adventure sports outdoors sept. 2012

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INSIDE:! Over 80 Stories!! Cool Weather Fishing! Ted Nugent! Scouting for Deer! Dove Hunting! Teal & Canadas! CPO Reports! Save Big on Hunting

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INSIDE:! Over 80 Stories!! Cool Weather Fishing! Ted Nugent! Scouting for Deer! Dove Hunting! Teal & Canadas! CPO Reports! Save Big on Hunting

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September 2012September 20129-112001

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2 ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS “THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN” September 2012

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September 2012 ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS “THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN” 3

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©Copyright 1994Published monthly by: Red Nose, Inc.Harry & Cathy Canterbury, Owners

TREMONT OFFICE1408 Downing Ct. • Tremont, IL 61568

(309) 925-HUNT (4868)Home Office: (309) 925-7313Harry’s Cell: (309) 360-0487Cathy’s Cell: (309) 370-6922

E-mail: [email protected] Web: AdventureSportsOutdoors.webs.com

ADVERTISING & SALES:Call Toll Free: (877) 778-HUNT(4868)

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Carroll Gentry • So. IL Rep. • 618-988-8230PRODUCTION: AD CREATION & LAYOUT:

Becky Fee - Graphic Artist (309) 642-2402 • [email protected]

SEPT. 2012 • ISSUE #190

Deadline for ASO editions is the 10th of each previous month.

Please send only digital media files.

Gebby’sFamily Restaurant

726 E. War Memorial Dr.Peoria Heights, IL

(309) 685-7811

DAILY HOMEMADELUNCH SPECIALS

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See Online Gun Selec-tion!

We Buy & Sell Guns &Archery Equipment

ON THE COVER:Pro baseball player Mark Clark and his sonBrandon getting gear lined up for early teal

season with their must have MudBuddyMotor. See Buell’s Marine

or Visit: www.mudbuddy.com any man I ever met. His drivefor shooting waterfowl wasoff the charts. He was ei-ther getting ready to hunt orthinking about it.

He worked at the Peoria Jour-nal Star for 34 years as city editor andwas one of the most intelligent men Iever knew. He graduated from U of Iat the top of his class as valedictorianof the class of 1965. Bill won theYoung Journalist award at U of I.

He was a good friend that calledabout everyday if not twice just to tellme what was going on, that he caughta bass that weighed 5 to 6 lbs. or big-ger. Or to talk about the crops thatlook real good down at his duck club.I think he was rubbing it in because Ihad to work and he was retired. Heloved to go to Wyoming to hunt ante-lope and mule deer and he seemed toget both every year.

I’m glad I was able to help with hisarrangements by picking out a camo

Canterbury Talesover a plate and get paidfor it. The odds of thathappening out of a popu-lation of 320,000,000 areabout 1 in a 100,000. Andthe odds of becoming amajor league ball playerare not very good, pluscoming from a town of310 people with limitedopportunity is quite an ac-complishment.

For a guy who could live virtuallyanywhere he wants has chosen to livenear Kilbourne, a short piece downthe road from Bath out in the country.He maintains a gun club near CraneLake Hunting preserve called Club54 and spends most of his time therewith his cronies working and prepar-ing it for the upcoming duck season.

Mark and his wife Amy have twokids a son Brandon and a daughterAllyson. He is a really nice guy wholoves to hunt and has all the toys todo it. Wouldn’t live anywhere else inthe world and has the life that we allcan envy. Living in the countrywhere he is from, with his friends andfamily. He is a true American dreamcome true for a ball player from thelittle town of Bath Illinois.

BILL PEAKWe hunted ducks together for over

30 years up and down the Illinois.Went to Arkansas, Tennessee, NorthDakota and Missouri either doveshooting or duck hunting. This allcame to an end on August 9th, 2012.My close friend Bill Peak suddenlydied while visiting his mother in thehospital in Canton, Illinois. He was69 and his mother is 91 years old.Bill loved to hunt ducks more than

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On the Sept. cover isMark Clark and his sonBrandon from Bath Illi-nois. Mark is a retiredMajor League baseballplayer. He spent 11 yearsin the big leagues. Markplayed for St. Louis Car-dinals, New York Mets,Chicago Cubs, ClevelandIndians and the TexasRangers.

Born in Bath Illinois in 1968 hegrew up along the Illinois River hunt-ing and fishing. Since he retired hisfull time job is guess, hunting andfishing. As a young man growing upin a small river town along the Illi-nois he found out at a young age thathe was given a gift that most onlydream about. He could throw a ball

Mark WertzAttorney at Law

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[email protected]

Cont’d. on pgs. 8-9

Cathy& Harry

Bill and Harry at the old RednoseGun Club about 1990.

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Call Toll-Free 1-877-778-HUNT(4868)or Mail payment & form to: ASO, 1408 Downing Ct., Tremont, IL 61568

60 ......Tim Huffman, Early Fall Longlining for Crappie62 ......Ed DeVries, BAI Visits Illinois State Fair 64 ......Jason Mitchell, Classic Fall Crankbait Patterns for Huge Walleyes 66 ......Steve Welch, Finally Some Cool Weather 68 ......Dr Dru Hauter, M.D. Should I get a Flu Shot 2012-2013?69 ......Gerald Sampen-Outdoor Connection, A Glimpse at Variety with Quality 72 ......Mike Conklin, Freedom of Information Act IDNR Request Response 73 ......IDNR Urges Boaters to Use Caution Due to Low Water Levels74 ......Chuck Martin, Traveling With A Hunting Dog, Part II 76 ......Deer Creek American Legion 77 ......Lester Rench, Central IL K-9: Bringing Home Baby78 ......Donna Tonelli, $100,000 Duck Call Found in Dresser Draw 80 ......Illinois: Jenkins Marsh/VanZelst Farm80 ......Jim Kennedy, A Profile in Courage 82 ......DU receives largest grant ever for Illinois wetlands conservation82 ......Oakwood Bottoms Project Completed in Southern Illinois 83 ......FWS Survey Indicates Record Duck Numbers, Average Pond Count84 ......Ducks Unlimited celebrates victory for Gulf Coast restoration85 ......Will Brantley, Wood Duck Trifecta 86 ......Delta Waterfowl Study Confirms Later Harvest Seasons 89 ......Wisconsin Canoe/Kayak Outfitters90 ......Mercer Wisconsin Pumpkin ATV Run91 ......Sept 15th 3rd Annual River Bottom Speedway St. Jude Charity Event92 ......Terri Sweckard, Girls Weekend in Missouri94 ......Alley Mill, Missouri 96 ......Keli Van Cleave, PinkOutdoors.com: Steam Train #844 97 ......Nici Haerter A Family Tradition98 ......Anita Williams, Seasoned by Life, and Living to the fullest!99 ......Randy Kasal, Walleye Normande100 ....WOW Ladies have Fishin Fun 101 ....NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors Sept Event Schedule101 ....Esbit Portable Box Grill102 ....A.K. Thompson Dirt Church, Nature’s Remedy for Stress103 ....Kris Winkelman’s Kitchen 104 ....Scott Leysath, The Sporting Chef: Hi Mountain Seasonings Recipes105 ....Mary Ann Vance, Real Estate Chatter106 ....Dan Gapen, Secrets of August108 ....Drake Taylor, Gator Hunting & Fishing in Florida110 ....Dave Evans, MN Memoirs: “Summer of 2012, Halfway” 112 ....Brian Barton, Labor Day Blues 113 ....Bob Hendricks, Cross Roads 113 ....Action Alert: Make a New Farm Bill Reality114 ....Jack Hart, Recreational Ground, Part 13: Precious Memories Pt 2 115 ....Recreational fishing rebounds on Mississippi coast116 ....Clint Stone, Vying For Velvet (Whitetail, That Is)117 ....Dan Galusha DAN’S FISH ‘N’ TALES® Go With The Wind, Stinky and 118 ....Rare Blue Lobster moves into National Aquarium in D.C119 ....Keith Norrington, Buffs to Visit Boyhood Home of Mark Twain120 ....Tony Nobregas Wins Del Brown Permit Tournament in Florida Keys

