Great Days Outdoors - November 2023 by TrendSouth Media

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YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

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HUNTING & FISHING IN ALABAMA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE

CONTENTS

Giant Blue Catfish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by John E. Phillips Wood Duck Hunting: The Complete Guide. . . . . . . . 12 by Nick Williams Points to Consider in Pond Stocking . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by David Strickland Successful Seatrout Strategies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 by Butch Thierry Gut Hook Knife Buyer’s Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 by Great Days Outdoors Staff What is the Best Choke for Duck Hunting? . . . . . . . 28 by Nick Williams Tractor Rototillers 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 by Joe Baya Hunting Deer Using Staging Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 by Josh Honeycutt The Best Trail Camera Card Reader for 2023. . . . . . 40 by Nick Williams Pompano Jigs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 by Joe Baya Wyoming Duck And Goose Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 by Nick Williams Choosing the Best Fishing Apps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 by Nick Williams Raw Land Loan Rates 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 by Joe Baya

In Every Issue

4 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Best Bets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by The Editors Camphouse Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 by Hank Shaw New & Cool Gear for Outdoorsmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 by Nick Williams From the Commissioner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 by Chris Blakenship From the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 by Charles Sykes Alabama & Northwest Florida Fishing Forecast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 by Tanner Deas Paddle Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 by Ed Mashburn Pier & Shore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 by David Thornton Regional Freshwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 by Ed Mashburn Prime Feeding Times, Moon, Sun, and Tide Charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Pensacola Motorsports Trophy Room. . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Great Days Kids Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Fishing Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 by Nick Williams A Great Day Outdoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 by Jim Mize

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Alabama Listings COUNTY

ACRES

Autauga Autauga Autauga Autauga Autauga Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Barbour Barbour Barbour Barbour Barbour Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Blount Blount Blount Blount Blount Bullock Butler Calhoun

373 80 48 44 30 4615 1995 648 518 518 351 243 215 160 118 425 411 240 142 87.55 547 306 241 80 17.5 105.5 372 32

Calhoun Chambers Cherokee Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Choctaw Choctaw Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clay Conecuh Conecuh Crenshaw Crenshaw Cullman Dale Dale Dale Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas

1.4 5 2 122 58.27 51 38 12 1358 1077 2840 620 66.42 50.27 19 240 355 3 276.5 7 117 196 110 40 933 740 572 430

COUNTY

ACRES

Dallas Dallas Elmore Escambia Escambia Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Franklin Greene Greene Greene Greene Hale Hale Hale Hale Hale Hale Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Houston Houston

395 3 210 290 113 495 190 138 135 80 68 270 177 120 1.5 287 258 186 80 53 1.56 80 57 40 34 33 312 261

Houston Houston Houston Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lawrence Lawrence Lawrence Lee Lee Lee Limestone Limestone Lowndes Lowndes Macon Macon Macon Macon Macon

158 84 74 928 180 160 128 126 530 350 143 136 67 81 78 78 305 130 94.51 7.25 6.83 1075 75 598 483 105 35 27.42

COUNTY

ACRES

Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marion Marion Marion Marshall Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Monroe Monroe Monroe Monroe Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Perry Perry Perry Perry Pickens

1224 58 16 10 5 120 79 60 198 770 375 340 262.83 201 316 181 76 62 640 250 200 34 21 330 200 134 120 217

Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pike Pike Pike Randolph Russell Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Talladega Talladega Tallapoosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa

217 180 113 77 159 33 15 1.87 29 31 20 19 898 79 67 64 55 3768 1040 388 145 1 565 147 204.79 560 470 303

COUNTY

ACRES

Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Walker Walker Walker Walker Walker Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Wilcox Winston Winston Winston

130 120 713 373 288 120 115 368 160 136 100 82 10 69 12 2.3

FL Panhandle Listings COUNTY

Escambia Santa Rosa Santa Rosa Santa Rosa Santa Rosa

ACRES 168 64 48 20 20

Along with hundreds of others across the entire United States

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 5

BEST BETS

BEST BETS FOR NOVEMBER These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month! BY GREAT DAYS OUTDOORS EDITORS

HARDWOOD BOTTOM WOOD DUCKS

Stuck just between the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways, Alabama isn’t exactly world-renowned for its duck hunting opportunities. But one species the Yellowhammer State has in abundance is wood ducks, and the Thanksgiving split offers what can be some of the best hunting waterfowlers will see all year. Right now, woodies will be stacked up in the small creeks that trickle through hardwood bottoms, eating the acorns that drop in the water and on the banks. Chances are, you’ve already seen them fly in from your deer stand. On opener, be wherever they’re touching down. You don’t need much gear. Your deer camo will work just fine, and the same shotgun and open choke that you used for dove works for tight timber woodies. Load up with steel #4s (or better yet, #5 or #6 bismuth) and pick a tree to lean up against. If you’ve done your scouting, there’s no need for decoys or a call. Just be ready for some fast and up-close action right at the break of dawn. Wood ducks are early birds.

MOBILE BAY ESTUARY SPECKLED TROUT

VOLUME 27 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2023

PUBLISHED BY: Great Days Outdoors Media, L.L.C. PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Joe Baya EXECUTIVE EDITOR Butch Thierry MANAGING EDITOR: Nick Williams GENERAL MANAGER: Samatha Hester CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Wendy Johannesmann

As ambient air cools the water, speckled trout react by transitioning from a shallow water pattern to a deeper water pattern. For speckled trout early in November, stay focused on the deeper pattern which is structure in the form of rigs, reefs, wrecks and rockpiles in water depths of over eight feet. Live bait fished under a slip cork or tight-lined will be the go-to for the early fall trout.

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING Jarod Bosarge

Great Days Outdoors (USPS 17228; ISSN 1556-0147) is published monthly at P.O. Box 1253 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Subscription rate is $30 for one-year, $54 for two-years, and $72 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

When fishing structure, always start on the up current side and allow the baits to drift freely across/through the structure. You’ll find that the fish can be found on both the up and down current side, but by starting on the up current side you’ll be able to cover both from one stop.

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.

RAINBOW TROUT BELOW SMITH LAKE

The deep water discharge below the dam on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior is one of the few places in Alabama where you can fish stocked Rainbow Trout. Trout are a cold water species, and require water temps between 45-65 degrees in order to stay healthy. Most of our waters get far too hot to sustain them, but the water discharged from the bottom of Smith Lake stays a constant 55 degrees year round, allowing trout to survive. While the fishery is available year round, Brandon Jackson at the Riverside Fly Shop says that the best time of year to fish is right now. “These trout respond more to human pressure than anything else,” he says, “and in the winter most fishermen switch over to deer hunting. Fewer people on the banks equals less suspicious fish.” If you decide to capitalize on this, be prepared for the cold. You’re not going to wet wade this water. Bring waders with good, felt-soled bottoms to stay warm and avoid a slip. A standard 4-5wt trout setup will be perfect. As far as fly selection, stop by the Riverside Fly Shop and ask Brandon, “What’s getting hit?”

6 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

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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You don’t hunt an elephant with a BB gun, and heavy tackle, quality electronics and the right bait all must come together to bring a blue cat like this to the boat. 8 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING

Giant Blue

Catfish BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS

According to Phil King, winner of four, overseas’ World Catfish Championships, “The real fun of catching a monster-sized blue in the winter is the fight.” To catch big blue catfish in the wintertime, you must understand what makes them tick. You also can learn from what Phil King, the world’s most-successful blue catfish tournament angler – the winner of more than 25 big-catfish titles and championships and four World Catfish Championships overseas – has discovered. TRAITS OF BIG WINTERTIME BLUE CATFISH THAT WILL HELP YOU CATCH THEM They: • Are voracious feeders. Blue cats like to eat shad, crawfish, blue crabs, mussels, worms, Asiatic clams and frogs, so change baits often. Although some anglers prefer using cut shad in 50-cent piece sizes in the winter, others like larger baits. • Have a well-developed sense communication system. Blue cats’ communication is based on released chemical pheromones and sensory organs that can make them difficult to catch. • Are migratory. Blues may travel long distances to find food – more so than other catfish. • Prefer fresh water but can live in brackish estuaries. • Experience a slowing-down of metabolism and digestion rates in cold weather but will keep-on feeding. You still can catch them in 30-degree water. • Like to hold in certain places in the winter. Although wintertime blue catfish often prefer to live in holes 30-45 feet deep, they also frequent steep ledges, log piles, channel bends, outside bends, mouths of tributaries and rock piles. TRICKS FOR CATCHING GIGANTIC BLUE CATFISH IN THE WINTER Almost anyone can catch catfish May through October. Few anglers can take monster-sized blue cats throughout the winter months like expert Phil “Catfish” King of Corinth, Mississippi. After fishing with King many times, I’ve learned some of his secret strategies that you can use to be successful. King says, “I’m convinced that cats must eat something every day. I’ve learned where those big blues live in the winter through studying their habits. If I put bait up-off the bottom that catfish will eat, I can catch them – no matter what the time of year.” However, King has learned that catfish take their time biting during the winter months – far longer than they do in the summer. “Many times, even a big catfish will hit a bait for 10 minutes during the winter, before finally taking

it in and swallowing it,” King says. One of King’s favorite places to fish during the winter months is in deep holes near the flood gates below Pickwick Dam on the Tennessee River on the borders of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, and also down river in deep holes - tactics that work well anywhere in the country. Here’s the wintertime tackle King fishes with to catch these large blue cats. * Line, Swivels, Sinkers, Hooks, Reel, Rod and Depth Finder: When King fishes for big blue cats, he uses either Berkley FireLine or SpiderWire. Both the braided, no-stretch SpiderWire and the FireLine enable King to feel the catfish on the line as soon as the fish first bites the bait. Then he can set the hook quickly with his 7-1/2 foot medium-heavy action or heavy action Berkley Catfishing Rod. With monofilament line, he says he may not feel the catfish until it tries to get off the hook. To his main line, King attaches a three-way swivel. He next ties 12 to 18 inches of 60-pound-test Berkley Big Game line coming off the second eye of the three-way swivel. To the end of that line, King attaches a barrel swivel. To that, he ties on another 12 to 18 inches of Big Game line and snells a No. 6/0 or 7/0 Kahle hook to the line, leaving 4 to 6 inches of line coming-off the first eye of the swivel. Then he snells a second No. 6/0 or 7/0 Kahle hook to the same eye. “For really-big blue catfish, I prefer the No. 6/0 or No. 7/0 Kahle hooks,” King explains. “If I’m fishing big baits, I like to make sure I have two hooks in the bait. Then, regardless of how the catfish takes the bait, I’ve got at least one and maybe two hooks in the fish.” On the bottom eye of his three-way swivel, King uses 14- to 20-pound-test Trilene Big Game line to tie-on his lead. “I’ll have from 2 to 10 feet of leader line going from the eye of the three-way swivel to the lead on the bottom,” King says. “I determine how long to make the leader based on the depth my Humminbird 1199 depth finder shows where the cats are holding. If the cats are holding 10-feet off the bottom, I’ll use 10 feet of leader. I want my lead to go to the bottom, however, I want to keep my bait at about 10 feet from the bottom. So, I’ll fish with my Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 Line Counter reel to be exact. “When I find the cats holding right on or close to the bottom, I may use only 1 to 2 feet of leader from my three-way swivel to my lead. If there’s a 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 9

Giant Blue Catfish

very-light current, catfish often will move 8- to 10-feet off the bottom to feed. I believe many fishermen don’t catch cats, because they aren’t putting their baits where the fish are feeding.”

Who Is the Blue Catfish

With more than 1,000 kinds of catfish in the world, 28 species live in the U.S., ranging from the 1-inch madtom catfish to the huge, delicious-tasting blue catfish. The Alabama blue cat record of 120 pounds, 4 ounces was caught in 2021 at Holt Reservoir. The world’s blue catfish record weighed 143 pounds, was 57-inches long, had a circumference of 47 inches and was caught at Buggs Island on the border of North Carolina and Virginia in 2011. Reports from the late 1800s claimed 350+ pound blue cats roamed the Mississippi River at that time.

TECHNIQUES FOR FISHING DROP-OFFS IN WINTER “Some of the places I like to fish are deep holes down in a river below a dam,” King reports. “Almost every major river system in the nation will have drop-offs, holes and underwater ledges downstream from hydroelectric plants.” To catch big wintertime blues, you must first survey the river bottoms below dams and identify drop-offs, holes and ledges downriver. Blue catfish like to hold in these areas, where baitfish congregate, and other food washes into the holes. Once King locates the holes, he uses his trolling motor to hold his boat steady against the current. Then he lets his line fall-down to the bottom and allows the current to slowly move his boat and his bait downriver. To enable the lead to move along the bottom, King raises his rod tip and lifts the lead up off the bottom. Controlling the drift of his boat with his trolling motor, King lets the boat move-back 3 to 6 inches at a time before setting his lead down again. “I want the nose of my boat pointed into the current and my line running at about a 30-degree angle toward the back of the boat,” King explains. “I start bumping my bait along the bottom above the holes, let the bait drop-down into the holes and then bounce the lead along the bottom of and out the back side of the hole. Since the catfish are often on top of, in or behind the hole, you want to work that entire stretch of the bottom.” King prefers fishing the deeper drop-offs and holes in the river during the winter, because the bigger blue cats tend to hold where depths reach 30 to 40 and even 60 feet.

ALABAMA BISON HUNT HARVEST YOUR OWN MEAT

Anglers have long been fascinated with big blue cats that are part of the Ictalurus family that also includes channel, white and bullhead catfish. The flathead cat actually is another family – Pylodictis. Blue cats are also known by the names of forked-tail cat, humpback blue and chucklehead. The average female blue cat lays 10,000 eggs per year. Its average lifespan is 10-20 years. With their smooth-skinned blue bodies and eight barbels around their mouths, blue cats also have spinal barbs on their fins that secrete toxins. TIPS FOR FISHING SLACK WATER Slack-water times are also when King enjoys fishing holes in the bottoms in the fronts of spillways that aren’t discharging water. “Big blues will hold around dam areas throughout the year,” King explains. “I’ve learned that some of their favorite places to concentrate in tailraces aren’t just in the swift water where the turbines are being discharged, but also in the slack water around the spillways.” King searches for holes in the bottoms in front of spillways and uses the same rig there that he does when he bumps his bait in the holes downriver. However, when fishing slack water, King fishes with lighter leads – often weighing no more than 1 or 2 ounces – and uses his trolling motor to move his boat slowly around these holes. One of King’s most-impressive catches of big wintertime blues occurred as he fished a deep hole below Pickwick Dam on the Tennessee River in the slack water in front of the spillway gates. “One night while using my trolling motor, I slow-trolled five big baits in deep holes,” King recalls. “A catfish hit so hard that it jerked me around in the seat, and I had to put both hands on the rod as the drag screamed off the reel.” The big blue came to the surface, made two figure eights just under the water and began a long, steady run down the river. Next the fish went down and stayed on the bottom for about 10 minutes and then it came up. The blue dove for the bottom a second time, and another 10-minute tug-of-war took place. Since King had learned through the years not to muscle a large blue to the surface, until the fish surrendered, he chased the catfish downriver with his trolling motor. Finally after a 20-minute battle, the 61-pound blue cat rolled-up on its side, and King slid a massively-oversized net under it. Then he released it.

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ALABAMA HUNT 10 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

According to King, “The real fun of catching a monster-sized blue in the winter is the fight.” MORE SECRETS FOR CATCHING GIANT WINTERTIME BLUES Many anglers who fish below dams across the country know they’ll find big blues in the holes downriver during the winter. But why does King catch monster cats out of these holes so much more consistently than other anglers? King: •

Doesn’t spook the big blue cat he’s trying to catch. King emphasizes that he never goes-over a hole running his big motor, since he’s convinced that the sound of a big motor moving-over a catfish hole will cause the fish not to bite. A trolling motor, however, doesn’t seem to

Giant Blue Catfish

Other Equipment Anglers Use to Catch Large Winter Blue Catfish Blue cat fishermen often name e-glass, s-glass and/or composite blanks as some of their favorite rods. Some wintertime fishermen prefer hooks like the Daiichi Circle Wide Hook in the 5/0 size for smaller baits. Others like the 8/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks. Whichever hook you use, be sure it’s a quality hook. Always fish with fresh line for big blues. Anglers may opt to fish slip rigs with a 4-6 ounce egg sinker on 80-pound braided line tied to a barrel swivel with 18 inches of 60-pound-test line and a hook. When fishing rocks, others use a bank sinker rather than an egg sinker that’s tied to 4-6 inches of 20-pound monofilament with a dropper that’s attached with a snap and a snap swivel and tied to the main line.

•

spook the fish. King also fishes through the hole with his trolling motor, allowing his bait to drift-back naturally, rather than trying to anchor on or above the hole and fishing vertically in it. Using his Humminbird electronics, often he’ll pinpoint the blue out in front of the hole or behind the hole, rather than in the hole. By fishing all three locations, he has three chances of catching the large cat, while anyone fishing in the hole only has a one-in-three chance. Using his trolling motor to control his drift, King moves his bait through the hole slower than the current’s moving. He only lifts his lead 3- to 4-inches off the bottom at a time. Fishes with abrasion-resistant monofilament leader and braided no-stretch small-diameter line. King uses 60-pound-test, abrasion-resistant monofilament leader line that has the power to move a big blue once he sets the hook with his braided main line. He fishes with a braided no-stretch, small-diameter line as his main line when he’s looking for monster-sized cats, because he can feel the bite of the catfish better and get a faster and harder hook set. King recommends you using an extremely-large dip net when you fish for big blues. Often an angler will lose a large catfish at the boat, because his net just isn’t large enough to land a monster. Fishes numerous spots with a variety of baits. King doesn’t fish just one place in the wintertime. He’ll fish 10 to 20 holes in a day and often returns to the same hole several times during the day. He uses a wide variety of baits, including cut shad, shad guts, chicken livers, night crawlers and live crappie minnows.

According to King, “I let the blues tell me which bait they prefer on each day in the winter. I enjoy fishing for cats anytime. However, I know you seldom catch big cats, especially in the winter, unless you fish specifically for big cats.”

BY HANK SHAW

https://honest-food.net Image courtesy of Hank Shaw

Catfish Cheeks with Saffron Tomato Sauce Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 25 mins • Total: 45 mins Ingredients • 1 pound fish cheeks • Salt • Lemon juice (optional) • 3 tablespoons canola, grapeseed or other high smoke point oil SAUCE • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 small yellow or white onion, minced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 cup vermouth • A big pinch of saffron • 2 cups fire-roasted tomato puree (or regular tomato puree) • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne • salt • 3 tablespoons minced parsley

Instructions 1.

3. 4.

Manufacturers of Big Blue Wintertime Catfish Equipment Abu-Garcia Ambassadeur Reels https://www.abugarcia.com/reels Berkley Big Game, FireLine and SpiderWire Lines https://www.berkley-fishing.com/line Daiichi Hooks https://www.daiichifishing.com

Gamakatsu Hooks https://gamakatsu.com/ Humminbird Electronics https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/fish-finders

Salt the catfish cheeks and set them aside on a cutting board or plate. If you want, squeeze some lemon juice over them. This would be the moment you’d made polenta, grits or boil the water for pasta. If you are making polenta, you can make it while the sauce is cooking. When it’s ready, just put a lid on the pot you cooked the polenta in and set it over low heat on a weak burner. It will be fine. Make the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. When it’s hot, add the onion and sauté until completely translucent, with a little browning around the edges. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Pour in the vermouth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits. Crumble the saffron into the pan. Let this come to a boil, then add the tomato puree and cayenne. Stir well and taste for salt, adding if needed. Let this simmer until it is the consistency you want. I like this dish over grits or polenta, so I want the sauce a touch thinner than a regular spaghetti sauce. Once it’s there, sprinkle the parsley on top and turn the heat to very low. Get another pan hot, then add the oil. Pat the catfish cheeks dry as the oil warms. When it’s hot, as in when you can see the slightest wisp of smoke, set the cheeks flat side down in the pan -- this is the side that used to have skin on it. The moment you set them in the pan, give the pan a little jiggle so they don’t fuse to the metal. Let the cheeks sear this way for 2 to 3 minutes. While this is happening, spoon the hot oil over the surface of the cheeks until they are opaque. At some point around 2 to 3 minutes, use a spatula to try to lift the cheeks off the pan. If they come free, they are ready. If they are horribly stuck, give them another minute. If somewhere in between, it’s your call: Leave them longer and have slightly overdone fish with a pretty crust, or use the spatula to forcibly remove them and have a marred crust but tastier meat. Either way, give the sauce a stir and spoon some in everyone’s bowls with the starch of your choice. Top with the cheeks. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 11

Wood Duck Hunting

The Complete Guide BY NICK WILLIAMS

12 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING INTRODUCTION TO WOOD DUCK HUNTING Da-wheep! Da-wheep! Fwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwap….SPLASH! I can feel Tim and Amos side-eying me as I stare down at my wristwatch. I shake my head slightly. Too early. I can barely see our decoy spread, but about half of them are leaving ripples on the water. A few are bobbing their heads and twitching their tails in confusion. “What’s up with the cold shoulder?” I can hear them asking their wooden neighbors. The first shot of the season sounds off in the distance. I glance back at my watch, then over at Tim. He’s already staring down the barrel. Amos, despite his double coat, is shivering like a chihuahua under a chair at a Weight Watchers meeting with anticipation. I give them both the nod. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! “Fetch’em up, Amos!” Another wood duck season is underway in the Alabama river swamp. Wood ducks are a southeastern duck hunter’s saving grace. Beautiful, tasty, and blessedly prevalent in backwaters usually bereft of other species, they are duck season to thousands of hunters. If you’re new to duck hunting, this article will help you cut your teeth on the Deep South’s most abundant fowl. If you’re an old hand, you still may learn a thing or two that will serve you well this year. UNDERSTANDING WOOD DUCKS Wood ducks, scientifically known as Aix sponsa, are captivating waterfowl renowned for their distinctive traits and behaviors. These birds display sexual dimorphism, with males (drakes) sporting vibrant plumage characterized by iridescent green and purple heads, white throat patches, and chestnut-brown chests, while females (hens) exhibit more subdued, mottled brown plumage for camouflage. They have crests on their heads, adding to their unique appearance. Wood ducks typically measure between 17 to 20 inches in length, with a wingspan ranging from 26 to 29 inches, and they weigh around 1 to 1.5 pounds. These ducks prefer wooded wetlands and swamps as their breeding grounds but can adapt to various environments, including freshwater ponds, lakes, and rivers in forested regions. Wood ducks exhibit territorial instincts and communicate through a repertoire of whistles and calls. They are dabbling ducks, feeding on aquatic vegetation, insects, and small invertebrates by tipping forward in the water to reach their food. Regarding reproduction, wood ducks are known for their remarkable parenting behavior. Breeding season typically starts in late winter or early spring, with hens laying an average of 9-14 creamy-white eggs in cavity nests or nest boxes. The mother incubates the eggs for about 30 days, and once hatched, she leaps from the nest tree, leading her ducklings to water and ensuring their safety. Wood ducks exhibit partial migration, with some northern populations migrating south for the winter, while others remain year-round if they have access to suitable wintering habitats. In terms of conservation, they faced population declines due to habitat loss and overhunting in the past but have made a remarkable recovery thanks to conservation efforts like nest box placement and wetland restoration. Currently, they are categorized as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List, highlighting the success of these efforts in preserving this unique waterfowl species.

ESSENTIAL GEAR AND EQUIPMENT FOR WOOD DUCKS Due to the unique terrain they inhabit, and their reclusive nature, wood duck hunting can look very different from what you may have seen on TV. It really is closer to turkey hunting in a sense. Becoming an expert wood duck hunter requires long legs and good ears, and you won’t need (or want to carry) dozens of decoys and layout blinds to the backwaters they hide in. Keeping gear at a minimum is the secret to fun and productive hunting. With that said, there are a few essentials that you’ll need BEST CHOKE AND LOAD FOR WOOD DUCKS The most important thing you’ll carry will be your shotgun. There’s no need to buy a designated “wood duck gun.” Whatever you have in the back of the closet will do the job. Some hunters prefer sub gauges since they sometimes swing a little faster. I’ve hunted them with 20 and 16 gauges myself, but have come to prefer a lightweight, nimble 12 gauge. The more shot I can throw at a bird, the better, in my mind. Wood duck hunting is generally a close quarters affair. I’ve had birds too close as often as I’ve had them too far. If you haven’t already, check out our article on choosing the best choke for duck hunting. Jim Muller’s recommended general purpose choke and shotgun load is very close to the combination I’ve come to prefer, a heavy payload of #4 steel shot through an improved cylinder choke. Wide, even patterns are the name of the game when woodies are crashing down into a small beaver pond or secluded creek. DUCK COMMANDER WOOD DUCK CALL While almost any gun will work in my opinion, I am very particular about my calls. I’m not a huge fan of most Duck Commander calls, but Phil Robertson has to be part wood duck hen, because his call is probably the most uncannily realistic one I have ever heard. We’ll talk more about calling in a minute, but for now just trust me. The DC Wood Duck Call (https://duckcommander.com/products/wood-duck-call) is as close to a perfect imitation of a hen wood duck as you can buy, and it’s widely available and inexpensive. I like to pair my DC call with a Haydel’s WW-90. This strange, unassuming little call does an excellent job imitating a drake wood duck, and is great for sealing the deal on birds who are on the water already, but missed the landing zone by a few yards. WOOD DUCK DECOYS Decoys are optional, provided that you’re highly confident in your scouting. But they can help. Some hunters insist that wood ducks won’t decoy. I think this belief stems from the environments that wood ducks usually inhabit, and the fact that down south woodies are year-round residents. Wood ducks do generally know exactly where they’re headed in the morning. They’re locals, not tourists. If you’re not already very close to where they want to be, they’ll ignore you. But since shotgunning is a very close-quarters game, being able to coax birds a few yards right into your lap is useful. Just remember when setting your spread that woodies have to spot it while flying 50 miles per hour above the canopy at gray light. Many hunters just throw out a half or full dozen decoys, since oftentimes that is a realistic spread in the small waters wood ducks inhabit. But ask yourself how many of those birds can you realistically expect flying birds to spot. I firmly believe that many birds who “ignore” decoys never even see them in the first place. To combat this, use motion. This is the biggest “secret” in wood duck hunting next to the supreme importance of scouting. I am a big fan of 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 13

Wood Duck Hunting: The Complete Guide

Mojo Flock-a-flicka decoys in areas with lots of brush and vegetation. Their random flickering perfectly imitates the occasional spashing or preening of a bird in a happy, contented little flock. They’re cheap and easy to carry, and the Gen 2 version has been pretty trouble free for me and my hunting buddies. In creeks, tupelo swamps, beaver ponds, flooded timber, and areas that generally have better visibility; I prefer one or two spinning wing decoys and a jerk rig or motion decoys. Aside from Flock-a-flickas, I won’t hunt with spinning wing style decoys that don’t have a remote. Often I’ll turn them on a few minutes before legal shooting light to hopefully pull early birds into my spread, and turn them off after the first 10 minutes of legal light. Another good option for motion is a jerk rig. Sometimes, usually later in the season, spinning-wing decoys can become a risky proposition. Birds have seen them all season, and if they get too good a look at them they can hurt you rather than help you. But the splashing of a jerk rig is a little more understated. I’ve killed oodles of woodies with nothing more than a drake and hen decoy combo and a jerk rig. Jerk rigs never run out of batteries, and are super-easy to pack into remote honey-holes. Their only downside is that you have to keep pulling the string. Trying to jerk, call, and shoot all at the same time sometimes starts to smell a bit too much like work. I hesitate to mention my third motion decoy trick, but here goes. Years ago a Cajun friend of mine who was a duck hunting guide in a past life turned me onto the Wonder Duck decoy. This odd looking contraption runs on 2 D-cell batteries, and provides both hands-free splash and (if you want it) the flash of a spinning wing decoy. 3 or 4 of these is a reasonable load for 2 hunters to pack in, and once you turn them on they just do their thing pulling ducks while you’re free to call and shoot. I’m

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going on my 4th season with mine, and to date it hasn’t given me a lick of trouble, which is more than can be said for most mechanical decoys I’ve hunted over. FINDING GOOD WOOD DUCK HABITAT Far more important than gear is finding wood ducks. Scouting is important with all hunting, but it will absolutely make or break a wood duck hunt. Wood ducks do not tolerate hunting pressure, and can be very “here today, gone tomorrow.” Winter flooding often exacerbates this behavior, since it provides ducks with thousands of acres of suitable habitat to feed and hide in. It helps to start with the basics. Wood ducks, much like deer, live by hiding and eating. In most areas I’ve hunted, they exhibit a strong fondness for acorns. This is fortunate, because it means that if you either hunt deer yourself or know a few deer hunters, you probably can get a general idea of where wood ducks will be. If oak woods are near water, or if they seasonally flood, there’s a strong chance that they’ll hold wood ducks. Another basic fact to keep in mind is that wood ducks are dabblers. As such, they are only able to feed in a foot or two of water. You may find them in a much deeper creek or pond, but you can bet your paycheck that if you poke around after flushing a group, you’ll find shallow water nearby. This can help you hone in on areas to scout. Once you’ve identified a general area that holds wood ducks, the best thing you can do is to scout it the day before your hunt. But do it right! If you flush wood ducks out of a spot, you just may have ruined it for tomorrow. Treat them like turkeys, and use your ears. Get within a hundred yards of where you think they will be, and listen. Wood ducks are extremely noisy, and within a few minutes should give themselves away with a squeal. I like to use a compass or GPS and triangulate their position. To do this, shoot a bearing on the location of the sound from two different positions. I like to do this from two positions about a hundred yards apart, well out of sight of the flock. Drop a pin on where the two bearings converge, and be there bright and early the next morning. With practice, you’ll be surprised how close to the “x” you can get without seeing and potentially spooking birds. If you’re not confident triangulating their position, use binoculars to scan ahead and move forward slowly. As soon as you see birds, stop! Drop a pin, go home, pack your stuff, and be ready for an early alarm. WOOD DUCK HUNTING STRATEGY Assuming you did a good job scouting, hunting is easy. The first rule of wood duck hunting is “be there early.” Wood ducks often start trickling into an area well before legal light. Toss out a small spread with plenty of motion, pick a tree to hide behind, and get ready. Once you start to hear birds flying overhead, you can start to do a little calling if you’re confident in it. CALLING WOOD DUCKS You may have heard that you can’t call wood ducks. Maybe you can’t, but (not to brag) I definitely can. The important thing to keep in mind is that the closer you are to where he wants to be, the easier it is to call a wood duck. Calling is meant to help you coax birds a few yards, not make them land wherever is most convenient to you. If a bird is heading to a tupelo swamp and you’re 200 yards away on a creek, you’re probably not stopping him. But if you’re in that swamp, but 50 yards off of the “x,” some good calling and some ripples on the water may save your butt. WOOD DUCK FLYING SOUNDS

Wood Duck Hunting: The Complete Guide

drakes make this noise when they know they’re close to other birds but can’t see them. This is a soft call, and it doesn’t do much good for flying birds. But it is absolutely devastating on birds that you heard land somewhere near you but can’t see or shoot at. I have called in many unlucky drakes by mixing this call in with a few sparing, quiet hen clucks. The furthest I’ve called one in was about 100 yards away, and it’s a real hoot to watch a lonely little drake perk up when he hears the sound and start swimming towards what he thinks are new friends. It’s almost like working a turkey, and it makes a big impression on new hunters. Just be careful not to overdo it. The closer a bird gets, the more likely he is to pick up on the fact that something is “off” about the situation. Once you get their attention, shut up and get ready to shoot! They can hear much better than you, and if they’re coming your way they know exactly where that sound came from. FINAL THOUGHTS ON WOOD DUCK HUNTING I’ll give you one final piece of advice before closing. If you find a good wood duck spot, treat it like a deer hunting spot. Resist the urge to call all of your buddies and pound it for several days, especially if it’s the only spot you have to hunt. Wood ducks respond very poorly to pressure. A lot of the birds are year-round locals, and the ones that aren’t are usually wintering here instead of passing through. As a result, they know the surrounding area pretty well and will relocate if you hit them too hard. Get in with a buddy or two, shoot your birds, and leave. The less pressure you put on a spot, the more likely you’ll be able to sneak in a subsequent hunt before they wise up. And remember, if they do move, all you have to do is walk the woods or idle through the river swamp and listen. They can’t keep quiet even if it’s literally to save their lives!

