CONTENTS WINTER 2015
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Arnold PROJECT MANAGER
Marissa Nalley
For customer service call 309.966.1098 www.americanoutdoorsmagazine.com
3
EVENTS
One-Of-A-Kind family events
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FISHING, CAMPING, HUNTING & LAKES MAP
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14
32
Renowned for high quality taxidermy mounting
Fun facts to remember
KRAUSE’S TAXIDERMY PENNSYLVANIA
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THE HISTORY OF FOX HUNTING
Learn about this traditional equestrian sport
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42
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EASY SURVIVAL SKILLS TO REMEMBER
What to do in a winter emergency
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24
Tips for a successful catch
Read about the best techniques
The best time to hunt
Effective ways to hunt deer
Explore snow activities
7 WINTER OUTDOOR AC TIVITIES
Explore this amazing outdoor Pennsylvania treasure
HUNTING THE SNOWSHOE HARE
STILL HUNTING IN WINTER TIPS
THE SCIENCE BEHIND HOW DEER SEE
WINTER BACKPACKING TIPS
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37
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THE GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE
5 USEFUL TIPS ON TROUT FISHING
SO, YOU THINK YOU KNOW PENNSYLVANIA
Hunting tips
Survival skills just for backpacking
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WIRE TROLLING FOR BASS
29
NEVER BE IN THE WOODS WHILE HUNTING Why NOT to be in the woods while hunting
COMMONWEALTH INLAND WATERS FISHING REGULATIONS
45
OFFICIAL HUNTING SEASON DATES
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CLASSIFIED AD SEC TION
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ADVERTISER INDEX A & B Heating, Inc.——————————— 71 A Is For Amish Buggy Rides——————— 74 Abe’s Buggy Rides——————————— 4 Al’s Appliance Sales—————————— 76 Al’s Water Service——————————— 76 All-In Outdoors———————————— 49 Altman and Montgomery———————— 30 Archery Innovations—————————— 45 Awakening From Within Hypnosis———— 73 Backwoods Safes——————————— 28 Battle Horse Knives, LLC———————— 27 Beaver Creek Outfitters Inc.——————— 56 Benner Insurance——————————— 74 Big Bucks Plus, LLC——————————— 19 Big Oak Whitetail Ranch———————— 57 Big Spruce Outfitting—————————— 34 Boyer RV Center.———————————— 18 Bremer Creek LLC——————————— 66 Brick House Bed & Breakfast Inc.————— 61 Brown’s Towing & Repair Inc.—————— 71 Brush Valley Taxidermy————————— 79 Buffalo Creek Guide Service.——————— 60 Butternut Cove Cottages———————— 60 C.L. McKeirnan, Inc.—————————— 71 CMP Custom Metal Products LLC————— 49 Coffeepot High Country Outfitters———— 15 Colton Hall—————————————— 77 Country Foods———————————— 67 Cracker Barrel————————————— 67 Davine Spring Ranch—————————— 35 Dawn’s Tag & Title Ag/DLR Insurance——— 71 Deible’s Lawncare & Landscaping———— 75 Diamond D Bar Outfitters———————— 60 Don Laine Family Campground————— 11 Eagle Cycle Wholesale————————— 49 Eagle’s Nest Outfitting, LLC——————— 16 Enck’s Gun Barn———————————— 22 Ephrata Land Care Services——————— 73 EZ Kut Inc.—————————————— 4, 50 Foremost Trophy Hunting Ranch LLC——— 59 Forest Glen Alpacas, LLC———————— 49 French Creek Outfitters————————— 56 Frisco Spices LLC——————————— 31
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Get Hooked————————————— 56 Green Tree Structures, LLC——————— 38 Griffin’s Wing Sauce—————————— 67 Grindstone Island Hunting Guide Svc.——— 28 H & B Forge—————————————— 35 Happy Hollow Hunts—————————— 58 Hart Rifle Barrels, Inc.—————————— 49 Intimidator Fishing Charters——————— 58 Jack Paluh Arts———————————— 78 Jenkins Hunting Camp, LLC——————— 23 Jim Hallman Painting—————————— 11 Jim’s Sporting Goods—————————— 19 J&J Heating & Plumbing Inc.——————— 75 Joden Jewelers———————————— 76 Joe Herwig Heating and Cooling, LLC——— 71 J.W. Smith Auto Body Inc.———————— 74 Keller Williams Realty Central PA————— 77 Kenga Company, LLC—————————— 19 Keystone Valley Ranch Inc.——————— 5 Kick Eez——————————————— 51 Kodiak Russian River Lodge——————— 62 Krause’s Taxidermy————————— 26, 80 Lancaster Archery Supply———————— 52 Lazer’s Guide Service-Lazer Tours———— 65 Leithen Valley Trophy Hunts———— Back Cover Lillie’s Garden B & B—————————— 58 LPM Inc.——————————————— 79 Mama Chisari’s Biscotti, LLC——————— 67 Maplewood Produce & Greenhouse———— 68 Martin’s Mulch———————————— 35 Mason’s Propane Service LLC—————— 75 Matheson Gas————————————— 79 Melnick, Moffitt & Mesaros Ent Assoc.——— 75 Midstate Carpet Masters, Inc.—————— 80 Modnur——————————————— 72 Nellie Fox Bowl, Inc.—————————— 80 Nhosab Safaris———————————— 63 Night Eyes Predator Lights——————— 53 Night Ventures Bowfishing Charters——— 19 Outback Outfitters——————————— 38 Patterson Overhead Door———————— 81 Peaceful Valley Campground—————— 18 Pickle Barrel Cafe——————————— 69
Precision Excavating, Paving, Trucking—— 81 Precision Reflex, Inc.—————————— 36 Predator Tools, Inc./Pamela Lesche Ent.—— 80 Providence Place Senior Living—————— 78 Prudhommes Lost Cajun Kitchen————— 69 Pymatunins Boat Sales————————— 49 Redding Auction Service———————— 70 Re-Uzit Shop of New Holland—————— 78 Richland Shooter Supplies Inc.—————— 30 Rick’s Doughboys LLC————————— 68 Ridgeview Cabinets—————————— 78 Rob’s Tree Service, LLC————————— 76 S.M. Smith & Company, Inc.——————— 76 Salmon Tracker Sport Fishing/Guide Svc.—— 58 Sebrings High Lonesome Outfitters———— 56 Shilo Whitetail Ranch—————————— 28 Shooting Bench USA—————————— 52 Somerby Safari———————————— 39 Suky’s Diner————————————— 69 Superior Game Ranch————————— 35 Swingin’ Wrenches, LLC————————— 77 Talkin Stick Game Calls, Inc.——————— 52 TDK Safaris, LLC———————————— 64 The Butcher Shoppe—————————— 69 The Heat Hut————————————— 72 Tip Top Cleaners———————————— 71 Tony’s Sharpener——————————— 55 Tower Stool, LLC———————————— 54 Trader Horn Inc.———————————— 52 Triangle T Outfitters—————— Inside Cover Twin Shears—————————————— 73 Visit Clearfield County————————— 66 VK Plastics, LLC———————————— 55 Wal-Mart——————————————— 69 Walsh Repair————————————— 73 Warren Cycle Shop Inc.————————— 48 Wenger & Myers Ins. Inc.———————— 72 Werzalit Inc.————————————— 81 West Hanover Winery Inc.———————— 68 What Pond Inc.———————————— 83 Wolf River Outfitters—————————— 22 X Steel Targets LLC——————————— 45