GUIDE TO ASO WRITERSGUIDE TO ASO WRITERS7 ........Mom's Recipe: Backwoods Bound Dove Recipe8-9 ....Canterbury Tales continues 10 ......Norman V Kelly, Death on the Illinois River12 ......Firenock, iBowSight Bracket 13 ......ISRA: Dr. Ignatius Piazza, NY City’s Bloomberg Needs REAL Gun Control14 ......Terri Sweckard, ASO Updates, Girls Weekend in Missouri15 ......Voice of the Outdoorsman, Tim Weiss16 ......John Ackerman, Support Pat Sullivan for 46th District State Senate18 ......Mike Roux, Strike King Rage Tail Shad20 ......Bob Murray, Meandering Murrays: Let Me Count the Ways21 ......Illinois Conservation Foundation Banquet Sat. Sept. 15 201222 ......SEPT Outdoor IL Calendar of Events22 ......Sangchris Lake State Park Hosting Osprey Nesting Platforms23 ......Keith Sutton, Dove Hunting Basics25 ......Dave Shadow, There’s No Substitute for Knowledge and Good Gear 27 ......Colby Simms, SimmsOutdoors.com: Think Small in Early Fall 30 ....Bongo Fest, Oct. 13, 201231 ......Kurt Meyer, Cannon Dam Cabins & General Store Mark Twain Lake, MO31 ......Joe Jerek, MO anglers get hooked on MDC "Find MO Fish" mobile app32 ......Joanie Straub, Bowfishing nabs new state record river carpsucker33 ......Bill Graham, MDC feral hog removal making progress on public lands34 ......Candice Davis, Changes at popular southeast dove hunting areas 35 ......Rebecca Maples, Bullfrog Sooie: Calling the Frogs36 ......Bill Vaznis, Power Scouting Part 237 ......Ted Nugent, I Got It So Bad I Got It Good 38 ......Wayne Baughman, Successful Game Bird Production39 ......Josh Gowan, Heartlander Abroad: Alabama’s Gulf Shores40 ......Hunting & Fishing Days celebration are both educational and fun41 ....Woo's Corner, Love Fishing In September 42 ......Babe Winkelman, A fallen fall turkey is a real trophy 43 ......Daniel Vinovich, The Warm Up46 ......Dave Herschelman, The Innocence of Youth48 ......Bill Cooper, Hunting the Yucatan Jungles for the Ocellated Turkey51 ......CPO Reports JUNE 2012 55 ......Roland Cheek, Murphy's Law En Route to Adventure 56 ......Kirby Schupp, TheShotGunShop.net, Having & Knowing No Limitations? 58 ......Snag & Brag Fishing Clinics, Raffle/Banquet, Fishing Tournament59 ......George Robey, Hunting Time—Part 1

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006_001.qxd 9/3/12 2:11 PM Page 1


Doves with Bacon Cream Sauce ~ 6 - 8 doves~ 12 - 16 slices of bacon~ 3 egg yolks~ 1 1/2 cups heavy cream~ 1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika~ salt and pepper

Skin and clean doves.In a large skillet saute' the bacon until

just crisp. Drain on paper towels.In the same skillet saute' the birds on

all sides over medium heat in the baconfat. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour off allthe fat saving 3 Tbs.

Beat the egg yolks with the cream.Add the 3 Tbs of fat. Put the cream-egg-fat mixture back into the skillet andcook over low heat just to thicken, stir-ring constantly. (Make sure the mixturedoes not boil.

Stir in paprika and serve sauce in agravy dish.

Garnish the doves with the crispbacon.

Enjoy with mashed or fried potatoesand your favorite vegetable!

Bacon Wrapped Maple DoveSent in by Joe Sneed. ~ cleaned dove breasts, de-boned~ cream cheese, softened~ jalapeno peppers, sliced~ brown sugar~ bacon~ maple syrup

Soak the dove in water for 1 hour.Remove and pat dry.

On one side of breast, place 1/2 tsp.cream cheese and a slice of pepper.Sprinkle on a pinch of brown sugar.

Wrap entire thing in bacon and secure

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with toothpicks.Grill over medium heat until bacon is

almost done. Turn as needed.Baste with maple syrup and continue

to cook until bacon is done. Baste sev-eral times. Turn as needed.

Best Dove RecipeSubmitted by Joe Villegas ~ boneless dove breasts, cut in two~ your favorite seasonings~ large jalapeno peppers~ cream cheese~ onion slices~ green pepper, cut into strips~ maple flavored bacon~ favorite bbq sauce~ toothpicks

Season the dove to taste with yourfavorite seasonings.

Remove the tips and stems from thejalapenos. Slice lengthwise in half andremove the seeds.

Spread some cream cheese into each

Mary Ann Harrell

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pepper half.Insert one piece of dove into the pep-

per.Top with a slice of onion and green

pepper.Wrap with a slice of bacon and secure

with toothpicks.Repeat with the rest of the ingredi-

ents.Grill over medium heat. When the

bacon is done, doves are done.Baste with bbq sauce when just about

done. Serve and enjoy.

Mom’s Recipe

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007_001.qxd 8/28/12 9:22 AM Page 1


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Sat. @ 10am Stop in For a Cold One This Upcoming Season!

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Sept 9: Gene Zerwekh Memorial Shoot (all shooters welcome)

Sept 16: Registered Trap - Fall Trophy Shoot COME SHOOT: THURS, SAT & SUN

Bill & the Gang at the club after a great hunt on Quiver Lake.

The old clubhouse at Quiver Lake.

Billenjoyedfishing

for!bass,especially

atHonkersCorner.

Bill at Duck Island Duck Clubabout 1980 at the picking shed.

Bill & Harry; Quiver LakeRNGC in the early 90’s.

Bill & David Herschelman;RNGC Quiver Lake early 90’s.

This day Bill shot a specklebelly!goose at duck island.

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dinner. Each dinner was deliciousand offered a variety of cuisine.

Bill was a wealthy man but livedvery modestly. Not much on socialgraces but to me he was a veryclose friend and those folks arehard to find. See ya Billy boy, goodhuntin.

Duck season is just around thecorner. I for one have been busygetting everything ready from myboat to working on the cabin. Justhoping that it will all come togeth-er this fall. We have had greatweather for drying out wet landsand planting food for the ducks.Every duck club and state area upand down the river has record feedfor this year.

Being in a historic drought wemay all have a problem gettingenough water to fill up our duckholes. The state of Illinois has only$150,000 to take care of all of theirpumping for all state waterfowlareas. How they pull that off isgoing to be a trick. Illinois is flatbroke and they are running thesehunting areas on a shoe string. Ourown duck club is having an issuewith water. Next month I willexplain just how that all turns out.

I spoke with Ducks Unlimitedand the IDNR and asked for someassistance in dealing with our prob-

lined casket, suggesting a dinnerafter the services and I played thebag pipes at his burial.

He had no family except for hismom and some cousins. We had agreat wake at a local eatery and bar.All of us shared memories aboutour friendship with Bill.

I have had many losses just likeyou have had over the years butthis one was tough. And I guess italways will be. I will miss the callsfrom Bill saying, “What youdoing? When he knew perfectlywell I was working. He had a drysense of humor that was his trademark.

