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HUNTING & FISHING IN ALABAMA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
CONTENTS 15 Places to Find and Catch Prespawn Crappie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by John E. Phillips Selecting the Best Thermal Imaging for Hunting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 by R.S. Hooper Purpose Building a Tactical Hunting Rifle . . 18 by Joe Baya Ready for something new? Try snipe hunting! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 by Tony Young Using Satellite Technology to Catch More Pelagic Fish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 by Frank Sargeant Alabama Black Belt Hunting Traditions You‘ll Want to Pass Down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 by Joe Baya
In Every Issue
Cover art by Pulsar www.pulsar-nv.com 4 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Best Bets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by William Kendy New Gear for Outdoorsmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 by Great Days Outdoors Staff From the Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 by Chris Blakenship From the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 by Charles Sykes The Gun Rack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 by Charles Haney Camphouse Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 by Hank Shaw Pier & Shore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 by David Thorton Paddle Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 by Ed Mashburn Gulf Coast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 by Mike Thompson Regional Freshwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 by Ed Mashburn Prime Feeding Times, Moon, Sun, and Tide Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Pensacola Motorsports Trophy Room. . . . . . 68 Great Days Kids Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Classifieds & Fishin‘ Guides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Fishing Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 by Captain Dan Kolenich A Great Day Outdoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 by Jim Mize
PROPERTY PHOTO HERE
PROPERTY PHOTO HERE
Latham Farm Lakes Hunting & Timber Retreat
Alabama River Waterfront Hunting Tract
This diverse tract has it all: fishing lake, paved road frontage, fenced and cross fenced pasture, duck pond, hayfields, merchantable timber, and 2 smaller ponds, all less than 45 minutes from Mobile or Daphne. LocatedTEXT between Stockton & Tensaw in the Latham PROPERTY HERE community, an area known for strong timber production and excellent deer, turkey, dove, quail, and duck hunting, enjoy easy access along Highway 59 or Old Ganey Road, an improved road system, a network of well-sized, strategically placed food plots with shooting houses, a 7 acre lake, 1 acre fish pond, 1 acre cattle pond with cross fencing, and a duck pond, merchantable stands of natural pine, plantation pine, and mature hardwood, and probably the rarest attribute of all for this area: 92 acres of income-producing agricultural land. Utilities are available at multiple locations along the abundant road frontage, and there are multiple scenic areas for building a lodge or permanent home. Large tracts are rarely available in this area... Don’t miss your chance to see this one.
This diverse waterfront hunting and timber investment with 3,067 feet of frontage on the Alabama River and Bailey’s Creek is a rare find. Located off CR 1 between Chrysler and TEXT HERE Perdue Hill, an area wellPROPERTY known for quality deer, turkey, dove, and duck hunting, just over an hour from both Mobile and Spanish Fort. Enjoy easy access off Bailey’s Creek Road and an intricate internal road and trail system to access the multiple food plots, two duck ponds, and equipment shed on the property. Timber types include mature, unthinned hardwood, pine plantations that are almost ready for their first thinning, and recently converted pine plantation. Utilities are available at the offset camp site and there are multiple potential fishing lake sites and camp sites with hilltop views. Land of this quality is rarely available in this area, much less on the river.
Baldwin County, Alabama, 1304+/-Acres
Monroe County, Alabama, 298+/-Acres
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Alabama Listings COUNTY
Autauga Autauga Autauga Autauga Autauga Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Barbour Barbour Bibb Bibb Blount Blount Blount Blount Bullock Bullock Bullock Bullock Bullock Butler Butler Butler Butler Calhoun
ACRES
1068 371 298.55 210 189 3636 1995 1339 1304 710 120 62 98.6 30 233.3 66 60 50 4000 167 80 48.6 40 1455.52 395 85.16 77 102
Calhoun Calhoun Calhoun Calhoun Chilton Chilton Choctaw Choctaw Choctaw Choctaw Choctaw Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clay Clay Clay Clay Clay Cleburne Cleburne Cleburne Cleburne Coffee Colbert Colbert
100 26.91 25 22.5 221 65.4 388 216 100 54 38 526 520 234 220 179 116 80 42 40 38 377 80 57 56.48 254 40 36
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Colbert Colbert Colbert Conecuh Conecuh Conecuh Coosa Coosa Covington Covington Covington Covington Covington Crenshaw Crenshaw Cullman Cullman Cullman Dale Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Elmore Elmore Elmore Elmore
ACRES 36 2 1.5 80 20 10 151 45 360 331 79 72 22 134 120 876.25 232 59 96 463.54 140 82.73 64 27 2000 450 342 264
Elmore Escambia Escambia Etowah Etowah Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Franklin Franklin Franklin Franklin Franklin Greene Greene Greene Hale Hale Hale Hale Hale Henry Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson
213 671.6 68 275 167.3 232 112 110 90 70 608 563 552 244 165 2100 38 30 186 150 88 53.2 53 200 633 330 245 125
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Jefferson Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lauderdale Lawrence Lawrence Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Macon Macon Macon Macon Macon Madison Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marion Marion Marion
ACRES 120 367 192 160 148 92 60 80 45 1181 1013 793.5 790 783 2370 930 486 396 60 100 6214 3000 1164 404 264 387 325 250
Marion Marion Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Monroe Monroe Monroe Monroe Monroe Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Morgan Morgan Perry Perry Perry Perry Perry Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens
215 168 1800 308 299.1 260 192 790 378.49 298 268.11 129 858 697 623 469 430 150 76 386 240.75 200 189 90.5 1480 837 450 430
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Pickens Pike Pike Pike Pike Pike Randolph Randolph Randolph Randolph Randolph Russell Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Talladega Talladega
ACRES 150 352.8 160 112 80 40 407 329 78 60 52.4 195 68.13 29 14.68 10 93 83 80 48 43.56 740 350 188 45.7 36.5 882 537
Talladega Talladega Talladega Tallapoosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Walker Walker Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Wilcox Wilcox Wilcox Wilcox Wilcox Winston Winston Winston
327 47 18 20.917 153 117 115 80 71 233 65 1261 796 240 160 160 1465 694 660 640 213 265 2.3 1.3
COUNTY Escambia Gulf Holmes Holmes Walton Walton Walton Walton Walton
ACRES 257 55 188 93 225 188 60 35 24
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 5
BEST BETS
BEST BETS FOR FEBRUARY These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month! BY WILLIAM KENDY
IT’S SHOWTIME!
February and March kick off the annual sports and boating show season. The Biloxi Boat Show is Feb 7-9, followed by the NWTF Convention and Sport Show Feb 14-16 in Nashville. The Alabama RV Super Show in Huntsville also opens on Feb 14 and the Mobile Boat Show kicks off on March 6. Then there is the Dixie Deer Classic Feb 28-March 1st in Raleigh, NC. This doesn’t count local boat and sportsmen events and expos. In addition to seeing new stuff and enjoying a few beers out, these shows offer the opportunity to take advantage of show specials and make some real money saving deals. Tip: Exhibitors want to take home as little merchandise as possible…so the last day of a show is a good time to negotiate.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 February 2020
PUBLISHED BY: Great Days Outdoors Media, L.L.C. PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Joe Baya ASSISTANT EDITOR: William Kendy CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Wendy Johannesmann ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Samatha Hester
CONTRIBUTING FREELANCE WRITERS:
“SNIPERING” SNIPES
The term “sniper” originated in the 1770’s by soldiers in British India to apply to those hunters who actually could hit snipes. In his article Try Snipe Hunting in this issue, Tony Young outlines the ins and outs of trying to score on a very hard-to-hit small, quick and erratic flying migratory bird. According to Young, snipe are found in river floodplains, marshes, shallow flooded pastures and wetlands with low cover around the edges and, if you find one snipe, chances are good you will kick up more. Concentrating on wet areas in a dry spell, where the birds may be concentrated, is a good tactic. In addition to challenging shooting, snipe are also good to eat. See Hank Shaw’s recipe in this issue’s CampHouse Kitchen.
COLD WEATHER BASS PROVIDE HOT ACTION While the weather may not be the most enjoyable, hardy anglers can cash in on some brisk action with some hefty bass in February especially on the northern Alabama Tennessee River Valley lakes. Pickwick, Wilson and Guntersville are well known trophy bass waters.
Fishing in chilly weather necessitates a change in fishing tactics. Ed Mashburn, in his article Lake Guntersville Bass Fishing Tips in the January GDO issue interviews long time fishing Guide Lee Pitts on what works. Pitts points out that bass won’t chase a lure far or fast so slow retrieves are a must. Shad pattern lures worked at a slow speed close to cover can produce but speed can be a wild-card. Read Pitt’s Fishing Tips in this issue. 6 JANUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Chris Blankenship Daryl Bell Alex Granpere Craig Haney Charles Johnson Ed Mashburn Doug Max Greg McCain John E. Phillips
Corky Pugh Chuck Sykes Mike Thompson David Thornton Jim Barta Jim Mize Deneshia Larson Patric Garmeson Hank Shaw
Joe Baya Don Green Babe Winkelman Bobby Abruscato J. Wayne Fears Nick Williams Tony Kinton Richard Rutland
Great Days Outdoors (USPS 17228; ISSN 1556-0147) is published monthly at P.O. Box 1253 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Subscription rate is $24 for one-year, $40 for two-years, and $55 for three-years. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile, Ala. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 92046 SUBSCRIBERS: All subscriptions begin the first issue for the month following receipt of payment, if payment is received by the 15th. Great Days Outdoors assumes no responsibility for delivery after magazines are mailed. All delivery complaints should be addressed to your local postmaster. CONTACT US: EDITORIAL | JoeBaya@greatdaysoutdoors.com ADVERTISING | SamHester@greatdaysoutdoors.com SUBSCRIPTIONS | greatdaysoutdoors@pcspublink.com Great Days Outdoors Media LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 92046 877. 314. 1237 info@greatdaysoutdoors.com www.greatdaysoutdoors.com All rights reserved. Reproduction of contents is strictly prohibited without permission from Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC.
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15 Places
to Find and Catch Prespawn Crappie BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
Excited Alabama crappie anglers know February marks the beginning of the state’s crappie season. 8 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
If you’ll put a jig in thick cover during the prespawn, you often can bring a crappie like this to the surface.
FISHING
Alicia Phillips of Wetumpka shows off some of those big, fat prespawn crappie you can catch during February.
Alabama’s crappie season generally starts in February. Veteran crappiers know they can catch the biggest and the most crappie that month, before the speckled sides go to their beds. Prespawn crappie often are the most-dependable crappie you can catch all year too. However, you must know how to locate the fish. Here are 15 places to look for crappie in the prespawn. * Ducks Mark the Spot - On water systems with dewatering areas for waterfowl, late February or the first half of March marks the time when the water from these duck ponds will drain back into the river. Warmer than the main body of water and often loaded with nutrients that draw bait fish, this water attracts large numbers of fat, prespawn crappie. Fish the areas where this water reenters the main river. Look for shallow bays, beaver ponds or big shallow sloughs cut-off from the main river. * Bass Fishermen’s Hotspots - Bass fishermen often build brush shelters at the mouths of creeks on points. During the prespawn, crappie will hold on these brush shelters on points that lead into creeks where they’ll spawn. When you hear bass fishermen reporting strikes on points with no success, more than likely they’ve had crappie attack their baits instead of bass. * Crappie in the Mouths of Creeks and Open Waters - Before the crappie move-up into the creeks to spawn, they often suspend in large schools in the mouths of creeks and in open water 50-200 yards from the mouths of creeks. To catch these fish, either troll, or cast jigs through the schools. Once you start to catch crappie, drop a buoy to pinpoint the school and cast to it. When the crappie quit biting, use your depth finder to relocate the schools, and change the color of your jig to continue to catch crappie from that same school. * Ledge Trolling - During the prespawn, crappie frequently will hold on underwater creek ledges close to the spawning grounds. By using your trolling motor to move very slowly along the edge of a creek channel, you may catch large numbers of big crappie when you troll jigs.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 9
15 Places to Find and Catch Prespawn Crappie
* Minnow Trolling - Place a 1/4-ounce sinker on the end of your line. Then 18 inches below the sinker, tie a 6-8 inch loop in the main line. Put the end of the loop through the eye of the hook and then over the point of the hook. Next, pull the loop back to the eye of the hook. This technique will hold your hook in place and away from the main line. Move 18 inches up from the first loop, and tie a second, 6-8 inch loop in the line. Attach a hook in the same manner as you have previously. Bait both hooks with minnows, and lower the lead down until it touches the bottom. Then reel it up 6-12 inches off the bottom. Put one or two rods out using this type of rig on each side of the boat. Using your trolling motor, slowly move your boat along the breakline of the underwater creek channel. Keep one side of the boat on the deep-water side of the breakline and the other side of the boat on the shallow-water side of the breakline to take numbers of crappie during the prespawn. * Cover Is Important - During the prespawn before the crappie move shallow, you’ll find fish under stumps, roots and brush that you won’t spot on your depth finder. For this reason, search for cover. Even if you don’t see any crappie, fish through and around the underwater cover. * Underwater Highways and Railroads - Underwater places where railroads and highways once crossed creeks and rivers may hold plenty of prespawn crappie. Also, underwater bridges, bridge pilings and other vertical structures will provide places for crappie to hold near almost any depth of water where they feel comfortable. Also, remember that there will be drastic water changes usually present on either side of bridge pilings, due
10 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
to the fact that engineers often construct pilings on the edges of underwater creek channels. * Rough Stuff - To catch prespawn crappie, you’ll often have to fish in some of the thickest cover you can find in deep water. Many crappie fishermen will fish the outside edges of that cover. However, if you want to catch the most and biggest crappie, fish right through the heart of the thick stuff. As one old timer once told me, “If you’re not breaking off jigs, straightening hooks, busting your line and losing your leads, you’re not fishing where the crappie are during the prespawn.” * Docks - Lake residents can show you where to find productive brush piles that hold crappie in the prespawn. If you notice a dock that either has poles on it or pole holders on the front, there’s a very-good chance you’ll find a hot, prespawn crappie spot in front of that dock. Often residents will build brush shelters about a pole’s length from the ends of their docks in 8 to 15 feet of water that will hold crappie. * Concrete - During the winter months before the spawn, prespawn crappie will look for warm water close to deep water. Concrete bridges, locks, dams and piers will catch the heat from the sun and transfer that heat into the water. Many anglers have had success taking crappie during the prespawn near a concrete loading dock on the edge of a creek channel. If you build a brush shelter next to the concrete too, you’ll have one of the most-productive spots on the lake or river to catch crappie. * Warm Water Discharges - If you can locate a creek or an area of the lake with a warm-water discharge coming from a factory or a plant, you’ll also find the most prespawn crappie there. The
15 Places to Find and Catch Prespawn Crappie
Pictured here is the author with a two-angler catch of fat, prespawn crappie.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 11
15 Places to Find and Catch Prespawn Crappie
Bridge pilings always are a productive place to look for crappie, especially bridge pilings near spawning flats.
