TIMBER RATTLESNAKE

Timber rattlesnakes may be found throughout the wooded hillsides of the Allegheny National Forest, but are usually found in association with rock outcrops and large boulders.

There are two color phases, black and the less common yellow phase. Crossbands are V-shaped and are dark-brown to black on the yellow phase. The black phase has a heavy stipling or flecking of dark browns or blacks. Timber rattlesnakes can reach 36 to 54 inches in length.

Source and picture here:

Don't Get Bit

I came back to blog to get away from a movie "Cold Creek Manor". I hate snakes and there was one in the pool, one in the closet and in the bed....OK, I couldn't watch that movie as I'll be having bad dreams about them nasty things. So what do I do, I get back to my desk, get on this Field and Stream webpage for hunting tips and then I find this link. Guess what it's about!! SNAKES and what to do if you get bit!! OH boy, you know what that means. I'll be dreaming about those nasty things. ewwww

How to avoid the most dangerous snakes in the United States--and what to do when you bump into one anyway.

Field and Stream - 01-35 best hunting tips

Read the article here:

Field and Stream - 36-68 best hunting tips

I thought this would be a great addition to my blog. I found the link
to be very informative.

110 Best Hunting Tips (36-68)
Hunting tips, tricks, and advice from ten of Field & Stream's greatest writers ever. Today: Deer and Survival; tips 36-68.

Archery Season is upon us

Don't Forget to Submit a Harvest Report Card

Be sure to check out the complete article here:

Tree Stand Safety Tips

The proper use of tree stands and fall-restraint equipment can help prevent injury or even death from such falls.

Here are some steps that you can take to reduce your chances of having a tree stand accident:

u Choose a tree that is straight and healthy. Never select a leaning, diseased, shaggy-barked or dead tree to place a stand.

u Never use homemade stands or ones made from wood. Only use a tree stand approved by the Treestand Manufacturer's Association.

u Insert screw-in steps only into the solid, live portion of a tree.

u If using a climbing stand, tie both the climber and platform together to assure that the platform cannot slip out of your reach.

u Always use a fall-restraint system (a full-body restraint system or safety harness that wraps around your chest, waist and legs) when using an elevated platform. Choose a harness that will keep you upright and won't restrict your breathing.

u Anytime your feet leave the ground, a fall restraint system should be used. Almost 85 percent of all falls occur while climbing in or getting out of stands.

u Never leave a stand installed for more than two weeks. Trees grow in diameter and may stress buckles, chains or straps and cause the stand to fail.

u Use common sense when choosing a height for your stand. You need not go too high. A height of 12 to 15 feet will provide all of the advantage you need.

u Read and follow the manufacturer's guidelines and inspect all stands regularly.

u Hunt with a plan and a buddy. Have someone contact you if you don't return at an established time.

u Never mix guns with drugs or alcohol.

It is always wise to carry a small first-aid kit with you into the woods. A couple dressings and cravats will help control most external bleeding should you become injured.

Be sure to carry a means of communications with you, such as a cellular phone or a General Mobile Radio Service radio to talk to other members of your hunting party. If you are unable to exit the woods without assistance, you may need to call for help from members of your group or call 911.

Most newer cellular phones are GPS enabled, which allows 911 centers to pinpoint the callers location. Unfortunately, this technology isn't yet available in the Centre and Clinton counties. Therefore, a separate hand-held GPS unit is required. With a GPS unit, the caller is able to give the 911 telecommunicator his or her coordinates, enabling the 911 center to dispatch the closest appropriate Emergency Medical Services and avoid delay in locating the caller.

Source:

Penn. Doe license' requests being accepted

The Game Commission will begin accepting, by mail only,
second round unsold doe licenses Monday, though the number of licenses
remaining is relatively small. Of the 879,000 antlerless licenses
originally allocated, 101,576 licenses remain. Fifteen wildlife
management units are sold out. Those with licenses remaining are
2A, 11,157; 2B, 44,978; 4E, 3,800; 5A, 8,317; 5B, 5,325; 5C, 13,200;
and 5D, 14,799.