The biggest mistake I hear hunters make in the swamp is making flying noises when calling. You know the sound: Da WHEEP! Da WHEEP! Think about it. Why would a wood duck come to that sound? He’s flying to where he wants to go, and all he’s hearing are other birds flying; probably to the same place he’s going, or so he thinks!. Nothing about that sound says, “I’m a happy duck on the water, and I’ve found a safe space to hang out and eat acorns with my friends. Come on down!” Even though you may hear that sound a lot in the woods, don’t replicate it. It isn’t quite as silly as trying to call in a deer by blowing at it, but it’s close. HEN WOOD DUCK SOUNDS Sitting hen sounds are where it’s at. The next time you’re sitting on a creek deer hunting and see wood ducks swim by, listen closely. You’ll hear the hens making a wide variety of happy little noises. Phil and Jase Robertson are masters at emulating these sounds. I first learned to replicate these sounds by listening to an old DVD called “The Art of Commanding Ducks: Volume II” https://www.amazon.com/Duck-Commander-Art-Commanding-Ducks/dp/B000HZENJ2 and have refined my calling since then by listening to lots of birds in real life. Combined with a little motion on the water and a good location, replicating hen sounds can lead to some awesome shooting. And, it’s a lot of fun. If I’m hunting by myself, I often forgo calling because I’m usually confident in my spread. But if I’m hunting with a new hunter, I always put on a show for them. Calling is, for many people, a big part of the appeal of duck hunting. DRAKE WOOD DUCK SOUNDS While the hen makes the most noise, I’ve had the best luck calling in birds with a drake call. Much like the males of other species, the male has a fairly limited vocabulary. All he can really do is whistle, “ziiiiiiip” when he’s on the water. I’m no ornithologist, but I think a lot of times

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POINTS TO CONSIDER IN

POND STOCKING BY DAVID STRICKLAND

A local pond stocked earlier this year with Coppernose, Redear, and Fathead minnows. this provides a good variety of forage just before the release of F-1 Bass. 16 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING INTRODUCTION TO POND STOCKING Alabama has over 250,000 ponds & lakes smaller than 100 acres, located on farms, rural properties, and urban areas. Ponds have introduced generations of children to the joy and mysteries of angling, and that alone is a great reason to build and maintain one. This article will focus on how to evaluate an existing pond and help determine the right mix of fish for your situation. It will also discuss how to maximize their growth and your enjoyment as you provide a small oasis for the wildlife that will call your pond home. We discussed this topic with Chris Greene, the Fisheries Section Chief in the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division at Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Chris and his colleagues have six decades of research from which they can offer advice and provide answers to pond owners. We also sat down with Norman Latona. Norm is the president of Southeastern Pond Management, which offers services that cover the waterfront of pond development and management. SE Pond provides ecosystem analysis, management programs, pond construction, liming, fertilizing, fish inventory assessment, removal processes, stocking of forage and game fish, maintenance and more throughout the southeast. ASSESSING STOCK POND CONDITIONS According to Latona, whether the pond is going to be managed for trophy largemouth bass, big “slab” bluegill or to be a balanced fishing lake with no emphasis on growing exceptionally large fish, it absolutely has to be fish free. “When you are restocking or stocking fish for the first time it is critical that the water we are stocking is free of fish,” Latona said. “We need to prepare it properly and make sure that there is nothing that will compete with what we are going to introduce and interfere with that dynamic.” To that end for existing ponds, SEPond will come in and use a fish toxicant that will eradicate the existing fish population and, in a short period of time, the toxicant will dissipate and leave a pond that is ready to stock. This killing of fish is necessary because the last thing a pond owner wants is to introduce fingerling fish stock that will be easy prey for undesirable species. Understanding a pond’s overall condition is imperative before adding fish. Identifying any aquatic weed issues, determining its exact size, depth, water quality, and alkalinity, along with surveying the nearby watershed, is a good starting point. Establishing your short-term and five-year goals will affect the type of fish you choose and the stocking rate. A GPS, pond calculator app, or Google Earth can help calculate precise surface estimates and water volume. Mark a rope in one-foot increments and use a weight to measure water depth. Take measurements along the length and width, then average your findings. Multiplying surface area in acres by the average pond depth in feet will produce the number of acre-feet of water. One acre-foot of water is equal to 325,851 gallons. Precise numbers will better equip owners as they begin the evaluation process. Greene recommended calling your local District Fisheries office or a reputable licensed Fisheries Consultant before starting the process.

1,000 fish per acre, and Greene recommends that Redear (Shellcracker) should comprise 15% of that number. Some experts recommend Coppernose Bream plus Redear because of their growth rate. Allowing bream to establish their population through bedding before the introduction of bass is critical, and waiting until your bream spawn before adding bass will produce sufficient forage. Providing feeders for your bream can increase the forage for your bass and accelerate their growth rate. Fathead Minnows- Experts recommend adding these minnows to the mix at 1,000 per acre to provide bass additional forage, and with careful monitoring, can be added at intervals if needed. Bass- Traditional pond stocking ratios include 100 bass per surface acre. A largemouth bass actively consumes anything they can chase down, including bream, minnows, shad, crawfish, and insects. In ponds, largemouth bass grow to optimum size and weight when presented with a variety of forage species. The two main species of largemouth bass are the Northern largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides salmoides) and the Florida subspecies (Micropterus salmoides floridanus). Northern largemouth are generally easier to catch and often grow to ten pounds or better. The Florida strain can grow to over twenty pounds but are more challenging to hook and are more susceptible to cold weather mortality. Older bass stocking plans revolved around catching good numbers of fish or growing a trophy. Pond owners wanting to produce trophy bass stocked Florida bass, while those wishing to boat numbers of decent-sized fish chose the Northern variety. Another option involves choosing a combination of Northern, Florida, and the newer F-1, a cross between the Northern and Florida species. Experiments in aquaculture that began a few decades ago have resulted in a line of fingerlings that can grow two pounds a year and, when properly managed, can achieve weights up to 15 pounds in eight years. These F-1 or Tiger bass hybrids are often the choice of pond owners who want to focus on a fast-growing gamefish with a more aggressive attitude towards lures. These guidelines are typical, but Greene states that a pond’s water quality and the owner’s goals will dictate the number and type of fish they recommend. A constant supply of appropriately sized forage must always be available to accelerate and maximize largemouth bass growth. While the management plan for each pond is different, an important constant in stocking from scratch is that the forage fish always go in first and need time to establish themselves and start reproducing. “The more secure and abundant the food source, the faster the bass are going to grow. When I say forage fish, I’m talking about everything from bluegill to shellcrackers, fathead minnows, golden shiners and even threadfin shad. Typically, the bluegill that we stock are in the one-to-two-inch size range,” Latona said.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SPECIES When Stocking Your Pond Choosing an appropriate mix of fish is crucial to the success of your pond. They should ideally match your pond’s size and conditions, intended purpose, and location.

CALCULATING POND STOCKING RATES A thorough assessment of your watershed, soil, aquatic plants, and water quality, along with your goals, will determine how many and when each species get introduced. Properly evaluating the issues affecting a pond’s water quality will avoid overstocking, which can lead to a food shortage, disease outbreaks, and depleted oxygen levels.

Bream- Bluegill are typically stocked first in the Fall or Winter at a rate of

Pond stocking rates refer to the number of fish you can safely introduce 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 17

Points to consider in Pond Stocking

to your pond without causing overcrowding. This figure is typically calculated per surface acre and depends on factors like fish species, pond size, and the presence of natural food resources. Consultation with a fishery biologist or a local extension office can provide helpful guidance. Measuring the perimeter of your water with a handheld GPS, a dedicated pond calculator, or even Google Earth can help you determine a precise measurement of your pond in acres. Knowing your depth and water volume is helpful, but the surface area is the primary factor when calculating stocking rates. Greene explained that no matter how deep your pond is, the water’s thermocline is consistent in most ponds and lakes. When determining pond stocking rates, the thermocline depth is a primary consideration, not the overall pond depth. This thermocline occurs in the Spring and Summer as the sun heats the water’s surface. It appears where there is a marked temperature difference between the upper and lower water columns. The warm, wind-mixed waters nearer the surface contain more dissolved oxygen, and bass will spend most of their time above the colder, less oxygenated water. SOURCING FISH WHEN POND STOCKING You should purchase fish from reputable hatcheries or suppliers that provide diseasefree stock. If possible, choose local suppliers because of the shorter haul, and their fish will be acclimated to similar environmental conditions. A phone call to your local District Fisheries Biologist is a great starting point in locating a reputable source for your fish. Always ask for references.

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Hatchery fish will only be available for stocking in certain months, so planning is vital. The Alabama Cooperative Extension has a website with contact information for Fisheries consultants in many Alabama counties and neighboring states. STOCK POND MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT Maintaining the appropriate alkalinity level in ponds helps to stabilize pH levels, aids in algae growth, and allows fertilizer to be effective. The correct alkalinity level is crucial for fish health, and a minimum reading of 20 ppm up to 40 ppm allows for proper algae growth and can be measured with a simple water test kit. Readings below 20 ppm call for adding lime. The amount of lime needed to adjust your alkalinity levels requires precise calculations based on the total volume of water in your pond. Applying 4.5 pounds of lime per acre-foot of water will increase the total alkalinity by approximately one ppm. Agricultural limestone is the best choice in recreational fish ponds and should be added in the fall or winter. Larger ponds may require a small barge to properly distribute the large volume of lime needed to correct the water quality. A higher alkalinity reading is desirable if herbicides are to be used to address aquatic weed issues. Proper maintenance is critical to ensure the health and growth of your stocked fish. Regularly monitoring water quality, fertilization, supplemental feeding, managing aquatic vegetation, and providing structures for fish habitat are vital for a healthy, sustainable fish population. Scheduled visits from a pond management professional can ensure your pond remains healthy. POND STOCKING GROWTH AND HARVESTING

Points to consider in Pond Stocking

Growth rates vary among species, water fertility, and available forage. One year after stocking your bass and after they have completed spawning is considered the earliest acceptable time to begin harvest. At this point, bream should be 1/4 to 1/2lb in adequately managed ponds, and bass should weigh between one and two pounds. In balanced, fertilized ponds, Greene recommends that bass be harvested at a rate of 25-30 lb per acre and bream at 125-150lb each year. Harvesting should be consistent and evenly spread over 12 months, and for unfertilized ponds, owners should reduce their harvest rate to 1/2 of the recommended weight for fertilized ponds. Consistent, selective harvesting of your bass and bream will increase the remaining population’s weight and size, and keeping accurate records of your catch can help maintain a healthy environment where your fish can maintain maximum growth rates. Harvest rates may vary depending on your pond’s stocking rate and species mix. Your District Fisheries Biologist or a local licensed Fisheries Consultant can offer professional advice tailored to your situation and goals. COMMON ISSUES WHEN POND STOCKING Some common issues encountered during and after pond stocking include overcrowding, disease outbreaks, poor growth rates, weed issues, and predator problems. Proper planning, regular pond maintenance, and sustained fish harvesting can prevent or manage most of these issues. Cautious use of pesticides and fertilizer on the property surrounding your pond is necessary to avoid water quality issues.

Vegetation- Aquatic plants provide food, oxygen, and shelter for fish but can often grow to become a nuisance and impact water quality. The balance of vegetation is crucial in maintaining a healthy aquatic environment, and professional assistance is often needed when weed issues worsen. Predators- Humans are not alone when it comes to enjoying a fish dinner. Various airborne and terrestrial predators love fresh fish and left unchecked, can affect your fish population. Regularly check your dam to look for signs of beaver or otters. Though beavers won’t eat your fish, they can tunnel into your dam, clog your drainpipe, and prematurely harvest nearby timber. Otters- can weigh up to 30lb and easily consume 10 to 20 pounds of fish each night. These clever nocturnal predators often work together to herd a school of fish into the shallows, where they become easy prey. In recreational ponds, they often target the larger fish and can significantly affect the fish population in smaller lakes. So, monitor trails across your dam for scat with fish remains and partially eaten fish around the perimeter. Check with your local state game and fish agency for regulations, as permits or licenses may be required to eliminate their thievery. Hiring a professional trapper is often the best option for ridding your pond of these wary predators. FINAL THOUGHTS ON POND STOCKING Pond stockings can transform any puddle of water into a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem teeming with life. However, success requires understanding the process, careful planning, and ongoing management. With these elements in place, you can create an aquatic haven that provides enjoyment and value for years to come.

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Successful Seatrout Strategies 20 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING BY BUTCH THIERRY The speckled trout, or spotted seatrout, is an inshore fish that has captured the attention of many anglers due to how hard they will crush an artificial bait and their sometimes unpredictable behavior. But, what are the best lures to catch them on? Where are the best places to find them? What tactics for certain times of the year are most fruitful? In this article, we will interview some top speckled trout guides on understanding the prime seasons as well as unveil the secrets to locating and catching more speckled trout. Whether you’re fishing for speckled trout for the first time or you are an old salt with decades of experience, there’s always something new to learn about this cool fish. STATE OF THE SPECKLED TROUT FISHERY Due to its popularity, many states have implemented regulations to protect the Speckled Trout population. Size limits, bag limits, and season closures are common management tools. Overfishing, habitat loss, and water pollution are the main threats to the Speckled Trout populations. Coastal development, which often leads to the loss of vital estuarine habitats, poses significant threats to juvenile trout survival. Efforts are in place in various states to restore habitats, especially seagrass beds, which provide crucial nursery areas for juvenile trout. Some states have also started hatchery programs to boost natural populations. CCA Alabama, the University of South Alabama Department of Marine Sciences, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab are cooperating on a study of speckled trout and redfish to keep an eye on the management of both species. The program recruits and trains CCA members to tag Speckled trout and redfish. Within this program there are rewards for anglers who report their tags and after a tagged fish is recaptured.

The Coastal Conservation Association of Alabama funds this program. Anglers who are members of CCA are eligible to participate in the Tag Alabama program. They also provide training either in person or online-, to demonstrate how fish can be safely tagged, how to report data etc. There are annual contests for anglers who have tagged the most fish and categories and rewards for professional guides and for non- professional anglers. Many of the most successful taggers, like Captain Richard Rutland, are fishing guides who are on the water hundreds of days a year, handling thousands of speckled trout. One of the things the study has revealed so far is that sea trout are always on the move. You may catch them in the same spots this spring as last, but in between they’ve been roaming a wide variety of inshore and bay locations. WHERE TO CATCH SPECKLED TROUT Speckled trout really like estuaries. These transitional zones where fresh water from rivers meets and mixes with salty seawater provide a rich source of nutrients and are vital nurseries for juvenile Speckled Trout. The brackish water and abundance of prey make estuaries a preferred habitat. Grass beds are found in shallow coastal waters and are vital habitats. These areas offer shelter from predators, breeding grounds, and a diverse menu of small fishes and crustaceans. Speckled Trout often patrol the edges of these grass beds, looking for prey. Oyster structures provide an excellent habitat for the small crustaceans and fish that Speckled Trout feed on. Additionally, the complex structure of oyster beds provides both

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 21

Successful Seatrout Strategies

happens, it’s on high water events. So what that tells me is that those are opportunities when you have lower water, you can jump in the water and put the sneak attack on them.

refuge and ambush points for the trout. Salt Marshes are also a great place to target speckled trout. Rich in biodiversity, salt marshes are another essential nursery habitat for young Speckled Trout. The marshes’ intricate channels and shallows provide shelter and abundant food sources. In bays and estuaries, areas with soft bottoms are frequented by Speckled Trout, especially when these areas are adjacent to deeper channels or drop-offs. They offer good spots for the trout to hunt, as many small invertebrates and baitfish reside in these substrates.

The things I’m looking for are number one bait, you have to have some life around if there’s no there’s no bait. The main things that hold these fish are some type of grassy bottom. After finding bait, grass or oyster shells, you gotta have something you can walk on. Because wading through the mucky stuff is not safe or fun, you’ll fall over and swamp yourself. I also like to focus where there’s a creek mouth or some type of inflow or outflow to create water movement. These fish stage up around those kinds of areas or points and then shells, if you can find shells that’s always money in the bank. Those shells create their own little ecosystem, so it’s gonna naturally attract bait because of growth on the shells. There’s going to be croakers and shrimp, small crabs and that kind of stuff, so it’s just a reef is all your fishing.

HOW TO CATCH SPECKLED TROUT WITH TOPWATER LURES When topwater fishing for speckled trout, anglers need to pay attention to what cadence the fish are keying in on that particular day. Let the fish tell you how they want the topwater worked that day. Captain Bobby Abruscato says, ”I am partial to lures that have silver sides as I think that the flash looks like a mullet on the surface. If water conditions are not too choppy or muddy, I use the Skitterwalk from Rapala. If the surface is chopped up, I like the noisy Mirro lure “He Dog,” and if calm, the “Top Dog Jr.”. One key is to vary the tempo of the retrieve. It is amazing how the trout like a certain tempo and how it can change from spot to spot or day to day. Be sure to cast around 90 degrees relative to the direction of the current while you are searching. Once you locate fish, you can really throw the lure in any direction, and they’ll get it if they are eating. Lastly, learn how to tie a loop knot for use on the topwater plugs which frees up the lure giving it more action. This results in more strikes.”

The other thing that I really look for is bottom relief. Where you’ve got a really nice stretch of bank or area where there’s dips and holes and bars and things like that because these fish are ambush predators. So, as the current is coming across an area, there needs to be an area for them to be hiding, sitting down in those holes and troughs and waiting for some bait to come across the top of their head and boom, they’re gonna hit it.” JIGGING FOR SPECKLED TROUT When it comes to jigging for Speckled Trout, Capt. Patric Garmeson knows his stuff. I recently quizzed him for some of his tips. Capt. Patric’s go to jig weight, profile and colors are as follows: A great option is the Slick Jr from Pure Flats. The colors that have been a main staple for me recently have been the Ozark Shiner, The Croaker Color, Swamp Thing and Cool Beans. It has been an all around great lure for us recently, even fishing some lights at night. As far as rigging, if I am in water less than 6 feet, I am sticking with a ⅛ oz jig head. If I am fishing much deeper than that, I am going to a ½ or even up to a ⅜ oz. Sometimes when you go to

WADE FISHING FOR SPECKLED TROUT Capt. Richard Rutland with Cold Blooded Fishing loves wade fishing for speckled trout. I recently caught up with him on a recent Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report to learn his techniques. “Every wade fishing spot I have, I have caught fish out of the boat there previously. Then I have gone back later, got in the water and the results are ten fold versus fishing out of the boat. You’ll catch a good fish out of the boat and usually when that

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Successful Seatrout Strategies

a heavier jig head, it gets you down to the bottom quicker and can keep you in the strike zone longer. With a lighter jig head, sometimes it can take so long for that jig to get to the bottom, you are just slowing the process. A speckled trout will eat a heavier jig head, no problem.

are gonna wear out so go ahead and just start it with one, two if not three, and then if it breaks later on go ahead and put another one on there, put a third or fourth one on there because eventually they get loose, unravel and they just fall off. So always having those backups there’s a good plan.”

We asked Capt. Patric what makes him go deep and try a jig and when he typically switches to jigging for these fish. I hit a bunch of shallow stuff recently around a lot of bait and was just not seeing any life, I felt like I was not around life in the sense of fish feeding, no slicks. nothing that really gave me a warm fuzzy feeling that I was around feeding fish and I went through several different areas trying that and not getting any bites, nothing. If I’m not getting hit with lady fish or blue fish or something then there is probably not enough predatory fish around. So that made me go deep and try some deep stuff. In these deeper areas, I was trying both down current and up current and and found that the sweet spot was getting down current of the structure and throwing up current and then whenever I was hopping it, I am just taking the slack up as that lure is just getting pushed down current. At any point when there is a decent amount of current, predatory fish are generally going to be facing into the current waiting for that bait to come to them

I use a Billy Boy Cork from Bett’s Tackle, the hole on them is pretty small and that way the bead will not get stuck in the cork. They’re the egg shaped cork, they’re orange and yellow and the hole on them is pretty small so that little tiny bead won’t go in there and won’t get stuck inside your cork. There’s other cork brands but the most important thing is using a big one because most of the time if you are using a croaker or if you’re out there in a chop you don’t want to be losing your cork behind a little bit of a chop every 30 seconds thinking your cork went down. So I use like a three and a half to four and a half inch cork. They’re good and buoyant. From the cork, you’re going to go below that you’re going to use an egg sinker. And I use anywhere from a half to three quarter ounce. And then you’re gonna go from there to a swivel, the swivel just needs to be big enough to where your egg sinker doesn’t slide over your swivel. I don’t like using beads down there, it is just unnecessary rigging, keep it as simple as possible. After that, tied to your swivel is going to be your leader. I used to use all exclusively fluorocarbon but I’ve gotten to where I use either 20 pound monofilament or 40 pound monofilament. If the Spanish are really bad I go up to 40 if they’re not too bad, a stick with 20. Then as far as the hook, I used to do a treble hook but I’ve gotten to where I do a lot of tagging fish and a lot of catch and release trips. A treble hook is going to get into the throat of a fish occasionally and the least amount of fish I can kill when especially when we’re not intentionally trying to kill fish, we’re just there to catch and release them then I got away from the treble hook and I’m now using a 1/0 Kahle hook and then when the Spanish mackerel are bad, I’m gonna go to that 40 pound leader with a 2/0 even upwards to a 3/0 kahle hook and that does not slow my trout fishing down at all and it actually helps me catch more of those Spanish.”

