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. A BIGGER COOLER YOU’RE GONNA NEED HOOKED ON™ SUZUKI TECHNOLOGY SZ Q4 CSTL FSHNG W BOX 1 PG 9-13-21.indd 1 9/13/2021 2:46:43 PM 251.968.2628 6940A HIGHWAY 59 | GULF SHORES, AL 36542 HWY 59 @ COASTAL GATEWAY BLVD. 2 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
INSHORE GUIDE SERVICE Mobile Bay + Mobile Delta + Dauphin Island 3 TIME ALABAMA INSHORE TRAIL CHAMPION MULTIPLE REDFISH TOUR WINS USCG LICENSED 35 EXPERIENCEYEARSCapt. Bobby Abruscato (251) 661-7696 www.ateamfishing.com A-Team Fishing Adventures 8 TOLOCATIONSSERVEYOU EightDIXIESUPPLY.COMMile,AL•Theodore, AL Meridian, MS • Summerdale, Fountain,BAKERMETALWORKS.COMALTroy,AL•Baker,FLFL•Cantonment,FL METAL ROOFING & SIDING | 20 COLORS | 29 & 26 GAUGE | 5 PROFILES YOUR METAL ROOFING HEADQUARTERS 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 3
HUNTING & FISHING IN ALABAMA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE CONTENTS Best Bets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by William Kendy Camphouse Kitchen 64 by Hank Shaw New & Cool Gear for Outdoorsmen . . . . . . . . 66 by William Kendy From the Commissioner 68 by Chris Blakenship From the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 by Charles Sykes Coastal Outlook 72 by Chris Vecsey Pier & Shore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 by David Thornton Regional Freshwater 76 by Ed Mashburn Prime Feeding Times, Moon, Sun, and Tide Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Pensacola Motorsports Trophy Room 84 Great Days Kids Corner 86 Fishing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 by William Kendy A Great Day Outdoors 90 by Jim Mize In Every Issue 20 12225830 Choosing the Best Tree Saddles for Hunting . . . . . 8 by Nick Williams Hot Weather Crappie: How to Find Them and Catch Them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 by John E. Phillips Points to Consider in Gravity Deer Feeders 16 by David Strickland Can Fish Smell? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 by David Thornton Choosing a Choke for Dove Hunting . . . . . . . 22 by Nick Williams Building a Cabin - Drilling a Well . . . . . . . . . . . 26 by David Strickland Tips for Fishing for Sharks off the Beach or the Boat . . 30 by Ed Mashburn How Much Fertilizer per Acre of Food Plots 34 by John E. Phillips Lake and Pond Restoration Step 2 - Management Plan Creation 38 by William Kendy Fishing / Hunting After Total Joint Replacement Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 by Stephanie Mallory How to Catch Speckled Trout Using Birds 46 by Capt. Bobby Abruscato Picking the Best Night Vision Scope for Your Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 by Josh Honeycutt Choosing the Best Lures for Striped Bass 52 by Chris Vecsey Land Equity Loans Explained . . . . . . . . . . . 56 by Stephanie Mallory Blades For Better Blood Trails 58 by Josh Honeycutt 4 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Black Warrior River Demopolis Hunting & Timber Investment Hale County, Alabama, 286+/-Acres
This rare waterfront tract is extremely unique. Located just 6.5 miles from Demopolis, enjoy features like 1.7+/- miles of Black Warrior River frontage, a 23+/- acre internal lake, diverse timber stands of hardwood and pine plantation, multiple food plots, duck ponds, an intricate road and trail system, scenic lodge or cabin sites across the property, development opportunities for waterfront lots, strong potential conservation easement value, and fantastic hunting for the abundant trophy whitetail deer, turkey, ducks, dove, and other wild game this area is known for. There’s a rustic camp overlooking the oxbow lake that would be usable with a little TLC and a boat launch on Yellow Creek that accesses the river is just 0.14 miles away, so you can be on the main river by boat quickly and conveniently. Power is available nearby off Yellow Creek Road and there is an additional offset creek front 8 acres available just 0.4 miles away that fronts both Yellow Creek Road and Yellow Creek if you wanted to put a camp there and keep the main property quiet during hunting season. Don’t miss your chance to see this versatile riverfront property.
Great deer and turkey hunting tract convenient to both Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. It has numerous green fields already set up with very nice shooting houses and ladder stands. The timber is a mix of mostly pine ready to be thinned on the ridges and mature hardwood in the bottoms. Beaver Creek runs through the property providing a year-round water source for wildlife. There is a great internal road system making it easy to get around on the property. There is also a 5-bed, 3-bath camp house with a covered porch, a barn to keep a tractor, equipment, and ATVs out of the weather, and a skinning shed with additional storage. This is a turn-key hunting tract perfect for family or company entertainment.
JacksonBay 1264
Beaver Creek Retreat Fayette County, Alabama, 473+/-Acres
Over 700 more tracts across 47 states available... COUNTY ACRES NEW PRICE 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 5
® Alabama Listings CalhounCalhounCalhounCalhounButlerButlerButlerBlountBlountBlountBlountBlountBibbBibbBarbourBarbourBarbourBarbourBarbourBaldwinBaldwinBaldwinBaldwinBaldwinAutaugaAutaugaAutaugaAutauga ConecuhConecuhConecuhColbertColbertColbertColbertColbertCoffeeCoffeeCoffeeCoffeeCleburneClayClarkeClarkeClarkeClarkeClarkeChoctawChoctawChiltonChiltonChiltonChiltonChiltonCherokeeCalhoun HaleHaleHaleHaleFranklinFranklinFayetteFayetteFayetteFayetteFayetteEscambiaEscambiaEscambiaEscambiaDallasDallasDallasDallasDallasCullmanCrenshawCrenshawCrenshawCrenshawCovingtonCovingtonCoosa MaconLowndesLowndesLauderdaleLauderdaleLauderdaleLauderdaleLauderdaleLamarLamarLamarLamarLamarJeffersonJeffersonJeffersonJeffersonJeffersonHoustonHoustonHoustonHoustonHenryHenryHenryHenryHenryHale PerryPerryMorganMontgomeryMontgomeryMontgomeryMontgomeryMontgomeryMonroeMonroeMonroeMonroeMonroeMobileMobileMobileMobileMobileMarionMarionMarionMarengoMarengoMarengoMarengoMadisonMaconMacon TalladegaSumterSumterSumterSumterSumterShelbyShelbyShelbyShelbyShelbySaintSaintSaintSaintSaintRandolphRandolphPikePikePickensPickensPickensPickensPickensPerryPerryPerryClairClairClairClairClair WinstonWinstonWinstonWinstonWinstonWilcoxWilcoxWashingtonWashingtonWashingtonWashingtonWashingtonWashingtonWalkerWalkerWalkerTuscaloosaTuscaloosaTuscaloosaTuscaloosaTuscaloosaTallapoosaTalladegaTalladegaTalladega COUNTY ACRES COUNTY ACRES COUNTY ACRES COUNTY ACRES FL ListingsPanhandle 181822.5252754061.21.3211225643168210542125160182891013155185300.90.97580 741193552.0318407280117206299412149673102766.42100620134.558.27688319725621.4 96140258288.52564260275344473484415931168121608517974087588160276.5401040430 800507835.065.062536106.59194714320221012816018022710003869261295576076.38011580 5306114665.810320025064011140140191200201260271.8339926.21401352523450754811185483 2501301411454684991101331371516751.041367839655.341789.2447212118021743070130240 1012.552100113105221502042132804304688095.91120341381.56500600800159.041.011325
For those not into fly fishing, light spinning tackle with two-to-six-pound test line, some spinners, salmon eggs, corn or even Power Baits can provide action. For fly fishermen a five-weight outfit with grasshopper, cricket, beetle and ant imitations fit the bill along with midges if you want to go wet with a sinking line.
Every month the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) stocks about 3,000 8 to 14-inch rainbow trout into the cold waters of the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River, the tailwaters below Smith Lake. The water remains about 70 degrees year-round.
These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month!
VOLUME 26 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2022 Great Days Outdoors (USPS 17228; ISSN 1556-0147) is published monthly at P.O. Box 1253 Santa Rosa Beach, 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. Send address changes to Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 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 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 Allwww.greatdaysoutdoors.cominfo@greatdaysoutdoors.comrightsreserved.Reproduction of contents is strictly prohibited without permission from Great Days Outdoors Media, WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/GREATDAYSOUTDOORSWWW.TWITTER.COM/TEAMGREATDAYSWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GREATDAYSOUTDOORSLLC. PUBLISHED BY: Great Days Outdoors Media, L.L.C. PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Joe Baya EXECUTIVE EDITOR Butch Thierry MANAGING EDITOR: William Kendy GENERAL MANAGER: Samatha Hester CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Wendy Johannesmann DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING Jarod Bosarge ALABAMA TROUT Growing up in Michigan I grew up fishing for bass, bluegill, salmon, steelhead, walleye and fly fishing for trout. Now, as a southerner, I can catch bass and panfish (bream) down here. Salmon, steelhead and walleye are out of the equation. Trout, on the other hand, can be had at Sipsey Fork.
BY WILLIAM KENDY
SEPTEMBER SURFING September in the gulf brings a bit of freshness and a tiny delightful fresh “bite” in the air after the oppressive heat of the summer. It also means the start of the migration of fish that we like to catch and eat, such as pompano, and that is good news for us surf fishermen. Surf fishing isn’t rocket scientist stuff. In terms of tackle, you need a couple of 10-to-11-foot spinning rods, 4000-5000 class line loaded reels, pvc rod holders and some pompano rigs along with the appropriate weight pyramid or spider sinkers. It also doesn’t hurt to pack an additional lighter weight outfit to cast closer in while waiting for a hit on the set rigs. Of course, there is the other requisite stuff. For bait, fresh sand fleas reign but peeled shrimp, ghost shrimp and artificial baits like Fish Bites work.
Once you haul all the equipment out to the beach you can sit back, get a tan and catch dinner.
TIME TO TAKE A HIKE Sure, dove season starts in September along with some waterfowl openers and small game, as in rabbits and squirrels. It is also a time for you to take a little walk around your hunting property to get refreshed as to what has changed and develop your hunting game plan. It is way too early to locate rubs or scrapes but you can scope out game trails and identify where you want to hang tree stands or set up ground Workingblinds.earlyin the season not only gives you a legitimate excuse for being in the woods but by setting up your ambush blinds, allows deer to get used to the structure and clearing shooting lanes now means you won’t be making a rufus closer to opening day. It allows you to place morning and evening stands, consider wind direction and lets the deer get back to their normal patterns (at least until the rut).
What’s not to love?
BEST BETS 6 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
BEST BETS FOR SEPTEMBER
FISH STOCKING 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 7
A good saddle is one that keeps you safe and comfortable in the tree Photo Credit: Robert Wood 8 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The first criteria is SAFETY. A tree saddle’s job is to defy gravity and keep you from plummeting backwards towards the cold ground in a place where it is hard to get an ambulance, assuming that you have the cell service to call one! With proper materials, assembly technique, and quality control processes implemented in the manufacture, most saddles are up to this task from a technical standpoint. Several manufacturers have been working with The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Treestand Man ufacturer’s Association (TMA) to develop industry standards. Currently, you won’t find the reassuring TMA sticker on a tree saddle, but most of the larger players are using standards the TMA has advocated for safety harnesses as a guideline and are testing to those standards in 3rd party facilities. My recommendation is to buy from a company that 3rd party tests for your first saddle, unless you happen to possess industry-specific knowledge of harness manufacture.
I would also recommend checking the lead time on whatever models you are considering. Current events have made huge impacts on the supply chain for the materials used in tree saddle construction and, combined with the recent surge in interest this has made the Perfect Storm. You do not want to order a saddle that is backordered three to six months if you’ve decided it will be a big part of your early season bow hunting strategy this year!
BY NICK WILLIAMS Choosing
Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve definitely heard the term “tree saddle” thrown around in the past year if you’re a deer hunter. What was once a niche tool of a few diehard public land pounders has now gone Trophyline,mainstream.one of the original developers of the hunting tree saddle, was once a largely forgotten “has-been” small business, the maker of a discontin ued product that could only be found by perusing the classifieds section of a certain obscure web forum (which I was a member of, as they say, “before it was cool”). Now Trophyline has dozens of new products coming out regular ly, and they’re being promoted not by unknown eccentrics but by people like Levi Morgan, who is a 14-time World Champion archer sponsored by some of the biggest names in the industry. Trophyline is a big name in the saddle game, but the industry has grown exponentially in the past five years. When I bought my first saddle, you could buy an old Trophyline or maybe an Anderson Tree Sling, if you knew where to look. The only current manufacturer at that time was Aerohunter, who made one model. It was the Evo, and I can attest that it was glorious and the only real game in town! But now, there seem to be almost as many tree saddle companies as there are traditional hang-on and climbing stand ones. Companies like Tethrd, Latitude, Cruzr, Aerohunter, Lone Wolf Custom Gear, JX3, Treehopper, and several more offer multiple models of tree saddle, and more companies seem to be popping up every month. In this article, I’m going to suggest criteria that you can use to narrow the search. I am not sponsored by any of the players in the market, but I have sat in the majority of them at some point and have logged literally thousands of hours in tree saddles over the past decade. I’ve also been honored with the privilege of being able to field test and provide feedback on models that were still in the prototype stage at the time. My goal here is to take that experience and condense it into a short form that new saddle purchasers will find useful.
If for some reason you decide not to go with a two-panel design, I would at least recommend that you consider a saddle that uses a thick cordura fabric instead of a mesh. It is true that mesh is lighter, and some people may appreciate its breathability. But the loose weave makes for a lot of stretching, the best tree saddles for hunting
Fortunately, demand still exceeds supply and you can offload a poor fit relatively easily on most hunting forums with an active classifieds section. Many companies will work with you to exchange a lightly used saddle for a different size or model. Some companies do a really good job of sponsoring events where hunters can try out saddles in the field as well, usually under the supervision of a longtime saddle user who can help you find the right fit. That said, I have a few personal tips for anybody looking to buy a comfort able saddle the first time around, sight unseen.
HUNTING 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 9
Once you have those matters settled, it largely comes down to comfort. You’re not so much sitting on a saddle as you are wearing it. Like a pair of jeans, sizing and cut isn’t the same between models, and a “large” saddle can feel very different to two different hunters with two different butts, espe cially after four or five hours. For many saddles the only way to really get an idea of how they work for you is to sit in them for a few hours. I have had to “buy to try” a lot of saddles.
Most saddles are made of a single “panel” of material that stretches between two pieces of two inch webbing that form a sort of “loop” that you sit in. When seated the top strap usually rides somewhere along your belt line, and the other rides either at the bottom of your butt cheeks or where your butt meets your upper thigh. The webbing that is used is very strong and has very little flex. The material that spans the gap in between is weaker, and over time will stretch. When this happens it stops taking the load of your bodyweight and transfers it to that bottom strap. In essence, imagine sitting on a 2x8 board lying flat vs one turned up on edge. Quite the difference in comfort, especially after a few hours!
Some saddles, instead of using a single panel, use two smaller ones that work in tandem to receive your weight. This gives you four pieces of two inch webbing underneath you, and the smaller pieces of fabric between them stretch much less. In addition, you gain more ability to adjust where exactly each panel sits on your butt. To me, this design is a real game changer for long sits. If you’re a first-time buyer, I’d recommend a two panel instead of a single panel saddle. Treehopper, Latitude, Overwatch Outdoors, and Tethrd are a few manufacturers who use this design on some of their saddles.
and after a few hours you may notice that the bottom strap is taking most of your weight. Not good! Another thing to consider is the dreaded “hip pinch.” A good-fitting saddle will wrap comfortably around your hips and spread pressure evenly across a wide area. One that is too small will squeeze them, and one that is too big will want to ride up over the top of your hips and put pressure on the sides of your stomach. As a general rule I have found that too big is usually better than too small, so if you’re considering two different sizes, go with the larger one. If this is your first saddle, an adjustable bridge is a nice feature that gives you one more variable to tweak for comfort. The bridge attaches to bridge loops on each hip, and runs up to a carabiner on your tether, making a tri angle. The longer your bridge the less pressure is put on your hips. I usually advise hunters to keep their tether as short as they can, and their bridge as long as possible. On some trees, however, you may find that a shorter bridge allows you more maneuverability around the tree. Almost all saddles have MOLLE loops on them that let you attach pouches for small essentials. If you can find a saddle that comes with a couple of pouches, that will save you some money. You’ll also need a tether, a line man’s belt, two carabiners, and two rope adjusters (either prusik-style loops or a mechanical device like Wild Country’s Ropeman 1). Some companies offer bundle deals on all or some of these components, so keep that in mind as you compare prices. You can easily spend another hundred dollars buying them separately. You’ll also need something to climb the tree with and something to stand on, but that’s a conversation for another day. Hopefully this article helps you make sure that your first saddle experience is a positive one! A two-panel saddle design (top) provides more support, comfort, and adjustment than a singlepanel (bottom) design
. Choosing the Best Tree Saddles for Hunting 10 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
877-341-2400OrangeBeach.comGulfShores.com ...like hearing the waves lapping the side of the boat, watching the sunset as you cast your line from the pier, or reeling in your first catch of the day. Charter, deep-sea, offshore, and inshore fishing are all some of our favorite ways to reel in dinner. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 11
like these are on the spots to which
During hot youngstersweather,don’twant to wait a long time a bite, so Brad Whitehead makes sure the crappie he takes his
parties . 12 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
for
Most people who want to build crappie hot spots will build underwater structure for crappie coming into the banks in the springtime. White head puts out structures for crappie during the winter months when the lakes are drawndown – primarily stake beds or five gallon buckets with bamboo and concrete in them.
The stake beds seem to be the key for Whitehead’s finding and catching crappie in hot weather. Some of Whitehead’s friends own cabinet shops, and the cabinets they build are mostly made of dried oak. They must trim about two to three inches of wood off the cabinets when they make them, and those left-over strips are about two inches thick. Whitehead drives these wooden stakes into the bottom of the lake in groups of about 50 or 60 stakes per spot. He builds at least six or seven spots like this each year. “I usually drive my stakes about one foot into the bottom, so that the four foot stakes will stand three feet off the bottom, and the five foot stakes will be 4-feet off the bottom,” Whitehead said. “I mix-up the different sizes of stakes that we use to create stake beds in 12-14 feet of Becausewater.”
Whitehead is a student of crappie fishing and has been a crappie guide for the last 20 years. He’s always fished for crappie in about 22-24 foot deep water when the weather becomes hot. Last year, however, Whitehead discovered a good number of crappie holding at 12-14-feet deep because that’s where the baitfish were concentrating.
“I’ve learned that the people I take fishing want to catch crappie while in my boat and don’t mind catching fish and throwing them back, as long as they’re catching enough big crappie to take home a mess for dinner,” Whitehead emphasized.
the crappie’s metabolism has slowed-down in hot weather and they prefer not to chase bait, Whitehead fishes slowly. He’s also learned that the crappie holding on these stake beds are most actively feeding the first four hours of daylight. He knows that if he has his customers in his boat and ready to fish before 5:45 am, the weather’s cooler, and the crappie are feeding most actively. Recently Whitehead’s party of three anglers caught more than 100 crappie in six hours and kept 43 of the biggest. Whitehead’s anglers were busy catching crappie during the entire six hours they fished.
“Last year I put out close to 3,000 wooden stakes,” Whitehead ex plained. “We drive the stakes into the bottom after the lakes have had their winter drawdown.”
How
Whitehead explains that an advantage to fishing smaller lakes is that they don’t have as much boat traffic as you’ll find on bigger rivers and lakes. “When we start fishing little waters right at daylight for crappie and fish until 12:00 noon, rarely will we see any other boats out on these Bear Creek lakes.”
Whitehead also has learned that the crappie’s metabolism slows-down more in hot weather than at other times of the year. The crappie don’t want to move very far to attack bait and prefer to stay cool and hide in the shade of underwater structure.
Hot Crappie:Weather to Them and Catch Them delicious-tasting fish for supper, if you have bream pinpointed close to crappie beds and fish for those bream, once the crappie stop biting.
FISHING 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 13
Find
BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
Even after school starts, most rivers and lakes still are covered-up with jet skis, pontoon boats, pleasure cruisers, kayaks and the young and the old floating on inner tubes and rafts. However, Brad White head of Muscle Shoals Alabama, has found the secret to finding and catching undisturbed crappie when the weather’s hot.
“In the hot and warm weather that remains in Alabama even until mid-October, I’ll be guiding crappie fishermen on the Bear Creek Lakes in Franklin County, Alabama,” Whitehead said.. “These small, watershed lakes are part of the Bear Creek Development Authority in Hodges, Alabama. I’ll primarily be fishing Little Bear or Cedar creeks.”
beds
You still can catch plenty of
Whitehead reported.. BUILD STAKE BEDS IN THE WINTER FOR HOT-WEATHER CRAPPIE
your
Hot Weather Crappie: How to Find Them and Catch Them
Another secret to Whitehead’s crappie-fishing success is that he doesn’t take many local customers to fish these stake beds, but does take other customers there. Whitehead explains that if you don’t have a quality depth finder, you probably won’t see these close-to-the-bottom stake beds.
14 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
“As soon as that crappie feels that jig, if you don’t set the hook, the fish will spit it out because it knows that jig’s not a real baitfish.”
WHY WHITEHEAD DEAD STICKS CRAPPIE Whitehead likes a 12-foot B‘n’M Duck Commander pole. He prefers these longer poles because they keep the bait his anglers are fishing away from the stake beds. He uses his 754 War Eagle Boat – a side console model - to enable his anglers to fish out of the side of the boat rather than having to fish from the front or the back of the boat. Then they have plenty of room to fish two poles each and not get in each other’s way.
Whitehead’s jig heads are lead and painted with colors like white and/ or red. He doesn’t troll these jigs but lets them sit dead still 6-1/2-inches above his stake beds. He doesn’t want his anglers to move the jigs at all. He calls this method of crappie fishing, dead sticking. “If you’ve ever noticed minnows in an aquarium, often when holding close to structure in the aquarium, they’ll be suspended - dead still in the water with only their pectoral fins and sometimes their tails barely mov ing - if moving at all - to hold their positions in the water,” he explained. When Whitehead lets the jigs down to the butt of his pole, he pulls off about two to three feet more of line. Then with the poles in rod holders, he knows his jigs will be about 6-12 inches above the stake beds.
“War Eagle Boats include V holders,” Whitehead reported “We can lay the poles down in those Vs and watch the rod tips to see them jump when a crappie bites a jig.” Since Whitehead is fishing for post spawn crappie, they may weigh somewhat less than prespawn or spawning crappie do. Most of the crap pie in hot weather he and his party catch and keep will be 11-12 inches long and weigh from 3/4 - 1-1/2 pounds each.
Whitehead moves from stake bed to stake bed to find the most-actively feeding crappie. With actively-feeding crappie, Whitehead’s fishermen may catch 30-40 crappie from one stake bed.
“I like eight-pound-test clear Vicious line because the water in the lakes we fish is so clear,” Whitehead said. “I use a split shot up the line and a 1/8-ounce jig head with a soft-plastic 2-1/4-inch Slider minnow in blue, purple or white for the very-clear water there. I put Berkley Gulp! Crappie Nibbles on the bend of the hook.”
“My depth finder leads the way,” Whitehead emphasized. “I use a Humminbird HELIX 12 depth finder and have the down-scanning feature on the left side of the screen and the GPS on the right side. Then I can tell my customers they should catch crappie on stake beds that I can see are loaded with crappie. They must be ready to set their hooks as soon as they spot their bites, bring the crappie to the boat, take the fish off their hooks and quickly put their jigs back in the water, while the crappie are Whiteheadfeeding.”prefers using B‘n’M poles with their very-light tips to enable his customers to see their bites easily.
