Northstate news January 2009

Weather forecasts are about as reliable as, well, weather forecasts, but according to the meteorologists, the far northern part of the state looks to be somewhat milder this month than was December.

With some rain and wind, there is a better chance of taking some quality birds before the season closes for geese on Jan. 18 and for ducks on Jan. 23.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the weather in the Klamath Basin - at least through Jan. 5 - was to be a mix of rain and snow with balmy highs up to 41 degrees Fahrenheit, alternating with hard nighttime freezes and rain and snow. Most of the white stuff was to land on elevations higher than the Klamath Basin refuges grain fields, which are at 4,000 feet. Very little accumulation was expected.

Even if that works out, ice will still be everywhere in the far northeast corner. The highest low temperature in the near term was 33 degrees expected on New Year's Day night. After that, the lows were expected to hit the mid to high teens through Friday night and up a bit to 24 degrees on Sunday night followed by that 41 degrees day noted above with at least some rain, maybe even wind. Still, access by boat will be iffy except in moving water. Hunters will either have to walk in or pull carts and sleds over the ice and shoot from dike edges or while laying on the cold stuff.

A wind was expected to rake most of the north state on Jan. 2. That should have been an ideal duck or goose hunting day. Fair numbers of geese and some ducks were already being taken in the Tulelake fields as late as Dec. 30 with counts easily a goose per hunter on the Tulelake fields. Bag checks were missing on the Lower Klamath side for 10 days as of New Year's Day. That may be hiding results there.

One report was that geese were being seen on that side, too, and some were being taken, especially on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons when shooting hours are extended.

Harvest statistics were not posted on the Modoc National Wildlife site after Dec. 23 but as of then every other hunter was taking a goose and maybe a duck. Hunting in eastern Modoc County is probably better than the refuge counts anyway. Several reports by reliable sources included limits of Canadian honkers and fair numbers of what looked like northern ducks including mallards, widgeon and pintails.

All of these reports came from hunters who belong to clubs, used private property or were hunting with guides in the areas west and south of Alturas. One guide, James Smith of Fall River Mills of Smith's Guide Service (530)-859-5717 called in to say his parties on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had excellent shooting in the Canby area. He reported another guide in that area, Pat William of Full Migration Guide Service had equally good results. Other scouting trips to areas near Fall River looked promising, too, according to Smith. It's about time. Even a slight warm and some wind would be a huge help.

Any deep water areas will undoubtedly see plenty of diver ducks including ringed neck ducks, scaup, canvasback and goldeneye. (Note: the limit on scaup is just two and no canvasbacks can be taken this year.) Goldeneye are very wary birds and are difficult to decoy but they are also fast flyers, which makes for excellent pass shooting if you see or hear them coming in time. Goldeneyes make a lot of noise during flight. A pinion in their wings makes a sound like a door hinge opening and closing. If you hear that sound, you can be sure you've got a flight of goldeneye nearby, probably high over your head eying your spread or high tailing it out of range.

Are Bear Hunters Being Watched by Lions?

On several occasions, hunters have told me they are encountering more mountain lions each year and sometimes have the feeling that the felines are either stalking them or showing a lot of curiosity.

James Smith of the aforementioned Smith's Guide Service in Fall River Mills who takes clients on guided bear hunting trips across the north state reported treeing 35 bears this year and taking 25 for his clients but, Smith says, "We jumped or treed many mountain lions, too. For every two bears our dogs treed, we also treed one mountain lion. It was very interesting and it puts everyone on his guard. I carry a sidearm just in case but I've never been attacked," Smith said. "Lions, much like bears, just want to get out of your way if they can."