As far as the cadence that you work your jig, Capt. Patric said the Early fall is a period where you’re probably wanting to go from a little bit slower cadence to getting a little bit faster and faster as we move towards the fall. Because as we move closer and closer to fall the more active the fish are going to be from daylight to dark or you know, for the whole 24 hour period of the day, they’re going to be more active and feeding more and trying to eat more. So the faster you work it and aggravate one into biting, you should be able to get away with speeding it up a little bit more. You’ll find a sweet spot of where that is. And then that’s gonna be where that cadence is probably gonna live and the speed at which you’re retrieving, it’s just going to incrementally get slower and slower as that water temperature starts dropping again. SLIP CORKING FOR SPECKLED TROUT Capt. Patric Garmeson also shared with me his tips for how, when and where to catch speckled trout using a slip cork rig. When do you use a slip cork rig? Do you use it in the mornings or when it gets a little warmer? What is your thought process when it comes to using the slip cork rig? I generally am using the slip cork when I’m fishing water that’s eight feet and deeper and especially around when I’ve got some current, because essentially what I want to do is present the shrimp, croaker, pogie or whatever I’m using as my natural bait, I want to present that bait in a manner as close to the same speed as what the current is moving as I possibly can. And that slip cork is by far the absolute best way to do it. You can’t do it with a free line, Because at some point in time, you’re going to get a belly in your line and it’s going to start pulling your bait faster than the current or you’re going to be tightlining in it and you’re going to slow it down and face it into the current it’s not going to look as natural. Those things can work, but in my opinion the slip cork is by far the best way to get that fish fooled into biting something without even thinking about it. I don’t think these fish are going to swim around and look at and observe the shrimp or croaker or whatever that you’re sending down at the natural speed of the current because it’s gonna be so natural that they’re not even going to think about it. We asked Capt. Patric to walk us through how he sets up his slip corks, also. The way I have that thing set up I’m going to have the 50 pound braid, my absolute favorite bead and Slipknot combo is by a company by the name of Thill. The thread is really really small so it doesn’t get bound up into your spool too bad. So like in a spinning reel, when you go to cast it, every once in a while it may catch, if you’re trying to cast it any distance you may catch. Well, these are much smaller, and they don’t get caught up in your line as bad. They come with a bead that’s really small as a really small hole. It’s barely big enough to fit that 50 pound braid into but it is absolutely perfect because it’ll slide up and down that braid. And it’ll get stopped by those tiny Thill knots. Instead of having those really big bulky knots some of these other brands sell and they will get caught up in your spool. So the knot is the part where you’re going to be setting your depth. So that’s where you’re going to pull that on, you’re going to put it tight, I like to use two or three of them, Bobby taught me that trick. Those things

When do we use a slip cork? Slip corking is certainly a structure fishing scenario. I especially like a slip cork, when I can do what I was saying with letting the bait drift in the current, I want to utilize that current to naturally just drift with the current. The popping cork is all about just all just throwing it out popping it trying to bring that fish up to you. And is not necessarily as much about the presentation of drift in the current. So if you find yourself in a lot of current, a popping cork is usually not the best option, even if the fish are shallow. Say if you were on a 12 foot structure, and the fish kind of told you or maybe you saw them on the fishfinder that they were only five feet deep. I still think a slip cork set at five feet deep is going to be a better option, toss it up and let it drift down through the current. LURES FOR SPECKLED TROUT There are plenty of highly effective speckled trout lures for lunker trout, particularly when they’re in the shallows where topwaters come into play. The Heddon Spook and Rapala Skitter-V are both legendary trout catchers, while for sub-surface action suspending lures like the Mirrolure Mirrodine and the Live Target Scaled Sardine are among the best. Many anglers are also big fans of the larger DOA Shrimp and the DOA Bait Buster. For a good trout lure that the largest fish can’t seem to resist, many expert trout anglers prefer a fish catching product that’s not widely-known outside the Gulf Coast and that is the Slick Lure. It’s a soft plastic bait that looks sort of like an elongated gum-drop. There’s no fat swimmer tail, no fins, joints or built in flashers, no added scents or flavors. For whatever reason giant trout love these speckled trout lures. “It’s the most productive soft plastic jerkbait I’ve used in over 40 years of trout fishing,” says Captain Bobby Abruscato, well-known Dauphin Island guide. “I have yet to find anything that outfishes it—and I’m not sponsored by the company.” I have been speckled trout fishing more in the last 5 years than I have been in my whole life. I have really enjoyed getting better at finding and catching these fish in all of the scenarios and tactics mentioned in this article. If you have never been wade fishing with topwater for speckled trout, you are missing out on an awesome experience. But, do not take my word for it! Get out there and get tight. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 23

Gut Hook Knife BY GREAT DAYS OUTDOORS STAFF

24 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING

Buyer’s Guide

A gut hook knife is specially-designed for hunters to use in an attempt to make field-dressing wild game easier, safer, and cleaner. They are instantly recognizable as a distinct, backwards facing, sharpened hook on the upper side of the tip of a knife’s blade. In skilled hands, this little hook can be used to “unzip” a deer’s hide or abdominal wall in a clean manner. Gut hooks cut from the inside out, which means that hair is less likely to get on the animal’s meat. They also do not penetrate deeply, making it much harder to accidentally cut too deep and puncture internal organs. In this article, we’ll go over the topics to consider when choosing a gut hook knife, look at a few top recommendations in different categories, and answer a few commonly-asked questions.. BEST FOLDING GUT HOOK KNIFE Outdoor Edge GripHook

Outdoor Edge is a trusted name in the hunting and fishing community, and their folding gut hook knife is a staple in skinning sheds across the country. It’s lightweight and packable, and its textured orange handle provides a safe and comfortable grip while being easy to spot if you drop it in the leaves. BEST GUT HOOK KNIFE ALTERNATIVE FieldTorq Super Tool

This next option isn’t a true gut hook knife, but it made the list because of it’s innovative design and versatility. The FieldTorq tool not only serves as an easier, cleaner way to cut through hide and unzip the abdominal cavity, but it also takes the place of a bone saw or shears. Its unique design allows it to function similarly to a can opener, leveraging its way through the pelvis and sternum when field dressing big game. It also doesn’t leave a sharp blade facing you when cleaning a deer. And it comes standard with a sharpener, which is the biggest issue with all gut hook knives. BEST GUTTING HOOK KNIFE TOOL Morakniv Belly Opener

Morakniv makes an excellent blade at an excellent price. Their simple design solves a problem common to many other gut hook knives, a sharp blade pointed towards you when you’re using the gut hook. The only down877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 25

Gut Hook Knife Buyer’s Guide

side of this design choice is that you’ll need another knife to complement this one. BEST GUT KNIFE Outdoor Edge Swingblaze Double Blade Hunting Knife

Can’t bring yourself to buy and throw away disposable blades all the time? No matter which gut hook knife you choose, if it doesn’t come with a disposable blade you’re gonna need one of these bad boys. Just go ahead and stash it in your pack next to the knife. GUT HOOK KNIFE POINTS TO CONSIDER When choosing a gut hook, there are several points to consider that can help you make an informed decision. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

The Outdoor Edge Swingblaze Double Blade Hunting Knife is an indispensable tool for hunters, offering both a sharp skinning and gutting blade that rotate effortlessly for quick and precise field dressing. Its versatility and razor-sharp blades make it the ultimate gut knife, ensuring clean and efficient game processing in the wild. BEST SKINNING KNIFE WITH GUT HOOK Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner

Benchmade is synonymous with quality in the knife world, and this gut hook knife is ideal for hunters looking for a stylish, functional, and incredibly well made option. Its quality leather sheath and attractive hardwood handle will have your buddies admiring it around the campfire after the dirty work is done for the evening.

Blade Quality: Look for a gut hook knife with a high-quality blade material that offers durability and sharpness. Common blade materials include stainless steel, carbon steel, and various alloy compositions. Consider the blade’s hardness, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. Blade Size and Shape: The size and shape of the blade can affect the knife’s performance. They typically have a curved blade with a small, sharpened hook on the back. Ensure the size and shape of the blade match your specific needs, whether it’s field dressing game, skinning, or general outdoor use. Handle Ergonomics: A comfortable handle is crucial for prolonged use and maintaining control. Look for a knife with an ergonomic design that fits well in your hand. Consider factors like handle material (such as rubber, wood, or synthetic materials), grip texture, and overall feel. Safety Features: Safety should be a priority when selecting any knife. Look for a knife with features like a secure locking mechanism that keeps the blade in place during use and a reliable sheath to protect the blade when not in use.

BEST DISPOSABLE-BLADE GUT HOOK KNIFE Smith’s Disposable Gut Hooks

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Gut Hook Knife Buyer’s Guide

Weight and Balance: Consider the weight and balance of the knife. A well-balanced gut hook knife allows for better control and reduces fatigue during extended use. It’s a matter of personal preference, so it’s a good idea to hold the knife and assess its weight distribution before making a decision. Brand Reputation: Research the reputation of the knife manufacturer. Established brands with a track record of producing high-quality knives are often a safer choice. Read reviews and seek recommendations from experienced hunters or outdoors enthusiasts to ensure you choose a reputable brand. Price Range: These knives are available at various price points. Set a budget and consider the value for money offered by different options. It’s generally advisable to invest in a quality knife that will last longer and perform well, especially if you plan to use it frequently. Intended Use: Consider your specific use case. Gut hook knives are commonly used for field dressing game, but they can also serve other purposes like skinning, fishing, or general outdoor tasks. They’re also pretty handy for removing a percolator-style coffee pot from a campfire by its wire handle. Ensure the knife you choose aligns with your intended use and has the necessary features for that application. GUT HOOK KNIFE FAQS Why use a gut hook knife? Gut hooks are a specialized tool meant to make skinning and field dressing a deer less of a chore. While some experienced hunters may question the need of such a uni-

tasker tool in your hunting pack, gut hooks are particularly useful for new or inexperienced hunters who are scared of puncturing internal organs or who may have been frustrated in the past after getting hair all over their backstraps. What are some drawbacks of a gut hook knife? While gut hook knives are meant to make skinning and field dressing a deer faster, easier, and safer, they have some design drawbacks that can be counterproductive to those goals. For starters, most gut hooks require you to use the tool with the main blade exposed and facing the user. This is obviously a safety risk that is compounded by darkness or cold/slippery hands; both of which are common occurrences when cleaning a deer. Gut hooks are also a pain to sharpen, and a dull gut hook is a useless. Many knife sharpeners will not work to sharpen a gut hook. How do you sharpen a gut hook knife? If you buy a gut hook knife, you’ll need a small, thin rodstyle sharpener. You’ll need to use this sharpener more like a file than a conventional sharpener, since the small, narrow hook prohibits the shaving stroke typically associated with the sharpening process. FINAL THOUGHTS ON GUT HOOK KNIVES Ultimately, gut hook knives can be a useful specialty tool for hunters, despite their drawbacks. Whatever model you choose, be sure to keep it sharp, cut away from your body when using it, and keep it in a sheath when it’s not in use. Happy hunting!

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Choke constriction has a significant impact on both pattern density and range in shotguns. 28 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING

R O F E K O H C T S E B E H T S I T A H W

g n i t n u H k c u D BY NICK WILLIAMS

When it comes to duck hunting, one crucial element that often determines success is the choice of choke for your shotgun. Selecting the right choke can make a significant difference in your shooting accuracy and overall hunting experience. Whether you’re a seasoned waterfowl enthusiast or just starting in the world of duck hunting, understanding the best choke for your specific needs is essential. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of duck hunting chokes, exploring the various options available and helping you make an informed decision about which one suits you best. So, whether you’re aiming to improve your shooting skills or looking to upgrade your gear, read on to discover the best choke for duck hunting UNDERSTANDING CHOKES FOR DUCK HUNTING Before we can begin choosing the best choke for duck hunting, we first have to have a basic working knowledge of what chokes are, what they aim to accomplish, and roughly how they do so. EXPLANATION OF SHOTGUN CHOKES AND THEIR ROLE IN SHOOTING Shotgun chokes are essential components that play a pivotal role in determining the spread and concentration of pellets when firing a shot. Found at the muzzle of the shotgun barrel, chokes effectively constrict the shot pattern as it exits the barrel, shaping its dispersion and influencing the effective range of the shot. Shotgun chokes give shooters the flexibility to adapt their firearm’s performance to different hunting or shooting scenarios, enhancing accuracy and increasing the chances of hitting the intended target. IMPACT OF CHOKE SELECTION ON PATTERN DENSITY AND RANGE Choke constriction has a significant impact on both pattern density and range in shotguns. Choke constriction refers to the narrowing of the shotgun barrel’s bore at the muzzle, which influences how the pellets spread as they exit the barrel. Less constriction, such as with Improved Cylinder (IC) chokes, results in wider shot patterns. In an IC choke, the pellets disperse over a broader area, which is advantageous for close-range shooting, increasing the chance of hitting fast-moving targets like ducks. However, it may lack the pattern density needed for longer shots. On the other hand, chokes with greater constriction, like Full Choke, produce tight shot patterns. Full chokes compress the pellets into a smaller area, resulting in higher pattern density. This is beneficial for longer-range shots or targeting ducks at higher altitudes, concentrating pellets on the target. Chokes with moderate constriction, such as Modified (MOD) chokes, offer a balance between pattern density and spread, making them versatile for various hunting scenarios, both at close and medium ranges. When selecting a choke, hunters should consider the specific hunting situation and the expected distance to the target, as the choice of choke

constriction plays a pivotal role in shot pattern and range effectiveness. It’s also essential for hunters to practice and become familiar with how different choke constrictions perform with their shotgun and ammunition to make ethical and effective shots in the field. DUCK HUNTING CHOKES POINTS TO CONSIDER Now that we have a general understanding of how chokes work, we can start to narrow down what exactly make the “best” duck hunting choke. Distance and range: matching chokes to hunting conditions Matching chokes to hunting conditions in duck hunting is vital to ensure effective and ethical shots. Several factors come into play, including the specific duck species, the hunting environment, and the hunter’s skill level. When considering duck species, factors such as size, flight patterns, and behavior matter. For larger, slower-flying ducks like mallards or pintails, a choke that offers a balance between pattern density and spread, like Modified (MOD), is often suitable. In contrast, faster and more agile ducks like teal may require a more open choke, like Improved Cylinder (IC), for close, quick shots. Diving ducks, like canvasbacks, may benefit from wider chokes, such as IC or Cylinder, for swift follow-up shots. The hunting environment also plays a crucial role in choke selection. When hunting over open water where longer shots are common, a choke with greater constriction, such as Full Choke, can provide the needed pattern density. In densely vegetated areas like marshes or swamps, where shots are closer and fast-paced, chokes with less constriction, like IC or MOD, are advantageous due to their wider patterns, increasing the chances of hitting fast-moving ducks in tight quarters. In decoyed situations, where ducks approach the spread, a MOD choke often strikes the right balance between pattern density and spread. Lastly, the hunter’s skill level should be considered. Novice hunters may find it easier to work with chokes like IC or MOD, which are forgiving and versatile for different conditions. Experienced hunters who have honed their marksmanship skills may prefer chokes with greater constriction, like Full Choke, as they can accurately gauge distance and lead targets effectively. In conclusion, selecting the appropriate choke for duck hunting involves a thoughtful assessment of duck species, hunting environment, and skill level. AMMUNITION SELECTION AND ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH SPECIFIC CHOKES Ammunition selection plays a pivotal role in duck hunting, and its compatibility with specific chokes is a critical consideration, especially since using lead shot for waterfowl hunting is illegal. Among the non-toxic shot materials commonly used for duck hunting—steel, bismuth, and tungsten—each interacts differently with choke constrictions, influencing pattern density and range. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 29

What is theWild BestTurkeys Choke for Duck Hunting? Managing Through Teamwork

Starting with steel shot, it’s the most prevalent non-toxic choice due to its affordability and widespread availability. It can be used with all choke constrictions, from Improved Cylinder (IC) to Full Choke. Steel shot tends to produce slightly tighter patterns than lead but remains effective at close to moderate ranges even with open chokes. When paired with tighter chokes like Full Choke, it excels at longer shots, making it suitable for pass-shooting ducks. Bismuth shot, another non-toxic alternative, is dense like lead, making it an excellent option for waterfowl hunting. Bismuth shot is compatible with all choke constrictions and tends to produce denser patterns than steel, even with more open chokes like IC. This is beneficial for hunters targeting ducks at various distances. When coupled with tighter chokes like Full Choke, bismuth shot excels at longer shots, offering both pattern density and range. Lastly, tungsten-based shot materials, such as tungsten-polymer and tungsten-iron, are some of the densest choices available for waterfowl hunting. These materials can be used with all choke constrictions, providing consistently dense patterns across a range of chokes. Even with IC chokes, tungsten shot offers sufficient pattern density for close to moderate ranges. When used with tighter chokes like Full Choke, tungsten shot extends the effective range, making it ideal for targeting ducks at greater distances. In conclusion, ammunition selection is a critical aspect of duck hunting, and it must align with specific chokes to optimize performance. Steel shot, bismuth shot, and tungsten shot are viable non-toxic options, offering versatility across different choke constrictions to suit various hunting scenarios. PATTERN TESTING YOUR DUCK HUNTING CHOKES Before you go duck hunting, it’s really important to do some pattern testing. This involves shooting your shotgun with different chokes and ammo at a

30 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237 42 November APRIL 20202023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

pattern board see how the on shotturkey spreads out. Bywhich doingisthis, canlicensfigure thetomoney spent permits, partyou of the out which combination workstobest hitting ducks accurately. Pattern ing requirement huntforturkeys in Florida, goes into that testfund. ing lets you see problems and fix them ahead of time, so that when you’re out there hunting, you can feel that yourare shotgun setup will help “Many hunters and confident NWTF members heavily involved in you aim better and have a successful hunt.

raising funds for the wild turkey and its habitat by participating in NWTF hunting heritage banquets, whereby a portion of Begin by selecting a large, flat target board and affixing a clear grid or raised goes into thedistance cost-share program,” Nicholaiming pointthose on it.funds Position the board at the that you intend to try son said. “Hunters’ purchases of hunting equipment also and shoot most of your ducks. Fire a series of shots at the target, aiminghelps at support wildlife the Wildlife and Sport the center of the grid, usingconservation the choke andthrough ammunition you’ve selected as a Fish Restoration candidate for hunting with. Program, which brings federal grant funding to state wildlife management agencies such as the FWC.”

Shoot 3 shots, then examine the pattern to see how the pellets are distributed. This will help you chosen choke FWC, performs that Through thisunderstand combined how effortyour from the NWTF, FFSatand distance. What you’re looking for is an evenly distributed pattern with no Florida turkey hunters, the wild turkey population is healthy holes that aand duck could fly through, centered aiminghunter, point. then flourishing in Florida. And, if upon you’reyour a turkey

you must be getting excited because spring turkey season

ADVANTAGES OF MULLER SHOTGUN CHOKES FOR and the youth turkey hunt weekends are just around the DUCK HUNTERS If all of thatcorner. sounds like too much work, or if you’re just rushed for time with duck season fast-approaching, you’re in luck. We recently sat down on the Huntin’ Land Podcast to discuss duck chokes with Jimmy Muller. Jimmy is Contact Information the owner of Muller Chokes, a world-class clay shooter, and an expert wing shot who has taken thousands of waterfowl and upland birds with a shotgun. Wild Turkey Cost-Share Program Read on to learn howState Muller has done most of the Wild hardTurkey work forFederation you when Florida Chapter of the National picking the right choke for duck hunting, and to get Jimmy’s personal recom(NWTF) mendations on duck Fish chokes. Florida and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Florida Forest Service (FFS) Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) GUN-SPECIFIC GEOMETRY Gulf Coastal Plain EcosystemofPartnership While the above-mentioned designations Improved Cylinder, Modified, Wildlife suggest and Sportsome Fishdegree Restoration Program and Full constriction of standardization amongst choke models, that unfortunately isn’t the case. Bore diameter varies widely

What is the Best Choke for Duck Hunting?

between different shotgun manufacturers, and so does the amount of constriction that different choke manufacturers call “cylinder,” “mod,” or “full.” This means that the choke that shoots awesome in your buddy’s Remington 870 can shoot completely differently in your Mossberg, Browning, or Benelli; and it’s a big part of the reason why pattern testing is so important. But Muller Chokes takes that variability out of the equation. “What I did with my chokes is I created gun-specific pattern geometry. I took every gun on the market with every different bore diameter, with every barrel length, with every ammo on the market, and I basically kept changing the choke geometry,” Muller explained. “I started with one gun, and I changed every geometry you could imagine until I got a picture-perfect pattern out of that gun, and when I had achieved that for that gun, I drew the blueprint for that choke, and I moved on to the next gun to start all over.” This means that if you find a Muller choke that works in one of your guns, you can buy that same constriction and expect it to shoot exactly the same in every other gun in your safe. You can also expect a Muller choke to shoot how they say it will pattern on their site, because they’ve shot their chokes in “your” gun before. BETTER BUILD QUALITY With a background in aerospace engineering, Muller is familiar with these problems. In order to make sure that his chokes stand up to the rigors of high-volume shooting he uses a high strength Aerospace Aluminum that is infused with a Military Ceramic. This combination makes for a choke that is lightweight, hard-wearing, and extremely resistant to fouling. BEST CHOKE FOR DUCK HUNTING According to Jim, a lot of duck hunters get too caught up in fast loads, “premium” shot, and tight chokes. The secret to hitting ducks, he says, is to do the opposite of all that.

“What I tell people is if you’re going to hunt puddle ducks inside 35 yards, shoot steel. Steel #4s can be amazing, provided that they have a heavy payload and a slow velocity, and you use them with the right choke. But for years now we’ve been on this andwagon from marketing hype from the ammo manufacturers about high velocity hypersonic kills. And really the only thing that does kill is your pattern, your shoulder, and your wallet. It doesn’t kill birds. What kills birds is heavy payload, lots of pellets, and slow velocity. And when I say slow, you know, steel shot is really only loaded down to about 1300 fps. It’d be better if it was a little slower, but a lot of loads clock in as high as 1500-1700 fps. You don’t want that. As far as payload, for a 12 gauge you want 1 ½ oz to 1 ⅜ oz. If you’re going for puddle ducks inside of that 40-35 yard mark, go with that. “As far as choke selection goes, most people are severely over-choked. Most of the time, if I’m hunting puddle ducks over decoys, I shoot a Muller Decoy constriction. It’s basically the equivalent of an improved cylinder to light-modified choke, and it’s good out to 35 yards. If I’m shooting past that, I’ll shoot our Passing constriction. That will let you stretch out to 45 yards without blowing out a pattern and let you hit those birds that are a little further out.” FINAL THOUGHTS ON DUCK HUNTING CHOKES In conclusion, the choice of the right choke for duck hunting is a decision that can significantly enhance your overall hunting experience. Remember that the best choke for you may vary depending on the type of ducks you’re pursuing, the distances you anticipate, and your personal shooting skills. To maximize your success, take the time to experiment with different chokes, familiarize yourself with your shotgun’s performance, and practice consistently. By doing so, you’ll be better equipped to adapt to the ever-changing challenges of the duck hunting season.

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Tractor Rototillers 101 BY JOE BAYA

The width of your tractor isn’t the only factor determining the width of your rototiller. 32 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING

Focus on rototiller size first, then let the design features dictate what you choose based on the work you intend to do. You may desire to till the soil for the preparation of a garden, a food plot, to stimulate native vegetation, or to prepare a firebreak for controlled burning, amongst other needs. This article is dedicated to helping you understand your options and alternatives in a tractor rototiller. We’re going to look into sizing, mechanical features, and intended usage to help you find the best choice for your situation. Let’s dig in!

A gear driven rototiller is better for harder soil or soil that hasn’t been worked before.

COMPARING A ROTOTILLER FOR A TRACTOR TO OTHER IMPLEMENTS Before buying a tractor rototiller, it’s a worthwhile exercise to make sure that this implement is the correct choice for the job(s) you have in mind. Homestead Implements designs and manufactures tractor rototillers and other 3-point implements as well as front end attachments right here in America. With years of experience under their belt and a commitment to quality, innovation, they have managed an excellent reputation for providing robust, efficient, and dependable implements. With Homestead having both tractor rototillers and their alternatives available for sale, I reached out to Travis Hoyt of Homestead Implements to learn what potential tractor rototiller owners need to think about when considering their options. ROTOTILLER VS. CULTIVATOR Among the most valuable tools in soil preparation are the rototiller and the cultivator. “A rotary tiller is super helpful when you are needing to dig deeper into the soil and get it prepped for food plots or other applications. A cultivator, specifically an S-tine cultivator doesn’t go super deep into the surface or into the soil. A rotary tiller is a lot more aggressive,” Travis said. The rototiller is a more robust piece of equipment designed to break new ground whereas a cultivator is generally smaller and is used to stir and aerate the topsoil, making it perfect for weeding and maintaining existing gardens. DISC HARROW VS. ROTOTILLER “The tractor rototiller does a few different things at the same time,” Travis mentioned when asked why someone should choose a rototiller vs a disc harrow and vice versa. “It cuts into the earth, chops it up and digs it and leaves a more finished product compared to a disc harrow. A disc harrow tears into the ground and it cuts everything up but it doesn’t leave it as 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 33

Tractor Rototillers 101

smooth or as fine or finished as a tractor rototiller. Also, for the most part, depending on what kind you get, it digs into the earth a lot quicker and easier, so you might have to do slower passes, but you do way less passes.” Travis added. Another benefit of the tractor rototiller is its compact size. “If you do need to get into tight areas, a disc harrow might have a harder time getting back to that area and turning around in those areas, where as a tractor rototiller is a lot shorter and more compact” WHAT SIZE TRACTOR ROTOTILLER DO I NEED? If you’ve decided that a tractor rototiller is the right implement for your needs, the next decision is to decide on the sizing. Width will be the main area where you will have a decision to make, and what width you choose will depend on a couple of factors, tractor width and tractor horsepower. HOW SHOULD WE CHOOSE THE WIDTH OF A ROTOTILLER? “So typically, for a tractor rototiller, you want it to be outside the width of your tires,” says Travis. “If you are not outside the width of your tires, you’re going to be running over where you already rotary tilled. So if you have it on the outside, you can kind of make sure you’re not missing anything with that.” HOW MUCH ROTOTILLER WILL A TRACTOR DRIVE? But the width of your tractor can’t be the only factor determining the width of your rototiller. “There’s a rule of thumb that you want one foot for every five horsepower of your tractor. So if you have 25 horsepower, you’re typically going to go with a five foot tractor rototiller.” So with 43”, 55”, and 67” tractor rototillers in production, if your tractor is over 30 horsepower, focus on a rotary tiller that is wider than your tires. If your tractor is under 30 horsepower, you’ll want to focus more on the rule of thumb Travis mentioned. “A rule of thumb of one foot for every five horsepower of your tractor is a good guideline, but it’s not definitive in all cases. If you have a much smaller size tractor it may not be able to handle a larger rotary tiller because of the weight. If it’s too heavy and you can’t lift it with your three point then you’re not gonna be able to use it effectively.”

and you can get it from Tractor Supply or somewhere similar compared to having to order most likely from an OEM to get the correct gear for your gear driven implement.” OFFSET ROTOTILLER DESIGN – IDEAL FOR SMALLER TRACTORS AND SMALL SPACES If you run a smaller tractor, one feature to be sure your rotary tiller has is an offset design. “If you need a more narrow implement, If you need a more narrow implement, and you are in tight areas and cant quite get outside the width of your tires, you can offset the tiller to be outside one side of your tires so that when you’re tilling you’re not driving back over what you’ve already rotary tilled.” Going back to the rule of thumb, if you’re on a lower horsepower tractor, you would want that offset rototiller design because you’re going to need to run a narrower piece of equipment. TRACTOR ROTOTILLER SLIP CLUTCH – WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES? If you’re like me, you’ve been known to inadvertently run your tractor into things. This is where a slip clutch comes into play. “Not all rototillers come with a slip clutch. A lot of times they come with a shear pin. A slip clutch is super helpful because you don’t have to worry if you hit a large rock or root or something that would normally bind up your gearbox, the slip clutch protects your gearbox while also allowing you to continue to work.” A slip clutch allows you to keep going and if you do happen to hit something that binds everything up, you will know it and protects everything inside of your system.” FINAL THOUGHTS ON TRACTOR ROTOTILLERS For those of us who work in the dirt, tractor rotary tillers can be a great tool to help us get more done in less time while enjoying the satisfaction that comes with a beautiful finished product. If you’re in the market, look for those implement manufacturers that have a proven track record of supporting their customers before, during, and after the sale. And remember, focus on size first, then let the design features dictate what you choose based on the work you intend to do.

MECHANICAL FEATURES TO EVALUATE IN ROTOTILLERS FOR TRACTORS So by this point, you should know if a tractor rotary tiller is right for you and what width your tractor can handle. The next points to consider are in the design. There are various designs on the market, all built for various needs. FRONT VS. REAR TINE ROTOTILLER Your tines can rotate forward or in reverse, so which one do you want? Again, it depends on your tractor and your soils. “Forward rotation moves the same direction as your tractor. If you’re pulling your rototiller, the rototiller is going to be spinning forward and pushing your tractor. Typically they don’t chop and dig in nearly as much as a reverse. They’re used a lot more often in softer soil conditions such as sand, or in areas that are aerated, and they’re not as compact or dense,” Travis mentioned. “Whereas reverse rotation, as you’re pulling the rotary tiller, it’s rotating backwards and digging in and pulling against where your tractor is. It’s super helpful for if you have harsh conditions, if you have a lot of heavier compacted soil types. The big issue with the reverse is that you will need to make sure you’re using a little bit more power because you’re fighting what the rotary tiller is doing.” GEAR DRIVE ROTOTILLER VS CHAIN DRIVE ROTOTILLER PROS AND CONS Tractor Rototillers are either driven by gears or a chain. Which one you choose will depend on several factors. “With a gear drive, you get a little bit more torque to the ground, so it loses less torque as it’s rotating. This is a lot better for when you have harder soils or soils that haven’t been worked in the past. They also tend to weigh more so that’s great for your counterbalance but also to be able to dig in a little bit easier as well,” says Travis. “With a chain driven implement, they will weigh a little bit less. So if your tractor doesn’t have a lot of lift on its three point a chain driven might be a little bit easier to manage. They’re also easier to fix because chains are more readily available. A lot of times you can find a chain that fits correctly 34 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

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Early season bucks aren’t as pressured or wary, making them more likely to venture further during daylight hours. 36 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING

Hunting Deer Using Staging Areas BY JOSH HONEYCUTT

Whitetails are creatures of habit. They tend to repeat similar habits, at least, while those bed-to-feed habits last. You see, deer are patternable animals, but because bedding, feeding, and security needs change so frequently, so do patterns. Therefore, it’s crucial to identify current patterns quickly, and each pattern’s best staging area, too. Here’s how to start hunting deer using staging areas. STEP 1: KNOW HOW DEER NAVIGATE THE LANDSCAPE Whitetails are creatures of habits and patterns. They use the land the way it makes sense for them to in terms of safety. Too often do we as hunters try to make deer go places and do things that contradict their instincts. I’m not speaking ill of land management projects. There are certainly ways to effectively influence how deer use a property. Hinge-cutting. Timber Stand Improvement (TSI). Creating staging areas. Food plots. Providing water. All and more genuinely, respectably, and responsibly serve the aforementioned purpose. They have their place. Rather, I’m talking about general hunting mindset. Most hunters operate with the mentality that they’re going to make deer come to them. Calling. Rattling. Decoys. Scent lures. Bait piles. Micro plots. There isn’t anything wrong with these tactics. They certainly serve legitimate purposes. But there’s a time and place to implement them. Don’t start off with those. Finish with them. Here are the five phases of understanding — and acting — on how deer navigate your hunting grounds, and where staging areas exist. The hunters who consistently kill big deer, are also usually the ones who subscribe to some version of this concept. Understand the Notion: Hunters are better served beginning with a different mental approach. It’s simple. Get in that deer’s way. Learn how deer in general — even specific target bucks — use the property. Take advantage of how deer already travel, rather than randomly selecting spots and hoping to draw them to you. This tactic obviously takes work. It isn’t the easy way out. It demands serious dedication and time investment. It requires extensive scouting for deer hunting in general. It also requires advanced patterning when hunting specific target bucks. Scout the Area: Use general scouting methods to learn the property. Find beds, food sources and watering holes. Walk trail networks that connect these key locations. Look for specific buck beds and make special notes of their exact locations. Plot everything on an aerial map (that also shows topography) to really see how things look. This paints a picture and makes it simpler to visualize how the deer herd maneuvers throughout the area. Analyze Old Data: Consult with land managers, farmers and past hunters who’ve spent time on the property. Scouting efforts, trail cam photos, and in-the-field sightings from previous seasons reveal extremely valuable information relative to the current/upcoming season.

