It seems that every year hunting season preparation takes place earlier and earlier than I can remember in the past.

Then again, as we get older, time does have a way of flying by us. I received a post card in the mail this week asking me to participate in the PGC Elk Survey. I complied out of curiosity and a sense of responsibility to the request.

Generally, it was about the hunt and the processes that surround the hunting of elk in Pennsylvania. One part that was interesting was the gallery of pictures of bull elk. It consisted of photos of every type of bull from spikes to royal bulls in which you were asked if you had the opportunity would you harvest this elk?

Most of the elk looked pretty good to me, but a few would have been passed up for a better opportunity.

Other parts of the survey asked if you would change the length of the season or would use a guide to assist in the hunt. I would use any help offered to make a hunt of a lifetime successful as long as it was legally sanctioned by the PGC.

Most of us do not have the knowledge or time to give an elk hunt in unknown territories successfully. It will be interesting to see the results of the survey and how hunters in Pennsylvania view the changes they may make.

One other area that was considered was in the accumulation of elk hunt points for each year that you applied and was unsuccessful in getting picked in the elk lottery. The current plan is that you get your name put in the hopper that many more times. New considerations were using a point tier system and mini drawings for specific elk range areas that were more desirable due to trophy bulls.

Either way, I put my name in for the drawing once again and I have high hopes for a tag! All elk lottery applications need to be in by the end of July for this year’s hunt in 2018.

Bucket list

Do you have an outdoor or nature bucket list?

I guess I have always had some kind of bucket list of things to do and see in the great outdoors. Every year I talk to fellow outdoor enthusiasts and they share the goals they attain and wish to attain with an outdoor experience.

One of my goals and a high interest was in seeing live whales in action. Not some killer whale in a tank, but a free-range whale in the ocean. I did some research and found that I had the opportunity to put a vacation and a whale watch together in a reasonably short time. Everything was pointing to a trip to Maines coastal areas and I took the plunge.

In a short time, I had tickets to fly into Portland, Maine and a rental truck to head up the Atlantic coast to Boothbay Harbor a great port for fishing, lobster boats and whale watches.

My research located a vessel that was led by a marine biologist who was heading out to Egg Rock Island and then to the Gulf of Maine. The biologist was interested in pelagic bird life such as the Atlantic Puffins, Cormorants, and Gannets, among others. Then we would head to deeper waters looking for Fin Back whales and the smaller Minke whales that often accompany their larger relatives.

The biologist divided the boat crew up in a clock- like fashion with each of us assigned an hour hand to watch for our targets of interest. We would be asked to yell out a species if sighted and the clock hour, for example, whale at 3 o’clock so that we all could check it out.

I was the first to yell out as I glassed the Egg Rock Island and saw a large seal basking on a sand bar. This was a bonus find as we had the big boy relaxing and sitting still. Soon a call was made about seeing the rare Atlantic Puffin and then quite a few other sea faring pelagic bird species. They spend their entire lives on the ocean which gives them the pelagic status.

We soon headed out to the Gulf of Maine’s cold waters from Labrador. These waters are rich in krill and plankton and a fabulous fishery for sea life, including whales. A plume of water and air spouted about 20 feet in the air for our first indication that whales were in the area.

Then I spotted an 80-foot behemoth arch out of the water as he prepared for a feeding dive. I couldn’t help but to laugh as someone yelled out “Thar she blows!”

The Fin Back Whale is the second largest mammal on earth next to the Blue Whale. The Fin can grow up to 90 feet and weigh in at 80 tons. You can only imagine the excitement of our group as not only one but a pod of these whales surrounded us with an awesome display of nature at her finest.

The brief trip was well worth it, so to speak, and I was happy to have checked off one more of my life experiences on the bucket list!

Deer license

Don’t forget that the first round of antlerless deer license applications is scheduled for July 9 for residents!

Until we meet again, get working on that next adventure.

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle