McClory: Snow allows hunters to track activity, but will it last?

I hope everyone is safe after Hurricane Sandy and the “Northeaster” we had recently. How can they call 2-3 inches of snow a “Northeaster”? I still don’t understand that. I call 2-3 inches of snow “the perfect storm for tracking”. I hope you took advantage of the dusting and got up earlier than usual to check out your stands to see if there was any activity happening on Thursday morning. I was surprised at what I saw in my hunting area. Things weren’t happening quite the way I expected. I can see a few adjustments are in order now that the weather has changed, or has it? The warm weather on Monday shows the fickleness of New England for you.We hunted opening day in Maine on the Monday just before Sandy arrived. It was still and quiet, with a little drizzle and zero wind until about 1 p.m. and then it was time to get out of the woods. There were no movements at all, not even a squirrel, which led to a very disappointing day. Back on Saturday, it was a beautiful hunting day but the only problem was the lack of deer sightings; we think the deer have figured us out so we need to modify our hunting methods. We only heard two shots all day and did see one deer on the back of a truck. It’s all part of the game! I guess this is why it’s called “hunting”!Opening day for New Hampshire’s regular firearms deer season is Nov. 14, a date anticipated with great enthusiasm by the state’s estimated 60,000 deer hunters. The season runs through Dec. 9 in most of the state, except in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) A in northern New Hampshire, where it closes Dec. 2. New Hampshire may see the best deer season that the state has seen in several years, according to Kent Gustafson, Wildlife Programs Supervisor for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. In parts of the state, the deer population has recovered from declines following some severe winters beginning in 2007-08, and deer numbers are improving in many other areas.Over the years, I have noticed a lot of hunters neglecting to tag their deer prior to dressing it and dragging it to their vehicles. There are legal requirements to ensure you do not have your deer confiscated if you are caught by a warden. Attach your tag to a black bear, deer, or turkey immediately upon harvesting the animal. Report the harvest of black bear, deer, or turkey by bringing the field-dressed carcass (not skinned or butchered) of the animal to a check station within 48 hours of harvest, where an official metal or plastic seal will be attached to the animal. Keep the official (metal or plastic) seal attached to all above game until butchered, brought to a meat processor, or a taxidermist to be prepared for mounting or tanning, or the pelt is tanned or sold.There was talk about an online checking system for this season. Hunters, be aware! The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) reminds hunters and trappers that the MassFishHunt online game reporting system is not ready for the 2012 hunting and trapping seasons. Hunters and trappers must report certain game at a traditional check station as in past years. Please notify other hunters and trappers they cannot report or check their game online this hunting/trapping season. Sporting groups are urged to post this information at their clubs, or include it in any meetings, newsletters, and social media networks.In closing our column this week, I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.All for now.