it in Cherry Run and look forward to some fried squirrel soon. I missed two earlier while the dismal grays interfered with my visuals. i just don’t see well in gray days…old age!

I did see 4 deer. One was a buck for sure. I managed several photos, but the blowing leaves often interfered with the subject causing blurriness. Later while traveling home I watched a flock of turkeys fly across a hollow. This is always a great site to see.

     I am not sure if I will hunt deer this week or not. If I can get into the hunter mode I may. Monday, I am getting a new fridge for the basement. Ours had blown up last spring. I know I need to get one to hold deer meat while I butcher and process.

Posted in Misc. Nature | Leave a Comment »

Cowanshannock Creek

October 13, 2011 by larrysmailart

     The waterway is always beautiful. I try to walk the parallel trail or walk along the creek several times a year. Monday, October 10, would, once again, prove to satisfy my need for a nature hike.  

I chose to walk along the creek’s banks as much as possible. The terrain will not easily permit walking at several points. The surrounding slopes are rather steep and choked with rhododendron and hemlock. this makes for difficult travel, however, these conditions allow for the dark green colors to greatly contrast with the waters and autumn foliage.

      Cowanshannock is, of course, an English translation to a Native American name for the stream. The Delaware Indians, more appropriately known as the Lenni-Lenape Tribe. The most well-known years in this area of Pennsylvania occurred during the 18th century. The area I am hiking flows into the mighty Allegheny River.                 

Sycamore Leaf

Big rocks, and plenty of them, create the beauty of this waterway. They abound everywhere. The water surges around and over and under the boulders. The interesting aspect of the rocks is, the fact, that they are found everywhere, but, only for approximately one and a half mile stretch. After one travels this distance the rocks rapidly begin to become fewer in number.

       The creek has many specie of fish. One can easily find trout, bass and suckers here. Other specie swim upstream from the river too.   

A trail follows along the stream for about one mile. This is a great place to hike and observe nature. A well-known local site known as the “Buttermilk Falls” is located on the stream. People like to swing from ropes into the fast and cold waters.  

I saw a few squirrels and kingfisher during the walk.   

Buttermilk Falls

Posted in Hikes | Leave a Comment »

Walks; Music; Events; Bible Seminar; Shooting…

October 9, 2011 by larrysmailart

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.

Posted in Hikes, Historical, Music, My Family, Wildlife | Leave a Comment »

Pennsylvania Elk Country

September 30, 2011 by larrysmailart

   

Pennsylvania Elk Country

   Friday, September 30, was spent in the elk areas of Pennsylvania. We occupied the various roads and sites in the Bennezette area of Elk County. Laurie and I introduced two friends of ours to the elk country. Neither had been north to see the elk before and we had hoped for a decent weather day and , at least, a few elk sightings.                                  

The smallest rack we saw

                                                

The trip to elk country is a couple of hours of driving. We were noticing the advancement of leaf colors and were fortunate to see a couple of small flocks of turkeys.

Bugling!

    The more pronounced height of the hills are always a thrill for me to see. I should have deported myself to Elk, Potter, cameron or Clinton Counties in my youth since I enjoy the vastness of the woodland areas. This part of Pennsylvania makes my native Armstrong County appear very lacking in the wildness I enjoy. Armstrong is highly developed with few “big” areas of woodlands. Much land division has created small woodland sites.                                          

Our morning travels failed to yield any elk sightings. We traveled to the Elk Vistor center and spent some time observing what they had to see.

We settled in for lunch at the Bennezette restuarant before heading back up over the hill hoping for a change in our luck. And a change we witnessed indeed!

    Elk began to show themselves and the bugling became very prevelant too.  We walked about various roadways listening and locating elk everywhere! One large bull had over 20 elk in it’s harem. Some were calves of the year too.

One very large-antlered bull was laying in a field. I wondered if  this bull was either injured from fighting or just played out since the rutting season is now in full swing!

The day turned rather well with some sunshine and dramatic cloud cover. The winds were strong making for movement of the camera. (I should use a tripod more than I do.) I wondered what may have triggered the sudden elk movement. I believe the incoming rain may have had a part in this sudden change in behavior for while in transit back home we began noticing rain.                                  

Puff Balls

    

Another beauty!

  All and all, we had some great times. We saw a lot of elk, (including at least large bulls) some turkeys and some deer. And like I said I was able to return to the country I admire so much.

Posted in Misc. Nature | 1 Comment »

Late Season Wildflowers

September 24, 2011 by larrysmailart

    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

 

 

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A Couple Of Walks

September 19, 2011 by larrysmailart

    Recently, friends Ruthann and Larry along with, wife Laurie and myself visited some property they own near Dayton, Pennsylvania. We hiked in the woods enjoying the cool morning taking some time to watch for any wildlife activity along the way. Although wildlife was scarce on that particular morning we did have an enjoyable time together.          