When asked how long he can fish stake beds and consistently produce good catches of crappie, Whitehead said that the calendar parameter is from about the first or middle of June until September. Or, if the weather stays hot during September, we’ll fish stake beds until the middle of October. “We generally stop fishing the stake beds in October because that’s when most watershed lakes are drawndown. Then our stake beds are much higher in the water than during the summer pool. The crappie will scatter and not be as concentrated on the stake beds like they are when the weather’s hot. As the lakes’ water levels are lowered, most crappie fishermen start pulling (trolling) crankbaits for crappie, catching fish in open water as the crappie will move from shallow water to deeper-water cover,” he said. Since Whitehead doesn’t put signs on stake beds that say, “Crappie Only,” he and his customers will catch bass, bluegills and saltwater stripers at times while fishing for crappie in hot weather. When the crappie aren’t biting, Brad Whitehead has some smaller hooks and live crickets with him in the boat to enable his anglers to catch shellcrackers and bluegills
REALIZE ALL STAKE BEDS DON’T HOLD CRAPPIE Whitehead reports that if you put out ten stake beds, more than likely only four will hold crappie during hotter weather. After 30 years of put ting-out some sort of underwater structure to attract crappie, even before he started guiding, Whitehead has learned that the majority of those stake beds won’t concentrate crappie.
Catch Bream Too When Fishing for Hot Weather Crappie
beaten • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce •
Since Brad Whitehead’s customers like to catch fish, when the crappie aren’t on a feeding spree, Whitehead will take them to close-by bream beds he’s pinpointed. “I usually carry some crickets and worms with me,” White head said. “Then we change out our crappie hooks to bream hooks, put crickets or worms on our hooks and drop them into the bream beds I’ve located with my depth finder. That way my customers still can catch edible fish, while we’re waiting on the crappie to decide they’re hungry
Nibbles https://www.berkley-fishing.com/ *B‘n’M Poles https://www.bnmpoles.com/ * Colbert County Tourism – Susann Hamlin, CEO http://www.colbertcountytourism.org * Humminbird https://www.humminbird.com/ * Slider Baits https://sliderfishing.com/ * Vicious Line https://shop.getvicious.com/storefront.aspx * War Eagle Boats https://www.wareagleboats.com/ * Brad Whitehead Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BradWhitehead
for serving Instructions
4. Scoop this refrigerated mixture into eight 1/3-cup mounds, forming them into eight patties with your hands. Each should be about 1 ½ inches thick.
“bream” is used interchangeably with several types of fish, especially where Whitehead guides. The term is usually related to bluegills and/or shellcrackers (redear sunfish). Although the shellcrackers generally start biting a month earlier than the bluegills, they’re often caught from the same bedding areas. Then Whitehead’s customers can have bent poles - even when the crappie have lockjaw. “After we’ve fished for an hour or two and caught num bers of bluegills and/or shellcrackers, we’ll change hooks again and start fishing stake beds for crappie,” Whitehead said. “I’ve learned by fishing the bream beds for bluegills and shellcrackers between the stake beds that I can keep plenty of action for my customers and lots of hard-fighting, delicious fish for them to catch.”
5. In a large skillet, heat the oil and add the crappie cakes, cooking over medium-high heat until deeply golden and heated through, about three minutes per side.
BY ANDREW ZIMMERN Recipe, comments and image courtesy of Andrew Zimmern, www.usangler.com and
6. Serve with lemon wedges.
Hot Weather Crappie: How to Find Them and Catch Them Andrew
1. To pre-cook the crappie, add one pound of crappie fillets to a colander and cover with aluminum foil. Place the covered colander over a large pot of boiling water and steam for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through.
2. Break the crappie fillets into small pieces with a pair of forks, and set aside.
North Alabama homes numerous nice places to stay and attractions you’ll enjoy. “GDO” also has included information about products that will improve your crappie fishing.
•
• 1-pound
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Crappie Cakes Prep: 30 mins • Cook: 14-16 mins • Total: 44-46 mins Ingredients • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 1
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•
fillets, broken into small pieces (instructions below) • 20
877.314.1237www.chewingthefat.us.com//GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 15
Phone: 256-483-0834 Zimmern’s large egg, 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce pre-cooked crappie saltine crackers, finely crushed 1/4 cup canola oil Lemon wedges,
3. In a small bowl, whisk the wet ingredients together until blended well. In a separate bowl, toss the pre-cooked crappie in the cracker crumbs until coated, and then gently fold in the wet mixture with a spatula. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Theagain.”word
* Alabama Mountain Lakes https://www.northalabama.org/
BY DAVID STRICKLAND Feed consumption will increase significantly during for fawning and antler growth periods Points to Consider in DeerGravityFeeders 16 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
HUNTING Decades ago, at one of those holiday family get-togethers, I met an older gentleman on my wife’s side who had raised cattle for many years. The conversation got around to deer hunting, and he asked me several questions. After listening to my answers, he said growing good deer seemed similar to raising cattle, providing plenty of high-quality feed, protecting the herd from predators and ensuring you had a good bull or buck to sire the little ones.
I recently talked to Chris Blood from Texas Hunter Products about their protein gravity feeders. This company is located in San Antonio, Texas, and has been around since 1954. Blood is the company’s marketing manager and explained that they manufac ture the powder-coated steel frames and feeders in their two local facilities. Blood said that a lot of research went into their final design to achieve what he considers the best free-feeding unit on the market. He pointed out their patented design addressed many issues that plagued earlier gravity feeders and described them as “baseball-bat” tough and made with a food-grade roto-molded
GRAVITY VS. TIMED FEEDERS
It seems modern deer management agrees with that old cattle farmer’s assessment. In controlled environments where every aspect of a buck’s life is closely regulated, most game-keepers al low free-feeding of various protein pellets by their deer until antler growth is complete. This 24-7 access to these custom-formulated pellets ensures maximum availability from just before losing their antlers till they’ve fully hardened. But, of course, another critical aspect of this feeding strategy is that does, and also fawns benefit from free-feeding.
Not everyone can afford to continuously provide this specially formulated feed for their herd, but for those that commit to this feeding strategy, what is the best delivery system for those Timedsupplements?feeders that drop those pellets in precise amounts have made great strides in recent years. Their mechanisms, battery life, capacity, and reliability help landowners save on feed by limiting the volume of high-protein pellets or corn deer eat daily.
However, does this limited feeding strategy achieve the same results as free-feeding? Unfortunately, not according to the latest research by several leading biologists.
TEXAS HUNTER PRODUCTS
Since that conversation decades ago, I’ve noticed that any discus sion about deer hunting and especially antlers eventually winds up talking about genetics vs. nutrition and what hunters can do to get their deer to grow their biggest and best racks. Often, the discus sions turn to what and when to plant, along with the best fertilizers.
Ultimately, the discourse gets around supplemental feeding and precisely what part it plays in the quest to help deer reach their full potential for both body and antler mass. As the conversation continues, it usually turns to specific protein/ mineral supplements and the best way to deliver those bags of highly nutritious feed.
HUNTING 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 17
Most off-season feeding is in an area where the deer feel secure and free from repeated human intrusion. Then, just before bow season, many hunting preserves discontinue free-feeding and switch to timed feeders in different locations for hunting purposes.
• To help map out the best locations to set up your protein feeder and get an overview of the property’s size and layout, print the area’s satellite map on Google® Maps and mark deer trails, water sources, roads, etc.
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“For example, our specially formulated plastic is 25% cooler than metal hop pers and feed ports during warmer months. In addition, our powder-coated steel frames incorporate skids, and the overall weight reduction makes them easier to transport and move around or reposition,” Blood said.
Protein feeder placement is essential when establishing a supplemental feeding program so that deer can quickly locate the protein feeder(s). A successful protein feeding strategy aims to spread the feeders around the property in a pattern so that the entire deer population benefits from the additional supplements.
METAL VS. PLASTIC I asked Blood to explain the benefits of using plastic instead of steel or alumi num to make their line of gravity feeders.
•population:Research has shown that whitetail deer have home ranges anywhere from 400 to 700 acres during the non-breeding season. Therefore, a combination of feeders is an excellent strategy to create a herd that’s more likely to remain in the area and on your property.
Below are some of Texas Hunter Products’ findings about feeder place ment in the off-season that will ensure maximum usage by your local deer
• Resist the urge to place a feeder in the middle of a wide-open field or pasture. Be sure to position your feeders close to water and cover where the deer will feel protected and can leave the area quickly and undetected.
• Position feeder’s near current feeding areas with access to cover and existing travel corridors. Also, ensure feeders are within 1/4 mile of a water source.
“The hopper won’t rust, and because the material is 25 percent cooler than steel, the protein feed will stay cooler, dry, and fresher, making deer more likely to feed,” he said. He stated that their roto-molded design is a significant innovation in the industry and that it is the same process used to make whitewater kayaks and high-end coolers. In addition, their research indicated that deer fed from round ports better than other shapes and that the six-inch diameter and precise contours solved clogging issues.
• Protein feeders provide a readily available supplemental food source and will quickly become essential to the deer’s daily routine.
Placing your feeders near travel corridors and escape routes is essential polymer. He said the material is UV resistant, and the hopper and ports are ultra-smooth with precise contours to allow pellets and corn to flow freely into several large six-inch feeding ports. In addition, each port contains baffles that adjust the flow for any sized feed. Blood described how they were able to overcome many issues associated with previous gravity feeders.
In addition, Texas Hunter Products designed their feeders to supply a high volume of pelletized feed or corn to multiple deer simultaneously over an extended period while also addressing moisture and clogging issues.
• Depending on the size of the property, strategically place the feeders in areas where the deer can safely move from one feeder to the other, with a maximum distance of 1 mile apart. Triangle patterns work well, starting near the core of the property.
FEEDER PLACEMENT
Points to Consider in Gravity Deer Feeders
PF1000L- This one-piece roto-molded high-density design has four six-inch feeding ports with adjustable flow baffles. The heavy-duty frame is pow der-coated steel equipped with foot stakes and stainless steel hardware. Each six-inch feed port has an adjustable baffle, and the extra-wide hinged lid makes filling a breeze.
Texas Hunter manufactures eight models of gravity feeders that range in capacities from 300 to 2,000 pounds that are easy to set up, fill and move.
Points
The period between antler shedding and regrowth is the perfect time to provide extra nutrients to the deer on your hunting property. In addition, supplemental feeding can help to overcome shortcomings if the local acorn crop fails or your fields have issues. The supplemental feed can fill any gaps in nutrition and ensure your herd stays as healthy as possible. These durable feeders can make a measurable difference in your deer’s health and encourage them to stay on your property. Order directly or call and let Chris Blood help you formulate a feeding plan for your property using their Made-In-Texas feeders.
XPF600- This 600-pound capacity model has four six-inch feed ports with baffles in each port to control the flow rate for various-sized pellets. It’s mounted on a heavy-duty, powder-coated steel stand with skids for portability
FAWN FEEDERS
CONCLUSION
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Texas Hunter also makes three low-profile models for fawns. The feed ports are 17 inches high and allow easy access for does and fawns. They also come in 600, 1,200, and 2,000-pound capacities.
TEXAS HUNTER GRAVITY FEEDER MODELS
PF300- This is an economical, low-profile, easy-to-fill powder-coated model with a food-grade enamel coating on the barrel’s interior. With a 300-pound capacity and three feed ports, its 36” height helps to minimize antler contact, and rain guards protect the feed.
XPF1200- This feeder has a capacity of 1,200 pounds with six roto-molded feeding tubes that remain 25% cooler and uses stainless steel hardware to secure the feeder to a heavy-duty, powder-coated frame with skids.
Consider in Gravity Deer Feeders 4500 Hwy. 77 • Southside,
This line of larger-capacity gravity deer feeders is available in 600, 1,200, and 2,000-pound capacities. In addition, the innovative high-density, roto-molded design makes Texas Hunter Protein Feeders virtually indestructible and free from any rust issues. Multiple feed ports make it easy for several deer to feed at once, and the large capacity means feed will last longer and help reduce human activity around the feeder.
Contact Information Texas Hunter Products 3350 N Panam Expressway San Antonio, TX 78219 Chris (800)info@texashunterproducts.comtexashunterproducts.comBlood969-3337 to AL
XPF2000- This unit’s capacity is 2,000 pounds with six protein feed stations, and its two heavy-duty hinged lids with built-in stops make filling an easy task. In addition, the food-grade hopper and feed ports won’t contaminate protein or other feed, and the smooth contours provide continuous flow.
TEXAS HUNTER XTREME MODELS
BY DAVID THORNTON This permit found the shrimp and Fishbites in dingy water CAN FISH SMELL? 20 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Here in our quiet little corner of the globe, these products have revolution ized the ease and reach of surf fishermen by providing a durable product that consistently produces fish. In GDO mag: Feb 2021 (Understanding Surf Fishing Fundamentals), Matthew Isbell, former coastal surf guide and successful videographer, better known as the “Bama Beach Bum” spoke a bit about Fishbites impact on the sport stating “I just don’t see how surf fishermen can be successful, or were as successful without it. What did everyone do before it was invented?”
Over 20 years ago a product was developed and marketed by renowned Marine Biologist Dr. William (Bill) Carr which revolutionized fishing. Carr’s discoveries debunked myths of so-called “stink baits” which do not disperse scent the same way in water as in air. After several decades of research into fish feeding behavior, Dr. Carr’s study led to the invention of Fishbites®. These concentrated, artificially replicated natural odorants literally attract and stimulate fish to feed. Since then over 160 of these flavored scent baits and rigs have been developed and used successfully worldwide.
Often anglers have observed fish “shoppin”’ their lures, where there is a distinct curiosity in the action, but a lack of commitment to try and eat it. Perhaps smell is the final key that initiates this desired effect. How many times have you been in a situation of seeing multiple fish that act interest ed, yet reluctant to bite your offering? That is until the feeding activity of a single individual begins a frenzy. What happened in the water after that first fish stirred to action? Scent is often that unseen trigger that gets other fish to bite.
THE QUESTION BEGS NOT SO MUCH A MATTER OF “IF” FISH CAN SMELL, BUT RATHER “HOW”. Olfaction as scientists refer to the sense of smell, includes the ability of fish to detect scents called “odorants” dissolved in the water they swim through. The physiology of fishes’ ability to smell is shared with terrestrial animals in a rudimentary way. Rather though, water enters and exits through two pairs of pores, called “nares” that look a lot like nostrils on each side of the fish’s head between the mouth and eyes. Water is the medium exposed to sensory nerve packs where scent stimuli are collected by these organs and transported via nerve cells to the nearby brain to be interpreted. For fish, this may even be a matter of life or death. Odors may not only de termine where prey items are, but they are being consumed by members of their own species and even when members of their own (or similar) species are being preyed upon by larger predators. A chemical compound named Schreckstoff, which in German means “scary stuff” is released by some fish species when injured. It triggers alarm responses in individuals that peril is near, and serves to elicit immune responses to ward off infections and parasites as well. They literally “smell danger” and respond to it. The configuration of olfactory sensors in the head of each fish species is a key to how they feed and protect themselves. Some fish species have even evolved with extra sensory organs called “barbels”, from the Latin ‘barbula’ meaning “little beard’’. These slender whisker like appendages are most of ten near the mouth, thus thought to aid the fish in finding food in low visibility conditions like poor light or high turbidity. They are most often associated with various fresh and saltwater catfish species which have eight barbels.
Fishes’ senses are so keen they may detect not only food, but through pheromones find potential mates, or sense hazards nearby in the day or night. Scientific study has considered that fish may be able to smell or detect changes in the chemistry of the water itself, such as temperature, acidity, or trace elements through their olfactory senses. The migration of salmon to the sea and back to spawn in the very same stream where they were hatched is well documented. Similarly, many saltwater species return yearly to spawn in the same waters, perhaps over the same reefs where they themselves were born.
FISHBITES = GAMECHANGER
Members of the kingcroaker species in the family Sciaenidae may exhibit only one barbel, while black drum in the same family may have 12 or 13. Still, like other olfactory organs, barbels may do more than just help the fish smell food.. They are an extension of the total sensory network of the fish to literally smell or taste changes in their surrounding environment.
Similar scenes unfold daily along the Emerald Coast every time a surf angler casts out a pompano rig for the first time. Confidence is low that an inch long piece of what looks like “dried bubble gum” will catch one of the most prized game fish on the beach. Still they stick to the program as rec ommended, and after a short wait, get a bite and land their intended quarry. Shaking their head no longer in disbelief, but in wonder how that fish found this tiny artificial offering.
COOL IT! Environmental variables may well affect the ability of fish to smell. Being cold blooded vertebrates, fish are well aware of changes in the water tem perature (as well as dissolved oxygen and many other less obvious trace elements) surrounding them. Each species has a limited range of tolerance to the environment and their metabolism must adjust constantly to any of these changes in order to survive and propagate. If these changes occur faster than their metabolism can adjust, the fish goes into shock or may even die.
Fish also have a preferred range of temperature where most feeding and reproduction takes place. While there may be variations in the rate of chem ical distribution through water due to temperature, there are certainly more Black drum at times find food mostly by scent alone FISHING profound changes in the metabolism of fish to sensory process the water itself simply because there is less need to. They do not eat when they do not smell.
Indeed, anglers had to (and still do) use strips and pieces of cut bait (like fish, shrimp, or squid) that were subject to spoilage and “washing out”. Hardly the durable and long lasting non-refrigerated offerings we know and love now. The current product line of Fishbites extends well beyond flavor strips and chunks for “set rig” surf fishing. It is commonly used offshore on drop rigs for snapper and other reef fish. In addition, products like Fight Club® grubs are becoming popular for inshore fish like speckled trout, redfish and flounder Anglers routinely targeting these species find the action, color and scent to be a killer combination and now even freshwater variations are available.
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Choosing a Choke for Dove Hunting BY NICK WILLIAMS 22 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
I’m not a good wingshooter. Despite plenty of time spent behind the barrel of a shot gun, whether on dove fields, rice flats, beaver ponds, timber holes or the local clay range, I have never been able to consistently hit high-flyers or long passing shots.
Why? Because shotguns are close range weapons; dove are fast, small, and hard-tohit; and I am not a good shot! Odds are if a dove is too far away to kill with an open choke, then he’s too far away for me to worry about. Conversely, if a dove gives me an easy shot at 20 yards and I’m shooting a “reach-out-and-touch-him” choke made to throw an acceptable pattern at 40 yards, I am probably going to either miss him or destroy him with the tight pattern that choke gives me at 20 yards.
If you think you may be ready for something a little more advanced, here’s a quickand-easy guide to matching a dove choke to your shooting conditions and ability. All you’ll need is a large roll of paper, a piece of plywood for a backstop, a string, a marker, a shotgun, shells (preferably in a variety of shot sizes and powder loads), Once you’ve patterned your gun, throwing a few clays is always a good idea I’m a big fan of the Trius One-Step trap thrower It lets you easily throw clays for yourself, making it easier to get some practice in
unfortunate lack of natural athleticism, I usually manage to represent myself fairly well in the field. I am rarely the star of a dove shoot, but I fall on the right side of the bell curve. By being honest with myself about my abilities, and spending a little time at the range, I’ve managed to overcome my limitations to some extent.
If you’re reading this article, odds are you too are an average shot on the dove field. Or maybe you’d be thrilled to advance to “average.” Luckily, it’s easy to do. As a young bowhunter I read a great article put out by the Pope & Young organiza tion. They collected data regarding shot distance on all of the entries into their trophy database, and by doing so they found that the average distance at which a P&Y-class buck was killed was about 25 yards. Despite all the material I was reading at the time focusing on being sure you could make shots at deer at the maximum distance your gear was capable of, it seemed that statistically, the best thing you could do was prepare for the “layup” shots.
(As an aside, #7 steel and an open choke will also do a fine job on trusting early-sea son teal who are eager to decoy, you can use up any leftovers as swatter loads once regular duck season kicks off around Thanksgiving here in Alabama. I usually buy a case or two of it every summer.)
I’ve been told it’s kind of like throwing a ball, but I also can’t hit a baseball or throw a good Despitespiral.my
It didn’t take long to extend this line of thinking to my other weapons. For years now, my deer rifles have been sighted in dead-on at a mere 50 yards. And while my bud dies are usually shooting modified to full chokes during dove and duck season, mine almost always wears an improved cylinder. Especially during dove season.
I am willing to bet that if you think about it, you’ve seen that scenario play out in the field. Ask yourself this, if you’re out hunting with your buddies, would you rather pass on a long, difficult shot; or whiff an easy one? My ego feels a little more bruised when I miss a 25 yard “gimme” than a 40 yard Hail Mary.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 23
HUNTING I’ll let you in on a secret…
I changed my bow site from an adjustable slider type that would theoretically let me shoot out to 80 yards to a simple, fixed single pin that was dialed in at 25. I also started leaving my rangefinder at home. Some of my buddies laughed at me, but my misses went way down and I started killing more deer.
With this in mind, if you’ve received an invite to a dove field this year, and you’re looking for simple, actionable advice…shoot an open choke and small shot. Skeet through improved cylinder is just fine, and #7, #8, or #9 low brass is usually inexpen sive and in plentiful supply at your local outdoor store. This combo will give you the good odds at the birds you’re qualified to shoot at, and won’t punish your wallet or your shoulder too hard if you need to reach for a 2nd box of shells to make your limit.
Carlson’s is one of many manufacturers providing hunters with great aftermarket chokes This set fits easily in a cargo pocket or dove vest and lets you swap chokes out in the field in just a couple of seconds
24 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Choosing a Choke for Dove a few chokes, and a safe place to shoot. Most shotguns now come from the manufacturer with a set of factory chokes. In my experience, these are usually just fine for most purposes. However, my Mossberg’s chokes install flush with the barrel, requiring a tool to change. I spent the money on a set of Carlson’s extended chokes that can be changed out in the field by hand, and I have to say it’s been money very well spent. I personally bought their Delta Waterfowl set, which contains what they refer to as a Close-Range, Mid-Range, and Long-Range choke. Roughly, that translates to a cylinder, light modified, and improved modified choke. Don’t let the “Waterfowl” moni ker fool you, I promise they work just fine for dove, quail, and rabbits too! Take your backstop and staple a roughly three foot square sheet of paper to it. I like to buy clearance Christmas wrapping paper after the holidays, but any large roll will work. Using a marker on a 15” piece of string as a make shift protractor, draw a 30” diameter circle on the paper. Mark the middle with a small dot as an aiming point. Back up to whatever range you believe you can engage a dove at, install a choke, aim, and fire. A dove is a small bird, and its vital cavity is only a fraction of total body mass. You are basically targeting a two inch circle. If you can get a pellet or preferably two or three in that circle, you can kill that bird. I like to cut a two inch circle out of the middle of a piece of scrap paper, and move it across the pattern. What you are looking for is an even pattern that doesn’t have any holes a dove can “escape” through.
I would recommend shooting each choke/shell combination at a given yardage three times, and making note of combinations that give a good spread across those three shots. Whether you are shooting at 10 yards or 40, you want a 30” diameter circle filled with enough pellets that a two inch circle can’t exist inside of it without catching one to three pellets. Too thin of a pattern, and you run the risk of not “catching” the bird in the “net” of shot you are throwing from the barrel. Too tight of a pattern, and you are likely to miss completely at that distance or have to figure out a recipe for dove burger if you connect. With any luck, a choke you already own will give you good results. Good dove patterns are not particularly hard to achieve, but the only way to know for sure what’s going on once the shot leaves the barrel is to pattern it. If you cannot find a dove load that patterns well at your chosen range through a choke you have, you’ll have to go shopping. I have found that the only real way to know what a choke will do with your gun is to shoot it, but most manufacturers’ websites will have suggestions on the recommended application for a given choke. As a quick reference, for close shots I find skeet to improved cylinder chokes generally perform adequately. For longer shots (30-40 yards) you may want to look for something closer to a modified Hopefully,choke. this article will help you bag a few more birds this season. I’d like to close by saying that choke selection is ultimately a small part of the bird-killing equation. The first and most important step is to be in a good spot with lots of birds flying, of course. Preferably in the company of a few good friends. But only slightly less important is knowing what your gun and you as a shooter are capable of and working within that framework. So go pattern that gun, bust a few clays to knock the dust off your skills, be safe, and have fun!