Hunters can apply over-the-counter at county treasurers' offices in
units 2B, 5C and 5D Sept. 19.

source:

Elk population increasing dramatically

in Elk County, PA. The state's elk herd numbered as few as 125 or so animals in the 1980s, it stands at about 700 to 800 now. That increase in the size of the elk herd has been mirrored by an increase in the number of people interested in the elk, too.

Read the full story here:

Special youth hunts coming up in state

The good old days of hunting are right now, at least if you're a sportsman 16 years old or younger.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has four special Youths Hunts scheduled over the next month and a half for young hunters. These special seasons include a waterfowl hunt, a squirrel hunt, a ring-necked pheasant hunt and an antlerless deer hunt.

The first special hunt will be the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day on Sept. 24. Ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, coots and moorhens are legal game.

Licensed junior hunters 12 through 15 may participate. Junior hunters will need a general Pennsylvania hunting license, along with a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License. They do not need a Federal Waterfowl Stamp.

Regular season bag limits and restrictions apply. The Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day falls during the Early Resident Canada Goose Season and goose hunting is prohibited at Pymatuning or SGL 46 in Middle Creek.

Next up are the Youth Pheasant Hunt and the Youth Squirrel Hunt. The special seasons will run concurrently from Oct. 8-14.

To read the rest of the story and special youth hunts:

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Board Vacancy

Governor Rendell is looking for a representative who understands and enjoys conservation, stream restoration, fish and fishing, and boats and boating," said Robert Schlemmer, chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation. "It's a great opportunity for a person with strong opinions and passion to help us achieve Governor Rendell's vision for initiatives that balance the environmental and economic needs of Pennsylvania's communities."

source:

Pennsylvania's 2005 Dove Forecast

Pennsylvania is noted for its deep-rooted hunting traditions including post-Thanksgiving trips up to the Northern Tier counties for the deer season opener, early spring scouting sessions aimed at locating spring gobblers, and Labor Day weekend shoots targeting the plentiful, hard-to-hit mourning dove.

Studies show that only 4 percent of the dove population is taken by hunters. Here's the latest update on Keystone State dove management and the outlook for 2005.

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Wasting disease won't stop local hunters in MD or VA

Despite concerns that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was discovered in a young buck in West Virginia, I doubt that it will dampen deer hunters' spirits.

I have to agree with the writer of this article:

Your 2005 pheasant forecast

Pennsylvania: A dry spring kept the insect numbers down, so that probably hindered brood-rearing. Overall, wild bird numbers should be similar to last year. CREP lands are also helping to fight the rampant habitat loss here too. The state's pheasant range is from York in the southeast up to the southcentral part of the state. Multiple Seasons

An overview of the top states and season dates from across the country

114 POUND TIMBER RATTLER FOUND IN POTTER COUNTY

2 weeks ago (7/12/2005) by Phillip Bowman. This big timber rattler was found near an open path. Another reason to stay out of the woods.

updated: September 13th, 2005

Apparently this was a hoax. The snake is real, but the facts were not. Guess I need to check these things out a bit closer before posting.

Roanoke, VA and Bill Cochran

Bear hunters want longer chase season. This is quite the extensive column. And because Virginia is really not that far from Pennsylvania, I found it very relevant.

Read his article here:

Wasting disease strikes West Virginia deer

This is kind of scary.

How do they know there is a disease??

I'll have to keep my eye open on this story for any new developments. I know lots of guys who hunt in both Pennsylvania and Virginia (the surrounding states) who would be interested in knowing about this.

Another article on this:

Hunters will have to register deer dogs in Florida

In Florida today:

Hunters planning to use dogs to trail deer this hunting season are reminded they must register their dogs in advance of the season. Also, those taking part in the upcoming deer-dog training season must register their animals.

You know, I never even considered the fact that they hunted in Florida. Alligators maybe, but deer huh and with dogs too. How dumb of me *smile*

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