![](\"/core/media/media.nl?id=795966&c=4552055&h=32QFM_bfSrmwTfnrsV6jQBsRhlvHwovLO2TwrpJWl36mqJ_U&43611\")
As an outdoor TV show host I have had the opportunity to bow hunt all over the world for some amazing animals. Each animal, and each hunt presents its own set of challenges. That being said, the more species I hunt the more I come to realize that the most wary animal I have ever had the opportunity to pursue lives right in my back yard! The Whitetail deer is without question the keenest animal I have ever hunted. They utilize all their senses to the fullest and taking a mature Whitetail buck is hands down the most difficult thing a bow hunter can accomplish.
Successful hunters sit high in tree stands to help combat the Whitetails keen sense of sight. They also play wind direction, use cover scents and in some cases Ozone devices to overcome their sense of smell. Even the novice hunter also knows that their hearing is amazing and creaky tree stands or even whispering can get you busted!
Knowing all this, it still amazes me the number of hunter who go into the deer woods with noisy clothing! Whitetail hunting clothing definitely needs to be warm, comfortable and must protect you from the elements. But the key feature that is often overlooked is that it MUST be silent as well. Finding clothing that checks all those boxes can be difficult, but they do exist and serious hunters owe it to themselves to do the research and find the perfect blend of functionality and silence.
Take my advice on quiet rain gear and the next time you begin to come to full draw on that big buck, you can have confidence that he will never know you are there until it's too late!
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795966","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"8/14/2018 4:04:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Cooking Puddle Ducks","page_header":"Cooking Puddle Ducks","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"2","name":"Cooking Puddle Ducks","urlPath":"blog/cooking-puddle-ducks","url":"cooking-puddle-ducks","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"2","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"So, for many years of duck hunting, I thought the only ways you cooked ducks was by making jerky out of them or by grilling them with the standard bacon wrap. It was not until I took a trip to the famed Coca Cola Woods in Arkansas and had duck expert Rusty Creasey cook for us that I discovered my current favorite way to cook ducks. So, the following will be the steps in a recipe that Rusty showed me on how to prepare and cook puddle ducks. The whole key with this preparation is leaving the fat on the breasts. I couldn't believe the difference that something as simple as leaving the fat on could make in the flavor of the meat. It seems that, by doing this, the fat allows the meat to capture all the flavor and juices while cooking.
The first step when you harvest your puddle duck is plucking all the feathers off the breast. This way of preparing ducks works better with drakes because the hens have more pin feathers and are usually harder to pluck.
Once you have all the feathers off the breast, take a fillet knife and start your first cut on the lower side of the breast. You can see a separation in the color of fat on the lower side of the breast, and that's usually a good starting point. From there, cut straight in toward the breastbone and, once you reach the breastbone, you are going to fillet back up the breastbone and work toward the top. Once you reach the top, things get tricky. Instead of cutting the fat off and starting on another side, you’re going to very carefully fillet around the top of the breastbone, not breaking the connection of the fat between the two breasts. Then, you’ll work down the breastbone of the other side and out the side, the same way you came in on the opposite side. Your finished product is going to be two full breast sides that are connected by the fat.
Now for the recipe. You will need olive oil, Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, Montreal steak seasoning and a grill set at 500 degrees. Begin by taking your breasts and rubbing olive oil on both sides. Next, apply the Tony Chachere’s and Montreal steak seasoning to both sides. With the grill heated to 500 degrees, place the duck breast on the grill fat side down. The most important key to cooking the breast this way is placing the fat side of the breast facedown first on the grill. This seems to trap all the seasoning and allow the juices to hold in the meat. Once your breast is fat side down — and with exact times depending on your grill — cook for 2 to 10 minutes on each side until you reach the desired meat temperature. Once you reach the needed cooking time, take the breast off the grill and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving. That is the easiest and best way I know to cook puddle ducks.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"796068","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"9/10/2018 4:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Take a kid hunting. Trust me, we never forget it.","page_header":"Take a kid hunting. Trust me, we never forget it.","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"3","name":"Take a kid hunting. Trust me, we never forget it.","urlPath":"blog/take-a-kid-hunting","url":"take-a-kid-hunting","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"3","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Looking back now, I vividly remember my early hunting trips. My uncle, Harvey Shue, and my brother, Mike, always made sure to include me any time it was possible. I can remember wearing hip boots and having to get piggy-back rides across deep sloughs and ditches. They’d always sit me on a dog stand or find me a shallow spot to stand. I remember the smell of my uncle’s cigar and the sound of their calling. I’m so thankful to have had such great men to learn from.
There are a few things that I don’t miss though! I always wore “hand me down” boots. Even when I graduated from hip boots to the old canvas waders, they were always someone else’s trash! Often times, I’d put trash bags over my feet and two pair of socks just to try and keep my feet warm and dry! Many mornings were cut a little short because of cold, wet feet!!
It’s amazing how much the wader technology has changed over the years. Neoprene was great at first, but now that the new breathable waders — such as the frogg toggs Grand Refuge or Grand Chesapeake — have been introduced, I’ll never wear anything else. Gone are the days of trash bags and 3 pair of socks! I can wear the frogg toggs wool socks and either the Grand Refuge or Grand Chesapeake and stay toasty and dry — even in the coldest of temps!
I have not forgotten those brutal mornings when my feet felt like they were blue! I don’t miss that part of the hunt, but I do miss my uncle and that aroma of his cigar. I am blessed to have my brother help me guide on most days and we reflect often on our hunts from when we were kids. Those were the good old days of hunting, but the good old days of having the best apparel, ARE RIGHT NOW!
Have a great season! Take a kid hunting. Trust me, we never forget it.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"1070543","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"10/24/2019 4:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"From Artist to Angler","page_header":"From Artist to Angler","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"4","name":"From Artist to Angler","urlPath":"blog/from-artist-to-angler","url":"from-artist-to-angler","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"4","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"From Artist to Angler; or was it Angler to Artist? To be honest, I’m not really sure which came first. From a very young age, I took a liking to art. I always enjoyed art class. You could always tell what notebooks in school were mine- they were the ones littered with sketches and drawings of cartoons, dinosaurs, farm ponds and believe it or not, all different types of fish. Such pride came from showing off my art as a boy. What I wouldn’t give to have these notebooks today.
As I grew older, drawings became more and more scarce while fishing became more and more prominent. Then once I reached adulthood, I took a break from it all, fishing and art. I decided it was time to focus on securing a career within the Oil and Gas Industry. It left a huge hole in my life. A hole that I thought only competitive bass fishing could fill, so 2 years ago I decided it was time to get back into the sport that I’ve always loved so dearly. Not long after I started fishing again, my dad began trying to convince me to reacquaint myself with my artistic side by painting baits. I told him I appreciated his advice and encouragement but I was too busy trying to get back into the fishing world. Next thing I knew, an airbrush station showed up on my front door step. Not long after that, a rod wrapping machine. My dad told me I needed to start painting him baits and building him rods if I wanted his help getting back into competitive bass fishing. That is how Salt Creek Tackle was born.
I latched onto painting and rod building immediately. What started out as a winter time hobby quickly took on a life of its own. I had the tackle bug and my wife had caught it too. About a year ago my wife, Amy, and I attended a Mudhole Custom Rod Building class in Cleveland, OH and the rest is history. It all fits together so perfectly. I feel so blessed to be able to use my passion for art and fishing together as one. My personal dream with Salt Creek Tackle is that I can use my artistic talent alongside my passion for fishing to create something unique, something truly special, something my kids can run with one day…
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795965","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"5/29/2018 4:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"An Unforgettable Day with BlacktipH","page_header":"An Unforgettable Day with BlacktipH","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"5","name":"An Unforgettable Day with BlacktipH","urlPath":"blog/an-unforgettable-day-with-blacktiph","url":"an-unforgettable-day-with-blacktiph","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It was already hot and humid as we moved rods and tackle from the truck to the docks. Five of us were busy getting ready for a day of chasing sea monsters with Josh Jorgensen, also known as BlacktipH to YouTubers everywhere. Josh had invited frogg toggs® and The Brandon Agency down to experience a day of chasing and catching giant sharks, bonitas, and goliath grouper. Anticipation was high as we finished loading camera gear, rods, tackle, frogg toggs® Pilot II™ raingear, and lots of frogg toggs® Chilly pads® into the 38-foot center console. Personally, I was soaking wet as I climbed aboard the boat and we shoved off and headed for the mouth of Jupiter Inlet. Wearing the frogg toggs® performance tee, it didn’t take long to be dry again as the forward motion of the boat created an artificial breeze from the still, heavy air.
As we cleared the mouth of the inlet, Josh decided the first order of business would be high-speed trolling for wahoo. The mate donned his Pilot II™ bibs to protect from spray as he worked to get 2 trolling rigs sorted behind the boat. After 30 minutes of uneventful trolling, the right flatline had a huge boil and explosion as a toothy predator crushed the trolled bait. After a lengthy battle, the fish gave up and came to boatside where we discovered that it was a giant barracuda and not the prized wahoo we sought. Oh well, more shark bait for Josh.
The sun was well above the horizon at this point and as the boat slowed to drift over some prime bonita water, the heat and humidity joined the crew on the deck of the boat. The Chilly pads® were doused with fresh water and were donned by all aboard. Providing instant relief from the heat and the suns strengthening rays, the chilly pad® was counted as a blessing by all the anglers. With the cooling provided by the Chilly pads®, the anglers went to work with a purpose. Deep jigging resulted in several multiple hookups, several boated bonita, and several 6-10 foot bull sharks circling the boat. It was at this point that the game changed. The big rod came out and a whole bonita went on as bait. Josh teased a few of the larger bull sharks with the bonita until he had them in a frenzy at boat side. Exciting is an understatement. An 8-footer inhaled the bonita and the rod was passed to Chase Fowler who fought the giant based on excited instructions from Josh. After the 400 pounder was released, Chase said that fighting the fish on rod and reel may have been the most physically demanding thing he had ever done.
After the release, the crew and anglers all put their frogg toggs® bibs on and proceeded to scrub the boat clean. After this endeavor, the Chilly pads® came in handy again as we changed locations. The next order of business was for Haywood Brandon to catch a few monster bonita on fly tackle. Once again, excitement registered off the chart as giant bull sharks attacked the hooked bonita like giant topwater lures.
The final stop of the day was the most interesting to me. We stopped on a wreck to handline giant goliath grouper. Chase Fowler was first up and as Josh lowered a whole 18-pound bonita on a ¼ inch high-strength rope, he was explaining to Chase what to expect. The bait was taken in seconds, and despite the warnings from Josh, I don’t think Chase was prepared for the strength, violence, and complete lack of respect that the monster grouper displayed. Using his frogg toggs® neoprene fishing gloves for protection, he fought the giant grouper in a hand-to-hand struggle that looked more like a piscatorial cage match than anything fishing related. When I say \"fought\", I mean he held on tight and did not let go of the rope as it burned through his hands when the grouper would make a run. After four or five strong runs, a little help from Josh on the rope, and a great deal of perseverance from Chase, a giant brown, scaly behemoth popped to the surface. Estimated at 350-375 pounds, this wasn’t even a giant, just average. It was the largest fish I had ever personally seen (since the bull sharks earlier in the day). After pics, the fish was revived and released to swim back to its wreck. The day culminated in a heavy thunderstorm that popped up inshore and was headed toward the mouth of the inlet, potentially blocking our return. The boat was hastily put in order, and with seas building rapidly in the face of the squall, we made a hasty run toward Jupiter Inlet. Although we avoided the rain, everyone was prepared and confident of staying dry and comfortable with their Pilot II™ raingear.
Back at the dock, the boat was unloaded, tales of the day were offered from every perspective, and the battles relived for those that didn’t make it out on the boat that day – Scott. Exhausted and hungry, the anglers said their goodbyes to the captain and crew and left to explore the sights and flavors of southeast Florida. One thought echoed through everyone’s mind as we left the docks… We will return.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795864","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"4/6/2018 3:45:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"4 Tips for Successful Turkey Hunting, by 8Up With It Outdoors","page_header":"4 Tips for Successful Turkey Hunting, by 8Up With It Outdoors","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"6","name":"4 Tips for Successful Turkey Hunting, by 8Up With It Outdoors","urlPath":"blog/4-tips-for-successful-turkey-hunting","url":"4-tips-for-successful-turkey-hunting","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"Turkey season is one of the most anticipated seasons of the year for a hunter. It’s exciting to shake off the winter months with warmer temps, longer days and strutting gobbling toms in the turkey woods. Whether you’re a new turkey hunter or a seasoned veteran these tips can help you be more successful.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Turkey season is one of the most anticipated seasons of the year for a hunter. It’s exciting to shake off the winter months with warmer temps, longer days and strutting gobbling toms in the turkey woods. Whether you’re a new turkey hunter or a seasoned veteran these tips can help you be more successful.
It is important to make sure your weapon of choice is in great working order. Comfortable clothes and boots are a must in being ready for all the elements Mother Nature may throw your way. If you’re not comfortable you’re not going to stay in the woods. You can’t kill turkeys on the couch!! Here is a practical list: waterproof uninsulated boots, lightweight camouflage pants, and shirt, face mask, gloves, hat, turkey vest, thermacell, rain suit.
I hunted a property and was unsuccessful in harvesting a bird one time because I was unaware of a logging road that provided perfect access to a field the bird was in. Had I taken the time to learn my property previously in pre-scouting a different turnout may have occurred. As you learn the lay of the land and also be looking for roosting trees and places the ground is scratched up. Turkeys love to roost above water such as creeks and ponds. Turkey poop under trees is a tall tale sign of roosting trees. Turkey tracks with lines in the dirt of the roadbeds are great signs of strutting zones. Examples of ways to scout proficiently are boots on the ground and Google Earth.
Early in the season, toms will predominantly have lots of hens around him. During this time toms are having to fight and show dominance to win over the ladies. I find a Jake decoy along with a hen set up earlier in the season works great to draw in the dominant toms. As they prepare to whoop up on the Jake little do they know you’re there generally within 30 yards to put him on the skillet! As the year plays on the hens will get bred and tend to nests. I generally use just a hen decoy later in the year with hopes of sounding like an easy date for a battle-worn old tom. Be sure to check out Deception decoys if you’re in the market.
Patience kills birds. Let’s face it when turkey hunting as hunters we are literally trying to reverse nature by getting the tom to come to the hen. Normally the gobbler gobbles and the hens come to him. A lot of time toms will answer you first thing in the morning. He will gobble off the roost until after daylight waiting for the hen he hears to appear below him or close. A lot of time other hens are doing just that. When a bird goes silent, your odds are he is “henned” up. Here is where a lot of hunters mess up!!! Stay put!!! He knows you are there “the hen” and later in the day as he and his dates break up a lot of times he will come investigate the area where he heard you earlier. Another successful approach is to go deer hunt turkeys where you know you have seen them in the past when they are not talking much. Soft calls and scratching in the leaves, as a feeding hen has been the death of many ole long beards. Bottom line, patience is key!!! Don’t let TV ruin your luck with the misconception that if it doesn’t happen in a few minutes it all over!!!!!
There are a ton of topics and tips out there. I learn something new every season. I hope you can take these few tips and apply them to your turkey season and be successful. Remember a successful hunting trip doesn’t always mean there is more meat in the freezer. Stay #8Upwithit.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795755","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"3/23/2018 3:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"The Preparation and Anticipation","page_header":"The Preparation and Anticipation","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"7","name":"The Preparation and Anticipation","urlPath":"blog/the-preparation-and-anticipation","url":"the-preparation-and-anticipation","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"6","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"As producer and host of 8Up With It Outdoors TV my schedule for up coming trips fill up fast for the whitetail deer season. I knew and felt this trip would be special.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"As producer and host of 8Up With It Outdoors TV my schedule for up coming trips fill up fast for the whitetail deer season. I knew and felt this trip would be special. Dean Silva owner/ Guide at Spirit Creek Outfitters has a top notch operation. Knowing the quality hunt he offers was icing on the cake. Fast forward to my second day in the blind and trying to gear up for another all day sit in 5 degree temps, it just felt different. I knew it was going to be a special day! I was sitting there watching 2 doe when their heads snapped back and I seen horns passing through the brush. This ol Georgia boy knew immediately it was going down! Within a few minutes the echo of the rifle was rolling on way past the original sound through the bush of Saskatchewan. So much goes into a hunt and opportunity like I have had. I really can’t put into words the over whelming feeling of gratefulness.
Without quality gear and sound frogg toggs 1200 gram boots I would not have been able to be at the right place at the right time. I love this 8Up Life. I am consumed by the pursuit of the hunt and the memories made along the way. I am 8Up With It!
