On a Fox Hunt in the Endless Mountains

[Cold Spring]

Yesterday I was out grouse hunting with my 20 bore Fox named "Vixen". She's been a lucky gun for me and while I'll occasionally use another bird gun I most always have to reach past her in the safe before grabbing a different one.

Our grouse numbers have declined greatly here in PA over the past years and filling the daily limit of two grouse is pretty tough. Especially when walk up hunting. I'm convinced that we hunters along with less trappers/more predators have culled the dumber ones over the decades and the present gene pool makes for increasingly skittish birds. And I'm not a believer in the WNV being a big factor. Taking one grouse can be a Red Letter Day. Yesterday I had two flushes, one with only glimpses behind a thick hemlock and the other a clean shot at a low driver.

Here's a collage of pics taken yesterday. We had heavy rains on Thursday and for my style of hunting wet leaves and new snow are best. Nowadays I try to hunt smarter and pretty much stick to traces of woods roads and RR beds; this is old coal mining and timbering country. We have a Springer "Nitro" and while he's excellent on pheasants his name says it all on hunting for our jumpy grouse. Y'all can get a look at some typical NE PA cover in the pics. This is almost all State Game Lands; very few bird hunters, no NT posters and no quads riding all over.

1. How I love these almost timeless mountains; I've hunted them for a long long time. Our cabin built when I was in my 20's is close by.
2. A deep woods beaver pond, a good spot for woodies
3-7. Several old woods roads I hunted yesterday
8. Witch Hazel "flowers" where I'll often find birds feeding
9. An old backwoods cabin, what stories it might tell
10. I walked up on 4 pointer. Archery season is open but he's not legal with only two on a side
11. Success!
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[Reggie B]

Beautiful pics Frank! Thanks for sharing with us!

[mobirdhunter]

What a wonderful place, Frank, and one that includes you as part of its character, I'm sure. There's much bittersweetness for those of us who knew coverts "back when," but we have that in our memory, and you certainly know how to appreciate it all.

Thanks for your post. I really enjoyed it.

[James L. Martin]

Great pictures Frank, nice bird,they are getting harder to come by.

[edgarspencer]

Frank, Your photos stir my memory of one of the few poems that ever had much of an impact on me. I may have shared this before, but indulge me.

I love the grand old forest when it's dressed in brightest green.
When the violets are blooming in the dells along the stream.
When it's sylvan shades are ringing with the song of many a bird,
And the woodland fairies' love notes through the pines are nightly heard.

I love the grand old forest when it's leaves are turning gold,
When the colors of the rainbow brightly gleam in every fold.
When the quail tunes up his whistle, and the partridge beats his drum,
And the siren voice of nature bids the woodland hunter come.

I love the grand old forest, when it's covered o'er with white.
When the silver moonbeams glisten on it's branches through the night.
When it's soft and fleecy carpet gives no echo to your tread,
And the only sound that lingers is the night wind overhead.

Yes, I love the grand old forest, through it's shifting, changing scene.
Whether white or gold and crimson, or beauteous shades of green.
For it brings me health and pleasure, as the swift years come and go,
And I'm better for an outing in the forest shades I know.

[Dean Romig]

Nice!!





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[Brett Farley]

Looks like a blessed day to me all around. Great pics!

[Stan Hillis]

I have enjoyed Frank's photos of PA woods and streams for as long as I can recall.

Good on you once again, Frank, for taking the time not only to take those pics but to share them with an old flatlander like me. Well done.

[Donald McQuade]

Frank, thanks for the post, looks like you had a spirt recharging day. Great pictures, and beautiful bird.
Egar, that poem says it all, thanks for sharing.

[Double Lab]

I can see why you have such love for those Endless Mountains Frank. Those trails look like they would lead to some memorable experiences. I love Vixen's look.

Edgar: Wonderful poem. Who composed it?