While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this edition, American Outdoors Magazine or its advertisers will assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. American Outdoors Magazine makes no warranties regarding the information contained herein. All information provided herein is subject to change without notice. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS SAVE THE DATE
JANUARY
DECEMBER
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4-31 BYERS’ CHOICE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE: Chalfont. Fri, Dec 4 thru Wed, Dec 31st from 10 am – 5 pm. If you love Christmas, stop by our Christmas Market! Shop for international foods and unique gifts. See our indoor snowstorm, singing reindeer, and more than 250 nativities from around the world on display. Dress up in 19th century style costumes for a photo on a Dickensian street. Christmas cookies and mulled cider are always served. Interesting for all ages. www.byerschoice.com/our-company/ events/german-christmas-market
4 A YOUNGSVILLE HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS: Youngsville. Free event featuring a craft show, photo ops with Santa, delicious homemade foods, and a parade. The ceremonial lighting of the tree is one the last events to take place and is not to be missed. www.facebook.com/bringbackyoungsville
4-5 THE AUTHENTIC BED & BREAKFASTS OF LANCASTER COUNTY: Lancaster. Fri, Dec 4 from 2-8pm and Sat, Dec 5 from 1-6pm. Benefiting the Make A Wish foundation, the magic of the event
is that each tour attendee will receive a ticket asking them to watch out for the Belsnickle. Attendees will have an opportunity to discover at least 5 Belsnickles to be entered into a drawing valued at $325.00. Visit over 20 decorated inns and be amazed at the wonder. (800) 552-2632
4-5 6TH ANNUAL GINGERBREAD CELEBRATION & HOLIDAY MART: Gettsburg. Fri, Dec 4 from noon-7pm and Sat, Dec 5 from 9am - 4pm. Free admission. Enjoy a gallery of gingerbread creations, holiday art mart and activities for families. Bring plenty of quarters to vote for your favorite or bid to take home one of the gingerbread creations. Proceeds benefit the non-profit Adams County Arts Council.
12-19 THE CAROLING TRAIN, New Freedom, PA. 4pm - Saturdays only! Steam Into History Caroling Express will take you on a steam locomotive for a one hour ride filled with the holiday favorites. Join in on the fun and sing along with us! ALL ABOARD! 717-942-2370. www.steamintohistory.com
PENNSYLVANIA LEARN A SNOW SPORT MONTH: Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association, the month of January provides visitors with the opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard this winter. Throughout January, the 22 member resorts of the Pennsylvania Ski Area Association will offer a $5 coupon on all “Learn a Snow Sport” packages. www.skipa.com
1 MUMMER’S PARADE: Philadelphia. An internationally known event, and one of the Top 100 Events in the USA as stipulated by the American Bus Association, and recognized here as one of the top 20 events and festivals in Pennsylvania USA. Complete with music and participators in lavish and original costumes, the Philadelphia Mummers Parade features more than 10,000 elaborated attired men and women strutting along the parade route to the event at City Hall where the official judging takes place. www.phillymummers.com
9-16 100TH PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW: PA FARM SHOW COMPLEX & EXPO CENTER, Harrisburg.Pennsylvania will celebrate its agricultural heritage
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FEBRUARY
MARCH
6-14
5-12
FOREST COUNY MUSIC ASSOCIATION MUSICAL JAM: MACA Building, Marienville. 6:30-11pm the second Friday of each month! Bring your musical instrument and your dancing shoes to this country and blue grass musical jam session. All musicians and listeners are welcomed. 814-927-8515
GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOOR SHOW: Harrisburg. The Great American Outdoor Show is a nine day event celebrating hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions. The show features over 1,000 exhibitors ranging from shooting manufacturers to outfitters to fishing boats and RV’s, and archery to art covering 650,000 square feet of exhibit hall space! Not to mention a jam packed schedule including country concerts, fundraising dinners, speaking events, archery competitions, celebrity appearances, seminars, demonstrations and much more! www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org
INTERNATIONAL CHAINSAW CARVERS RENDEZVOUS: Ridgway. Each year hundreds of chainsaw carvers from around the world gather in Ridgway to share their art and skill with the public and to raise money for charities at the world’s largest event of its kind. This event has delighted thousands with chainsaw competitions, safety classes, carving displays and much more since its start in 2000. www.chainsawrendezvous.org
18 - 20
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FIRE & ICE FESTIVAL: Laurel Highlands. This winter festival thrives on chilly temperatures and the frozen handiwork of international ice carvers, who spend the weekend creating dozens of life-size, hand-carved ice sculptures. The talents of fire jugglers, bonfires, a fireworks display and red-hot chili add the heat to this unusual festival. www.somersetincpa.org
CHOCOLATE-COVERED FEBRUARY: Hershey. Every February, The Sweetest Place on Earth® dedicates a month to chocolate-filled events and cuisine. From a Hot Chocolate Pajama Party at The Hershey Lodge® to special chocolate treatments at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey®, Chocolatetown U.S.A. has found a unique way to celebrate this savory treat. With events for couples, friends and families, this is certainly a new way to experience chocolate. www.chocolatecoveredfebruary.com
encouraging visitors to enjoy “Our Commonwealth’s Blue Ribbon Experience.” The Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the nation, with nearly 6,000 animals and 10,000 exhibits. www.farmshow.state.pa.us
10 - June 29, 2018
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12 DAUPHIN COUNTY WOMEN’S EXPO: Hershey. Sat, 9am-2pm. At the Hershey Lodge. The women’s expo brings together women of all ages to shop, enjoy mini spa treatments, watch demonstrations, learn about products and services for themselves and their families, and be entertained. More than 100 exhibitors will be on-hand, discussing their products and services. Vendors represented will include: beauty, home, health and wellness, fashion, nutrition, shopping, finance, technology, and more. (717)285-1350.
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OUTDOOR RECREATION AREA MAP PENNSYLVANIA
FISHING
CAMPING
HUNTING
1
Pymatuning Reservoir Dam Jamestown
1 Ryerson Station State Park 361 Bristoria Road Wind Ridge
1 Ohiopyle State Park 19,052 acres Ohiopyle
2
Northmoreland Park 280 Markle Rd, Apollo
2 Ohiopyle State Park Ohiopyle
Ohiopyle State Park Ohiopyle
3 Pine Grove Furnace State Park 1100 Pine Grove Rd Gardners
2 Buchanan State Forest 70,000 acres 440 Buchanan Trail Mcconnellsburg
3 4
5 6 7
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Pine Grove Furnace State Park 1100 Pine Grove Rd Gardners Conowingo Reservoir Lancaster County Ontelaunee Lake Ontelaunee Lake Lackawanna State Park 1839 N Abington Rd Abington Township Raymond B. Winter State Park 17215 Buffalo Rd Mifflinburg
4 French Creek State Park 843 Park Rd, Elverson 5 Otter Lake Camp Resort 1639 Marshalls Creek Rd East Stroudsburg 6 Lackawanna State Park 1839 N Abington Rd Abington Township 7 Raymond B. Winter State Park 17215 Buffalo Rd Mifflinburg 8 Ole Bull State Park 31 Valhalla Lane, Cross Fork 9 Austin Campground 364 Nelson Run Rd, Austin
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67
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8 7 4
3
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6 5
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3 Worlds End State Park 780 acres 82 Cabin Bridge Rd Forksville 4 Raymond B. Winter State Park 695 acres 17215 Buffalo Rd Mifflinburg
9 8 6
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5 Bald Eagle State Forest 193,424 acres Walker Township 6 Elk State Forest 200,000 acres Sizerville Rd, Emporium 7 Clear Creek State Park 1,211 acres Sigel 8 Cornplanter State Forest 1,585 acres Pleasantville
LAKES 1
Allegheny Reservoir
3 Beltzville Lake
5 Raystown Lake
2
Pymatuning Reservoir
4 Lake Nockamixon
6 Lake Wallenpaupack
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If you’re interested in outdoor activities and are in the Pennsylvania area, you probably already know about the Great Allegheny Passage. It offers endless days of entertainment for hikers, bikers and cyclists, and the views are absolutely amazing. But even if you have trekked through its trails again and again, there are probably things you do not know about this rail trail. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and explore. sunscreen). Temperatures in fall are great, but keep in mind that days are shorter. You will have fewer Most, but not all, of the Great Allegheny Passage was built on the remnants of the Western Maryland hours to reach your destination each day. You may Railway and the Pittsburgh and Lake Eerie Railroad. visit most of the trail in the winter, but you should know that the Big Savage Tunnel, just southeast of The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie railroads were built in 1875 to support growing iron and steel industries. Deal, PA, usually closes for the winter from around December 6 through April 3rd. Ultimately, the best The Western Maryland Railway emerged in 1912. time to visit the Great Allegheny Trail is up to you. Together, they carried freight from Pittsburgh and the Midwest to Baltimore and the east coast. When PREPARING FOR A VISIT you explore the Allegheny Trail, you are stepping There are many entrances to the Great Allegheny on a bit of history. You may even see remnants trail, so find one that is most convenient for you. of the trail’s former life that include old railroad Visit ATATrail.org to download a printable map stations, telegraph poles, mileposts, foundations and find directions and more information and abandoned grades. about parking. HISTORY
THE GREAT
ALLEGHENY PASSAGE
ABOUT THE TRAIL
The 150-mile trail connects with the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath to form a 334.5-mile run between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. There is still work being done on the trail that will eventually connect McKeesport to the Pittsburgh International Airport and Corapolis. If you have the opportunity to use any of this trail to walk or bike to work, keep in mind that it is traffic-free, a major bonus for these areas! Just remember that town rules apply as soon as you leave the trail. WHEN TO VISIT
The best time to visit the Great Allegheny Trail is whenever you would ideally want to hike, bike or ride horseback. Spring temperatures in Pennsylvania are usually ideal, but keep in mind that it tends to be a little wet and rainy. If you’re spanning the entire Great Allegheny Trail in the summer, you must be prepared for spending days in 90 degree temperatures or higher (bring lots of water and 8 | American Outdoors Magazine
Motorized vehicles are not allowed with the exception of wheelchairs, so plan to leave your ATV at home. If you are cycling or riding a horse, plan to wear a helmet. Pennsylvania law requires that children under 12 wear safety-approved helmets. It may not be required for adults, but it is certainly recommended. The trail is open every day from dawn to dusk. There are other areas that are open 24-7 for camping. Pets are allowed, but they must be kept on a short leash. Fires are not allowed, so please plan your barbeque elsewhere. WHY VISIT THE GREAT ALLEGHENY TRAIL?
If a 150-mile trek isn’t enough to get your pulse racing, don’t worry. There are plenty of other reasons to visit. Go for a camping trip or take a fall day trip to check out the fall foliage. You don’t have to explore every bit of the trail to enjoy its beauty and appreciate its great history.
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In fishing, trout are one of the favorite fishing friends of most anglers. These crafty fish are abundant anywhere. The native habitat of these crafty fish depends on the type of trout. For brook trout, the native habitat includes the territory from Labrador westward to the Saskatchewan, while the rainbow trout is a native of the Pacific slope from Alaska to California. On the other hand, brown trout has found its way into the waters of every state in the United States except Florida, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. It has been reported in the waters of some of these states, but according to conservation officials, no authentic reports have been received. It is also found in many parts of Canada. In trout fishing, there are some factors that need to be considered in order to have a successful catch.
5 USEFULL TIPS ON
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TROUT
keep the fly from sinking or dragging because of the various conditions of the current, but this is a matter that the angler will have to figure out for himself. 3.
It is not good practice when fishing for trout to fish directly upstream so the flies, line, and leader will float directly over fish. The fisherman should make the cast from one side of the stream so the fly will only float over the fish.
4.
It is important to make the first cast the best. A feeding trout will usually strike the first lure presented if it is cast so that it will float over his private domain. The angler should never fail to fish the lower end of the pool first even if the trout are rising in the middle or upper end.
1.
For trout fishing, the leader should not be greased. It will not sink far enough to cause any 5. Trout are sometimes very moody or selective difficulty when picking the line and lure from and will try the patience of any angler; hence, the water, but if it is allowed to float; it will cast possibly a fly with less hackle will do the trick a shadow on the bottom of the stream which or it may be necessary to use a spent-wing fly may scare the trout. or a fan wing.
2.
The trout is one of the fishes that are usually secured through the use of the dry fly. For trout, the current as well as the pools should be fished. It may sometimes be a bit difficult to
Indeed, catching trout fishes can be lots of fun. The anglers just have to remember these tips in order to have a happy catch.
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UNLIKE OTHER HARES
The snowshoes large back feet prevent it from sinking in deep snow when it moves and give them added speed. Making the snowshoe a hard target to hit on the run. However, the snowshoe doesn’t burrow down like other rabbits. Instead they live in shallow concave areas called forms. A snowshoe will scrape out areas under ferns, thickets and piles of timber to sleep in. Because they don’t have burrows to hide in, a hunter can almost always be guaranteed a kill, no matter how bitter the winter is.
HUNTING
THE SNOWSHOE HARE by Leah Foraker
Snowshoe hares can be found anywhere from Western Alaska and California, down through the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina.
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The best time to hunt a snowshoe is right after sunrise and right before sunset. Since they are shy, secretive and only feed at night; this is when they are returning to their forms after foraging. Some hunters prefer to use beagles to flush them out while others prefer to hunt in groups and run them out into open areas. They are fast and easily hidden because of their white coat, an amazing winter camouflage. However, if you are observant, you can pick them out by their black eyes and the black caps on their ears. Public lands make for great hunting. If you can secure the information and permission to use them. They can be heavily wooded and a prime area for snowshoes. PICKING THE RIGHT GUN
Everyone is unique in what gun they pick to hunt with and I am no exception to that. As small game goes, you can use anything from a shotgun to a 22 rifle to a 410, depending on your personal preference. I myself use a 17 since it’s easy and lightweight and I’m a dead shot with it. I like to take my sons out hunting with me and they are 5 and 7 years old. They are able to use my 17 and scope without any problems. During the winter months, look for small trees that are missing their bark. The snowshoe will eat the soft bark from young saplings and brush, this makes for an easy indicator that you’re in the right area. We hunt them early in the season when most still have a brown tinge to the coat.
