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Pike County
Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs
Small Game
Hunting in
Pike County
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Introduction
When people think of hunting in Pike
County, they usually think about the big three ... deer, bear, and
turkey. However, Pike County offers a wide range of small game hunting
with over 25 species available. For purposes of this page, we will only
discuss hunting for the common upland game birds and mammals.
Waterfowl
and
Furbearers will be addressed in their respective pages.
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Pennsylvania Game Commission
Ruffed Grouse Society
Pheasants Forever
Quail Unlimited
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Upland Gamebirds
Five upland
gamebirds are commonly hunted in Pike County. The
Wild
Turkey, Ringneck Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Mourning Dove, and American
Woodcock. Because there is such a difference between the Wild Turkey and
the other four, the turkey is addressed in a separate page. Of the
remaining four, the American Woodcock and the Mourning Dove, are
migratory. Therefore, a Pennsylvania Migratory Bird Permit is required to
hunt these two and the seasons and bag limits are set by the U. S. Fish &
Wildlife Service.
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PCFSC Home
Page
Hunting
Page
Deer
Hunting Page
Bear
Hunting Page
Turkey
Hunting Page
Water Fowl
Hunting Page
Predator
Hunting Page
Public
Hunting Lands Page
Wild Game
Recipes Page
Fishing
Page
Pike County
Nature Page
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Ruffed Grouse
are found throughout Pike County and are as abundant on public land as
they are on private. They prefer a mixed habitat with big woods, new
growth, and grassy patches all in close proximity. Favorite fall foods
include the berries of barberry, multiflora rose, autumn olive and
teaberry; acorns, witch hazel flowers, teaberry leaves, and the catkins of
birch and aspens. The ruffed grouse can erupt from the ground with a
tremendous roar, or when more convenient, fly as quietly as a robin. They
may flush out of shotgun range, or hold tight and let the hunter pass
within a few feet of them. For this reason, hunting ruffed grouse can
present a challenge to even the most seasoned hunter. All of Pike
County's public lands hold fair numbers of grouse. Pick whichever is
closest and enjoy the thrill!
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Ringneck Pheasant - Rooster |
Ringneck Pheasants
are probably the most sought after small game in Pike County. Unlike
other parts of the state, both males and females are legal to shoot
throughout the county. The vast majority of the pheasants harvested are
on public lands stocked by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Pheasants
prefer the brushy edges of fields. They will often run way ahead of the
hunter and not take to the wing until absolutely necessary. The best
places to hunt pheasants in Pike County are in the Delaware Water Gap -
National Recreational Area. The fields along U.S. 209, Conashaugh Road,
and near Loch Lomand provide nice places to hunt.
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Ringneck Pheasant - Hen |
Mourning Doves
are found throughout the county. However the public hunting areas that
offer the best dove hunting are the fields along U.S. 209 in the Delaware
Water Gap - National Recreational Area. Be sure to get a Pennsylvania
Migratory Bird Permit and observe the special regulations printed on the
migratory bird hunting regulations summary (available at post offices and
other places selling duck stamps).
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Mourning Dove
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American Woodcock
are the most unique of the upland gamebirds. It is essentially a shore
bird that has evolved to live in the uplands. During its evolution, the
woodcock grew a long prehensile bill to snag worms (its favorite food),
oversized eyes to see while flying after dark, and a complex up-side-down
brain that allows it to fly through the thickest cover without touching a
twig. The woodcock is so confident of his camouflaged coloration that it
will often flush just as the hunter is about to step on it! Local
woodcock may be found near lakes and streams throughout the area. They
prefer brush that is thick overhead but open along the ground. Woodcock
generally will not leave an area until the ground starts to frost up.
