Hunt Fall 2023

HUNT reaches THOUSANDS of households in Northcentral Pennsylvania and thousands more online via www.sungazette.com and ww.lockhaven.com.

Fall2023,Volume2,Issue2

PUBLISHER

BobRolley brolley@sungazette.com brolley@lockhaven.com

CONTRIBUTORS

LorenaBeniquez,AnthonySegraves,Mike Reuther,CharlesZeigler

PHOTOGRAPHERS

LorenaBeniquez,LindaStager

DESIGNEDITOR

TimothyR.WertzJr.

WESTBRANCHLIFEEDITOR

NickSeitzer

PRODUCTIONMANAGER

ChuckSmith

ADVERTISINGREPRESENTATIVES

AdvertisingDirector: SouthernTier:Lewisburg,Selinsgrove, Sunbury,Milton,Danville,Mifflinburg JohnLeeser,ext.2230 jleeser@sungazette.com

RetailAdvertisingManager: JordanMcCloskey,ext.2103 jmccloskey@sungazette.com

DowntownWilliamsport,BasinStreet,EastThird Street,Hughesville,Muncy: ChrisJolin,ext.2239 cjolin@sungazette.com

JerseyShore/ClintonCounty: VickieBuckle,ext.2233 vbuckle@sungazette.com

GoldenStrip,Montoursville,LycomingMall,Pennsdale: BryceHoffman,ext.2237 bhoffman@sungazette.com

9

12

HUNT is a print and online product of the West Branch Life magazine and is distributed to thousands of households and locations throughout Central Pennsylvania and beyond from at 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., 17701.

Copyright 2023 by Sun-Gazette LLC.

All rights reserved.

Advertising rates and specifications are available by contacting jleeser@sungazette.com.

Newberry,LycomingCreekRd.,Williamsport, WashingtonBlvd.,FourMileDrive,Montgomery, S.Williamsport: MissyAdams,ext.2236 madams@sungazette.com

AdPromotionsSalesSupervisor: JessicaKowalchick,ext.2101 jkowalchick@sungazette.com

CIRCULATIONMANAGER

AnthonySegraves asegraves@sungazette.com

EDITORIALOFFICE

(570)326-1551Ext.2229

E-MAIL westbranchlife@sungazette.com

R R E C T I O N

1,000 Yard Benchrest Club is located in Trout Run

West Branch Life is not responsible for unsolicited submissions.

Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without written permission by publisher is prohibited.

HUNT was founded in 2022 and is a publication of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and The (Lock Haven) Express community newspapers and websites. C O

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Do o we ha ve e nough P r e d a t o r s ?

Asahunter,Imakeevery efforttofollowoutdoor news.Afewmonths back,theSun-Gazette rananarticlesuppliedby thePennsylvaniaGameCommissionexplainingthattheorganizationwantstoreleasepinemartensintothePennsylvania wilderness.Istartedtothinkaboutthe variouspredatorstheGameCommission hasintroducedovertheyears,andthese animalshaveimpactedtheareaIhunt andthelargerecosystem.

ItwasnotbutafewdayslaterthatI cameacrossanarticlereleasedbyBBC Newstitled“Contraceptivestocontrol pinemartenproposed.”Ireadthearticle withgreatinterestgiventhecurrentproposalbytheGameCommission.Thearticleexplainedthatamethodtocontrol reproductionisbeingproposedinanattempttosavetheUKʼscapercailliewhich isbeingdecimatedbypinemartens.I thendidalittleresearchtolearnabout capercaillie,whichisawoodgrouse.IrealizedtheyresemblethePennsylvania statebird,theruffedgrouse,andarea verydistantcousin.Thisthenledmeto questionhowthereleaseofthepine marteninPAwouldaffecttheforests.I thoughtbacktohowmanyofthehuntersI talktospokeabouthowmuchfunthey havehadhuntinggrousethroughouttheir years.IhavenothuntedgrousesinceI wasakid.Partofthatdecisionhasbeen thefactthatIdonotseemanygrouse whereIhuntanymore.