Depending on the number of hunters you have, you can start in a straight line with about 20 yards between each person. This is the easiest way to flush out hares since it’s simple to see the people on either side of you. Its easier to shoot a hare when they have stopped moving. You will need to watch and wait for the hare to pause before firing. Hares have been known to run forward then circle back around behind hunters, using the brush once again as coverage. This is one reason people chose to hunt with beagles instead, they can stay on the snowshoes trail better than a person might. LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE TRACKS
We hunt in groups though and it’s always paid off wonderfully. Since snowshoes are reluctant to move in the open, you can roust them out with a decent sized group of people. Our last hunt was with five of our hunting friends. We spent about an hour in a line, and in that time we ended up with seven snowshoe hares. Look for areas that have a lot of blow downs, thick spruce and an abundance of brush. You can quickly learn to identify the tracks of the snowshoe since they have such large feet. With any group hunt, you want to make sure that you are within earshot of everyone in the group for effective communication. If you hear a shot, stop and wait before moving forward. The best meat on the snowshoe is below the front shoulder blades and down to the large rear legs, the front legs and neck have almost no meat. The meat can be tough; we like to put it in stew once it’s been chopped down to a very small size. In our area, Southern Tennessee, snowshoes are generally about 2 ½ to 3lbs, larger than your average cottontail. Overall, if you want to kill the winter blues and have some more meat in your freezer, the snowshoes can be a lot of fun to hunt. Good luck hunting and enjoy the winter months ahead.
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Let’s start back at the beginning. I was six years old the first time I went into a taxidermy studio; it was with my father to pick up a bear he had mounted. Ever since that moment, I knew I wanted to be a taxidermist. My first attempt at taxidermy was when a family friend gave me a fish mounting kit as a Christmas gift. Although that fish was far from being a blue ribbon piece, it was the first big step at a lifelong goal I made as a small boy. Since then, I have come a long way in the world of wildlife art. I pursued an education at the Pennsylvania Institute of Taxidermy, which led me down the proper path to where I am today.
krause taxidermy
PENNSYLVANIA
A NETWORK OF INFORMATION
We were encouraged to study the wildlife we were attempting to recreate and to join our state taxidermy association—in my case, the Pennsylvania Taxidermist Association. Over the years, I have learned more at the conventions I have attended than I could possibly list. Also, the friends I have made at conventions have become a network of all sorts of information. If I would ever have a question about something, there’s surely someone out there who I could call and pick their brain for the best methods to use for the creature I am working on. All this has led me to my current place in this world. I now receive some calls from people picking my brain for info, and it’s a good feeling. Not too long ago, I was at a convention looking around the room at all the people who were (and still are) men and women I look up to and aim to be as good as, when someone walked up to me and asked me for my methods and techniques. I realized then that I was now being looked up to by someone. It was a humbling but gratifying moment for me, for I am now able to give back to the profession I have enjoyed so much.
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I now hold the current position of Vice President for the Pennsylvania Taxidermist Association—the same organization that helped mold me into the artist I am today. It’s a position that I hold with pride and honor. ACHIEVING GOALS
I have achieved many personal goals through the years. I’ve become a Master taxidermist in large life-sized mammals, large game heads, reptiles and birds. I’ve received numerous blue ribbons and awards at the conventions I attend. Everything I’ve learned is incorporated into every mount a client brings through my door. My ultimate goal is to bring the memory of each and every trophy back to life in the portrayal of the mount. So 35 years after entering the first taxidermy studio, I am lucky enough to still enter my own studio each day to the profession I love. If I ever have the honor of being your choice as a taxidermist, I will personally guarantee you the best and highest quality mount I am capable of doing. Thank you for your consideration.
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THE HISTORY OF FOX HUNTING Fox Hunting has always been seen as a British activity during which highly trained dogs, as well as human hunters on horseback, pursue the red fox.
Animal rights activists find the blood sport to be barbaric. However, its participants and proponents see it to be a traditional equestrian sport, as well as an important aspect of England’s aristocratic history. In fact, even though it does take place in several countries, its roots can be traced to the British. HUNTING TRADITIONS
Known as venery, the use of scent hounds to track prey dates way back to Assyrian, Babylonian, and also ancient Egyptian times. But, it was in England, using the Agassaei breed of dog, that fox hunting was really popular, taking place before the Romans even arrived. continued ~
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Later, the Romans brought over the Castorian and Fulpine breed of hounds, as well as the brown hare and several species of deer to use as quarry. Wild boar was also known as a hunted animal. Norman hunting traditions began when William the Conqueror arrived, using Gascon and Talbot hounds. In fact, the cry of tally ho is the Norman equivalent to the French il est haut, meaning he is up. 1534 marks the first known attempt at fox hunting, taking place in Norfolk, England. Farmers used their dogs to chase foxes as a way of pest control. It wasn’t until the 17th century that organized pack began to hunt hare and fox, while it those used specifically for the sport of fox hunting weren’t used until the 18th century. MODERNIZED CHANGES
The Industrial Revolution saw people moving out of the country, instead settling in towns and cities where they could find work. Even though roads, rails, and canals split up the hunting land, it made it more accessible to people who wanted to hunt. Also, the improvement of shotguns during the 19th century allowed for game shooting to gain popularity.
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Even though it is viewed as a usually typical rural British sport, hunting using hounds does take place all over. Those hunts in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and also India are considered to be, to some extent, a British Empire legacy. However, some do claim that the first pack that was used solely for fox hunting was in the United States. Other countries, influenced by the Greek and Romans, also have a tradition of fox hunting using hounds. For example, both France and Italy still have fox hunts. But, in countries such as Switzerland and Germany, fox hunting has been outlawed. As of 2004, 170 registered packs found in the United States and Canada were included by the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, as well as many more farmer, or non-recognized, packs. When fox hunting is done in the United States, the pursued fox is often not caught. In fact, they are trained so they aren’t caught during the fox hunt. During the late summer, young hounds are taken on hunts called cubbing, during which puppies are taught to hunts while the young foxes are taught to give chase. The proper season usually begins in early November.
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1. SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
7
WINTER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN PENNSYLVANIA
Let’s start with the obvious. Pennsylvania is rich with mountain ranges and its winters are covered in snow. This creates the perfect opportunity to hit the slopes. There are many places to ski and snowboard, but if you’re looking to try something authentic, consider the Stone Mountain Inn on Keene Summit. Parts of the lodge were restored with stone from the same mountain you will glide down.
2. DOGSLEDDING
When you think of dogsledding, you may think of some faraway locale like Alaska, but you can go doglsedding right here in Pennsylvania. The Alaskan Huskies at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort power 30-minute adventures through the Laurel Highlands. It is an experience you will not soon forget!