fish will move into these warm-water discharges, because they feel most comfortable there, and they’ll find the most food. Look for the crappie to hold in the first or second eddy pool closest to the warm-water discharge, yet out of the current. * Large Schools of Shad - When you’re on a river where you can see seagulls diving on shad, you’ll have pinpointed a productive place to catch prespawn fish. Crappie below the school will force the shad to the surface where the birds will attack them. Fishing jigs or minnows under diving birds will allow you to locate and catch plenty of crappie. On a warm day, during the prespawn, you can spot the schools of shad on the surface, even if you don’t see a bird diving on them. * Ditches and the Ends of Creek and River Channels - On major reservoirs, crappie preparing to spawn generally will run up creek and river channels and wait in a hole or a deep spot at the very end of a ditch or a small creek channel 12 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
for the warm weather and the correct water temperature to move out on the flats to spawn. “During the prespawn and the postspawn times, I usually can find crappie ganged-up along ditches, cuts and the backs of little creek channels,” explains veteran angler Charlie Ingram of Eufaula, Alabama. “Many times in the backs of these ditches, I can sit in one spot and limit-out on crappie. Most of the time these crappie will be very aggressive, because they are trying to feed up ahead of the spawn.” Ingram believes that in order to be an effective prespawn fisherman, you must be able to read a depth finder and a topo map. “The topo map will tell you where the small ditches, secondary creeks, and little cuts are. The depth finder will help you get on this structure and show you the cover and the fish holding there. During the prespawn, I personally prefer to fish either
15 Places to Find and Catch Prespawn Crappie
the 3/4-ounce Jack Chancellor or the Hopkins jigging spoon (https://hopkinslures.com/), because I can angle vertically with it. It’s a big spoon and produces large crappie. Because of the jigging spoon’s weight, if I get tangled in cover, I can shake it free,” Ingram said. * Sight Fish - “I still find crappie the old way,” the late John Hill of Town Creek, Alabama, a nationally-known fishing guide on the Tennessee River, once told me. “Before and after the spawn, you can locate crappie in shallow water, if you know how to sight-fish for them.” Although sight-fishing usually refers to an angler’s skill in seeing fish and then catching those fish, when Hill used the term “sightfish”, he referred to his ability to read what was happening on the surface of the water to determine the location of the crappie.
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“When you see diving and feeding coots or ducks along the bank of a point or in a cove before or after the spawn, you know a school of shad is in the area,” Hill explained. “Usually crappie will be under or off to the side of the school of baitfish feeding on the same bait the waterfowl are eating.” Hill also watched for diving gulls. He knew when seagulls spotted schools of shad swimming in open water and began to dive on the baitfish, the shad would move deeper into the water where the crappie were feeding. As the crappie attacked the shad and forced them to the surface again, the gulls would dive on them. The crappie in the water and the gulls above would yo-yo a school of shad, as both predators fed on the bait. “Often shad feed along the top of the water with their mouths just out of the water,” Hill commented. “When you see crappie hit in the school of shad, you can go to the school and catch crappie during the prespawn.”
CONCRETE REPAIR
* Little-Water Crappie Hot Spots - During the prespawn and the spawn, most major reservoirs will have a line of crappie-fishing boats around them, resembling a bathtub ring. Like you, I’ve seen some lakes where so-many crappie anglers line the banks that you almost can step from one boat to another. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that with that much fishing pressure, each angler is catching fewer fish than he will if little or no fishing pressure is present. Instead of battling the crowds, move up small creeks and/or streams that feed these major rivers where bigger boats can’t get. You may not see another angler and may find outstanding crappie fishing. Often these feeder creeks will hold the bigger spawners and sometimes large numbers of these fish. If these feeder streams are warm-water creeks, the crappie will appear in these regions first. By fishing from the bank, you’ll often catch a limit of slab-sized crappie quicker and easier than the anglers out on the river will.
ENCAPSULATION
To pinpoint these little feeder streams, purchase maps of your area. Look for the streams that feed the main creeks or flow into the main lake. Another way to find small streams full of crappie is to call the fisheries biologists with Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Oftentimes they can tell you where the best access points are to these little waters. Look too at road maps, and pinpoint the blue lines, denoting small roads through non-busy towns. Often you’ll discover great crappie fishing in the small creeks along the blue-line roads. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 13
BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
14 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING
Selecting the Best Thermal Imaging for Hunting BY R.S. HOOPER
When a friend of mine first introduced me to night hog hunting, I had no idea that it would become a passion and eventually a business. When I started out hunting hogs at night, a thermal scope was only owned by military units. They were very expensive, had a grainy resolution and were very large. At that time, we only had one piece of thermal imaging optics. It was a small monocular with a 320x240 resolution made by the FLIR corporation. We called it the “Golden Egg”. It was a $6000.00 masterpiece that, when thinking back, I’m sure we looked like the three blind witches in the movie Clash of the Titans as we passed it around and fought over it, wanting to catch a glimpse. We used the small “Thermal Spotter”to find animals which would appear as small dots if past 100 yards. Standard night vision scopes and monoculars were used to navigate and take the shot. Night vision, which amplifies light so you can see in the dark, has been on a plateau for the past 20 years in terms of optical technical advancement. While there are newly introduced models offering multiple tubes and colors, for the most part, the image quality and features have remained stagnant. In my opinion, based on hundreds of hours cruising hog
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 15
Thermal Scopes for Hog Hunting
hunting land, you must have night vision to navigate with and properly identify animals. Otherwise, mistakes can be made and you surely will stumble through the dark even though you have a rifle topped with a thermal scope. On the other hand, technically thermal imaging has taken a rocketship type trajectory. When I started out, the 320x240 resolution spotter was “top of the line” technology. Units with a 160x140 resolution and a slow frame rate were common and would still cost several thousand dollars. I was the first guy in my initial hog eradication group to acquire a thermal weapon sight. It was a 320x240 resolution with a 30 HTZ frame rate. It was new to the market and worked ok, but I quickly found issues with it that the manufacturer had overlooked. This was a frustrating time for me as I knew that the engineers who designed this equipment had little to no field experience and didn’t test these units in varying conditions. My thoughts were confirmed when the company rep rode along with us on a hunting trip and he advised to calibrate the unit while it viewed the sky so as not to get a ghost image in the scope. I soon found that you needed a uniform surface to calibrate against like the lens cover or your hand. It was a truly frustrating learning time that only happened through experience. I felt like I was on my own as this technology was still in its infancy. In
addition, since the units cost over $10,000.00, there were not many people who had scopes that I could compare notes with. It wasn’t until 2012 did the FLIR corporation develop what is currently known as 640x480 resolution. That resolution offers a crisp and detailed image which is said to have 4 times as many pixels as the 320 resolution. It is still the highest resolution available to date. FLIR had developed military scopes in this resolution but it seemed to me that they did not adequately fund R&D enough to perfect the units. Another well-known company had developed their own thermal scopes using FLIR brand sensors. They reached out to me and soon I was in possession of their scope that incorporated the newly released 640x480 resolution FLIR sensor technology and I was amazed. I could use this unit in every environmental condition and humidity where the actual FLIR brand military scopes I had would wash out or show no contrast in overcast, high humidity situations. The key was the time they spent on perfecting the firmware in the scope circuit board. Now that you have a grasp on the early struggles in Thermal imaging development, lets get into what features to look for when choosing a thermal imager. IMAGE RESOLUTION Currently, entry level scopes are less expensive and have a 336x240 resolution sensor. You can do everything with the lower resolution sensor that you can do with the higher resolution, with one key exception which is identifying animals
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Thermal Scopes for Hog Hunting
further out and identifying objects verses animals. If you can afford the higher resolution, this feature is the most important. If not, as I stated earlier, we once considered the 320x240 resolution spotter, the “Golden Egg”. MAGNIFICATION: Generally, thermal scopes with a larger objective lens have more native magnification. They all have digital zoom, but the native magnification will be the most clear and less grainy. Every time you zoom the scope, the image will pixelate, which divides the image into little boxes which may make identification difficult. This is more noticeable and crucial on the lower resolution models. I feel that a high resolution scope with a lower magnification of around 1.8-2.5 or so gives you the best of both worlds. You have a sharp and crisp image for those 50-100 yard shots and then if you need to take a farther shot, you can still press the zoom button and have a usable image that’s not too grainy, where if you zoomed a lower resolution scope, the image will be blurry and seemingly unrecognizable. If you must buy a low resolution scope, purchase the one with more native magnification. Usually something with a 50mm lens is perfect in both versions. HERTZ RATING: Hertz (HTZ) basically is how fast the sensor processes images. The human eye processes approximately 27 frames per second or 27 HTZ. Most scopes and imagers are 30 HTZ. Most televisions are 120 htz currently so the big screens seem smooth without a blur when the quarterback throws the ball across the field while you watch your favorite team. Same goes for htz in a thermal imager. The higher the htz rating, the smoother the image will look when you pan across a field. 30 htz does just fine and 50 or 60 does seem a little better. But remember, your eye can only process slightly less than 30 so it really does not factor in as much as your gun shop sales guy wants you to think it does. Having said that, if you look through a 9 htz imager, the salesperson has a valid point. Because a 9 htz imager is much slower than your eye speed, it really stinks in a thermal scope go good luck trying to hit running objects such as a hog. Try and avoid anything less than 30htz. CUSTOMER SERVICE, COMPANY HISTORY AND WARRANTY: It is in your best interest to research products and companies and specifically, to determine if the company your are interested in has customer service issues. Trust me, you will eventually run into an issue and need to send your unit in for repair. One of the biggest red flags to look for is whether the company had a reputation of releasing unfinished, in terms of R&D, products for sale There are some out there. Be sure the company you buy from takes pride in finishing a product before throwing it on the market. Finally compare product warranties and determine how well they back them up.
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L A C I T C TA G N I T N U H E L F RI
Purpose Building a
BY JOE BAYA
18 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING When it comes to selecting the best tactical hunting rifle, it is important that we first understand exactly what the term “tactical” means. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines tactical as, 1.) of or relating to weapons or forces employed at the battlefront. 2.) of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose. By these definitions, all AR platform rifles are “tactical” in that they are comprised of many small scale actions (or choices) that serve a larger purpose. Where the tactical hunting rifle can become intimidating is in choosing the right components where the larger purpose of the rifle is for hunting and defense and shooting sports are secondary. In this article, we will determine the best tactical hunting rifle for the type of hunting you do the most. PURPOSE BUILDING THE BEST TACTICAL HUNTING RIFLE Sonny Vincent, founder and President of Bay County Armory, created BCA from the ground up after a career in Federal law enforcement. I recently caught up with Sonny on the Huntin’ Land Podcast where we discussed “purpose-building” a tactical hunting rifle. Baha: [What is the difference between a custom AR, which is what a lot of guys are looking for these days, and a purpose built AR for hunting? Vincent: “Well, for me, it’s all about how I view a rifle, especially an AR platform rifle, as a tool. You want to choose the right tool for the job that you’re taking on. Say I’m going to hunt elk, and I want an AR10. I want it to be this color, I want this type of fluting. I want this muzzle brake or that muzzle brake or this handguard versus another, those kind of areas are where you get more into the customization. “The purpose built portion is where you choose components and calibers and barrel lengths specifically for the type of hunting you intend to use this rifle for. They don’t have to be single use, you can choose calibers that are going to be useful and functional across multiple types of game species.” THE CUSTOM AR15 VS THE AR10 FOR HUNTING One of the first questions that I had in purpose building a custom AR10 or AR15
is in which platform to choose. “In the AR 10 platform, you’re going to get into calibers like 6.5 creedmoor, which is the darling of the long range community currently, and the 7mm08 which is a tremendous caliber. So if somebody is looking for longer range, the AR 10 platform is where they’re going to be looking,” Vincent said. “If you’re looking strictly for tactical in home, protect your family type stuff, the AR15 is no question where you’re going to be. It’s got the size and the weight considerations that that you’re going to be looking for when you’re thinking self defense. And while 5.56/.223 does have a place in the sporting community, most of the time unless people are looking for predators, that’s not the caliber they’re looking for. So self defense tends to be that lighter caliber and hunting tends to be slightly larger, more powerful calibers.” My first rifle was a Winchester Model 70 chambered in 270 Winchester. That rifle, slinged, scoped, and with a full magazine weighs nine pounds. I’ve carried it elk hunting in the mountains, propped it in the corner of many shooting houses, and pulled it up into countless treestands. It’s not the lightest rifle around, but the weight of the rifle has never been too much for me. Here are Sonny’s thoughts on weight in choosing the best tactical hunting rifle, “For pure hunter, weight really plays a big part of it. “The single item that is going to add the most weight in an AR10 is going to be the barrel. When you start looking at cartridges like the 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor, the chamber pressures are doubled or more than that of an AR15 chambering. That’s why you have thicker walls, chambers, and heavier barrels. I had one customer that was looking at a 308 build and he said that he couldn’t see himself doing this unless is came in at around eight pounds. I weighed every component and the rifle came in at just over 10. So when you move on to the AR 10, just accept that it is going to be a heavier total package than in the AR 15,” Vincent explained. So if you’re strictly still hunting and not carrying your rifle long distances, the AR10 platform is most likely the best tactical hunting rifle platform for you. The caliber choices available in the AR10 are much more advantageous for
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Purpose Building a Tactical Hunting Rifle
hunting deer, pigs, and elk. Still, this doesn’t mean that the AR15 doesn’t have some great hunting rounds itself and the benefit is that those calibers can put carried in a much lighter platform. So, if you plan on carrying your rifle longer distances in your hunting pursuits, consider the AR15. When it comes to the weight of an AR15 in a tactical hunting rifle, Vincent offers options. “In an AR15, you’ve got a variety of calibers starting at 300 blackout. I personally don’t care for a .223 in a hunting setup, especially for pigs and larger game and I want something that’s a little bit heavier. That includes the 7.62x39 which people know is the AK cartridge, the new 350 legend that’s out on the market, the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC and I believe that a rifle of six pounds or less is possible. When you go with a very low pressure round like the 350 legend, a thinner walled barrel and chamber, a shorter hand guard or even a carbon handguard, you can come out with a rifle that you could carry, without exaggeration all day in your hands, not on your shoulder, but in your hands and not be fatigued,” Vicent pointed out.
“Selecting an AR15 or an AR10 as the best tactical hunting rifle for you really comes down to your personal situation.”
