Updated 7 hrs ago
Here we are in the midst of the “dog days of summer” and avoiding the heat of the day seems to be our top priority. It’s hard to do anything but lay low during these heat waves. But it won’t be long before the weather pattern changes again and cool weather returns. For me, that means it’s only a month before I can start pursuing the different game animals that call our woods home.
Come September, bear season opens and although I would take one if the opportunity presented itself, I’m really only using it as an excuse to scout for the upcoming deer season. But once the nights turn cold I get serious and start hunting with a purpose. It’s time to put meat in the freezer.
But while we may consider hunting as only a fall pursuit, we are only looking at it through our eyes as humans. Being the apex omnivores of the universe, we have the ability to incorporate wise wildlife management and harvest game without having a negative impact on the overall population. We set up our season dates and limits to maximize harvest without harming the overall population of the species. That is basically the definition of “conservation.”
Animals, on the other hand, with specific reference to predators, do not use our rationale when choosing to hunt. They hunt for one reason, because they’re hungry. The season is year-round and any limits are self-imposed, usually the result of a full stomach.
Having been a conservation officer for more than 2½ decades, I’m very aware of how nature plays out. But I was reminded of this in a first-hand encounter last week. I was driving down a back country road on a hot sunny midafternoon. Seeing as I generally spend more time looking sideways than straight ahead, I was just poking along slowly. On my right was one of the few remaining unmowed fields, as most farmers took advantage of last week’s dry weather and had cut and baled hay while the sun shined.
In an instant, I witnessed a medium-sized coyote pop up in the field and it was running full steam, angling toward where the hedge row and the road I was traveling on intersected. It was about 100 yards off the road to the right and 200 yards in front of me. I immediately let off the gas and coasted forward, doing my best to go into stealth mode. Beyond the hedgerow was a recently brush-hogged field. My thought was that if I stealthily glided in I might see him on the other side.
I was still processing what was transpiring as the bolting coyote turned to the right and disappeared at full speed into the hedge. But before I could even start to process what I was witnessing, the coyote popped back out into the field from where he had originated, and now had a full-sized groundhog in his jaws. Upon popping out into the open the coyote saw me for the first time, paused a moment to stare, then loped off with its prize. Off to feed a hungry litter of fast growing pups, no doubt.
And then the pieces all came together. What I witnessed was the coyote putting a stalk on this groundhog. It was using the high grass to conceal it’s advance. The groundhog was about 10 yards out into the field feeding. How the coyote knew it was there I have no idea. I presume it knew an active burrow existed. When the coyote sprang up and charged there was a good 30 yards between the groundhog and it. I am of the conclusion it was a blind charge, with the coyote just assuming the groundhog would be away from its hole at this hour.
I’ll never know, but after about three-quarters of the distance was closed, the coyote turned sharply towards the hedge row, the groundhog now in sight and in retreat, but the coyote was closing ground fast. I was amazed at how rapidly that coyote was able to dispatch that groundhog. They’re a tough critter with little necks and big chomper teeth. But it was a round one knockout. Just a somber realization that a fawn would fare even worse.
And that is why there is a need for wise wildlife management. If one population gets out of control, the ripple effect will spill across all species. I’m not a doom-and-gloom guy, but I do have concerns regarding our current predator/prey balance. This past spring’s nesting season was abysmal for ground nesting birds and my observations this summer have given me cause for concern. There are very few healthy broods of grouse or woodcock. When I do see a brood I’m lucky to find three chicks. Turkeys did a little better, but not much. And now I’m seeing second broods with babies smaller than bobwhites.
And all this is going on while predators, both furred and feathered, are raising families. And those babies need to eat. So even though our hunting seasons don’t start for another month or two, if you’re a prey species, hunting season is on now. Every day is a life and death struggle.
And what happens this winter? Those that migrate have the ability to fly to greener pastures. But for those predators that stay all year, this winter has the potential of being a tough one. If they eat themselves out of available food they will be faced with tough choices. Did you know that bobcats are very secretive and wish to not be seen. Why do they show up in people’s backyards during the winter? Because they are starving. It’s simply a risk versus reward scenario. Hunting birdfeeders and neighborhood cats beats starving to death. Whether you are a predator or a prey species, it’s a tough life out there.
Doug Gralenski of Shelburne is a retired conservation officer and lifelong outdoorsman of the North Country. His columns run twice a month in the Saturday/Sunday edition of the New Hampshire Sunday News.