YO KNOW you have long crossed the line of being considered "middle aged" when it seems you start every conversation with an observation about the weather. And that seems to be where I'm at in life.
I'm always studying weather patterns. I pay attention to short-term forecasts, study radar and wind data, disregard long-term forecasts, pontificate on my own forecasts and compare current weather to the previous half century that I can recall firsthand.
I'm more or less like every other person my age, I suspect.
But I do think I do it with a slightly different perspective than the average Joe. I don't watch the weather so much as to plan my activities. I can always adjust my outdoor pursuits to match what Mother Nature throws at me. I pay attention to the weather because I am interested in how it affects the animals and ecosystems I love.
As we all know, winters can be hard, and at times conditions can be very difficult for various species. If conditions fall just right, or wrong really, there can be significant die-offs. You might think of spring as a time of plenty, but a late frost can kill fruit and nut blossoms. And a cold, wet weather pattern in late May can really hurt ground nesting birds. A rough spring after a long winter can still be a very hard time on our wildlife. Unfortunately, our ruffed grouse, woodcock and turkeys and all other ground nesting birds experienced these conditions this spring and many nests failed, and those that didn't raised much smaller clutch sizes than average. Have you noticed all the female turkeys with very small young running around lately? Those are second nests after the first one failed. Those young birds, only the size of a grouse, sure are hoping for a mild winter ahead. They'll be at a distinct disadvantage when cold weather sets in.
And then comes summer, a time of plenty. But there are weather stresses in summer also, and this summer has been no exception, as we are in a significant drought. I'm not particularly worried about my artesian well running dry, but I know the water table is dropping perilously low. Local shallow swamps are now only mud flats, and my small mountain streams are just trickles. Right now, all our wildlife and forest fauna is under a lot of drought stress. It's exceptionally dry out there. I don't usually choose my hunting spots with a water source as an important variable to consider, but if a wet weather pattern doesn't develop soon, deer will not wander far from a water source. It'll be worth considering.
On a positive note, this year appears to be a very good year for wild apples, as well as acorns and beechnuts. With a very healthy bear population, for those of us who can't suppress the urge to hit the woods with a rifle, your chances of finding a bear starting to put on his winter fat supply is fairly good. Currently I am seeing them concentrate on the yellow apples that fall early. I suspect the moisture in the apples is what is attracting them, along with the sugar. Shortly they will turn their attention to the beechnuts. Beechnuts are heavy in fat, and good tasting. That's where the bears will be in the weeks before they den.
Of course, the deer will be keying on the nuts also. Beechnuts, being much sweeter than acorns, will be preferred, and my early-season scouting right now has the goal of locating these beeches heavy with mast. Later on, when the rut starts kicking in, I'll make a point of returning to these spots. If you hope to take a trophy-class deer, these are the areas our famed "ridge-running bucks" will be found.
If you have an established spot you like to hunt, now is the time to go in and make any alterations that may be needed. If a tree fell across a deer run, or branches have grown into a shooting lane, or you want to reposition a tree stand, now is the time to address it. You don't want to be making last-minute changes if you can avoid it. Deer may not know exactly what was moved or why, but they will know something is different. And when a deer senses a change, it senses danger. It may take a week or two before they drop their guard again. Address any issues now, and in a month or two, you'll be able to slip in and slip out without disturbing anything.
In the short term, I'm still laying plans for this hunting season. I've got a big project underway that I want completed before I transition from being a responsible homeowner to a singularly focused hunting fanatic. I'm finding the time to stretch my legs in the woods, but I'm still in preseason mode. I'm locating food sources, patterning animal movements and putting in the time needed to get a feel for what lies ahead.
Although the lack of rain has been a negative, the weather this past month has been outstandingly pleasant. Blue skies and crisp air has been plentiful! It hasn't been hard to muster the energy and excitement to enjoy it. I hope you too are able to find the time to experience it.