Have you noticed the subtle signs of seasonal change that have been taking place these days? The days are getting noticeably shorter and the morning symphony of birdsong has been replaced by an evening chorus of crickets.
Wildflowers have withered and dried, fawns are losing their spots, and a few staghorn sumac trees are already streaked with red — a sign of things to come. But most important to anyone who lives in the woods as I do, the pesky deerflies are finally gone.
August is a transition month — a period of warm days and cool nights that eases us into September. The autumnal equinox is less than a month away and no doubt, so is the first frost. Although I enjoy each of the seasons for various reasons, as a photographer, fall is my favorite because of its brilliant colors.
But autumn is also a time of heightened wildlife activity. Whitetail bucks will be shedding their velvet and all species of fish and wildlife will begin to feed more heavily to prepare for the coming winter months. Deer will head for standing corn, bears for beechnuts, and squirrels for acorns and walnuts. None of nature’s bounty will be off limits, whether or not it is planted by the hand of man.
Rascally Raccoon
On a Saturday evening several weeks ago, I decided to watch a movie on the Western Channel. I’m a Western history buff and I especially enjoy watching historically-factual Western movies whenever I can. Tombstone, starring Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday is probably as factual a Western movie as was ever made and I looked forward to seeing it.
But about 20 minutes into the film, my television screen suddenly became pixilated and went black. Then a window came up that said my satellite dish had lost its signal and gave me some instructions on how to reacquire it. As much as I tried, it didn’t work.
Then I thought I heard a noise on the roof and went out onto the deck with a flashlight. I shined the beam toward the top of my chimney where my satellite dish is mounted and there, perched on the feedhorn, which is the arm that funnels the satellite signal received by the dish to the indoor signal converter, sat a big, fat raccoon. It was blocking the signal to the receiver and no amount of persuasion on my part would get it to leave. The more demanding I became, the more obstinate the raccoon became. It held its ground.
Have you noticed the subtle signs of seasonal change that have been taking place these days? The days are getting noticeably shorter and the morning symphony of birdsong has been replaced by an evening chorus of crickets.
Wildflowers have withered and dried, fawns are losing their spots, and a few staghorn sumac trees are already streaked with red — a sign of things to come. But most important to anyone who lives in the woods as I do, the pesky deerflies are finally gone.
August is a transition month — a period of warm days and cool nights that eases us into September. The autumnal equinox is less than a month away and no doubt, so is the first frost. Although I enjoy each of the seasons for various reasons, as a photographer, fall is my favorite because of its brilliant colors.
But autumn is also a time of heightened wildlife activity. Whitetail bucks will be shedding their velvet and all species of fish and wildlife will begin to feed more heavily to prepare for the coming winter months. Deer will head for standing corn, bears for beechnuts, and squirrels for acorns and walnuts. None of nature’s bounty will be off limits, whether or not it is planted by the hand of man.
Rascally Raccoon
On a Saturday evening several weeks ago, I decided to watch a movie on the Western Channel. I’m a Western history buff and I especially enjoy watching historically-factual Western movies whenever I can. Tombstone, starring Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday is probably as factual a Western movie as was ever made and I looked forward to seeing it.
But about 20 minutes into the film, my television screen suddenly became pixilated and went black. Then a window came up that said my satellite dish had lost its signal and gave me some instructions on how to reacquire it. As much as I tried, it didn’t work.
Then I thought I heard a noise on the roof and went out onto the deck with a flashlight. I shined the beam toward the top of my chimney where my satellite dish is mounted and there, perched on the feedhorn, which is the arm that funnels the satellite signal received by the dish to the indoor signal converter, sat a big, fat raccoon. It was blocking the signal to the receiver and no amount of persuasion on my part would get it to leave. The more demanding I became, the more obstinate the raccoon became. It held its ground.
Suffice it to say, I didn’t get to see the rest of the movie. Once again, nature trumped technology — probably not the first time, certainly not the last. Hopefully, the film will be rebroadcast at a time when the raccoon is otherwise occupied.
Venison Donation Coalition
Deer season is a wonderful time of year. Some hunters will even say that it’s the best time of year — solitude in your tree stand surrounded by Mother Nature. As every deer hunter knows, there is nothing like it.
While many hunters are fortunate enough to bag a deer and have meat in the freezer for the year, a lot of other New Yorkers are going hungry. Many parents are struggling to feed their children. That’s where you come in.
Since 1999, the Venison Donation Coalition has been highly successful in its goal to feed the hungry throughout New York State. It has processed an average of 38 tons of venison each year and more than 3.3 million servings of highly nutritious venison have been served to people in need. This year it is anticipated that 4 million meals will be served to people in need!
Your help is needed to continue expanding this program. Donate a deer to one of the Venison Donation Coalition’s Participating Processors and you can help many who are less fortunate. You can also help by donating $1 or more when you purchase your hunting license.
One dollar will feed four people. Financial donations are appreciated and tax deductible. For every dollar donated to the Venison Donation Coalition, 95 cents is used to process venison. With about 500,000 deer hunters throughout New York State, imagine how financially sound the program would be if everyone would donate just $1. Venison would be processed and the hungry would have meat on the table.
Donations can be made at your town clerk’s office or anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Just tell the DECALS licensing agent that you want to make a donation to support the Venison Donation Program. Donations through DECALS are deposited directly into the Venison Donation Fund.
Donations will also be accepted through the secure website, www.venisondonation.org or you can send a check payable to: Venison Donation Coalition, Inc., 3 East Pulteney Sq., Bath, NY 14810.
The Venison Donation Coalition, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that coordinates and funds the efforts of venison processing to feed the hungry throughout New York State. For more information, please call 866-862-3337.
