March madness: It’s about a lot more than basketball
A great time to scout ahead of spring gobbler season.
New York – Mike Raykovicz
Never a bad time to shoot your bow
Year-round practice works wonders.
Orange regs may change – in Pennsylvania
Game Commission is currently considering abolishing the blaze orange requirement for archers, but fall turkey hunters would still be required to wear an orange hat while moving. The regulations concerning deer and bear hunting during the firearms season would remain the same. No orange is required for hunting spring turkeys because that requirement was rescinded back in the late ’90s.
Binocular-buying 101: raise a glass
Sure, you can hunt without a good set of binoculars, but without top-quality optics, the writer believes you will never be as efficient or successful as someone who constantly glasses their surroundings.
Surviving the season: dressing for the cold
Layering a way of life outdoors in this neck of the woods, and doing so properly could be the difference between an enjoyable hunt and not-so-fun outing.
Following a blood trail: mark it along the way
By marking a sparse blood trail, the hunter can use the information to determine the animal’s line of flight and, if need be, come back the next morning to easily pick up where he or she left off.
Antler rubs tell part of the story – and can help hunters
For the writer, the value of a rub is that it tells where a buck has been and in which direction he was heading.
A small first-aid kit can save the day
Over the years, I’ve discovered that an essential piece of outdoor equipment and one that many hunters and even fishermen fail to consider is a small, compact first-aid kit. It could be argued ad infinitum about what should be included in a first-aid kit, but I try to keep things simple by including what I feel might be required for…
While watching Pennsylvania, New York maintains CWD vigilance
There is a lot at stake here because in states where CWD has been present for many years, deer and elk populations declined. Deer hunting here in New York represents a $1.5 billion economic value to rural communities and small businesses throughout the state.
Today’s coolers are marvels of modern technology
Some of my fondest memories as a kid are of the summer weekend picnics our family took to a favorite picnic grove along the Big Bear Creek in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. After arrival, my father set up a folding picnic table then placed the cooler of food my mother packed in a shady spot under a large hemlock tree. If memory serves, the cooler was a green…
Tent camping tips based on experience: Go bigger or stay home
Rummaging through a storage closet a few days ago I came upon the backpacking tent I frequently used on our overnight canoe trips down the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers. Back in the day, the Eureka tent company held an annual tent sale where they sold tent “seconds” at really cheap prices. My friends and I never missed it. At one sale I bought a two-person backpacking…
The time-tested weedless frog: Still the best for summertime bass
A non-professional bass fisherman’s opinion on the three best artificial lures for catching bass under difficult conditions.
Feets of strength: Take care of your hunting boots
Turkey season is over, and hunters will put away their calls, clean their guns and hang up their camo clothing. But there’s one more thing to do before calling it a season. Unfortunately, it’s a chore many hunters forget about. When it comes to outdoor equipment, hunting boots get little respect. We would never consider putting a gun away wet…
Field of nightmares: Dealing with tough gobblers
Ask any turkey hunter what’s the toughest turkey to hunt and you’ll most likely get a variety of answers. Nobody’s asked, but I’ll volunteer my opinion anyway. For me it’s the strutting tom in a field. Turkeys are likely to be seen in farm fields or other open areas for a number of reasons. First, on warm days there are plenty…
Focus on the hens and the food to find spring gobblers
And toe tracks along muddy trails or other soft areas can be good indicators of turkeys, as well as fresh droppings, and they’re just as good as a gobble for betraying silent toms.
Bears, coyotes, wolves and cougars trigger fear, but watch out for those farm animals
Quick now, if I ask which animals cause the most deaths in North America every year, what would you say? If you guessed bears, coyotes, mountain lions or wolves, you’d be wrong. I was surprised to learn that according to researchers at Stanford University, it’s farm animals. Not only that, the study reported people who are afraid of being bitten…
Early-season trout can be hit-and-miss
New York’s trout season opens April 1. This may pose a problem because April 1 is also Easter Sunday. Nevertheless, there are bound to be those diehards who will find a way to get out on the water. Early-season anglers are likely to find streams running high, but they can improve their chance of success by fishing deep and slow. Where…
We need to help our waterways – now
Individually, we may not have much of an impact, but collectively, we can do something positive to help our waterways recover.
One ‘size’ doesn’t fit all: Match feeders to birds’ feeding habits
Ornithologists tell us birds only get about 20 percent of their food needs from backyard feeders, but these feeders can be very important during periods of extreme cold or when ice covers food sources.
Fur sale sparks memories made on the trapline
Effort a half-century ago was a labor of love.
Going horizontal: Tips on buying a crossbow
Like it or not, crossbows are here to stay, and more New York hunters are hunting with them every year. We talked to several archery pro shop owners about what new-to-the-sport crossbow buyers are looking for and just about all of them said price. It seems customers looking to buy their first crossbow don’t know very much about the type…
End-of-deer-season duties set the stage for next fall
When the end of September nears, it’s a good feeling knowing where everything for the upcoming season is located and that I can get ready without forgetting anything.
When politics enter the world of wildlife biology, it never ends well
In New York, it’s management of mute swans that’s causing a stir.
Proper field care critical to great-tasting venison
Remember, deer meat doesn’t taste “gamey.” Heat and improper field dressing of the animal will only make it taste that way.
Take a seat and make the shot: A bowhunting option
A few years ago, a friend asked me whether I shoot standing up or sitting down while bowhunting. “Standing,” I replied. “Why don’t you sit; it’s a lot more comfortable,” he said. Actually, I never thought about it. Truth be known, I’ve never really stood while perched in a tree; I leaned. Years ago, a friend made me a small…
Archery deer season typically starts slow, then heats up when temps cool
The number of deer I’ve seen so far has been minimal and I’ve yet to see a good buck, but November is almost here, and I’m counting on that to change.
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