The Roving Sportsman… Respect Mother Nature!

By Jon Pries

The springtime birth of this year’s crop of young birds and animals is still going on. For the next few weeks, the tail end of the process will continue, offering us the chance to observe the antics of the newborns. While whitetail does have been dropping their fawns for several weeks now, there will still be opportunities to see days-old and weeks-old fawns through the end of June. Tree swallows that have taken over the bluebird boxes have fledged their young, and now a few of the boxes are occupied by bluebirds as they hatch out their new broods.

Meanwhile, every state’s fish and game agencies are issuing cautions to folks who spend time in the outdoors, reminding us that Mother Nature has things well in hand and doesn’t need interference from any well-intended humans. I refer to the fact that over the next several weeks, young of all kinds continue to come into this world — from baby birds to those ohso-cute fawns with their big brown eyes and beautiful white spots!

All of these magnificent young birds and mammals are wonderful to observe but need to be watched from a distance. If you get too close, the newly born or weeks old young can panic — causing young birds to drop from a nest or young mammals to flee from their hiding spot and put themselves in danger of predation. Take photographs if you want — but do so from a distance so as not to put the subjects in danger.

Probably the most encountered young of any species is the fawns of the whitetail deer. Their birth is underway and will continue for several more weeks. Spring gobbler hunters or those folks just out for a hike have had good odds of spotting one of these young deer — usually curled up and lying still to avoid predation. During the initial phase of a newly born fawn’s life, it has no scent. This helps prevent predation during this early phase while it develops the strength in its legs to (hopefully) outrun any predators that cross its path. By the time it develops its scent, it should have the strength and stamina to outrun anything that is looking at it for its next meal.

Among all of its predators, the black bear takes more fawns every spring than do any of the others. This is a fact that many have difficulty accepting, but studies here in Pennsylvania and in other states support that fact. For those of you who spend time in the outdoors, you may have wondered why you have more black bear sightings this time of year. It is because they are out cruising fields and woodlots in search of fawns, and they will do so in daylight hours as well as nighttime.

So, what should you do if you come across a very young bird or animal in the wild? First, realize that it is NOT abandoned. Particularly in the case of whitetail deer, a primary technique to avoid predation is for the mother to hide the fawn in tall grass and then leave the area so that her presence does not alert any predators to the whereabouts of a fawn. There is little doubt that the mother is nearby — hiding and watching you from a safe distance. Once you leave, she will return to feed and care for her young. So, enjoy watching for a few moments, take pictures if you want, but don’t stay too long and don’t get too close. The last thing you want to do is frighten the fawn from its bed only to be spotted by a nearby predator!

Whether it is a litter of young raccoons or foxes or a clutch of young grouse or turkey poults, the mother is not going to abandon them if you come across them in the wild and they scatter in all directions. She may leave the area temporarily or move away slowly to draw your attention away from the young, but after you leave, she will return and gather up all her young and move them to safety.

If you are lucky enough to encounter a young bird or animal, appreciate the fact that you can make such an observation, enjoy this brief time of seeing something most folks never have a chance to see, and make sure that you “Look, But Don’t Touch!” 570.494.1550

Outdoors with Ken Hunter…

Smallmouth Bass Tactics

Last week we focused our efforts on catching largemouth bass, but this week, we’re going to delve into catching smallmouth bass.

There’s no question about it, a lot of the same lures and techniques will work for catching both species of bass, but there are also some different approaches that may work better for taking smallmouths.

While the two species of bass, at times, may be found in the same body of water — such as a deep enough lake — it’s also true that the

Ken Hunter

smallmouth prefers rivers and large streams. Smallmouths prefer slightly moving current and a bit cooler temperature than largemouths. Unlike largemouths, they tend to avoid the warmer, murky, or muddy water typical of many ponds.

If I’m going to target smallmouths, I’ll head to a river or large stream, but there are some lakes in Pennsylvania that can offer up some pretty decent smallmouth catches as well.

