Post by Woody Williams on Oct 19, 2005 12:30:10 GMT -5
I had stated in an early post about opening weekend of archery season that I saw a ton of squirrels.
That was in just one woods.
Some others on here (that hunt them hard) said that the population is down bigtime. I've got agree now as on my other stands I am seeing VERY, VERY few. ..
Here is Phil Potter’s take on the lack of squirrels..
Weather takes toll on wildlife populations
By PHIL POTTER, Tri-State Outdoors
October 16, 2005
Maybe you didn't notice, but September seemed like a hot July. Temperatures soared and monsoons poured, creating a humid entrance into fall.
Illinois recorded the seventh warmest September since 1895. Indiana and Kentucky came close. So, what impact has the heat had upon Tri-State hunting and fishing? For starters, examine what's happened to the squirrels. While there is a bumper acorn crop, squirrel populations are down. Last year's hot fall and warm start to winter created major mange problems, then sudden cold and record snow doomed the mostly hairless animals to pneumonia.
But heat, mange and cold weren't the only culprits. Nuts, seeds and berries were in short supply, so surviving adult squirrels failed to breed.
This year, hunters report far fewer squirrels - and they're bagging a disproportinate amount of adult squirrels compared to young ones.
But nature decrees that squirrel numbers actually need cutbacks. Being rodents, they gnaw limbs and kill treetops. In drought conditions, this chew-in further stresses trees.
The die-off has a trickle-down effect. Without suitable trees, avian species such as doves are impacted. Their numbers were down over much of their range, with problems starting with heavy spring rains and continuing when hurricane-driven downpours destroyed nests.
Storms and flooding apparently impacted local duck nesting success, too. Hunters going after wood ducks and teal had their patience tested as ducks rose early and disappeared just as fast.
Even fishermen suffered from the heat. The hot September caused Kentucky to delay stocking trout in early October. With water temperatures continuing to be too warm, stockings have been rescheduled for sometime in November.
Even the Tri-State rabbit bonanza that was shaping up got hit by too much rain. That goes ditto for quail, as rains came during two critical nesting periods.
On top of that, the normal mid-September influx of migrating birds and waterfowl bypassed much of the Tri-State because of the lack of available scattered grain in sprouted fields.
So, is 2005 shaping up as a tough year? At best, most hunters should expect reduced bags compared to last year.
The only plus is that woodland creatures should have easier access to food this winter, allowing more to survive and replenish
www.courierpress.com/ecp/local_sports/article/0,1626,ECP_749_4161867,00.html
That was in just one woods.
Some others on here (that hunt them hard) said that the population is down bigtime. I've got agree now as on my other stands I am seeing VERY, VERY few. ..
Here is Phil Potter’s take on the lack of squirrels..
Weather takes toll on wildlife populations
By PHIL POTTER, Tri-State Outdoors
October 16, 2005
Maybe you didn't notice, but September seemed like a hot July. Temperatures soared and monsoons poured, creating a humid entrance into fall.
Illinois recorded the seventh warmest September since 1895. Indiana and Kentucky came close. So, what impact has the heat had upon Tri-State hunting and fishing? For starters, examine what's happened to the squirrels. While there is a bumper acorn crop, squirrel populations are down. Last year's hot fall and warm start to winter created major mange problems, then sudden cold and record snow doomed the mostly hairless animals to pneumonia.
But heat, mange and cold weren't the only culprits. Nuts, seeds and berries were in short supply, so surviving adult squirrels failed to breed.
This year, hunters report far fewer squirrels - and they're bagging a disproportinate amount of adult squirrels compared to young ones.
But nature decrees that squirrel numbers actually need cutbacks. Being rodents, they gnaw limbs and kill treetops. In drought conditions, this chew-in further stresses trees.
The die-off has a trickle-down effect. Without suitable trees, avian species such as doves are impacted. Their numbers were down over much of their range, with problems starting with heavy spring rains and continuing when hurricane-driven downpours destroyed nests.
Storms and flooding apparently impacted local duck nesting success, too. Hunters going after wood ducks and teal had their patience tested as ducks rose early and disappeared just as fast.
Even fishermen suffered from the heat. The hot September caused Kentucky to delay stocking trout in early October. With water temperatures continuing to be too warm, stockings have been rescheduled for sometime in November.
Even the Tri-State rabbit bonanza that was shaping up got hit by too much rain. That goes ditto for quail, as rains came during two critical nesting periods.
On top of that, the normal mid-September influx of migrating birds and waterfowl bypassed much of the Tri-State because of the lack of available scattered grain in sprouted fields.
So, is 2005 shaping up as a tough year? At best, most hunters should expect reduced bags compared to last year.
The only plus is that woodland creatures should have easier access to food this winter, allowing more to survive and replenish
www.courierpress.com/ecp/local_sports/article/0,1626,ECP_749_4161867,00.html