Hunting
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Building a CabinDrilling a Well BY DAVID STRICKLAND Davis’s drilling trucks are agile enough to travel into remote areas to search of water . 26 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Many folks build a cabin far from the nearest municipal water lines in search of a little short-term solitude. So if your initial planning has includ ed a well for your water supply, it’s a prudent idea to get your driller to the site before construction begins. Your source of electricity will influence the type of pump and waterlines that carry the water to your new cabin. So, getting a driller out to your site to discuss your options should be your first step in the process.
TYPES OF WELLS
• Drilled - These are the most common type and use percussion or rotary-drilling machines and require the installation of casings.
• Bored- These wells average about two feet in diameter and are machine-augered to depths of 50 to 100 feet.
WATER NEEDS Correctly estimating the volume of H2O you will need at your cabin will depend on how many people will be using it, how often, and how they will use the water. However, determining your total daily water use is merely the first step when planning your water system. Most water use occurs in the morning or evening over a relatively short period. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is that your water source should be able to supply an entire day’s projected water use during two hours of peak demand. For example, if the estimate for your cabin water use is 400 gallons per day, your water system should be sized to provide this amount in two hours.
Many people underestimate their daily water usage and don’t consider that they may also need additional water for a few plants, washing the mud off their vehicles, or cleaning their fish and wild game.
Submersible- This pump must be submerged to operate and is the preferred pump for deeper wells. Davis said he has fewer problems and maintenance issues with the submersibles vs. those above ground.
SITE EVALUATION
ABOVE-GROUND (JET PUMPS) Single-Drop- A single-drop jet pump is adequate for wells 25 feet or less. Double-Drop-These pumps are suitable for wells between 25-125 feet deep.
Davis said he includes the pump, tank, ball valve, and controls, but the customer is responsible for connecting the wiring and pipes to their cabin’s plumbing. However, he said they can provide the electrical and plumbing hookups upon customer requests for an additional fee.
Fortunately, most cabins have access to the power grid, so it’s just a mat ter of getting poles set and lines running to a power box at one’s cottage. Although going off-grid is an option, it adds considerable expense be cause of the specialized pumping system required. Davis said that using solar and a battery bank alone is more complicated, but using a generator during water usage or a generator and a cistern are viable options. He also said adding a hand pump could help, but it would also lead to additional costs.
Heath Davis of Davis Well Company was on a recent Hunting Land Podcast with Joe Baya. Davis discussed what’s involved in determining a well’s location and some of the issues in getting clean water from a well to your spigots. The Davis family can trace their well-drilling roots back to the 20s and 30s. His Dad has been drilling since the late 60s, and Heath began his business nearly 30 years ago. “We’re out right outside Phoenix City, Alabama, and we handle mostly Russell and Lee County, and we are the last ones in Georgia,” explained Davis. “We basically operate within a 50-60 mile radius of Columbus, Georgia.”
Once the idea of building a cabin takes the form of an actual set of plans, and you’ve marked off your build site, you still have to decide how to provide the electricity and water. Unless you’ve got a nearby spring, a di vining rod, or know someone that can witch water with a peach or willow limb, you probably should find a reputable well-drilling company.
• Dug- A dug well is constructed by hand or using excavation equip ment and is usually over two feet in diameter and typically lined with tiles.
• Driven Point- Also called sand-point, these use assembled pipe lengths driven into the ground. They are usually two inches or less in diameter and are generally less than 50 feet in depth.
DAVIS WELL COMPANY
PUMPS
ELECTRICAL NEEDS
Well pumps push water from your well into a storage tank till it’s needed. The tank’s air pressure increases until it reaches a preset level and the pump shuts off. When a faucet opens, the tank pressure pushes water through your plumbing. Once the pressure drops below 40psi, the pump restarts and drives more water into the storage tank.
FILTERS “There are very few times you’re going to come up with perfect water, so we install filters to fix various water quality issues,” Davis said.. Besides sediment, issues with iron, sulfur, and hard water can be remedied but also involve additional expense, according to Davis. According to Davis those filters could add considerably to the final cost and run from $2,300.00 to $4,500.00 extra for more severe issues. Besides the sand, charcoal, and Clorox filters, they also use spin-out and back-washing filters. Davis said that when a homeowner asks about filters, he explains the various options and lets the cabin owner make the final decision.
LIFESTYLE 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 27
For example, Davis said that he’s had people contact him and say they only need a shallow well so they can water a garden, and he had to explain that the flow rate determines how deep a well has to be.
Davis described the process he uses to evaluate a customer’s water needs. “The first thing I do when we talk to them on the phone, I assess their needs and find out exactly where they’re located,” Davis. said. “Many folks decide on a well for their property after they start construc tion, and this can complicate the drilling process if we can’t move our equipment freely around the structure. If you are considering a well, have a driller come out and survey your water needs before you begin Theconstruction.”betterone knows the geology of an area, the easier it is to evaluate local underground water resources. Davis said that because he and his family have drilled so many wells in their service area, they have a high success rate in picking the right spot to sink a well. That’s also why most drillers confine their drilling to a specific area where they are familiar with the geography and geology of the region. For that reason, you may have to contact several drillers to find one familiar with your particular build site.
Chris & Kelley Grantham Elba, Alabama 334-233-2687 ALFandSupply@gmail.comwww.alfandsupply.com DISTRIBUTED BY: ENDORSED BY:Clark’s Plot Nutrients is a true liquid fertilizer that is designed to not only provide fertilizer to your food plot, but also supply calcium. Calcium is vital to the development of deer antler growth and egg shell strength in turkeys. See what a difference it can make on your place! CALL FOR PRICING & QUANTITIES • Will not settle out in your tank or application equipment • There are no particles large enough to clog spray nozzles • It is readily absorbed by plants because it is a foliar application. Therefore, within one hour 80-90% of the fertilizer is already absorbed into the plant and working • Heavy rain will not wash away the fertilizer Unlike many liquid fertilizers, Clark’s Plot EASYNutrients:APPLICATION!!! Liquid Food Plot Fertilizer Plus Calcium Building a Cabin - Drilling a Well Davis said this well produced close to 100 gallon per minute 28 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Contact Information Heath Davis Davis Well daviswellcompany@gmail.com334-855-0302Company
Most of us cannot survive for more than three to four days without clean drinking water, and it also plays a central role in many of our vacations and recreational pursuits. Here in Alabama, we are blessed to have an abundance of water above and below ground, and a good boat and well give us access to both. So, if you are contemplating that getaway cabin and need a well to supply you with enough water to enjoy your temporary seclusion, may I suggest you call Davis Well Company. It’s a family-owned business with a long list of satisfied customers - in Alabama and Georgia. Building a Cabin - Drilling a Well These two filters were installed to correct low pH and reduce high iron levels
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Oysters grown at our farm are consistent in size and flavor profile. Frequent handling and wave energy at our unique location creates a sustain able environment in which our oysters thrive. This combination results in the perfect half shell presentation of the Admiral Oyster.
After talking to a customer about their location and needs, Davis said he can provide a relatively accurate ball-park figure for most customers within his service area. “We provide a base cost down to specific depths, but if additional drilling is required, the extra cost is on a per-foot basis,” said Davis Davis added that his crew can finish a shallow well in as little as two days, but deeper wells can take up to a week. He said three to four days is the typical time frame for installing most wells.
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY & ECOLOGY
CONCLUSION
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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. Call 251.949.7411 for pricing and availability ESTIMATES
We are located near Fort Morgan AL, in an untouched wild stretch of beach that will be immune from develop ment. The site has witnessed centuries of history includ ing the Battle of Mobile Bay as Admiral Farragut charged into the Bay with the iconic line “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead”. That motto comes in handy on cold rainy mornings and when the winds get high!
WARRANTY “All the pumps and parts come with three to five year factory warranties, and we service what we sell. Because we use quality materials, we rarely have any issues, but we guarantee our labor up to a year after installa tion,” said Davis.
Tips for Fishing for Sharks off the Beach or the Boat BY ED MASHBURN 30 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The Gulf of Mexico is very well populated by a great many species of sharks and the one thing that is certain for anglers who spend time working the Gulf waters is that sooner or later, sharks will be encountered. Most of the time, these encounters are accidental in that the angler was fishing for something else and the shark intrud ed. However, certain species of sharks provide such an outstand ing fight when hooked and there’s really no reason to not see some sharks, blacktip sharks specifically, as first-rate gamefish.
Patrick Meek, a regular contributor to the Great Days Outdoors Northwest Florida Fishing Report podcast and avid angler on the beaches near Pensacola, Florida has some good to the point advice for anglers who want to get into some incredible blacktip shark fishing from the sugar-white beaches of northwest Florida. “What I’ll do is catch a ladyfish or bluefish and use it for fresh bait. I’ll break it up into a piece about the size of a fist and walk it out there to the sandbar and just throw it over the sandbar and come back and wait. You know, usually it’s not very long before you’ve got a nice run going with a blacktip. I like to fish for the ones that are at least five feet long. I like the five-to-six-foot blacktips because these are the ones that really put up a fight,” Meek said.
Blacktips like to work rips and cuts in the sandbar where the water from breaking waves is moved back toward the open Gulf and the shadows, which are feeding blacktips, can be seen clearly in these Sometimescuts. anglers will see more than one blacktip in a group and these fish tend to be quite aggressive. At times like this, anglers can look and pick the fish that is to be cast to, and it’s fun when a sight-fished shark responds to the angler’s offering, whether from the beach or from an inshore boat.
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When hooked, blacktips can provide scorching fast runs like king mackerel. In addition, blacktips often leave the water in twisting, spiraling leaps that would make a tarpon jealous. Blacktips provide a hard fight for a long time with serious work required to finally subdue the fish, just like bull redfish. These are pretty good compar isons and recommendations for a real gamefish- the blacktip shark.
FISHING
Many days here on the Gulf Coast, the inshore waters will be quite clear enough for effective sight fishing. The blacktips will usually appear as a shadow moving over the sandy bottom. These shad ows can be over the second sandbar out toward the open Gulf or they can be right on the surf line cruising along the breaking water.
Anglers who sight fish for blacktips can use a boat to slowly cruise the second sandbar off the beach and watch for blacktips as they patrol the water looking for food. These boats give a lot of mobil ity for anglers, and they allow anglers to fight quite large sharks effectively. It goes without saying that anglers sight fishing for blacktip sharks will want to have a good pair of polarized sunglasses, like the Bajio Roca sight fishing glasses (https://bajiosunglasses.com) make spotting blacktips much easier and they offer a good bit of eye protection at the same time.
Rigging for beach fishing for blacktip sharks is crucial. Hooking a big blacktip on a light rig is not very often going to be a happy oc Keep hands well clear of blacktips- those teeth are for real
FROM THE BEACH
WHERE TO LOOK FOR THEM AND WE DO MEAN LOOK FOR THEM
(251) 333-9355 www.mdhfoundationrepair.com EVERY HOME HAS A FOUNDATION • Crawlspace Encapsulation • Floor Support • Concrete Leveling • Wood Pile SPECIALIZINGRepair IN: Tips for Fishing for Sharks off the Beach or the Boat Sunrise on the beach, no one is around except for the angler and the blacktip sharks 32 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
…FROM A KAYAK
For those anglers who want to experience a real battle, launching a kayak from the sand and paddling off shore a hundred yards or so and dropping back a live bait will probably result in more excitement than many folks can stand. Using the same basic gear set up as beach anglers, fishing from a kayak allows greater range of presentation and also allows anglers to fish deeper water in search of blacktips. The kayak used for blacktip fishing will either need a very solid rod holder to secure the rod when bait is being drifted for blacktips, or the angler will need to hold the rod in hand. When a blacktip takes a bait, the first run can be a scorcher, and a too-lightly secured rod can easily be pulled Manyoverboard.blacktip
Instructions 1. Rinse the shark steaks and trim off any skin. 2. Mix together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic salt, thyme, black pepper, and chili powder in a small bowl to form a paste. Spread a thin layer of the soy sauce mixture on both sides of each shark steak. Place on a plate and cover. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
BY MCOMIJOHNS Recipe and image courtesy of www.allrecipes.com
sharks are hooked by kayak anglers on king mack erel steel leader stinger rigs. A king mackerel rig with steel leaders baited with live or fresh-frozen cigar minnows are quite effective on blacktips. A big chunk of fresh live bait will almost always be taken by a shark when fished from a kayak. Once a blacktip is hooked by a kayak angler, there’s not much to be done by the angler except to hang on and let the shark run. The kayak will be moved quite well by a good-sized blacktip shark and the kayak and angler will be pulled along, sometimes for quite a long way. Many times the shark will tail-whip the line and break off after a bit of a fight, and this is probably best for everyone involved.
A blacktip hooked by a kayak angler should be played, worked, and if the hook and leader hold until the fish is whipped down, the leader should be cut and the shark allowed to go on its way. The hook will soon rust away, and the shark will be just fine. A good pair of leader-cutting pliers should be part of every off-the beach kayak angler’s gear.
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Tips for Fishing for Sharks off the Beach or the Boat casion. On a too-light rig, a hooked blacktip will run the line out and the angler will be left with a cleaned-out reel. Most often, the shark simply bites through the leader and is gone. I have a couple of reels I use for sharks. I use a Penn Torque 9 loaded with 65 pound braid. The other reel I use is a Van Stall 250 with 50 pound braid and marry both with a 12-foot surf rod. Rigging shark leaders is crucial. Those shark teeth are legendarily sharp, and the legends are true. “I try to make my leaders at least as long as the shark I’m targeting because as soon as you hook up a blacktip, there’s going to be a jump, he’s going to thrash, and you need to be sure he doesn’t fray your braid,” Meeks said. “I make about a seven-foot leader with a 10.0 to 13.0 circle hook-non stainless and I use a two-foot section of 250 pound. 49 strand cable crimped to about a six-foot section of 500 pound mono. This allows me to use the leader more than once. This leader set-up is plenty castable and it does the job and you can use it several times.”
Seven Spiced Shark Steaks Try this recipe for spicy, tangy, and delicious shark! Ingredients • 3 (8 ounce) shark steaks • ¼ cup soy sauce • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce • 2 tablespoons onion powder • 2 tablespoons garlic salt • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme • 2 tablespoons ground black pepper • 2 tablespoons chili powder
3. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). 4. Arrange the shark on a baking sheet. Bake the shark in the preheated oven until cooked completely through, about 40 minutes, turning the steaks over once, about half-way through the cooking time.
The most important thing to keep in mind when kayak fishing for blacktip sharks is that no shark, no matter the size, should be brought into the kayak for release. Sharks are very strong, and a shark can tear up a kayak- and a kayak angler, too- if the fish is brought aboard.
How FertilizerMuchperAcreofFoodPlots
In addition, you don’t have to have a perfect soil pH or even know what the pH of the soil is before you plant. The soil’s pH doesn’t affect how much liquid fertilizer gets in the plant as it does if you use granular fertilizer on the ground. Of course, nothing replaces planting your green field in an area that has good soil with proper pH. Liquid fertilizer can enhance the nutrients in the soil and make up for the deficiencies in the soil where you plant your green fields.”
Grantham usually waits up to eight weeks before he resprays his food plot after the initial spraying of liquid fertilizer, depending on how much of the food plot has been eaten by the deer. Liquid fertilizer will feed fall, spring and summer green fields and can be used year-round. Liquid fertilizer performs faster than granular because it’s taken in through the leaves of the plants instead of coming up from the roots.
One of the major problems with planting green fields is that deer go to your fields primarily before daylight and after dark. However, Alabama Liquid Fertilizer has evidence that liquid fertilizer can help solve this problem. Two types of fertilizer used on green fields include: granular fertilizer that’s put in the ground before planting; and liquid fertilizer that’s sprayed on the plants themselves when a crop covers the ground.
BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS
“Since the liquid fertilizer is absorbed through the leaves, spraying liquid fertilizer will help your plants put on more tonnage quicker than granular will,” said Chris Grantham with Alabama Liquid Fertilizer. “Another advantage of liquid fertilizer is that 80-90% of the liquid fertilizer is ab sorbed into the plants within the first few hours of spraying and will start attracting wildlife much faster than granular fertilizer will.”
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According to Chris Grantham with Alabama Liquid Fertilizer, “One of my customers sprayed our fertilizer on a green field at 10:00 am one morning, and at 2:30 pm, he harvested a nice 8-pointer there.”
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HUNTING
Grantham mentioned that a customer wrote and told him he sprayed his green field with Alabama Liquid Fertilizer 6-12-6 and 1% calcium on a green field at 10:00 am one morning, and at 2:30 pm, he harvested a nice 8-pointer there. Deer may travel miles to reach a particular green field that’s been sprayed with liquid fertilizer.
Some Georgia bowhunters have reported that they spray Alabama Liquid Fertilizer according to package instructions on native plants like blackberries, greenbrier, American Beauty berry and smilax the day before they hunt within bow range of their tree stands. They’ve learned that deer will come and start eating those native plants, just as they will a planted green field.
“In some of our promotions, we say that our product will allow you to steal your neighbor’s deer,” Grantham said with a smile.
ATTRACT DEER IN THE DAYTIME AND FROM LONG DISTANCES WITH LIQUID FERTILIZER Liquid fertilizer may increase your odds for seeing and harvesting bucks over green fields during daylight hours. The plants treated with liquid fertilizer become much-more palatable to the deer much quicker.
Grantham once was a partner for a deer hunt for 18-disabled veter ans and sprayed 18-food plots with Alabama Liquid Fertilizer on a Wednesday before they hunted on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Eighteen veterans took 18 deer from 18-food plots - one of the Regardless of the greenfield plantings you choose, Alabama Liquid Fertilizer can help to grow a bigger crop quicker, especially if you haven’t had an opportunity to do a soil test
“The liquid fertilizer makes the plants more palatable to deer faster be cause the resulting nitrogen in the plants provides protein for the deer,” Grantham explained.. “Deer need protein just like humans do. A plant that tastes better to the deer and is more palatable will be preferred over other food choices. You’ll not see 14” tall food plots when using liquid fertilizer. The deer will keep the food plot eaten down like a lawn mower has cut it. But even if the deer eats the food plot down to the ground, it will come back.”
To explain, if you sit a bowl of turnip greens and a bowl of vanilla ice cream with syrup on it in front of a youngster at the same time and hand him a spoon or a fork, more than likely, he’ll choose the ice cream because it tastes better. Liquid fertilizer is a deer’s ice cream. Deer will come from great distances to get the ice cream (plants treated with liquid fertilizer and its nutrients, including calcium).
Several major companies sell Alabama Liquid Fertilizer, including:
KNOW MORE ABOUT LIQUID FERTILIZER
Because the bucks get nutrition from the liquid fertilizer in the plants, they’ll be healthier, stronger and bigger. Since the does are feeding on the same plants as the bucks, they’re receiving more calcium and can make more milk for their fawns, resulting in healthier, stronger does and fawns.
. How Much Fertilizer per Acre of Food Plots 36 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
If you want to: have deer show-up on your food plots quickly; draw bucks from your neighbors’ properties; and spend less money on fertiliz er this year than you had last year, buy Alabama Liquid Fertilizer.
This low-cost investment of time and money can prove not only how effective liquid fertilizer can be, but what a tremendous hunting aid it can be for you. With the cost of shipping so high, you may want to consider buying it through Alabama Farmers Cooperatives that carry Mossy Oak BioLogic Liquid Forage Max and Liquid Clover Max or at farm stores that offer Southern Seed and Feed’s Clark’s Liquid Plot Nutrients. If your local farm store doesn’t have Alabama Liquid Fertilizer, the store can order it for you by calling Chris Grantham at 334-233-2687.
*Mossy Oak offers BioLogic Forage Max Liquid Food with a 6-12-6 composition and 1% calcium, and BioLogic Clover Max Liquid Fertilizer with a 0-10-20 no nitrogen composition through Alabama Farmers Cooperatives,” Grantham said. “Clover is a legume that with the proper soil bacteria converts nitrogen gas from the air to a plant-available form, even possibly adding nitrogen to the soil, and therefore needs no nitrogen in its fertilizer; *Southern Seed and Feed that sells Clark’s Liquid Plot Nutrients, a 6-12-6 fertilizer with 1% calcium, made by Alabama Liquid Fertilizer for food plots in various seed and feed stores,” he added.
most-successful veterans’ hunts ever. Grantham reported that deer can smell the palatability of the liquid fertil izer within 1-1/2 to 2 hours after the green field has been sprayed.
UNDERSTAND THE ROLES OF CALCIUM AND PHOS PHORUS IN DEER GROWTH AND HEALTH
Once your food plot covers the ground, you can spray it with liquid fertilizer, and the fertilizer quickly goes into the plants’ leaves and provides the nutrients to help the plants become more palatable and produce more tonnage than granular fertilizer does
SAVE MONEY USING LIQUID FERTILIZER “If you use a granular fertilizer like 13-13-13, you’ll pay about $26 for a 50-pound bag and will need about 200-250 pounds of granular 13-13-13 per acre, for a cost of between $100 - $130 per acre,” Grantham ex plained. “Liquid fertilizer costs about $27 per gallon, and generally two gallons of liquid food-plot fertilizer will be recommended for a one acre food plot, costing about $50-$54 per acre. Liquid fertilizer drastically reduces your cost to fertilize a green field.”
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Liquid fertilizer has been available since the 1950s, and many lawncare companies, golf-course managers, athletic-field superintendents and farmers know and understand the advantages of using it. However, since green-field plantings for wildlife is a relatively-new agricultural practice, many hunters don’t have the knowledge of how liquid fertilizer can save them money, bring deer to their green fields quicker, draw deer from great distances to their green fields and help attract deer to appear on green fields in the daytime. Try this test to learn more. Use granular fertilizer as always on your large green fields. Once the plants cover the ground, and you can’t see any earth, spray one corner or one side of that green field with liquid fertilizer. Then with a hand or a backpack sprayer, spray about a 10-yard stretch of liquid fertilizer from the location where you’ve sprayed it at the end or the side of the field out to the middle of the field. Set-up your tree stand, and watch what happens.
“Our Alabama Liquid Fertilizer we spray on food plots isn’t only to make plants taste better and produce more tonnage (more food for the deer), but it also has the same effect as a mineral lick to replenish the minerals of calcium and phosphorus in deer,” Grantham said.. “The phosphorus is the 12 in the 6-12-6 formulation. Also, we’ve added 1% calcium to our food-plot formulation to help a buck’s body recover quicker after growing his antlers and to build his body back, bigger and stronger.”
“We don’t know the distance a deer can smell the ingredients in our liq uid fertilizer, but we do know we’ve had a deer come from over one mile away to feed on a green field sprayed with our liquid fertilizer,’’ he said.
Grantham is often asked, “Why put calcium in a green-field liquid fertilizer?” His response is that when a buck is growing his antlers, he pulls 60% of the calcium he needs to grow his antlers out of his skeletal structure. Once a buck’s rack is out of the velvet, and the animals are in” hard horn”, the bucks must replace the calcium and phosphorus they’ve pulled from their skeletal systems, generally accomplishing that with the foods they eat.
*Mossy Oak’s BioLogic Website: https://www.plantbiologic.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mossyoakbiologic/ Southern Feed and Seed Website: https://southernseedfeed.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernSeedFeed/ Locations: https://southernseedfeed.com/where-to-buy/
// GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 37
Patents Pendingor visit
Contact Information
*Alabama Liquid Fertilizer & Supply Email: Chris Grantham at alfandsupply@gmail.com Phone or Text: 334-233-268 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALFandSupply/
*Alabama Farmers Cooperatives Website: https://www.alafarm.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alafarm/ Locations: https://www.alafarm.com/locations.
When to Spray Liquid Fertilizer Spray liquid fertilizer when you no longer can see dirt because your crop is above ground, and your plot has more leaf area than dirt area. For instance, if you’ve planted an acre of soybeans, they’ll come up and hide the dirt within six to eight weeks. That’s when you should spray.