5. FIRE AND ICE FESTIVAL
6. WINTER IN THE WILDS AT CY SPIRTS DISTILLERY
3. ICEBOATING
You may have heard that this winter is going to be a cold one, but don’t let that stop you from living. You can even have fun on some of the coldest days, in some of the biggest snow storms. Just have a little faith. In fact, there are things you can do in the winter that you cannot do any other time, so get ready to have some fun before the snow thaws! 20 | American Outdoors Magazine
Have you heard about iceboating? It’s like a combination of ice skating, sledding and sailing — and it is seriously awesome. Iceboats are like sailboats with sled rails, and they can glide across frozen surfaces in speeds up to 70 miles per hour. And you don’t need experience to participate. Simply connect with a group like the Erie Yacht Club or Lake Arthur Sailing Club for your maiden voyage.
4. SNOW TUBING
There’s only one thing you should know about snow tubing. It’s just plain fun! It’s also easy to find in Pennsylvania during the winter. Most resorts offer snow tubing at ski areas. Try Camelback Mountain in the Pocono Mountains and you’ll find the largest tubing park in the U.S. With 42 sledding lanes, you can easily spend the day tubing down the mountain.
The Fire and Ice Festival is nice because regardless of your schedule, you can probably attend. This community event is held every weekend until Martin Luther King Day. Expect to find a 5k run, fireworks, contests, great food, music and loads of energy at the Fire and Ice Festival in Somerset. Plan a visit around skiing, snowboarding or even dogsledding. Do not consider this a celebration that simply takes place in the winter. It is more like a celebration of this blustery season. At Winter in the Wilds, you can enjoy ice sculptures, music, snow art, carriage rides, and an ice bar and lounge. It’s a great time to pay homage to a season that gives so much in the way of fun and activity. This year, the festivities take place between the 16th and 19th of January in Kane, Pennsylvania.
7. WATCH PUNXATAWNEY PHIL
No matter how you dress it up, some people just do not like this lively yet chilly season. It’s okay. If you’re one of them, or if you’re among those crossing your fingers for six more weeks of winter, you can actually watch Punxatawney Phil emerge from his hole and see firsthand whether he is scared by his shadow. This event, not surprisingly, takes place on Groundhog day in Punxatawney, Pennsylvania. And it is quite the “to do.” And much like Bill Murray’s character in the movie, Groundhog Day, you’re likely to fall in love with the small-town charm that is uniquely Punxatawney. It’s one of those things you have to experience to believe. But don’t worry. You only have to experience it one time.
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from beneath. Just play around in your backyard until you get the hang of it. In an emergency, or if the weather turns extremely cold, you may want to put your tent behind a wall of snow blocks, to stop the wind.
Winter backpacking tips Winter backpacking can mean your footprints are the only ones out there. That adds to the beauty of the experience, but also to the danger. Alone and in a cold environment, it’s important to know what to do in an emergency. Learning a few basic cold weather survival skills can save your life. FIRE MAKING
Imagine slipping into a stream and soaking everything with you, when you are more than a day from the nearest road and it’s below freezing out. What would you do? Start a fire, of course, but can you? Always carry waterproof matches, and practice starting a fire in the cold BEFORE you go winter backpacking. Learn which tinder works even when
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If it isn’t raining, a quick survival shelter for warmth is a pile of dry leaves, grass, broken ferns or other plants. I once collected enough dried grass from a frozen swamp in thirty minutes to make a pile several feet thick. I slept warmly in the middle of it (half the insulating grass above, half below) with just a jacket, despite below freezing temperatures. STAYING DRY
You can be wet and warm when it far below freezing, as long as you are active. The moment you stop moving, however, you start to lose your body heat. Once you get chilled through, it is difficult to get
warm again. Hypothermia (a lowered body temperature) kills many people every year. If you get wet, try to get dry before you go to sleep. Put dry clothes on if you have them, and use a fire to dry any wet clothes. Earlier in the day, you may be able to hang damp clothes on your pack to dry in the sun. Often when it is coldest, the air is dryer. Try not to sweat. Adjust your layers, removing and adding shirts, sweaters and jackets as necessary to keep from getting too hot or too cold. Sweat, and clothes damp with sweat, will cause you to lose body heat fast once you stop moving. Stay dry to stay warm. There are many other cold weather survival skills that you may want to learn. (You can generate heat by eating fatty foods, for example.) You don’t need to know hundreds of skills and techniques, but why not learn a few basics, like the ones above, before your next winter backpacking trip?
wet. Birch bark, for example, will burn when wet, and so will sap from pines and spruces. You may have only minutes before your fingers get too cold to function, so speed is of the essence. WINTER BACKPACKING —SURVIVAL SHELTERS
You’ll probably have a tent with you, but you still may want to learn shelter building using snow blocks. Sometimes you can stomp out blocks without tools, using your feet, and then lift them
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WIRE TROLLING FOR
BASS Wireline trolling is a technique that is used by many thousands of New Englanders every year to catch striped bass. It can be very productive if you know what you’re doing, but many people think you simply put the line out and motor around in your boat to catch fish, and are surprised when they see others catch fish after fish in the same area and apparently doing the same thing and even using the same rig. Well, there must be something different. Knowing where the fish are holding, what their feeding on and the speed to troll at are just some of the considerations to take into account. WHERE ARE THE FISH?