THE CUSTOM TACTICAL HUNTING RIFLE DESIGN PROCESS Selecting an AR15 or an AR10 as the best tactical hunting rifle for you really comes down to your personal situation. At Bay County Armory, they have rifles that are already “purpose built” that you can buy off the shelf. The advantage of this is that there is no lead time and the expert has already hand picked components that best fit the type of hunting, defense, or shooting requirements that you have based on what is most common. But let’s say you are a special snowflake like me. You want an
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Purpose Building a Tactical Hunting Rifle
AR that your spouse can use, that your child can shoot, and that will be an effective 300 yard medium game rifle that isn’t so heavy it couldn’t be carried all day or into the woods or on predator hunts. You want this gun to be just the right color, and you want to pour over every component choice and truly custom design the weapon from start to finish. What’s this process like? Vincent describes how the Bay County Armory design process works. “The way I start out is to sit down and do an interview with the customer and ask the following. What are we looking at doing? Are we looking at the AR10, the AR15 or something else? Once we define which platform we’re looking at, we start narrowing down a caliber, barrel lengths, barrel materials, maybe even barrel profiles, because someone that’s going to want to go hog hunting and have a heavy thermal on top of their rifle is going to want a completely different build than someone who enjoys on a weekend spending half a day out punching paper and they want a much longer barrel, much heavier barrel. In reality those are two wildly different builds and one wouldn’t be applicable to the other use. The second thing in mind is your budget because there are components out there and the numbers can stack up very quickly. That being said, if somebody is looking for a budget build, that’s something that can be done and brought in within most people’s budgets and you can be hunting in just a week or so whereas with a higher end build you can be looking at a couple of months or more.” Selecting the best tactical hunting rifle is all about understanding what types of hunting and shooting you are going to encounter most of the time. One of the beauties of the AR platform as a hunting rifle is it’s modularity. With one lower and multiple uppers and you can change calibers, barrel lengths, handguards, overall weight and all of the other components just by pulling two pins. No matter what you plan to do, you come out as a winner with a platform that can be infinitely modified and re-purposed for wherever your sporting pursuits take you.
Important Contact Information Sonny Vincent Bay County Armory sonny@baycountyarmory.com 850-832-2238
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Ready for something new?
Try snipe hunting! BY TONY YOUNG
ASIDE FROM SHOTGUNS, BOOTS, SHELLS AND SOME WET, MARSHY TERRAIN, THERE ISN’T MUCH NEEDED FOR SNIPE HUNTING. THE DOG IS A FUN ADDITION
The folklore surrounding snipe hunting as a practical joke played on gullible, inexperienced campers has been around for so long that some people don’t realize snipe are real birds. But they are! This migratory bird overwinters in balmy Florida providing hunters with exciting wingshooting opportunities. In addition to preferring warm weather, snipe need vast 22 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
amounts of wetland habitat and moist soil. So, it’s no wonder hunters in Florida generally harvest more snipe than any other state, and by a good margin. “There are so many great reasons to hunt snipe,” said Mark McBride, biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “In areas of good habitat, snipe will be numerous, allowing for lots of action. They present
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a challenge because they are small birds and quick, erratic fliers. Only minimal hunting gear is needed, and they taste great.” Snipe season in Florida always runs Nov. 1 – Feb. 15, and there are several wildlife management areas in central and south Florida that offer good snipe hunting opportunities. The best snipe hunting WMAs contain wetlands with low cover around the edges, and the banks along Lake
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www.HOGRUSH.com 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 23
Ready for something new? Try snipe hunting!
Okeechobee and the Kissimmee and St. John’s rivers are traditional snipe hunting hotbeds. “Snipe prefer shallow flooded areas like river floodplains, shallow flooded pastures and around the edges of large lakes,” McBride said. “Spend a little time on Google Earth looking for these habitats and then go out and walk around some of the wetland spots you pick out and, if you find one snipe there’s a good chance there are many more.” Hunters should note that habitat conditions for snipe can change with periods of rain or drought and snipe will respond to these changes. “Wet winters often spread snipe out and you may have to do more walking to find birds, but snipe will also move in quickly to newly flooded areas,” McBride said. “However, the best hunting is during dry periods when snipe are more concentrated in and around most any shallow water you find.” You may legally shoot snipe from a half-hour before sunrise until sunset, but McBride prefers hunting them in the morning when it is cooler and more comfortable. He also recommends waiting until sunrise, so the birds are more visible.
A dog can be helpful in finding downed birds but is not necessary as long as you pay close attention and have a good visual mark of where the bird went down, McBride said. “It’s similar to quail hunting, and if you hunt alongside others, it can be very social and you can kick up more birds that way,” McBride said. “But you can also hunt alone and it’s a great way to exercise because snipe hunting entails a lot of walking. “Snipe fly low to the ground and they get up fast, much like quail. However, snipe fly more erratic and twist and change direction more quickly.” A hunting license and no-cost migratory bird permit are required to hunt snipe, and a $26 management area permit is also needed when hunting on a WMA. Those can be obtained at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA or at tax collector offices and at most places that sell hunting and fishing supplies. Not much gear is required when snipe hunting, and most hunters choose #8 or #9 shot size in their shotguns. However, because snipe are migratory game birds, all shotguns must be plugged to a three-shell capacity.
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For more info on the events or CCA Alabama www.ccaalabama.org 251-478-3474 24 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Ready for something new? Try snipe hunting!
SMALL SHOT, A QUICK POINTING SHOTGUN AND FAST REFLEXES ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY WHEN SNIPE HUNTING.
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Ready for something new? Try snipe hunting!
SNIPE USE THEIR LONG BILLS TO PROBE THE MUD FOR WORMS, LARVA AND OTHER PREY.
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Suspended under a rattlin’ cork • Twitch & pause with swimbait hook • Tight lined on a traditional jig head
A versatile lure that is very effective in different water depths and conditions.
theslicklure.com 26 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Ready for something new? Try snipe hunting!
KNEE HIGH (OR HIGHER) WATERPROOF FOOTWEAR OR EVEN HIP BOOTS FOR HUNTING SNIPE IS A NECESSITY,
“You can wear camo when snipe hunting but it’s not necessary,” McBride said. “I mostly wear dark-green or brown earth-tone colored shirt and pants, but knee-high rubber boots are a must.” McBride said snipe hunters need good species identification skills, as there are many similar-looking shorebirds that can be mistaken for snipe. The daily bag limit on snipe is eight and McBride said they are quite tasty. “Snipe are good table fare and their breast is about the same size as a dove’s and the meat is slightly darker,” McBride said. “My favorite way of cooking snipe is on the grill wrapped in bacon, but I also love making a snipe pot pie and having it in fajitas.”
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Ready for something new? Try snipe hunting!
BY HANK SHAW Photo by Holly A. Heyser
Roast Snipe While most of my recipes have some sort of domestic equivalent, this is not one of them. There is nothing you can buy that is even close to a snipe. Even a quail is significantly larger, and while squab is a close approximation in flavor, a squab is three times the size of a snipe. So non-hunters, you’re out of luck. Hunters, try not to mess with your snipe too much, and by all means pluck them. Yes, it is persnickety, but this is more or less a ceremonial meal anyhow, so you might as well go the whole way. A rule for roasting birds is the smaller the bird, the hotter the oven and a snipe is abut as small as you can get. 500*F is a good temperature. Preheat your oven with lots of time to spare, as it can take 20 to 30 minutes for an oven to get to 500°F. If your oven gets hotter, get it hotter. An ideal temperature for snipe would be closer to 600°F — that way you will get crispy skin, too. Remember to rest the birds before serving. Even though they’re small, they still need to rest the same way a chicken or turkey does. Only don’t tent them with foil in this case, as it can lead to the snipe getting overcooked. Prep: 10 mins • Cook: 10 mins • Total: 20 mins Ingredients
•
2 to 8 snipe, whole and plucked
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• • •
Lard or butter Salt and black pepper High-quality vinegar, sherry or balsamic or apple
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
Preheat oven as hot as it will go, hopefully 500°F or even hotter. Do this for a solid 30 minutes. Meanwhile, take the snipe out of the fridge and smear them all over with lard or butter. Sprinkle salt inside the cavity and all over the birds. Let rest while the oven heats up. Arrange the snipe in an ovenproof pan -- cast iron is perfect -- with a few tablespoons of water in it. You want just a little water in the pan, not enough to cover the bottom. This helps keep the snipe moist. Roast in the oven for 5 minutes. Take the birds out and baste them with more butter, lard or olive oil. Roast for 3 to 7 minutes more, depending on how you like your snipe. I like mine medium, so I go for a total of 10 minutes in the oven. Remove the snipe from the oven and set them on a cutting board. Let them rest uncovered for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle some good vinegar and black pepper on the snipe right before serving. Eat with your fingers.
Notes Serve snipe as an appetizer. They are really pick-upand-eat food, so a dipping sauce is one idea, but I prefer just a splash of really good vinegar.
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Using Satellite Technology to Catch More Pelagic Fish BY FRANK SARGEANT
It’s a big ocean out there. And as many beginning offshore skippers soon discover, finding pelagic gamefish in all that blue water sometimes makes locating that elusive needle in the haystack look simple. There are only so many hours in a fishing day and it takes lots of time and fuel just running out to the likely areas, before the search for fish even begins. Tools that can cut the search time and the fuel use are a huge advantage.
Reel in a dolphin like this using satellite technology
Fortunately, these days there are some technological assets that can help to pinpoint daily hotspots and make the learning curve a lot easier to navigate. Among the best is Hilton’s RealTime Navigator, developed some 15 years ago by Texas angler Thomas Hilton and now, after many advances and enhancements, has made it a favorite electronic tool for hundreds of offshore skippers in coastal waters around the U.S. Hilton says his system breaks information down into what might be called the “Four Z’s”, allowing anglers to analyze, customize, utilize and realize factors affecting their success in finding and catching pelagic fish. Those factors include sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll charts, current breaks and altimetry, which measures the relative height of the sea surface. Altimetry provides an indication of downwelling and upwellings. Upwellings brings food to the surface from the inky depths, beginning with the base of the food chain that progresses from algae and zooplankton to baitfish and ultimately to the largest of bluewater gamefish. ANALYSIS The Hilton RealTime Navigator program allows anglers to monitor and analyze offshore waters in the days prior to planned trips via a website that can be viewed on computer, tablet or smartphone at home or on the boat. This allows watching for trends in SST lines and reading chlorophyll charts for the build ups and changes that are likely to affect bait and gamefish movement during the fishing trip. A newly added data stream provides hourly sea surface temperature monitoring, in addition to the longerterm trends. The program also allows an instant look at real-time conditions from all the offshore weather buoys. This provides insight into actual conditions in terms of wind and wave height and current speed and direction rather than the speculative weather forecasts that sometimes lead boaters into tough conditions. Just move the cursor to the buoy, click on it and you’ve got instant
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information. Customization The Hilton RealTime Navigator system also makes it possible for anglers to zero in on specific attributes they’re interested in and make them pop out for easy navigation and review. Optional colors make clear at a glance where optimal temperature breaks are forming, and temperature breaks mean differences in current, rip formation and likely gatherings of big game fish. Highresolution satellite shots of chlorophyll, and the relative water clarity resulting, can be viewed in three- or seven-day increments. These increments can be animated which clearly shows what’s out there now, and what anglers are likely to face on their fishing days. Utilization The Hilton RealTime Navigator program also allows the skipper to see the boat’s position relative to all of the different parameters allowing him to put the whole picture together and run to locations exactly where the varying conditions give the best odds of success. It also makes it easy to create routes, waypoints and bearings to allow for easy navigation to a particular chlorophyll color change or SST temperature break. It’s also easy to
FISHING
Current direction and strength are clearly shown on this graphic, which also indicates where there are likely to be rips and weedlines forming due to currents of different speeds meeting.
Captain Johnny Dorland of the Cotton Patch is noted for guiding his team to giant billfish, including tournament winners like the 899.6 pounder that won the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic in 2015
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Using Satellite Technology to Catch More Pelagic Fish
mark locations where fish are caught or seen, and to make screenshots for future reference. Realization In the final analysis, it’s all about putting fish in the boat, and the Hilton RealTime Navigator system makes it far easier to make the best use of available time and boat range to get to the fish fast and to stay on them all day long, realizing success. In a single day of fishing offshore, anglers can easily save far more on fuel than the cost of a subscription. They’re no longer wandering around the blue hoping to luck into a good spot—instead, they can navigate directly to the locations that give the best chance of success with pelagic fish. In tournament fishing, this can mean a huge payday. In charter boat fishing it can mean happy clients who will come back repeatedly. For weekend warriors, it means more angling action, less frustration and lower fuel costs. Hilton launched in May of 2004 covering three regions in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The success of the concept has rapidly grown and now they offer 36 regions covering not only the Gulf but also the Atlantic Coast and the Pacific Coast.
trients from the deep up to the surface where they interact with sunlight, creating the beginning of the food chain that ultimately results in populations of pelagic fish, which are natural targets for anglers. There are also “downwellings”, which again counter-intuitively, are slightly higher than the surrounding sea surface area, have few nutrients, little bait, and consequently few gamefish. Putting it All Together The multiple levels of information available through Hilton’s system makes it possible to seek out zones where a number of fishattracting factors come together, increasing the odds of success. An area that has a sharp temperature break, an abrupt change from opaque green water to crystal-blue-purple clear, strong currents and an upwelling is a high-percentage area to troll, while those areas lacking one or more of these features may be less desirable. Of course, finding a big offshore oil rig like the many in the Gulf of Mexico can make a day successful, even if it has fewer of these factors since these structures attract bait which attracts gamefish, including blue marlin. Hilton’s can also help you with these semisubmersibles and drillships in the Gulf. They currently track around 50 of these each week as they move, giving anglers the latest intel on the position of these structures. Many pro skippers, including those who specialize in big money billfish tournaments like Captain Johnny Dorland of Orange Beach, rely heavily on Hilton’s services. “I use it every time I leave the dock,” Dorland said. “It saves so much time because it lets me know right where I need to start fishing to put the baits where the fish are most likely to be.” Dorland says he particularly leans on Hilton’s in tournaments. “In a tournament, every minute you save can be critical. You’re spending your time in high probability areas instead of cruising around looking for those areas and that is saying nothing about the fuel you save by going direct to your most likely spots on any given day.”
The relative height of the sea surface can indicate upwellings, which are areas where nutrients from the depths are brought to the surface, forming the base of the food chain that ultimately results on big game fish.
More on Sea Surface Altimetry Contrary to logic, upwellings are the slight depressions in the sea surface, measured by satellites overhead, where the water is pushing to the surface from the deepest parts of the ocean or gulf bottom, bringing nutrients with it. Upwelling currents bring nu32 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Dorland said he’s been using the service for over a dozen years. “The other thing I like is that Tom Hilton is a really helpful individual, always ready to explain a new feature or a technical detail. It’s just a good system, all around.” Captain Mike Canino, who is based in Galveston Texas, regularly fishes throughout the waters off Central America. He says that Hilton’s RealTime Navigator is a huge help when visiting waters where you’ve not fished recently.
Using Satellite Technology to Catch More Pelagic Fish
Areas where there are well-defined color changes, from the high-chlorophyll fertile waters to clear blue deeper offshore waters, are often gamefish highways.