Atthispoint,mymindbegantoswirl withmorequestions.Willthesepredators eliminatetheremaininggrousepopulation andwhatwillbetheirnextprey?Thisled metolearnmoreaboutpinemartensand Ifoundthatoneoftheirfavoritethingsto eatiseggs.Asanavidspringturkey hunter,aredflagwasraisedininmind. Pinemartenswillbeanotherpredator

goingafterwildturkeyeggsandpolks.

Whatpredatorsdothewildturkey have?Well,itisactuallyaratherbiglist andiftheGameCommissiongetstheir waythelistisgoingtogetlonger. Hunters,bear,coyote,raccoon,skunk, possum,bobcats,fisherandpotentially pinemarten.Whatarethepredatorsthat thePAGChavereintroducedinthepast decades?Coyote,bobcat,fisherandnow thepinemarten.

Iknowthatallofthesepredatorshave otherpreyontheirradarlikesquirrels, rabbits,fawnsandbirds,buthoware thesepredatorsaffectingthePAhunter? ThePAGChasalreadytoldusthatturkey populationsaredown.Doesthathave anythingtodowiththereleaseofadditionalpredators?

Huntersneedtounderstandthese kindsofproposalsandactionsbythe

gamecommission.Iʼmnotsayingthat reintroducingpredatorsisallabadidea, buthuntersneedtounderstandtheconsequencesoftheseactions.Ioftenhear huntersexpressconcernthattheyarenot seeingthesameamountofwildgameas theyhaveinthepast.Hereisanexample ofhowsomeofthesechangescanaffect yourhuntingexperience.Thisdoesnot evengetintothefactthatthesepredators willalsoeatdomesticcatsandchickens,if theopportunityarises.

Onethinghuntersshouldconsideris learningtotrap.Itisalostart.Iamnot overlyfamiliarwithtrapping,butIhave beguntolearn.Trappingmaybetheonly wayforhunterstokeepthepredatornumberslimitedintheirhuntingarea.Ifyou areanexperiencedtrapper,pleasereach out.Iʼdlovetolearnaboutyourexperienceandshareyourexperiences.

F a l l F i s h i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s

By MIKE REUTHER HUNT Magazine

By the time August rolls around, the thoughts of many anglers begin to turn to the woods where hunting will soon commence for small game and later deer.

Preparations are being made for those autumn weekend getaways to mountain cabins tucked away in the woods of rural Pennsylvania.

But if youʼre like me, who doesnʼt hunt and enjoys getting out on the streams of the area as much as possible, you know some great fishing can be done in the waning weeks of summer and into the fall.

Smallmouth bass, walleye and yes, even trout, can be caught on the streams and lakes of the area as the days grow cooler and the trees show their first blush of colors.

For John Zydallas, a fly-fishing guide at the Slate Run Tackle Shop, Slate Run, autumn is his favorite time to be out on the water.

Trout like cool water temperatures, making those weeks starting around mid-to-late September a great time for targeting the browns, rainbows and brook trout found in local streams.

Fly fishers on Pine Creek, one of the best trout streams in the region, can use streamers, blue-winged olives, and slate drakes to lure fish.

“Trout love to chase streamers in the fall,” he added.

The Fish & Boat Commission and the Slate Run Brown Trout Club annually stock a section of Pine Creek around the village of Slate Run with trout in early fall.

Other streams in Lycoming County receiving fall stockings of trout include Little Pine Creek, Little Pine Lake, and

Lycoming Creek.

Zydallas noted that Slate Run Tackle Shopʼs guiding services include fishing for smallmouth bass in the fall when some of the best fishing is done.

Some walleyes are also reportedly caught on Big Pine Creek.

Poppers, crawfish, and hellgrammite patterns work well to entice smallmouth on Pine Creek, Zydallas said.

“The best opportunity for smallmouth bass is from Waterville going south to

theSusquehannaRiver,”he said.“ButtherearegoodopportunitiesthroughoutPineCreek.”

Asalways,thegoodfishing isoftenatthemercyofMother Nature,includingtheamountof rainfallwhichcandictatelowor high-waterconditionson streams,notedDonKelly,of WellsboroTackleShack.

Kellysaidhisexperiencehas taughthimthatsomeofthe bestbassfishingoccursinmid tolateOctober.

