Explore the outdoors 2016 by Stuart Communications

2016

The Great Outdoors

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Explore... all year long

TRR photos by Amanda Reed

About the cover: This white-tailed buck was seen a few weeks ago while exploring outside. I was initially looking for wild mushrooms to pick, but was glad I brought my camera along. You never know when nature is going to say “hello.”

It seems like summer had just begun and we’re into the fall months again. Though the weather is turning colder and the trees are losing their leaves, there are still plenty of things to do outside. If you’re in Pennsylvania and happen to be looking for some different hunting areas, Ron Tussel has a guide to four different areas that are away from the mass of hunters (p. 4) and offer unique opportunities to hunters and explorers alike. If you are going hunting this year, Nic Johnson of fogammo.com will help you understand the point of different bullets (p. 10). It’s not just the price, that’s for sure. Learning when to use a full metal jacket or a ballistic tip can be the difference in bagging that trophy this year. While you’re out and about this fall, be sure to turn an eye to the sky, as peregine falcons (p. 16) have been spotted in a secret location by our own avid outdoorsman Scott Rando. From fledgeling to full grown, a keen eye will really help you spot these amazing birds of prey. Wondering if antler restrictions are really making a difference in your back yard? (p. 22). Some statistics from the PA Game Commission might just suprise anyone who is still skeptical. And, while you’re pondering that, make sure you check out when the season starts with our handy list on page 24. Finally, I’ll take you on a different kind of hunt this year. I’m hunting chicken in the woods and it’s not what you think (p. 28). The thrill of the hunt can be found in many different ways. No matter what your adventure, make sure to get out there and Explore the Great Outdoors. ~Amanda Reed

Explore the Great Outdoors, a special publication of The River Reporter, is published by Stuart Communications, Inc. Entire contents ©2016 by Stuart Communications, Inc. Mailing Address: PO Box 150, Narrowsburg, NY 12764 Phone: 845/252-7414 • Fax: 845/252-3298 Have a comment or idea for the magazine? Contact: Anne Willard at 845/252-7414, ext. 29 or copyeditor@riverreporter.com

Publisher: Laurie Stuart Production/Circulation Manager: Amanda Reed Sales Manager: Tanya Hubbert, ext. 34, tanya@riverreporter.com Ad Sales Associates: Eileen Hennessy, ext. 35, eileen@riverreporter.com Christie Davies, ext. 32, christie@riverreporter.com If you would like copies for your place of business: Contact: Amanda at 845/252-7414, ext. 23 or amanda@riverreporter.com

Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine • 3

Far from the madding crowd On some very special game lands

By RON TUSSEL !

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The Tri-State Region and Upper Delaware Valley offer outdoor ! enthusiasts !plenty of hunting A I and fishing opportunities when ³ ² ³ ² autumn closes in. There are L ³ acres of publicly thousands of² ³ ² l accessible land available on which to seekYout waterfowl, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, black bears, grouse, squirrels, rabbits and pheasants. When it comes to deer hunting, some hunters still prefer to get away from it all and seek out the more remote and less explored tracts of land. Getting alone and one-on-one with whitetails can be a refreshing and rewarding experience. Oil Pipeline; Gas Line Other Line Phone

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State Game Land (SGL) 209 is found butted up against the Delaware River, squaring off against neighboring New York State at Pond Eddy. This is truly a hidden gem among public lands, and a great place to hunt in solitude. Hunters visiting here will find themselves with 4,391 acres to explore and scout. As if this were not already enough land to get lost in, consider the fact that this tract is bordered entirely on the eastern fringe by a section of the expansive Delaware State Forest. The terrain at SGL 209 contains some rolling upland forest, but is steep along the northern edge, where it runs toward the Delaware River. It takes a fair amount of shoe leather to get around this entire piece of ground, as access is quite limited. If you are looking to hunt away from others, then limited access is what you want to see. This game land should be on your list for deer season and black bear season as well. The cover here is mixed, and both species find it comfortable to seek shelter among the rhododendron and laurel. There are a couple of wetland areas within the interior, including a pretty good swath of the Bushkill Swamp. This wet area is located northeast from the main access. Pockets of wetland such as this are often overlooked by hunters looking for bears, but sometimes the bears know that and make it their business to be where hunters don’t often disturb. Grouse are yet another species that like the dense cover, and a few of the pockets on SGL 209 hold birds from time to time.

PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMSISSION

STATE GAME LANDS 209 PIKE COUNTY Feet 0

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Specifically, in the northwest corner of the tract is a pocket-type wetland that is worth a cruise around for grouse, especially during the late season. Access to SGL 209 can be found just outside of the county seat of Milford. From Route 84, head east toward town and watch for Schocopee Road on your left. Turn here and follow the road, staying right at the first intersection, and it will turn into Fire Tower Road. Continue to the top of the mountain. This road does not go all the way through to the river, as it may appear to do on your game land map. We have a strong deer herd in this region, and filing a tag here is only a matter of time. Whitetails are adaptable creatures, and they thrive in close proximity to man. This is especially true on the Pocono Plateau, where housing communities have altered the landscape, creating new and different habitats and sanctuaries for the rising whitetail populations. Hunters who key in on locations near these deer magnets will find themselves flush with opportunity in short order.

4 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

Continued on page 6

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game lands Continued from page 4

SGL 183

SGL 312

Of course, deer are not the only thing to hunt this season, and we have plenty of small-game opportunity as well. From squirrels to ducks, from grouse to woodcock, if you do your homework you can truly head home with a mixed bag of small game. If you enjoy a chance to feel the thrill of flushing game birds, then one location you need to investigate is SGL 183 in Pike County. It holds roughly 2,780 acres of prime small-game habitat. The terrain is a mix of bottom lands choked with thick vegetation along with ridges of upland timber. SGL 183 is located off Route 6 just east of Lake Wallenpaupack. Access points are located via Route 402 near the intersection with Route 6, along Route 6 and via Kimble’s Road between Route 6 and the village of Kimbles. The edge cover between field and forest, wetland and upland provide exactly what grouse are looking for. Bust them once out on the edge, and they quickly dive for the thickest, nastiest habitat. SGL 183 also contains a lot of aquatic habitat. Smallgame hunters possessing a Federal Duck Stamp and willing to switch to non-toxic shot can begin or end the day with a round

One such location is SGL 312, which lies at the apex of Lackawanna, Wayne and Monroe Counties. SGL 312 contains almost 4,000 acres of habitat, interspersed with a mix of upland and wetland characteristics. This excellent mix of cover is located adjacent to two human Pocono communities, and as such sees its share of transient whitetails. SGL 312 is easy to find on your map. Locate the town of Gouldsboro, and head west on Route 507. The wetland areas within SGL 312 provide excellent cover for deer, and they also help to create funnel areas, steering whitetails around natural boundaries. This is the ideal situation for the hunter looking for a place to hang a stand. The habitat on SGL 312 provides security and cover for whitetails as they travel back and forth between handouts. Locating a good trail and being patient should be all it takes to get close to deer. SGL 312 contains a rectangle of property that is detached from the main portion of the tract. Just east of the main body of SGL 312 there lies a portion that is wrapped around Big Sampson Swamp, and is sandwiched between two developed areas. Don’t overlook this section as a great spot to try this month. !

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6 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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of waterfowl hunting.lI ABoth Decker Pond and 183 Decker Creek offer habitat that attracts waterfowl. PIKE COUNTY Being near to Lake Wallenpaupack doesn’t hurt Feet either. Hunters can boat !or! hike to the northwest 0 1900 3800 5700 7600 corner of Decker Pond to set A up for the morning or I 1 inch = 3,000 feet January 2014 F the flight is finished, a ³ ² evening flight of birds. After G ³ ² mid-morning hike along Decker Creek can provide L O ³ ² some exciting jump shooting. S ³ ² The primary species to be © found will be the beautifully plumed ! l wood duck. Later in the season some mallards, teal and other Y SGL 183 is also well stocked with migrants can also be taken. A I pheasants and serves up ample cottontail and gray squirrel numbers. For the small-game hunter, this is the perfect place to take an autumn grand slam of small game hunting opportunity. !

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Big bucks like cover and often seek the daytime seclusion of really heavy cover to avoid detection. One Wayne County property where you can hang a stand this month to try for deer with your bow is SGL 310, which contains 1,120 acres centered around Silkmans Swamp. Heavy cover located on SGL 310 makes it easier to spot some of the many trails that dissect the cover. These trails come from the surrounding timber to show where deer have been seeking refuge within the heavy vegetation. These trails are great places to try and intersect deer coming back from a nighttime feed or heading out in the evening, depending on which way the wind is blowing. Located near Lake Henry, SGL 310 can be via Route 196 and then several township roads including TR380 and TR372. You can also take Route 590 west from Hamlin, to Route 348. No matter which side of the Delaware you choose to hunt l ! !A I ! this fall, great opportunities for a quality outdoor experience abound! ! !