“Instead of starting from zero, you know the zones where there are most likely to be bait and fish straight off, so you’re not wasting your owner’s time fishing 50 miles from the hotspots,” Canino explained. “I also like it that Tom is so helpful when we need a bit of advice, because he’s such a whiz at figuring out where the conditions are going to be best and he’s always willing to share that information.” Ease of Use The learning curve for using the Hilton RealTime Navigator system is short for most anglers. Simply choose the location you like best for your coming trip and click „Save Map“ while on the dock and within cell range, and that image is saved to your account to the Hilton server. You can save as many charts as you wish. Then, open up the RT-NAV app on your smart device and click „Refresh“ and the app will download the saved charts into your smart device. It will then say „Ready For Navigation“, click “Navigate” and head for your chosen areas. The iPad 4G or iPhone 4G have their own satellite GPS system to navigate by so you don’t need to worry about staying in cell range. Now pick which imagery you want to navigate upon. It‘s just like looking at the website; same exact images, same waypoints, same
icons...except now you are an icon. Create waypoints, routes to temp breaks/color changes and compare your vessel‘s position to all of the different parameters while out there on the water. It gives you the whole picture of what is happening. If you happen to be one of those of us who are technologically challenged, you can call Thomas himself and get an instant primer. The number is (713) 530-2267. He’ll not only walk you through the basics but also show you how to customize and pinpoint where weedlines, current breaks and other features attractive to fish will likely be located using this imagery. Pricing for both the National Regions and the International Regions start at $200.00 per year for the first region plus $30.00 for each additional region. For more information about Hilton’s services: Hilton’s Fishing Charts, LLC 5310 East Plantation Oaks Arcola, Texas 713-530-2267 http://www.realtime-navigator.com/RTN.htm
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Alabama Black Belt
Hunting Traditions You’ll Want to Pass Down BY JOE BAYA With excerpts from Black Belt Bounty
34 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING
Some Alabama black belt hunting traditions extend back to time immemorial and some are more recent. Although some traditions are not unique to Alabama Black Belt Hunting, they all bring together the families and friends who enjoy time spent outdoors and look forward to this special time of year. I recently had the pleasure of reading Black Belt Bounty, a beautiful coffee table book published by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association. Below you’ll learn just some of the Alabama Black Belt hunting traditions that I discovered while reading this compilation of articles written by noted Alabama outdoor writers.. These are sure to be ones you’ll want to pass down no matter where you hunt. Native American Hunting Traditions Have you ever found an arrowhead, spear point, or cutting tool used by the earliest inhabitants of this continent? When I’ve felt that stony point in my hand I often wonder, did the person who made this experience the same adrenaline surge that I feel when I first hear the steps of a deer in the crunchy fall leaves? Did they feel the joy of feeding the hungry mouths back at camp with fresh game meat? We can never truly know what the earliest Alabama black belt hunters must have felt, but what we do know the importance of hunting as a way of life. Contributor Steven Meredith details the earliest days of Alabama Black Belt hunting and one of the traditions that groups of hunters still carry on today.
“Black Belt people often lived on small farmsteads, apparently supporting some ‘elite’ people in villages with tribute, largely in the form of corn and labor. Based on refuse found at village sites, deer meat was also a tribute commodity,” Meredith wrote. Hunters of today still take deer meat to their elders and others who are no longer able or do not hunt for themselves. Honoring loved ones with gifts from the field is a tradition that has and will always stand the test of time. Alabama Black Belt Hunting Camp Traditions Alabama Black Belt hunting wouldn’t be what it is today without the evolution of the Southern deer camp. The camps that call the Alabama Black Belt home have too many traditions to fit into this one article. Some of us kiss our bullets before a hunt, others have that lucky hat, and still others believe you must eat deer meat before a deer hunt to have the best luck. As chronicled by Ron Jolly, one of those Alabama Back Belt Hunting camps is called Dollarhide. These quotes are taken from the book, A Factual History of Dollarhide, written by John McQueen. “Kangaroo Court is held at the end of each dog drive where club members rag, tease, and decide punishment for hunters who miss a shot, usually a swat on the rump administered by the club President with the ceremonial paddle. Blood is smeared blood on the face of the deer hunter successful for the first time.” While these traditions can be seen at almost any deer camp in America, there is one that Dollarhide most certainly shares with every other. Joe Lee Hutt, when asked about the hunting traditions during his 10 year Presidency at Dollarhide, gives us this, “I think you have covered our most popular traditions but you have left out the most important one, lying! You never tell anyone where you heard a turkey gobble, caught a big bass, or killed a big buck. When you offer information we all know you are lying and expect nothing less. The fun is trying to figure out the truth!”
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 35
Alabama Black Belt Hunting Traditions You’ll Want to Pass Down
Comedian Phil Harris and actor/singer Bing Crosby were frequent guests at Sedgefields Plantation in Union Springs. © Sedgefields Plantation
I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve had my shirt tail cut off. I certainly had my face smeared with blood after my first deer. Have I lied about what I saw? Never. There is something about the right of passage that creates a unique memory in one’s brain. Make sure you pass some traditions on to the hunters in your circle, they’ll never forget it. Quail Hunting Alabama - Hunting Traditions in Field Trials When it comes to Alabama Back Belt hunting of the winged variety, quail is king. Though the birds are an excellent wingshooting challenge, the hunt could not be possible without the real star, the dogs. Because of this, every year the Alabama Black Belt hosts yet another series of hunting traditions, field trials. As taken from Mark Sasser’s beautiful chapter on the rich history of field trials in the Alabama Black Belt, “Field Trials are sporting dog competitions under simulated hunting conditions that tests a dog’s ability to find the game that it is bread and trained to seek out. Bird Dog Field trials probably had their origin when a group of sporting dog enthusiasts gathered and somebody said, ‘My dog is better than yours and I can prove it!’” To conduct these trials, sporting dog enthusiasts must have thousands of acres of open piney wood habitat and the Alabama Black Belt boasts plenty. 80% of the state’s quail plantations are in the Black Belt. Probably the two most famous venues in for conducting these trials are the Sedgefields. Sedgefields Plantation in Bullock county, formerly owned and developed by Maytag Appliance magnate, Lewis “Bud” Maytag, is home to the National Amateur Free for All Championship. The plantation is located near Union Springs, Alabama, also known as the Bird Dog Capital of the World. Sedgefields Plantation in Alberta, shares the same name but is a completely different entity. Both are 10,000 + Acre plantations that have hosted some of the top bird dogs, trainers, and celebrities for competition, hunting, and revelry 36 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
over the years. While field trials are certainly a tradition of the Black Belt, the real underlying tradition is time spent outdoors bonding with family and friends. This can be done anywhere in pursuit of any type of game, and it stands out as perhaps the most important hunting tradition there is. Conservation’s Role in Hunting Traditions A discussion of hunting traditions would not be complete without highlighting the conservation practices that have and are currently being carried out in the Alabama Black Belt.
“I do not believe anyone ever really owns the land. It was here before you and it will be here after you are gone. We are simply caretakers during our tenure and life on it. We can shape it, change it, and nurture it. It will respond to actions we take to improve it and endure anything we can do to harm it.” Black Belt Bounty highlights so many wonderful conservation organizations and traditions that the hunter, landowner, and land manager can carry on in their neck of the woods. One of those organizations is the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Claude L. Jenkins, the AWF’s Senior Resource Stewardship Biologist. While the Black Belt of Alabama is most recently known for its forests and recreational opportunities like the hunting mentioned previously, many may not know the area was once dominated by the prairie ecosystem. In Jenkins’s excerpt, Managing Black Belt Prairies for Wildlife we learn that one of the most important hunting traditions for conservation of the Black Belt prairie and the management of whitetail deer is prescribed fire. ”Optimum deer habitat consists of an abundance of early succession vegetation
Alabama Black Belt Hunting Traditions You’ll Want to Pass Down
with well dispersed woody cover. This can be achieved with the application of fire every two or three years.“ Late summer and fall planting is a special time for hunters as it helps build the anticipation for hunting season and all that accompanies it. Another conservation practice brought to light by Corky Pugh, Executive Director of the Hunting Heritage Foundation is the annual practice of discing for Native Grasses. “Discing three to five acre openings can produce an abundance of native grasses and other beneficial plants. Soil disturbance exposes the seed bank already in the ground. Timing is critical, and late summer or fall disking is preferable.”
DIVIDING THE MORNING’S SUCCESSFUL HUNT PICTURE COURTESY OF WESTERVELT.
These two practices highlighted by Pugh and Jenkins are just a snippet of the conservation practices and partners you can learn about in Black Belt Bounty. The real tradition of conservation is summed up eloquently by Thomas Harris, one of the founding members of the AABBAA as he reminisces about his time working his land, “ Having this here is not about owning something just to own it, it is to restore it and to improve it, to make something better than it was, and to invite others to appreciate it.” Hunting traditions are not unique to the Alabama Black Belt. What is unique is the common bond that hunters share with those that have gone before them. Hunting traditions can be spiritual, competitive, funny, and serious, but they all increase the love that outdoorsmen and women like you and me have for the past time that we so enjoy. Black Belt Bounty goes in depth on these traditions and would make an excellent addition to your collection of hunting literature and an even more meaningful gift for anyone who appreciates hunting or would like to learn more about why we do what we do.The photography, the stories, and the recipes are a real treat. If you would like to pick up a copy, you can pick one up here: https:// alabamablackbeltadventures.org/blackbeltbountybook/
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 37
Alabama Black Belt Hunting Traditions You’ll Want to Pass Down
Momma and Em’s Country Fried Venison Steak The majority of the time that we go afield most are not successful in taking wild game. This means that when you do, the result is that much sweeter. There is no greater feeling in hunting in my opinion than enjoying the fruits of your labor. Knowing that the only hands that have ever touched the beautiful piece of protein you are about to enjoy makes the experience that much better. The hunting tradition I’m most fond of is the post hunt feast. Nothing builds an appetite like a long day outdoors in a cold northerly wind. Black Belt bounty is chock full of excellent game recipes from some of the best wild game and fish chef’s in the South. Enjoy this recipe from Pushmataha Plantation in Lisman, Alabama. Ingredients
• • • • •
4 (4 ounce) cubed Venison Steaks 1 ½ teaspoons Salt 1 Teaspoon Pepper 1 Cup flour 4 Cups Frying Oil
Instructions
Photo courtesy of Black Belt Bounty.
In a large bowl Combine flour, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine. Wash steaks before placing in flour mixture. Pat dry. Coat each cubed steak in the flour mixture turning over repeatedly until well coated. Heat the oil in a large skillet or dutch oven until around 360 degrees. Place prepared steaks in hot oil, frying for about 10 minutes until steaks are golden brown, turning as needed. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes and gravy.
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38 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 39
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WEDNESDAYS • 5 P.M. CENTRAL Sunday, Central Time
Alabama Stations and times
T E L E V I S I O N S H O W
Market Montgomery Mobile Dothan Birmingham Columbus, GA Huntsville
Station WSFA-TV 12 WPMI-TV WTVY-TV 4 WBMA-TV 33/40 WLTZ-TV 38 WAFF-TV 48
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256-878-3261 850-762-3161 334-222-1851 256-586-5515 334-899-3263 205-594-7042 256-232-5500 251-368-2191 850-674-8194 256-927-3135 205-669-7082 256-637-2939 256-528-7188 256-353-4663 334-289-0155 334-897-6972 251-986-8103 334-347-9007 334-628-2681 205-932-5901 334-858-6142 256-764-8441 251-267-3175 334-898-7932 334-484-3441 334-382-6548 205-486-3794 205-921-2631 334-588-2992 256-773-6832 256-828-2010 334-693-3313 256-796-5337 256-435-3430 205-387-1142 850-675-4597 256-446-8328 251-246-3512 256-396-2097 386-362-1459 334-335-5082 931-527-3923 850-973-2269 256-828-5360 256-974-9214 205-339-8181 334-257-3930 205-274-2185 334-493-7715 205-338-2821 256-447-6560 931-363-2563 256-638-2569 256-247-3453 256-574-1688 334-874-9083 256-437-8829 256-362-2716 334-566-3882 256-383-6462 256-357-4743 334-567-4321
BY HANK SHAW Photos by Holly A. Heyser
Swedish Potato Dumplings Typically, these dumplings are filled with meat, although often they are filled only with bacon. Any meat will do and beef pork or even chicken works. Generally, you want lean, diced or shredded meat. Once made, you can drop your dumplings into simmering water, but frying them in butter is so much better. After all, everything in the dumpling is cooked beforehand, so you don’t need to cook the hell out of them, just set the eggs. And, well, butter. Serve your potato dumplings with horseradish cream, or, as I did, with lots of caramelized onions. Toss some tart berries, like lingonberries, wild blueberries, currants, or cranberries, into the caramelized onions right at the end to add some tartness to the dish. Prep: 1 hr 15 mins • Cook: 20 mins • Total: 1 hr 35 mins These are great appetizers for a party, as they come together quickly and are fun to eat. Fill them with whatever makes you happy. In this case, it’s chopped bacon, shallot and shredded grouse. If you want to make caramelized onions to go with this, follow this recipe.
42 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Ingredients FILLING 1 cup leftover meat, diced or shredded (see above) 4 slices bacon 2 shallots, minced fine 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme STEW • 2 pounds russet potatoes • 2 eggs • 1 cup flour • Salt and black (or white) pepper, to taste • Vegetable oil, for frying
• • • •
Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Poke the potatoes all over with a fork and wrap them in foil. Set them in the oven to bake for 1 hour. 2. Meanwhile, to make the filling, fry the bacon in a pan over medium-low heat until crispy. Remove and chop it fine. Add the minced shallots to the pan and cook them in the bacon fat until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Mix together the chopped bacon, shredded meat, thyme and cooked shallots, along with some of the bacon fat in the pan, in a bowl. Set aside. 3. When the potatoes are done, cut them in half to release heat. As soon as they are cool enough to handle, but still warm, peel and run them through a potato ricer or food mill. If you don’t have either, Peel and mash them well. Put the potato into a bowl. 4. If you are making caramelized onions, start them now.
CAMPHOUSE KITCHEN
5.
6.
7. 8.
When it is cool enough to not curdle the eggs, generally warm to your hand but not unpleasantly hot, mix in the flour, salt and pepper and then the eggs and mix well. Very quickly this will become doughlike, and at that point you will want to knead it. If the dough is still very sticky, add some more flour. To make the dumplings, roll out the dough on a floured surface until it is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut circles out with a cutter or a wineglass or somesuch. Use a thin metal spatula to lift a circle off the counter and hold it in your off hand. Add about a heaping teaspoon of filling (depending on how large your circles are) to the center of the circle in your hand. Lift up another dough circle and place it on top. Pinch the edges closed and gently shape the dumpling into a fat disk. Set on a baking sheet that’s either been floured or that has parchment paper in it. Repeat this with the rest of the dough, rerolling and reforming the scraps as needed, until the dough or the filling is all used up. Heat to about 350F enough vegetable oil to come up to a depth of about 1 inch in a heavy pan. Turn your oven to “warm” and set a cooling rack placed on a baking sheet inside. Fry 2 or 3 dumplings at a time -- you don’t want them to touch when frying or else they will stick to each other -- only until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Serve hot.