About 22 years ago near HavanaIllinois we were hunting ducks.Bill could not see the differencebetween a hen and a drake nor do Ithink he cared; it was a duck tohim. I told him, ‘Bill quit shootingthose hens save them for futuregenerations.’ He looked at me andDave Herschelman and said, “Noone saved me any buffalo.”

Bill had a great life hunting andfishing. Another one of his joys inlife was hosting an annual duckdinner for his good friends at thePeoria Hofbrau. For the past 20years our good friend Art Guzmancooked us a wonderful wild game

lem and the reply back was wedon’t do that or we’re broke. It’sfunny the water way in questionfeeds thousands of acres of wet-lands, state and private, most of thearea is refuge. All I can do is tellyou next time you donate money toan organization ask them if they doanything here at home to helpwaterfowl? And come Novemberbe sure to vote for a candidate thathas your interests at heart.

We support our local Pekin DUchapter, who are hosting theirannual banquet Tues. Sept 18 at thePekin Moose Lodge. $35 tickets atthe door or in advance for $30.Sponsor Banquet is Fri. Sept. 14that Pekin K-C Hall Prime RibDinner for Sponsor & Guest,$250.00. Call Tom Sonderman at:309-241-2132. PEKIN DU CHAP-TER NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!

If you are looking for a place tohunt this fall there are a few mem-berships available in one of thebest places to hunt on the IllinoisRiver. Dave Conway of Bath ownsthe Sprig Duck Club located nearCrane Lake Refuge. Last year theclub shot 1137 ducks and is aboutas good a place to hunt as there is.I highly recommend this huntingclub. They have a lot of food andflood a large area they hunt. This is

a very successful duck club and hasbeen in operation for over 20 years.Dave is a dedicated manager andduck hunting is his whole life. Callhim if you are interested in a mem-bership at 309-635-2547.

Just a note about Bill, one of mybest friends who died last month.You never know when the party’sover life is short and as we travelthe road of life stop and smell theroses. Most of us have more sunrises behind us than we do in front.Enjoy each day as well as you canand don’t take it too seriousbecause none of us are getting outof this alive.

Welcome home 59 Marines fromPeoria’s Company C, 6th EngineerSupport Battalion after deploymentto Afghanistan. They had the satel-lite phones, (electronic care pack-age), from The Adopt a Platoonfundraiser hosted by ASO inJanuary 2010. Thanks to Friends ofCentral Illinois for donating all theminutes for this mission. Supportour Marines through: www.friend-sofcentralillinoismarines.com

Have a fun and safe hunting sea-son. See you next month.

Keep your powder dry and yourworm wet.Harry

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DEATH ON THEILLINOIS RIVERby Norman V. KellyFrom Peoria

to Pekin andall aroundfolks gatheredfor the enjoy-ment of anoth-er Fourth ofJuly this timein 1918. Itwas an impor-tant year in local history because ofthe terrible FLU epidemic, the yearthat the 18th amendment was beingratified and the glorious time inNovember when the war endedwith Germany. All of those eventswere major news in Peoria andPekin, Illinois, I can tell you that.

But let’s go back to July 5, 1918and talk about a tragedy that to thisvery day conjures up terror thelikes of which the little town ofPekin, Illinois will never forget.That was the date when the beauti-

ful river queen The Columbia sankwith over 500 people on board, andbrought a devastating end to thelives of eighty-seven people, manyof them from Pekin, Illinois.Historically, it helped bring the endto the romantic era of the steam-boat that first made its appearancehere in Peoria, Illinois in 1828.The steamboat played an importantpart in developing all of Illinois butas for Peoria, Illinois it was the keyelement…well…that and whiskeyof course.

The incredible story of theColumbia was the most importantnewsworthy event in this area andall of it was captured in a new bookthat is available as we speak. TheWreck Of The Columbia, written byKEN ZURSKI, traffic reporter herein Peoria, Illinois. Ken spent alengthy time reading every avail-able newspaper article, historicalrecords, witness testimony and tes-timonial records to bring us thisexciting, historical story of thesteamboat tragedy. “This book isabout a broken boat, a town’s sor-row and the end of the steamboatera on the Illinois River. All of the

peopleare realas aret h e i rincred-i b l es tor iesof sur-vival.”

K e nhad noperson-al con-nections to the Columbia story, butran across it when he was readingabout the wreck of The Eastland in1915. You can get a copy of Ken’sbook by going to www.amika-press.com

Actually there are numerousaccounts of the sinking of theColumbia, but I feel pretty certainthat you have never read theaccount of John C. Kriegsman ofPekin, Illinois. “I was six-years-old on this warm Sunday morningJuly 5, 1918. We were havingbreakfast and getting ready forchurch when our barn man BillHohimer called out. ‘Phillip!Phillip! The Columbia sank nearWessley Crossing and lots of peo-ple drowned!’ It was like an elec-tric shock. We all rushed to the footof the Court Street Landing.

The river was full of rowboats

loaded with sightseers. I saw fish-ing boats with gas powered enginesbringing in the drowned victimswho were then placed on the shore.The bodies were put into smalltrucks that carried them to KuecksFuneral Home which was locatednext to the Empire Theater. Iwalked over there and I could seerows and rows of bodies on thefloor. The Lakeside Cemetery hadjust opened a new section andabout eighty bodies from the sink-ing of The Columbia were the firstto be buried in that new section.”

John goes on to tell of the terribleinfluenza epidemic that killeddozens of People in the Pekin areaduring 1918as well. Here inPeoria, the city was simply shutdown with hundreds of victimsresulting in the death of over fortyPeorians.

The Columbia boat looked like this in 1918. Thanks to Ken Zurski for the use of this photo.

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Kriegsman reported that the CornProducts Plant exploded. “Forty-five men were killed in that explo-sion plus maiming many others.The other victims that lived hadsevere scars to show for their boutwith the flames.” John tells us thatthose 45 men were buried in thenew section of the cemetery aswell.

The war to end all wars ended onNovember 11, 1918 and soon,according to John’s account, thosemen from Pekin that had beenkilled in the war were returned to

their hometown.“Though this was asad period in our history of Pekin itcaused many new friendships witha common cause to flourish.”

Major John C. Kriegsman wasthe subject of an article I wrote inthe December issue of ADVEN-TURE SPORTS OUTDOORSrelating his heroic flying of thesmall warplane called the L4 obser-vation airplane. If your groupwould like to view this incredibleDVD call Kenny Crawford at 309-606-4254 for a presentation.

Editor’ Note: Norm is a Peroia historianand author. He welcomes

your comments at: [email protected]

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Major John C.Kriegsman of Pekinafter WW2. He was 6 years old when the

Columbia sank.

ASO is Voice of theAmerican Sportsman...We want to see your

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The iBow-Sight brackethas 5 verticalpositions and 4horizontal positions to allow the sightto be centered on the bow. The fineadjustments are to be done within theiBowSight Application (more detailscan be found in the iBowSight Appsection). To make the iBowSight atruly versatile sighting system, themounting bracket is predrilled toallow up to 3 bow mounting positionsand has pre-tapped holes for a bowquiver. The back of the bracket isalso predrilled to accommodatefuture accessories and comes stan-dard with a removable accessorymounting bar.

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012_001.qxd 8/30/12 4:54 PM Page 1


even more gun restrictions any time some drug crazed nut case attacksinnocent people who were disarmed by the same Unarmed Victim lawsBloomberg supports.

Now Bloomberg needs to get a political haircut for the dismal perform-ance of two of his officers in a shooting situation that ANY Front Sight stu-dent could have handled 100 times better. It is time for Bloomberg to im-plement REAL gun control in New York City and at least get his officersproperly trained.