Some of the deer from last season lived to see this year and they’ll likely follow the same patterns. Even if they didn’t, new bucks oftentimes exhibit similar patterns as bucks from previous seasons. Why? Because of the property layout. Mature bucks use the land advantages around them. This is a constant year-to-year factor between whitetails. Think I’m wrong? Four of my Kentucky bucks (2015-2018) were all taken within a 50-yard radius. Trust but Verify: Once you understand the general lay of the land, and how the bulk of the herd uses it, it’s time to drill down on a specific target buck. You scouted. You looked at data from previous years. Now, take it one step further by patterning a specific target buck. Scout from afar first. This is a low-impact scouting method. Make sure you have the best optics you can afford. Then hang trail cameras to learn the buck’s core area. Position them in a manner that won’t spook deer. Place them 5 to 6 feet off the ground, angled slightly downward. This gets them out of their line of sight. Hunt and/or glass from observation stands if you still don’t have enough information to dive deeper into the property. Implement the Extras: See, I wasn’t hating on everyone’s favorite tactics. Calling. Rattling. Decoys. Scent lures. Bait. These tactics and more have killed barge loads of bucks. They’re effective. But they’re more so when using them as part of this plan, instead of as a crutch. Used correctly, they’ll tip the odds further in your favor. Deployed incorrectly, they’re virtually ineffective on mature bucks. Once you’ve put yourself in the right spot. Once you’re “in that deer’s way.” Only then should you leak pee, hit horns, set dekes, grunt grunts, or feed some feed. It’s all about proximity and process. STEP 2: RECOGNIZE WHITETAIL STAGING AREAS Deer hunting is a tough endeavor. Getting within bow range of a deer, especially one with some age on it, is no easy feat. They rarely move in daylight. And when they do, it’s often not far from their bed. But you can’t hunt there. That’s a one-way ticket to failure in most cases. The last thing you want is to put yourself on that whitetail’s radar. But there is one location that you might have a legitimate shot at tagging it — staging areas. So what’s a staging area? Generally, it’s a location just outside the perimeter of a deer’s bedding area where it’s comfortable being in daylight. It’ll often hold up there and wait until the cover of darkness arrives to move further out into the open. These areas often have plenty of cover and at the very least a minor food and/or water source of some sort. Staging areas are great for killing even the most reclusive deer. Odd, transitional spots that are situated between bedding areas and feeding destinations are solid locations to find deer in daylight. They might not be making it close to major food sources before legal shooting light ends. But chances are they’re at least traveling 100 to 150 yards (or a little more) from their bed during daylight hours. You just must be set up in the right spot to capitalize on that movement.

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 37

Hunting Deer Using Staging Areas

The first step in hunting a staging area is to determine where the deer is bedding at. Then, find a small pocket of cover nearby that also offers a viable food source, even if it’s small or less attractive than other nearby options. Older deer will feed in such location if it means they don’t have to break cover during the day. It’s important to remember that staging areas need to be between bedding areas and feeding destinations for optimum success. Think of it in the terms of getting in that buck’s way. You want to cut that deer off before it gets to where it’s going. When possible, focus on staging areas that also double as pinch-points, funnels, saddles, and any other type of terrain that helps concentrate deer. This only increases the odds of success. And when it comes to deer hunting, we need every advantage we can get. STEP 3: FIND THE STAGING AREAS Don’t bump, pressure or spook deer. That’s what everyone will tell you. Television show hosts. Outdoor writers. Bloggers. Vloggers. Instagrammers. Podcasters. I say spook them all. But only once. And I call it the bump scout. But only if necessary. If you can find bedding areas and associated staging areas without pressuring deer, that’s even better. But if you can’t carefully bump bedded deer, and then determine nearby staging areas to intercept deer in the future. Defining the Bump Scout: Hunting a new property can be difficult. Heck, hunting the same property year after year can be, too. New property or not, I do one invasive, pressure-filled scouting trip per year. Private land. Public land. Hunting by permission. Leased properties. Land you own. This scouting tip works for all. The intent of the bump scout is twofold. The primary goal is to learn as much about a property as possible. Scour as much ground in one day as you can. Start with the most important locations such as likely bedding and staging

areas. Work outward toward food sources, water sources and trail networks. The secondary goal is to gather as much knowledge about specific bucks as possible. See a big buck dash down an escape route when you pressed into thick cover? Find a cluster of massive buck beds in a small area? See a mature deer feeding in a staging area at dusk as you wrapped up your scouting mission? This is all valuable information you need. But you pressure a lot of deer to get it done. Is it worth it? Yes, it is. Because the research (and my own personal experiences) show one invasive outing shouldn’t permanently spook deer off the property. Most bucks that are spooked will return within a day, if not hours. It’s also worth it because it’s better to spend a few days hunting in a great area than a few weeks in bad one. But you won’t know where the great spot on the property is unless you find it. And you won’t find it unless you walk the entire property.

So, when is the best time to do this? Best Time: Post-Season (January to April): I prefer to do this directly after deer season ends. That allows for maximum time for deer to recover from the pressure. It’s true that most mature deer should immediately return, but not every deer is tolerable to human intrusion. It is possible for bucks with certain personality types to head for the hills and not return. But again, this is rare. Second-Best Time: Pre-Season (May to August): The bump scout can also be done during the summer. It leaves less time for deer to recoup, but don’t hesitate to do it. It does becomes harder to learn a property during this phase. Scrapes all but disappear. Rubs become harder to read. Beds fade. But it’s still valuable information. Gather it. Third-Best Time: In-Season (September to December): This is the worst time (pressure-wise) to use this method. But it’s the best time for getting

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Hunting Deer Using Staging Areas

Keep in mind spots where trails intersect.

Keep an extra treestand on hand for when you find that awesome spot that’s sure to produce big buck encounters.

Apps and maps can be excellent tools for finding hotspots on your hunting land.

Virtually all good hunting spots are relatively close to good bedding cover.

valuable intel. Sign is fresh. It’s real time. Any deer or sign discovered is relative to the deer currently living there. Regardless of when you use this tactic, apply it to your situation. Roll it into whatever the preferred hunting style and get back in the field. Fill that tag. ENHANCE A STAGING AREA: WATERING HOLES FOR DEER Water is one of the three basic needs of a white-tailed deer — perhaps the most important, as studies have shown deer generally go to water before they go to food when they rise from their beds in the evening. It’s very common knowledge, yet often overlooked during the hunt. Creating water sources in areas where deer might not have a lot of access to it is very beneficial. Placing small water holes in strategic locations that help put deer in front of your stand during daylight is certainly a plus, especially in existing staging areas. Here’s how to do that. 1. Determine a good location for the water hole. This might be in a small micro plot, staging area, on the edge of a bedding area, or some other high-traffic area that sees frequent daylight movement. 2. Next, begin digging a hole for the small 100- to 125-gallon watering tub or swimming pool you purchased. Lay the pool on the ground where it will go. Trace the areas around it with a shovel or grubbing hoe. 3. Pull the pool and begin digging. Do so deep enough that the entire pool sets in the ground with the lip just below the surface of the ground. 4. Make sure the bottom of the hole is flat. Remove all rocks and sharp

objects that could potentially puncture the pool. Ensure it’s level. If the bottom isn’t level, it won’t hold as much water as it would if set properly. 5. Place a piece of heavy plastic in the hole to provide additional protection. Thick plastic, a tarp or any other type of liner will do. 6. Set the pool back into the hole. Make sure it’s level once more and that all parts of the plastic pool are popped back out into their intended, molded form. 7. Back-fill dirt around the edges of the pool. If in an area where run-off is likely, don’t mound up around the edges. If the likelihood of run-off keeping the hole filled is low, mound it up around the top edges of the pool so it holds more water. 8. The next step is optional. I prefer to put a thin layer of dirt back into the pool. It adds additional protection and helps prevent puncture. This also makes the watering hole look more natural — which is important, especially for mature bucks. 9. Place a long stick protruding up out of the pool so small animals can climb out if they fall in. 10. Once that’s complete, begin filling it up with water. Use a tank to haul water to your watering hole(s). A 100-gallon pool should hold water for three to four weeks with adequate rainfall. All things considered, staging areas might just be the most effective, and even low-impact, stand location type for deer hunters. Therefore, consider hunting deer using staging areas this season. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 39

The Best Trail Camera Card Reader for 2023 BY NICK WILLIAMS

40 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING

Checking Trail Cameras – The right trail camera card reader can be a big part of how enjoyable and useful your trail cameras are to you as a hunter.

Trail cameras can be a blast to use in addition to being powerful hunting aids. They can also be a source of serious frustration. As technology has improved and consumers have become more demanding, trail camera manufacturers have upped their game, making higher-quality cameras that are more feature-packed and user-friendly than ever before. It’s perhaps easier than it’s ever been to get high-quality images of the bucks that are living on your property. Still, getting the images on camera is only half the battle. Trail cameras either don’t have built-in viewers or using the viewer can be arduous since it requires you to bring the camera out of its location or spend a lot of time staring at the tiny screen sorting through potentially thousands of photos. Because of this, most people running multiple cameras choose a separate card reader or viewer. This viewer can be a significant factor in how effective and fun it is to run trail cameras. Currently, there are several card readers and viewers on the market and we have compiled some information to help you determine which is the best trail camera card reader for you. THE BEST SD CARD READERS FOR TRAIL CAMS Stealth Cam 4-in-1 Card Reader Perhaps the cheapest and easiest way to view trail camera cards is a “dongle” type unit that allows you to view the images on your phone’s screen. These readers are very simple. You stick your card in the card slot, and then plug the unit into your phone’s cable slot. You can then view the pictures on your phone’s screen and download them to your phone’s hard drive. Since the unit doesn’t include a screen or any memory and instead relies on your already-purchased phone, these units are dirt-cheap. Stealth Cam’s 4-in-1 Card Reader is an obvious choice for the budget-minded hunter. I have owned several dongle-style units, and the Stealth Cam is a cut above many since it works with both iPhone and Android devices (many manufacturers offer separate models that work with only one or the other), reads micro and standard size cards, and can also be plugged into a laptop or tablet that has USB or USB-C ports. While dongle-style card readers score major points in cost savings, they come with several drawbacks. For starters, they are cheaply made and prone to sudden failure for no discernable reason. I’ve had several models quit unexpectedly after only a year or two of use. Their low price means it’s not too big of an issue to replace them, but it can be immensely frustrating to find out that you can’t read a card in the middle of your “rutcation.” If you have a lot of images to view, perhaps because you run multiple cameras or get a lot of activity on a bait feeder, they fall short too. Your phone isn’t the best place to view thousands of photos, much less store them. It can be hard to make out details on such a small screen, and organizing several years’ worth of trail camera images on a phone can be very difficult even if you have the memory to spare. Overall, dongle-type card readers are a great option for hunters who are only running a camera or two at most, and who put a premium on cost-savings. They can be an excellent choice for hunters new to running trail cameras who are hesitant to commit a large amount of money to something they’re not sure will be a big part of their hunting strategy. But if you run multiple cameras and take a lot of pictures, they can be frustrating to use. Wildgame Innovations Trail Pad Swipe Several prominent trail camera manufacturers also offer tablet-style viewers. These viewers typically cost more but come with their own screen. The Wildgame Innovations Trail Pad Swipe is the latest iteration of a design they’ve had for several years and is perhaps one of the more popular viewers on the market. The seven-inch integrated viewing screen on the Trail Pad Swipe is a big step up from a smartphone screen, and since the viewer is designed specifically for viewing trail camera pics, navigation is much easier. The Trail Pad Swipe is right in line with many similar offerings from other manufacturers, and for many hunters will be worth the added expense for the increased ease of use. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 41

The Best Trail Camera Card Reader for 2023

Hunter Using Tablet Viewer – Large screens on tablet viewers make it easier for hunters to key in on distinguishing features on a buck’s rack.

Once the card is inserted, the user can swipe through photos one-at-a-time, and even zoom in on photos. This can be very handy when trying to get a closer look at the tines on a buck, or for viewers with less-than-perfect eyesight. Overall, for a little bit of extra cash, hunters get a more specialized tool that is easier to use and makes viewing trail camera pictures more pleasurable. However, there are still drawbacks associated with most tablet-style card readers. For one, they’re generally paired with a fairly lackluster power source as a cost-saving measure. The seven-inch screen on the Trail Pad Swipe is powered by four AAA batteries, instead of a rechargeable lithium battery like most other electronics with a similar power draw. This can be an issue if you have a lot of pictures to scan through. You can also only look through images one at a time, which is another limitation when viewing large numbers of pictures. They also lack internal memory, which again, is a cost-saving feature by the manufacturer. No internal memory means that if you want to clear the card for further use in your camera, you have no way to save pictures you’d like to keep. Most tablet-style viewers are a “middle of the road” option for viewing your trail camera pictures. They are substantially more functional than the dongle-style card readers, with larger viewing screens and fairly intuitive controls. However, they are built to distribute to and compete with other offerings in big-box retail stores across the country, which leads to some cost-cutting measures that prevent them from being as good as they could be. They’re a good choice for hunters who want a bigger screen, but they really don’t excel at viewing, storing, and organizing large quantities of pictures. Hunters Mate Lowdown Card Viewer The Hunters Mate Lowdown viewer looks similar to other tablet-style viewers, but what’s “under the hood” of this card reader puts it in a class of its own. According to Al Kaiser, owner of Hunters Mate, the Lowdown is the end 42 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

result of years of research, field testing and a desire to, in his own words, “build the card reader I had always wanted to use.” From a hardware perspective, this vision means a 60% larger screen than the average trail camera card viewer. The Hunters Mate Lowdown viewer has a 9-inch HD color touch screen for easier viewing; onboard memory for easy image storage; a 10-foot HDMI cable to allow viewing on any TV or computer screen; and a large, rechargeable lithium battery to make sure you don’t run out of juice midway through a card. The Hunters Mate Lowdown viewer boasts a “Flippin Fast” technology that allows for 3x faster viewing and loading of photographs and videos. Hunters Mate’s years of research and field usage also resulted in some pretty clever software features, such as an onboard user tutorial so you’re never at a loss as to how to use the device; the ability to save, edit, and delete images to aid in organization; the ability to view more than one image at once on the screen to make going through lots of pictures quicker and the ability to properly format a trail camera card to ensure it continues to function properly. All of these features together make the Lowdown a truly unique and premium solution to trail camera card reading and viewing. It’s tailor-made for hunters who run multiple cameras and get a lot of activity on them. According to Kaiser, “you can go through thousands of photos in 15 minutes… no problem.” In addition to offering a premium product, Hunters Mate offers after-purchase support that is unique in the card reader market. In addition to a one-year warranty against manufacturer defects, they offer in-house repair options for almost every potential failure point on the viewer, including screen repair. Hunters with questions about the unit or who need repairs are likely to get Al himself on the phone. “I wanna talk with our customers and know what’s going on. I probably take 80% of the calls,” Kaiser stated.

The Best Trail Camera Card Reader for 2023

The Lowdown is a big step up from other viewers in terms of usability, functionality, build quality, and customer support. The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” holds true with card readers, because the Lowdown currently retails for $349.99. This may be too steep of a price for a weekend warrior who only checks one or two cameras on their lease, but for hunters who run multiple cameras and who regularly have thousands of images to sift through, the time and frustration saved dealing with cheaper alternatives makes it a very good purchase. GAME CAMERA CARD READER POINTS TO CONSIDER When considering a game camera card reader, there are several points you should keep in mind. Here are some important factors to consider: 1.

4. 5.

Compatibility: Ensure that the card reader you choose is compatible with the type of memory card used by your game camera. Common types of memory cards include SD cards, microSD cards, and CF cards. Check the specifications of both the card reader and your camera to ensure compatibility. Transfer Speed: Look for a card reader that offers fast transfer speeds. This is particularly important if you have large files or high-resolution images and videos on your memory card. USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 card readers generally provide faster transfer rates compared to USB 2.0. Interface: Consider the interface options available on the card reader. USB is the most common interface, but there are also options like Thunderbolt and Lightning connectors. Choose a card reader that has an interface that is compatible with your computer or device. Portability: If you plan to use the card reader in the field or while traveling, consider its portability. Look for compact and lightweight options that are easy to carry and store. Build Quality: Pay attention to the build quality of the card reader. Look for a durable and sturdy design that can withstand frequent use and potential outdoor conditions. Reinforced connectors and a rugged casing are desirable features. Additional Features: Some card readers offer extra features like builtin USB cables, card slot covers, LED indicators, or multiple card slots. Assess your needs and preferences to determine which additional features are important to you. Brand and Reviews: Consider reputable brands known for their quality and reliability. Read customer reviews and check ratings to get an idea of the experiences others have had with the card reader you’re considering. Price: Set a budget and compare prices across different brands and models. While it’s essential to find a card reader within your budget, don’t compromise too much on quality or performance for the sake of saving a few dollars.

By considering these points, you can choose a game camera card reader that meets your requirements in terms of compatibility, performance, durability, and convenience. HOW TO FORMAT SD CARDS FOR TRAIL CAMERAS To format an SD card for a trail camera, you can follow these steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Insert the SD card into your computer’s SD card reader or use an external SD card reader if your computer doesn’t have a built-in reader. Ensure that you have transferred any important files or data from the SD card to your computer or another storage device. Formatting the SD card will erase all data on it. Open “File Explorer” on Windows or “Finder” on Mac to access your computer’s file management system. Locate the SD card drive. It is usually labeled as “Removable Disk” or “SD Card” and will have a drive letter assigned to it (such as “E:”, “F:”, etc.). Right-click on the SD card drive and select “Format” from the context menu. On Mac, you can control-click or two-finger click on the SD card

Lowdown – For hunters who run lots of cameras and have thousands of pictures to sort through, the Lowdown offers a large screen, intuitive navigation, ample storage, and extremely fast image processing.

drive and choose “Format”. A formatting dialog box will appear. Here are some key considerations when formatting the SD card: • File System: Select the file system type based on the trail camera’s requirements. The most common options are FAT32 and exFAT. If you’re not sure, check the camera’s manual or web site for the recommended file system. • Allocation Unit Size: Choose the default allocation unit size unless you have specific requirements. • Volume Label: You can give the SD card a name if you prefer, but it’s optional. 7. Double-check that you have selected the correct SD card drive for formatting. Formatting will erase all data on the selected drive. 8. Click on the “Start” or “Format” button to begin the formatting process. A warning message may appear, informing you that all data on the SD card will be erased. Confirm that you want to proceed with the formatting. 9. The formatting process will take a few moments. Once it’s complete, you will see a notification or progress bar indicating the formatting was successful. 10. Safely eject the SD card from your computer. On Windows, you can do this by right-clicking on the SD card drive and selecting “Eject” or “Safely Remove Hardware.” On Mac, you can drag the SD card icon to the trash or use the eject icon next to the SD card’s name in Finder. 6.

After formatting the SD card, it will be ready to use with your trail camera. Make sure to insert it correctly into the camera, following the instructions provided by the camera’s manufacturer. TRAIL CAMERA CARD READER FINAL THOUGHTS Overall, whether you’re a hunter who just received his first trail camera this year, or an experienced user with a dozen or more cameras to check…there are plenty of good options on the market to choose from. Hopefully this article has made it easier to sift through the available options so that you find the card reader that is right for you! 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 43

POMPANO JIGS The Expert’s Guide to Choosing, Rigging, and Fishing BY JOE BAYA

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FISHING The precision and technique with which a Pompano angler uses their tackle can mean the difference between fish in the box and returning home to talk about how pretty the sunrise was. One such type of tackle that many have questions about is the pompano jig. This comprehensive guide is designed to demystify the world of pompano jigs, covering their diverse shapes, styles, and sizes and providing recommendations for the best choices depending on your fishing conditions. For those eager to learn more about fishing with a pompano jig, we interview a respected Pompano guide who is an expert in how to effectively fish them, from rigging and tying to the nuanced approaches for different fishing locations. And for the DIYers among us, a special section is dedicated to crafting your very own pompano jig. Whether you’re new to pompano fishing or looking to up your game, this guide promises to help you better understand, fish, and ultimately catch more Pompano on jigs.

days they key in on certain colors. And that’s the only kind of color you’ll get a hit on. So I like to be prepared with some different types of colors. My main go-to colors are orange and white, pink and white, and chartreuse and white for Pompano jigs. One of those three is what I usually start with and kind of work out from there.” BEST POMPANO JIGS As we discussed earlier, there are many Pompano jig choices available to you. Choosing your style should be based on the conditions, so make sure you are prepared for all scenarios. Below you’ll find some of the various types of Pompano jigs available, remember you should try to fish as light as you can get away with.

UNDERSTANDING POMPANO JIGS Pompano jigs come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. To help us decipher which styles are best for various conditions and applications, I went to an expert on the subject, Weldon Hall. Weldon operates Sand Flea Outfitters, a popular choice for anglers looking to get more experience surf fishing and/or rent surf fishing gear in Destin, Florida, and surrounding areas. Weldon is an expert surf angler, and he was kind enough to share his knowledge on fishing Pompano jigs in a recent Q&A on the Northwest Florida Fishing Report Podcast. POMPANO JIG HEADS There are a bunch of different styles of jig heads out there, but the two main styles of Pompano jig heads are the Banana Jig and the lead head skirted jig. I wanted to know which style Weldon preferred and when. “My personal favorite is the banana-style jig, but my choice depends on what I’m trying to accomplish,” said Weldon. “On heavier wind or severe current days, it’s necessary that I have to fish those skirted type jigs because you can get them in bigger sizes. I like to fish a bullet-style head because I find that it falls a lot more quickly to the bottom. If I need more distance on my cast, I’ll use a style like that, because I can get a heavier style jig.” POMPANO JIG HOOKS With Pompano jig hooks, the biggest concern is picking a size too large, or a hook that can’t withstand other fish that lurk in the same areas as Pompano. “Pompano have a small mouth and it’s on the bottom of their head. So if you use too big of a hook, you’ll have a real hard time hooking up. The biggest size hook I use for Pompano is a 2/0. A premium hook doesn’t really matter because Pompano aren’t that big, but something with a lighter wire hook may cost you an opportunity at a redfish or black drum that may straighten out your hook.” POMPANO JIG TEASERS The Pompano jig teaser is an essential part of a Pompano jig, according to Weldon, but it’s an often overlooked part of some manufacturer’s offerings. “I do not fish a banana-style jig without a teaser. You’ll get a lot more bites in my experience. About 90% of the time when you catch a Pompano on a jig with a teaser, they’re going to hit the teaser versus the actual jig. It puts a lot more motion in your jig and makes it look a lot more lifelike. You have a lot more attract-ability when you have that teaser on there, it gives the fish something to key in on.”

Skirted Pompano Jigs Features • Sleek baitfish head with clear coat finish • Colorful nylon and Mylar dressing • Durable epoxy coated nylon thread • Extra-sharp, corrosion-resistant hook

Banana Jig For Pompano Features • Creates movement on the bottom • Comes in 1/4oz, 3/8oz, 1/2oz, 3/4oz, and 1oz • Various Colors

POMPANO JIG WEIGHT Pompano jigs come in a wide range of weights, and there is no perfect weight. “I want one just big enough to get where I want it and get it to sink as fast as I want,” Weldon said when asked about what weight Pompano jig is best. “You want to be as stealthy as possible, especially if we’re sight fishing. You want something that’s not gonna make a big splash. I start out with the smallest I think I can get away with and then adjust up from there depending on what’s going on.” BEST COLOR JIG FOR POMPANO Any time you talk about colors and fishing lures you are potentially opening up a can of worms. In my surf fishing experience, what I’ve noticed is that colors that work tend to vary from trip to trip and what proves effective in clear Northwest Florida surf may not be as effective in more green, turbid coastal Alabama waters. But my experience is limited compared to that of Weldon’s, so what did he think about the coloration of Pompano jigs? “You’ll notice that some

Pompano Jig With Teaser Features • Pompano jig with teaser • Laser sharp hooks 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 45

Pompano Jigs

you’d use on a set rig for Pompano. “Normally I use a sand flea or a piece of Fishbites in the shrimp, crab, or sand flea flavors. All of those work but use your smaller sand fleas and keep in mind when you’re tipping those jigs the fish still has to be able to get in his mouth. So you don’t want to have too big of a bait or too big of a profile on those Fishbites. One thing I do is use a smaller jig and put a little bit bigger sand flea on there and it’ll give you more weight to cast but you still got those smaller profiles. Also, tip your main hook. If you tip your teaser, it’s pretty hard to get a good hook set on those fish.” Swivel Jig For Pompano Features • Jig Material: Lead • Jig Color: White • Jig Size: 1/4oz, 3/8oz, 1/2oz and 1oz • 2 Jigs Per Pack

HOW TO JIG FOR POMPANO WHILE SURF, JETTY, AND PIER FISHING You’ve selected your jig, you’ve got it rigged, and you’ve got it tipped with a fat sand flea or fresh piece of Fishbites. Now it’s time to make a cast and fish! I wanted to know if techniques changed when targeting Pompano from the surf vs jetty vs pier. I was surprised by the answer. “I’m pretty much doing the same thing [from the surf, pier, or jetty] unless I’m putting it right in front of one sight fishing. If I’m just walking the beach and prospecting, the biggest tip I can say on that is keep your jig as close to the bottom in contact with the bottom as much as possible. That’s where he’s looking when he’s coming down the beach to eat. That’s a big mistake that I see a lot of people make when fishing Pompano jigs, they’re working them up to the middle or the top of the water column. You want to have it in contact with the bottom and you don’t want it to be real jerky movements. Fluid little puffs is what I call it in my head.

Pompano Jig Kit Assortment Features • • • • • • • • • • • •

(4) 1/4oz Pompano Goofy Jigs (4) 3/8oz Pompano Goofy Jigs (4) 1/2oz Pompano Goofy Jigs (4) 1oz Pompano Goofy Jigs (1) 1/4oz Pompano Jig With Teaser (1) 3/8oz Pompano Jig With Teaser (1) 1/2oz Pompano Jig With Teaser (1) 3/4oz Pompano Jig With Teaser (1) Pompano Crusher Jig (1) Pompano Crusher Jig (1) Sand Football Jigger Flea (1) White/Pink Football Jigger Flea

When I cast my jig out, I’m letting it settle at the bottom and then I just kind of want to hop it just little short hops back to me. In my mind, every time I pull my jig up I want a little puff of sand to come out. And then I want that jig to settle because nine times out of 10 he’s gonna hit it on the fall. That little puff of sand looks like a little crab or sand flea or something scurrying away, kicking in his prey drive. You want to be in contact with the bottom as much as possible. Same deal if you’re fishing on the jetties or the piers.”

HOW TO FISH A POMPANO JIG Now that you’ve got some jigs picked out, the next step is learning to rig them and subsequently how to fish them. Let’s get up to speed on what you need to know. HOW TO RIG A POMPANO JIG Pompano can be finicky. I’ve watched these fish inhale my offering as if they’ve never seen food before and also seen them turn up their nose at an expertly rigged live sand flea on a super light fluorocarbon leader. So what’s a guy to do when it comes to rigging a jig to get the bite? Weldon had this to add regarding how he likes to rig. “We’re fishing 8,10 or 12-pound braid attached to fluorocarbon leaders of the same size. Braid allows you to cast a lot further and be a lot more stealthy. I like a uni-to-uni, Alberto, or FG knot for the braid-to-fluorocarbon connection, but use whatever you’re comfortable with.” HOW TO TIE A POMPANO JIG WITH TEASER AND WITHOUT “It’s really important to use a loop knot connecting your fluorocarbon to your jig,” Weldon mentioned on how he likes to attach his jigs. “If you’re using a Goofy jig, tie it on a loop knot with your teaser or put your teaser on a split ring to your jig and tie your main line to that. That split ring (or loop knot) gives it a lot more motion and lets it move around a lot more naturally.” HOW TO TIP A POMPANO JIG When it comes to tipping a pompano jig, you can use just about anything 46 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

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An Online Map Server Catch More Fish Using Less Fuel!

Pompano Jigs

This Pompano was caught on a frisky fins jig.

