HARE HUNTER ACCEPTED

NEW HARE HUNTER OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED

January 19, 2020—The Big Woods

Veteran Hare Hunter John Zimmerman (R) accepts his official Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny insignia and cap from the High HareMan after a snowshoe hare chasing outing on the high plateau.

The High HareMan is honored to announce the acceptance of John Zimmerman of Cranberry, PA. into the Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

The ceremonies were held during prime hare chasing weather at a location high on the Allegheny Plateau on private lands open to the public after an extreme outing in search of the elusive snowshoe hare. The formalities were held on January 19, 2020.

John is a veteran cottontail and snowshoe hare hunter having tramped the Big Woods of the Allegheny Plateau, Allegheny National Forest, Adirondack Mountains and the Tug Hill Plateau of New York and the Great Maine Woods in search of the ever elusive lagomorph.

John is now authorized to enjoy all the rights and privileges of a member in good standing in the Loyal Order. He will  now 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 without effort, however, members are not solicited, petitioned or recruited. There are no application papers or fees; however, all candidates for membership are thoroughly 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.

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.

It is fitting, then, for the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny to support our youth and our veterans in the pursuit of their hopes and dreams in the great outdoors. In 2017 the Board of Directors elected to bring about creative methods of helping our youth and our veterans no matter how modest our attempts. In 2018 the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation was formed.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation takes great pride in being a silver sponsor of “Camo Cares”, a nonprofit, dedicated to sending young people with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities and wounded veterans on the hunt of their lifetime. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation has contributed more than $500 to Camo Cares. In 2020 we will strive to do better.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation is a contributing sponsor of Fryburg Junior Marksmen and Clarion County YMCA. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation, through our Board of Directors and Officers also strive to financially support Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth Inc., Trout Unlimited, the National Rifle Association (NRA). Recently the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny Foundation made a modest donation to the “Pine Grove Programs”.

Pine Grove Programs, headquartered in the great state of Maine, is a non-profit organization providing free outdoor experiences to military service members, Veterans, Goldstar families, and first responders. The Pine Grove Programs offers group events as well as private trips, to utilize the naturally therapeutic benefits of the wilderness.

It would be our hope in the future to turn our modest contributions to these worth while projects into even more beneficial contributions.

We shall always support our youth and our veterans for they are the beneficiaries who will inherit our legacy.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny do not harvest snowshoe hare on the Allegheny High Plateau. We search for the elusive hare with beagles and when we find their lair the beagles test the hares’ escape and evasion capabilities to the maximum and in return the hares test the beagles. Chasing hare with beagles and allowing the hare to run free is as close to catch and release as the Big Woods Hare Hunters can achieve. It’s all about the beagles and it’s all about the hare.

Many of our members have been searching for the evasive snowshoe hare with beagles on the Allegheny Plateau for more than half a century. In addition to many locations on the Allegheny Plateau, our members have hunted the Pocono Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania (a province of the Allegheny plateau, see map), the western mountains and lowlands of Maine, the Adirondack Mountains, the Tug Hill Plateau of eastern New York State and many other locations for hare with beagles. Our members have been featured in many national publications, the ultimate of which is FIELD & STREAM magazine.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny have numerous members who are not beaglers; however, we are committed men and women who love the out-of-doors and the Allegheny. The beautiful sights, sounds, panoramic views, fauna and flora of the High Plateau are beloved by us all. The Allegheny National Forest is the crown jewel of Pennsylvania for outdoor people of all stripes.

The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny is not a club, league, group or secret society, although, we do have secrets. We are often called the “Loyal Order” because we are faithful to each other and we are devoted to the beagle breed. We are a fellowship, taking great pleasure in the communion with nature, companionship of friends and camaraderie with special people.

The loyal order has no constitution, no by-laws and no articles. The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny collect no dues, initiation or irritation fees of any kind. We have a Board of Directors, a Chaplin, a Captain, Chief of Staff, Chief Adviser and Chief Executive Officer (CEO/COO). The CEO, originally called the Chairman, is now officially titled the Chief Executive High HareMan.