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Feet Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine • 7 0

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Understanding bullets starting from the tip

by Nic Johnson, www.fogammo.com For many shooters, our choice ammo is often “what can we get the most bang for our buck?” This often means we are going for the lowest cost per round, and this will likely lead most of us to full metal jacket ammunition. What about those who are real sticklers for quality and are able to stomach the markup for a superior round for hunting season? Some may ask, what really is the difference between soft point V.S. ballistic tip? What about a hollow point? They are designed (for the most part) to accomplish the same thing… to hit the target and expand, right? In this article we will hopefully clarify some differences in bullet types so that you can choose your ammo wisely and hit your target with maximum efficiency this fall’s hunting season.

FMJ

The round is infamous for its ability to keep its shape in the most extreme handling conditions.

The most common round out there for many shooting enthusiasts is probably the FMJ (Full Metal Jacket). Deeply engrained into our modern pop culture by the popular movie by the same name, directed by Stanley Kubrick. The round is infamous for its ability to keep its shape in the most extreme conditions thanks to its hard outer jacket of copper that encapsulates the softer and more malleable lead core. Not only tough in the field when exposed to the elements, it is also easier to feed in automatic weapons and protects the bore when solid core armor piercing rounds are used. The only fallback for most hunters is that the bullet tends to hold its form when hitting soft targets. The round does not mushroom efficiently as softer point bullets do.

SOFT POINT

Exposed lead creates more reliable expansion.

Soft nose lead tipped bullets, more commonly known as “soft points” are projectiles with an exposed lead core that is partially encased in a harder copper jacket. The exposed lead creates more reliable expansion and is ideal for firearms that have feeding issues with hollow point bullets, considering the front of the bullet is easily fed into the chamber due to its soft leading material. Although this type of bullet expands upon hitting soft targets, it does so at a slower rate than hollow-point bullets. Depending on the hunting condition, distance, and size of the game you are targeting, the shooter should consider these factors when choosing an effective round. For instance, a blunt-nose 30-30 round would work great for short distance deer hunting, but if you’re looking at reaching out past the 100 yard mark for a trophy elk with your 30-06, a standard soft point with a steep angled lead tip would be right in your ballpark.

10 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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HOLLOW POINT

Effective for quick and humane harvest for a wide variety of game.

The hollow-point bullet is popular with varmint and predator hunters that are looking for exceptional stopping power and rapid expansion. One of the drawbacks is the round’s fragile nature. As the hollow point is easily damaged during transport, handling, or feeding into the firearm. Also popular for use in law enforcement and self-defense, these rounds are less likely to penetrate all the way through an intended soft target or put an innocent bystander in harm’s way. Effective for quick and humane harvest for a wide variety of game, it’s a no-brainer why the hollow point has become one of the most popular rounds for hunting enthusiasts and personal protection. More About Hollow Point: *Because of the round’s ability to create more damage upon impact, its use has been banned for military use by the continuance of the St. Petersburg Declaration of 1868, prefaced to the Hague Convention of 1899, Declaration III, which “prohibited the use in international warfare of bullets that easily expand or flatten in the body” This agreement was further solidified through the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

For other interesting articles on ammunition, ballistics and much more visit https://www. fogammo.com/blogs/news.

BALLISTIC TIP

Uniform expansion with maximum takedown power.

Becoming more and more popular in the hunting and competitive shooting world is the ballistic-tipped style of bullets. The main purpose of these typically polymer-tipped hollow-point rounds, is to increase the coefficient of the bullets’ ballistics. (One of the first tipped bullets was the Remington Bronze Point, first introduced over 80 years ago.) Because of the bullet’s ability to stay uniform for longer periods of time down the bore and along its more aerodynamic trajectory, the design enables a stable flight path, leading to improved accuracy. Popular within the competitive shooting world, its use is marketed towards those looking for match-grade capabilities and high reliability to feed. Also popular within hunting applications, upon impact with a soft target the polymer tip is forced into the core of the bullet, thus creating a rapid and uniform expansion with maximum takedown power. This design enables a projectile to have the best of both worlds by combining the efficacies of soft point reliability, hollow-point lethality, and unparalleled ballistic performance. That said, the round is still susceptible to damage during handling, transport, and feeding into the chamber of the firearm. Overall, polymer-tipped bullets are by far the most cosmetically pleasing rounds for consumers, as they come in a variety of colors and are heavily produced by nearly every premium bullet manufacturer. Ultimately, it’s the shooter’s choice as to which type of round they wish to use that best suits their own needs, whether you are a purist who shoots blunt soft-point rounds in heavy woods for that 140-class buck on your trail cam, or a competitive shooter attempting to be ahead of the curve by using heatshielded polymer-tipped projectiles during a match. The type of bullet you choose is just one of the many factors that can lead to tight groups, a healthy harvest and a great range day.