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795649","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"1/9/2018 4:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Don’t Let Nasty Winter Days Keep You Off the Water","page_header":"Don’t Let Nasty Winter Days Keep You Off the Water","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"8","name":"Don’t Let Nasty Winter Days Keep You Off the Water","urlPath":"blog/dont-let-nasty-winter-days-keep-you-off-the-water","url":"dont-let-nasty-winter-days-keep-you-off-the-water","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"Cabin fever, short daylight hours, and fishing reruns on tv. Yup, it's wintertime.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Cabin fever, short daylight hours, and fishing reruns on tv. Yup, it's wintertime. Air temperatures have plummeted, sending the water temperatures to the arctic zone with it. For those who only fish and don’t hunt this can be a long grueling period. But, using some simple frontal timing can help lead to some of the most successful trips of the year.
Once the water temperature drops into the 40s, bass behavior begins to dramatically change. These changes are in the amount of food that is daily ingested and the locations bass will reside throughout the winter. During the temperature drop, fish’s metabolism will slow, resulting in slower digesting of food and reducing the need to feed as much. These side effects of the cold water can lead to long fishing days with little and frustrating outings. This is when timing cold fronts and the dropping barometric pressure can be key to unlocking winter fishing success.
The weather during and ahead of cold fronts will lead to favorable fishing conditions due to the lower pressure that is associated with them. Fish become aware of the pressure change and their feeding activity greatly increases during these times. Rule of thumb, rising pressure usually slows the bite, while dropping pressure generally enhances it.
Some of the most successful and memorable fishing trips I have been a part of have taken place during snow days. A good example of successful frontal winter fishing was day one 2017 Bassmaster Elite series on Lake Cherokee. While driving to the ramp that morning, I encountered a steady dose of snow and sleet pounding the windshield. The temperature never rose out of the 30’s but that day produced the majority of total weight caught for the entire tournament.
For a more successful winter trip time your fishing days and study the weather and time fronts.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795647","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"12/28/2017 4:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Late Fall / Early Winter Fishing on Lake Guntersville","page_header":"Late Fall / Early Winter Fishing on Lake Guntersville","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"9","name":"Late Fall / Early Winter Fishing on Lake Guntersville","urlPath":"blog/late-fall-early-winter-fishing-on-lake-guntersville","url":"late-fall-early-winter-fishing-on-lake-guntersville","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"As much as I love hunting and all that goes along with it, let’s not forget the many angling opportunities that exist in our area this time of year.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It is now the second week of November in north Alabama. With the first frost behind us and the promise of colder weather ahead, thoughts of many outdoorsmen have turned to hunting. Bow season for whitetail deer is open, and there are some varieties of small game that can be pursued right now and others opening in the next few days. As much as I love hunting and all that goes along with it, let’s not forget the many angling opportunities that exist in our area this time of year.
Several of these opportunities can be enjoyed from the bank, with easy access, and won’t take much of your time to find out if the fish are biting. For our purposes, let’s talk about crappie and striped bass, or stripe as they are locally known.
Crappie fishing in the late fall on Lake Guntersville can be exceptional, and the fish are easy to reach this time of year. All of the major bridges and causeways around the lake will produce crappie throughout the day. There are usually plenty of places to park within easy walking distance of areas where the tasty Crappie can be caught. Most crappie anglers fishing below our bridges and causeways will opt to use light or ultralight spinning gear with 2-6 pound test line and small jigs or jigheads with a soft-plastic trailer. Popular local choices include the Bass Assassin Tiny Shad and the Bobby Garland Baby Shad. However, use whatever your favorite bait is, as confidence in your selection will make you stick with it when the bite is slow. That brings up a great point in that crappie this time of year tend to travel in schools which makes the fishing go from ice cold to red hot and back again rather quickly – especially for the angler that is fishing from shore. When a school moves through your area, you can catch several before they move off. Then it is just a waiting game until they return.
When you begin to see cars parked in the side of the road around the bridges and causeways on our beautiful lake, you can bet the crappie are biting. Don’t worry if you are new to the game. Just pick a spot that does not interfere with other anglers and ask for help. Most of the fishermen that I have encountered over the years are willing to share tips and tricks and help you get started. As unwilling as they often are to share their spot, they will gladly share information that will assist you with your future trips. If someone is catching more fish than others, pay attention to their location, the bait they are using, and if they are doing anything different with their presentation or retrieve than the other anglers in the area.
Another popular area for fall fishing is technically not on Guntersville Lake, but included here because the access is easy and the fishing is also very good in the fall. The area just below Guntersville Dam on Wheeler Lake is a great place to go and catch several species of fish in the late fall. Crappie and stripe are both abundant off of the rocks just downriver from the dam itself and with a little effort, great fishing is easy to enjoy. Using the same baits mentioned above, and fishing them as close to the rocks as possible without hanging up is as close to a sure thing as I know of. Without giving away any secrets, there are a couple of area below the old ferry crossing below the dam that consistently give up big crappie and big white stripe in the fall. You will also catch an occasional Largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass. And, of course, freshwater drum are always on the menu below the dam. If the crappie and stripe prove uncooperative close to the rocks, tie on a roostertail or other weighted tailspinner that you can cast a long distance and heave it out into the current. Using this method, you decrease your chances of anything but white tripe or hybrid stripe, but increase the chances that you will catch something during you time in the outdoor.
If you have access to a boat, chasing crappie on Lake Guntersville is even easier. Again, you can target the bridge and causeways, but you can also reach crappie that shorebound anglers cannot. The bluffs along the river immediately upriver from the Highway 431 bridge just north of downtown Guntersville have been a great crappie spot for as long as I can remember. Likewise, the bluffs just upriver from the entrance to Honeycomb Creek are also a standard among he knowledgeable crappie catchers on the lake. Another popular technique among boaters chasing crappie is to “shoot the docks”. Crappie will often congregate in large numbers beneath boathouses and marinas dotting the shoreline of Guntersville Lake. The only way to present a bait to these fish is to either have access to the boathouse or marina, or shoot your jig as far under the structure as you can. Although it is a lot of work, and can be frustrating, the rewards are often a quick limit of oversized crappie.
If you happen to be boat fishing and have some time left after you catch your limit of crappie, you might want to drop a jigging spoon around the bridge pilings around the lake. This is always a great way to spend some time. You will catch a variety of fish using this method, and some of my largest bass have been caught doing this.
Whatever you decide to do this fall, be safe, have fun, include family and friends when you can, and thank God for putting it all there to enjoy.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795645","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"11/21/2017 3:30:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"North Alabama Outdoor Autumn","page_header":"North Alabama Outdoor Autumn","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"10","name":"North Alabama Outdoor Autumn","urlPath":"blog/north-alabama-outdoor-autumn","url":"north-alabama-outdoor-autumn","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"It's early October in north Alabama. While temperatures are not yet what folks around here call “cool”, they have mellowed from the stifling heat and humidity of late August and early September.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It's early October in north Alabama. While temperatures are not yet what folks around here call “cool”, they have mellowed from the stifling heat and humidity of late August and early September. And everyone in the area knows that “cool” is just a few days away. With the cooling temperatures, the expectation and anticipation of changing colors, and shortening days that come with this time of year, thoughts turn to the season known in these parts as fall.
Fall for us is a time of hunting, harvesting, outdoor gatherings, and fellowship. It is truly the most giving season for those that enjoy being outdoors.
Hunting:
North Alabama’s dove season opener gave most hunters their first taste of the new season at the beginning of September. Our waterfowlers were able to start a week earlier with the early goose season followed by the early teal season. Personally, if I start sweating when I walk outside, it is just too warm to hunt waterfowl, but there are always the die-hards that wait all year for the September waterfowl openers. I prefer the more traditional cold-weather waterfowl hunting that comes along later in the season.
Deer hunters have been prepping food plots, green fields and stands for several weeks in anticipation of the early bow and muzzleloader seasons, followed closely by the holy grail of deer hunting in Alabama, the opening day of gun season. If Alabama were famous for one type of outdoor activity, it would be a close call between bass fishing and deer hunting. I will not hazard a guess as to which would be more popular as it would probably be akin to asking whose grandmother makes the best peach cobbler – debatable until just after the end of time.
While it is considered a dying art, there are still plenty of “coon” hunters left in north Alabama that are getting tuned up to chase the stripe-tailed bandit with packs of English, Walker, Bluetick, Redbone or Black and Tan coonhounds that are bred to the task. Just make sure that you watch out for deer, opossums and slick trees, which were all common failings of the dogs that I hunted with in my youth. While for us, it was more a time for socializing and storytelling, the night-time hunting of raccoons with dogs offers the sweet music of hounds on the trail or tree and a time for reflection and fellowship in the cool, still dark of the autumn night.
Rabbits and squirrels round out the more sought after game available to the north Alabama hunter and are common enough to be available just about everywhere it is legal to fire a gun. These species offer a great opportunity to start youngsters or first time hunters out on a quarry that are plentiful and, more often than not, cooperative. Many a marksman was created and perfected in the squirrel woods with an old .22 rifle.
It is with a heavy heart and holding back a tear that I omit from this list the grand and storied tradition of the partridge, or “pah-tridge” hunt in north Alabama. Having grown up hunting the wild bob-white quail with my father and uncle on our family farm, I cannot express in words the loss I feel at not being able to share that experience in its purest form with my son. I am blessed beyond measure to have experienced first-hand the pursuit of North America’s most genteel gamebird in its natural state and habitat. I wish I could take you just once to that place where a heavy frost has settled on the broom sedge and made the brown and dormant Bermuda grass white and crunchy underfoot. Exhaled breath hangs for seconds in the still, cold air. Smoke from the chimney of the small white farmhouse we just left rises straight and unfettered in the solemn stillness. Impenetrable forests of summer kudzu now lay a barren and tangled mat of vines trod over without a thought. Excited pointer dogs leap and dart with anticipation before settling down to the business of the hunt. That familiar smell of old brass and gunpowder emanates from well-worn hunting vests and the well-known “chink” of the action being closed on dad’s old Fox double gun and the “chunk” of the bolt on a love-worn Browning A5 “20” indicate that the pursuit has begun. The only thing left is the detailed posture of “Rock” and “Lady” on point – the lifted foreleg, every muscle tensed and rigid; the quivering tails, bloody at the tip, are the only indication that they are not statues. One tentative step and - covey rise! A flurry of sound, fury, and feathers – an explosion of adrenaline - a tornado of sound and energy traverse the quiet air. Gunshots… then: racing heartbeats, shaking hands, widened eyes, a deep, quavering breath because none has been taken for the last few seconds – and all that from veterans of the game. “Daddy, did we get any”? “Yes, son, we got ‘em”.
Alas, I fear that these days are gone forever from our part of the world, but if you still have memories of these hunts, keep them and cherish them. Take them down as often as possible, dust them off and enjoy them, for they may never be known again here.
Regardless of the game you pursue and the method of chase you prefer, north Alabama offers tremendous opportunity, rich tradition, and an always beautiful setting in which to partake of your favorite flavor.
Harvesting:
By now, if it is not already up, farmers are picking late corn, cotton, and soybeans from the frequent and fertile fields of north Alabama. Garden plots are slowly winding down yields are starting to diminish. Okra, tomatoes and certain beans and peppers may still be producing, and the late season greens like turnip, mustard, rape and kale are just starting to mature, but most of the garden vegetables are now summer memories.
However, it is not this harvest that truly interests the outdoor enthusiast. While these are tasty treats and anxiously awaited every year, the real fall treats are found in the woods and fencerows of our part of the state. This is the time of year when wild grapes known as muscadines and scuppernongs can be picked in the wilds and woods. While plenty of domesticated vines exist in our area, there is definitely something special about finding a heavy-laden vine of wild grapes growing unencumbered in the forest. In addition to the grapes, wild nuts are also becoming ripe and ready for harvest. Black and English walnuts, pecans, hickory nuts and my personal favorite – chestnuts are all ripening and falling to earth to be gathered by industrious outdoorsmen and women who know where to look. Other fall favorites include crab-apples and persimmons. Crab apples can be slightly bitter when eaten raw, but if you have enough, they make fantastic homemade jelly. Persimmons are definitely on the bitter side when eaten green and the local wisdom is that you have to wait until after a frost to eat them. While that may be true, the peak of ripeness and the first frost do not always coincide. So, if you are a true persimmon fan, pick a bunch of ripe ones, pack loosely in a plastic bag, and put them in the freezer for a few hours. Don’t freeze all the way through, but just enough to have the effect of a decent frost. Place in the refrigerator to let them come back up a little in temperature, and then enjoy raw or in persimmon pie or cobbler.
One last item that falls in this category is pumpkins. For heaven’s sake, please do not buy your pumpkin for pies or jack-o-lanterns in a store. I mean no offense to our local retailers who provide a valuable service in making store-bought pumpkins available, but please keep in mind that there are numerous farms in our area that specialize in growing pumpkins and usually have other activities that make going there a family-fun event. Use it as an excuse to get your spouse and kids or friends out of the house and under an October-blue Alabama sky.
Family and fellowship
It’s the colors. A vibrant explosion of red, yellow, orange, gold and silver foliage and the blue of the October sky in Alabama. Say what you want, but I swear it seems a different color everywhere else than Alabama the Beautiful. Probably the most remarkable thing about our fall is the color. It is everywhere and the eye is drawn to it continually.
It is a time for being outside with friends and family. Outdoor cooking, Friday night lights, Saturday afternoon rivalries, church gatherings, or just to be social – all great reasons (or excuses) to get together. Temperatures and scenery are both conducive to being outside. A nice fire after the sun goes down, blankets and sweaters, holding a loved-one close, love, laughter, open windows, open doors, open hearts, Halloween, Fall festivals, apple cider, Thanksgiving, families coming together… what’s not to love about an Alabama Fall?
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795640","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"10/17/2017 3:25:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Football, Feathers and Fall","page_header":"Football, Feathers and Fall","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"11","name":"Football, Feathers and Fall","urlPath":"blog/football-feathers-and-fall","url":"football-feathers-and-fall","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"If you are an outdoorsman or sportsman in the south, no event heralds the coming of the fall season like the opening day of dove season. While technically, it opens in the late summer, it is considered the herald of fall and is a coveted, revered and venerated date among southern hunting traditionalists. And there is nothing more traditional than the opening day of dove season for those that hunt them.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Don’t you just love living in north Alabama? Most of the time, for me, there is no truer statement that could be made. However, there are a couple of times each year that I get confused. Two weeks ago I woke up to a 50 degree morning with no humidity and clear blue skies. This week I am waking up to 72 degrees and humidity that you can wear a suit of clothes with yet another tropical storm lighting up the Gulf of Mexico and bringing more torrential rains and humidity to the top of the state. It’s just hard to know what tomorrow will bring. And as we have all had our fill of heat and humidity, most folks are longing for just a little crispness to the morning air and a little more breeze in the evenings. Just a few degrees here and a few there. Maybe throw in some lower humidity and call it a nice early fall day.
Now, I love the deep fall in Alabama where fallen leaves crunch underfoot at every step and in the country you can still get a whiff of wood smoke from a long-unused wood stove or fireplace as the temps drop. However, I am not fully ready for that yet. I want to ease into fall gradually and a day at a time. But I DON’T want to sit through a 90-degree October either.
Anyway, I say that to preface my thoughts about easing into the fall season. As we anticipate fall and our gradual transition to it, we seek out those physical signs that confirm that the seasons are changing and that the pinnacle of southern living is almost upon is.
As you are reading this, you will no doubt be reflecting on the football games we were inundated with this past weekend. College football kicked off officially a month ago, and Saturday is game day down south and almost everyone is glued to their televisions or radios, enjoying the contests with family and friends. Football season is one of the signs that the fall is on its way. Another sure sign that the autumn is creeping in is the plethora of fall-ish and Halloween decorations making their way onto the shelves of local retailers. The best sign, in my opinion, is two solid weeks of mild temps and lower humidity. If you can get two weeks put together, I think you are on the backside of the transition and looking at better (milder) days ahead.
If you are an outdoorsman or sportsman in the south, no event heralds the coming of the fall season like the opening day of dove season. While technically, it opens in the late summer, it is considered the herald of fall and is a coveted, revered and venerated date among southern hunting traditionalists. And there is nothing more traditional than the opening day of dove season for those that hunt them.
The opening day of dove season is, for many, the epitome of the social hunt. The season opens promptly at 12 noon, but hunters gather hours before to meet and greet, reminisce about past hunts, discuss last weeks and upcoming football games, and generally be social until the birds start to fly. This is what truly makes dove hunting unique and enjoyable above other forms of chase. Even during the peak of the shooting, hunters are hollering at each other in congratulations or cajoling over a great shot or good naturedly admonishing a fellow hunter for an easy miss. This is the only type of hunting that I know of where this happens openly and without consequence.
The mourning dove itself is one of the most challenging targets available to wingshooters. They are deceptively small and they are as acrobatic as anything with wings when given a reason. All of this can make them downright frustrating to try and hit. Sometimes they make it easy, but the majority of the time, it’s like trying to hit a grey-feathered major league curveball with a thin wooden dowel – possible, but not easy. That’s all just part of the game though. A few misses makes the hits that much more enjoyable. Not to mention, the mourning dove is one of the mildest flavored dark-meat gamebirds that we can harvest. Taken care of in the field, prepared properly, and cooked fresh, the mourning dove is akin to good steak in its texture and flavor. Getting the most out of your dove requires some effort, but the end result is well worth it.