Recipe by Hank Shaw, Photo by Hank Shaw • https://honest-food.net

Grilled Pompano Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 15 mins • Marinate: 1 hr • Total: 1 hr 30 mins Ingredients

MARINATE

PICKING A POMPANO JIGGING ROD For me, fishing with a Pompano jig is the best way to catch Pompano because it allows me to roam the beach, see new territory, and allows me a better fight on lighter tackle. So when it comes to this tackle, what does Weldon Look for in a Pompano jigging rod? “Eight to nine-foot rods, an 8’6” rod is about perfect. You want something with plenty of whip to it. Steelhead rods and rods that have been marketed as steelhead rods work really well. 2500/3500 size reels are about perfect for doing that.” DO IT YOURSELF WITH A POMPANO JIG MOLD AND SUPPLIES Without a doubt, the added challenge of catching a Pompano on a jig is something to be proud of. With that said, imagine the sense of pride you’ll gain from catching a Pompano on a jig that you made! Making tackle isn’t terribly hard, and making Pompano jigs is no exception. It’s also a great way to use your free time to save money on tackle or build jigs with premium components for the cost of pompano jigs built with regular components. All you need is a Pompano Jig Mold, some jig hooks, and some teaser hooks and you’re on your way!

• 3 tablespoons achiote paste • 2 cups sour orange juice (see below for substitutes) • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 2 teaspoons salt • 1/4 cup olive oil MARINATE • 2 to 4 whole pompano, scaled and gutted • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro • 1 to 3 habanero chiles, sliced thin Instructions 1. 2.

Blend the marinade ingredients together until smooth. Wash the fish in salty water, then slash them a few times on each side to the backbone; this opens the meat up to the marinade, and allows it to cook faster. Soak in the marinade in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, and up to a day. Get your grill hot. Take the fish out of the fridge to come to room temperature. Clean the grates, then, using tongs, grab a paper towel and soak it in vegetable oil. Wipe the grates down with this, then set the pompano on the grill. Grill the pompano until it’s slightly charred, about 4 to 8 minutes, depending on how hot your grill is. (If your grill isn’t super hot, cover the grill. If it’s raging, keep it open.) Using a spatula, carefully try to lift the fish; they should not stick to the grill. Flip the fish and cook for 4 to 8 minutes on the other side. Paint the fish with the remaining marinade. Serve the pompano with the cilantro and chile garnish, along with some simple rice and beans, or flake it off into tacos.

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Wyoming

Duck And Goose Hunting BY NICK WILLIAMS

Nestled in the heart of the American West, Wyoming is a state renowned for its rugged landscapes, pristine wilderness, and abundant wildlife. Among the various outdoor pursuits that draw enthusiasts to this captivating region, duck and goose hunting stands as a cherished tradition and a thrilling adventure. Wyoming’s diverse ecosystems make it a prime destination for hunters seeking to enjoy being covered up in birds. In this comprehensive guide, we will embark on a journey through the world of Wyoming duck and goose hunting, uncovering the secrets of the trade, exploring the state’s rich waterfowl heritage, and equipping you with the knowledge and tools necessary to have a successful and ethical hunting experience. Whether you’re a seasoned waterfowl hunter or a newcomer to the sport, Wyoming offers a wealth of opportunities and experiences that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. WYOMING WATERFOWL SPECIES In Wyoming, waterfowl enthusiasts can pursue a diverse range of 48 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

duck and goose species during different hunting seasons. These avian species not only offer thrilling hunting experiences but also contribute to the state’s rich wildlife heritage. Among the prominent species available for Wyoming duck hunting are the Mallard, easily recognizable by their striking iridescent green heads; the Northern Pintail, known for their slender necks and pointed tails; the American Wigeon, distinguished by their white crown and forehead; the Northern Shoveler, named for their unique shovel-like bills; and the Gadwall, characterized by their mottled brown plumage. In addition to ducks, Wyoming also provides opportunities for goose hunting, with the Canada Goose being the most well-known. These geese, with their black necks and white cheek patches, are found both in migratory and resident populations within the state. Other goose species like Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, Greater White-Fronted Geese, and Cackling Geese can also be encountered during migration.

HUNTING HUNTING

Understanding the habits, habitats, and unique characteristics of these waterfowl species is crucial for a fulfilling and ethical hunting experience in Wyoming. It’s equally important for hunters to stay informed about specific regulations and seasons, which can vary depending on the species and location, and to engage in responsible hunting practices and habitat conservation efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of waterfowl populations in Wyoming. In order to learn more about the rich opportunities Wyoming offers duck and goose hunters, we sat down on a recent episode of the Huntin’ Land podcast to talk with Peyton Spires from 157 Outfitters. Peyton has years of experience guiding in Wyoming and has the information you need to be successful if you’re planning a trip out west. According to Peyton, many hunters who haven’t been out west don’t fully understand just how many birds Wyoming can hold. While you may think of Stuttgart or Catahoula Lake before you think of Wyoming, you may be missing

out. “People that have never been to Wyoming don’t understand just how many birds we have, ” says Peyton. “Everyone thinks of antelope and elk, the red desert, the High Plains…but Wyoming is unique in the United States because the waterfowl hunting is so consistent for the majority of the season. Most of our hunting takes place in the eastern section of the state. And there’s only one major water source: the North Platte River. It’s warm water, so it almost never freezes. And this really consolidates the birds and keeps them relatively easy to pattern. So, at the peak of our migration, we might have 300,000 birds in the area at one time. What basically happens is that there are a lot of little water sources up in Montana that freeze over with the first cold weather, and that pushes them into our warm waters and cornfields around the river. We’ll keep them there from the beginning of the season, all the way until the end. They really hang around the area for a long period of time, and 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 49

Wyoming Duck And Goose Hunting

it’s something that’s more consistent than most states have in the US.” WATERFOWL HUNTING WYOMING PUBLIC LAND Many waterfowlers (Great Days Outdoors editors included) enjoy the satisfaction of putting together a DIY waterfowl hunt on public land. This can be challenging, but if you’re up for an adventure and willing to put in the work, it’s definitely possible to do some successful Wyoming duck hunting on public lands. “Eastern Wyoming is largely private land, just because of all the agriculture,” says Peyton. “So, the public land hunting is limited. However, there are definitely some opportunities if you look into it. Wyoming has a walk-in hunting program where farmers will put their farm fields into the walk-in program and you can legally go on those and hunt waterfowl. You’re not allowed to drive a vehicle on those parcels, but there are some very good fields for Wyoming goose hunting that are in the walk-in program.” “There’s also a few management areas in eastern Wyoming. Springer/ Bump Sullivan and Table Mountain Wildlife Management Area are two that come to mind that allow waterfowl hunting, and they’re well-managed for waterfowl numbers. There are also various other small pieces of state land and Bureau of Reclamation land that are on the river where you can go out and toss a spread if you want.” “I don’t think Wyoming is necessarily the best option for public land hunters,” Peyton confided. “If you’re coming from out-of-state, chances are you’re driving past some better public land on the way. However, if you find yourself in Wyoming, there are definitely some public land

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options you can take advantage of. You just have to really get into it to have a shot at success.” WYOMING PRIVATE LAND WATERFOWL HUNTS What about the private land opportunities? According to Peyton, the private land hunts are where it’s really at in Wyoming, particularly when it comes to goose fields. “There’s definitely advantages to private land hunting,” he says. The first one that people really overlook is that if you can hunt on private land that allows you to drive a vehicle into a field, then you can really easily bring in a lot of gear. And that really helps you put out a more convincing decoy spread. The private land also doesn’t get hunted nearly as much. A private field might only get hunted three or four times a year during the three-month season. So if you can get on a private field, those birds are not used to being decoyed or called to, and they’re more likely to land. For DIY hunters looking to knock on a few doors to gain permission, Peyton offers the following advice “Knocking on doors for hunting access is definitely something that you can try to do. If you go that route, you’ve just gotta be very big on respecting the landowner. Promise to pick up your trash, don’t rut up the fields, treat their land like you’d want yours treated…that sort of thing. And if the landowner says, “No!” then you’d best just smile, say, “Thank you for your time,” and move on to the next prospect. Because all the farmers talk to each other and the first one you’re rude to is going to let all of his buddies know. Being rude just will not work out well for you.”

Wyoming Duck And Goose Hunting

WYOMING WATERFOWL SEASON If you’re an avid hunter, then you know that some parts of the hunting season are better than others. Many hunters in my home state of Alabama are bursting with excitement on opening day of gun deer season, but experience has taught me that the hunting doesn’t really pick up until much later in the year. According to Peyton, a similar phenomenon occurs in Wyoming. “As an outfitter, I do not book any hunts until the December 10th time frame,” he confides. “By December 10th, we’re almost certain that there’s going to have been a cold front to push Montana birds down to us. So we book hunts from December 10 to January 23 for Wyoming duck hunting, and then for goose hunting we’ll go from December 10 all the way to February 18. The way the seasons work, they don’t totally match up. They overlap a lot. But that late goose hunting can be some of the craziest hunting we have all year here in Wyoming. We’ll be seeing 50,000 birds a day by then.” WYOMING DUCK AND GOOSE BAG LIMITS At the time of writing, Wyoming has generous bag limits. While

regulations can change from year-to-year and it’s important to clarify regulations with local authorities, Peyton advised us that hunters can shoot plenty of waterfowl without going over the allotted limits. “So on a guided goose hunt, the limit is five geese a day, per person, with 15 bird possession limit. So you can do a three-day hunt without eating any and stay legal. On the duck side, it is six birds a day. Five of those can be mallards, and of those five mallards two are allowed to be hens. So, usually, if you get a duck limit, you will shoot five mallards and then a “bonus duck” to get your six. We have lots of diving ducks like goldeneyes and mergansers, and some other puddle ducks like wigeon or a pin tail that you can potentially turn into your bonus bird.” WYOMING WATERFOWL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS If you’ve hunted out-of-state before, then you’re probably familiar with how frustrating it can be to make sure that you’ve checked all of the boxes required to keep you legal in the field. Some states’ regulations are definitely easier for outsiders to understand than others. Luckily for waterfowlers, Wyoming is pretty straightforward when it comes to license requirements for private land hunters.”

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Wyoming Duck And Goose Hunting

52 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Wyoming Duck And Goose Hunting

“It’s super simple. No matter where you hunt waterfowl in the US, you’ve obviously got to have your Federal Duck Stamp,” Peyton says. “Besides that, the only thing you have to have in Wyoming is a daily bird small game license. For a non-resident hunter, that comes in at just over $20 a day. So, for a three-day hunt, you could buy three days worth for just over $60. So, less than $100 total for a three-day hunting license. You can log on, make an account in about three minutes on the Wyoming Fish and Game site, buy your licenses, and print them out. And there’s really nothing else to it. It’s very simple here.” While hunters should bear in mind that regulations can change and public land access often requires a little extra paperwork and possibly a small increase in license costs to access that land, nothing about Wyoming should be new to experienced hunters. CHOOSING THE BEST WYOMING WATERFOWL OUTFITTERS While it’s definitely possible to go the DIY route for a hunt, your odds of success skyrocket if you leverage the knowledge and experience a good outfitter can provide. While a guided trip may seem expensive, it can be a bargain when you factor in time saved planning the trip. On a DIY hunt, you’re responsible for everything. Procuring food and lodging, understanding regulations, scouting, setting your spread, cleaning your birds, transporting them back home, and dealing with any gear malfunctions or other problems are all squarely on you. At best, it’s a lot of work. At worst, it can devolve into a frustrating and unproductive waste of time, money, and vacation days. According to Peyton, a really good outfitter does way more than just put you on a few birds. We have a lot of good outfitters here in Wyoming,” he admits. “All the outfitters I know of can kill birds, and all of them have the ability to give you a pretty good hunt. But hunters should pick an outfitter that provides exactly what they want out of a hunt, not just a hunt. First of all, have a clear idea of what you want to hunt. Some outfitters specialize in just ducks. Some specialize in geese. We do a mixture of both. We’re goose first, just because they’re the most consistent and that’s what our clients have the most fun with. But if we think we can hunt ducks…we’re gonna hunt ducks!” “Creature comforts are another factor to consider when picking goose hunting guides. We run all heated, underground pits in the fields, and then blinds on the river. Some outfitters are going to go out the day before, look for birds, and throw up layout blinds. That works fine, but it’s gonna be a whole lot colder when you’re out there the next morning!” “Some outfitters are also gonna just have you meet at a gas station somewhere and then take you out to hunt. You get done with the hunt, and you just go back to your motel until the next morning. The way we operate is; we provide pretty much everything. You show up, you stay in our lodging, use our guns, our ammo, and then once the birds are taken for the day we take them to a bird processor. Once they’re cleaned, we give them back to you, vacuum sealed and flash frozen. That way, you’re not left trying to keep a wing attached to a breasted bird and trying to get all of that back home. We tell people to pretty much just show up with warm clothes and a good attitude, and we’re gonna make sure you have a great time.” You may not think much of it if you’re new to hunting out-of-state, but there’s substantial benefit to not having to bring your own arms and ammunition. “A lot of people just don’t want to check guns at an airport or fly with ammo. It’s just such a headache!” Peyton chuckles. “And we found that a lot of guys who weren’t really used to hunting geese showed up with chokes and ammunition that really just weren’t ideal for what we were

doing out here. So now, we just stay setup with guns that are properly choked and that have a good supply of our own favorite loads. We’ve got years of experience doing this, so we can just hand you a gun that’s properly set up for this type of hunting and we both know you’re set up properly and ready to go. It’s just easier all the way around.” DUCK AND GOOSE HUNTING GEAR Speaking of shotguns, chokes, shells, and (most importantly) those warm clothes Peyton mentioned, what are the essential items an experienced Wyoming duck hunting guide recommends newcomers to bring? Peyton’s recommendations are pretty basic. “Any shotgun will work, as long as it’s capable of reliably cycling in the cold,” he states. “We like to shoot 12 gauges with 3” shells for geese, just because the goose shot is big and a 12 lets you hold more BB shot, but we keep some 20s for smaller framed shooters. As far as clothes go, people really overestimate how cold it actually gets in Wyoming. Down here where we’re at, the lows only dip down to around 15-20 degrees, and it’s a pretty dry cold. You’ll want to layer up because it’ll be cold in the mornings setting decoys, but I’m usually in the blind in just a t-shirt by 9 or 10 o’clock. It’s really not any worse than most other hunters’ duck season conditions, at least in southern Wyoming” What about decoys? For geese, Peyton is a believer in big spreads, good calling, and pit-style or layout blinds. “Most of our techniques center around goose hunting and goose spreads. And that is usually a dry land hunt. So we will go out and arrange large spreads of decoys( between 30 and 80 dozen decoys) in a field that birds have been using. Then, we set up in either pit or layout blinds. And you arrange your decoys in a way that the birds hopefully will come and land right next to your pits or layouts. So you start out all these decoys in the morning, the birds will start flying, the geese will come in, and then you just have to have good callers, a good hide, and some good shooters.” Oftentimes, since they will both feed on the corn fields Peyton hunts over, ducks will start working into a spread. While perhaps no duck-hunting topic generates more controversy than spinning-wing decoys, Peyton is a believer. “If we start having duck action coming in the field, we’ll throw out some spinning wing decoys as well,” Peyton says. “Whenever those ducks see those spinning wing decoys, they think that there are ducks feeding with the geese, and you can decoy ducks right on top of the pit blind just like you do geese.” FINAL THOUGHTS ON WYOMING DUCK AND GOOSE HUNTING As our journey through the world of Wyoming duck and goose hunting comes to a close, we hope this comprehensive guide has enriched your understanding and appreciation for this timeless outdoor pursuit. Wyoming, with its breathtaking landscapes and bountiful waterfowl populations, offers a unique and rewarding hunting experience whether you choose to DIY or go with a proven guide service. Whether you choose to hunt in the wetlands of the North Platte River Valley, the high-altitude lakes of the Wind River Range, or any of the countless other waterfowl-rich regions in the state, remember that Wyoming offers not just a hunting adventure but an opportunity to connect with nature, forge lasting memories, and foster a deep appreciation for the wild places that make our world so remarkable. So, as you prepare for your next duck and goose hunting expedition in the Cowboy State, may you find success, camaraderie, and an enduring connection to the great outdoors.

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Choosing the Best Fishing Apps BY GREAT DAYS OUTDOORS STAFF

WHAT ARE FISHING APPS? Fishing has evolved from a tranquil pastime into a dynamic and tech-savvy sport, thanks to the proliferation of fishing apps. In today’s digital age, anglers no longer rely solely on their instincts and experience; they harness the power of technology to enhance their fishing adventures. From tracking weather conditions and identifying the best fishing spots to logging catches and connecting with fellow fishing enthusiasts, fishing apps have become indispensable tools for anglers of all levels. However, with a plethora of options available, selecting the right fishing app can be a daunting task. In this article, we will guide you through the process of choosing the best fishing apps that align with your specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting your fishing journey, this comprehensive guide will help 54 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

you navigate the digital waters and ensure that you have the ultimate fishing experience at your fingertips. BEST FISHING WEATHER APP If you’re an angler, having a good weather forecast app is a must-have. Firstly, it helps you understand how weather conditions affect fish behavior, increasing your chances of a successful catch. Secondly, it keeps you safe by providing real-time updates on wind speed, waves, and potential storms, so you can make informed decisions about when to head out on the water. Thirdly, it ensures you’re properly dressed and equipped for the conditions, so you stay comfortable during your fishing trip. Lastly, it aids in selecting the best fishing spots based on the weather, giving you an edge in finding the right places to cast your

FISHING line. In a nutshell, a reliable weather forecast app is your key to better fishing outcomes, safety, and an overall more enjoyable experience on the water. Accuweather https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.accuweather. android&hl=en_US&gl=US Clime https://climeradar.com/ Windfinder https://www.windfinder.com/apps/ BEST FISHING FORECAST APP If you’re an angler, you’ll definitely want to consider using a good fishing forecast app. These apps help you figure out the best times to fish by factoring in things like moon phases and fish activity patterns. This means you’ll have a higher chance of making a great catch. They also provide location-specific insights like water temperature, depth, and underwater structures, making it easy for you to identify the most promising fishing spots. Plus, you’ll get species-specific advice, so you’ll know exactly what your target fish prefer. If you’re into tidal or river fishing, these apps also give you crucial info on tides and currents. Some apps also keep a record of past catches, which is super handy for spotting long-term trends and planning your future trips. They also often come with a cool community aspect, letting you connect with other anglers, share tips, stories, and even your latest catches. Fishbox https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fishbox-fishing-forecast-app/id542238652 Fishing Forecast https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ddidev94.fishingweather&hl=en_US&gl=US FISHING SPOT AND GPS APPS A Fishing Spot or Fishing GPS app is a must-have for anglers as it offers a wealth of benefits. These apps provide vital information on prime fishing spots, navigational details, and real-time GPS tracking, making it easier to discover and navigate productive fishing locations. They often integrate weather and tide data, aiding trip planning and fish behavior understanding. Catch logging features enable you to record your catches and connect with fellow anglers, while detailed maps and community engagement round out the package. In essence, these apps enhance the fishing experience by simplifying location finding and ensuring safe navigation. Navionics Fishing https://www.navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating SPECIES AND REGULATIONS APPS Species and Regulations Apps are essential for anglers as they provide species identification, ensure adherence to fishing regulations, promote ethical fishing practices, offer location-specific information, enable catch record-keeping, serve as educational resources, and facilitate angler networking. These apps aid in distinguishing fish species, ensuring legal compliance, minimizing ecological impact, and adapting fishing strategies to specific locations. They also contribute to conservation efforts by collecting catch data. Ultimately, they enhance the fishing experience by providing knowledge, guidance, and connections within the angling community, making fishing more responsible, informed, and enjoyable.

Outdoor Alabama Fishing License App https://www.outdooralabama.com/contact-us/mobile-apps FISH IDENTIFIER APP Imagine a Fish Identification App as your own personal fish encyclopedia, right in the palm of your hand. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting your fishing adventure, these apps have got you covered. One of the standout perks is their incredible ability to help you identify a vast array of fish species. For beginners, this is a game-changer because the world of fish can be pretty overwhelming with so many species, all varying in size, shape, and color. These apps step in with clear images and detailed descriptions, making it super easy to confirm the species you’ve caught or spotted. Picture Fish https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glority.picturefish&hl=en_US&gl=US FLY FISHING APP A Fly Fishing App is a must-have for fly anglers, offering a range of benefits in one handy tool. It provides guidance on tying knots and setting up rigs, making it useful for both beginners and experienced anglers. These apps feature libraries of fly patterns with images and descriptions, aiding in fly selection. They also offer insights into local insect hatches, ensuring you match your fly to the fish’s diet. With weather forecasts, real-time streamflow data, and GPS navigation, you can plan your trips effectively and locate prime fishing spots. The built-in fishing journal helps you track your progress, while the app’s social aspect connects you with fellow fly anglers for tips and shared experiences. Troutroutes https://apps.apple.com/us/app/troutroutes/id1423989574 PERSONAL LOG AND CATCH TRACKER APPS Personal Log and Catch Tracker Apps are indispensable tools for anglers. They enable meticulous record-keeping of fishing trips, ensuring compliance with regulations and contributing to conservation through data sharing. These apps promote a deeper understanding of fish behavior and provide insights into specific species, enhancing angling skills. Over time, they become treasured repositories of fishing memories, offer community connections, and foster a sense of responsibility towards the environment, making them essential companions for anglers of all levels. Fishbrain App https://fishbrain.com/features?gclid=CjwKCAjwgsqoBhBNEiwAwe5w070Pc9cpf9uchuXiyslDSaYV7E2VsRkjcDv5NUzn_jLGBGyP_xnJGBoCs-wQAvD_BwE Salt strong Fishing App https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/salt-strong-phone-app/ FINAL THOUGHTS ON FISHING APPS In conclusion, the world of fishing has undergone a digital transformation, and choosing the best fishing apps can be your ticket to angling success and enjoyment. These apps offer a wide range of tools and resources, from weather forecasts and GPS navigation to species identification and regulation compliance. Whether you’re a seasoned angler looking to optimize your strategies or a beginner seeking guidance, these apps cater to your needs. Remember, the key is to select the apps that align with your specific fishing goals and preferences. So, cast your virtual net wisely, and with the right fishing apps at your disposal, you’ll be well-equipped to reel in those unforgettable fishing experiences.

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Raw Land Loan Rates 2023 BY JOE BAYA

Investing in raw land can be an exciting opportunity for those looking to build their dream home, start a farming venture, or develop a hunting property, amongst other things. Purchasing raw land often requires a substantial financial commitment, and many individuals may need to secure a raw land loan to make their vision a reality. In this article, we will explore the world of raw land loans and discuss the current raw land loan rates in 2023. We will also provide tips for choosing the best loan option, and outline the process of obtaining a loan for raw land. RAW LAND LOAN RATES Since its founding over 100 years ago, First South Farm Credit (FSFC) has been financing all types of rural land. FSFC now has grown to over 40 branches with 9,000 members in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. First South Farm Credit basically lends money to people for pretty much anything that they want to do “in the dirt”. That could be row cropping, raising livestock, growing timber, farming for wildlife, or raw land. We catch up with them frequently on the Huntin’ Land Podcast to learn about all aspects of land financing as well as keep an eye on the current raw land loan rates. As of the time of this writing, raw land rates are in the 8% range depending on the financial position of the borrower and the terms of the loan. When you borrow money from FSFC, you become a member and that means you own part of the business. That ownership entitles you to share in the profits through their Patronage Refund Payment Program. In other words, First South Farm Credit gives its members money back. While it can’t guarantee payments back to you or the exact rate of return, as long as it remains profitable and well-capitalized, FSFC is committed to sharing its profits and has made patronage payments for the past 23 consecutive years. RAW LAND LOAN OPTIONS Raw land loans, by definition, are land loans for tracts that are unimproved, meaning, in general, there are no sewers, roads, electricity, etc. While many lenders will not have anything to do with raw land loans, lenders who are affiliates of the National Farm Credit System, such as First South Farm Credit, are well-versed in providing financing for these types of properties. The National Farm Credit System is a network of borrower-owned lending institutions, and First South Farm Credit specializes in providing credit for farming operations that include crops, livestock, land, and timber. FSFC is also chartered to help with financing lifestyle farms, rural home sites, or rural land tracts for enjoyment or investment purposes. “First South can make loans for anything a landowner wants to do to develop his property or its habitat or the amount of wildlife there. If you’re playing in the dirt, we want to be in there with you, as long as you’re improving the 56 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

value of the dirt, which is the collateral of the loan,” says Taylor Hart, the branch manager of First South Farm Credit in Opelika, AL. “First South Farm Credit can make construction loans and, if needed, can turn those loans into long-term loans. Some landowners are building secondary homes, hunting cabins or lodges, and others want to put their primary residences on 20 to 30 acres. Perhaps that person wants to sit on his or her back porch and look at a pond and we make loans for pond construction as well,” Hart said. HOW TO GET A LOAN FOR LAND While you may have heard that getting a land loan is more arduous than other loan applications, the fact is that when working with the right institution it is not much different than how you may have gotten other loans such as those for your primary residence. Down payments are typically in the 20% range and there are even options for buyers who want to buy land with no money down. Be prepared to share the following with your lender: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Current Financial Statement Information Balance Sheets for Entities you own or are a major shareholder of Complete tax returns or another form of Income verification such as recent paystubs Balances of Investment and Liquid Asset Accounts

THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND PRE-APPROVAL In my time as a land real estate agent, I have seen the heartbreak from willing buyers when they miss out on their dream property. The most common reason I see buyers miss opportunities is because they do not have their financing in order. When a landowner is ready to sell their property, they want to go under contract with a buyer who is almost 100% guaranteed to close. When you come to the offering table and are in competition with another buyer who has fewer contingencies (or none at all) the landowner is more likely to go with the sure bet, even if that buyer’s purchase offer is slightly lower than the other with all of the contingencies. Today’s land market is more competitive than ever. Drone Tours, interactive mapping, and stunning online photography mean that shoppers are more prepared than ever to make an offer as soon as they confirm a property is what it looked like online. Don’t let a simple bit of paperwork be the reason you miss out on your dream. If you are considering buying raw land, do yourself a favor and reach out to your local National Farm Credit Affiliate like First South Farm Credit, and get approved before you are ready to make an offer. In addition to financing land, FSFC can finance your land improvements, new and used tractors, and other equipment that is used to maintain and enhance your rural property.

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BY HANK SHAW Photos by Holly A. Heyser

How to Cook Duck Breasts

If there is a bedrock duck breasts recipe, it is this one. One of the most common requests I get from readers is for step-by-step instructions on how to cook a duck breast properly. And this same technique works for goose breasts, as well as any other dark meat bird breasts, like pigeons, sharp-tailed grouse and the like. Here’s how to go about it. I know, some of you are thinking, “I know how to do this already, Hank.” To you I apologize; what’s more, my method is idiosyncratic and is likely to be different from yours — but it works. Every time. I’ve cooked thousands of duck breasts, and that’s no exaggeration, and this is how I cook a duck breast. So for everyone else, here goes. A few things before we start. First off, a duck breast is supposed to be cooked like a steak, which is to say rare to medium. That means the proper internal temperature of a duck breast, after the meat rests, is between 125°F and 140°F. No one will stone you to death if your duck breast hits 145, but anything over that and, well, you kinda wrecked it. But aren’t ducks poultry, and shouldn’t that be cooked to 165°F? Yes, ducks are birds. But they are red meat birds, and should be cooked like beef. Doing research for my cookbook on cooking ducks and geese, Duck, Duck, Goose: Recipes and Techniques for Cooking Waterfowl, Both Wild and Domesticated, I combed through years and 58 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

years of data on food borne illness from the CDC and found almost no instances of it in ducks and geese. Hell, you can even eat duck tartare if you want. And I do. So any duck breasts recipe that tells you to cook the hell out of the meat is either very old — we used to overcook duck on the regular, which is why so many people hated it — or the creator of that recipe has a thing against great tasting meat. Because if you know how to cook duck breast properly, you’ve basically succeeded in making a steak wearing a hat made of bacon. About that “bacon.” That’s the skin, so be sure to have breasts with skin on them. Skinless breasts require a different set of instructions. I go over those instructions in my cookbook if you’re interested, but the short version is that a skinless duck breast cooks exactly like a similarly sized piece of steak. Detailed, and I mean very detailed, instructions are below in the recipe. (I’ve also put together a video for this particular duck breasts recipe.) Follow them and you will soon be able to cook a duck breast in your sleep. Before you get there, though, I’ll walk you through it quickly. First you want to let your duck breasts come to room temperature. Take them out of the fridge and salt them, then let everything sit for 30 minutes or so. Pat them dry with paper towels.

