HARE HUNTER INDUCTED

Official Emblem of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

Official Emblem of the ANF.

Official Emblem of the Hare Hunters of the Adirondack Mountains

DECEMBER 15, 2019

VETERAN HARE HUNTER INDUCTED INTO

LOYAL ORDER OF THE BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS of the ALLEGHENY

The High HareMan (left) welcomes Mr. Matthew Baker into The Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny and awards Matt with his official hare hunter cap and official Membership Emblem.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny take great pride in announcing:

Mr. Matthew Baker, of Lucinda, PA. has been officially inducted into the Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

The official ceremonies were held at a location high on the Allegheny Plateau deep in the Big Woods on December 15, 2019. 

 

Matt will now be afforded all the rights and privileges bestowed upon a member in good standing in the Loyal Order. He will automatically be granted access to all lands open to the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. 

Membership in the Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is not effortless, however, members are not solicited, petitioned or recruited. There are no application papers or fees; however, all would-be members are well vetted. No outlaws or poachers need apply. Fellow beaglers get special consideration and dispensation. Membership in the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is bestowed for life. Membership cannot be revoked.

Mr. Baker, a life long hunter, sportsman and outdoors man, is a biology teacher and the head trap shooting coach at Keystone High School, Knox, PA.
  
He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Antler Club in Lucinda, vice-president of the local chapter of Trout Unlimited, a member of Ducks Unlimited and other organizations too numerous to mention.

Matt is the proud owner and handler of two very accomplished and special beagles named Geronimo (Mo) and Pocahontas (Poco). He is a veteran hare hunter having hunted hare on the Allegheny and the Adirondack Mountains of New York with his beagles.

The HighMan is proud to announce Matt has been named by the High HareMan to two very special positions within the Loyal Order.

Matt will now serve as Biologist to the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. His official duties will include but not limited to advising the High HareMan and the Loyal Order on matters concerning early successional forests, forest growth, plant biology, invasive species and etc.

The High HareMan also is announcing the naming of Mr. Matthew Baker to the Board of Directors of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

We are the proud members of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny. We search the mountains, high swamps, clear-cuts and evergreen plantations of the Allegheny High Plateau with beagles for the elusive snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Headquartered in western Pennsylvania, high on the Allegheny Plateau, we are a band of outdoor men and women dedicated to the preservation of one of God’s greatest creations and one of Pennsylvania’s most elusive game animals, the majestic and magnificent varying hare.

Founded in 2002, we are a small, loosely organized, ever-expanding group of devoted beaglers, veteran snowshoe hare hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists and preservationists. We like to call ourselves “elite” mainly because we are the select few. Few are the beaglers who dare venture onto the Allegheny High Plateau in the bitter cold days of winter in search of the snowshoe hare making the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny a very exclusive group to be sure. There is no weather too severe or snow too deep to curtail our passion for the great outdoors. We love to get out into the elements, searching the Allegheny High Plateau for the elusive snowshoe hare, enjoying the thrill of the chase, while taking great pleasure in the beautiful beagle music as it rings across the scenic Allegheny.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny are dedicated to conserving and preserving the magnificent and omnipotent snowshoe hare on the Allegheny Plateau. Our objective is to save this magnificent animal for future generations of Pennsylvanians to enjoy. We take great pride in our mission of conservation of the varying hare. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny are determined to preserve the thrill of the chase for future generations of beaglers.

  

HARE HUNTERS TO CONDUCT RECLAMATION PROJECT

BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS of the ALLEGHNEY SET TO COMMENCE PROJECT

The above sign marks the spot where the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny will conduct a habitat reclamation project to improve nesting and escape cover for eastern cottontail rabbits, ruffed grouse, pheasants, song birds and all small animals.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters want to thank Seneca Resources, a National Fuel Gas company for their cooperation.

Seneca Resources is the landowner of some 600 acres of previously clear-cut land in the Guitonville area of Forest County, PA.

After years of providing prime cover for small game the property is now in need of help in order to continue providing prime habitat for our small animals. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny will attempt to provide such help.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny want to thank Mr. Eric Byers, Company Land Forester, for his technical help and cooperation.  

IN 1900, WHITETAIL DEER POPULATION WAS ONLY 500,000.

"PGC set to launch study of snowshoe hares"

HEADLINES:

"PGC set to launch study of snowshoe hares"

According to a recent (November 22, 2019) article in the PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR NEWS Southwest Correspondent, Deborah Weisberg reports, "the Pennsylvania Game Commission will begin a rigorous study of snowshoe hare high in the Pocono Mountains in January."

The correspondent goes on to say, "Specifically, wildlife biologists will seek to determine how hares respond to various habitats, so they can tailor forest management to benefit the species, said Emily Boyd, the commission's small-game mammal biologist.

Duane Diefenbach, a wildlife biologist and adjunct professor at Penn State claims, "However, scientist don't have a good handle on hare abundance and concerns persists about impact from habitat loss and climate."

The PGC has relied on "hunter-take surveys" to estimate population stability and distribution. Boyd implies that relying on these surveys makes for a lack of extensive data on hares. Boyd says last years harvest was about 540 snowshoe hares. It is never mentioned how this low number could be from lack of hunters hunting the species and/or hare hunters who do not want to kill the majestic animals.

"Few options exist for mitigating further loss, but developing early successional habitat could potentially improve hare's resilience to climate change, and increase survival in their range," said Diefenbach. Snowshoe hare enthusiasts have heard this tune many times before. We always and forever are developing early successional habitat. 

And when it comes to climate change, again, I quote the PGC itself: "Recent studies indicate the transformation is caused by the increase or decrease in the length of the days as the seasons change throughout the year.  From March to May the lengthening days cause gradual shedding of the pure white winter hair which leaves the snowshoe hare with a splotched coat, then finally with a pure brownish-gray summer fur. The process is reversed from late September to December." 

Until such time when "the length of the days" changes, it is our contention there can be no "resiliency to climate change". When winter snow fails to fall the snowshoe hare will be at the mercy of the climate. 

  

FINN

SAY HELLO TO FINN!

Finn, or as we like to call him,

Little Toby Creek Finn

is proudly owned by

Mike Stine

of

Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania.

Mike relayed to me Finn started out as a "blood tracking" dog.

However, as soon as Finn discovered cottontail rabbit scent there

was no turning back.

Finn wants to be a rabbit dog.

Mike wants to be a beagler and rabbit hunter.