Tangerine Beef or Venison This is a classic Chinese stir-fry that hinges on dried tangerine peels. Just buy some mandarins or “Cuties” or “Halos” and leave the peels out to dry. Serve with steamed rice. Prep: 45 mins • Cook: 10 mins • Total: 55 mins Ingredients MARINADE • 2 egg whites • ¼ cup Shaoxing wine or dry sherry • 2 tablespoons peanut or other cooking oil • ½ cup corn or potato starch SAUCE • ¼ cup venison or beef stock • 3 tablespoons tangerine soaking water (See below) • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine, dry sherry or dry white wine • 2 tablespoons rice or cider vinegar • 1 tablespoon sesame oil • 1 to 3 tablespoons sugar • 2 teaspoons corn or potato starch • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon white pepper STIR FRY • 1-pound beef sirloin or venison, sliced into bite-sized pieces 1/8 inch thick • Dried peel of 1 or 2 thin-skinned tangerines (Mandarins are best) • 2 cups peanut or other cooking oil (see above) • 2 to 6 dried hot chiles, chopped (tsien tsin, Thai or arbol or cayenne) • 4 garlic cloves, minced • A 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced • 6 green onions, sliced into 1-inch pieces, green and white parts separated • 2 teaspoons crushed Sichuan peppercorns (optional)
Instructions 1. Put the sliced venison pieces in a large bowl. Add the egg whites and use your hands to massage the meat with the egg whites, making sure each piece is coated. Now add the wine and oil and do the same thing. Finally, add the corn starch and mix to coat. It’ll be a gloopy mess, but that’s OK. Put the meat in the refrigerator for 30 minutes while you do the rest of the prep. 2. Place the tangerine peels in a bowl and pour hot water over them. Cover the bowl. In another bowl, mix all the ingredients for the sauce together (except for the tangerine water, which you’ll add in a bit), and do your chopping of the chiles, garlic and green onions. Slice the tangerine peel into thin slivers and set aside. The peels will still be a little hard, but that’s OK. When you’ve sliced the tangerine peels, add the 3 tablespoons of the soaking water to the sauce. 3. When you are ready to start, heat the oil in a wok or heavy, deep pan to about 350°F. Set a baking sheet or similar container nearby and get a Chinese strainer or slotted spoon, and either a chopstick or butter knife ready. Put about 1/2 of the venison in the hot oil and immediately use the chopstick to separate all the pieces, which will want to stick together. Fry over high heat until the venison turns golden brown and crispy, about 6 minutes. Remove with the strainer and set in the baking sheet to drain. Repeat the process with the other half of the venison 4. Drain off all but about 3 tablespoons of the oil (you can reuse it). Add the chiles to the hot oil and stir fry until they turn fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the ginger and white parts of the green onions, and stir fry 1 minute. Add the garlic and tangerine slivers and stir fry 30 seconds. Add the venison back to the wok and toss everything to combine. 5. Stir the sauce vigorously (the corn starch will have settled on the bottom of the bowl). Pour it into the wok and toss to combine. Allow this to boil and thicken for 1 minute, then add the green parts of the green onions. Toss to combine. Add the Sichuan peppercorn if using. Serve at once with steamed rice. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 43
NEW GEAR BY WILLIAM KENDY
Heritage Rough Rider Rancher Rimfire Revolver Carbine The Rough Rider Rancher is a blast from the past. This six round .22 LR carbine offers a checkered walnut stock, a steel single action revolver frame and a 16.125” black oxide steel barrel for an overall length of 32 inches and weight of 4.12 pounds. It includes a spurred hammer, a fixed front sight with an adjustable rear buckhorn sight and ships with an adjustable leather sling. Suggested Retail Price: $297.00 www.heritagemfg.com
Old Town Discovery 119 Solo Sportsman Hybrid Canoe
The Discovery 119 is a stable, lightweight “grab-n-go” watercraft for both anglers and hunters that is easy to handle on and off the water. With an 11’9” length, a 32.5” width and a weight of only 56 lbs. OT 119 can float over 350 pounds. The package includes a contoured adjustable kayak-style seat, two rod holders, padded armrests, available in three colors and more. Suggested Retail Price: $899.00 www.oldtowncanoe.com
Mustad Blueline Hero Fishing Pliers
The new lightweight and sturdy spring-loaded Mustad Blueline Hero fishing pliers are made of high quality 420 grade stainless steel with textured jaws to insure a strong and secure hold plus a strong tungsten line cutter. The black Teflon finish eliminates corrosion and rust and the double-molded ergonomic handles provide an enhanced grip and are easy to use ensuring comfort for those long days on the water. Suggested Retail Price: $24.99 www.mustad-fishing.com
GPO Introduces RANGETRACKER 1800 Rangefinder
The new lightweight and compact German Precision Optics RANGETRACKER 1800 rangefinder can quickly identify distances as close as 6 yards out to 1800. Weighing in at 5.2 oz, it features GPObright™ coated lenses, a Hyperscan™ feature that provides three readings per second, outside temperature readings and an HLDC display system that allows up to 25% more light through the system for use in very-low light situations. Suggested Retail Price: $399.00 www.gpo-usa.com
Viper Archery Products Offers Sidewinder Bow Sight Series
The single pin Sidewinder series bow sights feature fast, easy, precise and tool-less elevation adjustments. Available in two models the Sidewinder comes in three fiber-optic diameter options and incorporates a thin and low-profile competition style up-pin that insures minimal target blockings. Hard-coat anodized aluminum construction with stainless steel hardware and stainless steel up-pin insures durability. Comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Suggested Retail Price: $169.99 and $219.99 www.viperarcheryproducts.com 44 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
NEW GEAR FOR OUTDOORSMEN
TRUGLO Double•Threat Dove Choke Tube
The TRUGLO 12-gauge Double•Threat Dove Choke Tube is a dual-position choke tube with a decoy and pass shooting. The decoy setting is optimized for close-range shooting with wider patterns while the pass is for longer-range shooting with tighter patterns. A twist-andclick changes the setting without tools. The CNC-machined Double•Threat is designed for common lead dove loads ranging from #6 to #8 shot. Suggested Retail Price: $52.99 www.truglo.com
Savage Introduces the Renegauge, its First Semi-auto Shotgun
Available in 12 gauge, the Renegauge features a “Dual Regulating Inline Value System” which facilitates easy and consistent cycling of light and magnum field loads without any adjustment from the shooter. It offers an adjustable ergonomic stock, stock rod buffer to reduce recoil, fluted barrel, carbon steel vent rib, oversized controls, three choke tubes all housed in a hard-sided TSA compliant carrying case. Suggested Retail Price: $1,450 - $1,550 www.savagearms.com
Okuma Longitude Surf Fishing Rod
Constructed of sensitive graphite composite material, these rods feature double-footed stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts, a durable rubber butt cap, stainless steel hooded graphite reel seats with soft touch EVA cushions above and below and non-slip cork wrap butt and fore grips all of which enables sure casting grips in any weather conditions. The Okuma Longitude two-piece rods are available in 8-12-foot lengths. Suggested Retail Price: $39.99-79.99 www.okumafishingusa.com
Wicked Ridge Unveils New Rampage 360 Crossbow
The Rampage 360 crossbow features a built-in ACUdraw™ cocking device that only requires 5 pounds of effort or an ACUdraw 50™ cocking device that reduces the draw weight by 50%. The 175-pound bow is just 15 inches wide, weighs in at only six pounds and can shoot an arrow up to 360 feet per second. Includes a TenPoint scope and quiver. Suggest Retail Price: $459.99 - $559.99 www.tenpointcrossbows.com
Z-Man’s Adds 5” and 7” Size to DieZel MinnowZ Line
The softness, action and 10X touch ElaZtech® durability of the DieZel Minnow results in a bulletproof lifelike swimbait at all retrieval speeds. It’s molded in hook slot and split dorsal fin provides easy weedless rigging and problem-free hooksets, even when ripping it through grass and other surface cover. Now it is available in a 5” and 7” size in multiple patterns. Suggested Retail Price: $4.49 (5 pack) www.zmanfishing.com
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 45
BOATING ACCESS IMPROVES FOR ALABAMA ANGLERS
Anyone who has witnessed the frenetic activity at the Billy Goat Hole boat ramp on Dauphin Island during the opening weekend of red snapper season knows the need for more boating access, especially along the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast.
BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Thankfully, Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will utilize funding from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) and other sources to improve boating and angling access along the Alabama coast in the near future. GOMESA funds come from collected fees and royalties from petroleum leases off the coasts of the four producing Gulf states. Authorized uses of the proceeds include projects and activities for coastal protection, such as conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and strengthening infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetland losses. Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources is also included, as is implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan. Funding of onshore infrastructure projects serves as mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities. The boating access projects funded through GOMESA, and other funds, include four in Mobile County, one in Baldwin County and one in McIntosh. Another project in Mobile County will enhance nature-watching opportunities, and anglers will soon see a new fishing pier at Ft. Morgan. Boaters and anglers have limited access in the Bayou La Batre area of Mobile County. Those who want to launch or fish in the area are limited to an old ramp at Lightning Point, a
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dirt and shell ramp in Coden and a few public access locations for kayaks and small boats. Comprehensive restoration at Lightning Point is now underway, and restoration of the large boat docks in Bayou La Batre will be coming soon as well. What was missing from the larger project was a boat ramp and fishing areas as neither of these could be paid for with the restoration funds that are being used. Governor Ivey and the Marine Resources Division stepped in to provide funding to add these critical recreational access elements to the project. The construction of an 800-footlong jetty on the east side of the Bayou channel will greatly improve access for those anglers. Along with the jetty, funds will be used to improve the existing boat ramp. The boat ramp will remain in the same location at the east end of the Bayou Basin. The two boat ramp launch lanes will be better defined. Depending on permit constraints, a central pier separating the two lanes may be constructed. The ramps will be re-sloped to improve boat launching and loading. Piers will be rebuilt on the outside of each launch lane. If funding allows, additional pier structures may be added. On busy summer weekends, parking stretches well over a mile from the ramps at the east end of Dauphin Island. That is a long, hot walk to get your truck and trailer at the end of a good fishing day. The Town of Dauphin Island is in need of a boat ramp near the
FROM THE COMMISSIONER center of the island, where adequate parking is available. Aloe Bay, located on the northern shore of Dauphin Island, is home for private docks and commercial businesses as well as the site of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, the largest saltwater fishing tournament in the nation that draws anglers from around the world to fish the fertile Gulf and inshore waters of Alabama. Funds will be used to purchase property and construct a ramp and parking west of the Dauphin Island Aloe Bay Harbour Town project, which has been approved by the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council. This boating access project will complement the Aloe Bay Harbour Town project by providing the public with additional space for wildlife viewing, a finger pier and boardwalk for fishing and boat access, a boat ramp and a restroom as well as additional permeable parking. This should take some of the pressure off the ramps at the east end of Dauphin Island. The Middleton Boat Ramp, located across from Battleship Memorial Park on the Causeway in Mobile County, had been the home of a business for many years prior to Hurricane Katrina. The building was eventually torn down, and the existing single-lane boat ramp and parking lot were renovated in 2013 to provide improved public access for boaters along the Causeway.
increased the shortage of boating access, which means the remaining ramps are overwhelmed by the demand. GOMESA provided funding toward the purchase of approximately 45 acres on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), just east of the Foley Beach Express Bridge in Orange Beach for a boat ramp. The GOMESA funds will be used solely to support the land acquisition portion of the project. Baldwin County will use separate funding on additional aspects of the project, which include the construction of multiple boat launches in existing inlets, fishing piers, staging piers, picnic gazebos, a wharf area, restroom facilities and adequate public parking. For those who love to watch wildlife, GOMESA funding has been approved for a site in Mount Vernon in northern Mobile County. The project will involve construction of up to 10 covered areas that can used for observation, resting, or staging for birders and visitors to the Mount Vernon Landing Park. About a dozen bird-feeding areas will be stationed throughout the park. Interpretive signs will also be developed to educate visitors about the flora and fauna of the area. In addition to GOMESA projects, ADCNR committed funds to projects in Mobile County. ADCNR recently completed refurbishing the ramp in McIntosh and will also dredge out the Mount Vernon ramp after all compliance approval documents are received.
Using GOMESA funding, ADCNR’s State Lands Division will replace the boat ramp, and the existing pier will be refurbished and extended. The project may also include the installation of a wharf on the western shore of the launch for an additional area for loading and unloading vessels.
Also of note, the long-awaited rebuild of the Ft. Morgan pier is underway. This $2.4 million project, funded by Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, should be completed by the time summer fishing season comes around.
Baldwin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. With the expanding population, the southern part of Baldwin County is seeing increased demand for public access to Bon Secour Bay, Mobile Bay, Wolf Bay, Perdido Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The recent closure of a private boat launch has
Hopefully, the proposed projects will proceed as planned, and boaters and anglers will have increased access to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast waters. I am thankful for Governor Ivey, the divisions of ADCNR and our partners that work to provide quality access to our beautiful waterways. I hope you will make the opportunity to get out and enjoy them.
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The Alien Invasion of the Aquatic Variety
When looking for these aliens, don’t look to the sky. Alabama is being invaded by aliens. Not the type from outer space, but instead by strange and destructive fish imported from Asia. Asian carp were first introduced to the United States in the 1960s and 1970s as a means of controlling water quality and vegetation issues in aquaculture ponds. These fish eventually escaped containment due to nearby river flooding and have since migrated into many new areas seeking their preferred habitat of large, slow-moving rivers. War has been declared against these intruders as they slowly but steadily encroach on the waters of Alabama. BY CHARLES “CHUCK” SYKES Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)
Four species of Asian carp have invaded the United States: silver carp, bighead carp, grass carp, and black carp. Three of these species have already been documented in Alabama, with the exception being the black carp; however, this species was
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recently found in Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River, which is just one navigational lock away from Alabama’s Pickwick Reservoir. Silver carp, the wild and erratic jumping fish, have been well documented on internet videos that show them slamming into boats and conducting aerial acrobatics that have injured boaters. This alien invader has meandered its way throughout the Mississippi River drainage to the Tennessee River region in Alabama. Silver carp filter both zooplankton and phytoplankton from the water, competing with our native fishes such as paddlefish, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, bream, and even small bass. Their large schooling behavior can overwhelm river systems and diminish available resources. Bighead carp have been found throughout the Alabama portion of the Tennessee River as well as in locations farther south, such as the Alabama River.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
These alien invaders can exceed 100 pounds but are not a jumping threat like their cousin the silver carp. Bighead carp feed primarily on zooplankton, so they compete with native fish to a lesser degree and do not have the tendencies to overwhelm river systems like the silver carp.
Grass carp, also known as white amur, have been around for more than half a century and are popular with private pond owners for managing undesirable aquatic vegetation in their ponds. They have been stocked in some public reservoirs to manage nuisance aquatic vegetation, such as hydrilla and milfoil. Grass carp do not devastate river systems like the silver carp, but they can deplete valuable native aquatic vegetation when present in large numbers.
From top to bottom: skipjack herring, gizzard shad, threadfin shad (aka yellow tail), and silver carp. (Photo courtesy of MSWFP/Nathan Aycock) To minimize the potential spread of Asian carp, follow these simple steps: • Never move live organisms from one water body to another – it is illegal! • Don’t harvest bait or transport water from infested water bodies. • Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash, NOT in lakes and rivers. • Drain all water from your boat (including the bilge and live well) away from waterways and storm drains. • Learn to identify Asian carp.
Black carp have now been documented in Kentucky Lake. They resemble grass carp and may have been mistakenly brought into the United States with shipments of grass carp. This alien invader is another nuisance species that concerns biologists, but for different reasons than the other Asian carp species. Black carp feed almost solely on snails and mussels (mollusks). Alabama is the most diverse state for aquatic biodiversity and has many native mollusks that are already of conservation concern. If black carp become established, these already threatened species could disappear along with animals that rely on mollusks for food. Mollusks are filter feeders and nature’s water purifiers, so if their abundance is reduced, water quality problems are likely to result.
If you think you have found or captured a silver, bighead, or black carp, please contact the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries District 1 office at 256-353-2634 to report this information. Do not release the fish back into the water; instead, remove the fish and dispose of it properly. It will take a concerted effort from all users of our aquatic resources to limit the spread of these harmful alien invaders.
Commercial gillnet angling and bowfishing are currently the only means of managing these species. To entice commercial anglers to target these fish, a viable market must be identified. Barriers that utilize sound, bubbles, lights, and even electricity have been used in some areas of the U.S. to deter upriver migrations, but barriers do not stop humans from moving carp from one body of water to another. Young Asian carp are very difficult to identify because they are similar in appearance to skipjack herring, gizzard shad, and threadfin shad; therefore, they can mistakenly be transferred to new areas by unknowing live-bait anglers. To reduce this threat, the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries enacted a new regulation in 2019 that prohibits the transportation of live baitfish between water bodies. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 49
CHOOSING THE BEST GUN SAFE Proper storage of your firearms should be thoughtfully considered by all gun owners. Hiding them under the bed, the attic or in the bedroom closet is not a sound practice under any circumstances, particularly when children are involved in the household.
THE REAL GUN SAFE For our discussion, I’ll be talking about full-size box safes not hidden gun safes, handgun safes and rapid access safes which offer security from children but usually do not deter a crowbar or hammer. Not all “gun safes” are really “gun safe”. Those safes made from lightweight gauge metal should really be called gun lockers as they are not fireproof and are easily susceptible to fire damage. BY CRAIG HANEY Photo submitted by Craig Haney
BUY THE RIGHT BOX Marketing from the safe manufacturers likes to promote the hinges, bolts and locks but not say much about the attributes of the safe’s box construction. The best hinges, bolts and locks are great but do not help if the box construction is no better than a sardine can. Figuring out the fire ratings of gun safes can be frustrating. Standards such as those by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) are designed for commercial structures not a home fire. There is no set testing protocol to determine at what exterior temperature and how long a safe will keep the contents protected. Look for the thickness and type of insulation in a safe, how the insulation is attached to the safe walls, and whether there are gaps in the insulation. Without a standard metric, safe manufacturers can create their own tests which can make accurate comparisons of different brands frustrating and difficult for consumers. “Buyer-beware” is a good rule to follow. SAFE STEEL Fortunately, choosing safe steel is much simpler than figuring out fire protection. Shopping cold, hard steel in gun safes comes down to the gauge just like shotguns. The smaller the gauge steel, the thicker it is thereby giving you better protection. It is common for many in the industry to
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use 10-gauge (.1345 inch) as the minimum thickness for the body of the safe. The door is usually thicker since this is the main area attacked by thieves. Do not judge a book by its cover as what appears to be thick walls and door could actually be due to the amount of fire barrier material sandwiched between them. Also, a safe built with continuous welds creates a stronger box against fire and thieves than a box constructed with spot welds and bolts. THE HARDWARE Once you have decided on the wall thickness and fire protection you want in your safe, concentrate on the locking mechanism, bolts and hinges. The construction of the door is a big factor in keeping it closed, for example, you want a rigid door with structural support around the edges so it does not buckle under stress. Next, look at how much of the door makes contact behind the door jamb. More lugs are not necessarily better. A safe with forty 1-inch bolts looks impressive but a safe with five 1-inch bolts with a jewelers lug (special hinge) that goes from top to bottom on the hinge side would provide 59 inches of support on a five foot tall safe. SIZE DOES MATTER Most everyone I have talked too that owns a safe wishes they had purchased a larger one to hold additional firearms they purchased over the years or to allow more room to move their long guns in and out of the safe without bumping or scratching their guns. Remember, buying a safe is a lot like buying a tent eight person tent will typically only hold fourl campers with their gear in relative comfort. LOCK IT UP Now that you have chosen the best safe for your needs, it is time to decide on the access method between combination, electronic or biometric lock.
THE GUN RACK
Suggested Firearm Safe Manufacturers • • • • • • • •
Amsec Cobalt Gardall Gunlock Hayman Hollon Liberty Sentry-Safe
For more information, contact Coast Lock and Safe, 251-479-5264
The combination lock has low maintenance, no batteries and is difficult for someone to observe the combination sequence. The negatives are that it is slower to operate, a lesser brand may have an easier to defeat combination and a locksmith is needed to change the combination for you. An electronic lock is easy to use, cost effective, top of the line models can be adapted to home security systems, does not require a locksmith to change the combination and generally has more features. Always make sure you have batteries for your lock. Some manufacturers such as Hollon have begun including a redundant combination lock for use in an emergency. Biometric locks are very similar to electronic locks in terms of flexibility and ease of use. Most biometric locks store several users’ fingerprints. The technology of biometric locks is not perfected at this time, a dirty finger may prevent you from opening your safe. MUST-HAVE A gun safe dehumidifier is the number one accessory particularly in humid environments. There are two types to choose from: electric and dessicant. The electric dehumidifiers are popular because they are spill free and the contents are non toxic. Their weak point is electricity or the lack thereof. With dessicants electricity is not a problem but they may need to be emptied and dried at certain times to maximize their effectiveness. FINAL SHOT Buy the best gun safe you can afford, it pays off in you knowing that your gun collection is safe against most any threats. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 51
Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
The wind can be quite chilly along the gulf beach in February.
A common mistake many fisherfolks make is putting too big a “gob“ of bait on the hook for pompano or“whiting“.
BY DAVID THORNTON Photos by David Thornton
Hands down, February historically has the most challenging fishing conditions faced by shore-bound anglers along the Emerald Coast. Cold, rough weather and water conditions often conspire to deny fishermen even the chance to wet a line from the beach or pier. But many recent winters have not been as severe as in the past, providing these anglers with numerous windows of opportunity. You have to take advantage of any break in the weather just like the fish do. Being cold-blooded, they don’t have to eat but once or twice a week to maintain themselves. Most of the time they accomplish that during warm spells between fronts. Some years February may even sustain a warmer than
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average period that provides “false spring” conditions. This might even fool plants into blooming before winter is really over. The list of ‘usual suspects’ winter fishermen target are primarily pompano and “bull” redfish in the surf, and sheepshead from piers and jetties. But incidental catches may include “whiting”, bluefish, speckled trout, “white” trout, croaker, “ground mullet” and black drum. Occasionally even spanish mackerel or permit may be caught by anglers this month, especially during periods of milder than average weather. Rock jetties especially offer ideal winter habitat for sheepshead, redfish, drum,
FISHING OUTLOOK pompano, bluefish and others. The currents sweeping around and between the barnacle and algae covered rocks bring food to many predatory fish which are attracted to the structure even in the cold water. Just watch your footing, because those granite boulders get mighty slick when wet!
on the bottom close to the pier. Often they are joined by redfish and black drum of similar size, and occasionally even followed by pompano. These fish are best targeted with ghost shrimp on light line with just a split shot or two about a foot to foot and a half above a #4 kahle hook.
The water temperature in February is usually at its coldest of the entire year. Lower 60s is the norm, with occasional fluctuations into the mid to upper 60s, or dips into the 50s. But the days are getting longer and the sun’s warming rays can penetrate to the bottom in the clear, calm, shallow water of the surf zone. High tide is usually in the evening, and these factors may spark a feeding period just before dark. Timing your fishing session is one of the keys to success!
Thank goodness most of the gulf beach piers offer these wintertime fishing opportunities on occasion. But it is almost certain the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama will be closed for renovation during this month. Since the pier was opened in July 2009, the treated wooden 2 X 6 “blow out” panels have been deteriorating. The current plan is for the pier to be closed during a three month refitting period. All the wooden deck panels will be replaced by a more durable composite material. The railings will be replaced and the bathrooms and lighting will be refurbished. But the money to do this is not set for allocation until mid-December, so at press time the exact closure dates have yet to be determined. Suffice it to say you should call ahead before considering fishing at this pier this month. Another way to find out the latest information is to monitor the www.gulfshorespierfishing.com forum or Facebook page or check out the weekly Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report podcast. Let’s hope for the best!
SURF FISHING OPTIONS Anglers fishing from shore in February are understandably reluctant to even get their feet wet in the chilly gulf water. Still that is made a bit more tolerable on sunny, warmer than average days. Some folks wear boots or even waders to ward off the chill and those can add a lot more territory within your casting range. Many times that additional 5 or 10 yards can be the difference to accessing fish that would otherwise remain out of reach. It also makes gathering beach ghost shrimp so much comfortable on the chilly winter mornings. Bait freshness is another key to success for February fishermen. The colder water doesn’t seem to transmit the scent of pinead shrimp as well as that of beach ghost shrimp. Hermit crabs seem to work pretty well as a substitute for ghost shrimp, and are available at some baitshops. But they are soft too and still require something like Miracle Thread to help hold them on the hook. Also, the “Longer Lasting” formula Fishbites (in the blue bag) doesn’t dissolve nearly as well in water below 65 degrees. They recommend using the Fast Acting formula (red pack) in cooler water. The Bloodworms (Bag O’ Worms) is a relatively new product that may work even better for whiting in the surf. It’s smaller profile is more consistent with the natural sandworms and ghost shrimp that fish in the surf zone are feeding on. A common mistake many fisherfolks make is putting too big a “gob” of bait on the hook for pompano or whiting. With no biting teeth to cut up their food, these fish need to be able to fit the whole food item into their mouth. That is not much bigger around than a quarter and not much longer than an inch (about the size of the end of your thumb). Despite the smaller size (or because of it), I tend to get more bites from fish of all sizes. Even the much larger redfish and black drum don’t hesitate to eat these morsels. Like one old fishermen said “Elephants eat peanuts don’t they? Well, this is bigger than a peanut.” PIER INTO THE FUTURE The beach piers are oases of hard structure in the sandy beach bound dessert. Each piling is a small vertical artificial reef that grows barnacles and algae for sheepshead to graze upon. Plus small crabs and shrimp often take refuge between the barnacles from the omnivorous sheepshead. Consequently, small live shrimp and fiddler crabs make excellent bait for these pier-dwelling sheepshead that are beginning to form into their pre-spawn schools near the piers this month. Most often they are seen suspended on the piling, but may also gather in groups
So February may have some harsh wintry weather, but it often dolls out many nice days and good fishing options available to shore bound anglers. Especially those who watch the weather and monitor or network the catch reports from other fishermen. Hopefully winter’s end is in sight when we grab the tackle and see what February brings to those beautiful sandy beaches as we enjoy our great days outdoors!
Ron Davis 3766 Airport Boulevard Mobile geico.com/mobile-al | 251-445-0053
SAVINGS AND SERVICE THAT WILL FLOAT YOUR BOAT
Limitations apply. See geico.com for more details.©GEICO & affiliates.©Washington, DC 20076 © 2018 GEICO
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 53
KAYAK FISHING SPRING RIVERSCLEAR WATER, BIG BASS see the wake of a rapidly approaching fish. The wake slows, and then it engulfs the lure. The fish sets the hook, and all I have to do is try to keep the fish out of the weeds and in clear water. A strong fight happens, and I finally work a gorgeous native-strain Florida largemouth bass to the side of the boat. This is a fine five-pound bass, and even though there are much larger bass in this river, I am pretty proud of this fish. WHAT ARE THE SPRING RIVERS AND WHERE ARE THEY? Spring rivers are those streams which receive much of their water from underground springs and not from direct rain run-off. This means that these streams tend to be much clearer than those streams which rely on run-off. Spring streams tend to maintain a much more constant temperature year-round because the main water source comes from the limestone sub-structure which keeps the water from getting very warm or very cold. This means, of course, to us anglers, that these spring streams can be fished nearly all of the time with good results and in much more comfortable conditions.
Some places on the Wacissa require some bending and wading to make progress.
There are just too many Gulf Coast spring fed rivers to call by name. In fact, most rivers in the Gulf Coast region are spring fed at some point along their flows.
Sometimes we are lucky enough to be in the place of our choice doing what we choose to do. This fine sunny morning, I am very, very lucky. I’m drifting down a slow current of clear water over healthy beds of water grass and sandy bottom. There are wading birds all around me, and ducks that haven’t yet left for the cold north are paddling at the edge of the water. A barred owl is calling on one side of the river and another owl answers from the other. A great blue heron stands sentinel on a dead log in the water, and he eyes me distrustfully as I drift by. An otter chirps at me as he dives for yet another crawfish for breakfast.
BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
However, a few spring-fed streams are worthy of specific mention for kayak anglers to consider. GRAHAM CREEK ALABAMA This very small spring-fed stream starts just east of Foley, Alabama and runs only a few miles before it meets Wolf Bay. This stream is best suited for kayaks and canoes, but power boats can access it from Wolf Bay. Near the kayak launch area, paddlers can find the spring which starts the creek. Upstream in Graham Creek, some fine bass can be caught, but within a half-mile of the kayak launch, saltwater fish begin to be found. It’s not uncommon to catch a bass, then a speckled trout, then a redfish from the same hole of water and with the same bait.
Although these birds and animals are very rewarding to see, I have my mind set on an animal of a different kind.