“Thereisabigprobleminthe entirefishingcommunitythat fishingseasonisthetwo monthsaroundthebeginningof troutseason,”hesaid.“When huntingseasoncomesaround, peoplegetfocusedondeer.”

Butthatʼsamistakeforany anglerwhoisseriousoreager aboutcatchingfish.

“Whenthewaterstartscoolingdown,thewalleyesand smallmouthbiteprettygood,” Kellysaid.

InTiogaCounty,Tioga-HammondLakesandCowanesque Lakeoffergreatsmallmouth andlargemouthbassfishing.

“Generally,thefisharegoodsized,”Kellysaid.

Smallmouthbassofthree-tofourpounds,headded,arenot uncommon.

Inaddition,muskellunges, knownasthefishofa“thousandcasts,”canbecaughtby thepatientandproperly equippedanglersonCowanesque,a1,085-acrelake neartheNewYorkStateline with17milesofshoreline.

Otherspeciesoffishthere includeperch,crappies,catfish, andwalleyes.

ForthetroutanglerinTioga County,upperPineCreekand HamilitonLake,a42-acreimpoundmentnearWellsboro, bothreceivefallstockingsof trout.

AcrosscentralandnorthcentralPennsylvania,many streamsholdgreatnumbersof nativebrookaswellaswild brookandbrowntrout,which provideadditionalopportunities foranyoneeagertobeoutside amidstthenatureʼsspectacular colorsofthefallseason.

Nottobeoverlookedisthe SusquehannaRiver,whereanglerscantrytheirluckatcatchinganyvariousofspeciesof freshwaterfish.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

SUN-GAZETTE ARCHIVES

ByCHARLESZEIGLER

Lastyear,Ihadafeeling goingintotheseasonthatit wasgoingtobeagreatone andarcheryseasonwas justthat.OnOct.7,Itook myfirstdeerwithacrossbowfromtheground.Itwasamature doe.ThenonNov.7,Ishotanice seven-pointeronafieldedgeagainfrom theground.Butthemostexcitingday wasNov.2.

Ihadbeenlookingforwardtothat weekbutwehadsomeunseasonably warmertemperatures.IcouldnʼtsayI wasreallyexcitedwalkingintothe woodsthatdaywithtemperaturesinthe high-40sthatweregoingtowarmup intothe60sratherquicklybuttherut wasuponus.ThiswasthedayIwould starthuntingmystatelandstands.Itypicallydonʼtstarthuntingthemuntilweek fourorfiveofbowseason,asthedeer sightingsformeonstatelandarefew.I waituntiltherut.

Onthisday,Idecidedtocarrymy crossbowbecauseIonlyhadtwoto

threeshotsoutofthestandIwouldbe in.Thisstandwaslocatedalongan openingwherefivedifferenttrailscome together.Isettledintomystandaround 6:45a.m.andwaitedforthe7:08a.m. shootingtimethatmorning.Itwasquiet withoutanybreeze.Thegroundwas wet,sinceitrainedtheeveningbefore.

IwasnʼtinthestandlonguntilIhad action.Around8:00a.m.,Iwasstanding upandmadeaseriesofgruntsonmy call.Inunderaminute,Iheardaloud commotioncomingupthetrailbehind metomy7oʼclock.Iknewitwascomingfast.So,Igrabbedmycrossbowand gotready.

WhatIʼmabouttodescribehappened inamatterofseconds.Ithoughtabig buckwasgoingtobestandingrightin frontofmeinamatterofnotime.Idid actuallyseeanobjectthroughthetrees comingupthepath.Then,Isawasecondobjectandthoughtmaybeitwasa buckchasingadoe.WhenIsawathird object,Iassumeditwasagroupofdoe. Ithought,“MaybeIspookedthemwith mycallandforsomereasontheywere goingtorunpastme.”

IsoonrealizedwhatIwasseeing.It wasaone-hornedspikebuckwitha coyotebitingitsneckandhangingon thesideofthedeer.Therewasalsoa secondcoyotenearthehindquarterof thedeer.Icanʼtrecallifthesecondcoyotehadcontactwiththedeeratthis point,sinceeverythingwashappening sofast.BythetimeIrealizedwhatIwas seeing,thecoyotesbroughtthespiketo thegroundapproximately23yardsfrom meintheopeningnexttomystand.

