April’s showers finally arrived, following fast on the track of a magnificent stretch of brilliant sunny days. Color is coming to the bogs and hillsides as trees begin to flower and the first buds have appeared. Velvety fiddleheads are now beginning to sprout through the forest cover and the pungency of swamp cabbage is again in the air. The woods have come alive with bird songs and hoots of the owl, and the tremolo of loons now emanates from the ponds.

Although over four feet of snow still remains in the upper elevations and snowshoes are still required equipment for a hike up Mt. Marcy, the weather of the past few weeks has been outstanding. Last Sunday, an almost summer-like stillness was evident on the water. The weather has been more like early August than late April, at least until it began to spit snow by midweek.

The month of May welcomes the spring wild turkey season and the open seasons for northern pike, walleye and tiger muskie. However, it