Throughout the calendar year, there are many “seasons” that open in the outdoor world. Certain followings find people just chomping at the bit to see the calendar reflect their favorite “opening day.” Most season openers are posted in the fish or game regulations books. Some seasons are so subtle that many do not realize that they are upon us.
For instance, right now in the Lake Region, it is fawn season. No, that does not mean you can buy a license and hunt fawns. What it means is that the whitetailed does have dropped their fawns, and the fawns are already reaching the point where they can rocket away, albeit sometimes on rocky legs. They will however, often hold their position quite intensely, relying on their dappled camouflage to keep them unseen as they remain motionless. This can result in a an amazingly startled hiker if one treads too near the fawn in hiding, as they tend to jump at the last second and cause even the staunchest nerves to shatter.
For those doing property maintenance, such as mowing, and especially brush hog mowing, a fawn in hiding encounter can end with treacherous results. Because the fawns sit so tightly in their grassy cover, they are often victim to a passing mower blade. Those who frequent our roadways early and late in the day need also be especially alert. Those fawns that are up and around, are following the doe wherever she goes. Often the doe passes in front of a vehicle, and second later a fawn burst forth, running wildly to catch up and sometimes right into the path of a vehicle. Those fawns who are sitting tightly will blow their cover if a person, dog or mower gets too close. When they do so, their direction is forward and they do not really have a plan for avoiding vehicles while dashing away. Drivers just need to know that it is fawn season, and everyone needs to be on their toes a bit more.
Although not as popular to most folks, another critter makes the list this week as the season opened. The Timber Rattlesnake can be hunted in Pennsylvania, by those who hold a special permit to do so. The season runs from June 13 through July 31. Persons who hold a permit may take one rattlesnake per season. That snake must be at least 42 inches in length, measured lengthwise along the dorsal surface from the snout to the tail, excluding the rattle, and must possess 21 or more subcaudal scales. Subcaudal scales are large flat scales located on the underside of a timber rattlesnake between the vent (anal scale) and the base of the tail rattle.
It is unlawful to hunt, take, catch, or kill timber rattlesnakes west of Route 15 and south of Interstate 81 to the Maryland line where there is no open season. I thought this season worth mentioning, as it is the time of year when schools are letting out and our woods will see an influx of hikers and campers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Rattlesnake versus human and pet encounters will see a sharp rise this month, and the ending should not be a dead snake, as the regulations governing this unique creature offer it some respect.
Yet one more season opener to mention this week, and one that is very popular in the region, is bass season. Pennsylvania anglers lover their bass and the Lake Region offers plenty of places where bass can be caught from public waters.
Largemouth bass can be found in almost any lake or pond. They are prolific and not too timid about growing big even in a small farm pond. They can be transported to new waters by herons or other aquatic travelers who walk through the sticky eggs and deposit them here and there. They are often stocked in different places by anglers themselves, catching one here and moving it there. They also travel every little tributary as small fry looking for new homes. Where they end up is anybody’s guess, but bass show up just about everywhere.
The fun thing for the bass angling enthusiast is that largemouth bass will eat about anything. From garden worms to nightcrawlers or other livebait, and from plastic imitators to large flashy, noisy topwater baits, largemouths will tackle them all. I have had tiny bass smack a lure twice their size, and wondered just what they though they were doing.
Bass can be taken from shore, while wading or of course from a boat, canoe, kayak or even belly boat. Light tackle, medium to heavy tackle and even the flyrod, can all be used to successfully take bass.
Of course I do not want to leave out the smallmouth bass either. These feisty fighters can be found in many waters such as the Delaware River and Lake Wallenpaupack. With habits a little different than their large-mouthed cousin, smallies or bronzebacks as they are sometimes called, offer a very different angling experience. Whatever your personal preference, largemouth or smallmouth, there are plenty of opportunities available for both in the Lake Region.
Hawley, Pa. —