TexasAnglerProducts.com
How Much Fertilizer per Acre of Food Plots
Why Liquid Fertilizer Is Good for Turkeys
Grantham emphasized that the calcium in Alabama Liquid Fertilizer is important to turkeys. “Liquid-plot fertilizer gives turkeys the extra calcium and phosphorus they need to strengthen the shells of the eggs they lay. Farmers know that with chickens, they must provide them with a calcium supplement to make their eggshells stronger. Alabama Liquid Fertilizer makes turkey egg shells stronger too. Spraying your food plots with liquid fertilizer puts the calcium and the phosphorus directly into the plants the turkeys are eating. Actually, every critter in the wildlife food chain that eats some type of greenery in a food plot to which liquid fertilizer has been applied, receives these additional benefits of calcium and phosphorus.”
Grow Beautiful Lawns, Golf Courses and Athletic Fields Alabama Liquid Fertilizer offers 16 types of liquid fertilizer, including formulations for lawns, golf courses and athletic fields. Some of these fertilizers can change the color of the grass in 1 to 1-1/2 hours from light or brownish green to a dark Granthamgreen.has
photos of a football field that was light green on a Monday, was then sprayed with liquid fertilizer and had become a rich, deep green by game day on Saturday. Golf courses flourish too with liquid fertilizer. 877.314.1237
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38 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
“It is a simple test and we will even come out and do the test for you,” Latona said. “Based on the results we can give you a good idea as to how much lime you need to put in and it’s based on tons per acre.”
“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 shell crackers, fathead minnows, golden shiners and even threadfin shad,” Latona said. “Typically, the bluegill that we stock are in the one-to-three-inch size range and the ideal forage stocking timeline is from early fall all the way to late winter.” How many forage fish and largemouth bass should you stock? According to Latona the time-honored standard is approximately 10 forage fish to one predator per acre, which is a 10 to 1 ratio. That can change depending on what the pond owner wants to accomplish. If the goal is to produce trophy bass, Latona may cut down on the number of bass stocked or substantially increase the number of forage fish to make sure that those bass that are stocked have plenty to eat for maximum weight gain. On the other hand, if the goal is to ensure a bunch of respectable medium size bass to catch the ratio of bass introduced may increase as well as the forage fish at the beginning of the process.
“The cost of transportation with dump trucks, depending on the distance involved, nowadays can cost as much as the material itself so it makes sense to lime for a longer period of time,’ Latona said. “If you need one ton per acre annually, you should consider doing three to four tons per acre every three to four years.”
#5 - Aquatic Vegetation Control Sometimes weeds and aquatic vegetation can get out of control and literally take
#1 - Pond Evaluation
Liming is a critical and foundational step that can have a huge impact on water quality and appearance, especially as it relates to fish production.
The next step is fertilizing. Once the pH is in sync, fertilizing allows for the growth of planktonic algae that constitutes the base for the pond food chain.
Alkalinity Is water’s ability to resist changes in pH and is a measure of the concen tration elements like carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, phosphates and borates. Liming increases pH, which can help the water to clear suspended particles (as in mud) and can help initiate plankton life and growth by increasing light. It increases nutrients, specifically phytoplankton which is the base of the food chain in fish ponds and results in rapid fish growth and survival.
Lake and RestorationPondStep 2 Management Plan Creation
Latona pointed out that all that is needed to test for alkalinity is a simple water test.
The very first thing that is required is to do an overall assessment of the physical scenario of the pond and its infrastructure. A pond is a “physical plant” and over time, it will show signs of aging and deteriora Latonation.
BY WILLIAM KENDY
emphasized that it is important to make sure that your dams are safe and that there are no channels or ditches undercutting the foundation. In addition, make sure it is absolutely free of woody vegetation in the front, top and back sides and the reason is roots. “While woody vegetation and the subsequent roots anchor the soil to some extent and help prevent erosion, they can severely tunnel underneath and even into the dam and if a storm knocks down that tree suddenly you have a big hole that most likely will fill with water and possible result in structural problem,” Latona said. “You want the sides, top and back of the dam to be free of woody vegetation and have the right slope to be able to use a bush hog or other equipment to keep things cut or, if necessary, you can use herbicides”.
#2 – Fish Population and Health Inventory
“Fertilization is almost always beneficial…it boosts baseline production by 300400%,” Latona said. #4 - Supplemental Stocking Supplemental stocking is frequently indicated, most often to bolster the forage fish community. The most common forage species to stock include bluegill, threadfin shad, tilapia, crawfish, and golden shiners
Since lime is a rock, it takes time to disperse so it only has to be done once every three or four years. While lime isn’t very expensive, delivery cost is a consideration.
#3 – Liming and Fertilizing
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Whether you decide to manage your pond for general recreation or cultivate it for trophy bass fishing, you need to have a plan. That entails a written definition of what you want to accomplish and how you are going to do that and, if you truly want the best results, it makes sense to work with pond management professionals. Norman Latona is founder and president of Southeastern Pond Management based out of Birmingham, Alabama. SEPond offers a plethora of pond and lake related services, including ecosystem analysis, management programs, liming, fertilizing, electroshocking, fishing stock inventory analysis and removal processes, stocking of forage and game fish, aquatic weed control and more. According to Latona, there are a number of “input cornerstones” required for good pond management and they are listed below.
Depending on the objectives and goals of the pond owner it makes sense to do an inventory of the fish population. That is where electroshocking comes into play. It gives SEPond an idea as to the vitality of the fish population, overall health and pro vides a base on which to develop a management plan. For example, if the pond is “predator crowded” and the majority of the bass are skinning and undersized, it may require removing some of the bass to bring the predator and forage fish population back into a healthy balance.
Introducing grass carp can also help solve the issue.
#7 – Fish Habitat Bass need a place to hang out where they feel protected, provides shade and serves as a hideout to ambush forage fish and the more structure the better. You can sink logs, brush, Christmas trees, concrete riprap etc, but whatever structure you sink in your pond won’t last forever. “There are a number of viable options that have been created by various companies that are artificial elements, artificial structure that look like trees, bushes and other vegetation with limbs and they are fairly economical and last forever,” Latona said.
In addition to herbicides there are other more organic ways to control a pond’s vegetation inventory. Latona explained that most aquatic nuisance plants have their origins in the mud in the bottom of the pond and need sunlight to develop and grow. Consequently, by coloring the water by liming and fertilizing and limiting the amount of sunlight that penetrates down into the water column to the mud, that alone inhibits aquatic weed growth.
“Texas Hunter has some amazing stuff like lily pads that float on the surface to simulate lily pads and create top water fishing along with a bottom anchored fish pyramid that provide structure and shade,” Latona pointed out.” They have got grasses and leafy items that are designed to deploy and sink to the bottom and they last a long time.” “We get heavily involved in developing a planned habitat design and then going out and installing the product and they last for a long time,” he added.
#6 – Supplemental Forage Fish Feeding Supplemental forage fish feeding is a useful and productive management input aimed at providing a nutritional boost to the bluegill, as well as concentrating them into an area, making them easier to catch and can produce some lunkers. The healthier the bluegills are, the more they will reproduce and that means more fry for bass to eat. Texas Hunter has a full line of fish feeders.
“Grass carp are not going to completely eradicate aquatic vegetation unless you stock them at a super high density, but they are a piece of the puzzle and part of the strategic solution,” Latona added.
“While it sounds counterintuitive to fertilize in order to stop weed growth, what we are attempting to do is grow planktonic algae in the water that give a pond that green tip and reduce sunlight penetration and stop weed growth.” Latona said. That actually adds up to a giant shade cloth over the pond and cuts down on the visibility and sunlight penetration to the bottom.”
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over the pond. Aquatic Herbicides can solve this issue.
Lake and Pond Restoration Step 2 - Management Plan Creation Contact Information Norman SoutheasternLatonaPond Management CP: www.sepond.comnlatona@sepond.com(205)288-1371 Office: 888-830-7663 Texas Hunter Products Phone: 210.734.5189 Toll Free: 800.969.3337 Email: www.texashunter.cominfo@TexasHunterProducts.com 40 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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Most patients wish they’d gotten surgery sooner . 42 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Seales said that he does a lot of joint replacement surgeries on people in their 60s and 70s. He’s also performed surgery on healthy individuals in their 80s and 90s.He pointed out that it’s not only the old who are afflicted.
At this point, many people seek out joint replacement surgery, which is a procedure in which an arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface is replaced with an orthopedic prosthesis. Hip and knee replacements are the most common ly performed joint replacements, but replacement surgery can be performed on other joints, as well, including the ankle, wrist, shoulder and elbow.
“In the last five years, the use of the robotic arm in joint replacement surgery has really changed things for the better,” he said. “With the Stryker robotic arm system, I can get a CT scan of the affected joint, which allows me to get perfect sizing and alignment. It helps make actual cuts so the alignment is within ½ millimeter and a half of a degree of where it’s supposed to be.
So, when should someone seek joint-replacement surgery?
Seales says the surgery typically only takes 30 minutes and now that he’s performing them with the Stryker Mako® robotic-arm, the procedure is even more precise.
Younger patients can suffer from other types of arthritis, injuries and joint disease that require joint replacement surgery as well.
WHY THE WAIT?
Burt Moore of McCalla, Alabama, has hunted since he was a child. But several years ago, severe pain in his right knee almost put an end to the sport he loved. “My hunting camp is in Alabama’s Blackbelt, where conditions during deer season can be muddy and swampy,” Moore said. “The pain in my knee made trudging through that mud almost impossible. It also got to where I couldn’t use my climbing stand. So, I had to do something about it. I got joint-replacement surgery in my knee and was able to resume deer hunting not long after. I could even use my climber again. That was 13 years ago, and I’m still out there enjoying the sport I love.”
According to Seales, often people suffering from joint disease wait much longer than they should before pursuing joint-replacement surgery.
“I tell people it may be time for surgery if they get to where they can no longer do the things they enjoy doing because of joint pain. If it’s affecting their everyday life, it’s time to do something about it. For example, if you’re a deer hunter, but can no longer climb into your stand because of knee or hip pain, you need to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon,” Seales “Everyexplained.day in the clinic, I hear pleased patients who’ve had the surgery say they wish they had done it a long time ago once they realize how quickly they can regain pain-free full range of motion,” he added.
Moore’s story is a common one, and since joint disease more often affects older individuals, it is becoming even more common among hunters as the average age for those who participate in the sport increases. Joint pain, caused by injury and chronic disease, such as osteoarthritis, causes stiffness and swelling that can severely limit movement. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about one in four adults in America suffer from doctor-diagnosed arthritis and nearly 44% of those diagnosed are physically limited to the point they can’t fully take part in the activities and hobbies they enjoy. For some, the joint pain becomes so bad that, like Moore, they can no longer enjoy hunting or fishing like they once did. Climbing into a treestand becomes impossible. Walking for miles through the woods is out of question. Even climbing in and out of a boat can be challenging for someone with severe joint pain.
BY STEPHANIE MALLORY Fishing / Hunting After Total
Dr. Jacob Seales, a joint replacement and revision surgeon in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, who specializes in hip and knee replacements assisted by the Stryker Mako® robotic-arm, says the most common joint disease is osteoarthritis, which can have a genetic component and is also a result of the natural wear and tear on joints from aging. “The longer you live, the more likely you are to suffer from osteoarthritis,” Seales said.. “When cartilage breaks down and thins out, it causes pain and inflammation. Before it gets too severe, we try to control the pain through physical therapy and injections. But, once that cartilage is gone, then you have bone rubbing on bone, which can cause intense pain.”
“Often they delay just because they’re afraid to have surgery, but after receiving the surgery, many of my patients say they should have done it a long time ago.”
BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC ARM-ASSISTED SURGERY
The robotic arm offers a much more precise way of performing this surgery. It allows me to fine tune cuts so I can do less soft tissue release to make ReplacementJoint
Surgery LIFESTYLE 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 43
Seales said patients will need to do some physical therapy after surgery to get their full range of motion back, especially if they had knee surgery, because knees can get stiff if they forgo therapy. He said hips don’t typically get stiff; they just need to gain strength after Assurgery.withany
Nearly 44% of those diagnosed with joint disease can’t fully take part in the activities and hobbies they enjoy .
44 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Fishing / Hunting After Total Joint Replacement Surgery adjustments, which means less need for pain control and a quicker
Oncerecovery.”surgery is performed, Seales says hospital staff will usually have the patient up and moving around within a few hours, and they can often return home the same day. Older, more debilitated patients can usually return home the next day.
“Usually, after around six weeks of recovery, most people are starting to get back to their normal lives and doing the things they enjoyed doing before they suffered from severe joint pain. They’ll have some limits the first couple of months, but after three months, they will enjoy pain-free full range of movement in the replaced joint with no restrictions or long-term issues.”
surgery, there are risks, such as problems from anes thesia, infection, bleeding from your incision, blood clots, damage to nerves or blood vessels, dislocation with hip replacement, and even death, but these complications are extremely rare.
Those who move forward with the surgery often discover their quality of life is greatly improved. Seales say they are often able to actively hunt, fish and enjoy other outdoor activities without the pain they once experienced.
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BY CAPT. BOBBY ABRUSCATO How to UsingTroutSpeckledCatchBirds 46 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
“This should get some things moving” was my thought as I began prepping my Skeeter for launch. It turned out to be prophetic. Our first stop was up the Tensaw River just past Crab Creek. Lack of wind and a hard moving current made the drift a perfect one except for the one minor fact that we didn’t get a bite- a head scratcher for me.
First, it’s important to know what types of birds give away feeding trout. Pel icans are plentiful again along the Gulf Coast but feed mainly on fin-fish like mullet and particularly pogies. Although trout eat pogies, I find that when the pelicans are diving on them the sudden splash of the diving pelican works to shut the trout bite down- possibly because it is so loud and sudden. Also, the pogies can often get so thick that they muddy the water, making the trout fishing tough. I don’t get terribly excited about diving pelicans unless I need pogies for snapper bait, etc. This is the same with cormorants and loons as well. The best speckled trout activity is when the trout are feeding on shrimpwhich is always. Certain times of the year, especially during the transitional periods- shrimp begin their moves toward spawning areas. This is triggered by changes in the water temperatures. As mentioned above, when the trout begin feeding on the bottom dwelling shrimp, they run to the surface making them easy prey for the birds.
FISHING Contact Information Capt. Bobby Abruscato A-Team Fishing Adventures e-mail odepot@bellsouth.net www.ateamfishing.com 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 47
So remember a few things about fishing bird schools. First learn to recognize the correct species of birds and how they are behaving. Understand how you can approach the school to make the longest cast. Most importantly, do whatever it takes to keep from spooking the fish. All these done correctly will result in some incredible speckled trout action.
As mentioned, long casts are a big key anytime while fishing for trout, but when under birds it is especially important. Often, the schools are moving with the bait rather than relating to a piece of structure. If they are spooked, they will move on in search of bait. My main rod for fishing trout under birds is a 7-7’6” spinning rod, a 2000-2500 sized Penn Conflict spinning reel with 12# Nanofil or Ultra 8 line from Berkley. Because the trout will be near the surface- even in deeper water, I like to use a Fairhope Rattle popping cork with a shrimp imitation about 2 feet beneath it. This combination throws a long way with minimal effort and the popping cork sounds just like a trout striking a shrimp on the surface.
If you start to catch fish of varying sizes it means there are multiple schools of fish there. If this happens, try a lead-headed jig to get through some of the small fish that stay towards the surface in a deep water school. Oftentimes the bigger fish are below the small fish.
It was the first true cold snap of the late fall and we were scheduled to fish in the Mobile Delta. I opened the door of the truck at the boat launch in the predawn darkness and was met by a blast of frigid air.
The two types of gulls that really give trout activity away are the Royal tern and especially the laughing gull. These are the larger gull species and they have uncanny eyesight as just one fleeing shrimp will get their attention. The gulls will hover over the schools and several will dive when a shrimp is chased to the surface. That’s the movement I look for. As in our above-mentioned trip, often there will be swarms of birds, but just one or two can also give away a super-hot bite. A very useful tool for me is a small pair of binoculars. I leave them on the dash and if I think I see something interesting, I can focus in on it to be sure before making a false alarm run. The binoculars have paid for them selves many times over just in the gas I save! Lastly, don’t be fooled into a run by the smaller Least terns. They feed on small minnows and rarely give
a trout school away. They have been dubbed by many trout fishermen as the “liar” bird because of this. When the right bite has been located, setting up on it is critical in taking ad vantage of it. The key is to determine which direction the boat will be drifting in relation to the feeding fish- the operative word being “drift”. Roaring in with the outboard will shut down even a super-hot school. Take the extra moment to determine how to get set up so you can quietly drift into the school while making long casts. As soon as someone gets bit, figure out a way to stop the boat. If it’s shallow enough, Power Poles are ideal, but some other sort of anchoring device that is quiet will work too. In deeper water, holding the boat with the trolling motor is effective- especially if you can get stopped far enough away.
“Okay let’s make a move. Y’all bundle back up, we’re going to run for a few minutes.” were my instructions. We ran around to the Spanish River and headed north toward Grand Bay. As I turned to the northeast into what becomes the Raft River, I was looking into a rising sun so I thought I was seeing things. From the intersection of the rivers to well up the Raft past Runamok Island were solid diving gulls. We ran around the bulk of the activity and set up a drift through the fray. The bite was insane with non-stop double, triple and quadruple hook ups for several two mile long drifts. When the bite finally slowed and we caught our breath we figured that we had landed well over 100 nice speckled trout, some redfish and even a freshwater catfish! Definitely an epic day of inshore fishing thanks in large part to the bite being given away by bird activity- al though I did take credit for finding the fish! From freshwater to blue water, bird activity is used by anglers in almost ev ery type of fishery to locate feeding fish. The prey of the fish is also the prey of the birds and when the fish feed they drive their prey to the surface; which then becomes prey for the birds. Birds are much easier to see for us anglers than fish, although with the sonar technology that is available some of that is changing! Here are some tips on recognizing the right bird activity to locate inshore saltwater fish, and how to take advantage of the signs.
On a side note, it’s not only wise to keep a school biting for yourself, but if someone else is on it, it’s common courtesy to do whatever you can to keep the fishing biting. Sometimes even moving along to another school is best. As you get close to the school you’ll notice that often the birds will move away. Keep in mind that the fish are still there as they will continue to feed if they are not spooked. I have educated many of my clients on this as they’ll see the birds start diving somewhere else while we are still catching fish. I have to remind them that we are fishing for trout not birds, so we don’t care where the birds are if we are catching fish!
Of course, live bait works on these schools, but the action is so fast you’ll need to take out a bank loan to cover the amount of live shrimp you’ll burn through! Lastly, I plan my trips not expecting to see any diving birds, but when I do, I consider finding a school of trout under birds a bonus. Just as sure as you plan on finding them, you’ll never see any. Also, remember that the shrimp that the trout are on are always on the move. Typically you’ll see them in a general area for a few days, but rarely can you count on them being in the exact same place.
BY JOSH HONEYCUTT Picking the Best Night VisionforScopeYourPurpose 48 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
THREE NIGHT VISION OPTIONS
“It must have a photon to amplify,” Kirk said. “You couldn’t use it in a cave, for ex ample. But under starlight, moonlight, city glow lighting up the sky, or any available light, it should give enough light to see around you.”
Night hunting for hogs and predators is a fun and effective activity and part of the process involves picking the best night vision scope for your purpose. Hunters and gun enthusiasts alike commonly search for the best night vision scopes on the market. While there are numerous options available, there are pros and cons with selecting a monocular night vision system that attaches to a scope versus a dedicated night vision rifle scope. Follow along as we analyze the various uses of the former and the limitations of each option.
“The difference between night vision and thermal is, when using the night vision system, you’re seeing the actual scene with high definition and a lot of resolution,” Kirk said. “With thermal, you’re only getting a heat signature. The downside to ther mal is you can’t ever be behind a cool surface. If there is foliage between you and the target, [the sight picture] can be impeded. That’s why I like night vision. I like to see the actual scene.”
For those who are leaning toward thermal optics instead, consider the pros and cons of each avenue. While thermal optics might even seem more appealing, in many ways, it’s inferior to night vision. Most people who are experienced in both tend to choose night vision over thermal.
That’s an oversimplification, but that’s ultimately what you’re trying to do — turn night into day.”
“Knowing if it’s the right product for you, and whatever your purpose is, is the key factor,” said Photonis Defense’ hunting and night vision expert, Sean Kirk. “You want to use the right tool for the right job. You want a system that sees in the dark.
The first option is a dedicated night vision scope system. It works well and is rock-solid, but it’s the least versatile of all market options. “A weapons sight is a weapons sight — It’s staying on the gun,” Kirk said. “If you need to look through it, you must lift the gun to your shoulder. Also, these tend to have a lot of amplifica tion, so you aren’t getting a wide field of view. When looking through a monocular, you’re getting a 40 degrees field of view no matter what. While this does include everything you need for night vision, it comes with addition al downsides. “You must switch between day and night systems,” Kirk said. “So, you’d have to remove a daytime scope to put on a dedicated night vision sight, and vice versa.”
NIGHT VISION EXPLAINED
Another option is famous for its acronym. “From there, you could buy what we call a COWS, which is a clip-on weapons sight,” Kirk said. “This is an inline optic. You’re taking your day sight, and you have Choosing the right nighttime optics for your hunting gun is no small task. Choose wisely
The modern night vision technology is miles ahead of where it once was. Today’s night vision equipment is very advanced and extremely effective. “An image inten sifier (https://www.photonis.com/solutions/commercial-night-vision) is a vacuum tube that is designed to take low levels of light and amplify it,” Kirk said. “That’s essentially what it does. It takes photons and turns them into electrons. It then scatters those electrons onto a green or white phosphorous screen. Everybody has seen the white or green phosphor when they’re looking through night vision in the movies. That’s exactly that. It gives you amplified light so you can see in very dark situations.” Complete darkness won’t work, though. You need some light.
Of course, for those who’ve opted to go with night vision, there are additional things to consider, including the following.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 49
Picking the Best Night Vision Scope for Your Purpose 50 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
GETTING STARTED
Cables · Transmission Parts · Ring & Pinions, Axles · 4X4 Drive Shafts & Differentials Custom Built Control Cables · Complete 4WD Services · All Types of Parts Specializing in Agricultural Clutches and Drive Shafts Time to Get Your 4x4 Ready for Hunting Season 1159 South Broad St. MOBILE, AL 36603 1-800-239-2191 OUR www.clutchproducts.comLOCATION251-433-3696 DIVISION OF CLUTCH PRODUCTS INC. & POWERTRAIN an in-line optic that has a night vision intensifier in it, and you’re using it to then be able to adjust your azimuth, elevation, and zero through your day Thesight.third option is an excellent route (for most). It is a monocular night vision attachment system. “If you need a budget-friendly scope, the easiest thing to do is take a small monocular, like our Vyper 14 and mount it to a rail — either in front of or behind — depending on how you want to use it,” Kirk said. “Pair it with a day scope you are comfortable using. That’s the most budget-friendly way to do Accordingit.” to Kirk, if you have a monocular, and you want to use your exist ing day sight, you can simply take it off the rail and use it as a handheld or head-mounted device. Because of this, you have some flexibility in using it for different situations in the field.
Those who plan to purchase night vision should already have or purchase a weapon for it. The preferred platform is an AR, with higher-quality bolt-ac tion rifles being used occasionally. That said, use whatever you know best. Then, regardless of the chosen weapon, practice with it repeatedly. Become completely familiar with the system. If legal where you hunt, night vision offers numerous advantages that boost the odds of success. Using it appropriately helps you see the target before it sees you. You might bag one or two hogs during the daytime but using night vision after dark increases opportunities for taking even more hogs during the hunt. “The most common use is for hunting,” Kirk said. “Where legal, night vision
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 51
Photonis Defense Vyper Monocular System Another great option is the Photonis Vyper Monocular System (https://photonisdefense.com/vyper-tm/). It is a rugged option that works very well for hunters. According to Photonis, the Vyper monocular system achieves MILSPEC performance when paired with the Photonis Defense 4G image tube. Furthermore, when the Vyper is integrated with the Photonis Defense ECHO image tube, the system can even provide near MILSPEC performance at a commer cial price point. The Vyper Monocular is also crafted with high-strength resin. It offers superior impact resistance. Its custom sleeve protects the image intensifier tube. It’s even tested for shock, submersion, drop, and vibration.
