Rattlesnake Hill WMA

The Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area is a 5,100 acre upland tract, situated approximately eight miles west of Dansville, New York. Roughly two-thirds of the area lies in southern Livingston County, while the remaining third lies in northern Allegany County. The tract was purchased in the 1930’s under the Federal Resettlement Administration and is one of several such areas turned over to DEC for development as a wildlife management area.

The area is appropriately named after the Timber Rattlesnake, which may be occasionally found in the more remote sections of the “Hill”.

The area offers an interesting blend of upland habitats such as mature woodland, overgrown fields, conifer plantations, old growth apple orchards and open meadows.

The area is inhabited by a variety of game species and is open to public hunting. The white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, grey squirrel, cottontail rabbit and woodcock are found on the area. An occasional snowshoe hare may be observed adjacent to thick creek bottom brush or conifer plantation habitats.

A number of small marsh units have been developed and provide limited hunting for waterfowl. Some of the area’s furbearing species such as mink, beaver and raccoon may be occasionally viewed at these marsh units.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24443.html

November 14, 2016 Morning

|

Good morning! Sunny and 42 degrees in Ossian State Forest. There is a west-southwest breeze at 10 mph. Not a half bad morning but still pretty breezy. Taking down camp now and will be heading north to Letchworth State Park in a bit. Then I’ll be heading west, most likely to Cattaraugus County. 

Definitely nice and warm in the tent, it makes getting changed and washed up so much more pleasant when it’s 75 degrees versus the truck cap when you’re above the covers and it’s only slightly above the ambient air temperature between 20 and 30. On a breezy day like today, you occasionally feel a cool breeze blowing in the tent but it’s still very comfortable for getting changed and warming things up before bed. 

Carbon monoxide detector continues to read zero, which is normal because a catalytic converter heater should never put out any measurable level of CO. That said it is fuel burning appliance and a malfunction could occur. It also never gets real hot to the touch because it radiates the heat but never gets above a couple hundred degrees on its surface. You can touch the metal safely except when its on its highest setting. 

Today will be a nice one. Look for  sunny conditions, with a high of 56 degrees at 2pm. Seven degrees above normal.  Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Should be a pretty nice day especially compared to last year. Last year, mostly cloudy with a high around 44. The record high of 70 was set in 1973. There was 14.4 inches of snow back in 1972.

The sun will set at 4:48 pm with dusk around 5:19 pm, which is 54 seconds earlier than yesterday. Today will have 9 hours and 46 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 2 minutes and 9 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low of 36 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. One year ago, partly cloudy with a low around 30. The record low of 14 occurred back in 1939.