Atthispoint,thecoyoteswerenot thrashingaround,astheyjusttookthe deertotheground.Theywerejustgettingtheirinitialholdonthebuck.That waswhenIreleasedaboltatthecoyote thathadthedeerbytheneck.Theshot wasalittlehighandthebolthitthecoyoteinthespinedroppingitrighttothe ground.Thesecondcoyotetookoffat thecrackofthebowandwasinthe woodsandoutofsightinlessthantwo seconds.

Thebuckcametohisfeet,walked overtothecoyoteIshot,andstomped onitthreetimesbeforeslowlywalking off.Iwasabletopulloutmyphoneand

PUBLIC DOMAIN

videothedeerforabouttwominutes. Thespikelookedtobeahealthyyear andahalfolddeer.Icouldnʼtseeany visiblewounds,justafewmarkingsinhis fur.Heslowlywalkedoffandnervously scannedinthedirectionhewasheading.

Isatdowninmyseat,tookadeep breathandcouldnʼtbelievewhatIhad justexperienced.Igotoutofmystand andwalkedovertothecoyoteandthen overtowherethedeerwalkedoff.There wasonlyadimesizespotofblood.Itook multiplepicturesofthecoyotebefore takingitbacktomycabinwhereI weighedherat28pounds.

Icontactedabuddyofminewhoʼsa taxidermistandtoldhimthestory.He talkedmeintodoingafullbodymount becauseofthestorythatcomeswiththis animal.AsIwritethis,Istillcanʼtbelieve Igottoexperienceit.Toactuallysee coyotestakedownadeerisaonce-in-alifetimeexperience.Thatdaytheycould havedonethis60-70yardsawayandI wouldhavehadtositthereandjust watch.Itcouldhavehappenedanywhere butithappenedjustover20yardsfrom me.Whichclearlychangedthewhole outcomeoftheirhuntandmineaswell.

PHOTO PROVIDED

T R O P H Y PA G E

PhotoProvidedHusbandandwife,StephanieandAdamHoffman,showofftheirtroutcaught atWindberSportsmanʼsClubinWindber.

Photos Provided Caribou pic: This record-breaking caribou was taken by John Vargo of Turboville in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Kodiak bear: John Vargo of Turbotville captured this 600 pound Kodiak bear while hunting in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

Forcenturies,mushrooms havepiquedcuriosity,inspiredlore,andaddedvibrantcolortoourhiking experiences.Youmay haveheardofplentifulfungiintheold growthforestsofthePacificNorthwest ordeepinthemittenofMichigan;however,ourregionintheSusquehanna Greenway—withitsabundanceof damp,shadedforests—isanother ideallocationwherefungishowtheir colorfulcaps.

AlthoughtheprimetimeformushroomsalongtheGreenwayhas passed,winterhikerscanstillenjoy thesightofashowymushroomor “toadstool”ontheiroutdooradventures thisseason.

Onesuchwintercuriosityisthevelvetfoot,whichonlyspawnsfromlate falltoearlyspring,makingwintera perfecttimetogetoutsideandsearch forthiscommonanduniquespeciesof fungi.

Sograbyourwinterhat,gloves,and twopairsofsocksforafun,albeit chilly,explorationoutside.Hereare somehandytoolsandinformationto haveinyourbackpocketforwinter mushroomingintheSusquehanna Greenway.

W HAT AR E M US HR OO MS AND WHY ARE TH EY IM POR TANT?

Mushrooms or “toadstools” are the fruiting bodies of a fungus. Their umbrella like structures are often seen poking out of the ground, from a fallen tree, or another of their food-sources.

In a sense, the mushroom is just the tip of the iceberg, as most of the organism lives under the surface decomposing dead plant material. Fungi, like the velvet foot, act as natureʼs garbage disposal and if it were not for them, we would be buried under a heap of dead trees!