On my website you can see his pathetic press conference whereBloomberg has to announce that his officers wounded nine bystanders!Geez, EVERYBODY would have been safer if his officers had stayed backand simply followed the suspect until a private citizen with a Conceal Car-ry Weapon was in the area to take the suspect out.

I'm serious! Armed private citizens, especially Concealed Weapon Per-mit Holders have a MUCH higher hit ratio than law enforcement.

Want an example? A couple of weeks ago, a good ole boy with a revolvermade a 150+ yard shot to SAVE a police officer who was missing the sus-pect at a much closer distance with his patrol rifle!

See his video on my website to better understand what an armed andtrained private citizen is capable of doing...

Hey Bloomberg, this good ole boy from Texas knows what gun control isall about... Hitting what you are aiming at!

As a side note, when I produced and narrated Front Sight's 26 episodereality TV series, Front Sight Challenge, therewas only ONE out of the 80 contestants whoparticipated in the show that MISSED the EN-TIRE target in the Do or Die Drill. You guessedit...a New York City Cop!

So once again New York City Mayor,Michael Bloomberg is wrong.

I always try to be part of the solution and

N Y C I T Y M AYO R B LO O M B E R G N E E D S R E A L G U N C O N T R O L

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg needs to implement REAL guncontrol after two of his officers wounded nine bystanders as they at-tempted to stop an armed suspect no more than 5 yards in front of them!

That's right, the suspect as you will see in the surveillance video is nomore than 5 yards in front of them, yet two of Bloomberg's finest, wound-ed nine innocent bystanders in the process of bringing the suspect to theground.

Bloomberg needs to make sure his New York City Cops can control theirguns. Gun Control is the ability hit what you are aiming at to immediatelystop a lethal confrontation. It is best done with two hands on the weapon!

Watch this video surveillance camera footage of the shooting and thensend Bloomberg an e-mail or two telling him to send New York's Finest outto Front Sight for some real gun control. HYPERLINK "http://www.ig-natius-piazza-front-sight.com/2012/08/26/front-sights-monday-blog-bloomberg-needs-real-gun-control/" http://www.ignatius-piazza-front-sight.com/2012/08/26/front-sights-monday-blog-bloomberg-needs-real-gun-control/

I'm not blaming the New York City Cops for their miserable hit ratio,which historically is below 25% and was likely well below 25% in this shoot-ing, if you don't count all the hits they put on innocent bystanders! I'mblaming Bloomberg and the New York City police administration for failingto provide proper training for their police officers and failing to encourageor pay for their officers to train regularly and repeatedly.

As you know from my previous blogs, I think Bloomberg is insane for be-lieving that disarming responsible law abiding citizens will somehow re-duce violent crime, especially when all statistics over the last 20 yearsprove otherwise.

I also despise Bloomberg for his political grandstanding, which calls for

not just point fingers at problems so let me helpyou out Michael. Let me help New York City'sFinest, and the great people of New York City.

If you, Michael Bloomberg, will at least ac-knowledge to me that you have personally readmy blog on the Insanity of Gun Control and ac-knowledge after reviewing the videos in that blogthat ARMED and TRAINED responsible citizensare a deterrent to gun crime, I will put my moneywhere my mouth is and Front Sight will trainEVERY police officer and every citizen of New YorkCity (who can pass a criminal background check) free of charge!

All you have to do is read my blog and acknowledge that if they are al-lowed to be armed and trained, your fine citizens would be a deterrent toviolent crime, just as every armed and trained citizen in every other city inthe United States is a deterrent to violent crime.

What do you say Michael? Are you ready for some REAL Gun Control inNew York City? I'll bet your citizens and police officers are ready.

Dr. Ignatius PiazzaFounder and Director, Front Sight Firearms Training Institute

1.800.987.7719 • www.frontsight.com

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013_001.qxd 9/3/12 10:57 PM Page 1


rivers floating and fishing. One of my favorite ways to enjoy a

nice fall morning is to take a coffee ther-mos to enjoy the early morning fishingand paddling. Doesn’t that sound nice?So don’t just sit there thinking about it,make it happen. We don’t have toomany nice fall mornings before it turnscold. Get out there now and enjoy.Take your kids they would love to col-lect leaves, acorns, buck eyes, rocks, ar-rowheads, etc.

I had the pleasure of visiting Missourilast month. I invited some girlfriendsto tag along and they were delighted toget to come. There were ten of us in all.Our group of women ranged in agesfrom 38 to 52. We were all very excitedto float the Current River and also Jack’sFork River. Some of these women hadnever been to Missouri and a few ofthem had never canoed at all, or for thatmatter even been on a river. So we werein for a treat for sure. We stayed atShady Lane Cabins & Motel in Emi-

nence, Missouri. We arrived on a Sat evening and en-

joyed the cabins Shady Lane had readyfor us. We just happened to be there onthe night of the street dance in down-town Eminence. We enjoyed the music,danced a little and talked to some of thelocals.

We happened to meet up with two sis-ters in their 80’s & 90’s. They told ushow they had just been kayaking thatday. They do it often as there means ofexercise. How inspiring it was to talkwith them. I think it made a few of thewomen in our group a little more com-fortable knowing that these older ladiesdid it all the time. They talked about allthe years they have spent on these riversgrowing up and how they still enjoy

them. I hope to interview these ladies toshare their stories with you in the future.

The time came for us to head back forthe evening, so then we sat around thefire talking about our next day’s adven-ture. We were going to raft the Jack’sFork River and had reserved a couplelarge rafts to accommodate all of us. Itwas going to be a long trip. Harvey’s Al-ley Spring Canoe Outfitters picked us upat our cabins which made it really nice.We decided to get an extra raft that daybecause the river was down a little andwe had big coolers to take along and wedidn’t want to drag.

When we came up to the first spring,I insisted the girls get out to get in thewater with me. Some of them thought

Cont’d. on pg. 92

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Girls’ Weekendin Missouri!

by Terri SweckardHello again, fall is here finally. After

the summer heat wave I know everyoneis ready for some nice fall weather. Ilove the fall too, nice brisk eveningswearing your favorite sweatshirt. Thereare still some nice weekends to get outthere and enjoy a beautiful day on the

The ladies stop for a break on the way to Missouri.

014_001.qxd 9/4/12 2:13 PM Page 1


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“Tim Weiss here.I read ASO everymonth cover to

cover. Thanks forsuch a great

outdoor magazine. Thepast month hasbeen awesome

partially thanksto you! At theend of May I

took four friendsup to Lake Eriewalleye fishingfor a couple ofdays and didreally well.

We fished with Capt Pete of Captain Hook Charters that I saw advertising in ASO. The first part of June, I took two friends to

Lake Michigan. Captain Mike Smith of the CO-CHI-1 was absolutely awesome. We limited out by 11 a.m. We are all from Springfield.

My friends pictured, Dawn Miller and Tony Auth, both caught verynice kings. Both of these trips were inspired by reading ASO.”

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There’s still plenty of time to fish Lake Michigan with Capt. Mike Smith on CO-CHI-1 Charter.

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Gene Swierczewski caught this nice fat crappie in Lake

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015_001.qxd 9/4/12 1:54 AM Page 1


tax as well as their own. That means aloss of $378,000 from our operatingbudget here in Tazewell County. Mul-tiply that amount across all of thecounties in the state and DavidKoehler and his Chicago based lead-ers have found a new way to rob yourpocket book. And yet it is worse thanthat.

Also this year they have decided tokeep a larger local portion of the Per-sonal Property Replacement Tax. OurTazewell County Board budget willbe short another $183,500. This quickcash grab by David Koehler and hisChicago leaders affects more than justthe Tazewell County Board budget asall local taxing bodies are also takingthis hit. Here in Tazewell County, thetotal cost removed from the local tax-ing bodies in just the loss of their lo-cal portion of Personal Property Re-placement Tax is $3,115,331.80.