12 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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Peregrines come back By SCOTT RANDO

Historically, the peregrine falcon nested in this region through the early part of the 20th century. However, the peregrine suffered the same plight as the bald eagle; breeding failures became common due to the introduction of the pesticide DDT into the environment. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the peregrine was no longer a nesting species in New York by the early 1960s. In the 1970s, peregrine falcons were re-introduced by the release of captive-bred birds, and the first nests were found on two bridges in New York City in 1983. This species has recovered somewhat since the re-introduction effort, but not to the extent of the success of the bald eagle. In 2014, when the last statewide count was taken, there were 125 territories, of which 63 were active; 29 young were successfully fledged from active nests that year. At this time, the peregrine falcon is still listed as an endangered species. Like the two original bridge nests, many of the peregrine nests found after the re-introduction effort have been on man-made structures such as building ledges and superstructures of bridges. A few nests were established on traditional cliff sites in the Adirondacks and other areas, but they were the exception. It was met with some excitement when a territory in our region, which was occupied last year but did not produce young, showed signs that young were present during May of this year. Continued on page 18

TRR photos by Scott Rando An adult male peregrine falcon flies with a blue jay for the young at the nest. Frequently, the female will fly out from the nest and a food transfer takes place; the female grabs the prey from the male and delivers it to her young. The whole sequence takes less than a second to complete.

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peregrines Continued from page 16

This nest site (its location will remain confidential at the request of the NYSDEC) is a cliff nest near the top of a rocky outcrop. Peregrine falcons locate their nests, or “nest scrapes,” near the top of cliffs, usually on a ledge that is flat and wide enough to accommodate the adults and the activities of the young, or “eyases.” Although these nest scrapes are largely protected against predators due to their location, they have unique hazards; a few years back, a three-week-old eyas was found by a PA Game Commission banding team with a broken wing. It was surmised that a loose rock along the cliff fell and injured the eyas, the only young found at the site in PA that day. As to our peregrine family, it was difficult to tell at first whether they had initiated incubation or not. Due to the setback of the nest scrape from the edge of the cliff and the observing location, it was impossible to see if an adult was incubating eggs or not; but the fact that the adults were flying back to the same location on the outcrop at somewhat regular intervals held promise that eggs were present. Around mid-May, there was another promising sign. Faint begging calls from at least one eyas could be heard. On further listening during that early time, two young could be heard crying at the same time. Occasionally the back of an adult could be seen near the nest if it was out far enough.

The eyases are now a month old and growing very rapidly. This young birds are covered with developing feathers. The young are visible more often as they exercise their wings.

This eyas, into its fourth week, was the first one to be seen at the nest scrape. At this age, they are more mobile, and new flight and contour feathers can be seen protruding through their down. As the next week rolled around, there was an increase in prey delivery to the nest by the adults. There were more frequent food exchanges; one adult, usually the male, would approach with prey and transfer it to the female, who would then bring the item back to the nest for the young. These were frequently mid-air exchanges that were thrilling to watch. With peregrines, the female does the brooding and feeding of the young. It also seemed that the crying of the young was getting a little louder, and intensified when either adult approached the nest. On June 1, the first eyas was actually spotted; it had walked out close to the edge of the cliff and gazed out on what would soon become its aerial training area, turned around and disappeared as it walked back to where the nest scrape was. The eyas appeared to be about three weeks old, down covered but with a lot of dark contour feathers poking through the down. By the following week, two young were seen simultaneously, along with a wingtip of a third. There were three young so far, but we could not rule out another; female peregrines typically lay a clutch of two to four eggs. During the first and second week of June, the contour and flight feathers filled in, and they started to exercise their wings, and on the 15th of June, I arrived to the site to discover the young crying from further down the cliff. Soon after arriving, I saw a peregrine fly really low, and land on a rock that was close to the ground, not the typical behavior of an adult. A look with binoculars revealed it to be one of the young peregrines. Continuing to survey the area, there was an adult perched down the cliff from the nest scrape looking up. Following the adult’s gaze, I discovered that there was still one young near the nest scrape, apparently not yet fledged. The adult continued to stare upwards at the youngster, not turning away. There must have Continued on page 20