Let’s MakotalkSmartRobotics™ All surgery carries risk. See your orthopaedic surgeon to discuss your potential benefits and risks. Not all patients will have the same post-operative recovery and activity level. Individual results vary. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Mako, SmartRobotics, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders. MKOSYM-PM-22_26313 Copyright © 2020 Stryker Is hip or knee pain keeping you from activities you love? Then take the first step towards recovery. Watch this webinar to learn more. Watch a free hip and knee pain webinar In this webinar you will learn about: • Arthritis of the hip and knee • Mako SmartRobotics™ technology • AccuStop™ technology • Surgical & non-surgical joint pain treatment options On-Demand | Watch Now! MakoGDO.com Contact Information Photonis photonisdefense.comDefense Picking the Best Night Vision Scope for Your Purpose scopes are excellent for effectively hunting coyotes, hogs, and pests that might be living on your hunting lands. Obviously, it needs to be a [legal] nocturnal animal.” Overall, it’s important to know what you’re getting into. Night vision isn’t for everyone. But it is ideal for a lot of people. “You want to do a lot of research,” Kirk said. “Talk to trusted people. There are lesser performing systems out there. But the simple rule is, if something seems too good to be true in terms of performance and price, it usually is.” Photonis Defense PD-Pro-16M Monocular NVG An excellent monocular system to consider is the Photonis Defense PD-Pro-16M Monocular NVG in66131andbatteryItandFOVgies.asfeatures18mmandThistonisdefense.com/products/pd-pro-16m-monocular-nvg).(https://www.phohigh-performancenightvisionsystemis58%smaller35%lighterformfactorwhencomparedtotheaveragemonocularsystemthat’scurrentlyonthemarket.ItaPhotonis4G16mmimageintensifiertube,aswellUltraLight,HyperSense,SpecOptics,and4GtechnoloItalsohasahorizontalFOVof41degreesandverticalof40degrees,focusrangeof9.8inchestoinfinity,spectralsensitivityofbelow400nmtoabove1,000nm.evensportsanauto-gatedPhotonis4G16mmtubetype,lifeof25hoursat72degrees(F)withlithiumbattery,anoperatingtemperaturerangeof-60degrees(F)todegrees(F).Itweighs9ouncesandissubmersibleuptofeet.Comesinwhiteorgreenphosphor.OnlyavailabletheUS.
“There’s the standard Viper,” Kirk said. “And if you’re run ning a D ring, on the front lens, I’d recommend the titanium ORC. That’s a titanium ring that replaces a typical ring that’s made of polymer, which isn’t as sturdy. That will give you a hardened place to mount a ring-type mount that wraps around the device.”
Choosing the Best Lures for Striped Bass BY CHRIS VECSEY 52 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
. PhotoChriscourtesyVecsey 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 53
Arguably the best moment in striper fishing is the strike itself. One could describe it with many words but “subtle” is definitely not one of the them. While live-baiting is extremely productive, there’s nothing like feeling the strike of a big striper on an artificial. Choosing which lures to use is the next step. Striped bass feed predominantly on species of shad or herring, but will also eat shiners and other smaller prey items. It’s important to “match the hatch” and fit the profiles of the baitfish available, which can vary from one inch shad to 10 plus inch skipjack herring, so having a variety of size options pays off.
Topwaters are not always the right tool for striper duties, but when fish are pushing baits to the surface or during summer months when larger stripers move up smaller creeks, they’re an option no angler should be without. A critical component of a good topwater should be castability. Most topwaters throw pretty well but models with a weight transfer system will perfom better at range without tumbling on the cast. The Yo Zuri TopKnock Pencil series does this job perfectly. They cast far, come in the needed size ranges and sport quality hooks and hardware. The TopKnock series is true to it’s name with a loud, low-pitched rattle system that makes some serious noise as it is walked along the surface.
Whereas most lures aim for heavy vibration or lots of flash, swimbaits are generally more natural and can be worked in a straight retrieve or a “pop and drop” method. Swimbaits, like all other soft plastic lures, can be bought unrigged or pre-rigged and in a mind-numbing array of colors and sizes. It can be almost overwhelming. Narrowing it down can be simple though. In clear lakes and rivers, natural colors are generally best whereas chartreuse and brighter options generally find preference in stained rivers and fast moving Onecreeks.of the best offerings on the market is the Pro Tail series from Hogy Lures. These baits come pre-rigged in several size/weight options and rigged with a heavy-duty, VMC Barbarian hook. Another huge plus to the Hogy Protail is the extremely durable, yet flexible plastic construction that means more stripers per lure.
It’s important to pick jerkbaits that are built to handle the hard strikes and fights from big striped bass. Quality hooks and hardware are a must. Two baits that stand out for their durability and effectiveness at producing stripers are the Yo Zuri 3DB and the Lucky Craft Pointer. Both maintain a true action at any speed and are extremely durable. They also come in a variety of colors that match the preferred striper forage in the southeast.
SWIMBAITS
Striped bass are an incredibly fun and challenging gamefish. They hit hard, make strong runs and can be taken in a wide array of habitats. From coastal rivers and estuaries along the gulf coast, to reservoirs and tiny creeks.
JERKBAITS Jerkbaits trigger reaction strikes from fish when all other lures have failed. Their erratic distress signature truly captures a dying baitfish and drives stripers crazy.
Another great option is the Heddon Saltwater Chug’n Spook. In addition to the classic walk of the original Zara Spook, the Chug’n Spook has a slightly cupped face to push water and give an audible “gurgle” as it’s retrieved. Jerkbaits draw hard strikes when nothing else will
Another huge plus to jerkbaits is that they come in many sizes, unlimited colors and varied sink rates from floating to fast sinking. They are also designed with different lip sizes to pull them to all different depth ranges.
FISHING
TOPWATERS It might be arguable that a topwater strike is the greatest moment in fishing. Seeing a large gamefish smash a surface lure is as good as it gets and stripers definitely know how to add a certain flare to that strike!
The Krocodile is one of the most time-tested spoons on the market. It can be worked at every speed and comes in nearly a dozen sizes.
Ragsdale says he does carry smaller flies like clouser minnows as well to target fish keyed in on smaller forage.
Captain Allen Ragsdale of Fall Line Guide Service has honed in the techniques for consistently successful striper fishing in his Georgia waters.
Made In The USA Built-In Hose Stations Ceramic Coated Aluminum WWW.KILLERDOCK.COM The greatest fish cleaning stations known to mankind. Table and Canopy Models Table widths from 42” to 90” King Starboard Cutting Surface (251) 207-1743 Contact Information Fall Line Guide Service Captain Allen 706-741-5386Ragsdale Choosing the Best Lures for Striped Bass SPOONS For open water schools or suspended fish, a spoon fits the bill. Spoons can be fished vertically like a jig or ripped quickly through the water column. The heavy vibration and flash of a spoon draws hammering strikes. Spoons actions vary considerably. Some are thinner and wider, giving a heavy roll at slower speeds. Others are bult heavy and remain more stable at high speed retreives.
The Nichols Magnum Flutter is the tool of choice when you want a big, flashy profile at depth. These are particularly effective on deep, suspended fish in open water. The Magnum Flutter is a big-boy lure at 8” and 3.5oz. As with the Krocodile, it can be casted, vertically jigged or trolled .
“Floating lines will work in the calmer waters but intermediate and sinking is usually needed,” he added.
New & Used Equipment • Up to 7 Years Financing Depending on Amount www.unitedbank.com *Subject to credit approval For more information contact: Rachel Holland 251.446.6022 - Terri Metts 251.267.3161 John Winters 251.743.3161 - Dawn Hollingsworth 850.675.6066 54 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
BUCKTAIL JIGS Bucktail jigs are one of the most versatile lures ever created. They can be fished in every environment and tied to imitate every type of baitfish. Stripers and bucktails were made for each other. Considering the varying scenarios that play out in striper fishing in our region, it’s critical to keep a selection on hand. They are particularly effective in the swift water below dams and spillways as well as fishing around docklights at night.
There are many models that find success with stripers but the two most widely used are the Luhr-Jensen Krocodile and the Nichols Ben Parker Magnum Flutter.
The Berkley Fusion bucktail jig stands out for it’s sticky-sharp and strong hook as well as the dual line-tie option. This small, but significant change-up on the traditional bucktail jig makes a big difference in presentation. In surface scenarios of when ripping bucktails in fast, but shallow water, the front line-tie will plane the jig upwards and keep it near the surface with less effort. The rear line-tie does the opposite, allowing the jigs head to stay down and keeping a downward angle on the head to maintain depth better on the retrieve.
FLIES Fly fishing for stripers isn’t the most popular method, but maybe it should be! Once you’ve stripped the hook tight on a big striper and felt that line zip throught fingers, it’s hard not to obsess about. Another huge plus to fly fishing stripers is the ability to tie patterns that will imiate every type, size and color of bait species.
Ragsdale mostly fishes fast moving waters in rivers as well as below the dams.
“I like to use medium to large patterns like game changers in brighter colors like chartreuse and white,” Ragsdale said.
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BY STEPHANIE MALLORY Land Equity Loans Explained There are a wide variety of factors that can influence the value of your land holdings . Image by Stephanie Mallory 56 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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FIND YOUR LENDER
Although it may sound similar to a home equity loan, you typically obtain a land equity loan for property that doesn’t have permanent structures built on it. One of the benefits of a land equity loan is that it allows you to take out a loan without risking assets such as your home, car, savings or stocks. Of course, the lender can seize and sell your property if you do not meet the terms of the loan agreement.
Many lenders that offer land equity loans will have an agricultural back ground and can make loans on all types of land.
DETERMINING YOUR LAND VALUE
Once you’ve secured the correct paperwork, your next step is to find the right lender, such as United Bank, a full-service financial institution with branches in Alabama and Florida.
Fortunately, the act of listing your land as collateral can be accomplished without much hassle.
LOAN REQUIREMENTS AND TERMS
“All loan requests must be for business purposes. If a potential borrow er is planning to build a home on the property, we require them to go through our Residential Lending Services department to fulfill the financing request,” Holland said. Holland pointed out that applicants must submit a completed loan appli cation, provide a minimum of three years of tax returns, a most recent pay stub (if applicable) and an updated personal financial statement.
Your land’s condition and its current level of development will impact the lending terms Image by Stephanie Mallory
.
United Bank loans are qualified to finance real estate, rental property, com mercial property, and construction of barns and other agricultural facilities.
“For land loans, we will lend up to 85% of the appraised value if it is a land equity loan. If it is a purchase, we will lend up to 85% of the purchase price or appraised value, whichever is less on agriculture-related real estate,” she added. United Bank is a full-service financial institution with branches in Alabama and Florida. All loans subject to credit approval. Not all applicants will qualify. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender
To use land as collateral, the worth of the land must be determined, and an appraisal will likely be required before a loan can be awarded. Your land’s condition and its current level of development will impact the lending terms that you are offered. There are a wide variety of factors that can influence the value of your land holdings. Land may be more valued if it is used for timber, agricultural, oil and gas, mineral rights, or recreational purposes, such as for hunting. Once the value of your land has been determined by a qualified expert, you can start the process of transforming your property holdings into qualified collateral.
The precise amount of land equity required for a loan varies by lender, and although land is commonly considered a qualified form of collateral, you may find that some lenders are more open than others.
Did you know the land you own can be a powerful form of collateral if you need to acquire a loan? A land equity loan works similarly to a home equity loan, but it uses your land as collateral. To put it simply, a land equity loan is when you borrow against the equity in land that you own. And, as you most likely know, land equity is the value of your land minus the balance of your land loan. Land equity loans are more uncommon than other types of property loans and may be more available the more acreage you own.
Rachel Holland, SVP-Ag loan officer with United Bank, said United Bank customers who have equity in land to use as collateral can apply for agricultural farmland, timberland and pastureland financing, depending on the use of the funds. The term and structure of the loan will be based on the use of funds.
“Financing from our agriculture department offers flexible terms and con ditions. In addition to these benefits, our customers receive the committed and personalized service that United Bank offers in our communities. We are borrower driven; United Bank provides several effective options to help customers with their agricultural financing needs based on the borrower’s situation,” Holland said.
“The length of the loan is up to 20 years; interest can be fixed or variable depending on the loan structure or customer preference. Rates and terms are determined by customer financial strength. We are currently offering a special on agriculture land featuring 10-year or 15-year terms with a com petitive fixed rate. We also offer a 30-year fixed interest rate loan option as well,” Holland explained..
Always seek and pursue the best possible terms, which include the best interest rates and preferred length of repayment, that match your needs. And remember, throughout the process, you have the freedom to exit negotiations and seek out alternative options. You must make sure you are comfortable with the loan terms before proceeding.
LIFESTYLE
First, you must ensure your paperwork is in order and the property deed is in your name. If you are unsure, you can find out through the County Recorder’s office in the county where the property is located. Because land deeds are public record, anyone can obtain this information.
58 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
2. ANIMAL SIZE
3. WEAPON SETUP
59
Selecting the right broadhead for your archery setup is a process. Let’s walk through it 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com 2022
HUNTING BY JOSH HONEYCUTT
Blades For Better Blood Trails
Once you understand the differences in broadhead types, it’s important to assess the type of hunting you plan to do. Small to medium-sized game, such as whitetails, are clear for any of the three broadhead types. That said, larger animals, such as elk and moose, have thicker hides, denser mus cles, and bigger bones. Those planning to hunt larger game oftentimes see better penetration with fixed blades. Those with an archery setup that has higher kinetic energy output might still do well with a mechanical head.
6. CUTTING DIAMETER
// September
5. ARROW SETUP
Choosing the best broadhead for deer hunting can seem like a daunting task. With dozens of products on the market, selecting the right one can be difficult. It’s a process, though, and there are things to consider, including budget, broadhead type, weapon type, arrow setup, and more. It’s all about determining your needs. Here are eight factors to keep in mind when choos ing the best broadheads for deer hunting.
Broadheads range in size from 75 to 200 grains. Light weights fly faster but a heavier broadhead improves the amount of kinetic energy transferred during the shot process. Selecting an option that’s 125 grains or greater tends to increase penetration depth. Fortunately, this year, there are numer ous options that are 125-200 grains.
Lastly, there are hybrids, which are the newest broadhead inventions and offer the best of the fixed-blade and mechanical broadhead worlds. Generally, these have two expandable blades, but also have two small fixed blades. The latter are usually called “bleeders” and are cut-on-contact slivers of death.
All broadheads aren’t created equally. Some are crafted from one material, while others include a mix. Choosing a strong metal, such as titanium, can increase the longevity of the broadhead.
1. BROADHEAD TYPE
8. YOUR BUDGET Lastly, analyze your budget and make a choice that best fits your needs. It’s always good practice to purchase the best you can afford. Because, choosing the best broadhead for deer hunting is somewhat subjective. Only you can determine which broadhead will be right for your hunting situation.
A heavier arrow also boosts kinetic energy. Paired with a faster bow and heavier broadhead, this can be a deadly setup. Syncing the broadhead selection to your arrow is an important consideration.
There are multiple categories, or types, of broadheads. The first is the fixed blade, which many people refer to as “cut-on-contact” heads. Structurally, these are sounder, and tend to be more durable. Some of these are also much easier to sharpen and have easily changable replacement blades. These do have downsides. Fixed-blade heads are smaller in diameter These also tend to be slightly less accurate, especially if the bow isn’t tuned. Also referred to as “expandables”, mechanical broadheads are next in line. These are kings of accuracy and tend to fly very well. Another benefit is much larger cutting diameters, with some broadheads nearing three inches across. Again, there are downsides, though. These heads tend to get de creased penetration. There is also higher risk of malfunction, including failed deployments, deflections upon impact, etc.
7. PRODUCT MATERIALS
5 TOP FIXED-BLADE BROADHEADS FOR DEER G5 CuttingM3 Diameter: 1.0625 inches Construction Material: 420 high-grade stainless steel Weight: 100 or 125 grain MSRP: $44.95 (pack of three) Muzzy One Cutting Diameter: 1 1/8 inches (100 grain) / 1 ¼ inches (125 grain)
Some broadheads have smaller cutting diameters. Others have much wider cutting surfaces. While shorter diameters are typically confined to fixed blades, the latter can make the difference with subpar shot opportunities.
The next consideration is the weapon setup. Kinetic energy is every thing, and higher levels of it improve overall penetration. Crossbows and compound bows with higher draw weights, longer draw lengths, and greater speeds, produce more energy which is transferred to the shaft and broadhead.
Construction Material: Machined stainless-steel ferrule Weight: 85, 100, or 125 grain MSRP: $49.99 (pack of three) Iron Will Single Bevel Cutting Diameter: 1 1/16 inches (main blade) / ¾ inch (bleeder blade)
4. BROADHEAD WEIGHT
Construction Material: Hardened ferrules (cryogenically treated and triple tempered to 60 HRC hardness)
Freak-ExtremeDead-Ringer-SuperG5-MegaMeat G5-Montec-M3 Grim Reaper Pro Micro Hybrid Blades For Better Blood Trails Weight: 100-250 grains MSRP: $119.95 (pack of three) Magnus Stinger Buzzcut Cutting Diameter: 1 1/16 inches Construction Material: Varies Weight: 85, 100, 125, or 150 grain MSRP: $42.99 (pack of three) Wasp Sharpshooter 200 Cutting Diameter: 1 inch Construction Material: Steel Weight: 200 grain MSRP: $53.99 (pack of one) 5 TOP MECHANICAL BROADHEADS FOR DEER G5 MegaMeat Cutting Diameter: 2 inches Construction Material: Steel Weight: 100 or 125 grain MSRP: $49.95 (pack of three) NAP KillZone Max Cutting Diameter: 2 3/8 inches Construction Material: Steel Weight: 100 grain MSRP: $44.99 (pack of three) Wasp Jak-Hammer Cutting Diameter: 1 ¼ inches 60 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
¾ inches, or 2 inches Construction Material: Stainless
of three) Grim Reaper Razorcut Cutting Diameter:
100,
of three) Slick Trick Assailant Cutting Diameter: 1 ¾ inches 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 61
MSRP:
NAP Endgame Cutting Diameter:
inches Construction Material: Stainless steel Weight: 100 grain MSRP: $49.99
Stainless
inches,
inches Construction Material:
• Custom Fabrication • Premier Repairs • Expert Finish Work • Estimates & Supplies • 14’ Ultralight Tunnel Boats 251-473-3176 2110 Halls Mill Road • Mobile, Alabama 36606 www.fiberplasticsinc.com Time to call FiberProfessionalGlassRepairSince1974 FIBER-PLASTICSINCWecanhelp... Look Familiar? Blades For Better Blood Trails the money spent on turkey permits, which is part of the licens ing requirement to hunt turkeys in Florida, goes into that fund. “Many hunters and NWTF members are heavily involved in raising funds for the wild turkey and its habitat by participating in NWTF hunting heritage banquets, whereby a portion of those funds raised goes into the cost-share program,” Nichol son said. “Hunters’ purchases of hunting equipment also helps support wildlife conservation through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, which brings federal grant funding to state wildlife management agencies such as the FWC.”
of
Through this combined effort from the NWTF, FWC, FFS and Florida turkey hunters, the wild turkey population is healthy and flourishing in Florida. And, if you’re a turkey hunter, then you must be getting excited because spring turkey season and the youth turkey hunt weekends are just around the corner. Information Wild Turkey Cost-Share Program
Partnership Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Managing Wild Turkeys Through Teamwork 42 APRIL 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237 Construction Material: Stainless steel Weight: 75 or 100 grain MSRP: $41.99
of three) 5 TOP HYBRID BROADHEADS FOR DEER Ramcat Diamondback Hybrid Cutting Diameter: 2 inches Construction Material: Stainless steel Weight: 100 grain MSRP: $34.99 (pack of three) Muzzy Trocar HB Hybrid 4-Blade Cutting Diameter:
Florida State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation Florida(NWTF)Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Florida Forest Service (FFS) Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem (pack 1 3/8 1 steel Weight: 85, or 125 grain $49.99 (pack three) 1 3/16 Titanium / steel Weight: 100 grains MSRP: $54.99 (pack 1 5/8 (pack
Contact
visit us at www.pureflats.com backcolorsAllinstock! MEMBER Looking for your own place to hunt, fish, enjoy 4-wheeling—even a building site for a cabin or home? Alabama Ag Credit is the original land lender and your local expert in recreational real estate financing. We understand the unique requirements of long-term rural real estate lending, and can custom build loan packages with competitive rates and flexible terms. So you can enjoy the great outdoors for years to come! AlabamaAgCredit.com Call 800.579.5471 When a Somebecomespastimeapassion.don ’t get it, but we do. Construction Material: Stain steel Weight: 100 grain MSRP: $47.99 (pack of three) NAP DK4 Cutting Diameter: 1 ¾ inches Construction Material: Steel Weight: 100 or 125 grain MSRP: $39.99 (pack of three) Grim Reaper Pro Micro Hybrid Cutting Diameter: 1 ¼, 1 3/8, or 1 ¾ inches Construction Material: Stainless steel Weight: 100 or 125 grain MSRP: $49.99 (pack of three) 5 TOP CROSSBOW BROADHEADS FOR DEER Raven Steel Cutting Diameter: 2 inches Construction Material: 416 steel Weight: 100 grain MSRP: $64.99 (pack of three) SEVR Titanium 2 0 Cutting Diameter: 2 inches Construction Material: Titanium Weight: 100 or 125 grain MSRP: $15.99 (pack of one) Annihilator 100 XL Cutting Diameter: 1 1/16 inches Blades For Better Blood Trails 62 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Capt. Richard Rutland 251.459.5077 richard.rutland@yahoo.comwww.coldbloodedfishing.comrichard.rutland@yahoo.comwww.coldbloodedfishing.com Speckled Trout Tripletail Redfish Flounder USCG Licen d & InsuredDauphin Island Alabama CAPT. RICHARD Capt. Richard Rutland 251.459.5077 richard.rutland@yahoo.comwww.coldbloodedfishing.com Speckled Trout Tripletail Redfish Flounder USCG Licen d & InsuredDauphin Island Alabama Inshore and Offshore Fishing Charters USCG Licensed & Insured Dauphin Island, AL Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @coldbloodedfishing Inshore and Offshore Fishing Charters USCG Licensed & Insured Capt. Richard Rutland Speckled Trout Tripletail Redfish Flounder Capt. Richard Rutland Inshore Fishing Guide Service 251.459.5077 richard.rutland@yahoo.comwww.coldbloodedfishing.com Capt. Richard Rutland Inshore Fishing Guide Service 251.459.5077 richard.rutland@yahoo.com www.coldbloodedfishing.com Speckled Trout Tripletail Redfish Flounder USCG License d & InsuredDauphin Island Alabama CAPT. RICHARD251.459.5077RUTLAND Capt. Richard Rutland 251.459.5077 richard.rutland@yahoo.comwww.coldbloodedfishing.com Speckled Trout Tripletail Redfish Flounder USCG License d & InsuredDauphin Island Alabama Inshore and Offshore Fishing Charters USCG Licensed & Insured Dauphin Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @coldbloodedfishing Dauphin Island, AL Capt. Richard Rutland 251.459.5077 richard.rutland@yahoo.com www.coldbloodedfishing.com Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @coldbloodedfishing Slick AssailantTrick JakHammerWasp Raven Steel Muzzy Trocar HB 4-BladeHybrid Blades For Better Blood Trails (251) 342-6672 • 5300 Overlook Rd. Mobile, AL ricciardonefamilydentistry@gmail.com Hours: Monday - Thursday 8am-4pm • Also call for info on extended hours Don’t let a toothache ruin your Great Day Outdoors •Services:Cleanings & preventive care • Crowns • Bridges • Veneers • Root Canals • Fillings • Implant restorations • Extractions • Dentures • Partial dentures • Teeth whitening • Botox We treat all ages Call us today for an appointment We accept most most dental insurances Construction Material: 4140 alloy steel (hardened to Rockwell RC: 52 with 30-degree beveled edges) Weight: 100 grains MSRP: $62.99 (pack of three) Dead Ringer Super Freak Extreme Cutting Diameter: 2 ¾ inches Construction Material: Unknown Weight: 100 grain MSRP: $44.99 (pack of three) Rage Hypodermic Crossbow NC Cutting Diameter: 2 inches Construction Material: Stainless steel Weight: 100 or 125 grain MSRP: $59.99 (pack of three) THE BEST OVERALL BROADHEAD FOR DEER Overall, the best deer hunting broadhead will vary from person to person. It’s all about selecting the right one for your specific need. That’s why there are so many options on the market. Each one caters to a slightly different set of lists and needs. It’s up to you to sift through the offerings and choose accordingly. Of course, if you hit a deer perfectly, it really doesn’t matter the brand or model of the pointy tip on your arrows. Still, choosing the best broadhead for deer hunting is a very real thing. Take it seriously this season. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 63
64 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Instructions 1. Trim the hearts as discussed above. In a large bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, oregano, thyme and black pepper. Massage the marinade into the meat, put everything into a container that can just about hold everything and marinate for as little as 30 minutes, or as much as 2 days.