Put forth the effort to properly care for your birds in the field by quickly icing them down at a minimum. It is usually quite warm in the dove field, so the more quickly you can cool the birds down, the better off you are. It’s also a good idea to remove the birds’ internal organs in the field if this is allowed where you hunt. This will remove a possible source of contamination and result in a better overall dining experience. This will also increase how quickly you can cool your game after the harvest.
The more quickly you can get your game from field to table, the better off you are. With other wild meats, people marinate, age, or brine the meat to increase its palatability and flavor. With dove, this simply is not necessary. Its flavor and texture also makes it useful in a number of different preparations. Anything you would do with steak or beef, you can do with dove.
A simple, yet time-honored recipe is to lightly season deboned dove breast fillets with salt and pepper, wrap in a thin slice of bacon, and grill the bundle lightly for a few minutes. The bacon is used to keep the ultra-lean dove breast moist. If you grill until the bacon is done, you have overcooked and toughened your dove breast. If you want to eat the bacon you wrap the dove in, you need to precook it until it’s about halfway done, then wrap the dove and continue on the grill until the bacon is done. Variations of this recipe call for adding a strip of jalapeno pepper or onion to the bundle. Both are fine, but I like my game meats as unadulterated and as natural as possible.
Another recipe that I enjoy is making dove breast fajitas. This is pretty self-explanatory. Just cut your deboned dove breast into thin strips and add to your pre-cooked fajita vegetables for a few seconds, just to warm the breast strips up. You do not want to overcook these strips and it’s easy to do with this recipe if you cook them with or before the veggies are done. Standard fajita seasoning is fine, or you can make your own out of salt, black pepper, cumin, chili powder, red pepper, and a little dehydrated lime if you can find it (if not, just a add a little fresh lime juice at the end).
The third and final one that we use is Italian style sandwiches. This take a little more prep and cooking time, but is well worth the effort and a great recipe to use when introducing someone to wild game for the first time. Take about 4 whole, bone-in dove breasts per person. Place them bone side down in a glass-baking dish and add chopped onion, carrots and celery to the dish. This is known in the culinary world as mirepoix. Season the meat and veggies generously with salt and pepper, add a cup of chicken broth, 2 cups of good red table wine and a half cup of water. At this point add a couple of bay leaves and a beef bouillon cube. Seal the dish with plastic wrap and then again with foil for an airtight seal. Put in a 275 degree oven for about 2 and a half hours. Remove the meat from the pan and cool. Strain the au jus from the baking dish and reserve the liquid. Shred the cooled dove meat into a skillet, add pickled banana pepper strips and chopped pepperoncini peppers to taste, add about 1 cup of the reserved liquid, heat thoroughly and serve with melted provolone cheese on top of some bakery fresh Italian bread for some of the best Italian beef (dove) sandwiches you will ever eat.
However you choose to welcome the coming of fall, make sure you include family and friends and thank God for the natural beauty that we get to experience as the seasons change.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795639","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"10/20/2017 3:15:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":" Hunting Companion – The Gundog","page_header":" Hunting Companion – The Gundog","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"12","name":" Hunting Companion – The Gundog","urlPath":"blog/hunting-companion-the-gundog","url":"hunting-companion-the-gundog","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"7","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"As soon as the season ends, preparing for next year’s duck season begins. From going through your decoys and putting new weights on, to shooting trap to keep your skills sharp, there are many different preparations of duck hunting that hunters accomplish during the off season.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"As soon as the season ends, preparing for next year’s duck season begins. From going through your decoys and putting new weights on, to shooting trap to keep your skills sharp, there are many different preparations of duck hunting that hunters accomplish during the off season. One of my biggest joys growing up as a kid and hunting with my dad was watching our family dog find downed wood ducks in the thick overgrown canary grass on the far side of the river. Seeing their tail turn like a wind turbine when they pick up the scent and the final grasp of the duck in their mouth, you see the sense of accomplishment in the dog’s eyes when they’re swimming back to you. Like everything else we do to prepare for the upcoming season, our hunting companions also need practice to excel in the sport of duck hunting as well.
Every dog owner out there whether they’re a hunter or not has an image in their mind of the “ideal” dog. Whether it’s to heel nicely on a morning walk or to be able to mark multiple downed birds two hundred yards away, both types of dogs are perfect to each of their owners. Whatever “type” of dog you wish to have comes your duty as a dog owner to give your companion every opportunity to achieve its potential.
At the time of getting my dog, I thought that training was just going to happen in my spare time. Boy, was I sure wrong as it grew into something much greater as I saw the progress and potential of achieving my “ideal hunting dog” image. I found myself joining a local hunting retriever club, training nearly every day and having a blast doing it. My dog was running HRC tests and I could see what type of effect it would have on her during the hunting season. One may say that, that much work is overkill and it’s just for your own ego, but again like I said everyone’s image of their ideal hunting companion is unique and no one training technique is right 100% of the time. Only you can decide what you want out of your dog and putting in the proper training to achieve the desired results. I am a firm believer in that dogs are job orientated. Every dog wants a task to do, whether it’s to be a guide dog or search out drugs, every dog wants to succeed in that job and ultimately please their master. My dog’s job is to find waterfowl and it’s reward is retrieving them.
No matter the course of action you take to train your dog, it’s important you get them out in the off-season and touch up on some of the things you will encounter on your hunt. Mimic different hunting scenarios in your training and come this season you will be happy to have your “perfect” companion by your side.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"795637","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"5/30/2017 2:02:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"As voted on by you","page_header":"As voted on by you","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"13","name":"As voted on by you","urlPath":"blog/as-voted-on-by-you","url":"as-voted-on-by-you","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"As voted on by you, the consumer, frogg toggs® has once again been selected as the top raingear brand in the country.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"As voted on by you, the consumer, frogg toggs® has once again been selected as the top raingear brand in the country. We are blessed and honored by your faith in our brand and products. The 2016 “best products” survey by Southwick Associates and AnglerSurvey.com lists the top fishing brands in several categories including knives, nets, baits, rods, reels, fly rods, fishing line, clothing, and, of course, raingear.
It is a distinct honor to be chosen by the fishing community as the top brand of 2016 from among the many rainwear brands competing for the attention and dollars of the fishing marketplace. We appreciate the vote of confidence and will continue to offer the best value in performance raingear for our deserving customers. We also promise to continue to listen to our customers and build the features and performance they want at the prices they deserve.
Thanks again for making us the best rainwear brand in the fishing industry once again. If you are a current frogg toggs user, we appreciate your business and will do all we can to make sure all our customers are satisfied. If you aren’t pick a set up and see what all the fuss is about. See you again in 2017.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"791148","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"4/27/2017 2:58:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Late Spring Fishing on Lake Guntersville","page_header":"Late Spring Fishing on Lake Guntersville","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"14","name":"Late Spring Fishing on Lake Guntersville","urlPath":"blog/late-spring-fishing-on-lake-guntersville","url":"late-spring-fishing-on-lake-guntersville","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"It is now early May in north Alabama. This means that the “Spring Forward” version of Daylight Savings Time has just occurred, and our weather patterns are starting to stabilize and provide warmer, more stable temperatures.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It is now early May in north Alabama. This means that the “Spring Forward” version of Daylight Savings Time has just occurred, and our weather patterns are starting to stabilize and provide warmer, more stable temperatures. As they say, if you don’t like the weather, wait 24 hours. As I write this, it is 75 degrees and overcast. Tomorrow, the low is predicted to be 41 degrees with a high of 55 degrees. Just in time for my bass tournament on Saturday, when the temps are expected to again rise and be predictably stable until the next time I plan to go fishing, when the weather will inevitably take another turn for the worse.
While these climatic changes play havoc with your wardrobe, they also have a strong effect on the fish — especially this time of year, when you have fish in all three phases of the spawn. During this time, the fish are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and barometric pressure. Because most fish are situated in and around shallow water, they are more susceptible to these variances than if they were stationed on ledges with quick access to much deeper water, where temps and pressures don’t have as much effect.
Bass fishing this time of year, like the weather, is also starting to stabilize. Gone are the boom-or-bust days of the first spawning waves. With most fish in a post-spawn phase, the fishing becomes more predictable. While the fish are resting and recuperating from the laborious spawn, the bite can still be finicky, but the fish are at least predictable in where they should be located.
The bass are beginning to move toward their summer haunts of the river and creek channel ledges, main lake points, and deep, grassy flats. While most have not made it that far yet, there will be a few early arrivals. Most post-spawn females will still be located on mid-creek structure, the first cover or structure outside spawning bays, and the edges of large spawning flats. After a few days of rest, these big females will become more aggressive in their feeding habits, and more predictable in general. There are many ways to catch a bass this time of year on Lake Guntersville — as many as there are opinions on what color a boat should be.
Take your pick. Topwaters, specifically big walking baits and buzzbaits, catch their fair share of big ones right now and are a very fun way to fish if you can find some takers. Big worms fished Texas-rig either on bottom or swam through and around grass and other cover is a long-time producer just about anywhere, but particularly on Lake Guntersville. Carolina-rigged soft plastics will effectively cover those mid-depth humps and bars that so many fish are relating to right now. A big casting jig paired with a plastic trailer of your choice is never a bad idea. Big spinnerbaits, soft stick baits, vibrating jigs, swim jigs, swimbaits, squarebills and soft plastic jerkbaits are all productive baits right now. Some mimic shad or bluegill, others mimic crawfish or terrestrials. Whatever you choose to fish, you can probably find a fish willing to eat it right now.
That brings us to the holiest of holies for late spring and early summer fishing on Lake Guntersville – the deep-diving crankbait. A beloved and renowned tactic on Lake Guntersville that usually begins in the second week of May and culminates in the first week of June is fishing offshore and creek-mouth humps and structure with a big, deep-diving crankbait. Some of my fondest memories and most memorable catches were made using this technique. It’s one of my favorite techniques — and if you like to catch big bass, it should be one of yours, too. Sure, a big swimbait will probably catch the same fish, but there is nothing like the feel of a Big G giant loading up on a Fat Free Shad or 6XD and then shaking that enormous head on the way to the boat. That’s my kind of fun.
If I had to choose a lineup of baits for this time of year, I would definitely have the following items tied on: buzzbait/toad combination in black, Sammy or spook, shad-colored swimjig, 3/4-ounce spinnerbait, Senko or other soft plastic stick bait (rigged your favorite way — Texas, wacky, weightless, etc.), Carolina-rigged lizard or creature bait, 10- to 13-inch Texas-rigged worm, and a 1/2-ounce casting jig and trailer in your favorite color combo (black and blue jig with green pumpkin trailer is my favorite color combo). I would also have a big swimbait or crankbait tied on, just in case.
So, anglers, pick your poison, rig your rods — and get out there and have fun catching some fish! The crew at Frogg Toggs is going to be out there — so if you see us, stop and say hi. We love to meet new people on the water. We hope everyone has a great fishing season filled with loads of great memories of fun times with family and friends. Be courteous to other boaters and anglers, and please be respectful of the resource and the environment. Here’s wishing tight lines and good times to everyone on the water this summer.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"791046","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"5/10/2017 9:00:00 am"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"The Coca-Cola Woods","page_header":"The Coca-Cola Woods","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"15","name":"The Coca-Cola Woods","urlPath":"blog/the-coca-cola-woods","url":"the-coca-cola-woods","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"The light bar on the front of the overloaded boat burned through the inky darkness to illuminate the edges of the twenty-foot-wide canal enough for the driver to stay centered in the deeper water. The wind was a constant 25 with gusts to 35 or 40, but down in the timber it was relatively calm. A ten-minute boat ride through a flooded oak forest found us at our destination - the Doughnut Hole. Named as it is because of a small patch of high ground in the center of a flooded hole in the forest, from above it looks like a doughnut of water in an otherwise dense oak forest.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"The light bar on the front of the overloaded boat burned through the inky darkness to illuminate the edges of the twenty-foot-wide canal enough for the driver to stay centered in the deeper water. The wind was a constant 25 with gusts to 35 or 40, but down in the timber it was relatively calm. A ten-minute boat ride through a flooded oak forest found us at our destination - the Doughnut Hole. Named as it is because of a small patch of high ground in the center of a flooded hole in the forest, from above it looks like a doughnut of water in an otherwise dense oak forest.
The boat was unloaded on a small platform built for the purpose and men, shotguns, ammunition, and other possibles were piled onto the platform and sorted as the guides hid the boat. Shotguns are uncased, ammo is dumped into coat pockets, call lanyards are adjusted and untangled, and anticipation soars as a half-dozen hunters find their way to a hide tree in preparation for the mornings hunt.
In a few minutes, everyone is settled and the surrounding black is being replaced by a deep, dull, lead grey that allows a fleeting definition of the swaying oak limbs above, but does not provide enough illumination for complete discernment of the surroundings. The voice of head guide Rusty Creasey slices through the predawn as he lays out the rules of the Coca-Cola woods duck club. “Cover your face or paint it, absolutely no calling if you are not a guide; no shooting until the shot is called, and I will call the shot; Only shoot birds that are in the air and on your side of the hole; now load up and shoot straight.”
The sky is now the color of damp gravel and the wind is constant, and stronger than the guides would like, but this is the Coca Cola Woods and ducks here are not hoped for, they are a fixture. As the official shooting time approaches, the mallards of the Coca Cola Woods appear on queue and start to filter into the opening of the doughnut hole and make a spectacle of themselves by flitting around above the flocked-head decoys looking for a place to land. Just before shooting time, there are about 25 mallards in the interior of the doughnut hole. Some have landed, some are trying to, and others have seen enough and are climbing back into the wind-whipped atmosphere to seek less crowded areas of refuge.
Shooting time arrives and hunters are glued to the backside of old-growth oak trees that have been flooded to just over knee deep to create the perfect habitat for the venerated and esteemed Mallard duck that is so highly sought after in the flooded green timber of Arkansas. Several ducks are sitting in the decoys, but all eyes are up as a small group of ducks swings wide over the timber to vector into the substantial wind for their final approach into the hole. As the small group of birds breaks the tree tops, the shot is called and all five are dumped unceremoniously into the midst of the decoys as the hunters prove themselves to be shooters as well. Add to these five three more that are taken as they lift out of the decoys and climb frantically for clean air above the canopy of oak branches encircling the doughnut hole.
A congratulatory shout is given from somewhere to my right as the harvest of the first round of shooting is assessed. All around you can hear the clicks of safeties going on, clunks of bolts slamming home on a fresh round, and the screech of magazine springs as additional shells are fed into autoloaders of every make and model in preparation for the next opportunity, which is right now. Before the reloading is completed, another group of birds has decided the doughnut hole will be todays resting place and they lock-up hard on the 4th or 5th note of the first hail call offered from the guides. Twelve birds make a solid approach and filter through the dark limbs above, like black wraiths against the tungsten sky, they drop silently on set wings. Once the timber-line is broken, the set wings fold and beat a frantic stocatto into the morning air as they rapidly slow their decent. The sound of rushing air over outstretched wing is overcome by the roar of the almost simultaneous firing of half a dozen shotguns and 10 of the 12 stay in the hole to take their place alongside of others that didn’t make it out.
The scenario repeats itself 10 minutes later as more birds seem to make a fatal mistake and descend too deeply into the interior of the doughnut hole. However, fueled by overconfidence at the close proximity of the targets, only four of the next group succumb to the barrage of steel and tungsten pellets that are hurled their way. Congratulatory shouts are replaced by disbelieving grumbling, light curses, and some well-earned ribbing by those who did not shoot on this round.
Now only two ducks shy of the six-man limit for mallards, instructions are given and two shooters are named to claim the last two birds, but just as the assignments are disseminated, the Coca Cola Woods throws a curve ball. Right on the water and screaming through the canal cut is a massive group of green-winged teal. The teal thunder into the hole as only teal can and decide to ball up on my side of the hole. 3 hunters open fire and it appears to literally rain teal for the next 2-3 seconds. The speed with which it all happened is difficult to describe, but from first sighting until the last shot could not have been more than 6 or 7 seconds. The guide calls a halt to pick-up birds and make sure that we are OK on limits. With 6 hunters, we were OK with 12 teal in addition to our limits of mallards, and we had dropped 11 of them in total.
Talk about a natural high and an adrenaline rush. The mallards were fun, exciting, and interesting, but not much of a challenge in the confines of the hole. The teal on the other hand, with their acrobatic, inconsistent, and agile flight, were a sight to behold. The twisting, turning, darting, and swiveling those birds did in the timber hole made them appear to be doing gymnastics in mid-air. And add to that the fact that they are somewhat of a rarity in the timber, and it added up to the best part of the day.
The mallard limits were completed without issue over the next ten minutes and the boats were loaded up and headed back to the lodge. Clothes were changed, breakfast was had, stories were told and nobody could be pressured into admitting a miss on the big group of birds that escaped relatively unscathed, and the hunters broke up into smaller groups to discuss whatever their topics of import were. I was among them, but I paused long enough in the revelry to offer thanks for the opportunity and the fellowship and to reflect on the what a blessing it had been to get to enjoy a day in the green timber of McCrory, Arkansas, famously known world-wide as the Coca Cola Woods.