Then they will migrate as much as 60 miles south in a night trying to stay
in front of the freeze. If the weather warms, many will head back north
again. In Pike County, woodcock may be hunted almost anywhere there is
moist ground and thick cover. However, when the migration is on, the best
hunting places are in the Delaware Water Gap - National Recreational Area
(both on the hill and near the river). Be sure to get a Pennsylvania
Migratory Bird Permit and observe the special regulations printed on the
migratory bird hunting regulations summary (available at post offices and
other places selling duck stamps). For more information about this
fantastic bird, check out the
Ruffed Grouse Society website.
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American Woodcock |
Game Animals
Small game animals
filled the pots of early settlers and are a great way to introduce
children to hunting. Today, Pike County offers plenty of opportunity for
those looking for lots of action in a short amount of time.
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Squirrels
are abundant everywhere in Pike County. The County's huge tracts of
hardwoods, especially those with large stands of oaks, support great
numbers of these bushy tailed rodents. The gray squirrel is the most
common and can be found most anywhere there are mature trees. The black
squirrel is a color variation of the gray squirrel and may be found living
among the gray squirrels in various areas around the County. Red
squirrels prefer groves of pine trees and can often be heard chattering
when not eating the seeds of pine cones. Though not a game animal, Pike
County is also home to flying squirrels which are mostly nocturnal. Flying
squirrels are a protected species so if you see one, hold your fire and
enjoy the sight. All the state forest and gamelands offer great
squirrel hunting. Just find a good oak stand and sit there quietly. It
should not take long before the squirrels appear. Best hunting is usually
in the morning and the last couple hours before dark.
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Eastern Gray Squirrel |
Cottontail Rabbits
are less plentiful than they used to be. This is mainly due to the
decline of farming and the resurgence of predators in the area. However,
there are still rabbits to be found. The edges of the fields along U.S.
209 and the food plots in the gamelands are good places to start looking.
Remember to look in brush piles in the woods, especially if they are
within a hundred yards of a clearing.
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Cottontail Rabbit |
Snowshoe Hares
in the summer time look like the ordinary cottontail rabbit. But as the
weather cools a transformation takes place. The Snowshoe hare grows a
white coat that makes it almost invisible in the snow. The snowshoe is
generally a little larger that the typical cottontail and has huge rear
feet (hence it's name). The large feet allow it to run quickly along
powdery snow. The snowshoe also differs from the cottontail in that it
runs much faster, almost never holes up, and will generally run a much
farther and more directly away from the hunter as opposed to the
cottontail's shorter circular runs. The snowshoes coloration is often its
downfall. The color change is cyclical and not dependent on snow fall.
Therefore, it is often possible to see all white snowshoes sitting on
brown leaves when snow is absent. The snowshoe is sometimes gets overly
confident of its camouflage, often letting a hunter approach quite closely
or running a short distance then stopping in the open. While this can be
foolhardy in the snow, it can be almost suicidal for white colored rabbits
on brown leaves. Snowshoes may be found in many parts of Pike County but
are more common in the higher elevations. Try hunting the rhododendron
and mountain laurel patches around Promised Land State Park and the
Delaware State Forest along PA- 402.
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Woodchucks
(or groundhogs) are found throughout Pike County. A common game animal in
the past, today, they are rarely hunted. The decline of farming as left
fields to mature into forest. Woodchucks may be found in the forest, but
in much smaller numbers. Private community green belts, golf courses, and
especially interstate highway meridians are great woodchuck habitat.
However, laws and ethics make them unhuntable. Those wanting to hunt
woodchucks in the summertime may try the grassy areas of gamelands food
plots.
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Raccoons
are very plentiful in Pike County. Raccoon hunters are not. Maybe this
is due to much of the land being posted and coon dogs being naturally wide
ranging. Or, it might be because the raccoon is better hunted at night
when working people need to sleep. Whatever the case, Coon hunters can
hunt wherever they can get access. Gamelands, state forests, and the
Delaware Water Gap - Natural Recreation Area all could provide good
hunting. Remember, a furbearer license is required.
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Conclusion
If you live in, or plan to visit Pike
County, plan to do a little small game hunting. You'll find loads of
public land and plenty of "elbow room".
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