WHAT TO LOO K FOR ON YOUR N EXT OUTIN G:

The world of ʻmushroomingʼ is immense. In North America alone, there are an estimated 11,000 named species of mushrooms, outnumbering known birds (~1000 species) and mammals (~500 mammals). Sifting through these numerous species may seem like a monumental task, but with some keen investigating even the most novice mushroom hunter can uncover this forest floor dweller.

• BE A DETECTIVE: Most mushrooms are going to be found low in the

forest near some form of decaying matter. Start by looking around the base of vegetation. Look for downed logs, brush piles, and tipped over trees. Some mushrooms only grow on certain types of trees, so identifying the trees may increase your chances of locating the mushroom.

• ONCE YOU LOCATE A SPECIES: Start an investigation and ask yourself as many questions as you can. With over 11,000 species, there are a lot of possibilities. Note where it

PUBLIC DOMAIN

isgrowing,andwhatitisgrowingon.Isitasolitarymushroom, orarethereseveralgrowingina cluster?Whatcolorisit?Doesit growinshelvesonastanding treeordoesishaveastem?

•LOOKFORDETAILS: Most mushroomsfeatureatopsideor “cap,”anundersideor“gills,” andastem.Whatarethecolors ofthesecomponents;arethey different?Remember,your senseoftouchcanalsobeused togatherdetails,aswellasyour senseofsight(Donʼtworry!–Thereisnodangerofbeingpoisonedbytouchingafungus).

•TAKEASPOREPRINT: All mushroomsmakecolored spores.Totakeasporeprint,removethecap,placeitgillside downonasheetofwhitepaper, coverwithabowlorcup,andwaitforseveralhours.Removethemushroomtoseethesporeprint.Youshould seethecoloredsporescreateanimagethatmirrorsthe mushroomʼsgills.Thistrickcanbebothfascinatinganda beautifulformofart,anditisagreatactivitytodowith kids.

•GETAGUIDEBOOK: BillRussellʼs“FieldGuideto WildMushroomsofPennsylvaniaandtheMid-Atlantic”is aconcisefieldguidethatwonʼtweighyoudownonyour hike.Youcanalsodoyourresearchonline,butmakesure yougetinformationfromreliablesources.

MEET TH E VELVET FOO T MUSHR O OM

If you are hiking through Pennsylvaniaʼs forests from fall to spring, you might stumble upon the velvet footʼs beautiful sticky orange to yellow caps growing on dead or downed wood. These mushrooms need liquid water to grow and cannot fruit when temperatures are well below freezing. So, keep your eye out for it on warmer winter days or around the mild, mid-winter thaw.

True to its name, velvet foot has a signature brown to

blackish velvety stem that will give you something fun to feel while out hiking along the Greenway. If you choose to take a spore print, black paper is recommended, as this mushroom will produce a white spore print.

Fun Fact: In 1993, this mushroom was sent to space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia! Without gravity, velvet foot grew at all angles, proving mushrooms use gravity to orient their gills to face the ground. How cool is that?

GET O UTSIDE!

This winter, take a walk through your favorite hardwood forest. While few things will be actively growing, you just might spot the velvet foot mushroom eating away at a dead stump or log. When you do find a cluster of these mushrooms, take minute to appreciate the important work that fungi do for Pennsylvaniaʼs forests. They are some of the most ecologically important and strikingly beautiful organisms we have in our world.

The Susquehanna Greenway is a corridor of connected trails, parks, river access points, and communities, linking people to the natural and cultural treasures of the Susquehanna River. The mission of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is to continue to grow the Greenway by building connections along the Susquehanna River, inspiring people to engage with the outdoors, and transforming communities into places where people want to live, work, and explore. Learn more at susquehannagreenway.org.

DISCLAIMER: *This species profile is intended to aid in identification for the appreciation of its aesthetic and ecological qualities of this mushroom. It should not be used to aid in identification for consumption as consuming wild mushrooms and other edibles should only be conducted by experts.*

STEEL STRUCTURES LLC

HIGH STEEL STRUCTURES LLC BUILDING BRIDGES AND CAREERS IN OUR REGION

Founded in 1931, High Steel Structures is one of the largest fabricators of structural steel in the United States High Steel is currently hiring Welders, Painters, Ironworker, Fleet Mechanic, OTR Drivers APPLY at https://careers.high.net

Supplies steel to some of the largest infrastructure projects in the Eastern US.