All told, just this year DavidKoehler will need an additional fund-ing of just shy of $3,500,000 takenfrom local Tazewell County govern-ments to supply his spending prob-lem. This is in addition to the 67% taxhike he is stealing directly from ourresidents. And once more multiplythis insidiously large amount by everycounty in Illinois and you start towonder just how much new fundingis needed to satisfy David Koehler’swasteful spending habit.

Other than just being irresponsiblewith the taxpayer’s money, the reper-cussions of his actions go deeper thanwhat is seen on the surface. You see,his crime of stealing funding from thelocal taxing bodies hit the taxpayerstwice since the $3,500,000 fromTazewell County will need to be re-

Insanity: doing the same thing overand over again and expecting differ-ent results.

The State of Illinois is a mess.Everyone knows it. Everyone sees it.Every Illinois citizen is paying for it.

So why do we keep turning to thesame Chicago based politicians (andthe downstate politicians they con-trol) for answers? Election after elec-tion we hear the same story of reform,of change, of hope, each time fromthe same group of Chicago basedand/or controlled politicians that timeafter time continue to lead us further

down the road of financial destruc-tion.

Is this not the very definition of in-sanity?

In the 46th State Senate District,David Koehler is part of that Chicagocontrolled group. He has stood withthem in the Senate and voted withthem time after time.

This time the citizens of the 46thhave the opportunity to changecourse. The citizens of the 46th needto take a big step forward in stoppingthe financial bleeding we all face inIllinois. The citizens of the 46th dis-

trict have the opportunity to vote foran individual who can and will makea positive change in the mess of Illi-nois politics. That individual is PatSullivan.

The 46th Illinois State Senate Dis-trict includes most of the City of Peo-ria and the Southern half of PeoriaCounty, Southwest Tazewell Countyincluding all or parts of the City ofEast Peoria, Creve Coeur, MarquetteHeights, North Pekin, South Pekin,Delavan and the City of Pekin andmost of Fulton County.

The leaders of the State of Illinoistalk about our financial troubles to-day as if there is a shortage of fund-ing while in reality it is a mismanage-ment of current funding and inabilityto budget finances. Overall, the prob-lem financially with the State of Illi-nois is a spending problem.

David Koehler was a key vote andvocally defended Governor PatQuinn’s 67% tax hike last year on cit-izens of the State of Illinois in orderto get Illinois back on track. Whatwas the result? No improvement; nocorrection. Just more money avail-able for politicians to spend. This fail-ure is well documented and has beenheavily discussed.

What may not be as commonknowledge are the amount of localtaxing bodied tax revenue DavidKoehler and the Chicago based lead-ers are taking. Here in TazewellCounty, starting this year theTazewell County Board will nolonger receive its previously assignedportion of the Estate/Inheritance Taxfrom the State of Illinois. The Statehas decided that starting this yearthey needed our local portion of this

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placed. That forces local taxing bod-ies to increase local taxes to replacethe money taken by the state.

This is a convenient way to passthe responsibility of raising taxes tothe local taxing bodies. Rather thanthemselves having to explain evenfurther tax increases, they are steal-ing it from the local governmentalunits and forcing them to have toraise the tax rates.

This upcoming election the citizensof the 46th State Senate District, aportion of which I am very proud torepresent on the Tazewell CountyBoard, will have the opportunity tovote for an individual that will havethe courage to stop this irresponsiblespending.

Pat Sullivan is famous in Peoria forhis strong small business owner cre-dentials and his vast amount of char-itable giving and support. As a smallbusiness owner, Pat Sullivan under-stands that you have to live withinyour means. While building and op-erating his many successful business-es, he never had the option to stealadditional funding from his neigh-bors. Rather, Pat Sullivan madebudgets and managed the finances hehad to accomplish his goals of suc-cess.

His platform to A) create a favor-able business climate for job creation,B) pass meaningful and comprehen-sive workers compensation reform,C) support and end the temporary taxincrease, D) reduce state spending toreduce the state debt, and E) supporteducational reforms to improve oureducation system, are all goals thatare important to every citizen of thedistrict and are all objectives thatDavid Koehler has a complete recordof failing at during his long time inSpringfield.

Pat Sullivan is the right choice inthis election and I encourage you toplease support him to bring about theresponsible financial changes we canall benefit from.

I want to thank my fellow TazewellCounty Elected Official, fellow PatSullivan supporter and friendTazewell County Treasurer MaryBurress for her assistance in gather-ing these tax figures. I appreciate herimportant contributions to thismonth’s column.

~ John C. Ackerman

Look for John on the Web at:

JohnCAckerman.com

Pat Sullivan andNathan Unes after a great

morning of fishingon Canton Lake.All outdoors folks

should vote for Pat Sullivan on his

run for the District 46

State Senate seat.Pat is a man of thepeople who donatesto his community;has created andworked his own

businesses all of hislife. (Kelleher’s

Irish Pub Eatery &PJ Companies).

He will work hardin Springfield for

all his constituentsand fight for the

rights of the peoplein central Illinois!

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Welcome to...

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One of my favorite things aboutbeing an outdoor writer is that it al-lows me to be in the field hunting,fishing, boating and camping forboth recreation and research. I ap-preciate the words of best friendRoger Lewis who said about me,“You are not one of those outdoorwriters that only write about whatothers do. You are actually out

there all the time and then sharingwhat you learn and experience.”Thanks Rog.

I am the kind of a guy who livesby the “If it aint broke don’t fix it”mantra. If I find a product,method, program or plan thatworks for me I am very hesitant tovary from the success those thingshave brought me in the past. How-ever even with that being said I amalways on the look-out for ways tomake me and ultimately you, moresuccessful.

This summer I was bass fishingon Lake Kinkaid with good buddyColby Simms. We were back in acove that was full of bass and fullof weeds. I told Colby I was tornbetween using a buzzbait outsidethe weed edge or a grass frog ontop of the weeds. He tossed me asoft plastic bait and said to try it inboth places. It was a STRIKEKING Rage Tail Shad.

This bait can fished without aweight and weedless. Its design al-lows the lure to move across thesurface of the weeds and continuesits amazing action in open water. Itcan be retrieved much slower thana buzzbait, keeping it in the strikezone much longer per cast.

The Rage Tail Shad is just one ofmore than a dozen members of theRage Family offered by STRIKEKING. World famous for their ex-traordinary spinnerbaits, STRIKEKING has gone to great lengths todevelop the Rage line. You can seethem all at www.strikeking.com.

Not long ago I had the perfectchance to show this lure off to an-other great fishing partner. BrianLewis is a son of best friend andpreviously mentioned RogerLewis. I have known Roger’s kidssince before they knew their ownnames and I treat them as if theywere my own. Rog does the samewith mine.

Brian got a Friday afternoon offfrom his slave driver of a boss(Roger) and came up to stay withme for an overnight fishing trip.By overnight I mean he came upand fished Friday evening with meand stayed over and we fishedagain Saturday morning. Theevening bite was by far the bestand that is the story I would like toshare with you now.

We got the water at one of mybest spots about 4PM on Friday.Brian expected a bite on plasticworms and I was hoping for fallcrankbait action. We both decidedthat once the sun went low in thewestern sky that we would go totopwater lures. All of those choic-es were good. Some were betterthan others.

