Memories Of Sweet Fern & Brook Trout

September is a month of changes. Practically the whole world that we know begins the transition from full-blown living to winter dormancy during the course of September.

At first changes just creep into the landscape, unnoticed by all except for those most attuned to nature. It starts out with a handful of red maples showing some color. Then like a wildfire, it sweeps across the landscape, gaining momentum. Our hills begin to change out of the verdant greens in which they were clothed during summer and begin to put on more colorful attire. By the end of September we are on the verge of a brilliancy that can only be experienced the first week of October.

The changes can be seen throughout the entire landscape. Bright yellow fields of golden rod attract an array of bees working industriously to build up their winter stores.

For them its not a question of diligence, but a struggle for survival and against time. Instinctively they know winters famine is just around the corner, and that is the driving force behind their busy as a bee mentality.

The changes can be seen in our deer herd. Bucks shed their velvet during the beginning of September. It is time to trade the velvety antlers of summer

for a harder, more pragmatic pair. Antler growth is over. Now it is almost time to battle for breeding rights.

Everywhere you go during September it seems like bucks are out feeding, trying to store up some extra energy before they run it off during the rut. Most fawns lose their spotted coats during the month of September, if they havent lost them already.

During September the entire deer herd trades the red coat of summer for the gray that allows them to disappear in a winter landscape.

September is the month that the elk rut kicks into full gear. Those in southern Cameron County can hear the primordial bugles of these large deer during this month. For those whose ears have never experienced the elemental bull elk mating call, it is a unforgettable experience.

Perhaps my favorite September change is that made by the brook trout. I cherish my annual Labor Day fishing trip to my favorite wild trout stream. For me its one last visit before trout season closes on wild trout streams.

The outing never fails to produce brilliantly colored brook trout. Every labor day I am amazed at just how colorful some of these little char become as they prepare to spawn. In my opinion the

spawning brook trout ranks up near the top of the list of the most beautiful animals in all of God's creation.

The changes that are initiated now in September will carry us through to the end of autumn. Some November day I will be out in the woods archery or turkey hunting. The only color left on our hills will be the drabness of oaks that have yet to lose their dead foliage, interspersed by islands of bright yellow tulip poplar.

As I sit there pondering the situation, I'll be amazed at how fast the change has occurred. Didn't it just seem like yesterday when it was summer and everything was green? It will then hit me that summer is only a distant memory and autumn is nearly gone. Time never slows down.



On August 28, I saw the first buck of the year that was losing its velvet. It was a little sixpoint and was right in the middle of its transition. Fuzzy shards of velvet hung off its bone white antlers. About half of its rack was still covered in the velvety summer coating. Unfortunately, this individual won't be participating in the fall rut. He had met his demise on the highway.

My father is traveling to Idaho to archery hunt for elk next week. To practice we've been out bugling some during this past week. On Wednesday we ran into a semi-vocal bull. He was pretty much answering every bugle we gave him. He even closed the distance between us before hanging up several hundred yards away. I'm sure it won't be too long before the elk rut is full tilt.

It seems that just about everyone I talk to who has been spending time in the woods this summer has been seeing quite a few bears. Apparently last year's record kill for the county did little harm to their overall population.

Acorns won't be anywhere near as abundant this fall as they were last year. The key to success this year in bear season will be locating the localized areas having heavy acorn crops and then hunting nearby cover.