I am humbled, grateful, and ever-thankful for an opportunity that I did not deserve and that very few others will ever realize. I owe a debt to those that made it possible. I will repay this debt the best way I know how and that is to provide someone else an opportunity that without me they might have never had. I encourage you to do the same. Take a kid hunting or fishing or just into the outdoors to enjoy nature. Somebody took you, so repay the favor and introduce someone to the outdoors and all its wonder. Thank God for putting it all there for us to enjoy.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"791044","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"791042","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"2/24/2017 9:00:00 am"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Winter Fishing Tips: 3 baits You Should Tie on for Your Winter Fishing","page_header":"Winter Fishing Tips: 3 baits You Should Tie on for Your Winter Fishing","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"16","name":"Winter Fishing Tips: 3 baits You Should Tie on for Your Winter Fishing","urlPath":"blog/winter-fishing-tips","url":"winter-fishing-tips","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"2","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"Winter bass fishing can be boon or bust, ecstasy or ultimate frustration. Late winter is the best time of the year to catch the biggest fish in the lake.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Winter bass fishing can be boon or bust, ecstasy or ultimate frustration. Late winter is the best time of the year to catch the biggest fish in the lake. They are the biggest they will be all year and the spawning urge will put them in a feeding mood as they prepare their bodies for the stress of spawning. Here are a few winter fishing tips from our good friend and staffer, David Mullins, that will help you catch a few of these prespawn giants on your favorite body of water.
1. Jig
Jigs are the most versatile and productive of all lures and will work in most conditions. Depending on depth and cover 1/4oz-1/2 usually covers the needs of my winter fishing. The places to throw a jig are endless. I usually try to find steeper drops, whether on channel swing banks or off shore points to start fishing. For the most part these lure are worked slowly with the cold water but that’s not always the case. Finding the fall rate the fish want seem to be the key so adjust the jig size throughout the day. I always rig my jigs with a trailer and I try to use one that has little to no action. The Doomsday Tackle 3.2 and 3.8 reaper craws fit all sizes of jigs perfectly and are my favorite to use this time of year.
2. Jerkbaits
Cold water in the winter can be an awesome time to bring out the jerk baits. Much like the fall rate of the jig finding the proper cadence for working a jerk bait is not different. I usually start with a couple of jerks and a 5 second pause to start my day. If that doesn't work I will either slow down or speed up my cadence to determine what the fish want. Start with your rod tip pointed at the lure and sharply jerk with your wrist, returning the rod back to where it is pointing at the bait. This causes slack in the line that will result in the bait darting from side to side. I usually use lighter line 8-14lb test Sunline Sniperand a softer tip 6'9 Doomsday Tackle rod. As with the jig, fish channel swings and deeper sided banks and points.
3. Swimbaits
Nothing imitates the shad forage better than a swimbait. In the winter I do two things to help trigger bites. First, I downsize to the 3 inch Scottsboro tackle swimbait in Mullins Maddness. Usually the forage on our lake the bass feed on are small this time of year and a 3 inch matches the baitfish perfectly. Secondly, I slow down and use a more subtle movement. The idea is to work your swimbait much like you would work a jig. Using a 3/16oz to 1/2oz jig head I pull or gently hop it along the bottom. Again, deeper areas are key so fish it as slow possible.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"791019","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"2/24/2017 8:45:00 am"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Grand Refuge®2.0 wadewear system picked as top 10 hottest products at SHOT Show 2017","page_header":"Grand Refuge®2.0 wadewear system picked as top 10 hottest products at SHOT Show 2017","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"17","name":"Grand Refuge®2.0 wadewear system picked as top 10 hottest products at SHOT Show 2017","urlPath":"blog/grand-refuge20-wadewear-system","url":"grand-refuge20-wadewear-system","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"It is with great excitement and a hearty thanks to the talented writers at Outdoor Life that frogg toggs® received the news that our innovative Grand Refuge® 2.0 all-season wadewear system was selected as one of Outdoor Life’s top 10 hottest waterfowl items from SHOT Show 2017.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It is with great excitement and a hearty thanks to the talented writers at Outdoor Life that frogg toggs® received the news that our innovative Grand Refuge® 2.0 all-season wadewear system was selected as one of Outdoor Life’s top 10 hottest waterfowl items from SHOT Show 2017. While we knew that the Grand Refuge®2.0 was a homerun for the waterfowl community and industry, we are truly honored to have been chosen to stand alone as the most innovative wadewear product at SHOT Show 2017 and to share space with names like Benelli and Browning shotguns, Mojo decoys, Federal ammunition, and Duck Commander game calls.
Feedback on the Grand Refuge®2.0 wadewear system at the show was extraordinary and the talk was that the revolutionary design and inherent flexibility built into the waders, along with their extreme durability will change the way consumers shop for and buy waders for years to come.
Read more on the all-new Grand Refuge® 2.0 All Season Wadewear System that is scheduled to be available fall 2017.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"791039","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"2/8/2017 9:45:00 am"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"How to Choose the Appropriate Hunting and Fishing Waders","page_header":"How to Choose the Appropriate Hunting and Fishing Waders","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"18","name":"How to Choose the Appropriate Hunting and Fishing Waders","urlPath":"blog/how-to-choose-the-appropriate-hunting-and-fishing-waders","url":"how-to-choose-the-appropriate-hunting-and-fishing-waders","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"In recent years, there has been explosive growth in the equipment options for waterfowlers. Compared to just a few years ago, the availability and variety of calls, clothing, shotguns, ammunition, chokes, and accessories for waterfowling is truly awesome.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"In recent years, there has been explosive growth in the equipment options for waterfowlers. Compared to just a few years ago, the availability and variety of calls, clothing, shotguns, ammunition, chokes, and accessories for waterfowling is truly awesome.
Waders are no different. A few years ago, waterfowlers were limited to a couple of weights of neoprene or rubber and canvas waders. These days, advancements in fabric technologies have provided several great options for waterfowlers. However, along with multiple options comes confusion on which waders do what. Hopefully, we can help clarify what each wader does well and make the decision process a little easier.
To do this, we will break the waders down by fabric type and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each type.
Rubber waders are about as “old school” as you can get. They have been around forever and for years were a staple of the waterfowlers gear list. Several years ago, when neoprene became widely available, rubber lost some of its favor among waterfowlers. Even though they are not the best option for any situation, they do have their place and work great as a utility or all-around option if you are working with a budget.
Neoprene fabric waders are the most varietal of all the wader fabrics. Neoprene is the “new old-school” wader. Becoming widely available to hunters in the early 90’s the neoprene wader has been around long enough to see some real innovation in the design and embellishments available to consumers. Available in two main fabric weights of 3.5mm and 5mm, the neoprene wader was a Godsend for many waterfowlers. It’s insulating properties were raved about by northern hunters, or those who spent their day’s waist deep in near-freezing water. There is no doubt that the comfort that neoprene brought on those brutal days was worth the price paid in dollars and in sweat.
PVC waders are the “new rubber” wader of today. They are inexpensive, lightweight, easily stored and packed, and are becoming widely available.
Uninsulated/Standard Breathables:
These are the “New School”, “Cool-Kid” waders of the current market. Tough, light, comfortable, easy to find, and BREATHABLE. These guys are the Cadillac of the current wader market. You owe it to yourself to get a pair of you don’t already have some – Trust me. You can thank me later.
Insulated Breathables:
OK, if breathables are everything you could ever want in a wader, but you get cold just looking at pictures of winter, then have no fear, the insulated breathable is here. This is the culmination of everything a serious waterfowler wants and needs in a serious, go-hard hunting wader. This wader is a serious piece of kit for the hardcore waterfowler.
To a ten year old, a road trip is all about the destination. Meaning, of course, that not only is the journey not half the fun, it is of absolutely no import at all. And this particular trip had been built up by the grown-ups and my own mind to epic proportions. It was a new place that was untouched by humans. It was 15 miles from Gulf Shores, but it might as well have been a hundred. Our condo was the only one on the Alabama side of the island. It was isolated and private and peaceful and you could fish right outside your back door in the river or across the street on the beach. I had heard all of this info discussed at length, but what I heard was fishing, fishing, and more fishing.
My father and some business partners had done some development in the Orange Beach area in the early eighties. They had invested in and assisted with the development of the Ole River Condominiums on Perdido Key. These condos were across the street from the beach on Old River, which is a navigable waterway that connects Alabama Pass in Orange Beach with Big Lagoon at Inerarity Point in Florida. This was the first structure built on the Alabama side of Perdido Key. I had been to the beach a few times before, but I only remembered portions of each visit and was always in hotels, so you could not carry fishing gear and did not have access to places to fish without driving.
So, the day came when the condos were completed and our personal units had to be furnished. My dad and his partners decided they would purchase furniture in Dalton, Georgia, load it onto trucks, and drive it all down to the condo, thereby saving thousands of dollars on furniture costs. This was accomplished on a Friday afternoon early in June. School was just out and I was anticipating this trip more highly than any other I can remember.
Early Saturday morning, everyone gathered at our farm house in preparation for the trip to the coast. Proper routes and travel times were discussed amongst the men, while the women talked of where to go shopping for the decorative items each unit would need before they were deemed fit for proper living. I was paying attention to nothing other than the time that was being wasted by all involved. We should be on the road, driving to the world’s greatest and most exotic fishing destination.
The group consisted of my family, Tommy’s family, and Tommy’s dad, Bobby. Tommy and Bobby were dad’s partners in the development of the condos. They had a son, Wade, which was my age, who also liked to fish, so I was in hog heaven. My mom and Dad would drive one of the large moving vans, Tommy and his wife would drive the other, and Wade and I would ride with Bobby in his 1973 Chevy Luv pickup truck. This would be the running around vehicle once we got to the beach. Now in 1983 a full moving van might be able to go 55 miles per hour and maybe even 60 downhill. Interstate speed limits were still 55 miles per hour, so everyone figured it should take around 7 hours to make the trip if there was one fuel stop involved. 7 hours of driving does not compute with a ten year old farm boy.
To my great relief and with extreme exuberance on the part of both of us boys, we got the trip underway. It was pouring rain. We left the Summit community and headed south. At the Rainbow Crossing 4 way stop, I asked Bobby if we were almost there. He said No and lit a cigarette. About a mile past the Rainbow Crossing on Highway 231, the Chevy Luv pickup truck went dead. Apparently, the Chevy Luv pickup truck had an exposed electrical connection somewhere under the hood that caused it to go dead if it got too wet. I might mention that it was pouring rain. It was not a problem, you just had to wait a few minutes for it to dry out. So, our journey continued thusly: about every 30 minutes, we boys would ask Bobby if we were close. He would say no and light another cigarette. Every 20 – 25 minutes, the Luv would go dead due to wet electrical connections under the hood and we would sit and wait for it to dry out enough to start back up. To make an even longer story somewhat shorter, let’s just say our seven hour trip ended up being a hair over nine. That equates to roughly eighteen or twenty “are we there yet” questions, twenty-four times the truck went dead, one fuel and restroom stop, and probably 3 much-deserved packs of cigarettes consumed. The moving trucks didn’t fare much better, as they only arrived 40 minutes or so ahead of us. The heavy rain created limited visibility and the fuel consumption and overall velocity of the fully loaded moving vans were grossly mis-estimated. Of course, it was near dark when we arrived, and the heavy overcast and continued heavy rain made it even darker. As a side note, this is one of very few times I have seen it rain constantly and consistently across the entire state of Alabama. Anyway, we were all back together and, more importantly, we had arrived. Oh the fish that would be caught tomorrow when the sun came up and the rain stopped.
All that was left to do was to get the furniture off of the trucks and into the condos. As the units we had were on the first and second level right next to the elevator doors, this would prove to be an easy task with minimal investment of time and energy. The men estimated 2 – 3 hours to get everything off of the trucks and into the units. Another hour to help the women set it all up and then we would all be relaxing on the Redneck Riviera.
A very slight problem arose soon after the trucks got unloaded. As it was still raining heavily, the moving trucks were backed up next to the covered parking areas and the furniture was offloaded from the trucks into the dry parking area adjacent to the elevators that would soon carry it straight to the entrances to the units. After all of the furniture was offloaded in to the parking area, they moved the first piece to the elevator. Now, to make this next part understandable, I am going to offer some facts and perspective about this furniture. As these units were developed as rental properties, the men did not want to furnish with dainty, flimsy decorative pieces, and instead opted for rough-hewn, commercial grade, solid pine pieces that would have withstood anything save a direct nuclear blast. Chairs, dressers, night stands, tables, sofas, bed frames – all were constructed of materials that would remain beyond the holocaust. Another attribute of the indestructible furniture is that it was all oversized. Whether to accommodate large folks or small cattle, or just because of the size of the lumber that was used in construction, I could not tell you.
Anyway, as the men struggled to get the first piece onto the elevator, a disheartening realization settled upon them. The only thing that would actually go through the door of the elevator were 4 side tables that went at the ends of the sofas and the 6 nightstands for the bedrooms. Every other piece was too wide or long to get on the elevator. I might also mention here that it was still raining.
A new plan was devised. The rented moving vans were outfitted with security straps, come-along winches, and rolling platforms for moving heavy objects. So, the straps would be affixed to the balcony railing, the come-along attached to that, then a strap would be attached to the other end of the come-along and that strap then affixed to the furniture which would be winched up piece by piece to the first floor unit. After that was accomplished, the truck would be moved into place at the balcony of the first floor unit and the process would be repeated to get the remaining furniture onto the roof of the moving truck, and then the entire lifting piece would be moved to the second story and the process repeated.
Well, you can imagine how that went. I eventually lost my enthusiasm for being at the beach. We had arrived too late to do anything and anyway, back then, there was nothing in that area except the Flora-Bama Lounge, and there were certainly no other people down there. So, I eventually drifted off to sleep on the bare floor of one of the units and rested fitfully between being woken up by the dads moving furniture.
A little after sunup the next day, the rain slackened and the last few pieces of furniture were hoisted up to the second story unit. At this point, the moms made coffee and a light breakfast of items they had purchased at the grocery store in Gulf Shores the night before. The men ate and then went to sleep. I could see the ocean from the balcony of our condo, but the overcast, rough surf, and the lack of people made it look less inviting than I had imagined. I was sure there were fish to be caught, but I sure didn’t want to wake dad up to ask him where my fishing rod was. Wade and I decided to explore the river behind the condos. During the first phase of construction, the builders did not add the docks. Those came later, so the river was lined with canes and grasses that were easily six or seven feet tall, meaning we could not see a blamed thing back there except the vegetation. I believe we did manage to capture a hermit crab that occupied about 30 minutes or so of that morning.
About the time we let the hermit crab go, Wade’s dad, Tommy, walked down to the river with a fishing rod, fought his way through the cane, made one cast with a rooster tail and caught the most beautiful fish I had ever seen. It was a 3 pound Spanish mackerel and it was glorious. Shaped like a saber, its sides were silver chrome with gold spots, it’s back blue chrome, a stiff, forked tail, and a mouth full of pointed razor blades. It glowed despite the lack of sunlight and I remember thinking that it would probably blind you in full sunlight. It was the most amazing fish I had ever seen. And I wanted one of my own. I so wanted to keep that fish, but Tommy turned it loose. I ran back up to the condo and burst through the door to find our bags packed and mom locking everything up. Apparently, we were leaving to go back home as dad had to be back in the office the next day to meet a client with an emergency job. Dad had not packed any fishing gear for that trip anyway. It was specifically to get the furniture in the condo and take a couple of days to relax on the beach. Of course, I was devastated, but then again, when you are ten, you don’t understand the complexities of adult life or the motivations and manifestations that control it. I was in a place that could produce the fish of a lifetime in just one cast, and I was not even going to get to make that cast. Heartbreak is an understatement. I know I wore my disappointment on my sleeve and probably sulked for weeks afterward.
I want to point out that my dad more than made up for that first trip with the fishing adventures I enjoyed on many subsequent visits. With the exception of catching my first bass with my dad and a fishing and camping trip we took together one summer, my fondest fishing memories come from the Alabama Gulf Coast. And most of these include dad as well. Come to think of it, some of my other fondest memories come from there as well, but that is another story for another time, and probably another audience. I have caught dozens of species of fish from Old River, Perdido Bay, the jetties and seawall of Perdido Pass at Alabama Point, The Gulf State Park Pier, the beaches of Perdido Key, offshore charters out of Orange Beach Marina, and in Mobile Bay to the west. Over the years, from Old River, I have taken sheepshead, redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, pinfish, stingray, sharks, catfish, mullet, mangrove snapper, and many unidentifiable creatures and a host of other fish. I even got my own Spanish mackerel on the Gulf State Park Pier later on in that summer of 1983. Looking back, I can recall with alacrity and clarity several eventful trips and even individual catches that are etched into my memory, but none so clear as that first Spanish that Tommy caught on that first trip. I can see the fish in that 33 year-old memory more clearly than if it was a hi-res photo taken yesterday. That fish inflamed in me a passion for saltwater fishing that remains to this day. Don’t get me wrong, I will fish anywhere, anytime, for anything, but there is something special about a place that can produce so much variety in such a short period of time.