The primary points of interest were the many varieties of fungi. The recently spell of rains seemed to grant the forest floor with ideal conditions for the growth of these exciting tidbits of nature so often overlooked by the casual hiker. However, we observed many specie with dramatic contrasts of colors and shapes. I would , someday enjoy a through study of this  part of the natural world we live.

After the hike we all sat down in a rural restaurant in Dayton for a hearty breakfast!

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Tost Acres

    My friend, Randy Tost suggested we spend some time walking about Tost Acres this fine morning…and quailit time it was! As usual, this gracious man supplied great conversation on many of our most enjoyable topics, mainly nature and wildlife. We discussed habitat improvement possibilities along a recently constructed right-of-way within his borders.

We discussed various tree and shrubs that he may plant to benefit wildlife and diversify the food choices. We saw a couple of deer and a red-tailed hawk while walking about this late summer morn.    

White Snakeroot

Randy and I returned to the house where he checked out my box call collection supplied by mutual friend Kip Feroce of www.ferociouscalls.com . Randy wished to look at the various woods used in the making of Kip’s fine calls. (Kip, if you read this we both believe you should update your web site…just saying!)

Randy and I discussed another project he wished help from me with. However, I am reluctant to write of this project since someone will be receiving a gift later this year!!!

We set awhile talking over various subjects with some refreshing apple cider to cool our throats.

  (We discovered a gobbler feather on the same trail we had earlier walked along…sneaky birds!)

Gobbler breast feather

Thanks Randy for putting up with me from 8:30 A.M. until 12:30! Time always flies during our visits.

Posted in Hikes | 3 Comments »

September 11, 2001

September 11, 2011 by larrysmailart

  

My flag proudly waving in the breeze.

     For me, the day was just like so many others on that September morning. I was the sign foreman for the Armstrong County, Pennsylvania  department of transportation. The job of the day was to transport some barricades and signs to a bridge closing site near the small community of Edmon, Pennsylvania. We didn’t know what we would be hearing in a short time.

Bill, the fellow with me in the pick up, was the sign man for the county. Another crew member, Jack was following in another pick up with additional signing.  Bill and I were engaged in our usual chatter for most of the trip to the southern area of the county. Eventually, I reached over and turned the radio on to hear words about a plane striking into the World Trade Tower.

I listened in amazement, thinking how would a plane fly into a building like that. I thought of terrorism, but the thought wasn’t a lingering one at this moment.  Suddenly, words came across of a second plane hitting the second tower! I remember saying, at that time, we are under attack!

We reached the bridge site where the bridge crew was involved in preliminary work. We all listened with disbelief at to what we were hearing. After a time, we unloaded the materials and headed back to Kittanning. Many people were viewing sites on a small television at the county “shed”.  All were silent in unbelief as to what was happening. Of course, by this time the Pentagon had been hit and the Flight 93 plane came down near Shanksville.

The evening proved to be much like the day. I, as well as most Americans, were glued to the television watching intently as intelligence became known.

Today, I watched some television of the history of that tragic day. (Ten Years!) The hurt and tears are still present especially as I watched the terror and pain of those people of that day!

God bless America and forgive us as to how we have allowed this great nation to drift away from our core traditions and beliefs.

Posted in Historical | Leave a Comment »

Gettysburg Visit

September 4, 2011 by larrysmailart

  

Sherfy barn and fencing at Emmitsburg Road

      

63rd PVI Memorial (photo -Slim Bowser)

 Friday, September 2, my friend, Robert “Slim” Bowser and myself headed to that great place known as Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The reasons for our visit were varied. We stopped by some businesses to present viewings of the print, “The Wheatfield-Whirlpool of Death”.  We discussed options with a business that specializes in shirts and sweat-shirts. We are waiting for his numbers for production of shirts. (This will take about a week.)

View my ancestor would have seen

   I had the opportunity to meet, and have lunch with, a fine gentleman named Mike Smith. He, like Slim, is a Civil War historian. He portrays General Buford who was engaged in that great conflict of Gettysburg.

One of my personal highlights was visiting and studying the site where my ancestor, Simon Blystone fought  on July 2nd, 1863.  He was with Company G of the 63rd Pennsylvania. For those of you familiar with the battle field  he was west of the Emmitsburg Road and the Peach Orchard and near the Sherfy buildings. Here they erected a breastwork of rail fences for defense. After fierce fighting they were eventually pulled back due to running low of ammunition. This may have been one factor of my ancestor’s life being spared. (He later was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness. See  earlier blogs from around Memorial Day 2011 .)

from the 63rd monument

  Walking around this site just knowing he was there and all those that fought and died is a humbling and emotional  experience for me. (A photo of the Blystone homestead exists. The buildings were in the Cherry Run area of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.)

Posted in Historical, My Family | Leave a Comment »

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