If you’re a grouse hunter, this may very well be the very best time of the year to be in the woods in search of the King of Gamebirds. The leaves are off the trees, there’s not yet any snow on the ground, the archery and turkey hunters are gone, and temperatures are still rather pleasant.

From all I’ve been able to gather it’s not going to be a very good year for grouse chasers in the Keystone State. Heavy spring rains throughout much of the state played havoc with nesting grouse and turkeys. Re-nesting was largely non-sucessful, so bird numbers will probably be down this year. Most of the birds found will likely be older, therefore smarter, birds. Not good news for those of us who love to run bird dogs, but I’ll still be out there trying to beat the odds.

I lost a couple of the best weeks of woodcock hunting this year, but when we did get out we did very well. Grouse numbers, however, were another matter. We moved about one bird per hour, which is not good. I’m of the opinion that we don’t have a definite grouse cycle here in the east like they do in the upper Midwest. In my opinion our numbers are governed more by year-to-year weather and food factors, rather than a predictable 10-year cycle.

If the grouse population is down, the tick population certainly is not. I’m getting reports of dedicated hunters who have actually given up taking to the woods because of the tick infestation. I have a Potter County friend who has actually come down with Lyme disease and is on antibiotics. Lyme is nothing to mess with. It can end up being a very serious ailment which can affect your body in many ways, both physical and even mental. If you’re heading to the woods, take precautions to protect yourself from ticks, such as using repellent containing DEET, tucking your pants into your boots, and checking yourself for ticks as soon as you leave the woods. If you’re running a dog, be sure they’re protected by one of the topical products, such as Frontline, Advantage or Bio-Spot. These products get into the bloodstream and kill ticks before they can spread disease. I find them to be very effective, and well worth the cost.

The traditional firearms big-game seasons begin tomorrow in Pennsylvania. Bear season is this coming week with the two-week deer season to follow starting the Monday after Thanksgiving. Regional Wildlife Conservation Officers are reporting excellent bear populations in most areas. Deer numbers are also said to be good, but I’m sure there are a good number of hunters who’d dispute that claim, especially with regard to deer numbers.

The PGC is reminding deer hunters to report all deer kills. Hunters can now report their kills online. Just go to www.pgc.state.pa.us, click on the blue box marked “Harvest Reporting”, click on the “start here” button at the bottom of the page, and follow the directions.

The PGC is also reminding hunters that it is still necessary to display your hunting license on an outer garment, just as it always has been. The Commission is backing a bill in the legislature that would end the requirement, but, at least for this year, the display requirement remains.

-- E-mail comments to jdsteese@yahoo.com.