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 13, 2016 Evening

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Good evening! Ample moonlight  and 49 degrees at the Ossian State Forest. Tonight is the Beaver Full Moon. Under clear skies the woods is pretty easy to see. There is a west-southwest breeze at 15 mph. Not so cold but just as breezy or maybe more so then when I was at Finger Lakes National Forest. The breeze does blow out the pilot a fair bit but it’s mild enough I’ll probably just leave the heater off and just sit next to the fire until bed. 

Took Waze out to Ossian State Forest, taking the blue highways. This one county highway I took wound through a deep gorge and was kind of interesting. Drove through Bath for the first time. Looked at camping at Evergreen Lake but the firewood was well picked over so I decided to set up my tent in the backcountry about 200 ft off a back road. 

Didn’t visit any place special today but I still liked seeing the small towns and back roads. Sometimes the best and most interesting trips aren’t any one in particular. 

Tonight will be clear, with a low of 37 degrees at 5am. Four degrees above normal. Southwest wind around 15 mph. One year ago, mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The record low of 12 occurred back in 1996. 

Tomorrow will be sunny, with a high of 58 degrees at 2pm. Nine degrees above normal. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph. 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 rise at 7:01 am with the first light at 6:31 am, which is 1 minutes and 15 seconds later then yesterday.

Tomorrow I will spend some time in Rattlesnake WMA then Letchworth State Park. I think I will break camp in the morning and head further west – maybe East Otto State Forest  or Rock City State Forest. I’ll have to think what I want to do come the morning. 

Looking ahead, Christmas is in 6 weeks and New Years Day is in seven. .

November 13, 2016 Morning

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Good morning! Happy Sunday. Today is first day of the Winter 2016-17 season when we can expect am average low below freezing every day. It’s also seven weeks out through New Years Day and six weeks out from Christmas. 

Right now we have sunny conditions and 36 degrees in Watkins Glen. Breezy, 16 mph breeze from the west. But not as bitterly cold as Friday night but I’ll be glad to be camping somewhere tonight  that is a bit more sheltered. 

Today will be sunny, with a high of 52 degrees at 2pm. Four degrees above normal. West wind 14 to 16 mph. Except for the wind not too bad. Getting off the mountain should be less windy.  Last year, partly cloudy with a high around 56. The record high of 69 was set in 1964. There was 6 inches of snow back in 1886.
The sun will set at 4:45 pm with dusk around 5:15 pm, which is 56 seconds earlier than yesterday. Today will have 9 hours and 48 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 2 minutes and 11 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be clear, with a low of 32 degrees at 6am. Typical for tonight. Southwest wind 15 to 17 mph. One year ago, mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The record low of 12 occurred back in 1996.

There are 6 weeks until Christmas when the sun will be setting at 4:40 pm with dusk at 5:12 pm. The average high temperature is 33 degrees, with a record high of 66 in 1889.