18 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine • 19

peregrines Continued from page 20

been a lot of communication conveyed in the adult’s stare, as the young launched itself off the edge of the ledge and ended up on a nearby tree further down the cliff. The last two weeks of June saw the young fledglings in the air more often as they improved their flying skills. Their flights were usually announced by one or more young vocalizing, followed by one or more young flying. They were soon at play sparring with each other, rolling and displaying talons; sometimes, they would lock talons for a short time. During this time, I also saw adults carry prey by the cliff and young try to snatch it in mid-air. As time went on, the young got more skilled and were successful on their first try. This is another skill that is used by breeding adults: mid-air food transfer. By July, the young were frequently flying en masse, and the opportunity arose to get a good count of total young fledged. Ultimately, I counted four young, plus the two adults. This was a productive year for this pair, and the young all made it past the initial point around fledging time when injuries and mortality can occur. On average, six out of 10 peregrine falcons do not survive their first year of life. As humans entering the peregrines’ habitat, we should be good stewards of the peregrines in order to help in their comeback. If you are climbing or rappelling, or otherwise near a breeding area, please obey any warning signs from state wildlife agencies. Not only is it bad for the peregrines, but it is very distracting trying to work a proper rappel while an angry adult peregrine dives at your head trying to draw blood.

This newly fledged young peregrine ended up on a rock close to the ground, but was soon able to fly off to a safer perch. Newly fledged peregrines sometimes fall victim to terrestrial predators in this manner, and in urban environments, they can wind up in heavy street traffic.

As the fledglings gained flying skills, they would frequently spar with each other. As with most young raptors, this play activity is frequently observed; peregrines are especially skillful at this.

As one of the young fledglings leaves a ledge perch, it gives us a good look at its plumage. The characteristic “moustache” of adult peregrines is present, but the breast of this young is streaked vertically versus the horizontal banded breast of an adult.

20 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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Antler restrictions: what’s the point? Both Pennsylvania and, in a limited area (see antler restrictions info box), the State of New York, have imposed stricter restrictions on deer hunters with regard to antlered deer in recent years, imposing a higher limit on the number of points that must be on the antlers of bucks harvested during the hunting season. Not surprisingly, the restrictions have faced some controversy—nobody likes being told what to do, least of all by government. Ironically, however, the aim of the restrictions is ultimately to increase the percentage of the herd comprising older bucks with substantial racks, which ought to please those hunters who are particularly interested in collecting a large set of antlers. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), bucks with four points or fewer are generally no more than 1.5 years old, but bucks that have six points or more are older. The fewer yearling bucks are killed, obviously, the more will have a chance to grow older and develop those antlers. Many hunters are not convinced that the restrictions make sense, however, and in New York State, the DEC has therefore declined to impose antler restrictions statewide. Instead, it has imposed them only on a handful of WMUs in the Catskills region (which happen to include all of our readership area). In the words of the DEC website, “Though most NY hunters want to see more older bucks, hunters place more value on their freedom to take any buck.”

Are they effective?

As shown in the Antler Restrictions sidebar, Pennsylvania’s antler point restrictions (APRs) became more stringent in 2002, and since then the PA Game Commission has been carefully monitoring the results. On its website it writes, “Prior to APRs about 80% of bucks (a majority of which were yearlings) were harvested by hunters each year.... Based on survival rates of hundreds of radio-collared bucks, yearling buck survival increased from less than 20% to 64% after APRs. Adult buck survival increased as well, to 36%.” The 2015-16 harvest contained its highest percentage of adult bucks in decades: 59% of whitetail bucks taken by Pennsylvania hunters during the 2015-16 deer seasons were 2½ years old or older. The commission also notes, however, that “The increased harvest of adult bucks does not necessarily mean more ‘record book’ bucks. Although age structure and number of adult bucks in the harvest has increased, about 75% of them are only 2.5 years of age. In other words, most of Pennsylvania’s bucks are still being harvested prior to growing their largest antlers.” The commission also maintains that, though one might fear that antler restrictions would reduce hunter success rates, that is not the case: “Today, licensed Pennsylvania hunters are as successful harvesting a buck under APRs as their predecessors were 20 years ago under the old antler restriction.” Judging from some of the discussions of this issue we found online, however, not all Pennsylvania hunters would necessarily agree. If you have some thoughts on the issue, we encourage you to

Antler restrictions New York

In Catskills (WMUs 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S and 4W): There must be at least one antler with 3 points that are at least one inch long. Restriction replies to archery, regular and muzzleloading seasons. Hunters age 12-16 exempt.

