Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Wildlife Quiz - The Snowshoe Hare

           The Showshoe Hare (Lepus americanus), also called the varying hare, has a home range spanning across all of North America. Snowshoe hare have evolved to become well adapted to their snow covered environments. Hare’s have the amazing ability to shed their brown summer coats and grow white winter coats that help them better blend into winter environments. As summer approaches, the brown coat replaces the white, allowing the hare to hide better in the earthy tones of its summer habitat. 
The name snowshoe comes from the hares second incredible adaptation, its sizeable hind feet, appearing almost too large for its diminutive body size. The animal's large hind feet help it from sinking into the deep snow when it walks and hops. Snowshoe hares also posses heavily furred feet and ears shorter than most other hares, both critical adaptations designed to protect it from freezing Maine the temperatures.
Mostly crepuscular (creature of the dawn and dusk) and nocturnal (night time dweller) snowshoe hare do a majority of feeding at night. Hares feed on a wide variety of plants such as ferns, buds, twigs and grasses but will also less commonly feed on dead animals such as mice. During the day, hares do not rest in burrows but instead prefer to conceal themselves from predators by hiding in shallow depressions under heavy spruce thickets and brush piles.
Prolific breeders, hares may birth between up to 30 young per year. Females (does) have the ability to become pregnant by males (bucks) while already pregnant with young (kits) because female hares have two uteri. Typically the hare breeding season begins in March and continues till around June. The gestation period lasts an average of 37 days, with birthing of kits starting in April and stretching into late July.

Wildlife Quiz Questions:
1. What is another name for the snowshoe hare?
2. What is the home range of the snowshoe hare?
3. What trick of camouflage has the snowshoe hare evolved to better evade the sharp eyes of predators?
4. How have snowshoe hare adapted to their cold environments?
5. Do snowshoe hare eat meat?
6. Do snowshoe hare dig burrows?
7. What are baby rabbits called?
8. How many young can snowshoe hare birth in a single year?
9. What are female rabbits called?

 Wildlife Quiz Answers:
1. A snowshoe hare is also known by the name varying hare.
2. The home range of the snowshoe hare stretch across all of North America.
3. Snowshoe hares have evolved to evade predators by growing white winter coats and brown summer coats to better blend into their natural environments and fool the sharp eyes of predators.
4. Snowshoe hare have adapted to their cold environments by having short ears and feet covered with thick fur.
5. When food is limited, snowshoe hare have been documented eating meat.
6. Snowshoe hare do not dig burrows, instead the prefer to conceal themselves from predators by hiding in shallow depressions under heavy spruce thickets and brush piles.
7. Baby rabbits are called kits.
8. Snowshoe hares can birth as many as 30 young per year.
9. Female rabbits are called does.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Stay Safe, Dry, Warm and Comfortable In Your Treestand

            During the months of September- December, I spend a lot of time sitting in treestands. This means that over the years, I have accumulated a considerable amount of knowledge in how to stay safe, dry, warm and comfortable sitting for 8-10 hours a day 15-20 feet off the ground.
According to the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, more than 90 percent of hunters use some type of tree stand for hunting. This means that most of us out there hunting are doing so from some type of elevated platform. As such, we owe it to ourselves and out families to understand as much as possible about treestand safety.
Researchers from the University of Alabama estimate about 10 percent of hunters who use tree stands are injured while using the platforms; this averages to be 5,875 treestand related injuries per year. Treestands to be safe, require a physical and visual inspection every time before climbing. Make sure to shake and attempt to move the ladder, tug on ropes and inspect ratchet straps. Also, don’t use “homemade” treestands as they are typically not constructed to the same standard as those commercially purchased and as such are much more prone to failure.
All commercially purchased stands these days are required to come with a full body harness, unfortunately most are complicated, uncomfortable to wear, and not easily adjustable for XXL and petite hunters. These drawbacks lead to the harnesses not being worn and hundreds of hunter injuries every year. To make sure a harness is comfortable and adjustable, it pays to spend the extra money on a custom harness like the ones made by Muddy Outdoors, Hunter Safety Systems, Tree Spider and Summit Treestands. Having an easy to use harness means it will always be used and a hunter saved from possible death or traumatic injury. With care, these harnesses will last hunters for years and are well worth the investment.
Researchers at the University of Alabama also found that injury rates were highest among those 15 to 24 years old, young hunters who were more willing to “risk” climbing into a tree stand without the benefit of safety equipment. All the companies mentioned above sell youth model harnesses, specially designed for smaller hunters. This piece of equipment is as critical as wearing a cars seatbelt or bike helmet, get it wear it, everytime.
A full body harness is great for protecting a hunter while they are sitting or standing, from a treestand’s elevated seat or platform, but unfortunately, a majority of falls happen while climbing up or down ladders. My newly purchased treestand, the “Hawk Destination”, is a whopping 21 feet off the ground so to protect myself while climbing up and down, I recently purchased the Muddy Safe-Line. This simple device is basically a heavy-duty rope that attaches to the top and bottom of the treestand. As the hunter climbs, he or she simple slides the prusik knot up the rope. Should a fall occur, the knot cinches tight and the hunter is saved from a fall. Other similar systems include the Tree Spider Livewire Descent and Life-Line by Hunter Safety System.
Stay Dry and Warm
Sitting for hours is relatively easy, until the ambient temperature reaches fifty degrees Fahrenheit. This is when I typically have to reach for my heavy jacket. Wind and rain can quickly turn a relatively mild day in the 50s unbearable, unless a hunter is properly prepared. A layering system comprised of a polyester undershirt, fleece jacket, waterproof over jacket and emergency heat packs usually do the job until temperatures sink into the forties. I actually don’t mind being slightly chilled, as it helps to keep me awake and alert, but what I absolutely cannot stand is being wet. Even with proper rain gear, water always seems to seep in, hands go numb and equipment gets saturated. Last year, I decided to try one of those treestand umbrellas that attached to the tree over the treestand. First, I looked at the Field and Stream Tree Umbrella and while budget friendly; I was not impressed by its flimsy construction. I finally settled on the “Wingspan Ultimate” treestand umbrella by Hawk. While expensive, it is solidly built and provides considerable overhead coverage to keep a hunter dry in even the hardest downpour.  
More Helpful Hints
Its never seems to fail that after sneaking quietly into my treestand, on a still morning, that my monumental efforts at silence are thwarted by a squeaky treestand. To combat this problem, I carry in my pack a can of Pam cooking spray. The canola oil based spray lubricates and any odor doesn’t seem to disturb deer. Last season, I watched a doe deer walk under my treestand and casually sniff the ground where the canola oil had dripped.
Remember, hunting deer from treestands in Maine’s relatively deer poor Washington county region doesn’t make sense unless stands are placed in areas that contain deer. This means stand hunters need to be vigilant in their scouting well before November to find areas rich in deer sign, that contain landform funnels created by topography or are in locations containing natural deer attractants like apple orchards or food plots. Once a location is found, be sure to secure written landowner permission, label stands with name and address and hang treestrands in early August. If needing to cut brush for shooting lanes, also be sure to get written landowner permission.
For those looking for a deer hunting adventure, “The Great Heath” (DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 25, C-3) is sure to satisfy. Also, Allen Heath (Map 25, A-2) and Beech Hill Heath (Map 25, B-3) located in close proximity to Pleasant River Lake (Map 25, A-2) contains wide open expanses of open timber, clear cuts and blueberry barrens, bring a tree climber and plan to spend the whole day, this is BIG country!

 
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