You have to go where the fish are, not where you want them to be. You also have to go when the fish are there, not when you want them to be there. For any kind of Bass fishing, early morning is usually the best. Early in the season they may feed throughout the day, but as the season progresses and the sun gets higher in the sky you won’t find them feeding during the day unless there is tide
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and a lot of bait or a weather pattern to entice them into activity. You may find them holding on structure and be able to catch them but it’s pretty certain that there is something in the way of food down there to keep them interested. If the fish are holding on structure, you have to present your offering over that structure, if you are off by 50’ there is no joy. If you are trolling and mark and catch fish, turn around and keep going over the spot until you stop catching. Don’t go trolling away unless your damn sure there is something better to head to. And! don’t spend too much time trolling around a spot and not catching. Tides and currents. Bass are ambush predators and a current will provide them with the opportunity to lay in wait for a small creature to be swept past their position so they can gobble it up. It is the current generated by the tides you need to pay attention to. An example of this would be the Block Island North reef. The currents there provide areas which bass like to use as ambush points, and some of these are places to troll wireline. TROLLING SPEED
Never troll at the same speed all the time if it isn’t working. Often fish will follow your offering and are waiting for that trigger that tells them that their prey has detected them. Speed up, slow down, change speeds, speed up during your turns. You will be surprised how many times you hook up fish immediately or very soon after a speed change. Sometimes only going at a particular slow speed works, or a particularly fast speed. The most important thing to do is pay attention to what is going on when you hook up. You need to notice if it is always during a speed change, only when you go fast, only when you go very slow, etc. If you speed up and turn, and the inside line picks up a fish, you may not have enough line out since the inside line will usually go deeper, the outside line shallower. Current can be used to control your speed. If you want to go very slow, troll directly into the current. There is one area I fish trolling to the same spot
and slowing down as the boat gets near it, going into the current. At times we are barely moving forward, and when I reach the spot on my GPS one or both rods will go down with fish on (tide is very important in this case.) There are times when you will catch most of your fish only trolling in one direction in relation to the current. Pay attention to what is happening when you hook up. TROLLING DEPTH
This is extremely important. Your depth finder can mark a million fish below 30’ but if your trolled rig is only 20’ deep you will end up being very frustrated and catching very few fish. Your offering must be presented in the “strike zone”, which is the area close enough that the fish will be interested in hitting your lure. This strike zone can be very large when fish are feeding aggressively, or very small if they are “turned off ”. If you see fish smashing bait on the surface, try letting out a small amount of wireline and troll around the feeding fish, not through the middle of them. So many fishermen shut down the fishing very quickly by trolling through the middle of breaking fish. It is the most idiotic thing they can do. You need to have the lure down near the bottom if you are targeting Bass that aren’t feeding aggressively near the surface. If you are in water under 30’ deep, it is only necessary to be within 5’ of the bottom unless the fish are very sluggish. In deeper water. light penetration becomes an issue and it is necessary to get as close to the bottom as you can without dragging. The rule of thumb is to let out 10 feet of wire for every 1’ of depth. This is varied by boat speed and the weight of your lure. Naturally, going slower will cause the rig to go deeper and fast will cause it to run shallower. Remember, if you aren’t dragging bottom once in a while, you’re trolling too shallow. continued ~
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MATCHING THE HATCH
You need to troll an offering which is representative of what the fish are feeding on. If there are hordes of sand eels, then you shouldn’t be trolling 6’ soft plastic shads. Bass most often eat bunker, sand eels, and squid. Lures that represent these species are ones you should have available to you. If you catch a keeper, open up its stomach and see what it has been feeding on. SPORT FISHING
This is supposed to be a sport. Keeping the boat in gear and continuing to troll after you have hooked up a fish is winching, not fishing. I have seen so
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many bass skipping across the surface of the water as they are being reeled up, it’s absolutely ridiculous. You should be fighting the fish and not the boat. Where is the fun in that? So the advice is take the boat out of gear after you hook up. By following the guidelines presented here the reward will be more success for your fishing trips. The last and most important piece of advice when you’re not catching is this: remember to ask yourself: “what do I need to change?” Are you going too fast, using the wrong rig, trolling too shallow, etc. Watch what other people are doing; it may give you a clue. Catch ‘em up!
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Never be in the woods
WHILE HUNTING
This article is for true hunters. I want to help all of you out there that have been hunting for years with little luck. This is not a fluffy article — it is the truth and I will give you the facts.
From years of hunting and thousands of dollars wasted I have found what works. I like to be comfortable while hunting and I don’t like to come home empty handed. The number one thing for hunting success is not to be in the woods. How many times have you been in the woods and a deer finally stumbles upon you to look you in the eyes, snort and stomp, then split before you can shoot? If you were not in the woods that would never have happened. What about the time it was so cold so you bundled up, walked a few miles, climbed a tree and then spooked the buck of a lifetime because the wind changed? Again, if you were not in the woods that would never have happened. Here is another way to explain it to you. While you go out shopping I get a hunting suit the same exact color and pattern of your wall and then stand there motionless. What is the chance you will know something is not right? Now, what if I get a dog continued ~
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house popup blind and sit it in the corner of your house and it’s the same color and pattern of whatever the area is? I think there would be no fooling you at all! I know — what if I got something that smelled familiar to you and poured it all over myself? Would any of these scenarios or any combination together fool you? Most likely not!
hunting. Dig a hole in the summer about 4’ deep and hunt from it during the season. This is a great strategy for many reasons.
DON’T BE NOTICED
What I am getting at is that when we are out hunting it’s exactly like walking into someone’s home. The ticket is not to be noticeable. That might sound “goofy” as this is what you already know. The issue here is that you and every other hunter has been conditioned to hunt in a specific way! The wrong way! If we set up a contest with an Indian that hunted for his survival and us that do it for sport, who would kill the game first? It doesn’t even come down to reasons for hunting — but technique. Do not be in the woods while hunting! You must be a part of the woods while hunting. Stand out as little as possible! The following are a few hunting techniques I use that work. If you limit your spending to a few hunting products that do work, then you will not have to buy anything but bullets and a license for years to come. The best technique possible that requires very little effort is digging a hole. If you can dig a hole you can kill deer! I have killed many deer while hole
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1.
You can easily see under the brush to see feet coming at you
2.
Your scent is greatly masked underground
3.
You will not get cold from breezes or wind
4.
You can put a comfortable chair inside that space
5.
You have the steadiest gun rest ever made: the ground
6.
If for some reason they see movement they usually think you are a small animal
7.
Lastly, it will keep you from getting shot while hunting!
I really only use two things while hunting like — this a blanket or pull bag and a ground blind. The best portable ground blind I have found for this type of hunting is The Scope Blind. like this blind best because it is light and is not fixed to the ground. I can turn in my hole or any cover to conceal myself regardless how the deer come to me. So remember: stay away from cover scents, use small blinds and dig a hole. Your friends may laugh at you as mine did but they will also compliment you on the deer jerky!
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Pennsylvania is so much more than just home to the Liberty Bell and the birthplace of the Constitution, although those are extremely important claims to fame. You might be surprised to learn that many of this great nation’s firsts took place in the state of Pennsylvania. Let’s look at some fun facts and deepen our appreciation of the Keystone State. 1. FIRST LIBRARY
6. FIRST BASEBALL STADIUM
Did you know that the first ever circulating library was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin and others? The Library Company of Philadelphia fueled decades of knowledg sharing that pre-dated the Internet.
2. FIRST COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION
so you think you know
PENNSYLVANIA
KDKA of Pittsburgh began broadcasting every day from November 2, 1920. Would radio as we know it be the same without the work that was done in Pennsylvania in the 20s? Probably not.
7. FIRST AUTO SERVICE STATION
It just makes sense that he first automotive service station began in the same place as the first multi-lane highway nearly a century ago.
3. FIRST MOVIE THEATER
8. FIRST COMPUTER
The first all-motion-picture theater in the entire world opened its doors on June 19, 1905 on Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh. This becomes a little less surprising when you learn that the Warner brothers began their careers in western Pennsylvania.
4. FIRST U.S. ZOO
The Philadelphia Zoo opened its doors on July 1, 1874. It was meant to open earlier, but its grand opening was delayed by the Civil War. You can still visit this zoo today!
5. FIRST MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY
FUN HISTORY FACTS
Is there anything more American than baseball? Well, you might be surprised to learn that America’s favorite pastime found its first home in the Oakland neighborhood of Philly back in 1909. Unfortunately, the stadium was demolished in 1971, so you cannot visit, but it had a rich history.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike was the first highway in the nation, built in 1940, and it completely changed the way we travel. You may curse the system when you’re sitting in traffic, but think about how long it would take you to get to work if there wasn’t a direct route.
Yes, that’s right. The very first computer was conceived and constructed on Penn’s campus in 1946. Are you starting to realize the vast importance of this state?