Disappointments can be overcome, failures can be surmounted, and wrongs can be righted. However, you only have so many opportunities to create a memory with a loved one or a cherished soul. Please do not let one pass you by. We all grow older, and as much as we dislike it, we cannot regain our youth. But, we can revisit it through the memories we made. Somebody made those memories possible for you. It’s your job to make them possible for someone else. So, do your job, create memories and opportunities for memories with and for those you love and care about. It will be their catalyst to those cherished days and the legacy by which you are remembered. When it’s all said and done and your race is over, the only thing that remains of you in this word is the remembrance of you by them.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"781513","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"5/12/2016 10:30:00 am"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Summer Safe","page_header":"Summer Safe","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"20","name":"Summer Safe","urlPath":"blog/summer-safe","url":"summer-safe","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"By now, everyone in Alabama has gotten a sunburn and been bitten or stung by a summer insect of some sort. Whether it be a mosquito, horsefly, deer fly, wasp, hornet, bee, fire ant, or the impossible to identify no-see-ums that bombard me at every evening baseball game I attend.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"By now, everyone in Alabama has gotten a sunburn and been bitten or stung by a summer insect of some sort. Whether it be a mosquito, horsefly, deer fly, wasp, hornet, bee, fire ant, or the impossible to identify no-see-ums that bombard me at every evening baseball game I attend. Another real issue in our part of the world is ticks. Big ticks, small ticks, fat ticks, thin ticks, common ticks, deer ticks, and it seems to me, ticks that appear on you out of thin air. Our venomous spiders are also much more active in the summer and can appear in the strangest places.
Biting and stinging insects are a real concern for Alabamians in the summer time. When dealing with biting insects, your first and best line of defense is a good quality insect repellant. If you are planning to spend time in the woods or in weedy areas, make sure you increase the strength of the repellant and the amount and frequency with which you apply it. A good repellant is no guarantee against being bitten, but it is the best way to prevent it. Ticks are another story. Of seventeen known tick species in Alabama, five different species are known to use humans as hosts (Agricultural Research study performed by Gary Mullen and Renee Anderson). Of these five, four are carriers of diseases that affect humans. The five species that will use humans as a host are the American Dog Tick, Brown Dog Tick, Gulf Coast Tick, Blacklegged Tick, and the Lone Star Tick, which is also the most common. Only the Brown Dog Tick is not a vector for human disease, so tick identification can be important to the outdoorsman. If bitten by a tick or mosquito, keep an eye on the affected area for a few days. If any redness, swelling, or other discolorations or pain occur at the site of the bite, seek medical attention.
Stinging insects, on the other hand, could not care less about your insect repellant. Fortunately, with the exception of the fire ant, they don’t go looking for trouble. However, if you bring trouble to them, or disturb a nest, they will retaliate with extreme prejudice. Most insect stings occur when humans inadvertently disturb or threaten a nest and the insects are just doing what come naturally. While most stings are painful and irritating, they are not life threatening. The exception to this is when a human has an allergic reaction to a sting. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize they are allergic until they get stung. Humans can also develop allergic reactions to stings at any time in our life, so just because you have been stung in the past with no ill effects does not mean that next time won’t be different. Always take safety precautions when dealing with a venomous insect sting. Keep the victim under observation and watch for swelling, whelps, and especially difficulty breathing, which all can be signs of allergic reaction that can lead to anaphylactic shock.
I place fire ants in a completely different category than other stinging insects in Alabama. They are demonic and satanic in nature and are here only to create misery, frustration, and strife in the lives of all other living creatures. All I can say is do your best to kill them all, regardless of the consequences. Fire ants will go out of their way just for the opportunity to sting someone. It is obvious they greatly enjoy injecting their stinging, itching venom into anything that moves. Most of my attempts to kill them result in them recruiting additional fire ants to move onto my property and set-up shop. I do enjoy my small victories of running over a nice mound with the lawn mower, or poking the mound with a stick to make them scurry around needlessly for a few minutes. In the end though, they always get the last laugh.
Spiders, namely the Black Widow are a summertime nemesis to many who spend time outdoors. The Brown Recluse is mainly a dwelling spider, meaning they like it indoors or at least in covered areas. The black widow enjoys heat, cool, humidity, dry, and anything else. You just never know where you will find them. Good places to watch out for them are water meter boxes, inside and underneath mailboxes, underneath anything laying on the ground for more than a week, underneath squash, cucumbers, and melons in the garden, and anywhere around the base of buildings and outdoor structures. While not a common occurrence, there are enough of them that you need to be observant and careful about where you put your hands.
Just make sure that you are aware of the insects that can harm you and be prepared to deal with the inevitable encounters you will have with them over the summer.
In the opening, I mentioned sunburn. With summer time comes being outdoors and along with the insect encounters, you are going to be exposed to sunlight and dangerous ultraviolet radiation. I know suntans are cool and part of life in the south, but skin cancer is a serious disease that affect millions of people – and, for the most part, is totally preventable. A good quality sunscreen is not an option folks, it is a mandatory accessory for your outdoor gear bag. Whether going to the beach, the lake, barbecuing on the deck, or going to a sporting event, please use a good quality sunscreen on all exposed skin. A wide brimmed hat is also effective a keeping sunlight off the always-exposed skin of the face.
When it comes to sunscreen, the higher the rating, the better it is for protecting your skin. Reapply frequently and in sufficient quantity to insure protection. That summer tan will still come eventually, but make sure you are doing all you can to protect yourself from UV radiation while you are outdoors.
Here’s hoping everyone has a safe and memorable summer season. Remember, everything is better outdoors and thank God for putting it here for us to enjoy.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"781502","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"5/12/2016 12:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Spring Cleaning","page_header":"Spring Cleaning","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"21","name":"Spring Cleaning","urlPath":"blog/spring-cleaning","url":"spring-cleaning","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"Well, north Alabama finally has some warm weather. It was a long time coming this year, and has been for the past couple of years. Cold, wet springs are starting to become the norm.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Well, north Alabama finally has some warm weather. It was a long time coming this year, and has been for the past couple of years. Cold, wet springs are starting to become the norm. However, between the cold spells and the rain, there has been a little sunshine and some thermometer readings upwards of 70 degrees. It’s supposed to hit 80 two days this week. Along with the warmer temps and sunshine comes that insatiable desire to get outside and soak it up. Cabin fever, vitamin D deficiency, pale winter skin – whatever the reason – we really want to be outside on those warm spring days. Fish are biting, turkeys are gobbling, flowers are blooming, Easter and the risen Christ have just been celebrated, and the grass needs mowing. Yes sir, spring time is here.
So, what does that mean for the sportsmen and women? Just a couple of months ago, we talked about after-season gear maintenance and storage. Well now it’s time to talk about getting that spring and summer gear up to speed. Boats that have been sitting all winter need some attention. Now is the time to make sure all batteries are healthy and will hold a charge. Water pumps and impellers need to be checked and changed if needed. Make sure all fire extinguishers and life jackets are in good shape and replace anything that is questionable. If your vessel is large enough or you operate in waters that require you to have them, check your flares and launching device to make sure they are in date. Inspect trailer tires, grease wheel bearings, check the trailer tongue, and test lights and wiring to make sure it will get your vessel where you want it to go without issue.
Rods and reels also require some basic cleaning and maintenance to perform at their best and to insure long service life. Check all of the guides on your rods for cracks, chips, missing eyelets, and dirt. Replace any missing or damaged eyes and wash your rods with a mild soap and water solution. Reels should be stored with the drags relaxed. This will help prevent them from sticking when you need them. Reels should be cleaned, oiled, and greased annually, and generally in the spring before they see their heaviest use. Fresh line is always a good idea after cleaning your reels.
I hate to mention it, but now is also the time when you need to make sure your lawn care equipment is working at its best as well. Lawn mowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws all seem to get a good workout as spring in Alabama progresses. Make sure you check oil levels and change oil and filter as necessary or needed. Wheel bearings need to be checked and greased if warranted. Spark plugs need to be inspected and changed if required, and don’t forget about fuel and air filters, which are the lifeblood of any small engine. Clean fuel and plenty of clean air are what help small engines operate properly and greatly improve service life. Try to replace fuel and air filters annually or at least with every oil change.
Something that must be mentioned that affects all gas-powered engines is ethanol. Ethanol is corn alcohol that is added to gasoline because the government said it should be. I can find no positive argument for the addition or use of ethanol in modern fuels, but I am neither a lobbyist nor politician, and therefore am not suitably equipped to comment or make assumption about this issue. However, I can tell you that ethanol is bad for engines, fuel tanks, and fuel lines. The gasoline and alcohol separate readily into two distinct liquids that cannot be remixed after this phase-separation occurs. This separation can and will occur in the fuel tank, fuel lines, carburetor, or any other place it is allowed to sit. Use of a fuel stabilizer designed to work with ethanol treated fuels can delay, but not prevent the separation. I am a firm believer that even treated fuel, if not burned within 120-180 days of storage should be drained from the tank and properly discarded, then replaced with fresh fuel. Due to the use of ethanol in modern fuels, you will need to inspect fuel tanks for varnish or “gunk”, replace fuel lines with “ethanol approved” fuel lines, and change fuel filters and water separators more often. Because alcohol attracts water, phase separation can introduce water into your fuel system if allowed to sit for extended periods of time. Ask me how I know. Just make sure your vehicle or equipment fuel system is in good working order. This will save hours of frustration later on.
Anyway, once your equipment is in top working order, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures that make living here a real joy. Make sure you enjoy it with friends and family, get the kids involved, and even if it’s work, make it fun and enjoy being in the outdoors.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"781506","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"4/22/2016 11:00:00 am"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"My First Time","page_header":"My First Time","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"22","name":"My First Time","urlPath":"blog/my-first-time","url":"my-first-time","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"It was a perfect shot and I had harvested my first deer – a beautiful 120 pound doe.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"I will never forget her. She was my first. She was beautiful, graceful, confident, and aware. That soft, light brown hair and those big brown eyes that were so captivating and innocent. I watched her for quite a while, waiting for an opening, for that perfect opportunity when her guard was down. I was pretty sure she didn’t even see me. She certainly had not looked my way or paid me any attention since she got there. I, myself, was a little scared and unsure. This was all new to me, even though I had been thinking about it for years and played this scenario through in my head dozens of times. When it became real, all that mental preparation went out the window. I just wasn’t sure that I could pull the trigger. But, when I did, it was a perfect shot and I had harvested my first deer – a beautiful 120 pound doe.
It is amazing the detail with which you can recall those special memories. On that particular hunt, I can remember the weather, the temperature, exactly where I was, the pre-hunt conversation, and how it all came together. I don’t think I will ever forget the exhilaration and excitement of making the perfect shot and the taking of my first deer. I also cherish that feeling of solemn pride that sets in after you regain control of your faculties. It is never a flippant or dismissive thing to take a life. We are given dominion over the beasts of the earth and the fowls of the air by an indisputable power, but it should never be taken lightly or with disdain. However, you can take pleasure in the harvesting of an animal that is well used in providing nourishment for yourself and others, and that is where the pride comes from; knowing that you did all you could to provide a quick end and that the animal will be well used.
I don’t remember what I had done, but I am sure that whatever it was, I did it and thought I would get away with it. I didn’t, and paid the price that farm boys pay when their dad’s catch them doing things they shouldn’t. I was teary eyed and my rear end ached, but even though I had gotten in trouble and been punished, we were still going fishing. It was raining lightly, but that did not deter us. What made this trip better than most was that we were not fishing at the farm pond this time, but were going down the road to Williams Lake, where we sometimes went for a change of pace. We did not have many bass in our pond, only catfish and bream. If you wanted to catch a bass, you went to Williams Lake – at least in my head.
I was fishing with a hollow, plastic mouse that was white with a black fringe tail. This was a topwater bait that was weedless, which helped because both of the lakes at the Williams farm had milfoil in them that would get tangled on exposed hooks or subsurface baits.
We initially stopped at the back side of the top lake, which is the smaller of the two. There was a small patch of cattails in the southeast corner of the lake that always looked “fishy” to me. While dad was unloading the truck, I grabbed my rod and made a cast that flew wide of my intended mark near the cattail cluster. As my cast landed, my intent was to reel in as quickly as I could and make a better cast. However, dad asked me to come close the truck door since his hands were full. I laid down my rod and did as I was told. When I got back to my rod and started reeling, the line came tight, and I realized that I had a fish on. I had seen my dad and my uncle catch bass before, but I had never caught one myself. When I got it close to the bank I hollered for dad to come and see. It was a small largemouth bass of maybe half a pound. It was a giant to me. My first bass ever! My tears dried up, my butt quit hurting, and I was as proud as I would ever be. I remember the smell of the early summer rain, how clear the lake water was that day, dodging the fire ants that were active after the rain, my own joy at my first bass, and that moment shared with my dad.
I was all by myself. I was thirsty, hot, sweaty, and frustrated, but I dared not leave my post. This was the first dove hunt that I had been allowed to hunt by myself without adult supervision. My father placed me next to a hay bale, gave me one box of 2.5 inch, #7 ½ shot, .410 gauge shells, my single shot H&R shotgun, and instructions to be safe and not to move or leave the area until he came back to get me.
I had fired over half my box of shells and had not hit a thing. I was really good at hitting targets moving straight away from me (think shooting skeet), but had not yet mastered the crossing shot, hence my frustration. There were plenty of birds flying, but none straight away from me, and I had just about given up hitting one of them in the air and decided I would wait for one to land in the trees near me and try to shoot one that way, even though I knew it wasn’t sporting and shouldn’t even be considered. I did not want to go back to the house empty handed. I fired a few more times to no avail and was down to my last 4 or 5 shells. I was mad at the heat, the dust, the hunters that were killing birds, and myself for not being able to hit one. One of dad’s friends came walking up and said he had killed his limit and was leaving the field. He asked if he could sit with me a few minutes just to watch. I really did not want him to, because I knew he would expect me to shoot at birds in range and I knew that I would miss when I did, but he was a grown up, and I was a kid, so I couldn’t say no to such a simple request. Within a couple of minutes, a bird crossed in front of me and rather than take my time, calculate my aim and lead and distance and all of that (like I had been doing all day) I just looked at the bird, pointed my gun and fired without thinking much about it and just knowing it would be a miss. As I dismounted my gun to reload it, the guy beside me said “That was a great shot, especially with a .410”. Then he jumped up and said “I’ve got a good mark on it, I’ll go get it for you”. I was completely astonished. I had hit a bird. Not only hit it, but folded it stone dead. As my adult retriever returned with my bird, I could see that it was easily the largest and most regal of all the dove that had been killed that day, and quite possibly in the history of dove hunting. I didn’t even need to see any of the other harvested birds for this truth to be evident. I also learned one of the most valuable lessons of wingshooting, in that if you think about it, you miss. Your brain works in conjunction with your eyes and hands much more effectively if you remove thought from the process. Focus on the target and let your brain tell hour hands what to do, rather than you trying to make them do what you want.
I killed one other bird that afternoon, but if I’d had more shells, I am confident that I could have gotten more. I did not go back empty handed, and I was never happier with myself than I was at that moment. Once you take your first dove from your own stand, without supervision, you are accepted into the fraternity of hunters that young men who hunt aspire to belong to. I still remember the late summer heat, how dry my mouth was, the frustration of missing, the joy of connecting, the epiphany of wingshooting, and the brass colored sky as the sun waned that afternoon. I remember the calls of the other hunters alerting the field to incoming birds and the laughter and good-natured teasing at a missed bird. It was one of the best days of my life.
I could not believe how cold it was. I had killed 3 ducks in my life, and all of those were sitting on my farm pond. I had never been “duck hunting” with decoys, in a boat, and with people that knew what they were doing. But, I had always wanted to. Waterfowling always seemed so romantic to me, and the birds were so BIG. For someone that is used to dove and quail, a duck seems like big game.
A friend of the family took pity on me and asked me if I would like to go diver hunting with he and some friends. At the time, I did not know what diver hunting meant, but I felt sure we were not going to shoot at people in scuba gear. I borrowed a suitable shotgun from my father, since I did not own a waterfowl gun. He lent me a Browning A5 Magnum that had been shot very rarely. I borrowed some shells from the guy that took me hunting, and we set off to the spot. We were hunting an area of Guntersville Lake known as Eastlake, near the feed mills and barges. It was a great hunting spot because when they loaded barges with grain, some of it would inevitably spill and this attracted the ducks that wanted to eat it.