• 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon dried
Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 15 mins •Total: 35 mins Ingredients • 1 or
2. When you are ready to cook, get your grill hot. Coat the peppers and onion in the rest of the olive oil and salt well.
This recipe can be done with any large heart. I designed it for deer and elk, but it will work with antelope, moose, wild boar or whatever. For non-hunters, try beef heart, veal heart or lamb hearts. You don’t have to marinate the meat, but it adds a lot of flavor, and helps keep it moist on the grill. 2 deer hearts or 1 elk, moose or beef heart oil, divided or red wine vinegar sauce oregano thyme black pepper
• 4 tablespoons olive
• onion, cut into large wedges
• 3 or 4 colored bell peppers, cut into 2 to 3 pieces each
3. Grill everything on high heat. Put the hearts and veggies on the grill -- skin side down for the peppers -- and leave them alone with the grill cover open for 8 minutes. Flip everything and grill, uncovered, for 5 more minutes.
Grilled Venison Heart with Peppers and Onions
Notes: A tip on the peppers and onions: Cut them in large pieces so they don’t fall through your grill grates. For the onions, make sure you keep the stem end attached. And cook the skin side of the peppers first -- if you get any parts that blacken, the skin peels right off. You actually want significant blackening here, so keep your grill ragingly hot.
• 1 tablespoon sherry
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
• 1 teaspoon dried
• 1 teaspoon ground
4. Check the peppers and onions, and when they are nicely cooked with a little char, remove and put in foil to steam. Remove any blackened skin from the peppers.
5. If the hearts are not cooked through yet, cover the grill and cook for 2 to 5 more minutes. If you are using a thermometer, you want to get the meat off the grill when it is 130°F in the center. You can also use the finger test for doneness. Tent the hearts loosely with foil and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle it with black pepper and good sea salt at the table.
1 large
4. Grind some black pepper over it, and garnish with an herb of your choice, something pickled or otherwise tart -- even lemon juice is fine -- as well as something else savory, like the sauteed or preserved mushrooms. Eat with crusty bread, potatoes or rice.
This is a really easy dish to make, but you do need the bay leaves and fresh sage, and Spanish smoked paprika is important to this dish. Many good supermarkets offer it, and you can also buy it online. If you can’t find smoked paprika, regular sweet paprika is OK. Figure on 2 doves per person for a light lunch or an appetizer, or 3 to 6 for a main course. If you don’t have access to doves, squab is a great alternative. You could also do this with teal ducks.
Optional• Garnishes • 1/4 cup lovage or parsley or sauteed mushrooms (any kind) mustard preserved in syrup (I used rowan angelica stalks, sliced thin 1. Salt your fish well and set out on the cutting board to warm up a bit. Preheat your broiler, and if it has a setting, set it to “high.”
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2. Pat the fish dry with paper towels, then oil it up with the vegetable oil. Oil down the broiler pan. Set the fillets skin side down on the pan and dot the fish with bits of the butter.
•
CAMPHOUSE KITCHEN Broiled Trout This
•
•
Instructions 1. Coat the doves with olive oil and salt them well. Stuff each cavity with sage and a bay leaf.
• 3 tablespoons olive
2. Get your grill hot and clean the grates. Set the dove breasts side up and cook them over medium-high heat, with the grill cover closed, for 6 minutes. Open the grill cover and turn the doves over so the top of the breast is wedged between grill grates. Paint the birds with some bacon fat. Let them cook this way for a minute or two, just to get a little color. Turn the doves on their sides and grill for another minute or two — for each side. Paint with more bacon fat.
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 15 mins •Total: 30 mins 12 doves, or 4 to 8 squab or teal Kosher salt oil 12 bay leaves 12 to 24 sage leaves About 1/4 cup melted bacon fat, butter or duck fat
• Spanish smoked paprika
• 2 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon pickled
seeds • 2 tablespoons berries
3. Dust with the smoked paprika and the black pepper and move the birds to a platter. Let them rest for 5 minutes. Eat with your fingers and serve with a Rioja red wine, a California Pinot Noir or an Italian Barbaresco — and a bowl to put the bones in. A simple tomato salad is a good accompaniment, as is a loaf of crusty bread. recipe is meant for fillets of trout, char or small salmon like pinks or kokanee that are too large for a frying pan, and too thin for the grill. It will work with any fillet about 1 inch thick or less regardless of size or species. Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 5 mins •Total: 30 mins
3. Broil the fish for about 4 minutes or so, keeping an eye on it and rotating the fish if you see hotspots under your broiler. When the trout flakes, remove it from the oven. Using two spatulas, carefully lift the fish to a platter.
Grilled Doves a la Mancha
•
• Freshly ground black pepper
Ingredients • Salt and black pepper • 1 or 2 large fillets of trout, char or pink salmon, about 2 pounds total
leaves • 1/2 pound preserved
berries) • 2 pickled
Ingredients •
Instructions
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New Covert Optics Binocs Covert Optics announces two new 8x42mm and 10x42mm binoculars tailor-made to help hunters dissect the details of wild landscapes to uncover a prospective target animal, or accurately size up a cruising buck off in the distance. They feature high-quality ED glass, high-contrast BAK-4 lens system contained in a dependable aluminum housing underneath ergonomic rubber moldings. These binoculars are waterproof, shock resistant, fog proof and weigh in at under 24 ounces.
Suggested Retail Price: $549.99 www .feradyne com .
www .livetargetlures .com 66 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
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Bixpy J-2 Outboard Kit For serious kayak and other small craft fisherman Bixpy’s J-2 outboard motor kit provides the opportunity to get the maximum return on your fishing adventures. The kit includes a Bizby J-2 PowerShroud™ Motor with Built-in Adapter and a 378 Wh Bixpy Outboard Battery. This 9-pound package can run up to 80 minutes at top speeds and operates via wireless remote control with 12 forward speeds and 3 reverse speeds. Retail Price: $1,199.00 Real – Acts
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The new Mossy Oak Bottomland camo dressed Whitetail Hunter 400XTR is a compact fast tool that works for hunters of all sizes and skills. It launches bolts at 400 feet per second and comes ready-to-hunt with a 4 x 32mm multi-reticle scope, arrows and sidemount quiver. Safety features include a TriggerTech™ trigger, anti-dry fire technology, finger safety reminders and a patented arrow retainer. Retail Price: $599.99 www barnettcrossbow .com
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Beat the September Sun Heat with Solago Sun Gloves Just because it is early fall doesn’t mean the sun isn’t strong and you aren’t at risk.. The lightweight AFTCO Solago sun protection gloves give you UPF 50 sun protection from the wrist to the mid-finger, leaving an open palm and fingertips for sensitivity, bite detection and rigging dexterity. They feature a silicone grip, power knit mesh finger webbing and quick dry and moisture wicking.
After a scorcher of a summer, the opening day of one of Alabama’s most anticipated hunting seasons is near. Dove hunters will flock to the fields across the state in September to enjoy a day outdoors and to test their wingshooting skills. While most of us who grew up in the outdoors may take this for granted, a large number of Alabamians weren’t introduced to our hunting culture and have no idea how rewarding a day in the field can be. That is one of many reasons the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division hosts dove hunts on two of the state’s 11 special opportunity areas The(SOAs).SOAs were designed for a different kind of hunting experience compared to the traditional wildlife management areas (WMAs). The SOAs are smaller, typically 200-400 acres, which means the number of hunters is limited for each hunt. A random draw permit system is in place for those who register for hunts. Visit com/hunting/special-opportunity-areaswww.outdooralabama.forregistrationlinks.
Hunts at Prairie Glades are scheduled for September 10, September 24, October 8 and October 22. The hunt at Portland Landing is set for September 10. For each hunt at Prairie Glades, 30 permits will be issued. Each selected hunter is allowed to bring one properly licensed guest for a total of 60 hunters per hunt. At Portland Landing, 15 permits will be drawn, and those hunters can also bring a properly licensed guest for a total of 30 hunters.
BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
After Summer Heat, Alabama Hunters Await Dove Season
A total of five limited quota dove hunts will be offered at Prairie Glades (Montgomery County) and Portland Landing (Dallas County) SOAs during the 2022 season.
Hunters harvest about 1 2 million doves annually in Alabama 877.314.1237
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In addition to the WMA license, SOA hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification (unless exempt) to be properly licensed to hunt doves. Dove hunters may not realize that Alabama is ranked fifth in the nation in the number of doves harvested annually, which is about 1.2 million doves, either mourning or white-winged doves. The Eurasian collared dove is an invasive species and is not included in the migratory bird management plan. Another interesting fact is WFF biologists venture out in July and August to capture and band doves. These birds are sexed and aged as juveniles (birds hatched this year) or adults. The way to determine the age of a dove is to look at the tips of its feathers: Juvenile birds have buffy tan worn tips on their feathers; adults do not. As juvenile birds age, they molt and replace their juvenile feathers with adult feathers. Numbered aluminum bands are fitted on the legs of doves before release. During dove season, if you harvest a banded bird, please report it at https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/.
Don’t forget to abide by the rules that govern what constitutes a legal dove field. A legal field includes lands or areas where seeds or grains have been scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural operations, which include normal agricultural harvestings, normal agricultural post-harvest manipulations or normal agricultural practices. Also allowed is top-sowing or aerial seeding where seeds have been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting, a planting for agricultural soil erosion control or a planting for post-mining land reclamation.Landsorareas where grain or feed has been distributed or scattered solely as the result of the manipulation of an agricultural crop or other feed on the land where grown is allowed. As for standing crops, lands planted as wildlife food plots are allowed,
The reason for the short registration period for the September 10 hunts is because the new license year begins on September 1, and the registration process requires a current WMA license. Registration for the remaining hunts will close on September 14. The drawing for the remaining hunts will be on September 15. The procedures for notification of those drawn and the 48-hour acceptance period are the same.
The SOA dove fields are planted each spring with a variety of agricultural crops. Fields will be legally manipulated prior to the hunts. Each hunter and guest will have an assigned location in the field.
FROM THE COMMISSIONER provided the seed is planted in a manner consistent with Alabama Cooperative Extension Service recommendations for the planting of wildlife food plots. Lands planted as pasture improvements or for the purpose of grazing livestock are allowed as well as standing or manipulated natural Thevegetation.doveseason for the north zone (all counties other than the south zone counties mentioned below) has three season segments. The first segment opens at noon on September 3, and all-day hunting is allowed from September 4 through October 23. The second segment is November 19 through November 27, and the final segment is December 17 through January 15.
The south zone (Baldwin, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Mobile counties) opens at noon on September 10. All-day hunting is allowed from September 11 through October 30. The second and third season segments are the same as the north zone. The daily bag limit for both zones is 15 birds per day. As usual, WFF will hold its traditional youth dove hunts. Registration opens on August 22 for the 30 hunts across the state. Visit www. outdooralabama.com/youth-hunting/youth-dove-hunts for a link to register and a schedule for the upcoming hunts. Youth hunters can register for only one dove hunt at a time. After that hunt concludes, the youth hunters can register for another hunt. If you’re looking for a placeTake time to register for one of the SOA hunts. If you have a place to shoot doves, make sure your hunting areas are prepared following the guidelines and stock up on plenty of shotgun shells.
The data from harvested birds are analyzed and used to estimate survival, recruitment and harvest rates. Estimates are used to set the annual season length and daily bag limits.
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Registration for the SOA dove hunts will open on September 1 at 8 a.m. A WMA license is required prior to registration. A $10 registration fee will be charged for each hunt. Registration for the September 10 hunts will close on September 4 at 5 p.m., and the drawing will take place at 6 p.m. An automated email will be sent following the drawing notifying registrants of their hunt status. Hunters will have 48 hours to accept their hunt. Any hunter not meeting the deadline will be automatically declined and an alternate will be promoted.
The Benefits of Bird Banding 70 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Alabama’s WMAs are managed for a wide variety of wildlife .
BY CHARLES “CHUCK” SYKES Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)
WMAs throughout the state are actively managed to maintain quality habitat for all wildlife, including birds. At Charles D. KelleyAutauga WMA, wildlife openings provide areas for native vegetation to grow, which leads to a plethora of seeds and insects for birds to feed on. Food plots planted in wheat and millet not only provide an excellent source of seed but
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) operates and maintains 35 wildlife management areas (WMAs) across Alabama, comprising 721,000 public land acres. In central Alabama, just north of Prattville, lies the Charles D. Kelley -Autauga WMA. Previously named Autauga WMA, this WMA was renamed in 2017 after the late WFF director who served as the division director for 40 years and died in 2016. During Kelley’s tenure as director, he received national recognition for his work to return bald eagles, bluebirds, and osprey to the state, and he also led the restocking efforts of deer and turkey in AutaugaAlabama.WMA was formed in 1965 with the purchase of 370 acres. Now, thanks to the division’s dedication to growing the area through partnership with the Forever Wild Program, the WMA encompases of 8,127 acres of upper coastal plain habitat. Its gently rolling hills, sandy soil, and hardwood drains are primarily used for hunting deer, turkey, and rabbits, but this WMA, along with others, also serves as important habitat for numerous songbirds.
Funding for the banding station is made possible through the sale of hunting and wildlife heritage licenses, the Alabama Nongame Wildlife Fund tax check-off, and matching federal funds through the Pittman-Robertson Act. To learn more about Alabama’s songbirds, ways to support our current research efforts, and the management and acquisition of new lands for birds and all wildlife in Alabama, please visit www.outdooralabama.com AL
36606 WE SERVICE ALL SAFESOFBRANDSGUNBUT... WE HOLLONSELLPROUDLYONLYGUNSAFES (251) 479-5264 457 Dauphin Island Parkway “At the Loop” Mobile, AL 36606 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 71
FROM THE DIRECTOR also entice small mammals, which are a primary food source for many birds of prey. Forested areas provide cover and edge habitat, and standing snags provide cavities for woodpeckers and other cavity nesters like American kestrels, nuthatches, and eastern screech owls. Prescribed burning throughout the WMA reduces the mid-story, accesses the natural seed bank, and keeps the less desirable vegetation at bay. As a result of this multi-use management prescription, this WMA has diverse habitats that serve important roles throughout a bird’s annual cycle of migration, wintering, and breeding.
WE SERVICE ALL SAFESOFBRANDSGUNBUT... WE HOLLONSELLPROUDLYONLYGUNSAFES (251) 479-5264 457 Dauphin Island Parkway “At the Loop” Mobile, AL 36606 WE SERVICE ALL SAFESOFBRANDSGUNBUT... WE HOLLONSELLPROUDLYONLYGUNSAFES (251) 479-5264 457 Dauphin Island Parkway “At the Loop” Mobile,
The real use of bird banding comes from recovering or recapturing previously banded birds. Comparing the data that was initially gathered to data when the bird is recovered can provide information like migration habits, longevity, habitat use, and site fidelity. Even though the banding station at Charles D. Kelley-Autauga WMA was created only a year ago, biologists are already getting recaptures. In 2021, 64 birds representing 17 species were captured and banded. Of those banded last year, four have been recaptured during this year’s banding season, and more are expected.
All of the recaptured species are considered “Neotropical migrants”, meaning, when they left the WMA last year, they flew all the way to Central or South America to winter and then made their way back to the WMA to breed this summer. Thanks to bird banding, we’re already seeing evidence of just how important Alabama’s WMAs are to breeding songbirds. It is through the continued purchase and management of these public land areas that breeding habitat is conserved, not only for game species but for all wildlife.
To band a bird, biologists must first catch the bird. Many methods for live capture of birds, but the most well-known and widely used is mist nets. These fine-gauged nests are stretched between two poles and are approximately 12 feet long by 8 to 10 feet high and are nearly invisible to birds. When birds are flying in the area, the net stops the bird and drops it into a pocket where it is quickly and delicately extracted by the biologist. The bird is then placed in a cloth bag and transported back to the banding table, where biologists safely place a band on the bird’s leg. Like a license plate on a car, each band has a unique set of numbers on it that can be used later to identify that specific bird. Once a bird is banded, biologists identify its species, age, and sex, and take other measurements, such as wing chord, fat score, and weight. Once all data is collected, the bird is released and, from that point on, the collected data are forever linked to the bird’s band number.
To study the diversity of songbirds utilizing the Charles D. Kelley-Autauga WMA and to gain a better understanding of how land management practices impact breeding birds, biologists established a bird banding station during the summer of 2021. Half of the habitat surrounding the banding station is a mixture of hardwood and pines, while the other half has undergone many changes over the past few decades and will continue to change over time. This once high basal area loblolly pine plantation was thinned over the years, and then clearcut and planted with longleaf pine in 2020. Today, this area now contains partridge pea, sunflowers, blackberry, and two-foot pines. As the young pines continue to grow, and through the help of prescribed burning, this early succession area will look more like an open pine stand in 20 years, and biologists will monitor the change in songbird composition during that transition. Although biologists could simply conduct a point count survey, listening to and identifying the birds calling in the area, more information can be gathered through bird banding. Banding has been used for centuries and is one of the oldest and most valuable techniques used to provide insights into the when and where of bird migration.
VECSEY 72 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Small jerkbaits like the Rapala Rip Stop and Yo Zuri Inshore jerkbait also work very well. Soft plastics will round out the options and along with inshore favorites like the Slick Lure and Matrix Shad, Hancock likes to bring some unorthodox baits to target inshore reds, trout and flounder.
For trout and reds, Hancock will throw both hard baits and soft plastics. Twitchbaits like the Mirrolure 17MR and 18MR are staples for this kind of fishing.
“There’s a lot of bass lures that work well for fall inshore fishing,” he said.
MISSISSIPPI Mississippi’s inshore waterways will be on fire this month. The gradually cooling waters will encourage gamefish to move into the lower bayous and river mouths to feed on the abundant bait. This pattern will involve moving spot to spot and covering each spot thoroughly. Various baits and artificials will produce, so having plenty of options Captainhelps.
“Wild” Bill Hancock works the bayous and lower rivers thoroughly throughout the month and echoes the need for a variety in bait and lure “Ichoices.bringa lot of gear this time of year. With the main three inshore species (redfish, trout and flounder) being in abundance and feeding on a variety of bait, you have to have options,” Hancock said.
We can start drying off now. September is still warm, but with lower average humidity and the first cool spells of the year, it is a welcomed transitional time before fall sets in. This transition leads to cooler water temperatures and puts many types of forage on the move. This brings on some of the best fishing of the year, both inshore and offshore.
Hancock also pays close attention to the moon phase this month as well. “I generally expect the speckled trout to spawn on the full moon in September. Water temps should be favorable.” CHRIS
Gulf Coast Fishing Outlook
Hancock leans on freshwater crawfish imitations and spinnerbaits to get the job done. Spinnerbaits in particular work very well as a search bait because they are productive with straight retrieves and cover water quickly and effectively.
Photo courtesy Bill Hancock
Big Jack Crevalle will be willing combatants from the barrier islands to the florida panhandle
BY
Spoons, bucktail jigs, larger jerkbaits and twitchbaits like the Mirrolure 27MR will keep you bit.
Hilton’s www.reeloutlawscharters.com601-807-5811CaptainReelwww.hiltonsoffshore.comRealtime-navigatorOutlawChartersBillHancock
The grouper bite will be solid in natural bottom areas of 250-350 feet and Howell likes to use both live and frozen baits for this job. “Nothing beats live cigar minnows but sardines and herring work very well as well,” he said. Pinfish and croakers make decent backups as does butterflied boston mackerel and menhaden. Baits can be fished on two hook “chicken rigs” or Carolina rigs. Weight sizes will vary depending on the depth and current.
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The same bait movements happening in MS waters will also take place both inshore and off the beaches from Dauphin Island to Perdido Key. High pressure systems and less rain typically brings cleaner, higher salinity water along the beachfront. Large schools of LY (sardines), threadfin herring, menhaden, anchovy and others will be moving down the beachfront in huge schools. This huge gathering of baitfish brings some of the most spectacular sight fishing through the year. Bull reds, king mackerel, jacks, sharks of all sizes, cobia and many others can be found during these frenzies. This is often a very good opportunity to target larger gamefish on the fly rod as well. Regardless of gear or fly, there’s zero need to live bait around these bait schools and most larger baitfish imitating lures will do the job just as well. From the beach, pompano action will be firing up. Fishing the shoreline troughs and washouts will produce pompano as well as whiting, redfish and a handful of others.
Contact Information The grass beds and shallow structures throughout Big Lagoon and Santa Rosa Sound will be loaded with trout and redfish. Sight fishing with weedless-rigged plastics like flukes or the lil slick will work well. Probably the best sight casting bait for redfish in particular is the line of jigs from Buggs Fishing. Shallow docks, rip-rap and other man-made structures will be safe bets for the full-range of inshore species. There’s many ways to fish spots like these but live baiting is always effective.
Tradition Fishing Charters Captain Miles Howell 850-497-2451 www.traditionfishingcharters.com
FISHING OUTLOOK
“One thing you can count on in September is plenty of live bait like LYs, finger mullet and pinfish,” Howell said. Howell likes to fish these baits on both carolina rigs and knocker rigs, with weight sizes of 1/2-1oz. Howell uses Kahle style hooks from #2-1/0, matching the size of the hook to the baits being used. Leaders should be 20-30 pound mono or fluorocarbon. Nearshore, king and spanish mackerel will be reliable targets on the troll and while drifting live and dead baits. Fish will be on bait schools near the beaches as well as nearshore wrecks and artificial reefs.
Sand fleas, ghost shrimp and small pieces of peeled shrimp are always the main trio to get the job done. A good backup option pays off though, and carrying a couple packs of Fishbites is wise. You can use fishbites in conjunction with natural baits or by itself and it’s extremely effective.
Around nearshore wrecks and gas/oil platforms, the “other” snappers are ready to provide action and dinner. Both mangrove (black) snapper and vermilion snapper can be found in abundance around these structures in 50-120 feet of water. For vermilions, a two-hook “chicken rig” with small pieces of squid or bonito is perfect. The larger mangroves can be a bit trickier. Chumming with small pieces of cigar minnow, sardine or shrimp will work up the wary mangroves. Baits should be freelined or fished with a split shot and on lighter leaders than usually used in snapper fishing. Further out, many anglers will head deep for swordfish. Baits of whole squid, bonito and mahi strips and rigged eels will get the job done when fished at depths of 1200-1600 feet. Finding bait at these extreme depths is often key and success rates are generally better if bait schools are located prior to deploying a bait ¼ mile below.
Captain Miles Howell of Tradition Fishing Charters in Pensacola will focus on key structures like this through the month and live-baiting will be the name of the game.
