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It’s time to think about elk season

Beginning Monday you can apply for new hunting licenses.

And by the way, there are some changes in elk hunting seasons for the upcoming year.

One important change, of which hunters should be aware, involves application for elk licenses, which are awarded by lottery. Two new elk seasons — a September archery season and a January season for antlerless elk — have been added in 2019-20. And the general season in November also will be held.

Hunters can apply for a chance to take part in any of the three seasons, or all of them, but a separate application is needed for each. There is an $11.90 application fee for each season, meaning it costs $35.70 to apply for all three. In each drawing, season-specific bonus points are awarded to those who aren’t drawn.

In total, 142 elk licenses, 32 for antlered elk, have been allocated for 2019-20. Fifteen licenses — five for antlered elk — are available for the archery season, 98 licenses (27 antlered, 71 antlerless) are available for the general season and 29 antlerless licenses are available for the January season.

The deadline to apply for an elk license is July 31.

Game Commission personnel have expressed their concern that the dreaded CWD that is decimating the deer herd is growing closer and closer to the elk herd. The Commission’s website has a lot of needed information about elk, everything you could possibly want to know so spending some time reading that website is worth your time.

All drawings for elk licenses will be held on the same day in mid-August. The deadline to apply is July 12 which will be here rapidly. So get your new hunting license soon and the elk hunt license applications as well as doe hunt applications.

Lots to do. Also, if you don’t know how to bugle up an elk, you don’t have a lot of time in which to learn. Elk calls are available so I’d get one and go on the internet to find out exactly how to use it.

The Game Commission estimates that there are 1,000 elk in Pennsylvania. In just a couple months, folks will begin the annual pilgrimages to Benezette and similar sites to see and hear the elk. Starting about mid-September, the elk begin to bugle and what better way to learn than to compare yourself to the real thing.

My grandfather, who has been dead and gone for many years now, used to tell stories when I was just a kid, who didn’t understand what he was saying, about all the poaching of deer that he did and that he illegally killed the last elk in Clinton County.

I grew up to know that he did indeed poach deer, but I can’t verify the elk story. But I wouldn’t doubt it. And I am here to avow that I did not follow in his steps,

I see the ads on television for the little boxes that have everything in it for breakfast except an egg. So you add an egg, stir it all up and microwave.

I have a recipe for something called scrambled potatoes from a recipe book I’ve had for 40 years. It’s a one-pot breakfast, great for a campfire meal.

Use — more if you have several people to feed — one can of potatos. Drain off the liquid and dice them. Then get two small onions, peeled and diced, of course, then bacon cut in small pieces and eight eggs.

Fry onions and bacon pieces until light brown. Add potatoes until brown and crisp. Break eggs into mixture, stirring while it cooks; cook until eggs are set. Salt and pepper well. Add a little cheese or tomato catsup, or both, if desired.

This time of the year everyone wants to head for the woods. But the woods are filled with wild animals and they definitely pose a danger if we don’t understand them.

Squirrels, skunks, raccoons, deer, turkeys grouse, or anything you see is not looking for affection or companionship. They are looking for food almost exclusively. Wild animals love to hang around campgrounds because they know they will find scraps of food everywhere. Bears love dumpsters for that reason alone.

As “cute” as they may look, they are neither tame nor gentle. They will grab things from your hand and may bite you in the process. Any animal can be rabid.

So you need to restrain yourself and your children from actually trying to feed animals and keep things in metal cans so they can’t be smelled. Many animals will wait patiently just out of sight until the activity at campground quiets but then they know that there are likely to be food tidbits everywhere and they will look for them.

They will invade your tent fearlessly if they smell your snacks inside.Snakes will be attracted to campsites because they feed on the small mice and chipmunks that are foraging there. I never go outside my tent at night for any reason without a good flashlight to light the way.

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