I must say that I was glad Brianwas there. It was not only becausehe is a great guy to share the boatwith or because he is a very ac-complished angler, but because I

needed a witness for what hap-pened right out of the gate. Weeased around the first point and in-to the first cove. On my fourth castI caught my first bass of the day.That was not remarkable. But thefact that I caught five more bass onthe next five consecutive casts real-

STRIKE KING RAGETAIL SHAD

BY MIKE ROUXwww.mikeroux.com

Mike Roux has learned the value of fishing STRIKEKING’S Rage Tail Shad. (Photo by Brian Lewis)

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ly got our attention. Neither of uscould remember ever seeing any-one catching six bass on sixstraight casts. It was a great start.

Brian started catching bass, too.We made it almost all the wayaround the lake and Brian said itwas time to switch to topwater. Iagreed and went for my Rage TailShad in a black and white pattern.I thought I would educate Brian onmy newly discover bait but come tofind out he and Roger had knownabout them for some time. He evenhad a couple in his tackle box.

So as not to cast the same bait mypartner tied on a chug-type topwa-ter bait. The bite was a bite sloweron top but the fish that were hittingthe baits on the surface seemed tobe getting larger. It was not longbefore the STRIKE KING bait con-nected and scored me a 3.5-pounder. I was tickled and Brianwas having some success, as well.I had maintained a safe 5-bass leadsince my initial burst at the begin-ning of the trip but Lewis was nowwithin only a couple.

Brian hooked-up and boated anice 3-pounder just as the sun set.I was determined to stay with the

Rage Shad for the rest of theevening. It was getting dark fastand placing our casts was becom-ing increasingly more difficult. Wewere tied for number of bass with17 each. That would have been agreat evening of fishing if we hadquit right then.

We agreed that we would fishacross the dam to the boat rampand be done. I cast the Rage Shadacross a shallow point and the wa-ter around the lure erupted. I im-mediately felt weight on the line asI set the hook. “Get the net!” Iyelled to Brian. It was so dark Icould not see the fish, just the com-motion it was making in the water.Brian handled the net with expertprecision and the STRIKE KINGlure put a four-and-a-half poundlargemouth on my scoreboard.

As luck would have it the lastfish of the day turned-out to be thebiggest. Over-shadowing the out-standing fishing and my very pro-ductive new topwater lure was thefact that I got to share this time inthe boat with a very good friend.The trip itself was very good. Hav-ing Brian Lewis there with memade it excellent. BASS

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The MeanderingMurray’s

By Bob Murray


Let Me Count the WaysWell this could be a love sonnet of

sorts…but not the romantic kind.Remember the movie Forest Gump?Remember when Forest and his buddy Bubbawere in basic training and Bubba recited witha faraway look in his eyes the different wayshis Momma would fix shrimp…there wasfried shrimp, shrimp creole, shrimp ‘n’ grits,shrimp bisque, shrimp Po Boys… and oleBubba went on thru, so the movie suggested,thousands of ways Momma Bubba fed herfamily from their business of catching andselling shrimp.

Bubba met a sad end in Viet Nam andForest went on to fulfill his and Bubba’sdream of owning a shrimp boat together. Healong with Lt. Dan went on to build theBubba Gump Shrimp empire and Mommamade out quite well as a result. In my world

however, man does not live by shrimp aloneeven if it is all you catch. There is in ourworld a variety of fish just waiting for thesame treatment as Momma gave the shrimps.

In the past few months my cooking bore-dom if you will, started my wheels turning ondifferent ways to cook fish. We have enor-mous resourses available to us either thru theoutdoors or heaven help us…the grocerystore. Why then do we seem to fry about99.8% of our fish? Well, you can easily fry alot of fish for a lot of people. You can over fryit and the crust can kind of make up for thedry fish inside. You can under cook it andyour guests will still sit and chomp down andtell you how good your tartar sauce is.

You can over or under season it and coverup the flavor by drowning it in vinegar,ketchup, hot sauce or that same tartar sauce.

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Why else do we fry so much? I’ll tell you.We are afraid to cook fish other ways

because cooking fish is intimidation onsteroids for a work-a-day cook. Failure seemsto be a probability as opposed to an easilymasked possibility. Skin off…skin on, filets,whole round fish, whole flat fish, steaks all tobe poached, sautéed, braised, baked, steamed,grilled or smoked. They all generate that kneeknocking, sweat beading, forehead frowningreaction of our steadfast knowledge that fail-ure is imminent. How do we get away fromthat? How do we build the kind of moxyneeded to put away the deep fryer and venturebeyond where few of us have gone before?The kind of confidence needed reminds me ofone of my greatest fishing trips ever inSaskatchewan. We were employing a seven-teen year old Native Canadian who hadunderstudied his Dad and was assigned to usas a shortage of guides brought him off thebench.

What a great day! Lake trout in the morn-ing…Arctic grayling at noon-time and catch-ing northern pike in the afternoon. It was afishing day to remember. But! I am here totell you not about how we caught them buthow that kid cooked them. Obviously it wasnot northern pike since we hadn’t boatedthem yet, but we did have some very nicespecimens of lake trout from that morning.

Now I won’t insult the boy’s image bytelling how he built the fire but let’s say therewas not any stick rubbing or the like to get itgoing, but once it was cranking out heat thefish was on.

The first fish got a stick up its butt and intoits head with another stick holding the bodycavity open. I think we called himTonto…not the fish, the guide…he proppedthe fish in some rocks on the leeward side ofthe fire and let it flag in those wafts of hard-wood smoke.

The second piscatorial delight was neatlycut filets folded into an aluminum foil bedfeathered with some aromatic vegetables thathe produced from out of nowhere along with

Bob Murray putting out theflames on his blackened bass. It came out awesome...at least

according to Bob’s buddy Dan Meidinger.

020_001.qxd 9/2/12 10:31 AM Page 1


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on the cooking time so they are donetogether. I’ve written about blackeningbefore which is at the opposite end of thehealth spectrum as steaming but a treatooooh…maybe once a year.

Grilling is wonderful and I would rec-ommend you start with doing the fish “onthe half shell” (fileted with the skin andscales left on) with the skin side down andthe grill cover closed, basting the fish witha little butter or wine or even beer.

I could go on at book length about allthe ways you can love fish, but I can’t. Sostep away from the fryer and see how youcan “dazzle” without all the oil. I have toshare one more thing with you which is astaple in the Louisiana cooking line up.The phonetic pronunciation would besomething like “koo be awn” with the Nfading away as you say it. For real, it is aFrench term for a poaching liquid that isspelled “court bouillon”. There is someconfusion as to the difference between acourt bouillon and a sauce piquant…that’sa whole story by itself.

Have fun in the outdoors. Have funcooking what you harvest and alwaysremember… Keep it clean out there.Contact Bob & Cherylat: [email protected]

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some salt and pepper. We’re not done.The third (yep I said third) was left

whole and the flesh scored with his cheap,sharp as a razor knife and stuffed with somelemon and herbs and placed close to thehot coals. Now he is done.

Of course, I did not take you thru all thisin order to tell you how badly this kid’s fishsucked did I? It comes down to which onewas the best? Was it the smoked trout, fla-vored with the subtle smoke and the men-tal seasoning that was sprinkled on by sun-shine and smells of the great Canadianwilderness? Was it the filets basted in theirown juices and our ravenous appetites, orwas it the grilled trout accented by crispyskin and the in your face flavors from thenatural herbs.The winner was… whichever you were eat-ing at the time. My God! They all werejust simply awesome! Tonto didn’t eventhink about how to cook those fish, he justdid it. That is what we need to do. Weneed to just do it. Yep kind of like thatsneaker commercial.