We take great pleasure in listening to the beautiful beagle music as the melodious tones reverberate off the mountains, echo up the valleys, bringing back special memories of the days of our youth. When we mention we are beaglers to people we meet, they immediately relate hunting stories of days gone by, which is often. We see smiles emerge on their faces and we see warmth emerge from their hearts for the beagle breed as they relate the days of hunting with the family beagle. Sadly, those days are gone. Disappointingly, future generations may never know the great enjoyment or bask in the memories of hunting with beagles which our generation and past generations of beaglers have known.

We pray our youth will be the guardians of our hunting heritage.

BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS COMMENCE "RECLAMATION PROJECT"

BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS of the ALLEGHENY COMMENCE RECLAMATION PROJECT

January 12, 2020

After months of planning and preparation the ambitious project is underway.

 The Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny wishes to sincerely thank Seneca Resources for their cooperation.

Seneca Resources is the land owner. We, the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny understand we are invited guests on this land. We enter with the same respect and reverence we would show upon entering as a quest in anyone's home.

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

The above sign marks the spot where the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny have commenced their fore announced habitat reclamation project.

 The focus of the project is to improve nesting and escape cover for eastern cottontail rabbits, ruffed grouse, pheasants, song birds and all small animals.

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.

Below is a "before" picture.

The orange and yellow flagging mark the more valuable trees, such as maple, which we did not want to disturb. 

THE FOLLOWING ARE "AFTER ACTION PHOTOS"

Board Member Matt Baker does some chain saw adjustments.

This was a stand of quaking aspen now not standing. 

Board Member and Biologist, Matt Baker (R) and the High HareMan after a hard morning work.

Even the fat bald guy has to work on his saw.

The orange and yellow flagging mark the maple trees which we took care in not disturbing.
Most of the trees in the area are fire cherry and quaking aspen and some birch.
Populus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, one of several species referred to by the common name aspen. It is commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, mountain or golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar, popple, as well as others. Thanks to Wikipedia.Prunus pensylvanica, also known as bird cherry, fire cherry, pin cherry, and red cherry, is a North American cherry species in the genus Prunus. 

Long-term variation in white-tailed deer abundance shapes landscape-scale population dynamics of forest-breeding birds

Author links open overlay panel

Clark S.Rushing^af Ronald W.Rohrbaugh^bCameron J.Fiss^cChristopher S.Rosenberry^dAmanda D.Rodewald^eJeffery L.Larkin^cf

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117629

 [Comments and attributes from the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny contained within brackets]

Not long ago I received this report from Mary Hosmer of the Allegheny Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society. I thank Mary for sharing this report with the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

We, the RGS [Ruffed Grouse Society] volunteers, are concerned about conservation of all birds, not just grouse and woodcock. Here is a short summary of a research paper just published in Forest Ecology and Management 456 (2020) 117629. The paper is titled, Long-term Variation in White-tailed Deer Abundance Shapes Landscape-Scale Population Dynamics of Forest-Breeding Birds. Basically, the paper indicates that deer do have negative impacts to breeding bird populations in a small space and timeframe, particularly birds that feed and breed within 6 feet of the forest floor, but positive effects can also be associated with some other forest birds. The landscape scale effects of deer on birds are more difficult to sort out, and indicate that non-breeding habitats also have an impact. Here is the abstract.

In an article I wrote, "A couple of months back I presented my opinion in this publication and I labelled the article, “TROUBLE IN PARADISE”. I listed the difficulties cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hare, turkey and ruffed grouse are having finding suitable nesting and escape cover on the Allegheny High Plateau and, possibly, in all the forests of Pennsylvania. In my article I declared, “Hard times for the magnificent snowshoe hare and other small game animals like the ruffed grouse and eastern cottontail rabbits are here, now, on the Allegheny and no one is doing anything about it”. Wild game everywhere is suffering from lack of suitable habitat whether it’s from over development caused by the persistent incursion of civilization or from modern farming practices.