In particular, the ducks that fed here were diving ducks (divers). These were mainly Greater and Lesser Scaup, known collectively and commonly as Bluebills. There were also a few Redheads and Ringnecks mixed in occasionally. For a 12 year old that had never been on a real duck hunt, the whole scenario was a great adventure. Just getting to ride in a boat to go hunting was an awesome experience. The hunters were dropped off on the bank where we would hunt, and two of the party went and placed the decoys. Because the water was so deep where we were hunting, the decoys were on long lines containing a couple dozen decoys each rather than being on individual lines.
After everything was set-up and the boat was hidden, we took our places beneath the front end of an old barge that had been pushed up on the bank. It put the hunters in shadow, but also subjected them to a very chilly north wind.
Within 5 minutes of setting up, we had a large group of bluebills looking at the decoys. After one pass, they committed to the decoys and 30 birds locked up 15 yards in front of us. It is a sight and a sound that I will never forget and that also cemented my presence among those that call themselves “Waterfowler”. We bagged a 4-man limit of ducks that day, and I am happy to say that I was able to contribute several to the score. I will never forget the men I hunted with, the luxurious feel of the feathers on those ducks, the iridescent purple feathers that covered the Bluebills head, the smell of the feed mills, the clank of the barges, the shouts of the men working the docks, the bite of the north wind, or the steel gray of the overcast January sky.
Mostly, I am thankful that someone who was passionate about the outdoors took the time to invite me and teach me a new way to enjoy the outdoor world. Knowledge gained through experience is important, but knowledge passed down is savored. Please make a difference in someone’s life by sharing your passion for the outdoors with them. I thank God for putting it all here for me to enjoy and share with others. I appreciate all those who have taught me, taken me, supported me, and assisted me in my outdoor pursuits and encourage you to do the same for someone who will carry that torch and pass it on again someday.
Heritage and traditions are lost not because there are no willing recipients of the knowledge, but because those with the knowledge don’t pass it down. We have already lost so much of our southern heritage to social, economic, and lifestyle changes. If you have a particular skill or hobby that is important to your heritage, please don’t let it die with you.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"781504","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"4/8/2016 1:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"North Alabama Outdoor Autumn","page_header":"North Alabama Outdoor Autumn","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"23","name":"North Alabama Outdoor Autumn","urlPath":"blog/north-alabama-outdoor-autumn1","url":"north-alabama-outdoor-autumn1","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"It is the first week of October in north Alabama. While temperatures are not yet what folks around here call “cool”, they have mellowed from the stifling heat and humidity of late August and early September. And everyone in the area knows that “cool” is just a few days away.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It is the first week of October in north Alabama. While temperatures are not yet what folks around here call “cool”, they have mellowed from the stifling heat and humidity of late August and early September. And everyone in the area knows that “cool” is just a few days away. With the cooling temperatures, changing colors, and shortening days that come with this time of year, thoughts turn to the season known in these parts as fall.
Fall for us is a time of hunting, harvesting, outdoor gatherings, and fellowship. It is truly the most giving season for those that enjoy being outdoors.
North Alabama’s dove season opener gave most hunters their first taste of the new season at the beginning of September. Our waterfowlers were able to start a week earlier with the early goose season followed by the early teal season. Personally, if I start sweating when I walk outside, it is just too warm to hunt waterfowl, but there are always the die-hards that wait all year for the September waterfowl openers. I prefer the more traditional cold-weather waterfowl hunting that comes along later in the fall.
Deer hunters have been prepping food plots, green fields, and stands for several weeks in anticipation of the early bow and muzzleloader seasons, followed closely by the holy grail of deer hunting in Alabama, the opening day of gun season. If Alabama were famous for one type of outdoor activity, it would be a close call between bass fishing and deer hunting. I will not hazard a guess as to which would be more popular as it would probably be akin to asking whose grandmother makes the best peach cobbler – debatable until just after the end of time.
While it is considered a dying art, there are still plenty of “coon” hunters left in north Alabama that are getting tuned up to chase the stripe-tailed bandit with packs of English, Walker, Bluetick, Redbone, or Black and Tan coonhounds that are bred to the task. Just make sure that you watch out for deer, opossums, and slick trees, which were all common failings of the dogs that I hunted with in my youth. While for us, it was more a time for socializing and storytelling, the night-time hunting of raccoons with dogs offers the sweet music of hounds on the trail or tree and a time for reflection and fellowship in the cool, still dark of the autumn night.
Rabbits and squirrels round out the more sought after game available to the north Alabama hunter and are common enough to be available just about everywhere it is legal to fire a gun. These species offer a great opportunity to start youngsters or first time hunters out on a quarry that are plentiful and, more often than not, cooperative. Many a marksman was created and perfected in the squirrel woods with an old .22 rifle.
It is with a heavy heart and holding back a tear that I omit from this list the grand and storied tradition of the partridge, or “pah-tridge” hunt in north Alabama. Having grown up hunting the wild bob-white quail with my father and uncle on our family farm, I cannot express in words the loss I feel at not being able to share that experience in its purest form with my son. I am blessed beyond measure to have experienced first-hand the pursuit of North America’s most genteel gamebird in its natural state and habitat. I wish I could take you just once to that place where a heavy frost has settled on the broom sedge and made the brown and dormant Bermuda grass white and crunchy underfoot. Exhaled breath hangs for seconds in the still, cold air. Smoke from the chimney of the small white farmhouse we just left rises straight and unfettered in the solemn stillness. Impenetrable forests of summer kudzu now lay a barren and tangled mat of vines trod over without a thought. Excited pointer dogs leap and dart with anticipation before settling down to the business of the hunt. That familiar smell of old brass and gunpowder emanates from well-worn hunting vests and the well-known “chink” of the action being closed on dad’s old Fox double gun and the “chunk” of the bolt on a love-worn Browning A5 “20” indicate that the pursuit has begun. The only thing left is the rigid posture of “Rock” and “Lady” on point – the lifted foreleg, every muscle tensed and rigid; the quivering tails, bloody at the tip, are the only indication that they are not statues. One tentative step and - covey rise! A flurry of sound, fury, and feathers – an explosion of adrenaline - a tornado of sound and energy traverse the quiet air. Gunshots… then: racing heartbeats, shaking hands, widened eyes, a deep, quavering breath because none has been taken for the last few seconds – and all that from veterans of the game. “Daddy, did we get any”? “Yes, son, we got ‘em”.
Alas, I fear that these days are gone forever from our part of the world, but if you still have memories of these hunts, keep them and cherish them. Take them down as often as possible, dust them off and enjoy them, for they may never be known again here.
Regardless of the game you pursue and the method of chase you prefer, north Alabama offers tremendous opportunity, rich tradition, and an always beautiful setting in which to partake of your favorite flavor.
Harvesting:
By now, if it is not already up, farmers are picking late corn, cotton, and soybeans from the frequent and fertile fields of north Alabama. Garden plots are slowly winding down and yields are starting to slow. Okra, tomatoes, and certain beans and peppers may still be producing, but most of the garden vegetables are now summer memories.
However, it is not this harvest that truly interests the outdoor enthusiast. While these are tasty treats and anxiously awaited every year, the real fall treats are found in the woods and fencerows of our part of the state. This is the time of year when wild grapes known as muscadines and scuppernongs can be picked in the wilds and woods. While plenty of domesticated vines exist in our area, there is definitely something special about finding a heavy-laden vine of wild grapes growing unencumbered in the forest. In addition to the grapes, wild nuts are also becoming ripe and ready for harvest. Black and English walnuts, pecans, hickory nuts, and my personal favorite – chestnuts are all ripening and falling to earth to be gathered by industrious outdoorsmen and women who know where to look. Other fall favorites include crab-apples and persimmons. Crab apples can be slightly bitter when eaten raw, but if you have enough, they make fantastic homemade jelly. Persimmons are definitely on the bitter side when eaten green and the local wisdom is that you have to wait until after a frost to eat them. While that may be true, the peak of ripeness and the first frost do not always coincide. So, if you are a true persimmon fan, pick a bunch of ripe ones, pack loosely in a plastic bag, and put them in the freezer for a few hours. Don’t freeze all the way through, but just enough to have the effect of a decent frost. Place in the refrigerator to let them come back up a little in temperature, and then enjoy raw or in persimmon pie or cobbler.
One last item that falls in this category is pumpkins. For heaven’s sake, please do not buy your pumpkin for pies or jack-o-lanterns in a store. I mean no offense to our local retailers who provide a valuable service in making store-bought pumpkins available, but please keep in mind that there are numerous farms in our area that specialize in growing pumpkins and usually have other activities that make going there a family-fun event. Use it as an excuse to get your spouse and kids or friends out of the house and under an October-blue Alabama sky.
Family and fellowship
It’s the colors. A vibrant explosion of red, yellow, orange, gold, and silver foliage and the blue of the October sky in Alabama. Say what you want, but I swear it seems a different color everywhere else than Alabama the Beautiful. Probably the most remarkable thing about our fall is the color. It is everywhere and the eye is drawn to it continually.
It is a time for being outside with friends and family. Outdoor cooking, Friday night lights, Saturday afternoon rivalries, church gatherings, or just to be social – all great reasons (or excuses) to get together. Temperatures and scenery are both conducive to being outside. A nice fire after the sun goes down, blankets and sweaters, holding a loved-one close, love, laughter, open windows, open doors, open hearts, Halloween, Fall festivals, apple cider, Thanksgiving, families coming together… what’s not to love about an Alabama Fall?
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"779671","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"10/5/2015 1:25:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Season's End","page_header":"Season's End","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"24","name":"Season's End","urlPath":"blog/seasons-end","url":"seasons-end","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"It’s not often that we get to enjoy near zero temperatures and sub-zero wind chill in north Alabama. However, last week, we got just that and I have to say, it’s not one of my favorite things.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It’s not often that we get to enjoy near zero temperatures and sub-zero wind chill in north Alabama. However, last week, we got just that and I have to say, it’s not one of my favorite things. I like cool weather and can tolerate cold weather, but we are just not use to those temps here and for me, it’s just not comfortable. However, there is something to be said for a bracing cold that does not dissipate with the coming of the sun – an event everyone should experience a few times, just to make us appreciate our usually mild winters.
There are a few days left in our deer, duck, and small game hunting seasons. Most end with the passing of January, and by mid-February, hunting is done and other pursuits begin to draw our attention. Even though the hunting is over, does not mean that the season is. Let me explain.
As hunters, fishermen, and outdoorsmen and women, we all understand that there is a period of preparation before each season and a smaller, but just as important preparation before each individual outing or event. Likewise, there should be a conclusion to each outing and event and to the season.
Once the hunting is over, I have a tendency to get lazy and focus my thoughts on the spring fishing that is soon to be upon us. However, your hunting gear deserves better than to be wadded up and stuck in a corner of the shed until next season. Now is the time to make sure all your gear is ready to serve again next year and for years to come.
Make sure you wash and thoroughly dry all of your hunting clothing per the manufacturer’s recommendations on the care tag of the garment. For base layers and undergarments, fold neatly and store together with your neatly folded and joined socks. For mid-layer and light outer layers, hang or fold neatly and store together. For heavy outerwear, hang up in your closet or in a designated storage area. Clean your boots thoroughly and dry completely. For leather boots, this is a great time to apply a premium boot dressing and preservative (I have had tremendous success with Obenauf’s Heavy Duty Leather Preservative). There are many options, but whatever your preference, these dressings will keep the leather moist, supple, and ready to go, even after long periods of storage. Synthetic fiber and rubber boots do not require as much care, but do need to be cleaned thoroughly and stored properly.
Equipment care is also paramount to an enjoyable and successful outing, so don’t skimp when it comes to taking care of the gear that takes care of you. Bows need to be cleaned, lubricated, and the strings and cables will need to be waxed for storage. It is a good idea to store arrows without broadheads attached. Firearms will need to be field stripped, thoroughly cleaned, and properly lubricated. If you are unfamiliar with this process, then please take your firearms to a professional for an annual checkup and post-season cleaning. Firearms should be stored properly and safely, with adequate airflow to prevent moisture buildup and retention (don’t store in a gun case in the closet). Ammunition needs to be stored separate from the firearms, and in a locked cabinet and needs to be kept cool and dry. Portable stands need to be cleaned, dried, and stored properly in a dry area. Waterfowlers need to make sure they clean and dry their hunting and fishing waders and store by hanging from a heavy duty clothes hanger, or by the boots using a commercial wader hanger. Decoys need to be washed, dried, sorted, and properly stored. This is a great time to do any touch-up painting, leak repairs, and general maintenance on your decoys. Rifle optics and binoculars also need some TLC at the end of the season. Clean thoroughly and make sure all surface grime and detritus is removed from the lenses using lens tissue, or a dedicated microfiber cleaning cloth or soft brush. Make sure your optics are protected by snug-fitting covers that will keep out dust and dirt during storage. ATV’s, boats, and any other vehicles utilized for the hunting season will need to be washed, dried, and hopefully have the fluids changed or serviced. Don’t overlook trailer wheel bearings as you finish up your end-of-season maintenance ritual.
And a ritual it should be. Most of us don’t have the money to replace or repair our outdoor gear every year. It is paramount that you do the best job you can when it comes to maintaining and revitalizing your rain gear. Taking some time at the end of the season to prep your gear for storage will insure that when you take it out again, it is ready to serve you well for another season.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"781498","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"12/21/2015 1:30:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"White Geese, Deep ditches, and Powdermilk biscuits","page_header":"White Geese, Deep ditches, and Powdermilk biscuits","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"25","name":"White Geese, Deep ditches, and Powdermilk biscuits","urlPath":"blog/white-geese-deep-ditches-and-powdermilk-biscuits","url":"white-geese-deep-ditches-and-powdermilk-biscuits","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"It was late December, 1992 and I was a 19 year old freshman at the University of Alabama.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"It was late December, 1992 and I was a 19 year old freshman at the University of Alabama. I was home for the Christmas break and had enjoyed being at home with family and friends and was relaxing with Christmas Day just 24 hours behind me. I will never forget Dad coming out of the bedroom and announcing that we were headed to Almyra, Arkansas for a 4-day goose hunt before I had to be back on campus. Of course, being the self-proclaimed, all-in waterfowl hunter that I believed myself to be, I was as excited as a young man of my age could get (about socially acceptable and parental-approved ventures, anyway).
It only took me about an hour to get all my gear together, call the Arkansas Game and Fish Dept. to get our license numbers, and get everyone’s gear piled into the motor home. That’s right, the motor home. Dad’s favorite way to travel with friends to far flung destinations of import. This due to the fact that the seating was comfortable, the group could lounge and play cards as we traveled, and there was no need for pit stops. I might also mention that the motor home was semi-custom in that the interior was upholstered and carpeted with remnant pieces left over from my father’s renovation of offices in downtown Huntsville. Also, the thing had not been started in a few months and the generator did not work. After a couple of hours scavenging working batteries from other vehicles, we got the thing started. It would only idle with a judicial application of throttle. Not enough to override the failing brakes – just enough to keep it from going dead as the engine cycled through the 5 functioning cylinders in the old V8 engine.
Our party consisted of a judge of the federal variety, a commercial real-estate mogul of substance, me, dad, a long-time friend of mine, and an uncle from my mother’s side of the family. All names will be withheld to protect the innocent and the guilty and to deter and obviate any litigious advances on issues that have not yet reached their statute of limitations.
The trip began without further difficulty, and just a few miles into the trip, I had grasped the nuances of driving a motor home that did not want to be driven. My co-pilot and navigator was my friend, and all of the more seasoned passengers held court in the back over an old deck of cards and stories of past exploits. We crossed out of Alabama and into Mississippi without much fanfare or too much trouble other than trying to keep our untrusty ride running at every stop. I might also mention at this point that acceleration was not the best, taking approximately a minute and a half to reach 55 mph from a dead stop and over a full minute more to get anywhere near highway speeds.
As we approached Memphis, which was our designated Mississippi River crossing, the engine began struggling even more and was almost impossible to keep running. I called dad up to the front and explained the situation. We quickly devised a plan whereby we dropped our more illustrious guests off at a local casino on the river and we went off in search of some first aid for our ailing vehicle.
I won’t bore with the details, but suffice to say that mice had eaten the insulation off of no less than 4 of the spark plug wires. After finding a local mechanic, convincing him to open the shop behind his house, and getting the plug wires replaced, we picked up our inebriated and now insolvent hunting guests at the casino and proceeded across the river into West Memphis, Arkansas. Another two and a half hours of traveling found us close to our destination, but without very clear directions on how to make our final approach. As the last 15 miles of our journey was on mostly unmarked dirt roads used by local farmers, it was an adventure to reach our final destination. However, after only 8 hours of total travel time, we did finally arrive.
As we unpacked, sorted gear, and moved into our rooms in the rundown, old farmhouse that would be our home for the next three nights, we were regaled by stories and tales of utter goose destruction told by the party that was getting ready to leave. We heard of 50 goose mornings and 100 goose afternoons with dozens of mallard and pintail ducks mixed in to kill the monotony of constantly shooting giant snow and blue geese from pristine wheat and rice fields. Needless to say, no one slept much that night, as all were anticipating the impending slaughter.
