I finally went grouse and squirrel hunting today.

[Adam Helmer]

Today in Northcentral PA was a sunny 56-degree day-sort of Indian Summer for a trek into the Big Woods. I went afield with the best grouse/squirrel gun I own. I carried a .22 Magnum over 20 Gauge Savage. My loyal 56-pound part Shepherd and part Yellow Lab hound wore her Orange "horse blanket" for her safety as Lori is sand colored and looks very much like a coyote.

We trekked about 969 acres of woods and ended up in a cow pasture with 30+/- apple trees. I do not know apples beyond some are yellow, some green and some red. We found a nice apple tree with red apples and I picked about one-half bushel that I had to carry home. We saw no grouse or squirrels, but Lori had a good romp afield.

The week-long muzzleloader antlerless deer season is in this week along with the Early Small Game season. I like muzzleloaders, but think killing a doe is actually killing three deer and we cannot afford that loss in Tioga County, in my humble opinion.

Adam