CAMPHOUSE KITCHEN

With a duck breast like this one (it’s a fat pintail duck I hunted here in NorCal), or fatter, you won’t need much fat or oil to start in the pan. I almost always use rendered wild duck fat (here’s how to render duck fat at home), but you can buy duck fat, too. It’s not 100 percent needed, though. You can start cooking duck breasts with a little oil, lard or butter, too. Heat a steel or iron pan — non-stick doesn’t like the high heat we’ll be cooking duck breasts in — over medium-high heat, and just melt the fat. Use a duck breast to smear it around the pan.

Set down the remaining duck breasts (I find I can do about four or five at a time), and let them heat up. If you set duck breasts down in a pan that’s too hot, the skin will contract very quickly and you will get this little oval indentation near the thin end of the breast that won’t crisp. Regardless, it’s a good idea to use your tongs to press down on this part for about a minute, so it relaxes and gets good contact with the pan. A bacon press works well, too.

One secret of cooking duck breast is to let it cook about threequarters of the time on the skin side. This renders most of the fat and crisps the skin, which serves as a barrier to the meat, so that side won’t get overcooked. You flip the breasts when the skin is browned and crispy — and yes, you can look — then let them cook on the meat side for a few minutes. I have some guidelines for various types of ducks in the recipe card below. Finally, you want to kiss the fat sides of the duck breasts by standing them up against each other. This is a trick I learned from cooking morbidly obese mallards and pintails that had been living in the California rice fields, and it works well with store-bought ducks, too.

Finally, let your duck breasts rest on a cutting board, skin side up. If they are a little underdone, you can tent them with foil, but I rarely do that because it damages your crispy skin. I do like to grind black pepper over the skin as it rests, though. Bottom line: this is the duck breast recipe I follow almost exclusively: I really don’t think a nice fat pintail or mallard or wood duck needs more than salt, pepper and a squeeze of citrus or vinegar or a dash of Worcestershire.

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gifts BY NICK WILLIAMS

SITKA Gear Duck Oven Jacket

I fought the high-end, high-tech, high-priced, performance-hunting garment craze for several years. Then I lucked into a Duck Oven on a local clearance rack. Being able to stay warm, and I mean truly warm, on a cold morning without looking or feeling like the Stay Puft Marshmallow man in waders is a game-changer. The Duck Oven sits in a sweet spot, providing plenty of warmth for most hunts without being overkill. It’s probably my favorite piece of hunting clothing I own. I even wear it on deer hunts. Shop at Amazon: SITKA Gear Duck Oven Jacket

Heritage Series Decoys

Give the duck hunter in your life a gift they’ll treasure – premium wooden duck decoys. Handcrafted with precision and attention to detail, these decoys not only enhance the hunting experience but also serve as beautiful collectibles. Whether for practical use or as a rustic home decor piece, these decoys capture the essence of waterfowl hunting in a timeless and artistic way. It’s a thoughtful and lasting present that will have them reminiscing about their favorite duck-hunting moments for years to come. Shop at Dixie Decoys

Shotgun Chokes

Muller Chokes, the perfect gift for duck hunters, offer specialized gun-specific geometry that enhances precision and performance. Elevate your hunting experience with these precision-engineered chokes, designed to maximize your shotgun’s potential in the field. Shop at Muller Chokes

High ‘N Dry Zippered Waders

This year will be my 4th season in the same pair of High ‘N Dry boot foot waders. True to the advertising hype, the seams have not leaked and the boots have not cracked. A barbed wire fence necessitated one patch 2 years ago, but that’s just the cost of doing business. I’ve always said that they’d be perfect if they just had a zipper so I could take a leak. Well, now they do. Shop at High ‘N Dry

SITKA Gear Timber Pack

If you’re a timber hunter, buy this pack. The built-in timber strap allows you to quickly hang your pack and your shotgun in seconds once you’ve arrived at the hole, and once the pack is on the tree it’s laid out in such a manner that you have ready access to your thermos, your shells, and that extra layer that you’ll want once you cool down from the walk in. It also has a built-in game strap for all the birds you’re about to shoot. I own lots of packs, and this one is my go-to come duck season. Shop at Amazon: SITKA Gear Timber Pack 60 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

NEW & COOL GEAR FOR OUTDOORSMEN

Coleman Dual Fuel Stove

I’ve had this model for years. It runs off of regular ole gasoline, which is mighty convenient seeing as my truck and my boat motor also require gasoline. I’ve never found myself in a situation where I didn’t have fuel, and I appreciate not having to mess around with half-empty fuel canisters. This stove will make coffee, cook sausage, thaw out a frozen action, and warm your hands. All in a small, portable package. It’s also built like a brick outhouse. Shop at Amazon: Coleman Dual Fuel Stove

The Finisher

I rolled my eyes when a buddy gifted me one of these several seasons ago. But after using one a few times, I realized that The Finisher is a much easier and much classier way to dispatch cripples than wringing necks or bonking heads on gunwhales. I’ll admit that I’ve never needed the built-in screwdriver, but the bottle opener has been used a time or two… Shop at Adrenal-Line: The Finisher

ShotKam Gen 3

I started using a ShotKam last year during early teal season, and boy-oh-boy did it make the season more interesting. I caught several doubles and triples on film, and was also able to use the footage to prove I had landed the hit on several birds that my buddies wanted to claim. I also learned that I was missing an embarrassing number of birds by not leading them enough, but that’s no fun to talk about. Shop at ShotKam: ShotKam Gen 3

Hunting Trip Through Mallard Bay

If the hunter in your life has all of the latest gear, why not give them an opportunity to use it? Mallard Bay can help you book trips all over the country. Send you favorite waterfowler on a trip to the prairie potholes, Mississippi delta, or eastern seaboard to make new memories. Shop at Mallard Bay: View Waterfowl Outfitters

Membership Or Donation To Ducks Unlimited

At a certain point, most hunters reach a stage where it’s less about full straps than it is about enjoying a morning on the marsh with old and new friends. The longer I hunt, the more interest I take in protecting waterfowl nesting grounds so that the beautiful and fascinating waterfowl I hunt will always be around to inspire future generations. If the hunter in your life has an interest in conservation, consider gifting them a membership to Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, or some other conservation group. If they’re already an active member, make a donation in their honor.

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Leasing Hunting Land Is Not Too Hard

BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

I finally did it. I bit the bullet this year and leased some hunting land close to Montgomery. I had been wanting a place to hunt within a 45-minute drive from home and the office. I have been thinking about it for a couple of years, but I just wouldn’t bite the bullet. I thought it might be hard to find a place or expensive. It turned out to be a pretty easy and affordable process.

and hanging out around the camp with them in different parts of the state, but I am always a little reluctant to harvest a deer that they may have been watching for the whole season. I have seen friendships strained by a guest shooting Ol’ Big that the landowner had been seeing on game cameras for two years and had been waiting on. That is why I usually only harvest does on those hunts!

The last couple of years I have hunted on several of the Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) close to Montgomery. The WMAs have some big deer, and I am thankful we have good public hunting in Alabama. We are adding more public land on a consistent basis through our Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and the Forever Wild program. While I have enjoyed hunting on the WMAs, I also wanted to have a place I could go anytime I was ready.

I wanted my own place. I thought I might have a tough time finding something close to Montgomery. I was unsure about who to call or how to go about finding what was available. I did not want to spend a fortune or get some really big place. I just wanted about 200 acres or less where my family and I could spend some quality time on the edge of a green field, enjoying the beautiful and abundant resources God has gifted us with in Alabama. A place I could manage for multiple types of game. A place that if Ol’ Big walked out I would have no qualms about taking him.

I receive invitations to hunt with people all over the state. That is one good thing about having a lot of friends. I enjoy spending time hunting 62 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FROM THE COMMISSIONER I started the process by looking at websites and talking to several timber and investment companies that lease land. That was overwhelming. There is a lot of land in Alabama available for lease, and it was a challenge to wade through the plethora of information. Don’t get me wrong, it was great information and those companies do a good job laying out the specifics. It was just hard to focus on the best area for me.

SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY & ECOLOGY

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Lands Division auctions off hunting leases on state-owned property every five years. This year, 145 property hunting leases were bid. These properties provide a lot of good places to hunt; however, the law does not allow a DCNR employee or the commissioner to bid. So that was no help for me. To find just the right place, I did what most of us do to find what we are looking for: I asked a bunch of different people if they knew of any place to lease within 45 minutes of Montgomery. It was amazing how helpful everybody was. I had some great leads and even better testimonials of certain locations and what deer, turkey and other game I could find in this place or that place. I am thankful that I have some good friends who helped put me in touch with the right people. I went and looked at a few places and found a nice spot that was 32 minutes door to gate from my house. I have the green fields all prepared and planted. I have a few stands and blinds set up. I am ready! It took a good deal of work to get it in shape, but it has made for an enjoyable fall so far. I have seen some nice deer as we have been working, and I can’t wait for gun season to start later this month. I still plan to hunt the WMAs and with friends around the state, but having a place just for me and family should make this hunting season a real blast. PUBLIC SAFETY INSURANCE FUND There are still good people in this world who really care about their fellow man. Grant Sullivan, Jerry Kyser and the other members of the Public Safety Insurance Fund (PSIF) are some of those good people! The PSIF is a program that was started by Montgomery businesses more than 20 years ago to provide life insurance benefits for police and firemen in and around the Montgomery metro area. The fund now covers public safety employees in Montgomery, Wetumpka, Millbrook, Prattville, Butler County, Bullock County and many other jurisdictions. It also covers State Troopers and Conservation Enforcement Officers statewide.

Admiral Oysters are now available for retail by the dozen at Bon Secour Fisheries, Inc. in Bon Secour, Alabama. Fresh, raw oysters can elevate any event. From a simple, nutrient dense appetizer at home to a shucking party with friends, Admiral Oysters will steal the show.

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Since the fund was started, over $650,000 has been paid out to families of law enforcement officers who died while covered by the program. Three Conservation Enforcement Officers’ families have received benefits from the fund. These funds have been so valuable at providing for funeral expenses or helping keep the families on their feet after the passing of the officers. The annual premium is paid 100% by contributions of area businesses and concerned citizens. The benefit is provided at no cost to the officers or to the government agencies. This is strictly the business community caring for the families of public servants. Isn’t it great to see businesses and citizens showing such compassion and duty to the people who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve those same businesses and citizens? What a beautiful picture of how mutually supporting one another provides a symbiotic benefit to the community as a whole and makes this state a better place to live and work and play. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan and all the businesses that contribute to the Public Safety Insurance Fund! If you or your company would like to be a supporter of this program, please let me know and I will connect you with the right people.

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Who must purchase a license to hunt in Alabama?

WHY DO I NEED TO BUY A HUNTING LICENSE? One of the biggest misconceptions I’ve seen since I became director in 2012 is people thinking their tax dollars pay for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF). I can somewhat understand the confusion from members of the general public because most state agencies are funded from the general tax fund. What I can’t understand is how many hunters don’t understand the WFF funding model. What’s even more perplexing is all the effort they will go through to avoid purchasing a license even if they do understand how we are funded.

BY CHARLES “CHUCK” SYKES Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)

So, who needs to purchase a hunting license? That seems to be a pretty easy question to answer, doesn’t it? Let’s come at this from a little different direction. It may be easier to start with who doesn’t need to purchase a license to hunt here. In Alabama, three categories of people are exempt from buying a hunting license. First is anyone under the age of 16. Next are Alabama residents aged 65 or older.

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Finally, and somewhat confusing, is resident landowners and their immediate resident family members when hunting on family-owned property. What is immediate family? Regulation 2202-.160 says, “For the purposes of Section 9-11-44(d), Code of Alabama 1975, “immediate family” is defined as, landowner’s spouse, children, parents, brothers, and sisters. So, if you are an Alabama resident and your fatherin-law owns the property, you need a hunting license. If your uncle owns the property, you need a hunting license. If your father owns the property, you do not need a license to hunt. If you own the property, your mother-in-law must have a hunting license to legally hunt. I hope that clarifies the “immediate family” questions. Each year we get quite a few calls from angry non-resident landowners who don’t understand why they must purchase a license to hunt on property they own in Alabama. The way the statute is written, Section 9-11-44 defines who

FROM THE DIRECTOR qualifies as a resident. In the most simplistic terms, a person must reside in Alabama for a continuous period of at least 90 days and have a valid Alabama driver’s license or non-driver id or be a member of the military stationed in Alabama. People holding multiple state driver’s licenses do not qualify as Alabama residents. Believe it or not, we spend a considerable amount of time validating whether someone is actually living here. It’s pretty amazing the extent some people go to in an attempt to circumvent the license system and claim to be an Alabama resident. Between our license division, administrative section, and law enforcement section, countless hours are spent on this issue each year. I think it’s worth noting that a non-resident falsifying information to obtain a resident license is considered a felony in the state of Alabama. It’s ironic that those who are trying to fraudulently save their dollars are spending your dollars. The time and effort spent on their antics is being paid for with monies from those of you who are making appropriate license purchases. It is also safe to assume that the people who are doing this are also claiming residency in another state and, therefore, not paying for a non-resident license anywhere. However, if you hunt in their home state, you better believe they are receiving the benefits that your non-resident purchase provides to their state. Those who cheat the system aren’t “sticking it to the man;” they’re sticking it to you. With those three exceptions in mind, everyone else should purchase a hunting license when going afield. Even if you aren’t physically shooting at an animal, your participation in the event could be considered hunting. As the old saying goes, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” If you really think about it, anyone who hunts, regardless of age or landowner status, should purchase a hunting license. The North American Model of Wildlife Management is built on seven pillars,

the first of which is Wildlife is a public trust resource. That means that all wildlife, whether it is found on public or private land, is owned by the people. It is not private property. WFF is the state agency charged with ensuring that current and future generations of Alabamians have wildlife and wild places to enjoy, and how we accomplish this is through services paid for, in large part, with license dollars. Purchasing a hunting license does much more than simply keep you legal in the field. It also allows you to utilize our 20 archery parks and 12 public shooting ranges throughout the state. It should be reassuring to know that your license purchase, regardless of why you bought it, is the most direct way that you can safeguard the natural resources of our state by providing funding for on-the-ground conservation. WFF receives approximately half of its annual budget from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Not your tax dollars. Even if you don’t hunt but you enjoy going outdoors and enjoying wildlife, our agency plays a vital role in the protection and enhancement of those natural resources. For every dollar from state hunting licenses WFF generates, we can obtain three federal dollars (Pittman/Robertson excise tax dollars). I wish all my investments had a return like that. Since the founding of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the monies collected from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses have had a direct impact on the protection and enrichment of the natural resources of our state, resources that every Alabamian- past, present, and future, own. Abundant game and generous seasons and bag limits indicate that we are using your license dollars wisely to manage these resources and provide you access to them. WFF works for wildlife conservation every day; thank you for making it possible through your license purchases.

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AL & NW Florida Fishing Forecast

The month of Thanksgiving is here, football season is well underway and the kids are back in school. Varying conditions, changing weather and passing fronts can make things tough. Spending time on the water despite changing conditions and paying attention to detail can be the difference maker that keeps anglers on the fish.

BY TANNER DEAS Photos by Tanner Deas

bet and for clear water downsizing to 12# fluoro or even less can be the difference in getting the bite.

INSHORE: As water temperatures decrease, fish go deeper and tactics change just a bit. Colder water will stack Speckled Trout, Flounder and Red drum in deeper rivers, bayous and creeks. Pushing into the backwaters, these fish set up to feed on shrimp, menhaden and other forage species as they flush out of these systems. Falling tide can set up best for these scenarios but fish can be found and earned on rising tides as well.

Artificial lures can help you locate the fish by covering more water at a faster pace. Versatile baits like twitchbaits or jerkbaits can be extremely efficient in exciting the bite. Twitchbaits like the MR17 and MR18 are great options and jerkbaits like the Yo-Zuri 3DB SP110 can be perfect profiles to aggravate fish into biting. Soft plastic options like a swimbait or fluke are also a favorite this time of year, varying jig head sizes from 1/8oz to 3/8oz depending on depth. Soft plastic lures like the 5” Fishbites Fight Club Series Brawler, Z-Man Fishing Products Scented Jerk ShadZ (4 or 5 inches) and Z-Man Fishing Products DieZel MinnowZ (4”) are perfect examples.

Free lining live baits like shrimp, finger mullet or menhaden can be almost guaranteed action in these situations. Khale, circle or octopus hooks can be best for live bait. When using live baits, try to use a hook proportionate to the size of your bait. 15-20# fluoro or mono leader is a safe

Sheepshead also begin to be more prevalent inshore from now until March-April and become one of the main target species this time of year. These bait stealing “convicts” can be very particular and hard to dial in but once figured out, Sheepshead make for some of the best

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FISHING FORECAST inshore eating fish in our area. Locally, Sheepshead are referred to as “Bay Snapper” because they can be caught in the bay and further inshore but have a similar white meat and flakiness as Red Snapper. These fish like to stack up in structure related areas like piers, docks, jetties, reefs and the gas/oil platforms and oftentimes if there is one to be caught, more are there to be had. Circle hooks seem to not be the best option for Sheepshead’s mouth structure and gnarly human-like teeth, they will work but Owner Mosquito hooks, Gamakatsu Octopus hooks and Mustad Live Bait hooks can significantly increase your hookup ratio. There are several different ways of rigging for Sheepshead; a small split shot above the hook, carolina rig or drop shot style rigs with varying weight dependant on depth are the most reliable. 15-30# leader will work well for Sheepshead. Baits of choice for these fish are live fiddler crabs, hermit crabs, live shrimp or even pieces of dead shrimp. Sheepshead have a small mouth and “light” bite, fast or extra fast rod tips can be best for increased sensitivity so you can really feel that bite. NEARSHORE: ‘Red October’ seems to spill over into November as large schools of feeding Bull Reds station up in the mouth of Mobile Bay on the infamous Dixey Bar. These big schools can be found feeding on mullet, menhaden or any unlucky baitfish that comes across their path. They will also roam the beaches, hang out in Pensacola Bay and make their way into the Alabama/ Mississippi Sound. Schools of jumbo sized Jack Crevalle can be found milling around with these Bull Reds and can be considered by some a world class fighting fish. These Bull Reds can be accessed in a few different ways; drifting, anchoring, spot locking, trolling or running & gunning all seem to be effective. When waiting on the schools to come through by drifting or staying stationary, live croaker and menhaden can be great live bait options and a good dead bait is cut mullet or cut menhaden on carolina rigs. Running and Gunning for Bulls and Jacks has high potential to be an action packed, adrenaline rush experience. These frenzied fish typically give themselves away by feeding and thrashing about on the surface. Stay on the look out for birds, spooked bait schools and feeding fish. When sighted, safely put the hammer down and run within casting distance of the fish. Long casting baits like big spoons, bucktails (Berkley Fusion19), large curly tail grubs (Fishbites Fight Club 6” Grub), jerkbaits (Yo-Zuri Hydro Minnow LC) and poppers (Yo-Zuri Mag Popper) all seem to work well as these fish are feeding on just about anything that passes by. Trolling is another successful method when targeting these fish. Pulling 10-30ft divers (Rapala X-Rap Magnum 20, Nomad Design DTX Minnow) depending on depth at around three to four miles per hour seems to be the ticket and works well on schools of fish that aren’t giving themselves away and remain below the surface.

going offshore. Bottom fish, Wahoo, Tuna, and Swordfish are on the menu this month when conditions allow it. Bottom species like Vermillion Snapper, Almaco Jacks, Scamp Grouper, Tilefish and other keepable bycatch can be had in depths of 120-160 ft. and better. If you catch something and you’re not quite sure if it’s legal to keep, check the Fish Rules app to make sure you’re within your legal rights to harvest. These bottom fish can be caught on natural bottom structures as well as on artificial reefs however, artificial reefs may hold more out of season bycatch and possibly more sharks than natural bottom areas. Fresh, frozen squid, boston mackerel and menhaden are popular dead baits. Live baits like cigar minnows, scaled sardines, pinfish and finger mullets can be a difference maker when Grouper species aren’t interested in your dead bait but are most likely in the area. Heavier sized carolina rigs and two hook chicken rig set ups are popular rigging methods when bottom fishing with conventional or larger sized spinning reel setups. Three to five hook deep drop rigs on bent butt rods paired with electric reels like the Daiwa Tanacom 1000 or 1200 are great for meat hauling and give the possibility of bringing in multiple fish on one drop. Slow pitch jigging can also be an extremely effective and action packed method when bottom fishing. A technique originating in Japan involving specialized rods, reels and jigs that mimic a dying or fleeing baitfish. The angler works the jig in upward pitch motions or small jigging patterns that trick the fish into eating the jig. SPJ can be productive for all sorts of species; Snapper, Grouper, Tilefish, Amberjack, Tuna and many more have been efficiently caught on the jig time and again. JohnnyJigs.com holds everything needed to get started and offer great explanations on slow pitch jigging. Tuna fish will be fired up around the oil and gas platforms. You never know exactly what the tunas may want; live bait, chunking, popping, trolling, jigging, kite fishing etc. make sure to bring it all so as not to miss out on that trophy fish. Water temperatures and other factors can be a big factor for Tuna and are susceptible to change at any time in the colder months. Varying conditions can have anglers going in blind sometimes and this can make the fishing tough. Satellite imagery services like Hilton’s Realtime Navigator can keep you on top of weather windows and real time water conditions. Focusing on deep canyons and ridges in 1200-1500 ft. can lead to a Swordfish. Specially rigged swordfish baits like eels, bonito belly and whole squid are dropped to the deep dark depths and held to the bottom by heavy weights varying in size based on conditions. The bait floating around with deep glow lights rigged around it soaks and the waiting game begins. Sometimes immediate and sometimes a grind, there’s no doubt about it that a Swordfish bite is special. Waiting on the rod to fully load up, the buoy to go down, or watching the rod to see the tiniest tic of the rod tip as a possible giant eats the bait in the deep darkness

A trip’s success is measured by the fish that come in the boat and not the ones we lose, even though that’s what keeps us coming back again. These bigger fish can be caught on lighter gear however, the odds are much better for the fish’s survival upon release when the fight doesn’t last longer than ten to fifteen minutes. Heavier set ups can really be a game changer in landing these fish and when casting larger sized baits. Medium to Medium Heavy rods paired with a reel size 5000 or better with 30# plus main line and 40 to even 80# leaders should do the trick. OFFSHORE: November’s cooler temperatures can make for some nice, long days on the water that aren’t nearly as taxing as the dog days of summer. With an array of options as target species it’s always good to be ready for anything when 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 67

What’s the Best Duck Hunting Kayak for You?

A kayak can be made to disappear with a little effort.

Where a hunter spends most of his or her time chasing waterfowl will determine to a large extent the size and kind of kayak used for hunting. If a hunter usually works small, backwater locations, then a lighter, smaller kayak will be best. This situation needs a kayak that is easy to transport, easy to slide over logs and other obstructions in the water, and easy to get from the vehicle to the water. If a hunter works large, open water which is subject to heavy wave action and strong winds, a larger, more stable and heavier kayak will be best. Of course, there is no law against using an already-owned fishing kayak as a hunting platform. Most fishing kayaks can be made to work quite well as duck boats.

BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn

KAYAK TYPE AND DESIGN Kayaks for duck hunting come in a very wide range of sizes and builds. Both sit-in kayaks and sit on top kayaks will work for duck hunting, but sit on top kayaks generally have much more usable storage space for decoys, guns, dogs and other necessary gear. And yes, dogs can be used from kayaks for hunting. Dogs will need some pre-season training to learn to sit still and steady while in a kayak, but most smart waterdogs take to kayak use quite well.

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WEIGHT CAPACITY AND STORAGE Depending on the style of hunting a person chooses, a kayak might need to be able to safely transport a heavy load of gear. If a large string of decoys is used, a kayak will need to carry this bulky load, In general, the larger the kayak, the more gear it can carry, but some hybrid canoe/ kayak boats can carry a surprisingly large weight of gear. BLIND COMPATIBILITY AND OTHER CONCEALMENT FEATURES Using some cover- either blinds or cover cloth or just cut branches and foliage from the area tossed over the deck- when duck hunting is always a good idea, and this is especially true for kayaks which are not already painted in camo. There are a number of good kayak-usable blinds which some kayaks fit perfectly. Often just a camo- sheet of material thrown over the deck of the kayak will work well, and few cut canes or branches go a long way toward concealing a kayak. MOBILITY AND PORTABILITY Kayaks are made for varying water and wind conditions, and a hunter who hunts big, open water will want to look at a kayak which is made to handle heavy water and wind conditions. These kayaks will be longer, wider, and heavier than

PADDLE FISHING other boats, but they are much safer in rough conditions. These boats are also a lot of trouble to lift over obstructions in the water or to maneuver around downed-timber and other structure in the water. Hunters who work smaller, shallower places will want to look at shorter, lighter boats which will allow easier movement over underwater structures and which also work well in very shallow water. PADDLING EFFICIENCY How easily a loaded hunting kayak moves over the water varies greatly. In general, heavier kayaks are harder to move, but they tend to maintain tracking- line of direction- better than smaller, lighter kayaks. The more narrow a kayak hull, the easier it will be moved. But, the narrower a kayak is, the less stable it is. Powering a kayak is a trade-off in the truest sense of the word. Boats that move easily may not stable. Boats that are very stable may be quite hard to paddle for long distance. COMFORT AND ERGONOMICS It doesn’t matter if a kayak is used for fishing or for hunting- one of the most important elements of the kayak is the seat. A bad kayak seat soon becomes a misery, so potential kayak buyers should try out any and all potential purchases to see how the seating feels and if it fits the backside of a hunter well. TOP DUCK HUNTING KAYAK MODELS ON THE MARKET Best Big Water/ Big features kayak- Wilderness systems Radar 135- sit on top This is a big boat with big features. It is thirteen feet, five inches long, weighs a hefty 90 pounds, and it can carry 475 pounds of load. The Air Pro Max seat is world- class and very adjustable. The kayak has full slide trax rails for accessory mounting, and it can be used with paddle, pedal, or electric power propulsion. At $1719 dollars, this is not a cheap boat, but it is top of the line for duck hunting use. Light weight for smaller water kayak- Old Town Discovery 119. This is a lightweight boat- it weighs 56 pounds- and it is really a hybrid between canoe and kayak hull. It is a sit-in boat, and the open area before and aft of the seat provide great storage for gear. The seating is quite good, and the small boat offers very good control and maneuverability. At $1249.99 this is the perfect little kayak for small, shallow water duck hunting. Best middle of the road kayak for duck hunting- The Ascend 12T is a light boat at 77 pounds, so it transports easily, and at twelve feet long, still offers a good turn of speed for going to or coming from the hunting area. It is paddle power only, but a full-range of accessories including blinds and cover material are available At 799.00, this is a lot of boat for the money. HOW TO HUNT SAFELY FROM A DUCK HUNTING KAYAK Safety Tips Many kayak fishing or hunting accidents happen at the put-in or take-out point. Once floating on the water, most modern kayaks are quite stable, but when the bow or stern of the kayak is still planted on dry land, any kayak can and will tip right over. It is very important to make sure a kayak is floating and in its most stable position before loading or off-loading.

especially crucial in cold-water conditions. A person who goes over the side of a kayak into very cold duck-season water can be very quickly hypothermic and this can be very bad. A good PFD will keep the person floating and in a position to recover the kayak and get back in. MAINTENANCE AND CARE Proper cleaning and storage of the kayak After the hunt is over, a simple wash-down to remove mud, dirt, and hopefully some feathers and blood is all any duck hunting kayak needs. An elevated rack which securely supports the kayak is the best storage arrangement. Maintenance tips to prolong the kayak’s lifespan Modern plastic kayaks are very tough and resistant to damage, but one thing that can seriously degrade a stored kayak happens when heavy objects are placed on top of the kayak and left there for extended periods. This can actually warp the hull of a kayak and cause some serious problems with hard paddling and tracking. FINAL THOUGHTS ON DUCK HUNTING KAYAKS Just about any kayak can be used for duck hunting purposes. However, some kayak forms and brands offer better hunting use than others. Just as in selecting kayaks for fishing, hunters who want to select a kayak for hunting need to spend some time studying the different offerings and seeing what seems to suit the hunter’s needs best. But whatever kayak is actually used, it will soon become apparent that hunting from a kayak is a very productive and enjoyable way to get on the water and with the waterfowl, and very few hunters will choose standing in waist-deep cold water over sitting in a nice, comfortable kayak seat, dry and warm.

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Depending on the location being hunted, air and water conditions can be downright brutally cold. Kayak duck hunters will need to keep “dry is warm” in mind and look at water proof and wool-based clothing. Safety Gear The absolute most important part of all kayaking is the PFD. This is

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 69

Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook

Pompano are a favorite catch for surf casters even in November.