Pay close attention to the bluewater reports and keep the trolling gear ready, this is a great month to hit areas like the nipple, elbow or 131 hole. The usual bluewater suspects will be available, but white marlin in particular will show up in good numbers. Pulling a mixed spread of teasers and rigged ballyhoo will get the job done. Keep your eyes on the horizon for free jumping billfish, bait schools and other obvious signs of feeding fish. Monitor online satellite imaging services like Hilton’s Realtime-Navigator for recent water conditions.
ALABAMA
While trolling and live baiting nearshore, sailfish and mahi mahi will be welcomed bonuses. If water conditions are favorable, these prized pelagics can be fairly common catches.
Hancock says that the few days leading up to, and the few days post-full moon are best. While Hancock prefers artificials and covering water, he has no issue going to the “dark side” and using live bait when necessary. Various live baits will work but a live croaker is almost guaranteed to take trophy inshore gamefish. Croaker can be rigged a few different ways but freelining or fished off the bottom with a Carolina rig is usually best. Out in the sound and around the barrier islands, bull redfish, jacks, sharks, mackerel and even the odd late-season tarpon will provide more than enough action for anglers running and looking for birds and surface action. Gear should be slightly heavier in this scenario and slightly larger artificial lures that cast further and imitate menhaden and other baitfish do well.
FLORIDA PANHANDLE One thing the Florida panhandle won’t be short of is options. Inshore, surf, bottom fishing, bluewater, etc. The panhandle is the place to be this month.
Fishermen use a castnet with 3/8 inch mesh, a small #10 gold hook “sabiki rig”, or a red ribbon “LY rig” made from a strip of 3/8 inch mesh monofilament netting to gather their bait. Whether by the dozen or one to two at a time, a five gallon bucket with a battery powered aerator is used to keep alive and transport the bait supply. A gallon of 85 degree seawater will support roughly a dozen of these small baitfish. And two to three dozen will normally last one person most of the day. For sure they give you plenty of opportunities to catch some fish, and ‘groceries’ from any number of available species. Occasionally much larger king mackerel, bull BY DAVID THORNTON
Photos by David Thornton Pompano fishing picks up in the fall along the Gulf beaches
Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
This month pier and shore anglers all along the Emerald Coast hope for lots of sunshine and calm seas because the alternative can be too ‘ugly’ to contemplate. All eyes watch the tropics as we move through the heart of the hurricane season by mid month. Then we may see a few fronts make it to the area by the end of the month. Years not affected by storms can be quite enjoyable with clear skies and warm waters in the middle 80s even after the Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd). The days are getting noticeably shorter as various predatory fish species are feasting on youngof-the-year herring, sardines and other forage fish. Small, silvery three inch long “LYs” school along the Gulf beaches and in the passes to form the bulk of this mobile food source for mackerel, jacks, bluefish and various inshore species too. So using them as bait is one of the best ways anglers stay close to the action.
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The days are getting noticeably shorter as various predatory fish species are feasting on “young-of-the-year” herring, sardines and other forage fish.
redfish, jack crevalle or even tarpon have been known to eat one of these small baits. And what a fun surprise that is! But a wide variety of more typical sized gamefish in the one to five plus pound range can be handled with even 6 or 8 pound tackle. And that is ideal sized for free-lining small LYs for Spanish mackerel from a pier or jetty. To do so most effectively, the terminal tackle should be as minimal as the line. A #8 or #6 2X bronze treble hook on a foot of 40 pound clear monofilament or #1 single strand wire is needed to prevent most cut-offs by the agile and sharp-toothed mackerel. Essentially you are just scaling down king mackerel equipment with smaller live or fresh dead baits or lures in order to target large spanish mackerel on light tackle this month. Though this may not be feasible in locations where sharks or dolphins are a nuisance, or a drop net is not available. But it does offer folks an enjoyable and sporty alternative to heavy tackle whenever possible.
Using viable artificial imitations of these small forage fish is another great way to catch a lot of mackerel and bluefish this month. Oval-shaped silver spoons from ¾ to 2 ounces (like Mr. Champ, Kastmaster, Krocodile or Sidewinder) work great on a number of species. And they cast well too, even into the wind, especially on lighter line with a properly balanced combo. Matching the line and lure weight to the classification range printed on the rod, along with proper action and length will not only help get more casting distance, but more comfort and enjoyment from your setup. Heavier tackled anglers can still target king mackerel, though their offerings are often intercepted by bluefish, ladyfish, little tunny (“bonita”), jack crevelle, bull redfish and even tarpon, ling or pelagic fish (mahi, sailfish or blackfin tuna). Twenty pound spinning tackle with 8 or 9 foot rods have pretty much been the standard for pier fishers with ‘big game’ ambitions through the years. But modern braided lines testing much heavier give anglers another edge over gamefish. More control over a fish gives the angler a better chance of keeping it away from pier pilings, other angler’s lines or from Thispredators.timeof year many beach pier, jetty and even inshore pier anglers like to target mangrove snapper. They are plentiful all along the Emerald Coast and many have reached harvestable size by the end of summer. Most hard structures like piling, rocks and seawalls hold any number of mangroves depending on the water depth, clarity, and food supply. Small minnows and live shrimp are their favorites, but even small chunks of cutbait work too. Though usually weighing only one to two pounds (inshore) “grovers” are quite ‘scrappy’ with a bad reputation of breaking lines on nearby obstructions. So it pays to ‘tackle up’ a bit on the heavy side in order to muscle a mangrove away from the barnacles. Just keep the terminal tackle to a minimum, as they are also quite wary. Clear monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders (15 to 30 pound test) with modest hooks and just enough weight to get your bait down are going to get way more bites. Also be well aware of the regulations on mangrove snapper, as limits, creels, and legal tackle vary by state. But mangrove snapper sure are delicious, and well worth the effort to catch and cook. Beach fishing options begin to pick up this month too as more pompano begin to prowl the surfzone. Of course there are plenty of other species available as well, especially a huge increase in the number of juvenile jack crevalle. These fast-growing tiny terrors of the surf, hatched in the spring and are already 8 or so inches long. They move in packs of 50 to 100, attacking any food source with vigor equal to the adult versions. They are so much fun on ultralight (panfish), spin, or fly tackle. They will strike most any small jig or lure, live bait or any moving dead bait. And they aren’t bad table fare either, especially when bled out, filleted and pan sauteed. Other plentiful jack species include ladyfish “skipjack”, and blue runner “hardtail”. The same pretty much goes for catching them even while pompano and “whiting” (Gulf kingfish) get more attention from fishermen. The tides are always a force to be reckoned with, and this month the daylight hours are mostly dominated by a falling tide into the afternoon. Not that our one to two foot tide range is much to deal with by other standards, but it has just as much effect on our fish as in other parts of the world. Especially perturbing to anglers will be our NEAP tide periods around the 12th and the 26th. Though they may be good times to fish the passes between the Gulf and bays. What little water movement there is, will be concentrated then. Sans any strong wind events that may push up large waves and strong currents.
Most times September offers about the most variety of species for shore bound anglers of the entire year. Staying attuned to the weather and water conditions will help you plan and adjust your tackle and tactics to whatever species are available. And those will change from day to day, even throughout the day as the amount of sunlight penetrating into the water varies hourly as you enjoy your great days outdoors!
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FISHING OUTLOOK 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 75
LAKE TALQUIN
Stripers and hybrids will be showing up in the main river as the water temperatures start to cool toward the end of the month. Fishing live bait such as shrimp and minnows downstream from the train trestle can produce good stripers in the fall.
LAKE SEMINOLE Summer is still here and it’s still hot, but for some hot white bass and hybrid bass action, anglers should look over the sandbars in the main lake which are 10 to 15 feet deep. The whites and hybrids will be chasing shad, and they’ll be schooling in September, so look for birds working bait.
Bass will be in all of the regular late summer places. Look for them on ledges and drop offs in the main river and up the larger feeder streams. Soft plastics will work well, and there is usually a good early and late topwater place in sloughs and bayous off the main river.
APALACHICOLA RIVER SYSTEM
76 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Jeff DuBree of Whippoorwill Sportsman’s Lodge on Lake Talquin said that the weather will still be hot in September, so anglers should work ledges on the main river channel. Try deep running crankbaits, shakey head worms bounced on the bottom, and soft plastics on heavy jigs for Bass begin feeding heavily for the upcoming leaner months of fall and winter
Of course, catfish will still be good in the river system. Fish live bait and chucks of shad in fairly deep water for good September catfish.
“There ought to be some good crappie fishing, some excellent bass fishing, and some pretty good hybrid and white bass fishing on Lake Seminole this month,” said fishing guide Captain Jody Wells.
Tony Poloronis of Outcaster’s Bait and Tackle said that bream will prob ably be off the beds now and will be scattered in deeper water holding close to structure. Live baits such as crickets, worms, and small shrimp if they can be found will work.
Photos by Ed Mashburn
Bass will be good on topwater lures- frogs are very good- early and late. Try frogs in dark colors for best results. Crappie anglers will find good success in September using minnows or jigs- whichever you prefer. Deep water from 20 to 25 feet deep is a good depth to start looking for crappie. They often suspend at the 16 foot level, but the most important element for fall crappie fishing according to Jody Wells is to fish over tree tops. Find the tree tops and the crappie will be close.
The bass will start schooling on Lake Talquin in September in open water, so a shad-look lure that can be cast a long way to reach the schooling fish is good. Little Georges and Rat’L’Traps are both good for this kind of long distance fishing.
FLORIDA WATERS
REGIONAL FRESHWATER Fishing Outlook BY ED MASHBURN
“I love a Talon spinner bait in shad pattern with gold willow leaf spin ners. I have good luck in September with a Gene Larue Bifflebug in Okeechobee Craw and green pumpkin colors. A Larue Tattletail worm rigged on a shaky head is also very good at this time,” said Captain Lee Pitts from Pitts Outdoors. Bass fishing at Weiss in September will start the annual fall transition and bass anglers can find good fish in a wide range of locations. Some bass will still be found on deeper ledges in the main bay and river chan nels, but a lot of bass will follow bait up into shallow water. Pitts says, “In September we usually have good luck using vertical presentation for crappie on Lake Weiss. We either lower live minnows or use jigs over deeper brush piles in 12 to 18 feet of water.”
Anglers will not want to concentrate totally on the grass at this time because there will still be plenty of good bass holding on deep ledges.
LAKE WEISS
Crappie will be on open water trash piles where they will respond well to vertical jigging. Catfish are always good at Eufaula, and jug fishing in September is a very good way to gather up the main course of a fish fry. Cut bait, especially shad, is best at this time.
MOBILE DELTA Crankbaits in shad and crawfish patterns on the major rivers are very good for bass at this time. Moving water, either incoming or outgoing tides, are important. The fish can be lethargic in slack tide periods.
“Typically we get a saltwater infusion up in the Delta in September. The salinity can go out of sight from the Causeway up to I-65. This brings schools of baitfish and shrimp into the rivers of the Delta. The fishing can be fantastic, but if something breaks the pattern, fishing can be tough,” said Mobile-Tensaw Guide Service Captain Wayne Miller.
MILLER’S FERRY For crappie, Joe Dunn from Dunn’s Sports advises anglers o look out in the main river channels where deep sunken timber and treetops will be holding some good schools of crappie this month. To catch the better crappie, drop live minnows down to reach the fish over the tree tops. Remember to keep the minnows just above the holding crappie- the big ones don’t like to move down to reach a bait, but they will move upwards to eat.
Captain Jake Davis from Mid-South Bass Guide Service said that the bass will be all up and down the entire lake at this time, and where there is grass, there will be bass. Davis recommends that anglers looking for the best bass should use their ears. He said, “Listen for ‘Rice-Krispie’ popping sounds coming from the weeds. That’s shad and bream feeding in the grass. The bass will be in there feeding on the shad and bream. If there’s no snapping, find another weed bed,” he Davissaid.likes a Missile Bait D-Bomb in Super Bug colors for punching through the grass mats. For the famous top water frog bite on Guntersville in September, Davis uses a Pro-Z Frog in Scooby-Doo color. This lure fished on a start and stop retrieve will produce some heart stopping strikes at this time. Bass anglers should start shallow with the top water fishing and work out as the day warms. LAKE EUFAULA Big old Lake Eufaula is a good place for anglers to visit to find some hot bass fishing and according to Captain Sam Williams from Hawks Fishing Guide Servicethe biggest bass will be deep in the weeds.
ALABAMA WATERS
Both milfoil and hydrilla weed mats next to the river channel will be prime places to find big bass in September. Early fall on Lake Gunters ville means topwater fishing over the weed mats.
“As September moves along, the crappie will move to deeper boat docks in the mouths of creeks. This produces some fine dock shooting with jigs far up under the shaded parts of docks,” said Pitts. He particularly recommends the Yellow Creek and Bay Springs areas of Weiss Lake for early fall fishing because both of these areas have deeper feeder sloughs with lots of cover that the crappie like.
Trolling jigs and minnow-tipped jigs can be very productive for Miller’s Ferry fall crappie, and as the month moves on, crappie chasers can focus their search on deeper slough mouths where they meet the main lake body. These crappie will be suspended in open water waiting for schools of shad to show up.
Bass anglers will still want to concentrate their efforts out in the deeper ledges along the main river channels. Of course, when the water in the lake is moving from water being pulled through the dam is best for bass fishing.
Big spinner baits worked on the deeper ledges can be very effective here in September. Shad patterns are best since everything will be
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FISHING OUTLOOK best bass fishing. Some big bass will be caught around lighted docks at night. Stripers will still be in cooler water up creeks where springs feed into the lake. White bucktails jigs in four to six feet of water will work. Bream will be scattered around the lake, but fishing around deeper docks is always a good technique for September bream. Catfish will still be biting well in deeper water on live bait and chunks of shad.
Full summertime pattern is in place on Alabama lakes, and anglers can find and catch some great fish now.
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE
Bream anglers will want to fish around lily pads with live bait for some hot bluegill and shell cracker action in September.
Bass on the Delta are still in deep water summer pattern. The topwater bite on the Delta picks up when the shrimp migrate. There will be lots of shrimp moving. Soft plastics and especially 1/8 to 1/4 oz white bus baits can be very effective, and mid to late September fishing just gets better.
Anglers will have good luck punching through the grass with heavy jigs. Williams recommended the Big Bite Yo Momma and Yo Daddy jigs in hemotoma color pattern.
WILSON LAKE September is the official start of the fall fishing season on the Tennes see River lakes even though two-thirds of the month is still summer. Cooler water temps and shorter days initiate the fall bite.
The very best times for fishing Wilson Lake for big catfish will be when the dam is generating and moving a lot of water through the lake.
Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook Capt. Brian Capt.www.pittsoutdoors.com256-390-4145Capt.www.midsouthbassguide.com615-613-2382Mid-SouthCaptwww.brianbartonoutdoors.comBrianbartonoutdoors@aol.com256-412-0969BartonJakeDavisBassGuideServiceLeePittsSamWilliams Hawks Fishing Guide Service 334-355-5057 www.hawksfishingguideservice. WhippoorwillJeffcomDuBree Sportsman’s Lodge Lake 850-875-2605Talquin Fishtalquin@gmail.com Jody Wells Lake Brandon850-209-2420SeminoleJackson Riverside Fly shop 17027 Hwy 69N Jasper, 256-287-9582Al riversideflyshop.com Tony Outcaster’sPoloronisBait and Tackle 631 Hwy 98, Apalachicola, FL 33356334-636-0850Dunn’sJoe850-653-4665DunnSportsHighway 43 Thomasville, Alabama Capt. Wayne Mobile-TensawMillerGuide Service 251-455-7404 Important Contact Information feeding on the shad. Catfish will be good. Use cut shad on tight lines and try live bream for some really big trophy sized cats here in September.
September means the superior smallmouth bass bite will start up for the fall, and anglers can expect some hot brown bass fishing, especially below Wheeler Dam. For the biggest smallmouths, anglers should drift live shad as close to the bottom in the fast water as possible. Look for ledges and humps in the fast water which will break the current and give the big smallmouths places to hold out of the current.
Barton pointed out that the trophy catfish bite starts in September on the big northwest Alabama Tennessee River lakes, and this is especially true on Wilson Lake. The big cats feed more during the day as fall starts, and the lower portions of Wilson Lake will be very good for the biggest catfish.
78 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
SIPSEY FORK September is a great time for float trips on the Sipsey Fork. says Riv erside Fly Shop’s Brandon Jackson. As the anglers move downstream, hopper patterns and streamers are very good. In addition to the stocked rainbow trout, anglers can expect to encounter some big pickerel in JacksonSeptember.explain that in September, usually the temperatures start to cool and the grasshoppers start to fall into the river where the trout gob ble them up. A very good fly combination at this time is a hopper pattern on the surface with a dropper fly in a midge pattern. Sow bugs flies can be very effective in September, too. If the September weather stays warm, sinking ant patterns can be good. Anglers will need to keep in mind that stocking of trout goes on yearround in Sipsey Fork, so there are always trout to be caught. Various size trout are stocked from ten to twelve inches fish up to fifteen and sixteen inches. The much larger holdover trout which have survived from the previous year’s stockings will move up toward the dam later in the fall.
“White bass will be easy pickings this month. Like other fish, they will be gorging themselves on yearling shad fattening up for the winter, the tailrace will be your best option,” Barton said.
Late summer bass will still bite, and they will still fight hard
“ For trophy catfish, the deep waters of Wilson Lake are your best bet. Begin your search from the mouth of Shoals Creek to Wilson Dam on the north side of the lake. Look for fish in 56 to 90 feet of water on the river channel ledge and submerged islands and canal system,” said long time veteran guide Captain Brian Barton.