9. FIRST DAILY NEWSPAPER
There were other continuously-published papers that came before, but the first daily newspaper was published in Philadelphia on September 21, 1784. And September 22 and 23, and so on. Just think about how far we have come from here. For so many years, Americans have relied on the printed page that would get delivered every day. Today, although printed newspapers are still important, electronic news is growing in popularity every day.
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10. FIRST AMERICAN FLAG
6. FIRST CAPITAL CITY
Okay, so you probably knew about this one. But what you think about the Betsy Ross flag may not be entirely true. Yes, she did make the first American flag in history. And it took place in Philadelphia. Many Americans believe that Betsy herself designed the flag, but most historians believe that the flag was designed by a committee, which included George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross, and Betsy had some input. There is no evidence that Betsy herself even claimed to design the flag.
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Washington, DC, wasn’t always the political center of this country. In fact, nine cities were once the capital of the United States, but Philadelphia was the first. It was also the most frequently used capital in terms of Congress sessions, but it was not the longest-used capital.
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STILL-HUNTING IN WINTER
TIPS Still hunting is one of the most effective ways to hunt deer in the winter because they are a bit more sluggish and tend to stay in one general area where they know they can find food.
If you want to be a successful still hunter, there are two rules you simply must follow. First, go as slow as humanly possible. Second, hunt with the wind in your face. Sure, a time may come when you want to break these rules, but with experience, you’ll know when it’s right. Even taking a standard walking pace is detrimental to still hunting. Think about how slow you can go, and then take it down a notch. Take two slow steps and stop for about 30 seconds and look around. It’ll give you the advantage of spotting movement and the advantage of remaining undetected. You’re not going to cover a lot of ground this way, but you may get yourself a deer. Once you have the two rules down, there are some more tips that can help you have a successful hunt. continued ~
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HUNT IN SNOW OR LIGHT RAIN
GET IN THE THICK OF IT
It may seem counter-intuitive for you to be out in the rain or snow, but the precipitation will help hide your sound and scent. Deer seem to be more active in these conditions too, so it’s really a win-win.
Many hunters avoid the dense vegetation because it’s uncomfortable and can be difficult to see. But if you’re still hunting, this shouldn’t be as much of a problem. As you’re taking it slow, you can really take your time to look around. Squat down to get a better view under the dense cover, if that helps.
HUNT NEAR WATER
If you can find a creek or a stream, this is where you should focus most of your efforts. Deer tend to follow water, and the sound of flowing water can mask the sound of your footsteps. This may even allow you to pick up the pace a bit, but be careful about moving too quickly.
WEAR THE RIGHT BOOTS
You will always want to be able to find your way back from a hunt, but you don’t want to have to worry about where you are at all times. Get lost in the moment and start thinking like your prey.
This seems like such a simple tip, but it is so important to still hunting. Ill-fitting boots can make noises that will send the deer running, and that kind of defeats the purpose. Make sure your boots fit tightly, have solid support and a thin sole. As you walk, put your heel down first, and then slowly roll onto the ball of your foot. You should be able to feel branches and debris through your boot, so you can adjust accordingly. If you feel something, you may want to adjust your step.
CENTER YOURSELF
PRACTICE AHEAD OF TIME
Still hunting can be like a form of meditation. It is relaxing, but you have to work to stay in the moment. If you find your mind wandering, you may quicken your step and ruin what would otherwise be a great hunt. If you’re having trouble focusing, take a break. Have lunch or some water and think about why you’re there in the first place. This should help ground your thoughts and get you back on track.
With still hunting, there is no rest before the shot. Almost every shot will be off-hand, and you must be prepared for this. Practice before hunting season for the best chance for success.
SET YOUR GPS
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MUCH LIKE A HUMAN EYE
The eye has a simple working mechanism; basically, light is either reflected or passes through an object and enters the eye. Once in the eye, it is concentrated at the back on a structure called the retina. The retina is full of light sensitive cells that are connected to the optic nerve. Once the light is absorbed by the photo sensitive cells, it is sent to the brain for interpretation. As a hunter, understanding how your prey sees can be the difference between you having a good kill and you going home empty handed. A deer’s eyes are very similar to human’s eyes in terms of the structural components that help it to perceive light. Various scientists have suggested that the vision of a deer is greater than a human’s due to the following features. A LARGE FIELD OF VISION
THE SCIENCE BEHIND
HOW DEER SEE AND HUNTING TIPS Vision is the most investigated human sense owing to the magnitude of its importance. Vision can be defined as the physiological response to an objective stimulus generated by the physical nature of the object viewed.
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The pupil, this is the part of the eye that appears to be at the very center. Deer’s have a horizontally slit pupil which is in contrast to the human pupil which is not slit. This means that the deer has a wider field view of about 270º. The location of the eyes on the sides of the deer’s head also enhances a larger field of view. This being true, deer’s however, have low visual acuity of about 20/40 meaning they can only make out fine details of an object within the range of 20-40 meters. This is great news for hunters since even if the deer sees you it will not differentiate you from a tree if you aren’t within its visual scope. This ‘problem’ can be dealt with by ensuring that during the hunt you are not directly located in the direction of the deer’s nose since they will attain a binocular view which is more accurate. The deer sees better during the night. The retina has two types of photo receptor cells; rods and cones. Rods pick up low intensity light while cones pick up colour which is high intensity light. The concentration of rods in humans is lower
than in deer’s, they are thus able to see better during the night. Deer’s have a reflective substance at the back of their eyes on the retina called the Tapetum lucidum. This reflective part of the eye is important since it allows a kind of double vision through light perception. When light enters into the deer’s eye, it goes through the lenses and onto the tapetum which reflects the light back to the lenses. The lens in turn reflects the light to the retina. This means that the retina is given a chance to perceive and transmit the light twice. ADVANTAGES IN VISION
The deer has two other advantages in terms of vision. Namely; it has no UV filter and it perceives some wavelengths better than others. Lack of a UV filter means a deer can perceive UV light. The deer’s eyes have two kinds of cones as compared to a human’s which has three. The cones present can only perceive short and middle wavelengths of the light spectrum such as violet and blue. This means that colors such as red which have long wavelengths are perceived as being grey in a deer’s eye. Hunters can thus be on the safer side by avoiding clothes washed in UV based detergents and dyes. The other basic things that a hunter can do to make a kill are being still and to musk his scent using scent blocks or replacers. Despite their questionable sense of sight, deer’s have a great sense of smell and sound. Due to their ability to perceive light of shorter and middle length wavelengths, deer’s perceive the color blue perfectly. They are also able to perceive yellow quite well. Beware hunters; it is not a good day to wear blue. Try wearing colors such as red, green, and orange as studies suggest they appear gray to them.
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EASY
SURVIVAL SKILLS TO REMEMBER
Survival skills just for backpacking? Why not? For ultralight backpackers, skills replace gear, and therefore weight. If you spend any time in the wilderness, it also just feels good to know you can deal with whatever comes up. Survival means staying warm and dry, hydrated, uninjured, and finding your way out of the wilderness. Of course, eating is nice too, but not crucial if the situation is just for a few days. Here are some survival skills you can learn easily. EASY SURVIVAL SKILLS 1.
Put dried moss or milkweed fuzz in your pocket as you walk, so you’ll have dry tinder to start a fire, just in case it’s raining later. Cattail fuzz works well too, and you can experiment with different materials.
