With spring heavy in the air and new life abounding May ushers in the beginning of most outdoorsmen’s seasonal routine.
The rise in temperature is beginning to bring about changes in nearly all plant and animal species. Humans, like a nest -building bird, are buzzing around taking care of last year’s debris and preparing for the upcoming season. This seasonal transition offers the outdoorsman a conglomeration of experiences to be had afield. With so much going on, it’s not hard to find something enjoyable to do in May. Outside is definitely the place to be.
The first of the month draws hunters afield to engage in battle with wily toms. Like song birds, male and female turkeys become more vocal until it reaches a peak in mid-May, and subsiding by early to mid June. Because turkeys can be distinguished by sight and sound due to their obvious variances in appearance and vocalizations, you are able to hunt without the worries if shooting a female bird. Spring is nesting time for nearly all bird species, so shooting a female turkey in May would reduce the animals ability to propagate.
Most trout fishermen have hung up the fly rod by May, while the experienced trout anglers are just beginning to prepare for the May fly hatch. May Flys and other semi-aquatic insects, which spend the majority of their lives in water begun to hatch in late April through the month of May. The ability to see your fly floating increases the odds of hooking a fish that surfaces to eat it, opposed to sinking baits. I personally feel there is something special, almost magical, to watch a fish surface and inhale your fly, especially ones you have hand-tied! Hooking and landing is fun, but not imperative in getting the blood pumping, as the image of the attack is something to experience and behold alone.
Walleye, Northern Pike, Tiger Musky and Pickerel season all start on the first Saturday of May. You are sure to find me chasing one of these toothy critters in the afternoon after hunting turkeys in the a.m. Walleye are one of my favorite species to catch. They put up quite a fight in moving water, and are one of the tastiest fish our state waters have to offer. Walleye, being from the perch family, tend to be quite aggressive, while also being picky as to what bait you offer them. I recommend trying out several types of lures known to catch Walleye at each spot you fish.
When you get a bite, continue to use that lure at the next spot to see if a pattern appears. Most of the time, if one fish bites that particular lure, it’s probably close to what they are feeding on, so others should bite it too. Although Smallmouth Bass are not in season, they tend to eat the same thing the Walleyes are eating, I typically catch equal numbers of them while fishing rivers and lakes that contain both species. You can't keep Smallmouths in May, they must be released immediately. I never keep them, anyway, as they are my favorite fish to catch, and for some reason are let go unless harmed.
Did somebody say fish fry?
Well at least that’s what I’m thinking around the second week in May. Crappie are beginning to move into the shallows to spawn, which makes it much easier to catch a bunch in one spot. I like to take advantage of this predictable pattern to focus on filling a few bags with fillets. Immediately after the Crappies move out, the Bluegills, Pumpkin Seeds, Shell Crackers, and Sunfish take over the shallows. This typically takes place in late May, and is the best time to get new anglers hooked on fishing because of the ability to catch large numbers in a short amount of time. Their extreme numbers offer even the most inexperienced of anglers the ability to catch a bunch of them. I have found that new fishermen are more likely to continue if something is caught, while those that get skunked a few times tend to be less likely to make it a part of their lives.
Most find pan fish to be annoying bait thieves and useless to eat because of the complicated cleaning process when compared to larger fish. I use an electric knife to fillet all but trout, and find it quite easy to get cuts from fish as small as seven inches. Pan fish are great table fare, and well worth the work. You will be sure to forget the chore as soon as those batter-dipped fillets come out of the deep fryer.
Wow! May is such a great month, I can't wait for it to get started every year! Besides all the great hunting and fishing to be had, May is the beginning of hiking and camping season. The Bullthistle Hiking Club, led by Donald Windsor, holds 5- to 7-mile hikes in Chenango County every Sunday morning. The club meets at 8 a.m. in the lot behind HoJos in Norwich, and departs by 8:05 a.m., sharp. The locations are announced on our Yahoo Group site, www.bullthistlehiking.org.
Burn Ordinance
Please remember the No Burn Ordinance will not be lifted until May 15. This also includes camp fires, and is done to prevent wild fires. On a separate note, don’t forget the bug spray or suit as May tends to be the most heavily infested month for black flies and mosquitoes. The sun is also hard on the skin in May, so don’t forget the sunscreen to prevent burns while afield.
Good wishes, and be sure to get outdoors in May.

Note: Questions and comments about this column may be emailed to Sheldon at sheldonsoutdoorbusiness@hotmail.com.