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By Shirley Grenoble
For the Mirror
I was not at all surprised to see that the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported that the majority of hunters approve of the change in the opening day for deer season from Monday to Saturday.
I believe that I predicted they would adapt to this big change.
I've been writing about these things for many years now. It is a predictable thing that whenever the PGC puts forward any change in seasons hunters almost automatically object. People just don't like change.
Especially if you have been doing something the same way for many years. Anything that pertains to the revered rifle deer season is almost sacred territory. And the report shows that it was hunters like myself who are in the 55-year old age bracket-and-above just want things to always stay the same.
I was not really for -- or against -- the change. It was quite inconvenient for me to make the change. It meant another Sunday I would be away from my church. I do not like when that happens.
But I adjusted and I know I probably will not live to see the next adjustment to deer season.
Turkey talk
Turning the page to February is a lift to spring turkey hunters.
Usually, gobblers begin their morning serenades about now but perhaps the snow and cold will hold them back this year. I am a doubter about that premise. When the hormones and instincts begin to stir, few things will deter it. So all gobbler hunters will be listening next to the rolled-down window of the vehicle as they go to work, school or even cruising for gobblers.
Snow or not, it's time to get out the mouth and box calls and start practicing. Some calls will have to be replaced and box calls may need some sanding and tuning and these loud, odd calls ringing through the house often leads to being chased into the basement or outside to do the practicing.
Preseason scouting will be vital to success this sprig. Moss gobbler hunters have noticed that in the last couple years, there did not seem to be as many birds as in previous years. They were quite right about that and to address this the Game Commission has instituted a serious research study to determine why this has happened.
All kinds of data will be collected and evaluated. In the most recent issue of Allegheny Adventures, I wrote that so many creatures are being studied for various reasons, and that if you harvest one of these, they will probably have a tattoo or tag attached to it.
So our wild turkeys are being evaluated now and many tagged birds are now in the population. Where they are nesting is of great interest, as is habitat conditions. This will be an ongoing study so answers may be long on being revealed.
So this year it will be important to have a few gobblers spotted as likely ones to hunt for. It will be important to be prudent when scouting. Just try to locate a few birds by patient watching of fields . Do not call birds in to your location before season. That only educates them to become wary of those locations.