I have recently played with steaming,and was really surprised at how fast, easyand good it was. If you get one of thosebamboo steamers for about twelve bucksyou can do your fish and your veggies atthe same time, it only takes a little planning

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Illinois Conservation Foundation’s (ICF) 2012Sportsman’s Fundraiser & Hall of Fame Banquet • Sat. Sept 15, 2012 • 5:30pm

Stoney Creek Inn, 100 Mariners Way, E. PeoriaDon’t miss the Illinois Conservation Foundation’s (ICF) 2012

Sportsman’s Fundraiser /Hall of Fame Banquet. Join us Sept 15, 2012at 5:30 in E. Peoria at the Stoney Creek Inn, 100 Mariners Way, EastPeoria, IL. This is your opportunity to help the ICF pass along ourhunting, fishing and outdoor heritage to future generations of sports-men and women.

Two new Hall of Fame inductees, Warren Gale of Orion and AllieLymenstull of Quincy will be recognized for their dedication to conser-vation initiatives and work in preserving our natural resources.

The purchase of a ticket will help the Illinois ConservationFoundation create new opportunities for boys and girls to experiencethe great outdoors at the Torstenson Youth Conservation EducationCenter; a place where kids never pay to learn fishing camping, huntingand outdoor skills.

Attendees will have a chance to win door prizes, hundreds of liveand silent auction items by Browning, Winchester, Benelli, a ladiestable and outdoor gear. Live auction items include hunts, art and anAfrican safari. $45 advanced purchase or $60 at the door per per-son/$450.00 per table of 10.

Register at: www.hall_of_fame/SeptemberBanquet.aspxor call 217/785-2003

The ICF is a 501 (C)(3) not-for-profit corporation. All funds are held in privateaccounts. (Mark Spangler is director of ICF)

021_001.qxd 9/4/12 1:57 AM Page 1


LAKEZONE CONVENIENCELive Bait & Tackle • Shell Gas & Diesel Fuel

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SEPT. 2012CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sept. 1-15• IL Early Canada Goose Season

Sept. 1-Oct 28• Illinois Dove Hunting Season (firstsegment)

Through Sept. 3• Conservation Village at theDuQuoin State Fair, open 12 noon- 8 p.m.

Sept. 4-8• Single Action Shooting SocietyU.S. Open, World ShootingandRecreational Complex, Sparta,www.sassnet.com

Sept. 8 • Super Saturdays at the Museum,‘Illinois Waterways,’ Illinois St.Museum, Springfield, 11 a.m. - 3p.m. www.museum.state.il.us/events

Sept. 8-23• Illinois Teal Hunting Season

Sept. 9• Fall Mushroom Hike, Cache RiverState Natural Area, Cypress, 1-3

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p.m. phone 618-657-2064 for moreinfo.

Through Sept. 10• Random Daily Drawings forfirearm deer permits: www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/deer

Sept. 12• Illinois St. Museum Science Serieson archaeology, ISM Research andCollections Center, www.museum.state.il.us/events

Sept. 14-16• Fall Class Trap Championship,World Shooting and RecreationalComplex, Sparta, call 618-295-2700for more information

Sept. 15• Illinois Conservation FoundationIllinois Outdoor Hall of FameDinner, Stoney Creek Inn, EastPeoria, 5:30 p.m. www.ilcf.org orphone 217-785-2003• Be an Archaeologist for a Day,Dickson Mounds Museum,Lewistown, 10 am- 4 pmwww.museum.state.il.us/events

Sept. 22-23• National Hunting and FishingDays www.nihfd.org (Silver SpringsState Recreation Area, Yorkville)www.sihfd.org (John A. LoganCollege, Carterville)

For more info: www.dnr.illinois.gov

Sept. 28-30• Becoming an Outdoors Womanworkshop, Pere Marquette StatePark, Grafton www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/bow/index.htm

Oct. 1• Illinois Archery Deer Season opens

• Illinois Fall Archery TurkeySeason opens

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IDNR AND RURAL ELECTRIC CONVENIENCE COOPERATIVE TEAM UP TO INSTALLOSPREY NESTING PLATFORMS AT SANGCHRIS LAKE STATE PARK

ROCHESTER, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), in cooperation with the Rural ElectricConvenience Cooperative, today installed two elevated platforms intended to attract nesting ospreys at SangchrisLake State Park southeast of Rochester.

Ospreys – a bird of prey listed as an endangered species in Illinois – nest in large trees, on rock formations, oron artificial structures near lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, where the adults feed on fish. Elevated platforms likethose installed by the Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative at Sangchris Lake have been used successfully bynesting osprey at a number of locations in the Midwest, including at the Lake Shelbyville Sullivan Beach area incentral Illinois.

“Park visitors, wildlife watchers and our IDNR site staff and biologists have seen ospreys spending time in andaround Sangchris Lake during migrations each spring and fall, and we hope installation of these platforms willencourage more nesting pairs to produce chicks here,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller. “We appreciate thecooperation of the RECC in providing the utility poles and platforms and installing them at Sangchris Lake as partof this wildlife restoration effort.”

“Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative has always had a good working relationship with the State of Illinois andSangchris State Park, and we are happy to assist the park with the installations of the osprey nest platforms to helpbuild the population of these beautiful birds,” said RECC Manager of Operations and Maintenance Louis L. DeLaby.

Adult ospreys –sometimes mistaken for the larger bald eagle – are generally 21-26 inches long with a blackupper body and mostly-white head, chest and underbelly. Like other birds of prey, the population of ospreys in theU.S. has rebounded since the use of the pesticide DDT was discontinued in the early 1970s. No osprey nests wereseen in Illinois from the early 1950s until the mid-1980s, and efforts like the platform installation at SangchrisLake are used to attract even more nests in the state.

022_001.qxd 8/29/12 11:48 PM Page 1


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ConcealmentDoves use keen eyes from high vantage

points to spot hunters. To help even the play-ing field, hunters must be properly concealed.Wear camo clothing matching your surround-ings. Try to blend into features of the land-scape -- patches of standing grain missedduring harvest, tree-line edges, etc. Considerfashioning a blind from corn stalks, brush orother local materials. Camo tape or finish onyour shotgun helps hide gun movements.Camo grease paint or a mask hides the shineon your face.

DecoysSeveral dove decoys placed near your stand

can entice birds to fly by at close range. Youcan purchase decoys -- shell, full-body andeven robo-dove decoys -- from sporting-goodsbusinesses, or create silhouettes from card-board.

Place several decoys on open ground andseveral on nearby fences or dead trees. Fencedecoys should be about a foot apart on the topstrand of wire. Tree decoys should be placedas high as possible, back from the tips of lim-ber branches. Face all decoys into the wind;doves take off and land into the wind.

Understanding DovesUnderstanding mourning dove habits will

assist you in pinpointing game.Know first that doves are seed-eaters. They

feed on sunflowers, corn, wheat, oats, milletand other grain crops, plus many weed seeds,from foxtail to croton. They prefer eating onbare ground because their legs aren't strongenough to scratch through litter or longenough to clear many hurdles.

Doves usually fly from their night roost to awatering hole shortly after dawn, then quick-ly move to feeding areas where they stay untilmidday. They loaf at perching, watering orgraveling sites near the feeding area for anhour or two around noon, then return to thefeeding area for the remainder of the after-noon. Before going to roost, they usually go towater again.

ScoutingDetermining the exact time and locale of

these dove activities allows you to ascertainthe best time and place to hunt a particularsite. Do this by scouting prior to each hunt.

Begin by scanning a likely site with binocu-lars. Scout before 9 A.M. or after 3 P.M. whenbirds are more likely to be moving. When yousee doves, watch for several minutes. If moredoves follow, you've found a potential huntingsite.

Most dove aficionados hunt fields of just-harvested grain crops. When scouting these,try to determine when doves are entering andexiting, and examine each locale for types of"structure" doves orient to when flying. A dip

Dove Hunting Basicsby Keith Sutton

Employ the these tips and tactics andyou're sure to enjoy the exciting, fast-

paced wingshooting provided by America's favorite game bird.