MAGNOLIA RIVER, ALABAMA The Magnolia River starts in a large spring in the village of Magnolia Springs. The spring’s water flow quantity and quality has been diminished by residential development through the years, but anglers and swimmers can still find relief from hot summer temperatures by diving into the cool water which is provided by several springs below the surface of the river. Anglers can find bass and panfish in the upper reaches of the river, and saltwater fish such as reds, trout, and even flounder start to show up as the river moves toward Weeks Bay.
I make a long cast which places my topwater lure alongside a massive bank of underwater weed. I start my retrieve and I don’t get to bring the noisy, plopping lure far before things change to make life even better. I can
WAKULLA RIVER, FLORIDA The Wakulla River starts in a truly massive spring cave which is located in Edward Ball State Park just outside of Crawfordville. Although the first miles of the river are off-limits to floaters and anglers, once the river leaves the park, anglers can float the fourteen miles to St Marks where the Wakul-
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PADDLE FISHING
YOUNG BERKELY PERKINS HAS THIS SPRING RIVER FISHING THING FIGURED OUT.
la and the St Marks River join. This river is home to many manatees which can be seen slowly swimming through the clear waters. Anglers can launch boats at the Hwy 98 crossing and paddle upstream. The Wakulla has some very respectable bass and lots of panfish for anglers to catch. As the river moves closer to the St Marks River area, saltwater fish begin to show up. WACISSA RIVER, FLORIDA This absolutely gorgeous river starts in a massive spring just south of Tallahassee, and a great many smaller yet still impressive springs feed into the river as it makes its way toward the Aucilla River and the Gulf. Some very large bass live here- some as large as fifteen pounds, but they are not easy to catch, and once hooked, it is a challenge to keep a big bass out of the thick weed growth in the clear waters. The Wacissa is almost always very clear, and light line and small lures will attract more bites from the healthy population of bass. As in the Wakulla river, the Wacissa has, in addition to the native largemouth bass population, good numbers of Suwannee bass, a much smaller but very hard-fighting little bass that looks and pulls like a smallmouth bass. CHIPOLA RIVER, FLORIDA This river is home to the shoal bass, a beautiful fish which is very limited in its range. The Chipola River is accessible in Marianna, Florida off CR 280 (Magnolia
Road), Peacock Bridge Road- north of Sink Creek, SR 274 west of Altha on Hamilton Springs Road, and SR 20 at Clarksville. This extremely scenic spring-fed river with its year-round cool water runs about 95 miles from its starting point north of Marianna and runs south through the Dead Lake region before it merges with the Apalachicola River. The Chipola River has some fast shoals and can prove to be a challenge in high water conditions. Anglers on the Chipola must be aware of the limestone shoals which tend to be very shallow. Please see Sidebar on Chipola River shoal bass closure due to damage to the river and the shoal bass population from Hurricane Michael. HOW CAN WE FLOAT THEM? Some of the Gulf Coast spring streams are large enough for small bass boats, but in general, these streams are best suited for paddle anglers. Both the Wakulla River and the Wacissa River have launch ramps. In particular, Graham Creek in Alabama has a very nice kayak launch near the headwater spring. Both the Wakulla and Wacissa Rivers have spring-runs that enter the main rivers, and only paddle boats can access these spring runs for fishing and swimming. It would not be out of line to suggest that kayaks are the best choice for fishing any of the spring-fed streams. Kayaks allow good access to small backwaters, and they allow the angler to easily get into the water if needed. And that brings up another advantage of fishing the spring streams. There’s not-
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Kayak Fishing Spring Rivers- Clear Water, Big Bass
hing quite like the refreshment of diving into a perfectly clear spring feeding thousands of gallons of super-clear, cool water into a river on a hot Gulf Coast summer day. It makes the world a better place.
on YouTube). These Perkins anglers caught largemouth bass, Suwanee bass, shoal bass, and Choctaw bass on their adventures. Perkins offers some advice for anglers who want to catch bass in the spring rivers,
Chipola River Shoal Bass Closures Effective June of 2019, harvest and possession of shoal bass in the Chipola River and tributaries of the Chipola River is suspended. Anglers may fish for shoal bass, but all caught shoal bass must be released immediately. TYPES OF BASS IN THE SPRING STREAMS One of the really interesting things about kayak fishing these wonderful Gulf Coast spring streams is the wide range of bass species that are possible to encounter. In all of the spring rivers and streams, largemouth bass will be the most commonly encountered species, and some of these largemouths get big. Anglers in the Florida rivers in particular can reasonably expect to encounter bass over five pounds, and even ten pounds is not out of the question. In the Wakulla and Wacissa Rivers, a gorgeous little bass, the Suwanee bass, is often caught. These fish were not native to these rivers. They originally came from the Suwanee River and other rivers farther to the east in Florida, but anglers released these fish in these not-native streams, and Suwanee bass did very well.
“Most of the spring rivers are full of weeds. I like to use some sort of weedless soft plastic lure. I like a Zoom Ultra-Vibe Speed Worm, and you can’t go wrong with green pumpkin color. I rig this worm with a 3/16 weight.” As the season progresses and the water gets as warm as it ever does, topwater lures on the spring streams gets very productive. “I like soft plastic frogs on top over the weeds. It has to be something weedless because of the thick weeds, but you don’t need anything else.” Perkins added. Fishing the Chipola River is a different sort of situation. It’s a faster flowing stream and the structure is much more in the line of rocks and big logs. The limestone shoals on the Chipola River can do some real damage to boat bottoms and lower units. “Here I like a spinner bait- I use a Redline spinner in chartreuse and pearl or black. You need a bait that moves here. The water is clear and the fish are used to eating things that move.” And as a bit of advice for anglers who visit the spring streams, Tim Perkins says, “A lot of the spring-fed stream bass like lures in black.”
BAY TRANSMISSION
Shoal bass are wonderful, hard-fighting fish that call the Chipola River home. These fish love fast water, and they are difficult to land. Chris Paxton, Regional Fisheries Administrator for the Northwest Region of the FWC tells us about a recently recognized new species of bass- the Choctaw bass. Paxton says, “ We know it occurs west of the Chipola river in the Apalachicola system, but we don’t know how extensive they are.” These fine little bass look like spotted bass, and many of the fish that local anglers have identified as spotted bass have probably been Choctaw bass. The one thing in common for kayak anglers with all of these bass species is that they pull hard, bite eagerly, and are beautiful fish. BEST WAYS OF FISHING Tim Perkins, a very experienced and talented bass angler, fishes the Bass Master’s Kayak Series, the Kayak Bass Fishing Pro Tour, and the Hobie Bass Open series of tournaments, and he spent last summer fishing the Florida spring rivers with his twin sons (follow the adventures of these two talented young anglers on Perkins Twins Outdoors 56 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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BY MR. GREEKAGOJUN Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 10 mins • Total: 25 mins
Fried Bass
Ingredients
• • • • • • • • • •
1 cup peanut oil for frying, or as needed 3 eggs 1 tablespoon water 3 (6 ounce) fillets striped bass fillets, skinned 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning 1 teaspoon lemon pepper 1/2 cup flour 1 (1 ounce) package salt-and-vinegar potato chips, crushed 1 lemon, cut into wedges Add all ingredients to list
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
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Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F. Whisk eggs and water together in a bowl; set the egg wash aside. Sprinkle the bass fillets on both sides with Cajun seasoning (if desired or other less spicy seasonings) and lemon pepper. Dredge the fillets in flour, and shake off excess. Dip the fillets in the egg wash, then dip fillets in the crushed potato chips. Fry the fish in the preheated skillet until lightly browned, about four minutes per side. Serve with lemon wedges.
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4500 Hwy. 77 · Southside, AL 35907 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 57
Gulf Coast Fishing Outlook
BY MIKE THOMPSON Photos by Mike Thompson
The bite at the Lumps below the mouth of the Mississippi should be good for yellowfin tuna this month.
February is probably the most bitter month to be on the water, but the fishing can still be “sweet.”
Angelo DePaola, of the Coastal Connection, feels some great action can be had, if you pick your days right.
Early month action is usually slow, until the late month warming trends get into play. Let’s look at a few fish to target this month on the coast.
“During February, the ‘Lump’ bite just below the Mississippi River can be really good. Places like the Horseshoe Dome or the Salt dome will be great for tuna. Chunking with bonito can produce yellowfins in the 150-200 hundred-pound range this month. You also can catch plenty of black fins using the same method,” DePaola said.
ALABAMA February cold weather will have bama anglers adjusting their tactics to put a mess of fish on ice. There should be white trout hanging around the gas rigs just offshore. Using cut mullet will entice the whites. Expect to also catch some small black drum around the rigs as well as some ground mullet. Along the beachfront, the whiting assault should be in full swing and small pieces of shrimp or Fish Bites should fool the whiting. Be sure to use very small hooks to account for the whiting’s small mouth. A scattering of sheepshead should be available around the legs of the Dauphin Island Bridge. Use dead shrimp or fiddler crabs if you can find them. Farther north, in rivers such as Dog, Fowl and the Fish river, you can find speckled trout holding up in channels and along close-by flats when waters warm up during the day. Offshore, can be fickle fishing, with the main factor being the weather. Should you get a good “window” of weather this month, the fishing can really be good.
58 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
While fishing for tuna, DePaolo said to be on the lookout for huge Mako sharks, the area is famous for. “Be sure to have a rod rigged with a heavy wire leader. Use a large circle hook and a big chunk for cruising Mako’s. Most of the time, you can see them swim up the chum-line, to the back of the boat.” DePaola said. DePaola also had this advice for lovers of the delicious Wahoo. “The rigs in 200-500 feet in depth will hold beautify Wahoo in February. Try trolling Mann ‘Stretch 30’s or Yozuri Bonita. Best colors are pink, purple and silver/blue,” DePaola said. Finally, DePaola had this advice for those with larger offshore boats: “Great deep-water grouper can be had at structure or natural outcroppings in 300-800 feet of water. Fresh bonito or chunks of black fin would work too. If all else fails, you can tempt the grouper with a large piece of squid,” DePaola advised.
FISHING OUTLOOK
Lots of redfish will be available during February.
MISSISSIPPI Over on the Mississippi Coast, anglers will be facing similar conditions to those in Alabama. Speckled trout will have taken residence in local rivers and bayous in deeper, clear water conditions. Adapting to these conditions can produce line stretching trips. Captain Bill Hancock, of Reel Outlaw Charters in the Biloxi, Gulfport area knows fishing can be tough, but proper planning can produce results. “I kinda follow the Farmer’s Almanac to have a general idea what the weather conditions will,” Hancock said. “This year they are predicting a norma-to-cooler late February. With that in mind, I’ll be looking for speckled trout in deep holes of the rivers and bayous. I will use soft plastics, rigged on 3/8ths ounce jigheads. My favorite colors are Creole Shrimp and Holy Joely, in Matrix Shad plastics.” As the morning progresses and waters warm up, Hancock will start targeting specks off the bottom with hard plugs. “I use one of two jerk baits. I Like the Yozuri 3-D with green back/ pearl sides or a Matrix Shad Rip Shad. I wind these baits down to six to eight feet and allow them to sit. Since the waters are clear the fish can easily see the lure above them, so wait a few seconds. The five second wait seems like an eternity, but the savage strike will be worth it” Hancock explained. If winds are light in February, Hancock will shoot out the barrier islands of Horn and Petit Bois to put his charter’s on bigger fish. “Around Petit Bois or Horn Islands, the water is usually gin clear. You can actually spot schools of big black drum cruising along,” Hancock pointed out. “The fish are lethargic and normally bottom feeders, so you have to put your bait right in front of their nose to get them to strike. This requires patience, but often results in 10-25-pound fish.” Hancock will be at both the Mobile and Biloxi Boat shows this month. Look him up at the Matrix Shad booth.
FLORIDA FOCUS Florida angling doesn’t take much of a break from winter and good fishing. While February may be tough elsewhere on the Gulf Coast, the Florida panhandle is still a reliable fishery. “If available, live shrimp will produce during this month,” says Captain Justin Driscoll of Florida Panhandle Charters in Panama City. Using live shrimp, around docks and rock jetties in February, is a great way to pick up mangrove snapper, redfish and speckled trout. You can also cast Z-Man paddle tail grubs if you can’t find live shrimp. Best color has been New Penny,” Driscoll said” If you’re looking for great light tackle action, Driscoll has this advice. “Try drifting live shrimp around the pass jetties for bull reds and some early sheepshead. If it warms up early, we head out and troll for speedy Spanish mackerel,” Driscoll said. Driscoll had this important advice for February. “Try and find structure of some kind. Use live shrimp or swim baits and include fiddler crabs near the structure for both reds and sheepshead,” Driscoll explained. CONCLUSION Fishing is always fun, but February can test the mettle of many anglers. Dress appropriately and get out there. Who knows the adventures that await you…? See you on the water!
Important Contact Information Captain Bill Hancock Reel Outlaw Charters 601-807 5811 Captain Justin Driscoll Florida Panhandle Charters 850-814-1233
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 59
Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook
BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn
ALABAMA WATERS
LAKE EUFULA It pays to be a weather-watcher in early spring at Lake Eufaula.
Captain Sam Williams tells us that in February on Lake Eufaula, the weather dictates how fishing trips go. On warm, sunny days, the bass can move up shallower and bite a bit quicker, but on most of the fishing trips scheduled for February, anglers looking for bass will want to slow down in their presentation of lures. Bass will be moving slowly, and lures worked too fast will usually be ignored. In particular, bass anglers should work the old leftover lily pad stems and blowdowns which present shoreline cover for bass. On warmer days, bass will pull up out of deeper water and hold on the stems and limbs in the water. For most of February, bass anglers can fish Rat-l-Traps off the first ledge with good results. A slow retrieve will be bestdon’t burn the lure back to the boat. 60 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Crankbaits worked in deeper water with trash piles and old stumps in 12 to 22 feet of water can be good. ”Crappie will be great this month. Look around bridge pilings and try ultra light spinning rigs with four pound line using either small jigs or live minnows. Sometimes a combination of the two works best,” Williams said. For some real exercise, anglers can look for birds diving over open water. There will be white bass, hybrids, and stripers under the birds worked big schools of shad, and the big striped fish will eagerly take silver and shad colored jigs, spoons, and top water plugs. LAKE GUNTERSVILLE This massive northern Alabama lake can drive anglers crazy in February and it can also reward them greatly. According to Captain Jake Davis from Mid-South Bass Guide Service, February is a very good time for trophy bass hunting anglers to spend time casting to some very big bass.