Morning arrived and our wake-up call came at 3:00 AM. Breakfast was a quick shot of badly scrambled eggs, underdone bacon, and famous Powdermilk biscuits. Now, let me expand on the cook and his breakfasts just a moment. We will call the cook William, because that was his name. One of the individuals in our hunting party, but not our traveling party was lactose intolerant. We will call him Dan, because that was his name. Dan had specifically stated that he had an extreme intolerance to lactose and anything dairy. The cook assured him that he used no milk in his cooking and would refrain from the use of butter, cheese and other dairy products in Dan’s food. Dan specifically asked about the biscuits and William told him they were Powdermilk biscuits, but that he only uses water and lard in his biscuits, so no worries there. William was a self-professed gourmet cook that was very proud of his ability to cook eggs in an infinite variety of ways.
So, with a rather disappointing breakfast behind us, we loaded up the motor home with all hunters, guides, and dogs and headed to the field we would be hunting. Another guide followed us with a trailer full of rag-and-stick decoys that we would spend the next 2 hours putting out. We asked the guide what the prospects were and he was very straight forward in his response. It had warmed up over the last two days, which was bad. The wind had died down last night and not picked back up, which was bad, and the geese had been hunted pretty hard in this field, which was bad. I might also add that this field was about 6 inches of very wet mud topped with about 1 inch of very wet goose poop, which means that at least they had been here recently. I also need to add that our judge and our real estate mogul were flagging a bit from having to put out thousands of decoys, them not being used to physical exertion of that magnitude.
Once everything was properly placed and the guide had given his approval to the decoy spread, we settled into the stinking goo to await the first flights of geese. The guide promptly went to sleep and began snoring. I was situated next to Dan and noticed that he was awful fidgety. As the predawn light invaded the darkness that surrounded us, the geese began flying; and it was a spectacle to behold. Thousand, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of geese were airborne in all four directions as close as a half mile away. This was it! We were about to kill geese. I was shaking with excitement, and the anticipation was palpable. Now they are overhead, but too high to shoot. We are waiting on a group to make a mistake and come close enough for opening shots. Off to my right, I see a group of about 30 break formation and lose altitude. They are headed straight for the decoys. Our guide is still asleep. I whisper-yell for everyone to get ready that we have a group at our 2 o’clock and they are dropping fast. I no sooner get this out of my mouth than Dan jumps up like he’s shot, screams a couple of obscenities, and sprints off towards the road, undressing as he goes. We catch a few words as he runs away and determine that religion has taken hold of him and this is the reason he is invoking God and Jesus with such frequency. We do not see Dan for the rest of the morning. Of course, Dan’s untimely sprint from the goose field flares the group of birds we had working and no others make a mistake that morning. It is a beautiful morning, though. Warm, calm, and slightly overcast. Just exactly the opposite of what you want for good goose hunting. Our guide wakes up and determines that we should go in to town for lunch. We leave the decoys as we will be hunting here again this afternoon. We find Dan leaning against a tire of the motor home asleep, sockless, and shirtless. We wake him up and tell him it’s time for lunch and ask him about his lack of clothing. He mumbles something about an upset stomach or virus and loads up for the ride to town. Lunch is a quick bologna sandwich at the general store in town. Dan buys more socks, a new shirt, and is very diligent about what he eats for lunch. Back to the field.
As sun sets, we are skunked. Not a shot fired all day. As we case our guns and scrape off as much of the mud / goose poop mixture as we can from our waders and coats, our guide wakes up and tells us to start rolling up the decoys and getting them ready to put on the trailer. We are exhausted, muddy, stinking, and hungry, but the promise of NOT having to hunt here tomorrow spurs us to action.
Back at the farmhouse / hunting cabin, we eat a supper of cornbread and pinto beans. The best I have ever eaten. The cornbread is filled with huge chunks of ham, green pepper, onion, jalapenos, and cheese. Dan has his own pan, sans cheese. The pintos were simmered all day with a smoked ham hock, fat back, and bacon. It was delicious. It was also a mistake, but none recognized it at the time. After a hot shower, the long day took its toll and put us to bed early. Some of the guys took a nightcap, and some just wanted the blessing of sleep.
By 8 PM, everyone was in their bunk asleep. By 10PM a few of us were roused by the thunderous posterior emanations of those that had seconds at supper. At first, we had a quiet giggle about it and made note of the offenders so that we could have some fun at their expense at the breakfast table the next day. However, our mirth was soon abated by the olfactory affront that so often accompanies. Like The Sound and the Fury, we knew the sound and were experiencing the fury. The guide and Dan slept through it all.
Day two: Breakfast – Poached eggs, underdone bacon, Powdermilk biscuits made without milk or butter. We arrive at a different field, spend two hours placing two thousand rag-and-stick decoys and await the geese. I might mention that there were definite rebellious grumblings from the judge of the federal variety at having to endure such labor in an endeavor for which he was paying good money. It’s warm, humid, calm, slightly overcast, and solemn, but the mud / poop is not as deep here. As the geese rise from their roosts, so does the anticipation. The weariness is brushed away and excitement at what may come replaces it.
Like the day before, there is plenty to see and hear. Snow geese by the tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands with their raucous squeals and squeaks. They wheel overhead and all around us. There are simply too many for a few to not make the mistake of coming too close. Unobserved a group of 8 had approached the decoy spread and had snuck almost into range when I noticed them. Almost too late to call the shot, I clicked my safety off and was preparing to shoot when they inexplicably flared and turned away. At almost the same instance, Religious Dan went flying by me toward the road. The guide slept through it all. We were beginning to think that perhaps it was possession rather than religion that was affecting Dan and that some priestly intervention might be warranted. About noon, the guide woke up and pronounced it was time for lunch. This time, however, we would take our decoys with us and hunt a more promising field in the afternoon. Pick up two thousand decoys, bologna sandwich and chips, new socks and shirt for Dan, back to the goose field, two hours of putting out decoys, two hours of uneventful hunting, two hours of picking up decoys, and back to the farmhouse. Dinner was great cornbread. The beans went untouched by unanimous consent.
Day three: Nobody wants to get out of bed. All are tired, sore, disheartened, dispirited, and overwhelmingly depressed. Breakfast is fried eggs, overdone bacon (someone complained), and Powdermilk biscuits made with no milk or butter. The motions of placing decoys are almost mechanical and done with an utter lack of enthusiasm. It is warm, humid, calm, slightly overcast, and even more solemn than day two, but there is almost no mud or poop here. Dan has brought a roll of toilet paper with him from the house. The guide is asleep by the time all decoys are placed and the hunters are set-up.
Once again, thousands of geese in all directions and straight overhead. None work for the first half hour, then, bingo, a group of about 50 is winging its way toward certain destruction. I hear Dan exclaim from the end of the row, “Please, not now!” Of course, the geese flare as Possessed Dan runs screaming from the field, undressing as he goes. Unlike the first two mornings, Dan returns to the field after about an hour. Presumably because he still has socks and a shirt. However, whatever is ailing him has turned him from a normal human being to a quivering, cowering, flatulent blob of Jell-O. The sounds emanating from Dan border on otherworldly. The barrage is incessant. It’s like you have replaced a bellows bag with a whoopee cushion and attached an air compressor hose. Fortunately, it appears as though Dan has regained his religion as he is now almost constantly invoking the Lord God, Jesus and occasionally other deities that our group is unfamiliar with. This goes on for a solid hour before Dan succumbs to exhaustion and joins our guide in blissful repose. We leave them asleep in the field as we break for lunch. Afterward, we take a nap in the motorhome instead of returning to the field. An angry guide and a sickly-looking Dan wake us up about 4 PM and demand we head in early as they have not eaten anything and don’t feel like staying and hunting anymore today. We all agree that the day is a bust and head toward the farm house. As we saw geese this morning and almost had some work, we leave the decoys and determine that we will hunt here again tomorrow morning – mostly so we would not have to pick-up or put-out decoys again.
Supper is delicious cornbread and goose stew, apparently served to prove to us that there have, indeed, been geese killed here. Dan is looking pale and thin and we are beginning to question his overall health. By 8 PM, all are sound asleep and looking forward to two extra hours of sleep since we won’t have to place decoys in the morning.
Final day: Breakfast is boiled eggs, overcooked bacon, and Powdermilk biscuits made without milk or butter. Our group of hunters resemble the walking dead as we stumble towards the motor home. As we approach the field where we are hunting, it is mentioned that farmers will be working adjacent fields today, so I diligently pull just off the center of the road onto the shoulder next to a levy ditch, so any passing tractors will have plenty of room. As we approach the decoy spread, we notice that a few of the decoys have fallen over and we set about standing them back up. It’s a short job, but with temps near 70 degrees, I remove my hunting coat and roll it up in a ball so that the keys in my pocket will not fall out. I place my coat on the decoy trailer and get back to work.
As we wait patiently for the impending dawn, we can already hear geese cackling and honking at each other in the distance. While it is still warm, humid, and slightly overcast, our anticipation once again climbs. There is no way that we can come to the Arkansas rice fields four days in a row and not get a shot at something. This must be the day. Plus, a looming front should be passing through soon, bringing with it ideal goose hunting conditions. As the geese begin to stir, so does Dan. The daily routine is underway. Recalcitrant geese by the thousands, Dan squirming in agony and frustration, sleeping guide, and very incensed hunters. The morning passes without incident. Dan is aware of the timing of his issue and retreats to the ditch in a more orderly fashion than the previous three days. In an hour, he comes staggering back complaining of cramps, rawness, and swelling. His religious bent seems to have stabilized and he seems almost normal at this point, with the exception of the uncontrollable flatulence that plagues him after his morning intestinal bout. However, we know from experience that this will last no more than an hour and then he can get some much needed rest curled up next to the guide.
We have decided to only hunt half a day today so that we can get home at a reasonable hour. With empty skies above us and empty horizons about us, we begin the tedious task of picking up decoys for the last time. Our guide awakens and tells us to leave them as his afternoon group will be hunting here. This is the best news we have had all week. All we have to do is head back to the farm house, load up our gear and head home. As I approach the decoy trailer to retrieve my coat, my heart sinks a little. My coat is not on the trailer. I mention this to the guide and he says that it must have fallen off when he moved the trailer back to the road (about ¾ of a mile from where we were hunting). We trace the path back toward the decoys and find my coat laying on the ground about halfway between the decoys and the road. Thank goodness. I was about to panic. I picked up my coat and reached into an empty pocket. Take it from me, you do not want to be the guy that loses the car keys at the end of a trip like the one we have had. But, there I stand, with every single person staring at me with looks that would turn sand to glass. There was nothing to do but look for the keys.
And look we did. For a couple of hours at least. Finally, after much canvassing and crossing each other’s trails, we stumbled upon the keys laying in the field. Had it been one of the fields from days one or two, they would have been lost forever. We made it back to the motorhome and it was at this point that I realized that I may have pulled slightly too far off the road in my attempt to keep it clear for the tractors. The driver’s side tires were all firmly on the road, but the passenger tires were all on the slope of the ditch. The consensus is that it would be fine and we would just gently drive out – no problem. I hopped into the driver’s seat and despite the more than substantial lean, gave it a little gas and tried to urge it back onto the road. Nope, not going to happen, not today. As I applied the throttle the unthinkable happened and the motor home slid further into the ditch. It slid in to the point that we all had to exit through the driver’s side windows.
After hailing a passing tractor to extract us, we were finally on our way to the farm house to pack up and head home. I was dejected, the rest of the party thought I was at best incompetent and made sure I was aware of it through their barrage of jabs and jibes directed at my parking and ability to keep up with keys. Dan never said a word.
As part of our party pressure washed the Arkansas rice field mud from the motor home, the rest of us packed up our clothing and gear for the trip home. Dan was also leaving this afternoon, so we said our goodbyes to him as well as the staff at the lodge. With the motor home almost packed and everyone getting situated for the ride home, I had one more person to speak to. I was not leaving Arkansas without that cornbread recipe. I asked William if he would mind giving it to me. He didn’t know it by heart, but had all his recipes written on index cards on top of the fridge. I pulled the box down and began to sort through it, looking for what I wanted. Dan was sitting at the table in plain clothes enjoying a soda. His group was also getting ready to leave. I placed several of the recipes that were not of interest on the table as I continued my search. Dan idly picked up one of the recipe cards and began to read. With an oath and a battle cry that would have made a Mongol horde proud, Dan sprang from the table and leapt at William. William sprinted out the back door with Dan on his heels screaming obscenities, threats, and generally questioning William’s heritage and his parents’ relationship to each other. I picked up the recipe card that had created the feud and noticed that the third item in the breakfast biscuit recipe was a half cup of powdered milk. Lactose-intolerant Dan had been eating powdered-milk biscuits for 4 days, not Powdermilk biscuits.
As promised, the cold front arrived just as we left, the skies cleared up, the temperature dropped 30 degrees in an hour, the wind was blowing a brisk 20 miles per hour as we pulled out. As we passed the field we had hunted in, we were met with an almost constant barrage of gunfire and the sight of huge groups of geese trying to land in the decoys as the hunters laid into them with everything they had. Looked like it was going to be one of those hundred goose afternoons. They were in good hands. Their guide was well-rested.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"781499","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"10/2/2015 1:30:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Alabama Living","page_header":"Alabama Living","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"26","name":"Alabama Living","urlPath":"blog/alabama-living","url":"alabama-living","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"frogg toggs® was founded in 1996 in Guntersville, Alabama. As the business grew, we were forced to relocate to the top of Georgia Mountain between Guntersville and Arab. After a few years at this location, our growth once again prompted us to search for new facilities.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"frogg toggs® was founded in 1996 in Guntersville, Alabama. As the business grew, we were forced to relocate to the top of Georgia Mountain between Guntersville and Arab. After a few years at this location, our growth once again prompted us to search for new facilities. When frogg toggs® finally found its “forever home”, it was on the outskirts of Arab, Alabama. Being able to locate the headquarters for frogg toggs® in the town that we call home is a blessing to us.
frogg toggs® manufactures and distributes rainwear, waders, footwear, personal cooling products, and accessories. We serve several industries including fresh and saltwater fishing, motorcycle, agricultural, hunting, outdoor sports, team sports, running and cycling, and general fitness to name a few. Our raingear offerings retail between $9 and $300 and include products made from 8 fabric groups and include over 45 unique product designs. The wadewear line includes hunting and fishing waders, chest and hip waders, wading shoes, and wading jackets and vests. The wadewear line utilizes breathable, neoprene, canvas and rubber fabric groups and includes 25 waders, 11 jackets and vest, and over one dozen wading shoe styles. Personal cooling products include the Chilly Pad cooling towel and several variants thereof, cooling caps, and several other accessories designed to help keep you cool. Our accessory line includes waterproof caps and hats, waterproof boots, gloves, patch and repair kits, and several other items designed to make your outdoor activities more enjoyable.
frogg toggs® currently employees approximately 70 full time and temp employees in its Arab facilities, which encompass some 225,000 square feet of warehouse and office space.
The frogg toggs® brand started with an idea to provide an affordable, breathable rainsuit to a market that was not being served by available products. Our goal was to keep common folks comfortable in their outdoor environments. We did not approach this by cheapening an existing product. We created a new and unique fabric that provided the properties we wanted to provide our customers at a price that made it affordable to the masses. Our goal was not to compete with an existing market presence, but to go after the dollars that had never been spent in the rain gear category. From this simple idea and single product has evolved one of the best known brands in outdoor apparel.
To outdoorsmen and women, the name frogg toggs® means trust, affordability, and protection. Our customers depend on our gear to get them through anything Mother Nature can throw their way on a day spent off the beaten path. frogg toggs® has been providing affordable foul-weather and cooling gear to active outdoorsmen for 19 years and continues to strengthen and expand its product offerings each year.
Serious outdoor addicts are attracted to frogg toggs® because of their availability and affordability. They stick with frogg toggs® because they work. With 8 fabric families and over 45 product choices in the rain gear line alone, frogg toggs® can provide a style and feature set to please any outdoor lifestyle. There is a product selection for any customer base, whether it’s work or play.
frogg toggs® carries the same affordable quality philosophy to the wadewear market and is one of the premier names in waders and wadewear accessories. Providing affordable comfort and protection to hunters, fishermen, and the workplace for over 12 years, frogg toggs® hunting and fishing waders are the obvious choice for sportsmen in the market for premium waders of all kinds. frogg toggs® provides a full line of wader options. Rubber, Canvas, Neoprene, PVC, and breathable waders in fishing colors and several camo options are available. frogg toggs® also provides many options in wading shoes, wading jackets and vests, and associated accessories and patch kits.
Designed by outdoorsmen, made to take on Mother Nature and the outdoors, and making products affordable for folks just like us, frogg toggs® has been keeping the world warm and dry since 1996. And remember, it’s the only frogg that won’t leak on you.
frogg toggs® owes a great deal of its success to its location. Arab, Alabama provides a great labor pool, easy access to major interstates, no traffic congestion, ample recreation opportunities, and one of the best school systems in the entire state. Arab also provides a community-minded police force, a well-established religious infrastructure serving a diversity of denominations and beliefs, and a true small-town atmosphere. Occasionally, you have to look outside of our area for an employee with a specific skill set, but that is a tradeoff we are willing to accept.
