I’m happy to report that I’ve returned safely from the untamed wilderness of northwestern Colorado. Overall, I’d say our do-it-yourself elk hunt during the third rifle season (November 3-10) was a success despite being plagued by hot, balmy weather that was not very conducive to late-season elk hunting. To me, any time spent in the mountains is a privilege that I feel fortunate to have experienced. I won’t lie though, seeing a few more elk would have been nice.

This fall has been unusually warm and dry with near drought conditions through October in Erie. The steelhead season has suffered.

The second season water fowl came in with a bang feeling a little under the weather and keeping me indoors until mid-morning. Feeling better, I dawned my gear, grabbed my gun and Drake. Don and I hit the highway in pursuit of waterfowl. I have hunted in worse conditions, but we encountered numerous weather, sunshine, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme winds.

It was a Sunday afternoon and I decided to take a ride to a local waterfowl roost site to do some preseason scouting for the second season coming upon us quickly. My son Jimmy and I headed off , with the dog of course, and our cameras hoping that I could add some good pictures to my collection. When we got to the area only a few hen mallards, eclipse drakes and mature drakes were already on the site. So this ended up to be a good lesson for both my son and the dog…patience.

As many of you know from my previous journal entry, the Pennsylvania Sportsmen Portal was invited by Medalist to attend a three day hunt at the ENON Plantation in Alabama, sponsored by Mossy Oak, Lacrosse Boots and Medalist.

By Paul Rueda, Kunkletown, Pennsylvania

I will remember November 3, 2007 for the rest of my life. I got up at 5am and got dressed to go out hunting. I figured I would try my old faithful honey hole bowhunting spot. So I get to the area and I get my gear together and I headed out into the woods with my head lamp on.

Joshua Butz, Macungie, Pennsylvania
Getting up so early to set up the dekes is the worst part of waterfowl hunting. But I knew it would all be worth it. My guide said this was his first set in this spot. It had never been hunted before. He also said all his scouting showed that the birds were working this field really hard in the last few days so he knew it was time to move in. Well he knew what he was talking about cause after we set up the 75 or so decoys, we laid out in our blinds and waited for the sunrise. Well we didnt wait long and boy it sure was pretty. However we didnt have long to relax before birds started chattering away on the river nearby. Then suddenly the sky filled with birds.