ByLORENABENIQUEZ HUNTMagazine

ThefallseasonisprimetimetotakeinPennsylvaniaʼselkherdinBenezette,whichisappropriatelylocatedinElkCounty.“Wehave someofthelargestelkintheworldright hereinourbackyard.Thatisduetoour habitat,”saysMorganLovenduski,directorofmarketing forKeystoneElkCountryAlliance(KECA)inBenezette.

ItmightbesurprisingthatsomePennsylvaniansareunawarethereareelklurkinginPennʼswoods.“Wedogeta lotofinternationalpeoplebuttherearealotoflocalpeoplewhodonotknowthisgreatareaexists,”saidLovenduski.

AcrossElk,Cameron,Centre,Clearfield,Clintonand Pottercounties,elkcontinuetothrive,whichisremarkable,consideringtheywereeradicatedfromthestateby the1860s.

Andevenmoreremarkable,theelkthatnowthrivehere aredescendantsoftransplantsfromYellowstoneNational Park.

In1913,50elkwereloadedontotrainsinYellowstone andbroughttoPennsylvania.Upontheirarrivalinthe commonwealth,theywereabruptlyintroducedintotheir newenvironment.AccordingtothePennsylvaniaGame Commissionʼs(PGC)website,“Theelkwerechasedoff theboxcarsinthewildwithoutanyacclimationperiod.The terraintheyboundedintowasvastlydifferent,thevegetationunfamiliar.Consequently,theʻhardreleaseʼapproach usedatthetimebytheGameCommissionfellconsiderablyshortofprovidingthedesiredresults.”

Despitethatroughstart,theherdtodaynumbers around1,300andoneparticularherdinBenezettedraws crowdsduringtheSeptembertoOctobermatingseason. AccordingtoLovenduski,closetohalfamillionpeoplea yearareluredtoElkCounty.“Theeconomicdevelopment thatithasbroughttooursmalltownisphenomenal,”said BrandiHanes,asupervisoratKECA,whogrewupin Benezette.

Visitorstotheareacanengageinavarietyofpursuits, whileenjoyingtheelk.Fromhunterslookingtowinthat elusiveelktagorphotographershopingtogetthatspecial pictureorhikerswhowanttospyelkintheirhabitat,there areendlessreasonstovisitKECAʼsElkCountyVisitors CenterinBenezette.

KECAisanon-profitorganizationthathaspartnered withthePennsylvaniaDepartmentofConservationand NaturalResources,withamissionistoconserveandenhancethestateʼselkcountry.

Forhunters,theymustfirstsecureanelktagfromthe PGC.Theyaredolledoutthroughalotterysystemthatis

currentlyclosed,sincetheyalreadyawardedthosetagsin July.CheckthePGCʼswebsitefortheapplicationperiodin 2024.

Forthoseluckyhunterswhomanagedtowinatagfor 2023,archeryseasonisSeptember16-30,generalseason isOctober30-November4andlateseasonisDec.30-Jan. 6,2024.”When(someonewinsatag),itisbestdescribedas thebestChristmasgift,”saidLovenduski.

Forthosewhoprefertophotographthesemajesticanimals,thereareelkwanderingthestreetsofBenezetteor juststandingaroundresidentsʼyards.Theyarealsoonview atthevisitorʼscenter.Thisisoneofthepreferredspotsfor naturephotographerstogetgreatshotsoftheherd.

Inadditiontobeingasighttosee,theirsoundsarejustas riveting.Duringtheirmatingseason,bullsbugleloudlyto cowsandoccasionallystomptheirhooves.Theirbehavior canbefrighteningandcomedic.“Itisamazingfromyoungto oldtoseetheirfaceslightupandenjoythesemagnificent animals,”saidLovenduski.

Forhikers,therearemoreremoteareastoviewtheelk andthecreaturesthatsharetheirhabitat.Lovenduskisaid, “Wehavedeer,baldeagles,foxandcoyotes.”Sherecommendspickingupamapatthevisitorʼscentertofindremote areasthatarenʼtascongestedwithtourists.