Pennsylvania

Statewide: 3 points to an antler, not including the brow tine. Prior to 2002, the antler restriction was 2 points to an antler or a spike at least 3 inches in length. 2002-2010: The antler point restrictions (APR) were 3 or 4 points to an antler, depending on area of the state. 2011: 3 point to an antler restriction became statewide.

send a letter to the editor (limit 300 words) to copyeditor@ riverreporter.com. In New York State, as noted, antler restrictions apply in only a relatively small area. DEC studies show that in areas without antler restrictions, only 2% of bucks live to be as old as four years old. In areas with restrictions, 10% do—which may not sound like a lot, but is five times the percent without restrictions. However, interestingly, even in parts of the state where the DEC is asking hunters to refrain from shooting bucks only on a voluntary basis, progress appears to have been made: in the 2015 hunting season, over half of the bucks harvested were aged 2.5 years and older, compared to only 28% in the early 1990s.

22 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine • 23

Bear season and bag limits Pennsylvania*

Bear regular, statewide: Nov. 19-23. Only one bear may be taken during the license year. Bear regular, WMUs 3C and 3D: Nov. 28-Dec. 3. Only one bear may be taken during the license year. Bear, archery statewide: Nov. 14-18. Only one bear may be taken during the license year.

New York**

Bear, early: Sept. 10 - Sept. 25 in 3A, 3C, 3H and 3K and 3M. None in 4W or 4O. Bear, bowhunting: Oct. 1 - Nov. 18; Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 in all the readership area zones.** Bear, crossbow: Nov. 5 - Nov. 18 in all the readership area zones.** Bear, regular: Nov. 19 - Dec. 11 in all the readership area zones.**. Bear, muzzleloader: Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 in in all the readership area zones.** *Wayne and Pike counties in PA are included entirely in the 3C and 3D Pennsylvania Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). **Sullivan County, which includes mainly parts of New York State WMUs 3H and 3K, and smaller pieces of 3A, 3C, 3M and 4W; Delaware County, which includes parts of WMUs 4W and 4O; and northeastern Orange County, in WMU 3M.

Bear hunting tips from the PA Game Commission

1. Locate areas with good fall food supplies—acorns, beechnuts, apples, corn—before the hunting season. A good time to scout is early November, so you can assess local mast conditions.” 2. Look for droppings; bedding areas (scratched-out depressions, usually at the base of a tree or log; and active trails with tracks). 3. Look for bears in the thickest cover you can find, such as swamps and bogs, mountain laurel/rhododendron thickets, north-facing slopes, regenerating timber-harvest areas, windblown areas with lots of downed trees, and remote sections of river bottoms. Bigger bears are notorious for holding in thick cover, even when hunters pass nearby. 4. Hunting on-stand early and late in the day gives hunters a great chance to catch bears traveling to and from feeding and bedding areas. Hunt areas that provide cover to traveling bears and ensure there is either a good supply of mast or cornfields or cover near where you plan to hunt. 5. Use the wind to your advantage. If a bear gets a whiff of you, you’re busted as a hunter. Bears have an outstanding sense of smell. They often let their noses guide the way as they travel. Always place yourself downwind of expected travel lanes when hunting on-stand or driving. Bears are cagey enough without giving them more advantages.

