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The groundhog told us to expect six more weeks of winter the other day. I imagine that put our moods in a state of euphoria -- I am sure!
Actually, I try to use the time during the winter period to do some scouting for upcoming seasons.
A light snow on the ground is perfect. Ice is not. There is much to see and hear at this time of year. Shed deer antlers lying wherever they fall off a buck's head is one treasure to find. I was deer hunting about 15 years ago in Alabama and found a great looking shed, and I brought it home and still have it.
It's a time to pay attention to deer tracks. They can reveal to you the favored bedding areas in bad weather. Tuck such places in your memory and visit them in archery or when any season comes in. These thick places are the kind of cover deer look for when the shooting starts in deer season.
But hordes of hunters are out there looking for turkey tracks and listening for gobbles from afar. It is surprising every year when we hear those February gobbles.
Do not let those gobbles fool you, however. It is not likely where the big bearded guys will be come spring gobbler season. Right now hens are scouting about for suitable nesting spots, and the hormone-driven gobblers are tracking them. Once a gobbler's hormones start jingling, he gobbles heartily, hoping in the attempt she will answer him and set up a romantic tryst.
Grouse also attend to breeding matters in the spring. When you hear the sound that appears to be a farmer revving up his old tractor, it is actually the male grouse probably sitting on a downed log, fluttering his wings so violently that they sound like a piece of old machinery.
It is a beautiful, awesome sound when you know what it is.
A common sight in the woods is when you are driving on an old dirt road that borders the edge of a forest or a patch of woods. Male grouse seem to favor the dirt road when he wants to ruffle up the neck feather, which is the "ruff" that gives the bird its name, the Ruffed Grouse.
An early spring walk in the woods will produce a lot of information about where certain species hang out.
This last deer season I had an interesting experience. My friend and hunting buddy has a bunch of bird feeders on her side porch. Feeders hang from the rafters. So because deer season comes at a time when food is scarce, Joanie fills her feeders each morning. I have the privilege of sitting at the kitchen table, next to the big window from which you can see all the feeders.
The birds are there at dawn. But so are the squirrels -- two really big, fluffy squirrels who were obviously wintering in one of the big trees behind her house. I did not know that squirrels would suck up bird seed like these two did. They would eat all the seed in one container and the birds would sit around and watch. The birds hopped onto the feeders eagerly, only to find them barren.
I got tired of that scenario, so I dragged up an old dog-training trick. I found a long piece of metal, and from my chair inside, I would pound and rattle on the metal edges of the windows. This really bothered those squirrels, and they would scat when they heard that. But they would sneak back, and I would set up the racket and they would run for their lives. It became a lively, noisy game, and when I saw them approaching and rattled the metal, they would just turn around and run. But at least the birds had the chance to get at least some of the bird seed.
Another time, I simply sat down against tree to rest from my trek. After a few very quiet moments, an ear-splitting shriek rang out. It turned out to be a female red-headed woodpecker bringing food for her little offspring.
To walk quietly or sit quietly in the woods, is to see beautiful things, birds and animals, that will thrill your heart. And never forget.