Lovenduskialsostronglyrecommendsthatvisitorsto BenzettefirsttakealookatthePGCʼsElkSmartprogramon theirwebsiteathttps://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/Elk/Pages/ELKSMART.aspx.Shesaidaboutthe program,“Itistokeepelkintheirhabitatandtokeepvisitors safe.”

Myyoungestdaughter,Ellah, startedhuntingasamentored youthattheageofeight.She loveshuntinginalltheseasons. Buteversinceherfirstyearinthe woods,herfavoritetimeofthe yearhasbeenthespringturkeyhunt.Hearingthebirds respondandbeingabletotellwhentheyaremoving closertothespotwheresheiswaitingbringshera kindofexcitementthatonecanonlyfindinthosespecialmomentsofinteractionwithnature.Overtheyears, Ellahhashadmanyencounters.Thisyear,however, wasatremendousseasonbecauseshewasableto bagherfirstturkey.

ThisspringEllahtransitionedtoajuniorhunter.I givehercreditforherpersistencetohuntturkeyaswe diligentlyhikedoutintothewoodsonSaturdaymorn-

ingswithnoturkeytotakehome.Weheardturkeys everytimewewereout.Birdscomeintocallsevery weekendbuttheynevergotquitecloseenoughforher toclosethedeal.Despitethis,shecontinuedtowantto gowithmeweekafterweek.Beinginthewoods seemstobringherasimilarpeaceasitdoesforme. Thisisoneofthejoysofsharingtheskillofhunting withmydaughter.Thenfinally,onMay13ofthisyear, herluckchanged.

Themorninghuntstartedoutalittledifferentlyfor measmydaughtertoldmeshewantedtositinher ownblindratherthansitwithme.Thissurprisedmeas wehadalwayshuntedtogetherasamentoredyouth. ButIunderstoodthatnowthatshewasajuniorhunter, shewantedtositonherown.Iwasalittledisappointed toseemylittlehuntingbuddynotwantdadnexttoher, however,thischangeallowedmetohaveafrontrow

PHOTOPROVIDED Anthonyand EllahSegraves afterasuccessful turkeyhuntin 2023.

seat(about20yardsfromhertobeexact) towhatwasabouttohappen.

Aftermakingourwaytotheblindsand settingupwhatweneededforthemorningwewaitedforthecallswehadheard inpreviousweekstostart.Unfortunately, thatdidnʼtquitehappenasweheardvery littlecalling.Aboutanhourintoourhunt, thesoundofhensapproached,gradually inchingclosertoourhuntingspot.Ittook roughlyanotherhourforthehenstobe closeenough.Thentheactionbegan.

Thefirsthenarrived.Soonafterthat, twojakeswalkedintothefieldbehindthe hen.Theynevermadeasoundasthey arrived.IkeptaneyeonEllahʼsblindand wasstartingtogetworriedbecauseshe hadnottakenashotaftertheyarrivedas theywerecloseenoughtoher.Myanticipationkeptbuilding.Iwonderedifshe hadfallenasleep.IquestionedifIshould takeashot.ThenextthingIknew,she tookashot.Shehitthebird,butitbegan torunacrossthefield.Thatiswhena secondshotrangoutandthebirdrolled throughthefield.Thesecondshotwas wellover50yards.Ellahjumpedoutof

herblindandranacrossthefieldatthe samepaceandmyself.Wearrivedatthe birdthesametime.Shewasbeyondexcited.Thesmileonherfacetrulybrought megreatjoy.Iwassohappyforher.

Imentionedpersistenceearlyinthis article.IbringthisupbecauseIseethat someofouryouthhavetroublewiththis notion.Somehavebecometooenamoredwithinstantgratificationfromtechnology.IttookEllahfouryearsofhunting togetherfirstturkey.Manykidswould havegivenuponataskiftheyhadto workatsomethingforthatlong.Asparentsandmentorsweneedtofindaway tochangethisforouryouth.Itmaybe throughhunting,sportsorotherhobbies, butallofushavetheopportunitytohelp ouryouth.IknowthatIʼmproudofall younghuntersthathaveputthetimeand effortintohunting.IʼmsurethejoyIfindin sharingthisskillwithmydaughterissimilartothejoyallparentsfindwhenthey seeachildsucceedatataskatwhichthe childhaspersisted.Letʼscontinueto sharetheseskillsandencourageour youthtobepersistent.