Arab is situated just south of the Tennessee River Valley and is surrounded on all sides by an abundance of natural beauty. Lake Guntersville and the Guntersville Sate Park to the East, Monte Sano to our north, Lewis Smith Lake to our west, green, rolling hills, forests, and pastures to the south. Being two and a half hours from Nashville, three hours from Atlanta, 6 hours from the panhandle beaches, and 4 hours from the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains mean living in Arab puts you within an easy drive of diverse cultural, entertainment, and vacation opportunities. Shopping, fine dining, and entertainment are available locally and also just 30 minutes away in Huntsville, Alabama. Living in Arab gives you immediate access to the city without the stress of city living. We could not imagine having our business located anywhere else. This is home.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"779669","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"7/31/2015 1:55:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Football, Feathers, and Fall","page_header":"Football, Feathers, and Fall","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"27","name":"Football, Feathers, and Fall","urlPath":"blog/football-feathers-and-fall1","url":"football-feathers-and-fall1","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"Don’t you just love living in north Alabama? Most of the time, for me, there is no truer statement that could be made.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Don’t you just love living in north Alabama? Most of the time, for me, there is no truer statement that could be made. However, there are a couple of times each year that I get confused. Two weeks ago I woke up to a 50 degree morning with no humidity and clear blue skies. This week I am waking up to 72 degrees and humidity that you can wear like a suit of clothes. It’s just hard to know what tomorrow will bring. And as we have all had our fill of heat and humidity, most folks are longing for just a little crispness to the morning air and a little more breeze in the evenings. Just a few degrees here and a few there. Maybe throw in some lower humidity and call it a nice early fall day.
Now, I love the deep fall in Alabama where fallen leaves crunch underfoot at every step and in the country you can still get a whiff of wood smoke from a long-unused wood stove or fireplace as the temps drop. However, I am not fully ready for that yet. I want to ease into fall gradually and a day at a time. But I DON’T want to sit through a 90 degree September either.
Anyway, I say that to preface my thoughts about easing into the fall season. As we anticipate fall and our gradual transition to it, we seek out those physical signs that confirm that the seasons are changing and that the pinnacle of southern living is almost upon is.
As you are reading this, you will no doubt be reflecting on the football games we were inundated with this past weekend. College football kicked off officially last Thursday, but Saturday is game day down south and almost everyone is glued to their televisions and enjoying the contests with family and friends. Football season is one of the signs that the fall is on its way. Another sure sign that the autumn is creeping in is the plethora of fall-ish and Halloween decorations making their way onto the shelves of local retailers. The best sign, in my opinion, is two solid weeks of mild temps and lower humidity. If you can get two weeks put together, I think you are on the backside of the transition and looking at better (milder) days ahead.
If you are an outdoorsman or sportsman in the south, no event heralds the coming of the fall season like the opening day of dove season. While technically, it opens in the late summer, it is considered the herald of fall and is a coveted, revered, and venerated date among southern hunting traditionalists. And there is nothing more traditional than the opening day of dove season for those that hunt them.
The opening day of dove season is, for many, the epitome of the social hunt. The season opens promptly at 12 noon, but hunters gather hours before to meet and greet, reminisce about past hunts, discuss last weeks and upcoming football games, and generally be social until the birds start to fly. This is what truly makes dove hunting unique and enjoyable above other forms of chase. Even during the peak of the shooting, hunters are hollering at each other in congratulations or cajoling over a great shot or good naturedly admonishing a fellow hunter for an easy miss. This is the only type of hunting that I know of where this happens openly and without consequence.
The mourning dove itself is one of the most challenging targets available to wingshooters. They are deceptively small and they are as acrobatic as anything with wings when given a reason. All of this can make them downright frustrating to try and hit. Sometimes they make it easy, but the majority of the time, it’s like trying to hit a grey-feathered major league curveball with a thin wooden dowel – possible, but not easy. That’s all just part of the game though. A few misses makes the hits that much more enjoyable. Not to mention, the mourning dove is one of the mildest flavored dark meat gamebirds that we can harvest. Taken care of in the field, prepared properly, and cooked fresh, the mourning dove is akin to good steak in its texture and flavor. Getting the most out of your dove requires some effort, but the end result is well worth it.
Put forth the effort to properly care for your birds in the field by quickly icing them down at a minimum. It is usually quite warm in the dove field, so the more quickly you can cool the birds down, the better off you are. It’s also a good idea to remove the birds’ internal organs in the field if this is allowed where you hunt. This will remove a possible source of contamination and result in a better overall dining experience. This will also increase how quickly you can cool your game after the harvest.
The more quickly you can get your game from field to table, the better off you are. With other wild meats, people marinate, age, or brine the meat to increase its palatability and flavor. With dove, this simply is not necessary. Its flavor and texture also makes it useful in a number of different preparations. Anything you would do with steak or beef, you can do with dove.
A simple, yet time-honored recipe is to lightly season deboned dove breast fillets with salt and pepper, wrap in a thin slice of bacon, and grill the bundle lightly for a few minutes. The bacon is used to keep the ultra-lean dove breast moist. If you grill until the bacon is done, you have overcooked and toughened your dove breast. If you want to eat the bacon you wrap the dove in, you need to precook it until it’s about halfway done, then warp the dove and continue on the grill until the bacon is done. Variations of this recipe call for adding a strip of jalapeno pepper or onion to the bundle. Both are fine, but I like my game meats as unadulterated and as natural as possible.
Another recipe that I enjoy is making dove breast fajitas. This is pretty self-explanatory. Just cut your deboned dove breast into thin strips and add to your pre-cooked fajita vegetables for a few seconds, just to warm the breast strips up. You do not want to overcook these strips and it’s easy to do with this recipe if you cook them with or before the veggies are done. Standard fajita seasoning is fine, or you can make your own out of salt, black pepper, cumin, chili powder, red pepper, and a little dehydrated lime if you can find it (if not, just a add a little fresh lime juice at the end).
The third and final one that we use is Italian style sandwiches. This take a little more prep and cooking time, but is well worth the effort and a great recipe to use when introducing someone to wild game for the first time. Take about 4 whole, bone-in dove breasts per person. Place them bone side down in a glass baking dish and add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the dish. This is known in the culinary world as mirepoix. Season the meat and veggies generously with salt and pepper, add a cup of chicken broth, 2 cups of good red table wine, and a half cup of water. At this point add a couple of bay leaves and a beef bouillon cube. Seal the dish with plastic wrap and then again with foil for an airtight seal. Put in a 275 degree oven for about 2 and a half hours. Remove the meat from the pan and cool. Strain the jus from the baking dish and reserve the liquid. Shred the cooled dove meat into a skillet, add pickled banana pepper strips and chopped pepperoncini peppers to taste, add about 1 cup of the reserved liquid, heat thoroughly and serve with melted provolone cheese on top of some bakery fresh Italian bread for some of the best Italian beef (dove) sandwiches you will ever eat.
However you choose to welcome the coming of fall, make sure you include family and friends and thank God for the natural beauty that we get to experience as the seasons change.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"779647","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"9/30/2015 2:05:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"Fall Preparation","page_header":"Fall Preparation","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"28","name":"Fall Preparation","urlPath":"blog/fall-preparation","url":"fall-preparation","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"Just like sportsmen in north Alabama have a great deal of work to do to properly store their implements for the off-season, the gearing up for hunting season can require just as much effort.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"Just like sportsmen in north Alabama have a great deal of work to do to properly store their implements for the off-season, the gearing up for hunting season can require just as much effort. The difference is the amount of fun and enjoyment we get from preparing to use the gear as opposed to storage after use.
It is the second week of August in Alabama and it’s been hot. Very hot. And humid. Very humid. We have also just seen the first very mild cool front come through in the past few days. Most people may not have noticed it or paid it any attention, but I promise you, those that hunt noticed it. That first cool front shakes things loose up north and gets birds moving our way. And that is what the early season is all about – the birds. Dove season as well as early teal and goose seasons are all a month or less away at this point and it’s time to get ready to hunt.
Shotguns that have been properly stored will need to have the excess oils removed from the bore and internal metal surfaces before heading into the field. Make sure magazine plugs and choke tubes are in place and properly seated. Perform a visual inspection of any leftover ammo that you plan to use and discard any that is visibly damaged, overly tarnished, or in visibly poor condition. I also strongly suggest that you test fire your arms and ammunition that have been in storage since last winter, just in case. It is always better to recognize a problem prior to the season opener than to find it in the middle of a hot dove field or the first flight of teal through the decoys. Verify the mechanical condition of all safety features on your firearm, but always treat every firearm as if it were loaded and ready to fire. Never cover anything with the muzzle of a firearm that you are not willing to destroy.
Clothing will need to be checked as well. If stored uncovered, check for moth holes or other damage that may have occurred since their last use. Make sure you try everything on. If you are like me, you may have gained a few more pounds than you thought since last season and you may be making a trip to your local sporting goods store to buy new duds. I suggest laundering all clothing just in case there are any insects or other nasties hiding away under a collar or cuff. Again, better safe than sorry. Stored clothing makes a nice home for just about any creepy crawlies, but spiders in particular seem to like mine. Waterproof rain gear may need to be treated with a waterproofing agent just to maintain the integrity of the Durable Waterproof Repellant (DWR) finish most garment come with these days. If the DWR wears off, the waterproof membrane in most waterproof clothing will keep you from getting wet, but without the DWR the outer shell will absorb water, become heavy, and can be hard to dry out. Any specialty waterproof aerosol will fill the bill when it comes to touching up your waterproof rain gear.
Boats, ATV’s, and tow vehicles are another of our tools that need some pre-season attention. If you have a dedicated hunting boat that does not get used for anything else, it’s time to get it out and make sure the batteries are in good working order and holding a consistent charge. We also need to make sure that our running and anchor lights are functioning properly as well as the trailer lights. Check your life preservers and safety equipment like flares and fire extinguishers to make sure everything is charged, ready, and in-date. If your boat was stored with fuel in the tank, you may want to properly dispose of the old and refill with fresh fuel. Also make sure to take it for a test run or at least hook it up to a hose and run it in the driveway to make sure no mechanical issues have developed during storage. Check tire pressure and visibly inspect trailer tires for damage or rot. Inspect trailer bearings and re-pack with quality grease if needed. Check the trailer tongue and hitch as well as safety chains and connections. On the tow vehicle, just make sure the trailer ball is properly torqued and that light connections are solid. Many early season hunters use ATV’s to access their hunting areas. Again, just make sure that brakes, bearings, fluid levels, and tire pressure are all verified and attended to as needed. Fresh fuel and a test run are also recommended.
If you hunt with a dog, you need to make sure you are adjusting his nutrition and his routine for the upcoming season. Dogs need to be exercised to get them back into hunting shape. You cannot just take a dog out of the kennel or the house and expect it to perform well in the field. Make sure your partner is getting enough exercise, retrieving practice, and proper nutrition before the season. This is also a good opportunity for the hunter to get back into hunting shape as well.
Once the big chores are accomplished, it’s time to make sure that we have everything we need for opening day. For dove, a basic kit would include: shotgun; appropriate shells for the game and the gun; a dove stool, seat, or bucket; a game bag to keep insects off of harvested birds, a cooler with plenty of water for you and your dog, appropriate clothing for the location and time of year, a small bottle of your preferred gun lubricant, additional choke tubes and a choke tube wrench, a good hat or cap, shell bag or belt to keep shells handy for quick reloads, and appropriate hearing and eye protection. In areas that are hot, a personal cooling towel is a good idea. There are several brands to choose from and they are readily available at most sporting goods stores. Another handy item to have along is a lightweight rain suit or rain jacket just in case you get caught in an afternoon shower.
Of course, you would adjust your attire and your ammunition when pursuing early geese or teal. Non-toxic shot is required to hunt waterfowl in Alabama, while you can still use lead shot for dove. Make sure you don’t get confused when preparing to hunt both and accidentally carry lead shot to the duck blind. This will be an expensive no-no if you get caught and violates the ethics of hunting and fair chase to boot. Lightweight, breathable camo waders are a real blessing during early teal and goose if you are hunting in or around water, which most are. Paired with a lightweight long sleeve technical tee in your favorite camo pattern, you have a great early season combo that will help keep you comfortable and cool (or at least as cool as you can be during the first week of September in Alabama).
If you are hunting with a dog, make sure you have enough water to keep both you and it hydrated properly. This is more than you might think. When you think you have enough, add three more 20 ounce bottles and you should be god to go. Also carry a good first aid kit suitable for both you and your dog. Accidents happen and it’s always better to be prepared than to end up letting it ruin your opening day.
If you have the opportunity, please take a child hunting, fishing, or just into the outdoors on a hike. You never know what door you might open or what tradition you might start or perpetuate. And that’s the thing about traditions – once they are no longer carried out, then they are no longer needed. Once they are no longer needed, they become memories rather than traditions. And while traditions are carried on, memories only fade. Don’t let your hunting and fishing legacy and heritage fade. Share it with someone that can enjoy and carry on and most importantly, share what we know and love with those who are to come. Share your love and your passion that you might leave a mark on this world. Make sure you thank God for making it available to us and for the bounty of the earth that we enjoy daily.
","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_timg_img_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_subheading":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pinned_to":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_category":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_post_tags":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_hdr_image_alt":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_header_image":"","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_thumbnail_img":"779650","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_pub_date":"9/4/2015 2:00:00 pm"}},{"addition_to_head":"","page_title":"frogg toggs Gear to Pack for Vacation","page_header":"frogg toggs Gear to Pack for Vacation","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","customrecorddata":"29","name":"frogg toggs Gear to Pack for Vacation","urlPath":"blog/frogg-toggs-gear-to-pack-for-vacation","url":"frogg-toggs-gear-to-pack-for-vacation","template":"default","type":1,"pageTypeName":"ext-blog-post","customrecordscriptid":"CUSTOMRECORD_SC_BLOG_PAGE_TYPE_POST","cmscreatable":true,"fields":{"custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_author":"5","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_excerpt":"I recently found myself standing between Africa and Mount Everest in a torrential rain. Fortunately, I had packed my Frogg Toggs® Java jacket for just such an occasion.","custrecord_sc_blog_post_pt_content":"I recently found myself standing between Africa and Mount Everest in a torrential rain. Fortunately, I had packed my Frogg Toggs® Java jacket for just such an occasion. Unfortunately, it was the wrong choice for my situation. As I stayed dry and comfy from the waist up, my pants and pack quickly became waterlogged and uncomfortable. As I spied a family of 8 saunter by all decked out in their Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite ponchos, the light bulb illuminated.
Ok, obviously I was not standing between the Dark Continent and the real Mount Everest, I was standing in line for “Everest”, the ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We had traveled to Orlando to watch our daughter compete in the high school competition Cheer national championship and were enjoying the theme parks on our off time. Rain was in the forecast every day of our trip, so we packed our very light, very dry Java jackets by Frogg Toggs as potential protection from the predicted precipitation.
When it did finally rain, it rained hard and relentlessly. The Java jackets did their job, but only to the extent that they could provide coverage. From the waist down and everything we carried was soaked. That’s when I noticed that a LOT of people in the park were using the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite poncho as protection. While it did not dawn on me while I was packing for the trip, I now realize the poncho is the ultimate travel companion for theme parks and family outings.
Let me explain. The Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite poncho is low-hanging, meaning that you are afforded considerably more protection from the elements than a standard waterproof jacket provides. It is also very roomy, meaning that it will cover a slung backpack, a satchel, a carried bag, a purse, or small children easily and effectively. It is also exceptionally compact, meaning you can pack one for the entire family and still have room for essentials like snacks, beverages, sunscreen and other necessities of all-day park excursions. The poncho is also airy. With its large bottom opening and split sides, the ponchos design provides exceptional airflow and ventilation, which is important on warm and humid days. Getting into and out of a poncho is also an exercise in simplicity and ease. You simply unpack it, shake it out, and slide it over your head. Taking it off is the reverse and is affected just as easily. Now, I would not assume to tell you that refolding it and placing it in its original packaging is easy, but that is not what we buy them for.
The Ultra-Lite poncho from Frogg Toggs is affordable, packable, easy to use, and very handy if you are traveling with a family to theme parks or other excursions where you may need to protect yourself and your belongings from mother nature. It provides almost full-rainsuit protection with low-bulk, ease of use, and affordability. Considering what you pay to gain access to the theme parks, the cost of the Ultra-Lite poncho makes it almost disposable. We bought ours at a local big-box store that afternoon, used them at the parks for the next 2 days and still have them in our closet for the trip next year (Our cheer team is good and we plan to go back for the next national championships).
Do yourself a favor, learn from my mistakes, and make sure you pack or purchase an Ultra-Lite poncho by Frogg Toggs before your next theme park trip or family outing. If it rains, you will be glad you did.
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