Fall-run pompano can be found in good numbers in the surf zone

BY DAVID THORNTON Photos by David Thornton

“FALL” ING FOR NOVEMBER Many facets of fall fishing are in full swing this month all along the Emerald Coast. Each successive front this month seems to bring colder air into the region, dropping gulf water temperatures through the middle to low 70s. Meanwhile shallow back bay waters cool off even faster. This sparks a migration of several species from those estuarine waters into the relatively warmer, and much deeper Gulf of Mexico. As menhaden leave the bays they have to traverse a minefield of predatory species like “bull” redfish, sharks, and jack crevelle. Female flounder follow the same route, though they are out of season in both Florida and Alabama this month. From the steep banks and jetties of the passes, to the beach troughs, or out to the far end of gulf beach piers, anglers can tap a plethora of fishing opportunities in November even as many

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of the pelagic species are migrating away. Fallrun pompano can be found in good numbers in the surf zone, though not as dense as in the spring. In fact, many pompano are caught as by-catch for anglers targeting “whiting” (Gulf and Northern kingfish) now. Their numbers, sizes, and varieties of kingfish are up in this area once most of the small jacks (juvenile jack crevelle) have vacated the area, and they inherit the surf zone. That is unless rough, dingy water conditions drive them into hiding as hordes of hungry hardhead catfish invade the surf zone. Stronger storm fronts bring high winds with large waves and dingy water which the hardheads prefer. But as soon as the water calms and clears, “whiting” gather into schools to feed in earnest along sandbar drop-offs and points. They are looking for mole crabs (“sand fleas”), ghost shrimp, coquina clams, and other small invertebrates. Often these schools are close enough to shore to afford anglers with excellent

FISHING OUTLOOK light tackle fishing opportunities from the beach or from the gulf beach piers. In calm surf with clear water and light tackle, this is sight fishing at its finest by Gulf Coast standards. A “whiting” over 12 inches pulls markedly hard for its size. And their pan-sized, flaky, white fillets taste great either fried or pan-seared. None of the kingfish species are currently regulated, but their numbers are not near what was seen even ten or even five years ago. This may because so many anglers target them nowadays, as opposed to just being by-catch while pompano fishing. These small members of the drum family of fishes grow quickly to about 10 inches the first year. Then their growth rate slows down markedly once they reach sexual maturity, averaging only around an inch per year after that. Thus a 12 inch “whiting” may be two to three years old, while a “trophy” 18 inch specimen (near two pounds) would be 7 to 10 years old. That is why more savvy anglers are self-regulating, so as to restrict their take, assuring enough for future generations. Terminal tackle for whiting is often a scaled down version of pompano fishing, though there is a lot of overlap and by-catch either way. Single-drop rigs, perhaps with just an orange bead above a #6 or #4 kahle hook is often quite effective. In calm surf conditions it may be better to go even “stealthier” with a Fishfinder or Carolina rig. The leaders on these rigs is about the same: a foot or so of 10# fluorocarbon line tied to a small kahle hook and a size 12 black swivel. What differs is the weight; an egg sinker is threaded onto the mainline of a Carolina rig before the swivel is tied on., while a pyramid sinker is used with a Fishfinder rig, usually attached to a sinker slide threaded onto the mainline. Just be sure to use as light of weight as possible for the conditions in shallow water, because these fish can be extremely skittish. Bait is similar for “whiting” and pompano too. Cut shrimp (even frozen) is used most often, especially in with Fishbites. Though they seem to relish a live sandflea or fresh ghost shrimp just as much as pompano, redfish or black drum.. “PIER”ING INTO THE FUTURE Many pier anglers target whiting as well, often sightcasting to schools in clear water with light tackle. Others seek bigger game elsewhere on the pier as there are still many options available through November. Spanish mackerel and bluefish will hang around through much of month as long as the water temperature stays above 70 degrees. Especially if there are small baitfish around the pier to attract them. Young-of-the-year scad (“cigar minnows”), Spanish sardines, “hardtails (Blue runner), and “LYs” (Scaled and False herring) ring the dinner bell for a variety of species including “bonita” (Little tunny), Spanish mackerel, bluefish, “bull” redfish, and even occasional king mackerel. While many of these fish are caught on artificial spoons, jigs, and plugs, they rarely refuse a small live bait with a light tackle presentation.

on Dauphin Island. But there is no telling how this might affect beach fishing along popular stretches of half the Baldwin County coastline, and only time will tell. Several similar dredging projects over the past 20 years produced only short term interruptions of from-shore fishing as the project is done in phases. Only the active work zone is closed off from public access while actual dredging and movement of heavy equipment is underway. Other short/medium term affects include a marked decrease in the number and diversity of coastal invertebrates such as Coquina clams, and beach ghost shrimp which are now buried under tons of sand dredged in from offshore. Also, the existing intricate beach geology (troughs, “holes” and sandbars) has been covered over to create a “new” near featureless beach and surf zone profile. This situation persists until the natural littoral drift process can recreate underwater structure where fish will feed. The swash geology and entire ecosystem seems to recover variably over a period of years with more mobile species like Mole crabs (“sandfleas” and ghost shrimp) colonizing the dredged areas more quickly than the slower moving snails, and much less mobile bivalves. Long term affects seem to be centered on the slow rate of re-colonization by these less mobile species. Also, debatably we may experience higher turbidity rates due to fine sediments trapped in the dredged material being released during rough water periods along with subsequent beach erosion events. We have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best outcome that preserves the excellent fishing options we enjoy here. Weather and water get progressively cooler as the days are getting shorter in November. But there is still plenty of time to get away from the house to enjoy some fine fall from-shore fishing on your great days outdoors!

WE SERVICE WE SERVICE WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS ALL BRANDS ALL BRANDS OF GUN OF GUN OF GUN SAFES BUT... SAFES BUT... SAFES BUT...

WE WEPROUDLY PROUDLY WE PROUDLY SELL SELL ONLY SELLONLY ONLY HOLLON GUN HOLLON GUN HOLLON GUN SAFES SAFES SAFES

Alabama anglers are anxiously awaiting news about a possible November closure of the Gulf State Park Pier. This would be to begin water work that would eventually see the pier repaired from damage sustained in September 2020 from slow-moving hurricane “Sally”. At press time, no announcements from the State were available concerning this. Another pending Alabama project is the long awaited beach dredging slated to have begun early this fall in several locations along the Baldwin County coast. Some spots in Orange Beach and west of Little Lagoon Pass in Gulf Shores were noted to have severe beach erosion, and small dredging operations have already taken place near the Lagoon Pass. Overall, the big project will be putting more sand on all the beaches from the west end of Little Lagoon, eastward to the Florida State Line (almost 18 miles). This project will NOT affect the Fort Morgan beaches or any where

(251) (251)479-5264 479-5264

(251) 457 Island Parkway 457Dauphin Dauphin Island479-5264 Parkway“At “Atthe theLoop” Loop” Mobile, AL 36606 Mobile, AL 36606 457 Dauphin Island Parkway “At the Loop” Mobile, AL 36606

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 71

REGIONAL FRESHWATER Fishing Outlook BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn

For some great fall action, it’s hard to beat fishing below the big dams of north Alabama 72 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING OUTLOOK There’s no doubt about it that the season is turning fall here on the Gulf Coast, and anglers will surely be enjoying the cooler air and more comfortable conditions. The fishing is generally improving from the hot dog-days of late summer, too. For both Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast waters, the cooler weather and water means the fish will be actively chasing bait and trying to put on weight for the coming lean days of winter. We have some very good advice from area experts who can tell us about the November fishing.

ALABAMA WATERS

MILLER’S FERRY Joe Dunn spends many hours fishing Miller’s Ferry and he advised us that if we don’t get too much cold weather, the bass will remain in their fall feeding patterns well into November, and this means anglers can find some actively feeding bass that should be catchable. Bass anglers should look up in the major sloughs where the bass will be chasing shad and feeding up for the upcoming winter and cooler weather. If the weather doesn’t get very cold, the bass will be preparing for very early spawns at Miller’s Ferry, so anglers can take advantage of the fall fishing. Bass anglers can work secondary points of big creeks and the main river channels. Small crank baits, spinner baits, and chatter-baits worked around woody cover on big creek points. November should be very good for crappie fishing on Miller’s Ferry. Dunn said, “Anglers should work the main river channels of the lake, and they’ll be deep- from 15 to 30 feet depending on the water temperatures.” Crappie will be feeding heavily as the water cools, and this is a good time of year to try bottom bouncing for the slabs with jigs and live minnows. MOBILE DELTA “Although every year is different, November is probably the month that has the least amount of anglers and traffic, but it’s one of the most productive months for fishing,” said long-time angler and guide Captain Wayne Miller.

bass- both spots and largemouth- just about anywhere and anyway you want. There’s a good top water bite and the underwater humps and gravel bars are becoming much more visible as the water gets lower. Look for shallow docks with cover like brush, logs, and blowdown trees that will often hold good fish,” said Captain Lee Pitts, a veteran angler and tournament contestant who fishes Weiss Lake with his clients almost every day. Smaller crank baits, soft-body jigs, and spinner baits are good baits for fall fishing on Weiss in November. ” Crappie fishing at Weiss should be very good in November. Most of the crappie are moving on creek ledges and deeper river banks. Look for isolated brush piles and especially stumps on the creek channels.” Said Pitts. Crappie anglers should try vertical approach by dropping a double jig rig with a ½ oz bank sinker on the end of the line. White bass will be schooling on afternoons, and anglers can have a lot of fun casting shad pattern top water lures to the busting whites. SIPSEY FORK Anglers in the Deep South, don’t have many cold-water fishing spots, but Sipsey Fork is the best place for rainbow trout in a very special location. Randy Jackson of Riverside Trout Shop tells us that as the weather in November cools, there will be lots of midge hatches and a few blue-wing olives will start to emerge, and the trout will feed heavily on all of these bugs. At the start of November, there will still be a few terrestrial bugs hanging around and falling into the waters below, so anglers can have good results with hoppers and ants. Anglers who use spinning gear for the trout can have very good luck by using the same flies that fly anglers use, but by fishing them under a bubble cork and swivel which gives enough weight for long distance casting. Trout Magnet lures in pink, black, and olive colors can be very good in November. Dark colored single-hook Roostertail spinners will work, too.

By the end of the month, we’re basically out of tropical weather danger and the conditions re usually very stable.

Sipsey Fork is stocked every month, so anglers can count on good numbers of hungry, catch able trout waiting in the cold, clear waters of Sipsey Fork.

According to Miller, the biggest fishing variable in November is the location of the white shrimp. They may be up in the Delta still, or they may have moved out to the bay. If the shrimp are still up in the Delta, it’s a free for all for bass and other fish that feed on the shrimp. Bass will start to pull up in the creeks, but before they leave the main rivers and feeding zones, they’ll be feeding heavily on the white shrimp.

WILSON/PICKWICK LAKES “If air temperatures stay average or above normal, November can be as good as it gets on the Tennessee River. Shad schools will still be hoovering near the surface in shallow water early in the month. This can make for some great topwater or shallow running crankbait bass action,” said veteran guide and Tennessee River angler Brian Barton.

Bass anglers should think about smaller lures at this time. Since the white shrimp, the young crabs, and other bait fish are all small at this time, lures should match the size. Spinnerbaits in white and white with chartreuse in ¼ oz. sizes are good, and Captain Wayne specifically recommends Bandit Crankbaits in the 1,000 to 2,000 series for search baits. These lures run about two to three feet deep, and anglers can cover a lot of water with them to locate active fish.

Bass will be holding on points and main lake shorelines in 5-15 feet of water. For trophy fish try drifting the tailrace below the dams with live shad. “My clients have caught more 6 pound plus smallmouth in November than any other fall month,” advised Barton.

WEISS LAKE “Bass fishing at Weiss in November is great because you can catch

Catfish should be easy pickings on Wilson Lake. Locate deep shad schools over channel ledges, old river lock structure, or the many submerged islands in 40 to 75 feet of water and the big cats will be close by. Big chunks of skipjack herring and gizzard shad heads will be the baits of choice. For eating size cats its easy pickings. Locate 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 73

Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook

Fall is a great time to find some hard-fighting smallmouth bass in northern Alabama lakes

fish on your sonar, and drop small pieces of cut bait, chicken liver, or shrimp down to them and have fun. Catches of 50 to 75 eating size fish are common on both lakes in November. If we get heavy fall rains and strong currents below the dams, the striper bite can be great. Simply drift with the current while casting large swimbaits or large live gizzard shad in the current seams. This bite is always best early in the morning and late evening even during the cold weather months LAKE EUFAULA “Bass fishing will get better as the weather cools off. Bass will be on all kinds of cover. The lily pads will be dying down with the cool weather, but the bass will still hold on the underwater stems and stalks of the pads. There’s a good early morning top water bite in November, and the bite lasts longer and the bass will be active than they were a few weeks before. Deeper water fishing will be good all day long near brush piles,” advised veteran guide, Captain Sam Williams. Anglers wanting some topwater action on Eufaula in November can use a soft plastic frog or fluke over thick cover. Try to create some commotion with the lure to attract the attention of the bass. November bream can be quite good on Eufaula. They will be deeper on the flats, and they will continue to move deeper as the water cools. Use red worms for some very hot shellcracker action. Crappie will holding over drop-offs, and if an angler can find brush piles or other cover near the drop-off some very hot crappie fishing can happen. Of course, catfish are always good at Eufaula, and anglers can use 74 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

jugs or rod and reel to find great catfish action. LAKE GUNTERSVILLE Captain Jake Davis has fished massive Lake Guntersville for many years, and he told us that on Guntersville in the late fall, what the weather is doing makes all the difference for anglers. He said,” During the first part of the month, we’ll still be working on the frog bite, especially in the middle of the day. The bite will be better at that time rather than early or late. We’ll use jerk baits and swim baits as the big grass mats die down. Anglers will need to slow down their presentations regardless of what kind of lure is being used.” Finding the schools of shad is crucial in November at Guntersville in November. The bass will be following the shad at this time. The crappie will be following schools of smaller shad, and the middle to lower parts of the lake will be best for finding crappie.

FLORIDA WATERS

LAKE TALQUIN Jeff DuBree of Whippoorwill Lodge on Lake Talquin hears daily fishing reports from anglers, and he has fished the lake for many years. He said crappie will be really biting well there. Anglers should try trolling double jig rigs trolling over stump fields and other underwater structure for the crappie. Mouths of creeks will be good locations to find the feeding slabs. Crappie anglers on Talquin ought to start their search with 1/16 oz. jigs in chartreuse and bubblegum colors which are usually very good here. If the water is stained or dark from recent rain runoff, darker colors will work better. Bass anglers will find November bass at Talquin to be moving in a and out of shallows according to weather and sun conditions, and

Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook

fishing drop offs and points will be good. It’s hard to beat plastic works and other soft plastics at this time.

Important Contact Information

Catfish angers will still find some good fishing in November, and live bait will be best for the cats.

Captain Brian Barton Brianbartonoutdoors.com 256-412-0969

Anglers can find all needed gear and good advice at Whippoorwill Outpost on Lake Talquin. WAKULLA RIVER Rob Baker guides anglers on the magical spring-fed waters of the Forgotten Coast of Florida, and he operates Wilderness Way Kayak Shop and T-N-T Kayak Rentals on the Wakulla River. Baker gave us a glowing report for November fishing on the Wakulla. Baker said, “Things will be cooling down in November, and there will much less traffic on the river and the water will be clearing with the diminished rain. Fishing should be even better then.” Bass will be staging on the weed lines where the open channels and the weeds come together, and small Rapala crankbaits worked down the weed lines can be very effective. For fly rod anglers, small poppers worked around weed edges and along the shorelines can produce some great pan fish, and anglers with the fly rod should not be surprised when sizeable bass roll up on the poppers, either. The Lake Talquin bass start to move into shallow water and feed up for winter.

Captain Jake Davis Mid-South Bass Guide Service www.midsouthbassguide.com 615-613-2382 Joe Dunn Dunn’s Sports 334-636-0850 33358 Highway 43 Thomasville, AL Rob Baker Wilderness Way Kayak Shop 850-877-7200 3152 Shadeville Road Crawfordville, Florida 32327 Captain Lee Pitts Leepittsoutdoors.com 256-390-4145

Captain Sam Williams Hawks Fishing Guide Service hawksfishingguideservice.com 334-355-5057 Whippoorwill Lodge Jeff DuBree 850-875-2605 fishtalquin@gmail.com Randy Jackson Riverside Fly Shop 17027 Hwy 69 N Jasper, Al 256-287-9582 riversideflyshop.com Captain Wayne Miller Mobile-Tensaw Delta Guide Service 251-455-7404 millewa12000@yahoo.com

Show Your Support for Alabama’s Coastal Fishing & Marine Resources. All proceeds from your TAX DEDUCTIBLE purchase are used for marine conservation in Coastal Alabama.

For more info on the events or CCA Alabama www.ccaalabama.org 251-478-3474 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 75

MOON & FEED TIMES

Mobile / Tensaw Delta

PRIME FEEDING TIMES

This chart is specifically designed for fishing times in the Mobile/Tensaw Delta & other tidally influenced waters of South Alabama. Date Day

November 2023

1 Wed 2 Thu 3 Fri 4 Sat 5 Sun 6 Mon 7 Tue 8 Wed 9 Thu 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu

76 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

★★ ★★ ★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★

MOON TIMES

This chart is specifically designed for game movement for the state of Alabama & fish feeding times in non-tidal waters in the state. Inclement weather or rapidly changing temperatures can adversely affect feeding times. Moon Over & Under is the best feeding times for game animals & fish in non-tidal waters

November 2023

K Shaded areas represent best days during the month. PHASEL Date Date Rise Over PHASE Rise Over Set Set 3:33 AM 11:07 AM L W 1 8:52 PM 4:29 AM 12:03 PM a Th 2 9:49 PM b F 3 10:48 PM 5:23 AM 12:51 PM c Sa 4 11:47 PM 6:14 AM 1:32 PM d S 5 11:45 PM 6:01 AM 1:06 PM --:-6:46 AM 1:36 PM e M 6 T 7 12:41 AM 7:27 AM 2:03 PM e W 8 1:37 AM 8:07 AM 2:28 PM g 8:47 AM 2:53 PM j Th 9 2:32 AM 9:27 AM 3:18 PM k F 10 3:28 AM l Sa 11 4:25 AM 10:10 AM 3:46 PM m S 12 5:26 AM 10:55 AM 4:16 PM n M 13 6:28 AM 11:44 AM 4:52 PM A T 14 7:35 AM 12:38 PM 5:36 PM 1:36 PM 6:27 PM B W 15 8:41 AM Th 16 9:45 AM 2:37 PM 7:28 PM C F 17 10:42 AM 3:38 PM 8:35 PM D Sa 18 11:31 AM 4:36 PM 9:45 PM E F S 19 12:13 PM 5:31 PM 10:55 PM --:-G M 20 12:49 PM 6:23 PM 7:12 PM 12:03 AM H T 21 1:21 PM 8:00 PM 1:10 AM I W 22 1:51 PM 8:48 PM 2:16 AM J Th 23 2:21 PM 9:37 PM 3:22 AM K F 24 2:52 PM L Sa 25 3:26 PM 10:28 PM 4:29 AM L S 26 4:04 PM 11:22 PM 5:38 AM --:-6:45 AM a M 27 4:48 PM T 28 5:39 PM 12:18 AM 7:50 AM b W 29 6:34 PM 1:15 AM 8:50 AM c 2:11 AM 9:42 AM d Th 30 7:34 PM e e g h i j k l m n n o p q r s t u v w x y z ;

Under

4:01 PM 4:56 PM 5:49 PM 6:38 PM 6:24 PM 7:07 PM 7:47 PM 8:27 PM 9:07 PM 9:48 PM 10:32 PM 11:19 PM --:-12:11 AM 1:07 AM 2:06 AM 3:07 AM 4:07 AM 5:04 AM 5:58 AM 6:48 AM 7:36 AM 8:24 AM 9:12 AM 10:02 AM 10:55 AM 11:50 AM 12:46 PM 1:43 PM 2:38 PM

30 Days 12.8 31 Days 12.4

ALABAMA TIDE CHARTS

Fowl River

Fort Morgan

W 1 12:56 AM / 2.11 12:59 PM / -0.10

W 1

11:53 AM / -0.10

Th 2 01:42 AM / 2.05 02:10 PM / -0.08

Th 2 12:41 AM / 1.62 01:07 PM / -0.07

F 3 02:30 AM / 1.94 03:06 PM / -0.05

F 3 01:33 AM / 1.54 02:04 PM / -0.03

S 4 03:20 AM / 1.81 03:46 PM / 0.00

S 4 02:25 AM / 1.44 02:50 PM / 0.02

Su 5 03:10 AM / 1.65 03:13 PM / 0.10

Su 5 02:13 AM / 1.32 02:23 PM / 0.11

M 6 03:59 AM / 1.46 03:26 PM / 0.24

M 6 02:54 AM / 1.16 02:39 PM / 0.23

T 7 04:47 AM / 1.23 03:24 PM / 0.41

T 7 03:23 AM / 0.97 02:33 PM / 0.37

11:44 PM / 1.08

10:37 PM / 0.86

W 8 10:49 PM / 1.12 03:09 PM / 0.59

W 8 09:34 PM / 0.89 01:59 PM / 0.50

Th 9 11:21 AM / 0.79 05:43 AM / 0.70

Th 9 08:45 PM / 1.00 06:14 AM / 0.53

10:02 PM / 1.24 02:32 PM / 0.74 F 10 09:34 PM / 1.41 06:23 AM / 0.45 S 11 09:34 PM / 1.59 07:00 AM / 0.23 Su 12 09:52 PM / 1.75 07:39 AM / 0.06 M 13 10:23 PM / 1.88 08:24 AM / -0.07 T 14 11:02 PM / 1.98 09:20 AM / -0.17 W 15 11:47 PM / 2.04 10:29 AM / -0.24 Th 16

11:44 AM / -0.31

F 17 12:36 AM / 2.06 12:51 PM / -0.36 S 18 01:26 AM / 2.02 01:44 PM / -0.35 Su 19 02:17 AM / 1.88 02:24 PM / -0.25 M 20 03:07 AM / 1.65 02:50 PM / -0.05 T 21 03:53 AM / 1.32 02:54 PM / 0.23 11:22 PM / 1.01

W 22 10:04 PM / 1.05 02:25 PM / 0.51 Th 23 09:09 PM / 1.25 06:02 AM / 0.52 F 24 08:45 PM / 1.50 06:40 AM / 0.14

F 10 08:29 PM / 1.15 06:02 AM / 0.31

Perdido Pass

Mobile River W 1 01:40 AM / 2.09 01:25 PM / -0.12 Th 2 02:27 AM / 2.03 02:39 PM / -0.09 F 3 03:19 AM / 1.93 03:36 PM / -0.04

W 1 Th 2

11:29 PM / 1.11 11:43 AM / -0.20 --

12:46 PM / -0.18

12:15 AM / 1.05 01:41 PM / -0.14

01:03 AM / 0.96 02:29 PM / -0.08

Su 5

01:57 AM / 0.86 02:18 PM / -0.00

M 6

01:51 AM / 0.76 03:16 PM / 0.09

M 6 04:40 AM / 1.45 04:11 PM / 0.29

02:31 AM / 0.64 04:07 PM / 0.21

T 7 05:09 AM / 1.22 04:05 PM / 0.46

W 8

S 4 04:11 AM / 1.80 04:22 PM / 0.03 Su 5 03:59 AM / 1.65 03:55 PM / 0.14

11:20 PM / 1.11

Th 9 10:31 PM / 1.25 07:46 AM / 0.66 F 10 10:15 PM / 1.44 07:34 AM / 0.39

02:47 AM / 0.51

04:59 AM / 0.48

07:15 AM / 0.55 02:44 PM / 0.34

W 8 12:23 AM / 1.08 03:31 PM / 0.63 Th 9

07:55 PM / 0.51

08:10 AM / 0.49

05:09 AM / 0.35

08:11 PM / 0.62

11:58 AM / 0.37

F 10 08:24 PM / 0.73 04:49 AM / 0.21

S 11 08:37 PM / 1.29 06:25 AM / 0.12

S 11 10:23 PM / 1.62 07:57 AM / 0.15

Su 12 08:58 PM / 1.42 06:55 AM / -0.04

Su 12 10:44 PM / 1.77 08:27 AM / -0.06

M 13 09:29 PM / 1.51 07:33 AM / -0.17

M 13 11:15 PM / 1.89 09:05 AM / -0.21

T 14 10:06 PM / 1.57 08:25 AM / -0.25

T 14 11:52 PM / 1.96 09:57 AM / -0.32

W 15 10:51 PM / 1.60 09:36 AM / -0.32

W 15

Th 16 11:42 PM / 1.60 10:57 AM / -0.37

Th 16 12:37 AM / 2.01 12:29 PM / -0.46

F 17

12:03 PM / -0.39

F 17 01:28 AM / 2.00 01:35 PM / -0.49

S 18 12:37 AM / 1.56 12:56 PM / -0.37

S 18 02:23 AM / 1.94 02:28 PM / -0.46

S 18

Su 19 01:32 AM / 1.44 01:38 PM / -0.27

Su 19 03:18 AM / 1.81 03:10 PM / -0.33

Su 19 12:12 AM / 1.07 12:19 PM / -0.14

M 20 02:22 AM / 1.25 02:04 PM / -0.08

M 20 04:08 AM / 1.57 03:36 PM / -0.10

M 20 01:08 AM / 0.91 12:45 PM / -0.01

T 21 03:03 AM / 0.99 01:55 PM / 0.15

T 21 04:49 AM / 1.24 03:27 PM / 0.19

10:11 PM / 0.72

11:08 AM / -0.40

11:57 PM / 0.90

W 22 09:01 PM / 0.76 01:11 PM / 0.37

W 22 10:47 PM / 0.95 02:43 PM / 0.46

Th 23 07:54 PM / 0.94 06:05 AM / 0.34

Th 23 09:40 PM / 1.17 07:37 AM / 0.42

F 24 07:32 PM / 1.17 06:09 AM / 0.05

F 24 09:18 PM / 1.46 07:41 AM / 0.06

S 11 07:36 PM / 0.86 05:06 AM / 0.07 Su 12 07:49 PM / 1.00 05:31 AM / -0.04 M 13 08:17 PM / 1.12 05:58 AM / -0.13 T 14 08:52 PM / 1.20 06:33 AM / -0.19 W 15 09:35 PM / 1.24 08:13 AM / -0.21 Th 16 10:25 PM / 1.23 09:47 AM / -0.25 F 17 11:18 PM / 1.18 10:49 AM / -0.26 --

11:41 AM / -0.22

T 21 01:58 AM / 0.71 12:55 PM / 0.16 W 22 12:23 AM / 0.49 Th 23

11:15 AM / 0.28

07:21 PM / 0.64

07:5 AM / 0.37

04:52 AM / 0.22

07:40 PM / 0.81 10:24 AM / 0.33 F 24 08:02 PM / 0.97 05:08 AM / 0.01

S 25 07:54 PM / 1.36 06:41 AM / -0.19

S 25 09:40 PM / 1.70 08:13 AM / -0.24

Su 26 08:29 PM / 1.47 07:21 AM / -0.34

Su 26 10:15 PM / 1.84 08:53 AM / -0.43

M 27 10:12 PM / 1.89 09:06 AM / -0.47

M 27 09:09 PM / 1.51 08:08 AM / -0.43

M 27 10:55 PM / 1.89 09:40 AM / -0.53

T 28 10:56 PM / 1.87 10:02 AM / -0.52

T 28 09:52 PM / 1.49 09:02 AM / -0.45

T 28 11:38 PM / 1.87 10:34 AM / -0.56

W 29 11:40 PM / 1.81 10:59 AM / -0.53

W 29 10:38 PM / 1.44 10:00 AM / -0.44

W 29

11:32 AM / -0.55

W 29 09:28 PM / 1.18 09:26 AM / -0.25

Th 30 11:24 PM / 1.36 10:55 AM / -0.42

Th 30 12:24 AM / 1.80 12:27 PM / -0.52

Th 30 10:08 PM / 1.11 10:26 AM / -0.22

S 25 09:00 PM / 1.72 07:26 AM / -0.15 Su 26 09:32 PM / 1.84 08:14 AM / -0.36

Th 30

11:52 AM / -0.51

S 25 08:21 PM / 1.09 05:27 AM / -0.16 Su 26 08:17 PM / 1.16 05:55 AM / -0.26 M 27 08:2 PM / 1.21

06:32 AM / -0.30

T 28 08:53 PM / 1.21 07:30 AM / -0.28

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Hunting & Fishing in Alabama & the Florida Panhandle