I blamed the problem on the lack of suitable forest management. I also stated, “In the twentieth century, white-tailed deer emerged as one of the greatest threats to Pennsylvania’s forests. Pennsylvania’s deer population exploded devastating the state’s forests. Escape cover, nesting cover, and food sources became severely limited for the snowshoe hare as well as ruffed grouse, woodcock, cottontail, turkey and many non-game species including songbirds”.

Long-term variation in white-tailed deer abundance shapes landscape-scale population dynamics of forest-breeding birds

Author links open overlay panel Clark S.Rushing^afRonald W.Rohrbaugh^bCameron J.Fiss^cChristopher S.Rosenberry^dAmanda D.Rodewald^eJeffery L.Larkin^cf

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117629

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Abstract

Over-browsing by white-tailed deer impedes forest regeneration, alters floristic [relating to the study of the distribution of plants] and structural attributes of stands, and reduces biodiversity. Although numerous exclosure [an area from which unwanted animals are excluded] experiments have demonstrated negative impacts of deer on songbirds at small spatial scales [relating to or occupying space] the effects of deer on avian communities at large spatial and temporal scales [or the time period] [Spatial ecology studies the ultimate distributional or spatial unit occupied by a species] In a particular habitat shared by several species, each of the species is usually confined to its own microhabitat [a habitat which is of small or limited extent and which differs in character from some surrounding more extensive habitat]. or spatial niche because two species in the same general territory cannot usually occupy the same ecological niche for any significant length of time remains poorly understood. We integrated data from the Breeding Bird Survey with historic information on deer abundance in a multi-species hierarchical model to assess spatio-temporal relationships between deer and bird abundances across the state of Pennsylvania between 1981 and 2015.

Our results provide evidence of strong links between deer and both avian functional groups and individual species, depending upon the extent each relied upon particular forest strata. Specifically, species that forage or nest near the ground were more negatively affected by deer than canopy-associated species. Likewise, mature-forest species were more sensitive to deer than successional-forest species or habitat generalists. With only a few exceptions, species-level responses to deer were consistent with group-level effects. Given the diverse suite of spatio-temporal stressors impacting migratory songbirds throughout their annual cycle, it was not surprising that long-term population trends of focal species were not significantly associated with deer abundance. Our findings, however, provide evidence that deer play an important role in songbird community structure, as mediated by the reliance of individual species upon particular forest strata and, as such, should be considered within the context of forest bird conservation.

HARE HUNTER JARET ZIMMERMAN WELCOMED IN THE LOYAL ORDER

HARE HUNTER WELCOMED INTO THE LOYAL ORDER of the BIG WOODS HARE HUNTERS OF THE ALLEGHENY

 

High HareMan (L) welcoming Jaret Zimmerman into the Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny.

TO: All Members of the Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny, Hare Hunters, Beaglers, friends of the Allegheny, lovers of the great outdoors and all other interested parties

FROM: The Chief Executive High HareMan of the Loyal Order of the Big Woods Hare Hunters of the Allegheny

SUBJECT: Hare Hunter Received into the Loyal Order

The High HareMan is honored to announce the welcoming of the Loyal Orders newest member, Mr. Jaret Zimmerman of Cranberry, Pennsylvania. Jaret is a graduate of Cranberry High School in Seneca, PA, a dedicated beagler, owning 4 beagles, and a longtime hare hunter and sportsman having hunted snowshoe hare in the Allegheny National Forest and on the Allegheny Plateau. In addition to hunting Pennsylvania for hare and cottontail Jaret is well traveled having hunted snowshoe hare on the Tug Hill Plateau of New York State, the Adirondack Mountains and the mountains of Maine.

Jaret and two of his beagles on the Allegheny.

The official ceremonies were held at a location high on the Allegheny Plateau deep in the Allegheny National Forest during the Extreme Hare Season of 2020. The formalities were held on January 5, 2020.

Mr. Jaret Zimmerman 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 without effort, however, members are not solicited, petitioned or recruited. There are no application papers or fees; however, all candidates for membership are thoroughly 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.

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.