If I’m smallmouth fishing in a lake, I’ll be fishing rocky structures and deeper water; shallow lily pads at the back of a bay are probably not a good choice. If, on the other hand, I plan to fish moving water in a river, I am less concerned about depth since the cooler, moving current may be productive even in only a few feet of water. As I mentioned earlier, a lot of the same lures work for smallmouths, and some type of top water lure would certainly be high on my list. The clear, shallower water of a river makes a top water presentation a good choice, especially in the late day or evening hours. Top water prop-baits, chuggers, and even floating minnow-type lures can produce some smashing strikes. Some of my best fishing has been with a floating Rebel or Rapala minnow lure. I cast the lure and then let it set on the surface until the water settles and then give the lure a few light jerks and then a pause. If that doesn’t produce a strike, I’ll start a slow retrieve with several stops on the way back. While I like working my spinning and bait casting tackle with lures for smallmouths, I would be remiss if I didn’t include the flyrod. Yes, here again, some of my best action at times has been while working a surface popper with my flyrod. I’ve had great action casting a white Gaines popper into threefoot-deep moving water and then retrieving it with short, quick jerks. I have a buddy who fishes with nothing but a flyrod, and he has told me of some great action on surface poppers, even in the large, lower, and quieter pools.

I’ll be honest; I would never think of going smallmouth fishing without a good selection of jigs and soft plastic grubs and tubes. Lead-head jigs of one-quarter ounce with a Berkley Power Grub are hard to beat. Tube-type soft plastics are also high on my list. As for color, I often start with brown or greenish brown to imitate one of the bass’s favorite foods — the crayfish. White is also a good choice, and if the water is a bit cloudy, I’ll often go to chartreuse.

In recent years, another popular smallmouth jig has performed well — the Ned rig. Basically, it’s a jig with a soft plastic attached, but the jig head is flat, and that helps make the plastic stand upright on the bottom. On a very slow stop-and-go retrieve, the lure kicks up a bit of the bottom, attract- ing the bass.

Smallmouths love minnows, so any lure that imitates a fleeing, wounded minnow will no doubt produce.

Spinnerbaits and in-line spinners will also work well at times.

Certainly, other soft plastic presentations can be effective as well, such as Texas or Carolina rigged worms and lizards.

My biggest smallmouth so far this year was one of 20-inches — taken on a wacky worm presentation. There are also a number of different crayfish and hellgrammite imitations that will put a bend in your rod. Obviously, finding a lure that will work probably isn’t as difficult as finding enough time to get out on the water and make an offering.

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ST. CLAIR ESTATE AUCTION #536

THURSDAY, JUNE 22ST, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M. 92 INDUSTRIAL PARK RD., MUNCY, PA

(SELLING AT OUR GALLERY ON THE FARM, LOOK FOR THE WINDMILL) MODERN HOUSEHOLD WARES AND FURNISHINGS COLLECTIBLES • SMALL COLLECTION OF FIREARMS

ARMSTRONG FRAMED PRINTS

5:00 – or there ‘bouts -(Outback)Selection of Misc. Outdoor Furnishings - Hand Tools & Misc. Decorations - MUCH MORE!!

5:45 - MAIN HALL - Collectibles / Housewares - Small Kitchen

Appliances & MUCH MORE!!

6:30- Furniture: Queen Bed & Dressers - Cedar Blanket Chest - Glider Chair w/ ottoman - Cherry Copper lined Dry Sink - Marble Top Wash Stand - Computer Desk - Lamps - Numerous David Armstrong Prints, framed - Plant Stands - & MUCH MORE!!

6:45 - Hand GUNS - (to be announced).

Auctioneer Note: FULL listing & pictures on auctionzip.com (enter #5545) or GoToAuctions.com(enter 5228). Chairs provided, good food and laughter is available!!.

Terms: Cash or good PA check. Credit cards (include lost 3% Discount). All verbal statements take precedence over previously written materials. All items are sold “AS IS, WHERE IS”, No guaranties made by the seller. Signifi cant Incident Date 06/24/2023. “NO BUYER’S PREMIUM”.

To all VETERANS, THANK YOU for your service!!