FISHING OUTLOOK Davis points out that big bass will be moving up into shallower water looking for lots to eat before they start their spawning work. Rat-L-Traps and Texas rig soft plastics in particular work well on early spring big bass. The bass will be from ten feet deep to less than a foot, and they’ll be all over the lake. This shallow water pattern will only get better as the month goes on. When the bass actually start their spawning, and this depends on the warm weather and warm rains that we might get in February, angler will want to look ay spawning bays in creeks and around new grass growth. The grass may only be an inch or so long now, but it is enough to hold lots of bass. Davis advises anglers that when fishing in cloudy water, lures need to have a good shade of Guntersville red on them, but if the water is clear, more natural shad colors will be best. Crappie anglers need to get up to Guntersville in February because the slabs will be thick under bridges and docks and they will be fat, dumb, and happy and ready to bite. Davis says that small jigs and live minnows will work for the bigger crappie. MOBILE DELTA “On the beautiful Mobile-Tensaw Delta in February, everything will be geared toward the stages of the rivers,” says Mobile-Tensaw Delta Guide Service Captain Wayne Miller. “If we have heavy flooding rains upstream, it can take two or three months to get lower good fishing water brown here on the Delta,” On average years, the lakes in the middle and lower Delta, waters south of the I-65 area, should be well fishable.
February bass will be feeding up and getting ready for bedding as the spring moves along.
Anglers fishing the deeper cypress lakes will have good luck with jigs and other crawfish imitations. Crankbaits can be very good at this time. Anglers should focus on points and deeper waters with the mudbug lures. In the area around the Causeway, bass will be piled up in the creeks. Anglers should look for the bigger lakes with lots of creeks feeding into the lakes, and then work the creeks hard for bass. The largemouth bass will be feeding heavily on crawfish in February because this is the major forage for the bass at this time.
catfish, once they are located. Cat hunters will want to look in 25-40 feet of water in the upper portions of the lakes. Bluffs and ledges with sharp bottom contours will be best. When the dams are generating, anglers will want to work the upstream side of humps and islands below the dams. On the lower end of Wilson, cats may be 90 to 100 feet deep at times, but 60-75 feet is usually a reliable depth to start fishing. On another note, Barton says that anglers can expect to meet up with some big, mean February striped bass below the dams. Anglers who fish the tailrace waters of either dam just downstream of turbine boils will likely encounter some hard pulling striped fish. Anglers should use live shad for bait. Let the bait go to the bottom in the fast water. Weight requirements will depend on the amount of water coming through the dam. If there’s no bite in ten minutes, then a move is in order. The stripers, hybrids and whites will be somewhere below the dams when water is running. WEISS LAKE Weiss Lake is one of the premier crappie and bass lakes in the entire country, and the fish can break wide open in early spring. Weiss Lake Crappie Guide Captain Lee Pitts gets pretty excited when he talks about the fishing on Lake Weiss in February. “February is when spring starts kicking in. Everything is heading to the creeks,” Pitts said. This is a good month for long-line trolling for schools of crappie which are chasing shad. The crappie are not holding to shoreline cover yet, but are out in open water keeping up with the shad. Multiple rod set ups work well, and Lew’s Slab Shaker rods in lengths from eight to twelve feet to vary the angle and depth of presentation work well. Pitts rigs 1/24 oz. Mo-Glo jig heads by Bobby Garland, and he likes to thread a Bobby Garland Baby Slab or Slab Slayer grub body. He finds that at at this time, the bigger crappie don’t want a lot of action on the lures, but rather a slow pull with just the action provided by the soft plastic lure can be effective.
WILSON/PICKWICK LAKES Patience is a prime ingredient for early spring anglers on the big Tennessee River chain of lakes.
Bass at Weiss will be moving very shallow in February. Anglers should look for them to see them clearing bottom in hard bottom areas in readiness for spawning. Clay banks can be good, but rock bottom is best at this time.
February gives catfish anglers a wide range of possibilities on Lakes Wilson and Pickwick. One day, the catfish may be on a tear and eating up everything. The next day, you’d swear there’s not a catfish in the lake. It will take patience and persistence this month.
“I like Strike King squarebill crank baits, and Rat’LTraps will work, too. I like something with chartreuse, orange or red accents. And I never go out this time of year without a black and blue colored jig ready to go,” Pitts said.
Professional fishing guide Captain Brian Barton tells us that when the cats are found, they will be tightly schooled up, so anglers can catch a lot of good
“Some of our best fishing days are in February- for big fish and for lots of fish,” Pitts concluded.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 61
Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook
SIPSEY FORK Alabama’s only year-round rainbow trout water offer some fine early spring fishing for anglers who take the time to observe what the trout are feeding on.
Crankbaits, chatter baits, and swim jigs all will work well on bass at this early spring situation.
Randy Jackson of Riverside Fly Shop tells us that February can be a very good month for trout anglers in Alabama.
Florida waters warm quicker than more northerly lakes and streams, so anglers can get an early start on spring fishing in the Sunshine State.
The Sipsey Fork should start having good hatches of stoneflies beginning with the smaller brown stoneflies which will emerge all along the run of the river. Fly anglers should try dark brown stonefly imitations in sizes fourteen to sixteen. As the month goes on, it is very possible that the larger black stoneflies will show up, and the trout go wild over these bigger bugs.
Over at the Whippoorwill Lodge on Lake Talquin, veteran angler Jeff DuBree says that February is a big spawning month for the bass and crappie on the lake. Anglers should focus their efforts in the deeper creeks which feed into the lake, and when the water temperatures get close to the mid-60 degree mark, anglers should be on the water.
Midges are still present, and anglers who drift nymph patterns in twenty to twenty-four sizes will take fish. Spinning gear anglers can use a clear plastic water bubble and a fluorocarbon leader to fish the same flies that work for fly rod anglers. Trout Magnets and Roostertails with single hooks will always catch fish on the Sipsey Fork. MILLER’S FERRY LAKE Although cold weather can slow down the early spring bite on Miller’s Ferry, a warm early spring can bring things to a boil quickly, According to Joe Dunn of Dunn’s Sports in Thomasville, February will see the crappie on Weiss Lake starting their transition into spring and spawning. If the water temperatures hold chilly, the crappie will still be suspended in deeper water in sloughs and deep channels, but when the water temperature hits 60 degrees, the crappie will move shallow. During February, anglers can troll with jigs and live minnows in fifteen to ten feet of water to find the schools of crappie. Dunn reminds us that some parts of the lake warms up sooner than others, and this can trigger earlier spawning. In particular, Hog Pen Slough, Marina Slough, and the Gee’s Bend areas all tend to be the first parts of the lake to warm enough to cause the crappie spawn to start. Dunn points out that as February moves along, the bass will start thinking about moving on the spawning banks. If we get some warm weather in February, they may actually move up in the grass along the shorelines and start bedding.
FLORIDA WATERS
Important Contact Information Capt. Brian Barton 256-412-0969 Brianbartonoutdoors@aol.com www.brianbartonoutdoors.com Capt. Jake Davis Mid-South Bass Guide Service 615-613-2382 www.midsouthbassguide.com Joe Dunn Dunn’s Sports 334-636-0850 33356 Hwy. 43, Thomasville, AL
Both bass and crappie will be in pre-spawn patterns at the start of the month, but the fish will move into spawning areas as the month progresses.
Capt. Lee Pitts 256-390-4145 www.pittsoutdoors.com
Crappie chasers should try trolling multiple jig and grub rigs over deeper creek mouths. So far this year, jigs in blue and green have been good producers.
Capt. Sam Williams Hawks Fishing Guide Service 334-355-5057 www.hawksfishingguideservice.com
For bass, anglers should throw spinnerbaits and jerk baits near cover on the larger creeks. It’s still a bit early for best bream action, but anglers can start to find some good shellcrackers in deeper water near creek mouths by fishing worms on the bottom.
Randy Jackson Riverside Fly Shop 16027 Hwy 69 N Jasper, AL 256-287-9582 riversideflyshop.com
Wakulla River Although the spring-fed Wakulla River never gets as cold as other freshwaters of the region, the bass still tend to bite better as the spring weather starts to arrive in northwest Florida.
Captain Wayne Miller Mobile-Tensaw Delta Guide Service 251-455-7404 millewa12000@yahoo.com
Rob Baker of The Wilderness Way in Crawfordville says that toward the end of the month, the weather usually gets quite a lot warmer, and by March, spring will be in full swing. Bass in Wakulla River will be moving into spawning areas- look for large trees and other solid cover which projects out into the main river. The most reliable lure for Wakulla River in early spring will be soft plastics. Wacky-rigged worms allowed to sink slowly near the heavy cover can be very effective. Edges of thick weed beds are always good spots to find bass in the Wakulla River. Spinnerbaits worked along open edges near weed beds can draw some strikes from big bass.
62 JANUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Jeff DuBree Whippoorwill Lodge 850-875-2605 Rob Baker Wilderness Way 850-877-7200 3152 Shadeville Road Crawfordville, FL
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64 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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PHOTO of the MONTH Niki McCall shows off a beautiful drake Wood Duck.
Tina Donald took this 7 point DOE in Walnut Hill, Florida on Christmas eve.
Doc Wright from Foley, AL caught this Wahoo on a 2 day trip on the Escape out of Dauphin Island With Captain Mike’s Deep Sea Fishing.
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Gabe Graham, 10 caught this 60+lb catfish on lake Logan Martin.
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Brady Lathan shot this 165# 8 point in January 5th 2020.
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Isaiah Gilmore age 8 shot a 8 pointer in Hamilton, GA.
Wyatt Harrison, 10, killed this 7pt buck in Tibbie, AL
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FISHING TIP
Largemouth Bass Fishing Lake Guntersville In February
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877-314-1237 This space could be yours
BY: LEE PITTS February is still bitter cold winter for most people, but for bass fisherman at Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, it’s time for kick off! The Tennessee River is known for producing giant bass and Lake Guntersville has them. This is the driving force behind why bass fishermen brave the cold weather and winds to flock to Guntersville in February. They know that their next cast may result in catching the bass of a lifetime. In February, I use jerk baits, shallow diving crankbaits and, everybody’s favorite on Guntersville, lipless crankbaits. A key element to make these baits effective is using what I call “The Cadence”, which is the rhythm that the bass want that day. and it is all about finding out what kind of rhythm the bass want for that day. I have been in the boat with other fisherman and even though we are all throwing the exact same bait, one of the fishermen will get constant bites while the rest go hungry. It’s all about finding out that little kick or pause that triggers the strike and once you do, that’s when the action starts. The same thing applies to jerk baits. Some days they want it moving and on other days they won’t touch it unless it is sitting still. Things I look for in February are cuts and ditches off the main river channels and scattered patches off backwaters. Another pattern that many anglers rule out is shallow pockets or shallow stump flats. These areas, even with cold weather temperatures can hold some of those big females pulling up early. On one of my best days, the air temperature was 22 degrees at blast off and water temperature was 39 degrees, At 10:00 AM I went into a shallow pocket just to get out of the wind, knowing that at 2-3 feet deep, it was probably too shallow to fish, but it was LOADED with bass. The faster I reeled the better they liked it! Lee Pitts Guide Serivce 256-390-4145 Facebook/Instagram/YouTube 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2020 73
A GREAT DAY OUTDOORS
Geese Unlimited
BY JIM MIZE
Whoever is in charge of this outfit can take a breather. Whereas some animal populations suffer from diminished habitat, the Canada goose thrives. Estimates of their numbers have increased from about one million in 1950 to about five million today. This is in spite of the fact that they have been legally hunted for the last two hundred years, and apparently not very well since about 1950. Since you are likely a neighbor to some Canada geese, you probably want to know a little more about them. For starters, you might wonder why some people refer to Canada geese and others to Canadian geese. The difference is easy to explain. The Canada goose is a species of waterfowl with a black head, white cheek, and long black neck. Canadian geese are any geese that live in Canada. The Latin name for the Canada goose is Branta canadensis, which might explain why no one speaks Latin. These geese range from Canada to northern Mexico and from the east coast to the west coast. It must have been quite a coup for Canada to name these geese given their range spans all of North America they could have just as easily become NAFTA geese. Canada geese usually find a mate in their second year and remain together for life. It probably helps that they all look alike. That way, they never leave for a better-looking goose. The typical nest will contain four to seven eggs, or as predators say, about three omelets. Their predators include gulls, ravens, crows, skunks and dogs. As you might guess, eggs and goslings are obviously the most vulnerable
considering that dogs and skunks can’t fly.
flocks.
When a predator is spotted approaching, the gander will alarm the others by taking wing and honking, which is precisely what I would do if a predator approached.
Also, geese have forsaken their rural roots. Apparently they saw how good life was at the country club and moved in, without an application, entry fee, or dues.
In fact, goose communication is quite interesting. Young geese, for example, begin communicating while still inside their eggs. Mostly at this age, they just make greeting peeps. I mean, if you spend all day inside an egg, how much more could you have to say?
Being herbivores, geese eat a lot of grass. Golfers tend to be picky about their grass, so geese make enemies just by eating.
The Latin name for the Canada goose is Branta canadensis, which might explain why no one speaks Latin. As geese mature, they honk more than a driver on an L.A. freeway (Lower Alabama). The Canada goose is known to make at least ten different calls, remarkable considering none of them have cell phones. A loud rapid call, for instance, indicates either the goose is frantic or a golfer just shanked a ball at him. You can even tell the gander from the female goose by its honk, since the gander’s voice is deeper. This is an especially important trait in the goose world since they all mostly look alike. Migration for geese is both complicated for some and simple for others, because not all geese migrate. Some just hang out in one place yearround. The scientific name for these geese is “freeloaders.” For those that migrate, there’s evidence their migration patterns are changing. Most likely, that’s because people keep building golf courses along the way. Canada geese also travel in family groups. You can tell this by listening closely to the honking of the younger ones, which can be translated as, “Are we there yet?” If you have no geese in your yard at the moment, you might ask, “What’s not to like about geese?” The answers are many. For starters, you never have one goose. So all their bad habits come in
74 FEBRUARY 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
And if you thought grass-eating riles people, you should see their response to the efforts of geese to fertilize. It is estimated that fifty geese generate two and a half tons of poop in one year, good for the grass but not so much for golf shoes. So what do you do if you have more geese than you want? Well, you can’t just shoot a few even if you do have a good recipe. Canada geese are protected by both state and federal laws. Apparently, very well protected. The place to start is with the habitat you’re providing. For instance, do you have water on your property? Can you make it less attractive by freezing it and stocking foxes? Have you considered changing your farming practices to something less favored by geese as food? For instance, how about zucchinis? No one likes them. Do you have nesting areas on your property and are they near food? You might consider separating the two with a fence or dense shrubbery. After eating for twelve hours a day, geese apparently have trouble hopping a fence. Especially if they’ve been eating zucchinis. Finally, in extreme situations, some wildlife managers suggest noise harassment to drive off geese whenever they land. This is done with a propane cannon that also tends to drive off neighbors when they land. So, as you can tell, goose management is no simple matter. But you have to hand it to those Geese Unlimited guys. They have done a heck of a job.
JIM MIZE stopped chasing off geese long enough to write two humorous books for outdoorsmen. You can find them at www.acreektricklesthroughit.com
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