2.
If it looks and tastes like a blueberry, strawberry, or raspberry – it is. There is no berry in North America that looks like a blueberry, strawberry, or raspberry, and can hurt you from one taste. Take a taste, and just spit it out completely if it doesn’t taste right.
3.
4.
5.
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Make a pile of dry leaves and dead grass to keep warm in an emergency. People have slept warmly without a blanket, in below-freezing weather, in a pile of dry grass. Put a stick upright in the ground, and mark the tip of the shadow. Mark it again fifteen minutes later. Scratch a line between the first and second marks, and it will be pointing east. Techniques like this can save you when your compass is lost. Clouds form in the Rocky Mountains just before the afternoon storms in summer. Lightning in Colorado regularly kills hikers. Birds often fly lower before storms. Learning to read the sky and the behavior of animals can keep you out of trouble.
6.
The biggest wilderness killer is hypothermia, and getting wet is the biggest cause. Get in the habit of watching for ledges or large firm trees to stand under when you think that rain may be coming. Learning to stay dry is one of the more important survival skills.
7.
To stay warmer, sleep with your head slightly downhill. It takes some getting used to, but it works.
8.
Get in the habit of filling water bottles every chance you get, and you won’t have such a hard time with any long dry stretches of trail. Drink up the last of your water right before you fill the bottles too.
9.
Break a “blister” on the trunk of a small spruce or fern tree, and you can use the sap that oozes out as a good antiseptic dressing for small cuts. It also can be used to start a fire, and will burn when wet.
10.
Bark from a white birch tree will usually light even when wet. In a jam, you can also use it as a paper substitute if you need to leave a note in an emergency.
The above are just a few tips and techniques you can easily learn. But here are many more, and they can make backpacking not only safer, but more interesting. Why not practice one or two of these survival skills?
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COMMONWEALTH INLAND WATERS DATES
OFFICIAL HUNTING SEASON DATES
Includes the Youghiogheny River Lake and does not include special regulation areas.
For the hunters who need to plan in advance, here is a list of when you can hunt particular animals during their allotted hunting season.
SPECIES
SEASONS
MIN. SIZE
DAILY LIMIT
Trout & Salmon
Regional Opening Day of Trout Season April 4 - Sept 7
7”
5-streams, lakes and ponds (combined species)
Regular Season April 18 - Sept 7
7”
5-streams, lakes and ponds (combined species)
Extended Season Jan 1 - Feb 28 / Sept 8 - Dec 31
7”
3 (combined species)
Extended Season (approved trout waters and all waters downstream of approved trout waters) Jan 1 - Feb 28 / Sept 8 - Dec 31
7”
3 (combined species)
Extended Season (Class A wild trout stream sections) Jan 1 - Feb 28 / Sept 8 - Dec 31
NO HARVEST - catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted Class A stream listing: fishandboat.com/classa.pdf
Bass - Lakes Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted
Jan 1 - April 17 / Nov 1 - Dec 31
15 “
April 18 - June 12 only (no tournament permitted)
NO HARVEST - catch and immediate release
June 13 - Oct 31
12”
6 (combined species)
15 “
4 (combined species)
Bass - Rivers and Streams Jan 1 - April 17 / Oct 1 - Dec 31 Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted April 18 - June 12
4 (combined species)
NO HARVEST - catch and immediate release only (no tournament permitted)
June 13 - Sept 30
12 “
6 (combined species)
Muskellunge & Tiger Muskellunge
Open year-round
40 “
1 (combined species)
Pickerel
Open year-round
18 “
4
Northern Pike
Open year-round
24 “
2 (combined species)
15 “ 12 “
6 6
No min.
3
Walleye and Saugeye (hybrids) Jan 1 - March 14 / May 2 - Dec 31 Sauger American Shad
Open year-round
American Shad Lehigh River, Open year-round Schuylkill River & tributaries American Shad, River Herring
CLOSED YEAR ROUND
Hickory Shad
CLOSED YEAR ROUND
Herring, Gizzard Shad
Open year-round
NO HARVEST - catch and immediate release only
No min.
50 (combined species) 25
American Eel
Open year-round
9 inches
Open year-round
20 inches 2 (combined species)
Sunfish, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Crappies, Catfish, Rock Bass, Suckers, Carp, White Bass and other gamefish not otherwise listed
Open year-round
No min.
50 (combined species)
Baitfish / Fishbait (except Mudbugs/ includes Crayfishl)
Open year-round
No min.
50 (combined species)
Mudbugs (Dragonfly Nymphs) Open year round No min. CLOSED YEAR ROUND
Paddlefish, Spotted Gar and other threatened and endangered species
CLOSED YEAR ROUND
GAME ZONE
SEASONS
LIMITS
Squirrels Statewide Red, Gray, Black, & Fox (Combined)
Oct 17 - Nov 28 Dec 14 - 24 Dec 26 - Feb 29
6 daily, 18 possession
Ruffed Grouse Statewide
Oct 17 - Nov 28 Dec 14 - 24 Dec 26 - Jan 23
2 daily, 6 possession
Rabbit Statewide Oct 24 - Nov 28 Cottontail Dec 14 - 24 Dec 26 - Feb 29
4 daily, 12 possession
Hares Snowshoe Rabbits or Varying Hares
Dec 26 - Jan 1 Dec 26 - 29
1 daily, 3 possession
Woodchucks Statewide Groundhogs
No Closed Season Expect Sunday & Regular Firearms Deer Season
No limit
Black Bear
WMUs 2C, 4B, 4C, 4D, & 4E WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C, & 5D WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, & 3D
Dec 2 - 5 Nov 30 - Dec 12 Nov 30 - Dec 5
1 during license year
Deer Antlered & Antlerless
Statewide & Regular Firearm (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, & Philadelphia)
Oct 3 - Nov 14 (Archery) Dec 26 - Jan 9 (Archery) Dec 26 - Jan 9 (Flintlock) Dec 26 - Jan 23 (Reg. Firearm)
1 antlered per hunting licensed year. An antlerless with each required anterless license.
All WMUs WMUs 3B, 3C, & 3D
For all other seasons & species regulations please see the state DNR
Striped Bass & Striped Bass/ White Bass Hybrids
Mussels / Clams
SPECIES
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GEAR & APPAREL
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SERVIC ES
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only (no tournament permitted)
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BUSINESS & RETAIL
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PENNSYLVANIA FACTS Pennsylvania, the birthplace of our nation, was settled in 1643. It is a state full of rolling hills, lush forests and millions of acres of farmland. Home to the major metropolitan cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia as well as the state capital of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania still has many counties which are decidedly rural and pristine, including two counties with NO traffic lights ( Forest County and Perry County). Several of our country’s most important documents were written in Pennsylvania including the Constitution of the United States, the American Declaration of Independence and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Enjoy some of our state’s fun facts!
State beverage: Milk
State bird: Ruffled Grouse State animal: Whitetail Deer
State dog: Great Dane State fish: Trout
State insect: Firefly
State flower: Mountain Laurel
State fossil: Trilobite 84 | American Outdoors Magazine
State tree: Eastern Hemlock
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