PHOTO PROVIDED Ellah Segraves displaying her trophy.

Millionsofindividualsacrossthe globeareavid hunters.Thepassionmanyof thosepeoplehaveforhuntingbegan ontheirfirstchildhoodhuntingtrip, andcountlesshuntersfondlyrecall thismilestonemomentintheirlives.

Ifthereʼsafirsttimeforeverything, parentsknowthatkidsʼinitialforays intoanyactivitycomeswithupsand downs.Huntingisnoexceptionto thattrend,butparentscanconsider thesemeasuresastheypreparetheir youngsterstogohuntingforthefirst time.

•Emphasizetheimportanceof safety.Safetyisoftheutmostimportanceonanyhuntingtrip.Kidsshould beawareofallsafetyprotocolspertainingtotheirgunsandthehunting grounds.Hunterʼseducationcourses canteachkidsabouthuntingsafety, butparentscanquizyoungstersin thedaysleadinguptothetriptoreinforcesafetyprotocols.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

• Explain how hunting trips typically unfold. Giving kids an idea of how a hunting trip may unfold is another good idea. Explain the timing of the trip and why itʼs beginning when it is. Kids without such knowledge may be less enthusiastic about early morning hunting excursions if they donʼt understand why they need to get out of bed early on a day off. But they might be more excited if they recognize theyʼre more likely to see wildlife and enjoy a successful trip if theyʼre willing to sacrifice sleeping in.

• Bring some extra activities for kids to do. Screens are a no-no, as they could deter wildlife. But hunting requires patience, which is not exactly a virtue many youngsters possess. So bring some books along or encourage kids to keep a diary of their first trip, describing it in detail so they have something to look back on as they get older.

• Purchase comfortable hunting attire. Kids will likely be wearing new attire on their first trip, so parents should have them try the clothing on prior to the trip. When shopping for hunting clothing, make sure it meets all safety standards and is functional for hunters, but donʼt overlook comfort. Hunting involves a lot of waiting, and the trip will be more enjoyable for everyone if kids are comfortable throughout the slow periods.

• Recognize the day could be emotional. A childʼs first hunting trip can be an emotional roller coaster, as kids may feel excited, bored, nervous, sad, and even guilty at any point during the day. Parents must allow kids to express any of these emotions during the day and emphasize that itʼs alright to express their emotions.

A childʼs first hunting trip is a milestone moment. Parents can take steps leading up to the trip to ensure their children are ready for whatʼs to come.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

A SPECIAL TWIST ON A CLASSIC VENISON BURGERS

Traditionalburgersaremadewith groundbeef.However,curiousgrillmasterscanexplorethemanywaystoexperimentwithburgerswithoutsacrificing flavor.Thisrecipefor“VenisonBurgers” from“TexasFavorites”(GibbsSmith)by JonBonnellutilizesvenisonandporkin lieuofbeef.Theresultisamouthwatering burgerworthyofinclusiontoanydinner table.

Serves8

2poundsvenisonmeat

1⁄2poundporkshoulder

1⁄2poundslabbacon

1tablespoonWorcestershire sauce

1⁄2teaspoononionpowder

Pinchofcayennepepper

1⁄2teaspoongarlicpowder

2tablespoonsDijonmustard

2teaspoonshotsauce

1teaspoonkoshersalt

1⁄2teaspoonfreshlygroundblack pepper

Optionaltoppings

Bacon

Cheddarcheese

Guacamole

Cleanthevenisonwellandremove anyfatorconnectivetissue.Cutthevenison,porkshoulderandbaconintolarge chunks.Combineallingredientstogether inalargemixingbowlandletmarinatefor 1hourintherefrigerator.Grindeverything togetherusingthesmallplateonyour grinder.Formintoburgerpattiesbyhand, andgrillorpan-sear.Cooktomedium (135Finternaltemperature),thenremove fromthegrillandtopwithyourfavorite cheeseorburgertoppings.