6. Stay focused and assume nothing. Black bears blend in well in forest settings at dawn and as dusk approaches. Spend too much time looking one way and you can miss a bear. Even though bears are quite heavy, they often are surprisingly quiet moving through the forest. You may see a bear before you hear it coming. Staying alert and remaining vigilant are critical. Source: PA Game Commission press releases at www.prnewswire. com/news/pennsylvania+game+commission

Deer season and bag limits Pennsylvania*

Deer, archery (antlered and antlerless), statewide: Oct. 1-Nov. 12 and Dec. 26-Jan. 14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Deer (antlered only), WMUs 3C and 3D: Nov. 28-Dec. 2. One antlered deer per hunting license year. (Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAP properties during this period.) Deer (antlered and antlerless) WMUs 3C and 3D: Dec. 3-10. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Deer (antlerless), statewide: for junior and senior license holders, mentored youth permit holders, disabled person permit (to use a vehicle) holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, Oct. 20-22 with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Deer (antlerless), muzzleloader, statewide: Oct. 15-22. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Deer (antlered or antlerless) flintlock, statewide: Dec. 26-Jan. 14. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

New York**

Deer, bowhunting: Oct. 1 - Nov 18; Dec. 12 - Dec. 20 Deer, crossbow: Nov. 5 - Nov. 18 Deer, regular: Nov. 19 - Dec. 11 Deer, muzzleloading: Dec. 12 Deer, youth firearms: Oct. 8 - 10, for hunters 14-15 years old, one deer of either sex. *For Wayne and Pike counties in PA, which are included in the 3C and 3D Pennsylvania Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). **For Sullivan County, which includes mainly parts of New York State WMUs 3H and 3K, and smaller pieces of 3A, 3C, 3M and 4W; WMU 4W in Delaware County; and WMU 3M in northeastern Orange County.

24 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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Hunting for chicken of the woods By Amanda Reed

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28 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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I can’t tell you how many times I have been out in the woods and noticed a bright orange-and-yellow mushroom of some sort growing on an old maple tree. Little did I know what I was looking at was edible. Heck, I didn’t like mushrooms anyhow. It was always a slimy ingredient on pizza or on an overcooked steak in my mind. Last year though, I bit the bullet and actually tried some. “Tastes just like chicken,” they said. OK, why not. I have eaten some pretty horrible things over the years in the name of being adventurous. What would one more nasty mushroom do to me? That one taste is what changed my mind about mushrooms. (Don’t get me wrong, they’re still nasty on pizza!) And now I avidly search for them when I’m out for a walk with my dog, riding passenger in a car, or just out and about in general. Chicken of the woods (chicken mushroom, sulphur shelf) grows in clusters on both standing and downed trees, emerging as knobby growths, developing into layers of shelves. The color is an unmistakable yellowish-orange, and the pore surface is yellow (for L. sulphureus, and white for the closely related L. cincinnatus—both edible). Always make sure the underside has pores. If it has gills, you won’t be having chicken for dinner. This chicken is best collected when young. As it ages, it’s easier to spot, but it becomes too tough to eat. The outer edges can still be salvaged and used in dishes when it’s mature, though. Like all wild mushrooms, it requires cooking before consumption. Just a quick hint: don’t go all out consuming too many of these the first time you try them. There could be a little gastrointestinal distress if you eat too much. A little time on Google will give you plenty more tips than I can about finding this and other safe mushrooms. There’s a handful of mushrooms native to here that are easy to spot and be sure of, once you learn where to find them and what they look like. Just remember, if you are not 100% sure what the mushroom is, don’t touch it. Happy hunting!

30 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

If you think you’ve found a chicken of the woods, check for these familiar features: Cap/Stem: The sulphur shelf has no real stem. The caps grow in large brackets, which are individual “shelves” ranging from 2 to 10 inches across (about 5 to 25 cm) and up to 10 inches long. The brackets are roughly fan-shaped and may be smooth to lightly wrinkled. They grow in an overlapping pattern stacked one on top of the other. Thus the fruiting body can be quite large. The outside cap color ranges from bright whitish-yellow to bright whitish-orange. If you cut them open, the inside flesh will be soft and similarly colored. As the mushroom ages, the brightness of the colors fade and the flesh becomes harder and more crumbly. The caps sport whitish to yellowish pores on the underside, not gills. Habitat: Always found growing on or at the base of dead or dying trees, never on the ground or alone in fields. These mushrooms grow on dead or dying hardwoods, most commonly oak but also cherry or beech. Species growing on eucalyptus or cedar trees should be avoided, as they may cause gastric distress. They’re sometimes found under conifers as well. Laetiporus species are all over North America and Europe. The main species discussed in this article, Laetiporus sulphureus, grows in Eastern North America. If hunting for this mushroom, check and see which species grow in your region. Time of Year: Summer through fall, which is August through October in most areas. Other species that grow in warmer climates may be found in early winter as well.

Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine • 31

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34 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine

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36 • Explore The Great Outdoors • A River Reporter Fall 2016 Magazine