On The Ridge with Joe Judd: Along with the scenic views, fall season offers plenty for area hunters

I watched the Canadian geese moved high overhead, winging toward a destination that I could only imagine. They were so far up that I could barely hear their mournful voices, yet I wondered how far this flight would go before rest would finally come.

Fall has arrived in my beloved Shelburne, I whispered to myself as the geese continued to move further and further away. Soon after, another group appeared in the horizon. Then another group passed overhead following the same path, and then still another! It brought me back to this moment when the “magic hour” had finally arrived. The magic hour when it’s neither dark nor light, and at that moment, the thought came that I was quite ready for another hunting season to begin. That said, October and November are really the months when the fall hunting season in Massachusetts begins again in earnest! Even though the days have been warmer of late, soon cooler weather will set in, and while archery season for whitetail deer hasn’t had a bad start, things are going to get even better soon, as will fall turkey hunting. And with the second season of black bear hunting about to start up again in this region of the state, big game hunting is off and running in the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, many other seasons are also well underway, which means in the world of sportsmen and women, autumn has arrived again.

But for now, let’s stay focused on the second segment of the black bear hunting season (Nov. 4-23). And while I readily admit that I’m not a great bear hunter, I do know that some of the best bear hunting occurs during this second season, when you can hunt bears by finding concentrated food sources near prime bear habitat. Early in the season, preferred foods include berries and standing corn. But as the season progresses, wild apples, beechnuts, and acorns become more important.

I’ve heard that stalking bears in a stand of nut-rich oaks and beech trees half-way up a mountain on a crisp November morning is more than just exciting for those who genuinely love the sport. And the reward for the successful hunter is well worth it, with great-tasting, nutritious meat that when properly prepared, compares favorably to pork. Bear signs this time of year can also be abundant, with obvious bear trails, scat, and food sources all easily found for those willing to put boots on the ground in search of it. And when scouting in or around cornfields, watch for patches of cornstalk pulled down to the ground and large areas where the cornfield has been flattened out with trampled trails leading back into the woods. These are places where you want to place a blind or a stand in the woods adjacent to the cornfield. In places like this you should have an unobstructed view of bears entering or exiting the trails. And remember, while most farmers who are experiencing crop damage are typically happy to have bear hunters on their property, never walk or drive across a farmer’s cornfield without first obtaining permission.

And once that permission is obtained and the scouting is complete, just like deer hunting, you must be careful moving into and out of your stand(s), even more so than with white-tail deer. You may have to sacrifice a small amount of legal hunting time but moving in and out of these areas slowly will increase your chances for success. The same is true for deer and turkeys. Also pay close attention to the wind direction. Bear and white-tail deer have a keen sense of smell, so try to keep yourself downwind when entering and exiting. That is, at the very least, an attempt at trying not to scare animals away that you’re trying to hunt. Also, reduce all human scent as much as possible. Bear and deer, live by their noses, so wash your clothes and shower frequently with products that are completely scent free. Once washed and dried, store your clothing in a scent free bag or a bag that contains natural vegetation like dry leaves, sticks, and pine or hemlock boughs. But make certain that whatever goes in that bag comes from the same area where you’re hunting. Not from the side of the road or from your backyard, which will give off a different scent that wild animals will recognize immediately!

Finally, whether it’s bear, deer, wild turkey, small game, or waterfowl, fall hunting is an exciting time just to be in the woods in New England! And for those of us who love it, being able to hunt during this time of year is as great a gift as we’ll ever receive.

Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Pro-Staff. He can be reached at jjontheridge@comcast.net