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MOON & FEED TIMES Date Day This chart is specifically designed for fishing times in the Mobile/Tensaw Delta & other tidally influenced waters of South Alabama. PRIME FEEDING TIMES Mobile / Tensaw Delta September 2022 302928272625242322212019181716151413121110987654321 FriThuWedTueMonSunSatFriThuWedTueMonSunSatFriThuWedTueMonSunSatFriThuWedTueMonSunSatFriThu ★★ ★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ 80 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Perdido Pass SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 12:28 AM / 0.75 01:21 AM / 0.89 02:20 AM / 1.00 03:20 AM / 1.07 04:18 AM / 1.09 07:35 AM / 1.09 08:35 AM / 1.12 09:26 AM / 1.08 10:19 AM / 0.98 11:16 AM / 0.84 12:07 AM / 0.36 12:16 PM / 0.68 12:33 AM / 0.49 01:20 PM / 0.52 10:39 PM / 0.61 02:31 PM / 0.39 11:17 PM / 0.74 11:59 PM / 0.83 12:42 AM / 0.88 01:32 AM / 0.90 02:31 AM / 0.89 03:28 AM / 0.87 07:17 AM / 0.83 08:15 AM / 0.86 08:59 AM / 0.86 09:41 AM / 0.83 10:26 AM / 0.76 11:15 PM / 0.37 11:22 AM / 0.66 11:32 PM / 0.46 12:25 PM / 0.55 09:45 PM / 0.63 01:37 PM / 0.44 10:18 PM / 0.79 11:00 PM / 0.92 11:48 PM / 1.03 01:57 PM / 0.17 02:25 PM / 0.01 03:18 PM / -0.13 04:26 PM / -0.23 05:18 PM / -0.30 05:58 PM / -0.31 06:28 PM / -0.25 06:49 PM / -0.13 07:01 PM / 0.03 07:06 PM / 0.20 04:10 AM / 0.25 05:56 PM / 0.34 05:43 AM / 0.20 05:34 PM / 0.37 06:38 AM / 0.16 04:41 PM / 0.35 12:14 PM / 0.15 01:20 PM / 0.06 02:13 PM / -0.01 03:09 PM / -0.04 04:12 PM / -0.07 05:07 PM / -0.09 05:48 PM / -0.08 06:21 PM / -0.05 06:41 PM / 0.03 06:36 PM / 0.13 06:33 PM / 0.25 02:33 AM / 0.25 04:57 PM / 0.34 04:40 AM / 0.20 04:48 PM / 0.38 05:49 AM / 0.11 03:54 PM / 0.39 06:42 AM / 0.04 07:43 AM / 0.00 11:56 AM / -0.08302928272625242322212019181716151413121098765432111 ALABAMA TIDE CHARTS FLEXIBLE — The entire lineup of 4.2-liter V6 four strokes—from the F225 and F250 up to the mighty F300—is now available with either mechanical or digital controls, for ease of repower LIGHTER — At 562 pounds (digital) and 551 pounds (mechanical), they’re up to 73 pounds lighter than other four strokes in their class FASTER — Up to 19 percent faster than other 300-hp competitors, planing offshore boats with ease* SMARTER — Up to 17 percent better fuel economy, at cruise RPM, than comparable outboards* *Testing conducted by Yamaha at Yamaha’s test facility on a Grady-White® 257 Advance/300 hp, with each boat rigged for maximum performance. 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Not only do they feature class-leading 4.2-liter displacement, but they’re also: Learn more about the powerful performance of our 4.2-liter V6 Offshore F300, F250 and F225 at YamahaOutboards.com/V6offshore. t t t t GIVE US A CALL OR STOP BY TODAY TO GET A QUOTE ON REPOWERING YOUR BOAT Fort Morgan SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 02:26 AM / 1.36 02:48 AM / 1.53 03:25 AM / 1.65 04:13 AM / 1.74 05:13 AM / 1.77 06:26 AM / 1.77 07:59 AM / 1.73 09:35 AM / 1.67 10:55 AM / 1.56 12:16 PM / 1.40 03:06 AM / 0.89 02:01 PM / 1.23 01:45 AM / 1.01 03:56 PM / 1.10 12:40 AM / 1.23 12:57 AM / 1.42 01:28 AM / 1.56 02:07 AM / 1.63 02:50 AM / 1.65 03:38 AM / 1.63 04:31 AM / 1.59 05:30 AM / 1.54 06:41 AM / 1.48 08:12 AM / 1.41 09:40 AM / 1.34 10:59 AM / 1.25 01:41 AM / 0.96 12:30 PM / 1.15 12:47 AM / 1.05 02:38 PM / 1.07 12:18 AM / 1.19 12:16 AM / 1.36 12:34 AM / 1.53 01:08 AM / 1.66 10:47 AM / 0.49 12:54 PM / 0.42 03:52 PM / 0.31 05:29 PM / 0.17 06:35 PM / 0.06 07:28 PM / 0.02 08:12 PM / 0.06 08:50 PM / 0.19 09:17 PM / 0.40 09:09 PM / 0.65 06:44 AM / 0.79 08:20 PM / 0.86 08:05 AM / 0.65 07:46 PM / 0.99 09:10 AM / 0.52 10:14 AM / 0.44 11:33 AM / 0.40 01:26 PM / 0.39 03:18 PM / 0.38 04:50 PM / 0.35 05:54 PM / 0.32 06:39 PM / 0.31 07:10 PM / 0.34 07:31 PM / 0.41 07:42 PM / 0.52 07:39 PM / 0.66 06:16 AM / 0.85 07:27 PM / 0.81 07:20 AM / 0.68 07:10 PM / 0.95 08:11 AM / 0.51 09:01 AM / 0.36 10:00 AM / 0.27 11:38 AM / 0.23302928272625242322212019181716151413121098765432111 Fort Morgan SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 03:09 AM / 1.54 03:38 AM / 1.76 04:25 AM / 1.94 05:24 AM / 2.07 06:30 AM / 2.16 07:40 AM / 2.20 08:54 AM / 2.17 10:14 AM / 2.06 11:40 AM / 1.88 01:07 PM / 1.65 04:16 AM / 1.01 02:48 PM / 1.40 02:49 AM / 1.16 05:06 PM / 1.21 01:44 AM / 1.42 01:55 AM / 1.64 02:26 AM / 1.80 03:07 AM / 1.87 03:55 AM / 1.89 04:53 AM / 1.88 05:56 AM / 1.85 07:00 AM / 1.82 08:05 AM / 1.78 09:14 AM / 1.71 10:34 AM / 1.61 12:02 PM / 1.50 02:55 AM / 1.15 01:36 PM / 1.38 01:54 AM / 1.25 03:31 PM / 1.29 01:07 AM / 1.44 01:01 AM / 1.67 01:22 AM / 1.88 01:58 AM / 2.05 12:23 PM / 0.57 02:24 PM / 0.43 04:10 PM / 0.28 05:36 PM / 0.14 06:51 PM / 0.04 07:54 PM / -0.02 08:47 PM / 0.03 09:30 PM / 0.18 10:02 PM / 0.43 10:08 PM / 0.73 06:57 AM / 0.97 09:12 PM / 1.01 09:01 AM / 0.80 08:06 PM / 1.16 10:27 AM / 0.62 11:43 AM / 0.49 01:09 PM / 0.41 02:43 PM / 0.36 04:04 PM / 0.34 05:13 PM / 0.31 06:13 PM / 0.30 07:02 PM / 0.31 07:39 PM / 0.36 08:06 PM / 0.46 08:20 PM / 0.61 08:17 PM / 0.80 06:39 AM / 1.05 07:58 PM / 1.00 08:05 AM / 0.88 07:30 PM / 1.18 09:10 AM / 0.70 10:09 AM / 0.54 11:17 AM / 0.42 12:54 PM / 0.33302928272625242322212019181716151413121098765432111 Mobile River SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 04:12 AM / 1.71 04:34 AM / 1.91 05:11 AM / 2.07 05:59 AM / 2.17 06:59 AM / 2.22 08:12 AM / 2.21 09:45 AM / 2.17 11:21 AM / 2.09 12:41 PM / 1.95 02:02 PM / 1.75 04:52 AM / 1.11 03:47 PM / 1.54 03:31 AM / 1.26 05:42 PM / 1.38 02:26 AM / 1.53 02:43 AM / 1.78 03:14 AM / 1.94 03:53 AM / 2.03 04:36 AM / 2.06 05:24 AM / 2.04 06:17 AM / 1.98 07:16 AM / 1.92 08:27 AM / 1.84 09:58 AM / 1.76 11:26 AM / 1.68 12:45 PM / 1.56 03:27 AM / 1.20 02:16 PM / 1.44 02:33 AM / 1.31 04:24 PM / 1.34 02:04 AM / 1.49 02:02 AM / 1.71 02:20 AM / 1.91 02:54 AM / 2.07 12:19 PM / 0.61 02:26 PM / 0.52 05:24 PM / 0.38 07:01 PM / 0.21 08:07 PM / 0.08 09:00 PM / 0.02 09:44 PM / 0.07 10:22 PM / 0.24 10:49 PM / 0.51 10:41 PM / 0.82 08:16 AM / 0.99 09:52 PM / 1.08 09:37 AM / 0.81 09:18 PM / 1.24 10:42 AM / 0.65 11:46 AM / 0.55 01:05 PM / 0.50 02:58 PM / 0.49 04:50 PM / 0.47 06:22 PM / 0.43 07:26 PM / 0.40 08:11 PM / 0.38 08:42 PM / 0.42 09:03 PM / 0.51 09:14 PM / 0.65 09:11 PM / 0.82 07:48 AM / 1.06 08:59 PM / 1.01 08:52 AM / 0.84 08:42 PM / 1.19 09:43 AM / 0.63 10:33 AM / 0.45 11:32 AM / 0.34 01:10 PM / 0.28302928272625242322212019181716151413121098765432111 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 81
Destin East Pass SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 01:55 AM / 0.68 02:25 AM / 0.77 03:16 AM / 0.85 04:25 AM / 0.91 05:46 AM / 0.96 07:09 AM / 1.00 08:23 AM / 1.01 09:30 AM / 0.98 10:32 AM / 0.90 11:36 AM / 0.78 12:54 PM / 0.64 12:54 AM / 0.50 03:06 PM / 0.52 12:36 AM / 0.64 12:50 AM / 0.75 01:18 AM / 0.82 01:56 AM / 0.85 02:47 AM / 0.86 03:51 AM / 0.85 05:08 AM / 0.85 06:26 AM / 0.85 07:31 AM / 0.85 08:27 AM / 0.83 09:18 AM / 0.79 10:16 AM / 0.72 02:08 AM / 0.45 11:28 AM / 0.63 12:15 AM / 0.51 01:12 PM / 0.55 11:43 PM / 0.61 11:42 PM / 0.72 12:03 AM / 0.82 12:42 AM / 0.90 11:34 AM / 0.14 01:16 PM / 0.09 02:56 PM / 0.04 04:23 PM / -0.01 05:36 PM / -0.05 06:36 PM / -0.07 07:26 PM / -0.05 08:05 PM / 0.00 08:32 PM / 0.08 08:37 PM / 0.19 08:00 PM / 0.28 07:34 AM / 0.23 06:02 PM / 0.34 09:22 AM / 0.17 10:47 AM / 0.12 12:07 PM / 0.10 01:30 PM / 0.09 02:55 PM / 0.08 04:10 PM / 0.07 05:08 PM / 0.06 05:52 PM / 0.06 06:23 PM / 0.06 06:45 PM / 0.09 06:57 PM / 0.14 06:57 PM / 0.20 03:49 AM / 0.30 06:40 PM / 0.27 06:20 AM / 0.25 05:47 PM / 0.33 07:44 AM / 0.18 08:57 AM / 0.12 10:13 AM / 0.08 11:45 AM / 0.05302928262524232221201918171615141312109876543211127 Navarre Beach SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 12:25 AM / 1.61 01:21 AM / 1.79 02:27 AM / 1.92 03:42 AM / 1.99 05:02 AM / 2.02 06:27 AM / 2.00 07:53 AM / 1.91 09:13 AM / 1.77 10:27 AM / 1.57 12:19 AM / 0.79 11:42 AM / 1.34 11:55 PM / 0.96 01:04 PM / 1.11 09:46 PM / 1.20 10:34 PM / 1.41 11:21 PM / 1.56 12:11 AM / 1.64 01:07 AM / 1.67 02:11 AM / 1.67 03:23 AM / 1.66 04:37 AM / 1.66 05:50 AM / 1.65 06:57 AM / 1.64 07:59 AM / 1.59 09:01 AM / 1.51 11:13 PM / 0.96 10:12 AM / 1.40 10:43 PM / 1.09 11:34 AM / 1.26 09:33 PM / 1.27 01:12 PM / 1.14 09:31 PM / 1.50 10:01 PM / 1.71 10:43 PM / 1.89 11:35 PM / 2.02 08:43 AM / 0.63 12:43 PM / 0.40 01:45 PM / 0.19 02:46 PM / 0.03 03:47 PM / -0.06 04:47 PM / -0.07 05:45 PM / 0.00 06:41 PM / 0.16 07:34 PM / 0.39 05:26 PM / 0.66 03:24 AM / 0.66 05:03 PM / 0.82 04:46 AM / 0.62 04:56 PM / 0.90 06:08 AM / 0.57 07:44 AM / 0.51 11:35 AM / 0.42 12:44 PM / 0.33 01:40 PM / 0.28 02:31 PM / 0.27 03:19 PM / 0.28 04:00 PM / 0.32 04:31 PM / 0.39 04:48 PM / 0.49 04:45 PM / 0.62 04:26 PM / 0.75 02:32 AM / 0.85 04:12 PM / 0.88 03:45 AM / 0.77 04:05 PM / 0.99 04:54 AM / 0.67 03:53 PM / 1.07 06:07 AM / 0.56 07:38 AM / 0.44 10:43 AM / 0.31302928262524232221201918171615141312109876543211127 Panama City SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 01:15 AM / 1.47 01:43 AM / 1.66 02:26 AM / 1.82 03:23 AM / 1.93 04:40 AM / 2.00 06:22 AM / 2.05 07:55 AM / 2.07 09:10 AM / 2.02 10:21 AM / 1.89 11:32 AM / 1.70 01:02 AM / 0.94 12:44 PM / 1.48 12:49 AM / 1.13 02:02 PM / 1.27 12:27 AM / 1.35 12:00 AM / 1.56 12:28 AM / 1.71 01:06 AM / 1.80 01:50 AM / 1.83 02:43 AM / 1.81 03:49 AM / 1.78 05:28 AM / 1.75 07:15 AM / 1.74 08:22 AM / 1.71 09:20 AM / 1.64 10:22 AM / 1.54 11:59 PM / 1.06 11:32 AM / 1.41 11:48 PM / 1.18 12:50 PM / 1.27 11:17 PM / 1.35 11:07 PM / 1.54 11:33 PM / 1.73 12:12 AM / 1.89 10:47 AM / 0.66 01:10 PM / 0.49 02:56 PM / 0.30 04:00 PM / 0.13 04:54 PM / 0.02 05:46 PM / -0.01 06:34 PM / 0.06 07:20 PM / 0.22 08:01 PM / 0.46 08:22 PM / 0.74 04:30 AM / 0.85 07:17 PM / 1.00 06:25 AM / 0.77 06:02 PM / 1.15 08:04 AM / 0.68 09:42 AM / 0.59 11:26 AM / 0.52 01:24 PM / 0.46 02:44 PM / 0.41 03:42 PM / 0.38 04:28 PM / 0.36 05:06 PM / 0.38 05:35 PM / 0.44 05:52 PM / 0.53 05:53 PM / 0.65 05:54 PM / 0.80 04:01 AM / 0.95 05:50 PM / 0.95 05:32 AM / 0.84 05:19 PM / 1.08 06:52 AM / 0.71 08:18 AM / 0.58 09:48 AM / 0.45 11:23 AM / 0.32302928262524232221201918171615141312109876543211127 Pensacola Bay SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 02:28 AM / 1.38 02:58 AM / 1.58 03:49 AM / 1.73 04:58 AM / 1.86 06:19 AM / 1.96 07:42 AM / 2.04 08:56 AM / 2.07 10:03 AM / 2.01 11:05 AM / 1.84 12:09 PM / 1.59 01:27 PM / 1.30 01:27 AM / 1.02 03:39 PM / 1.05 01:09 AM / 1.30 01:23 AM / 1.53 01:51 AM / 1.68 02:29 AM / 1.74 03:20 AM / 1.75 04:24 AM / 1.74 05:41 AM / 1.73 06:59 AM / 1.74 08:04 AM / 1.74 09:00 AM / 1.70 09:51 AM / 1.61 10:49 AM / 1.46 12:01 PM / 1.28 12:48 AM / 1.04 01:45 PM / 1.11 12:16 AM / 1.25 12:15 AM / 1.48 12:36 AM / 1.68 01:15 AM / 1.83 12:08 PM / 0.42 01:50 PM / 0.26 03:30 PM / 0.11 04:57 PM / -0.03 06:10 PM / -0.14 07:10 PM / -0.20 08:00 PM / -0.15 08:39 PM / 0.00 09:06 PM / 0.26 09:11 PM / 0.57 08:34 PM / 0.86 08:08 AM / 0.68 06:36 PM / 1.03 09:56 AM / 0.51 11:21 AM / 0.37 12:41 PM / 0.29 02:04 PM / 0.26 03:29 PM / 0.24 04:44 PM / 0.21 05:42 PM / 0.18 06:26 PM / 0.17 06:57 PM / 0.19 07:19 PM / 0.27 07:31 PM / 0.41 07:31 PM / 0.60 07:14 PM / 0.81 06:54 AM / 0.76 06:21 PM / 0.99 08:18 AM / 0.56 09:31 AM / 0.38 10:47 AM / 0.24 12:19 PM / 0.14109876543211112131415161718192021222324252627282930 FLORIDA TIDE CHARTS 82 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Share highlights from your great days outdoors with us! info@GreatDaysOutdoors.com 151413121098765432111 6:20 AM 6:20 AM 6:21 AM 6:22 AM 6:22 AM 6:23 AM 6:23 AM 6:24 AM 6:25 AM 6:25 AM 6:26 AM 6:27 AM 6:27 AM 6:28 AM 6:28 AM 7:09 PM 7:08 PM 7:07 PM 7:05 PM 7:04 PM 7:03 PM 7:01 PM 7:00 PM 6:59 PM 6:57 PM 6:56 PM 6:55 PM 6:53 PM 6:52 PM 6:51 PM 302928272625242322212019181716 6:29 AM 6:30 AM 6:30 AM 6:31 AM 6:32 AM 6:32 AM 6:33 AM 6:33 AM 6:34 AM 6:35 AM 6:35 AM 6:36 AM 6:37 AM 6:37 AM 6:38 AM 6:49 PM 6:48 PM 6:47 PM 6:45 PM 6:44 PM 6:43 PM 6:41 PM 6:40 PM 6:38 PM 6:37 PM 6:36 PM 6:34 PM 6:33 PM 6:32 PM 6:30 PM September 2022 Sunrise / Sunset MISSISSIPPI TIDE CHARTS 3766 Airport geico.com/mobile-alBoulevard| Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko® image © 1999-2022. © 2022WhetherGEICO you’re looking to spend time on the water or dry land, GEICO could help you save with boat, motorcycle and RV insurance. We could also help bundle your auto coverage and renters insurance through the GEICO Insurance Agency, LLC.Your GEICO Local Agent could help you save on more than just car insurance! Savings as local as your fishing captain. 3766 Airport Blvd Mobile geico.com/mobile-davis251-445-005336608 Biloxi Bay 02:36 AM / 1.71 03:04 AM / 2.01 03:48 AM / 2.27 04:47 AM / 2.48 05:57 AM / 2.62 07:14 AM / 2.68 08:32 AM / 2.67 09:46 AM / 2.58 10:56 AM / 2.38 12:06 PM / 2.11 01:23 PM / 1.79 01:13 AM / 1.33 03:32 PM / 1.50 12:54 AM / 1.68 01:17 AM / 1.98 01:51 AM / 2.19 02:31 AM / 2.33 03:17 AM / 2.40 04:13 AM / 2.41 05:20 AM / 2.40 06:36 AM / 2.37 07:52 AM / 2.34 08:59 AM / 2.28 09:59 AM / 2.19 10:57 AM / 2.06 12:00 PM / 1.88 12:45 AM / 1.46 01:25 PM / 1.68 12:16 AM / 1.71 12:21 AM / 1.99 12:44 AM / 2.27 01:20 AM / 2.52 12:35 PM / 0.70 02:04 PM / 0.40 03:11 PM / 0.13 04:12 PM / -0.08 05:11 PM / -0.20 06:08 PM / -0.20 07:02 PM / -0.08 07:52 PM / 0.16 08:34 PM / 0.49 09:00 PM / 0.87 08:34 PM / 1.25 07:01 AM / 1.07 06:10 PM / 1.46 09:23 AM / 0.92 11:23 AM / 0.74 12:54 PM / 0.58 02:04 PM / 0.47 03:04 PM / 0.41 03:58 PM / 0.38 04:49 PM / 0.39 05:36 PM / 0.44 06:17 PM / 0.53 06:50 PM / 0.66 07:13 PM / 0.84 07:21 PM / 1.05 07:05 PM / 1.28 05:40 AM / 1.25 06:11 PM / 1.48 07:32 AM / 1.09 09:10 AM / 0.88 10:44 AM / 0.65 12:13 PM / 0.43SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 302928272625242322212019181716151413121098765432111 Pascagoula 01:48 AM / 1.26 02:21 AM / 1.50 02:59 AM / 1.68 03:47 AM / 1.80 04:56 AM / 1.85 06:19 AM / 1.86 07:33 AM / 1.82 08:47 AM / 1.72 09:58 AM / 1.56 11:12 AM / 1.34 02:31 AM / 0.61 01:40 PM / 1.12 01:41 AM / 0.76 03:01 PM / 0.95 11:30 PM / 1.05 12:10 AM / 1.27 12:57 AM / 1.44 01:43 AM / 1.54 02:26 AM / 1.58 03:10 AM / 1.58 04:05 AM / 1.54 05:25 AM / 1.50 06:45 AM / 1.47 07:54 AM / 1.44 09:02 AM / 1.38 10:04 AM / 1.27 01:27 AM / 0.62 11:21 AM / 1.13 10:32 PM / 0.78 02:07 PM / 1.02 10:52 PM / 1.01 11:18 PM / 1.25 11:52 PM / 1.48 12:39 AM / 1.67 10:45 AM / 0.20 12:28 PM / 0.01 02:11 PM / -0.16 03:52 PM / -0.30 04:56 PM / -0.40 05:49 PM / -0.40 06:39 PM / -0.30 07:24 PM / -0.11 08:00 PM / 0.15 08:16 PM / 0.44 05:28 AM / 0.55 07:04 PM / 0.68 06:48 AM / 0.43 06:53 PM / 0.83 08:04 AM / 0.32 09:16 AM / 0.22 11:07 AM / 0.16 12:36 PM / 0.10 01:50 PM / 0.09 04:13 PM / 0.07 05:04 PM / 0.04 05:36 PM / 0.05 06:04 PM / 0.09 06:30 PM / 0.17 06:48 PM / 0.30 06:23 PM / 0.46 04:50 AM / 0.56 06:19 PM / 0.62 05:58 AM / 0.41 06:29 PM / 0.79 07:05 AM / 0.24 08:14 AM / 0.08 09:26 AM / -0.06 11:03 AM / -0.17SuSuSuSuThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThFSMTWThF 302928272625242322212019181716151413121098765432111 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 83
Sea-Doo.com ©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 fo details. You didn’t see it coming. Neither did the fish. Discover yours at our dealership 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. 618 N New Warrington Rd. Pensacola, FL 32506 (850)456-6655MotorsportsPensacola TROPHY ROOM Pensacola Motorsports 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. GET FEATURED IN OUR ISSUES OF GREAT DAYS OUTDOORS WHEN YOU GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT POST: To Facebook @GreatDaysOutdoors EMAIL: info@GreatDaysOutdoors.com [ OR ] IT'S EASY TO ENTER Photo of the Month! Simply share your great day outdoors with us! Miranda Crawford smiling with her crappieTerry Bounds showing off his monster red snapper 84 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
Jeff Salter with a fine crappie grinning ear to ear!Amy Smith with a nice speckled trout Mark Boldin has his hand full of crappie 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 85
Lilygray Smith with her trout Jameson Norris with a hefty bucketmouth
Jaley, 9, is happy she doesn’t have to her catfish
handle
Gage Williamson is all smiles with his fish
KID'S CORNER TROPHY ROOM
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. Hunter Travis scored on a largemouth Chapman Wasdin knows how to pull em in! Isaiah with his first trophy catch 1ST Fish
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“Be BackPrepared”in1907,Baden-Powell, an English soldier, devised the Scout motto: Be Pre pared and millions of boy scouts around the world have used it ever since. That sound advice applies to fishermen on the Captainwater.Adam
Peeples from One Shot Fishing Charters in Destin, Florida said that in September there will be sargassum grasses floating around and that can play havoc with your boat and equipment. “You could be halfway out on a deep water fishing trip and after dropping $60-$80 on bait find out that your live bait well is broken. That can ruin the whole trip,” Peeples said. “The units are so fragile that if they suck something up it snap the little propeller right off so having a spare can be a real trip saver.”
“You should be thinking about what could easily break or fail and what should I have that I can replace it with or allow me to do BY WILLIAM KENDY a repair on the fly that could save the trip,” he Joeadded.Baya is publisher of GDO and he re counts an issue that he ran into on a fishing excursion in south Florida. “We were just on vacation and weren’t in our home waters and we slung a hub and spent a day just trying to find someone who could press the hub in on the prop. We just ended up just buying a whole new prop,” Baya said. “You need to think about your own boat and those items that could or commonly fail.”
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September Fishing Tips
While it may be a little bit of an expense it doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan along with some spare parts and units. You may never have to use them but it certainly allows you some peace of mind knowing that you are covered. Contact Information One Shot Fishing Charters (850)585-9436https://oneshotcharters.com/ 877.314.1237
// GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 89
The deer and dogs were moving fast so that’s exactly how these two hunters decided they needed to travel. Adrenaline and buck fever might have been involved.
He looked me in the eye to sell his point and I understood what he meant by lowered expectations. In the army’s frame of mind, this young fellow had accumulated exactly the kind of wisdom they wanted him to have. You graduated from basic when you could appreciate sleeping in a hole.
I nodded and let him take a big bite of barbecue and think a little more. That’s when he got to the point.
Jim’s award-winning books are available on Amazon or you can purchase autographed copies at www acreektricklesthroughit com
Notice that I never mentioned either one of them unloading the guns.
A fellow I’ll call Danny, since that was his name, told this story on himself. He lived in an area where deer hunting with dogs is both legal and commonplace. The swamps in these places can take a dog with a good nose to pry an old buck out of his thicket.
Mud flew up both rear fenders like a badge of courage. Branches flailed against the windshield and every time they hit a bump the engine revved up when the truck caught air and slowed when it crashed down.
I’ve hunted with him and have concluded there are two kinds of deer hounds: those you can catch after the hunt and those you can’t. The reason some hounds can’t be caught is that they don’t know when to quit, like some folks I know. Anyway, Danny and one of his buddies were listening to the dogs one cold morning and realized they had struck and had headed for the heart of the swamp. The idea of wading through cold muck later that night to find their dogs convinced them it was time for a shortcut, namely, to jump into the truck and head off the dogs.
Life Lessons
Wisdom is a lot like mileage on a truck; it takes time to accumulate, makes you travel a ways from home, and sometimes puts a few dings in your fenders. If, however, you’re truly accumulating wisdom, you won’t back up to bump the same fender twice.
BY JIM MIZE ground. Then, I missed my tent.”
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“Then, we went into sleep deprivation training and had to stand guard all night long with no sleep. That’s when I missed my hole.”
So when Larry the Younger came home, I gathered another one of the dove-field regulars and took him out for barbecue. The army’s known for a lot of things, but fine cuisine isn’t one of them. I let him sink his teeth into the barbecue so tangy it can make you close your eyes to concentrate on chewing. He did and I smiled while he chewed. Then I asked him the question that had been on my mind since he got home. “So, Larry, what did you learn in basic training?” He came briefly out of his barbecue trance to scoop up some baked beans while he thought about it. But it didn’t take long before he had it nailed. “Basic training is all about lowering your expectations,” he answered. This wasn’t the response I expected so I asked him to explain it. “Well, when I first got to the barracks, I missed home. Then, they took us out into the field and marched us for miles, made us sleep in tents, and I missed the barracks. After that, we had to head out again without tents and we slept in holes we dug in the
I thought about this a while back when one of the young fellows from our dove field came home from basic training. This dove field crew adopted me so long ago that we will soon be coming up on our fourth generation of hunters. We get to watch each other grow up, grow out, and grow old.
A GREAT DAY OUTDOORS
Sometimes shortcuts take longer. And all they had to show for hurrying was a hole in the passenger-side floor.
90 September 2022 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237
The roads back into the swamp amounted to two ruts with no trees between them.
Things went according to plan until one rut was deeper than the others, a bump was higher than the others, and the ensuing crash louder than the others. That’s because a load of double-0 buckshot blew a hole in the floorboard. To their credit, they did have sense enough to point both barrels down. But the blast left both of them speechless and deaf enough for a bit that talking wouldn’t have mattered. They pulled over to assess the damage, the dogs made it to the swamp, and they had to hunt them in the dark anyway.
The other thing about wisdom is that in one case it may take a lot of work, but at other times it comes from a lack of it.
At times, it’s enough to let another fellow do it and just learn from him. That way, you’ll both acquire the wisdom imparted by the experience. It’s just that your truck doesn’t have quite so many dings and the trade-in value is higher on you and the truck.
Sometimes shortcuts take longer. And all they had to show for hurrying was a hole in the passenger-side floor. As I thought this story over, it occurred to me that you don’t have to shoot a hole in your truck to learn gun safety.
Danny’s buddy jumped behind the wheel of his brand new four-wheeldrive Ford pickup. Danny climbed into the passenger seat and held the guns.
877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // September 2022 91
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