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FLORIDA TIDE CHARTS

Pensacola Bay Destin East Pass Navarre Beach

Panama City

W 1 -11:32 AM / -0.06 Th 2 12:39 AM / 0.92 12:50 PM / -0.05

W 1 11:53 PM / 1.91 11:06 AM / -0.08 Th 2 -12:04 PM / -0.04

W 1 12:20 AM / 1.94 12:06 PM / -0.17 Th 2 01:12 AM / 1.87 01:24 PM / -0.14 F 3 02:08 AM / 1.79 02:28 PM / -0.11 S 4 03:03 AM / 1.69 03:12 PM / -0.07 Su 5 02:54 AM / 1.56 02:40 PM / 0.01 M 6 03:38 AM / 1.40 02:53 PM / 0.14 T 7 04:17 AM / 1.19 02:51 PM / 0.30 11:59 PM / 0.97 -W 8 10:01 PM / 0.99 02:30 PM / 0.48 Th 9 08:51 AM / 0.71 05:10 AM / 0.66 09:12 PM / 1.13 01:32 PM / 0.62 F 10 08:53 PM / 1.30 05:39 AM / 0.40 S 11 08:53 PM / 1.48 06:10 AM / 0.15 Su 12 09:10 PM / 1.62 06:46 AM / -0.04 M 13 09:41 PM / 1.74 T 14 10:24 PM / 1.82 W 15 11:16 PM / 1.88 Th 16 -F 17 12:13 AM / 1.90

07:32 AM / -0.18 08:31 AM / -0.27 09:46 AM / -0.35 11:06 AM / -0.42 12:16 PM / -0.49

S 18 01:11 AM / 1.87 01:11 PM / -0.50 Su 19 02:09 AM / 1.76 01:52 PM / -0.41 M 20 03:06 AM / 1.54 02:21 PM / -0.21 T 21 04:12 AM / 1.22 W 22 06:16 AM / 0.84 09:00 PM / 0.84 Th 23 08:12 PM / 1.10 F 24 08:07 PM / 1.39

02:31 PM / 0.08 02:07 PM / 0.40 -04:19 AM / 0.39 05:20 AM / 0.01

S 25 08:26 PM / 1.61 06:11 AM / -0.27 Su 26 08:58 PM / 1.73 07:03 AM / -0.45 M 27 09:40 PM / 1.77 07:59 AM / -0.53 T 28 10:27 PM / 1.75 09:03 AM / -0.54 W 29 11:16 PM / 1.69 10:10 AM / -0.52 Th 30 -11:12 AM / -0.50

F 3 01:35 AM / 0.88 01:54 PM / -0.04 S 4 02:30 AM / 0.83 02:38 PM / -0.02 Su 5 02:21 AM / 0.77 02:06 PM / 0.00 M 6 03:05 AM / 0.68 02:19 PM / 0.05 T 7 03:44 AM / 0.58 02:17 PM / 0.10 11:26 PM / 0.48 -W 8 04:48 AM / 0.46 03:47 AM / 0.31 09:28 PM / 0.49 01:56 PM / 0.16 Th 9 08:18 AM / 0.35 04:36 AM / 0.22 08:39 PM / 0.55 12:58 PM / 0.20 F 10 08:20 PM / 0.64 05:05 AM / 0.13 S 11 08:20 PM / 0.72 05:36 AM / 0.05 Su 12 08:37 PM / 0.80 06:12 AM / -0.01 M 13 09:08 PM / 0.85 06:58 AM / -0.06 T 14 09:51 PM / 0.89 07:57 AM / -0.09 W 15 10:43 PM / 0.92 Th 16 11:40 PM / 0.93 F 17 -S 18 12:38 AM / 0.92 Su 19 01:36 AM / 0.86 M 20 02:33 AM / 0.76 T 21 03:39 AM / 0.60 11:45 PM / 0.38 W 22 05:43 AM / 0.41 08:27 PM / 0.41 Th 23 07:39 PM / 0.54 F 24 07:34 PM / 0.68 S 25 07:53 PM / 0.79 Su 26 08:25 PM / 0.85 M 27 09:07 PM / 0.87 T 28 09:54 PM / 0.86 W 29 10:43 PM / 0.83 Th 30 11:31 PM / 0.79

78 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

09:12 AM / -0.11 10:32 AM / -0.14 11:42 AM / -0.16 12:37 PM / -0.17 01:18 PM / -0.14 01:47 PM / -0.07 01:57 PM / 0.03 -12:42 AM / 0.26 01:33 PM / 0.13 03:45 AM / 0.13 04:46 AM / 0.01 05:37 AM / -0.09 06:29 AM / -0.15 07:25 AM / -0.17 08:29 AM / -0.18 09:36 AM / -0.17 10:38 AM / -0.16

W Th F S Su M T W

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

10:49 PM / 1.91 11:41 PM / 1.82 -12:38 AM / 1.72 01:38 AM / 1.61 01:41 AM / 1.48 02:47 AM / 1.34 04:07 AM / 1.17 07:55 PM / 1.09 Th 9 07:34 AM / 1.02 06:58 PM / 1.22

10:19 AM / -0.07 11:19 AM / -0.04 12:12 PM / 0.04 12:55 PM / 0.16 12:23 PM / 0.30 12:32 PM / 0.46 12:30 PM / 0.62 12:24 PM / 0.76 -12:52 AM / 0.88 12:11 PM / 0.87

F 10 06:32 PM / 1.39 02:06 AM / 0.68 S 11 06:36 PM / 1.54 03:05 AM / 0.47 Su 12 06:53 PM / 1.69 03:57 AM / 0.27 M 13 07:20 PM / 1.81 04:49 AM / 0.09 T 14 07:55 PM / 1.92 05:49 AM / -0.05 W 15 08:37 PM / 1.98 07:07 AM / -0.15 Th 16 F 17 S 18 Su 19 M 20 T 21 W 22

09:25 PM / 2.01 10:17 PM / 1.98 11:11 PM / 1.89 12:06 AM / 1.70 -12:58 AM / 1.44 01:44 AM / 1.10 07:02 PM / 1.15 Th 23 08:05 AM / 0.87 06:41 PM / 1.33 F 24 06:02 PM / 1.54 S 25 06:09 PM / 1.72 Su 26 06:41 PM / 1.82 M 27 07:20 PM / 1.84 T 28 08:03 PM / 1.81 W 29 08:48 PM / 1.74 Th 30 09:34 PM / 1.65

08:29 AM / -0.20 09:39 AM / -0.20 10:37 AM / -0.14 11:25 AM / 0.01 11:54 AM / 0.23 11:32 AM / 0.48 11:05 AM / 0.69 -03:39 AM / 0.73 10:46 AM / 0.81 04:04 AM / 0.37 04:47 AM / 0.06 05:35 AM / -0.19 06:24 AM / -0.34 07:15 AM / -0.42 08:08 AM / -0.42 08:58 AM / -0.37

F S Su M

3 4 5 6

12:43 AM / 1.82 01:31 AM / 1.70 01:19 AM / 1.56 02:07 AM / 1.39

12:58 PM / 0.03 01:45 PM / 0.11 01:17 PM / 0.22 01:22 PM / 0.35

T 7 03:00 AM / 1.19 01:17 PM / 0.49 09:39 PM / 0.95 -W 8 06:19 AM / 0.98 12:46 AM / 0.92 08:09 PM / 1.03 01:12 PM / 0.62 Th 9 08:13 AM / 0.83 02:41 AM / 0.72 07:56 PM / 1.17 12:29 PM / 0.73 F 10 07:41 PM / 1.33 03:52 AM / 0.49 S 11 07:38 PM / 1.49 Su 12 07:58 PM / 1.64 M 13 08:31 PM / 1.75 T 14 09:13 PM / 1.84 W 15 10:01 PM / 1.89 Th 16 10:54 PM / 1.90 F 17 11:47 PM / 1.85 S 18 -Su 19 12:38 AM / 1.73 M 20 01:28 AM / 1.52 T 21 02:18 AM / 1.23 W 22 05:25 AM / 0.88 07:40 PM / 0.91 Th 23 08:12 AM / 0.63 07:30 PM / 1.13 F 24 07:25 PM / 1.36 S 25 07:27 PM / 1.56 Su 26 07:49 PM / 1.69 M 27 08:25 PM / 1.74 T 28 09:08 PM / 1.73 W 29 09:55 PM / 1.67

04:48 AM / 0.28 05:42 AM / 0.10 06:41 AM / -0.05 07:44 AM / -0.18 08:45 AM / -0.28 09:43 AM / -0.35 10:38 AM / -0.38 11:29 AM / -0.35 12:14 PM / -0.24 12:46 PM / -0.05 12:56 PM / 0.20 12:38 PM / 0.45 -03:23 AM / 0.50 10:40 AM / 0.60 04:32 AM / 0.16 05:27 AM / -0.12 06:23 AM / -0.32 07:20 AM / -0.43 08:14 AM / -0.48 09:04 AM / -0.48

Th 30 10:41 PM / 1.59 09:49 AM / -0.43

Pascagoula S

Pascagoula

Biloxi Bay W 1 12:22 AM / 2.80

11:30 AM / 0.05

Th 2 01:05 AM / 2.74 12:31 PM / 0.11

W 1

10:46 AM / -0.25

07:39 PM / 1.34

06:14 AM / 0.15

Su 2

09:27 PM / 1.25

06:27 AM / 0.27

11:03 PM / 1.15

06:37 AM / 0.43

09:37 AM / 0.68

05:50 AM / 0.60

04:52 PM / 0.48

W 5

Th 2 12:15 AM / 1.87 11:53 AM / -0.18

MISSISSIPPI TIDE CHARTS

12:48 AM / 1.04

05:43 AM / 0.75

09:54 AM / 0.91

05:53 PM / 0.31

3 01:50 AM / 2.61 01:29 PM / 0.21

F 3 01:13 AM / 1.79 12:46 PM / -0.09

S 4 02:38 AM / 2.44 02:22 PM / 0.32

S 4 02:06 AM / 1.68 01:39 PM / 0.03

Su 5 02:28 AM / 2.24 02:06 PM / 0.46

Su 5 01:52 AM / 1.54 01:50 PM / 0.15

M 6 03:23 AM / 2.02 02:40 PM / 0.63

M 6 02:35 AM / 1.37 02:56 PM / 0.29

10:45 AM / 1.37 07:55 PM / -0.03

T 7 04:31 AM / 1.77 02:59 PM / 0.84

T 7 03:35 AM / 1.17 03:18 PM / 0.46

11:17 AM / 1.56 08:58 PM / -0.15

W 8 06:43 AM / 1.51 02:50 PM / 1.06

W 8 07:59 AM / 0.95 01:34 PM / 0.63

Su 9

12:01 PM / 1.72 10:13 PM / -0.24

10:19 PM / 1.39

09:07 PM / 0.81

Th 9 10:00 AM / 1.30 03:58 AM / 1.19

Th 9 09:38 AM / 0.87 01:49 AM / 0.63

09:08 PM / 1.55 01:42 PM / 1.24

06:58 PM / 0.97 01:48 PM / 0.78

F 10 08:49 PM / 1.79 04:57 AM / 0.89

F 10 07:20 PM / 1.21 03:32 AM / 0.40

S 11 08:57 PM / 2.02 05:45 AM / 0.61

S 11 07:50 PM / 1.43 04:22 AM / 0.16

Su 12 09:18 PM / 2.24 06:29 AM / 0.35

Su 12 08:22 PM / 1.63 05:08 AM / -0.05

M 13 09:48 PM / 2.43 07:15 AM / 0.13

M 13 08:56 PM / 1.80 05:57 AM / -0.22

T 14 10:25 PM / 2.56 08:06 AM / -0.05

T 14 09:34 PM / 1.92 06:52 AM / -0.34

W 15 11:07 PM / 2.65 09:02 AM / -0.18

W 15 10:18 PM / 1.99 07:52 AM / -0.41

Th 16 11:54 PM / 2.66 10:03 AM / -0.27

Th 16 11:11 PM / 2.00 09:05 AM / -0.42

F 17

11:06 AM / -0.30

S 18 12:13 AM / 1.95 11:24 AM / -0.33

Su 19 01:38 AM / 2.42 01:02 PM / -0.13

Su 19 01:07 AM / 1.81 12:10 PM / -0.17

M 20 02:34 AM / 2.13 01:49 PM / 0.12

M 20 01:51 AM / 1.57 12:41 PM / 0.07

T 21 03:36 AM / 1.75 02:19 PM / 0.46

T 21 02:23 AM / 1.25 12:33 PM / 0.36

09:28 PM / 1.21

Th 23 08:18 PM / 1.50 04:09 AM / 0.79

09:44 PM / 0.90

W 22 08:27 PM / 0.99 12:29 PM / 0.62 Th 23 06:56 PM / 1.22 04:11 AM / 0.46

F 24 08:11 PM / 1.86 05:07 AM / 0.32

F 24 06:57 PM / 1.52 04:47 AM / 0.11

S 25 08:32 PM / 2.17 05:59 AM / -0.06

S 25 07:29 PM / 1.77 05:28 AM / -0.16

Su 26 09:05 PM / 2.37 06:48 AM / -0.33

Su 26 08:06 PM / 1.93 06:12 AM / -0.33

M 27 09:43 PM / 2.45 07:37 AM / -0.48

M 27 08:46 PM / 2.00 06:57 AM / -0.41

T 28 10:23 PM / 2.44 08:26 AM / -0.53

T 28 09:27 PM / 2.01 07:43 AM / -0.41

W 29 11:04 PM / 2.36 09:15 AM / -0.50

W 29 10:09 PM / 1.96 08:34 AM / -0.35

Th 30 11:45 PM / 2.23 10:05 AM / -0.43

Th 30 10:57 PM / 1.87 09:34 AM / -0.26

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02:31 AM / 0.99

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10:19 AM / 1.14

06:53 PM / 0.13

M 10 12:59 PM / 1.84 11:48 PM / -0.30 T 11 01:57 PM / 1.90

Share Whighlights 12 02:49 PM / from 1.89 01:05 AM / -0.32 Th 13 03:44 PM / 1.78 02:31 AM / -0.29 your great days outdoors with us! F 14 05:01 PM / 1.60 03:55 AM / -0.21 info@GreatDaysOutdoors.com S 15 06:37 PM / 1.38 04:48 AM / -0.06 Su 16 09:54 PM / 1.16

05:23 AM / 0.18

M 17 11:31 AM / 0.75

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11:38 PM / 0.99

04:06 PM / 0.60

T 18 10:33 AM / 0.92

04:44 AM / 0.76

W 19 09:28 AM / 1.23

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November 2023 Sunrise / Sunset -05:32 PM / 0.33

10:26 AM / -0.41

S 18 12:44 AM / 2.59 12:07 PM / -0.26

W 22 06:05 AM / 1.29 02:12 PM / 0.84

Th 6

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

7:02 AM Th 20 7:03 AM F 21 7:04 AM 7:04 AM S 22 6:05 AM Su 23 6:06 AM M 24 6:07 AM T 25 6:08 AM 6:09 AM W 26 6:10 AM Th 27 6:10 AM F 28 6:11 AM S 6:12 AM 29 6:13 AM Su 30 6:14 AM

5:55 PM 16 6:15 AM 4:44 PM 17 6:16 AM 4:43 PM 5:54 PM 10:27 PM / AM -0.15 4:43 PM 5:53 AM PM / 1.67 1808:38 6:17 4:42 PM 5:52 AM PM / 1.77 1909:35 6:17 11:03 PM / AM -0.17 20 6:18 AM 4:42 PM 4:51 PM 11:45 AM / 1.80 -21 6:19 AM 4:41 PM 4:50 PM 12:39 PM / 1.77 2210:54 6:20 PM / AM -0.14 4:41 PM 4:49 PM 2312:016:21 AM 4:41 PM 01:36 PM / 1.72 AM / -0.09 4:49 PM 24 6:22 AM 4:40 PM 4:48 PM PM / 1.64 2512:576:23 02:27 AM / -0.02 AM 4:40 PM 4:47 PM PM / 1.53 2602:026:24 03:14 AM /AM 0.07 4:40 PM 4:47 PM 4:40 PM 04:06 PM / 1.39 2703:486:25 AM /AM 0.15 4:46 PM 28 6:25 AM 4:39 PM 05:28 AM / 0.26 4:45 PM PM / 1.22 2904:306:26 AM 4:39 PM Airport Bo 4:45 PM PM / 1.05 3004:486:27 07:05 AM /AM 0.40 3766 4:39 PM 4:44 PM geico.com/mobile-al | 09:55 AM / 1.49 07:44 PM / -0.06

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 79

Pensacola Motorsports

TROPHY

ROOM

Julie Ochs with a massive drum!

Hunter Sullivan with some slab crappie

You didn’t see it coming. Neither did the fish.

GET FEATURED IN OUR ISSUES OF GREAT DAYS OUTDOORS WHEN YOU

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT

Introducing the all-new FISH PRO™ The world’s first personal watercraft designed for fishing will bring you closer to the action for an experience like never before.

IT'S EASY TO ENTER POST:

Discover yours at our dealership

To Facebook @GreatDaysOutdoors

Pensacola Pensacola, FL 32506 Motorsports (850)456-6655

[ OR ]

Photo of the Month! Simply share your great day outdoors with us!

EMAIL:

info@GreatDaysOutdoors.com

618 N New Warrington Rd.

©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Carefully read the operator’s guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate protective clothing, including a personal flotation device and wetsuit bottoms. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. See your authorized BRP dealer for details.

80 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

When Submitting Trophy Room photos, be sure to include as much information as possible about the person and the trophy. Final Decision is made by the editorial Staff of Great Days Outdoors Magazine. Submitting a photo does not guarantee it will be published. Sea-Doo.com

Drew Ramsey, with Sam and George Ramsey are all smiles. Or are they saying “Wahoo!”

Tammy Anderton and her heaviest buck harvest yet. This 8 pt rutting buck weighed in at 215#. Harvested in Lawrence County, AL

THE DEEPEST BONDS S T A RWT AAKTE TUH PE W S UI LR D FACE THE DEEPEST BONDS S T A RWT AAKTE TUH PE W S UI LR D FACE JETBLASTER ® | YAMAHAWAVERUNNERS.COM FSH FSHSERIES SERIES||YAMAHABOATS.COM YAMAHABOATS.COM JETBLASTER ® | YAMAHAWAVERUNNERS.COM FSH FSHSERIES SERIES||YAMAHABOATS.COM YAMAHABOATS.COM

Pensacola Motorsports

618 N New Warrington Rd. • Pensacola, FL 32506 (850) 456-6655 www.pensacolamotorsports.com This document contains many of Yamaha’s valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other Any trademarks. references to contain other companies products are This document containscompanies. many of Yamaha’s valuable It may also trademarks belonging toor othertheir companies. Any references to for

other companies or their products are for identification purposes only, and are not intended to be an endorsement. Follow instructional materials This document contains many of Yamaha’s valuable trademarks. It mayonly, also contain trademarks belonging other Any references identification purposes and are not intended totobe ancompanies. endorsement. Followtoinstructional and obey all laws. Ride responsibly, wearing protective apparel and USCG-approved personal flotation device. Always ride within your capabilities, other companies or their products are formaterials identification purposes only, and are notand intended to be anwearing endorsement. Follow materials allowing time and distance maneuvering, respect others around you. Never drink and ride. instructional and obey allforlaws. Ride responsibly, protective apparel and USCG-approved WaveRunner® is a Yamaha brand personal watercraft and not a generic term. and obey all laws. Ride responsibly, wearing protective apparel and USCG-approved personal flotation device. Always ride within your capabilities, personal flotation device. Always ride within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for allowing time and distance for maneuvering, and respect others around you. Never drink and ride. maneuvering, anda respect others around you. Never drink and ride. WaveRunner® is a Yamaha brand personal watercraft and not generic term.

Kushla’s Wild Boys the Rev. Albert J. Robinson, Jr. took this nice big mature doe, on the last day of Alabama deer season. It was a 120 yards neck shot, with a 30-06.

WaveRunner® is a Yamaha brand personal watercraft and not a generic term.

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 81

how

KID'S CORNER

TROPHY ROOM

Owen Straub 16 bested this bucketmouth.

Lilygray Smith has her hands full of Red Snapper.

Connor Rider, 7 showing off his catch.

George Nicholas Zuvic, 4 years old

Camden Brunson with a nice Sheepshead.

Ansley Ryland age 5 enjoying panish on a bream buster and who doesn’t?!

Andy Ward, 3 with a nice flounder.

Give us your best shot!

Send your submission to info@greatdaysoutdoors.com.

Submitting a photo does not guarantee that it will be published. We cannot give any guarantees on when a photo will be published. Please include: child's full name, age, mailing address, and any details. We need to know when, where, size (weight, points, etc.), shot or caught with what and any other meaningful information, like first time, etc.. CONTRIBUTIONS WITHOUT THIS INFO WON’T BE PUBLISHED.

KNOW THE REGULATION FOR THE CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) MANAGEMENT ZONE n

MANDATORY CWD SAMPLING OF HUNTER HARVESTED DEER ON SPECIFIED DAYS WITHIN CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE MANAGEMENT ZONE (CMZ)

NO TRANSPORT OF WHOLE DEER OR DEER (CERVID) BODY PARTS OUTSIDE OF CMZ OR IMPORTED FROM OTHER STATES UNLESS COMPLETELY DEBONED

NO BAITING OR SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING OF WILDLIFE IN THE CMZ

FOR LATEST INFORMATION ON CWD AND ZONE LOCATION, VISIT

OUTDOORALABAMA.COM/CWD

GAME CHECK IS MANDATORY FOR EVERY DEER HUNTER All hunters are required to report their deer harvest using Game Check, which will help the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources effectively manage wildlife for generations.

Check your harvest at OutdoorAlabama.com/GameCheck or by using the official ADCNR mobile app Outdoor AL Search OUTDOOR AL on your app store!

84 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING TIP

Advertiser Index 157 Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 A-Team Fishing Adventures . . . . . . . . 3 ADCNR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Admiral Shellfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Buck’s Island Marine . . . . . . . . . . 19, 27 Camper City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CCA Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Clutch Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Coast Safe & Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Cold Blooded Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Deep South Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Dixie Building Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Fiber Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Fishbites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Geico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Hilton’s Offshore Charts . . . . . . . . . . 46 Hydraulic Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Killer Dock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Midway Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Mossy Oak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 National Land Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Paradise Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Pensacola Motor Sports . . . . . . . . 80-81 Pure Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Pure Flats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Ricciardone Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Stryker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Southern Seed & Feed . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Southeastern Pond Management . . . 35 Test Calibration Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Texas Hunter Products . . . . . . . . . . . 31 War Eagle Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Running Down A Dream BY NICK WILLIAMS

Surf fishing down on the Gulf Coast beaches can be a great way to relax and unwind, or it can be a great way to raise your blood pressure to levels that would make your cardiologist faint. One of the most frustrating things a shore-bound angler can see is a big predator fish busting up a school of bait way over yonder while your stretch of beach is dead. On a boat, anglers can just motor on over and toss a line. But for somebody trudging through sugar sand with all their gear, oftentimes the action is over by the time you get there. On a recent episode of the Northwest Florida Fishing Report, we were able to sit down with Sean Lawless from The Lawless Tide Youtube Channel to learn about a unique method he has for running down big fish on the beach. Electric bikes have become increasingly popular among outdoorsmen, particularly amongst runand-gun turkey hunters who want to quietly cover a lot of ground in search of a gobbler who’s ready to play ball. But according to Sean, they’re also the perfect tool for cruising the shore. “One weekend this past summer, with the hot temperatures I decided I wasn’t really keen

on running 100 to 200 yards down the beach chasing fish,” Sean says. “So I decided to take my ebike down there. I’ve got a little YakAttack Blackpak mounted on the back of it with rod holders. So I can just stick my tackle in the box and my rods in the rod holders really quickly, and when I see one busting 200 yards down I can pack up and be over there in no time.” Sean clarifies that not just any bike will perform on soft sand. Anglers will definitely want a fat tire model bike.” “I’ve got a Hovsco HovAlpha 26” Fat Tire model,” he says. “I deflate the tires just a little bit, just enough so that you can press in on them with your thumb. You still can’t run on the really powdery stuff, but if you get down closer to the water where the sand is compacted you’ll grab traction and take off.” It goes without saying that if you decide to take your bike to the beach, you’ll want to safeguard against saltwater. Be sure to properly oil and grease your cables and chains, and promptly rinse the bike after each use. Anglers should also be aware that e-bikes are generally classified as motorized vehicles, and know the regulations regarding their use on public beaches.

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 85

A GREAT DAY OUTDOORS

Duke

I never found any shrapnel from the cans in the back seat and all I could surmise was that Duke had consumed them. He showed no ill effects so I’m guessing he was tough enough to digest aluminum. Duke also loved to retrieve. As a puppy, any stick or object floating down the river was fair game. When duck season came, a duck that fell was a good as his. It didn’t matter if he had to break ice or swim fast currents, Duke came back with the duck.

BY JIM MIZE When I think about retrievers I’ve had the pleasure to hunt with over the years, my mind keeps drifting back to Duke. Early in my duck-hunting years, I spent two seasons with him in duck blinds. Looking back, he became the standard for all the retrievers I’ve hunted with since, though not for the reasons you might suspect. During my college years, I hunted with a Cajun professor I called Fontenot. He had introduced me to the humor of Justin Wilson and the name of one of the characters seemed to fit him. Fontenot made a trip to south Louisiana one year to pick up a few duck-hunting necessities. He returned with a black Lab, a couple sacks of decoys, and a pirogue. The Lab was Duke. If Duke had formal training, he hid it well. I never saw him working outside the hunt and few of his habits appeared taught, though the dog was one of the smartest I’ve been around. For instance, one afternoon I was to meet Fontenot at his house and I arrived early. Duke was out, so I decided to teach him a trick and surprise Fontenot. Just for fun, I taught Duke to take empty cans to the garbage. Duke did well in picking up each can, but he didn’t want to drop it in. Instead, he stood over the garbage rolling the can in this mouth, chomping on it lightly. He seemed to like the feel of the aluminum, something that was confirmed later in the season. He also liked boot leather. One night I stayed over after a late evening with the prospect of an early-morning hunt and slept in Duke’s basement bedroom. I thought he was a good roommate as he went to sleep well before I did and didn’t snore. The problem was that Duke woke earlier than I did and apparently wanted a snack. So, when I woke to a too-early alarm, I found one leather boot in shreds with little more than a sole and some strings. Duke looked proud of himself. Regarding those cans, we were driving to a hunt later that season and Fontenot had let a few empties accumulate in the back floor of his Dodge. Duke was stretched out on the back seat and found one which he chewed until it was gone. Then, he found another. By the time we reached our blind, all the empties were demolished.

One year, we had an extreme cold spell and the river froze where the water slowed. Even in heavy waders, it was cold work putting out the decoys. So when time came to pick them up, neither Fontenot nor I looked forward to the task. We had about two dozen decoys out and had begun wading to pick up an armful at a time, wrapping the strings and weights up as we walked back. After our first trip, we noticed Duke was retrieving decoys as well. He would bring them back one at a time and make his own pile in front of the blind. I thought it might become a bad habit during a hunt when one of us missed and Duke wanted a retrieve, but it never did. After that hunt, he always helped us pick up decoys. In our second season together, Fontenot had traded the Dodge for an old Ford pickup truck. Now, without a backseat, Duke and our gear other than shotguns rode in the bed. Fontenot’s house was on a gravel road and about halfway there lived a dog that terrorized anyone who passed in front of its house. The dog looked like a cross between a husky and every other breed. It weighed about a hundred pounds and was built like a tank. Duke had never been fond of the barking interloper and bristled whenever we drove by in the Dodge. We didn’t think much about it until the first time we drove past with Duke in the back of the truck. The dog came out to meet us as usual, standing facing us in the middle of the road while we advanced toward it at about twenty miles per hour. When the husky stepped out in the road and squared off, Duke took one jump on top of the cab and went airborne. Sailing at the other dog propelled by the truck’s speed, Duke landed on the husky. Both dogs rolled down the road in a cloud of dust, and when they came up, the husky had already disappeared. Duke trotted back to the truck having resolved the situation once and for all. I’m not sure any retriever trainer would give high marks for chewing cans, retrieving decoys, and handling other dogs that block your way. But looking back on it, Duke was a lot of fun to hunt with. JIM MIZE values quirks in a hunting dog. You can purchase Jim’s new book, The Jon Boat Years, at https://uscpress.com/TheJon-Boat-Years or buy autographed copies at www.acreektricklesthroughit.com.

86 November 2023 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

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6” GRUB 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // November 2023 87