October North Carolina Wildlife Calendar

A day late, and, well, just a day later than I wanted to get this posted (though I am a few dollars short since payday is still a week away!).  It's the beginning of a new month and you know what that means: Wildlife calendar time!  Again, forum member Crash on NC Hunt and Fish has posted up the monthly calendar put out by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and here is is for everyone to enjoy.

Oct. 1: Eastern Muzzleloader deer season opens
Oct. 1: Sea duck season opens
Oct. 1: Controlled hunting preserves open
Oct. 1: Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters Open.
Oct. 2: Last loggerhead sea turtle nests are hatching.
Oct. 3: Western Muzzleloader deer season begins
Oct. 3: Chimney swifts are leaving.
Oct. 4: Peak surface activity for hognose snakes.
Oct. 5-8: Duck, Merganser and Coot season is open.
Oct. 5-15: Dark Goose season open
Oct. 10: Tail end of migration peak for many shorebird species.
Oct. 10-16: National Wildlife Refuge Week.
Oct. 11: Ruby-throated hummingbirds are leaving for Central and South America. Leave your feeders up for potential sightings of unusual winter birds.
Oct. 15: Eastern Gun deer season begins
Oct. 15: Mud turtles and chicken turtles begin hibernation. Unlike most aquatic turtles, these species usually leave their ponds to hibernate on land.
Oct. 16: Red bats are mating.
Oct. 17: Western Bear season opens
Oct. 17: Bobcat, Squirrel, Ruffed Grouse, Raccoon and Opossum seasons begins.
Oct. 19: Light Goose season open
Oct. 23: Acorns are mature for most oak species.
Oct. 25: Persimmons are ripe.
Oct. 29: Central Deer Muzzleloader season begins

-C.B.