Nothing says it's time to begin hunting sea-son like a good dove shoot. When the birds andthe lead are flying, there's nothing quite likeit.

Although dove hunting is one of the sim-plest forms of recreation available to wing-shooters, getting started can seem compli-cated for beginners. It shouldn't be. Besidesyour hunting license and Migratory BirdPermit, all you really need to enjoy this greatsport is a shotgun, some shotgun shells and aplace to hunt. The following guide to dovehunting basics is sure to help as well.

Guns and LoadsWhen selecting a dove-hunting shotgun,

you can go as plain or fancy as your budgetallows. A good all-around choice is a 20-, 16-or 12-gauge autoloader with screw-in choketubes. Pumps, double-barrels and over-and-unders work fine, but because doves are fastand dif ficult to hit, many hunters preferautoloaders, which allow three quick shotsbefore a bird gets out of range. Alwaysremember, however, that repeating shotgunsmust be limited to holding only three shells("plugged") while dove hunting. Federal regu-lations require it. (Be sure you understand alldove-specific hunting regulations, particular-ly baiting laws, to avoid unintentional viola-tions.)

Stick to smaller shot sizes: 7-1/2, 8, or 9.It takes only a few small pellets to down adove, and smaller shot sizes offer more pel-lets per charge. For instance, an ounce of No.8 shot has 186 more pellets than an ounce ofNo. 6.

Perhaps the best all-round shotshell is a 1-or 1-1/8-ounce load of 7-1/2s, 8s or 9s.Heavier loads allow somewhat longer shots,but you may go through several boxes of shot-shells during a single hunt. Your accuracycould suffer if you start flinching due to asore shoulder.

Consider spending a little extra for targetloads such as those used by skeet and trapshooters. These tend to be manufactured tomore stringent standards, and that edge mayimprove your shooting percentage.

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Stick to smaller shot sizes -- 7-1/2, 8, or 9. It takes only a few

small pellets to down a dove.

023_001.qxd 9/1/12 7:56 PM Page 1

uous movement. Practicemakes perfect. Visit ashooting range as oftenas possible to hone yourskills.

F inally, always takemore shotshells than youthink you'll need. Evenwhen you're certainyou're Deadeye Dick,doves can prove youwrong. Studies indicatedove hunters averageabout three birds baggedper 25 shots.

Go Get 'Em!Now that you've com-

pleted Dove Hunting 101,it's time to get in thefield and start scouting.Employ the tips and tac-tics you've learned here,and you're sure to enjoythe exciting, fast-pacedwingshooting provided byAmerica's favorite gamebirds.


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in perimeter timber may be a well-used travellane. Field corners often funnel doves in andout. Open mid-field humps are preferred feed-ing sites because they provide a better view ofapproaching danger. Doves often light onsnags or power lines before landing or whileloafing. Points, ditches, borders betweenstubble and plowed ground, fence and treelines, tall trees and other structure serve asreference points for flying doves, as well. Ifscouting reveals numerous doves flying nearsuch spots, you've found a place to make yourstand.

Remember, too, that feeding field huntsusually are best when enough hunters arepresent to keep doves stirred up and flying.Birds may move to new locales, however, ifhunting pressure is heavy for more than a dayor so. Observing hunting activity may thusprove useful in your search for a good shootingarea.

Watering sites are another key feature ofdove hot spots. Doves generally drink at mud-dy ponds, seeps, mud holes and stream bankswith edges free of tall vegetation. Water bod-ies with a wide swath of open mud along shoreare ideal, especially when near roosts or feed-ing areas.

Don't overlook graveling sites, either.Doves consume grit to help the gizzard grindseeds they eat. Rural roads, sand bars, gravel

quarries and other graveling spots close tofeeding, watering and roosting sites make anarea more attractive to doves, and if yourscouting reveals activity patterns, these ar-eas can provide alternative hunting sites dur-ing midday when doves aren't feeding infields.

Doves' activity patterns may change due toadverse weather conditions, changes in feed-ing field conditions and other factors. To havethe best hunt possible, identify several poten-tial hunting sites. Visit them often. Watchdoves throughout the day to determine whenand where they're flying.

ShootingRegardless of when or where you hunt

doves, remember these tips for success:First, pick a good stand and allow doves to

come within 25 to 35 yards before shooting.At this range, you'll probably shoot more ac-curately, and use fewer shells. And you canuse lighter loads with adequate killing powerwithout bruising your shoulder and flinching.

Remain motionless until an incoming doveis within your practiced shooting range. Doveswill spook as soon as they spot you, but if yourtiming is right, you'll manage one or two shotsbefore they zip out of range.

When shooting, shoulder your gun quickly,keep your head on the stock, swing throughthe dove, pull the trigger and follow throughwith the shotgun swing in one smooth, contin-

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DOVE… Cont’d. from previous pg.

Place several decoys on open ground and several on nearby

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024_001.qxd 8/30/12 8:09 PM Page 1


I recall a conversation with an old-er craftsman that went somethinglike this: A poor craftsman with poortools will undoubtedly do poor workbut a good craftsman with ratherpoor tools can still do pretty goodwork. -- Following that thoughtprocess a bit further; that poorcraftsman with some good tools can

do some pretty good work and if yougive the good tools to the mastercraftsman he can do some unbeliev-ably fine work. – If you project thisthought process into the huntingand fishing sports industry, it fitsperfectly.

Now Noah may have built the arkwith only an adze, a wooden hammerand some wood pegs, but he musthave been a better craftsman thanmost of us and his design instruc-tions came from a “higher power”. Ifall we had in our hunting and fishingrepertoire was a willow stick, a pieceof string, and a safety pin, we mightbe able to eventually catch a fish orrig the string up as a snare and catcha rabbit. However, most modernsportsmen would probably get a bithungry before it happened.

Fortunately, we have some fine“tools” and sources of knowledgeavailable to us today that will makeour hunting, fishing, and sportingendeavors much more productiveand more enjoyable. The secret is todivide the productive knowledge andproducts from all the marketingtrash that is shoveled at us in the me-dia productions and all the “giantsale” fliers we all get every week.

In the fishing sports, it’s very com-

mon for a “entry level” angler to goout and buy a half dozen rods andreels because that’s what he sees lay-ing on the deck of the boat owned byone of the “big boys”. The same istrue with crankbaits, spinnerbaits,and jigs that are the tools that thiscraftsman will use to accomplish histask. The unfortunate truth is thatmuch of the tackle on the shelves oflocal chain stores will only serve tofrustrate this new angler and manytimes will cause him/her to “giveup”. This new angler would be muchbetter off with one good qualityrod/reel and a limited amount ofquality baits. This will enable thenewcomer to devote more timelearning the sport and understandingthe prey that he pursues rather thanfighting to control bad “tools”. As hebecomes more accomplished withthe quality tools and his increasedknowledge his expertise can evolvefrom “satisfactory” to “excellence”.

This same concept holds true inour hunting endeavors and possiblywith an increase in the frustrationlevels. It’s hard enough to sit in acold deer stand for day after day un-til finally a shot opportunity arises,only to find that an arrow fliescrookedly or the stand creaks when

you shift your weight to get thatshot. Again, It’s more advisable tohave much less hunting gear buthave quality gear that will keep youwarm till that big buck arrives and abow/arrow combination (or firearm)that will deliver properly. There arean uncountable number of smells,scents, camo, sights, scopes, arrows,range finders, and other equipmenton the market today and most of itwill work in some fashion. There is,however, absolutely no substitute fora good understanding of the preythat you pursue. Study his behaviorsand travel patters and learn to adaptto those variables rather than hap-hazardly stumbling thru the woodsand into a tree at random. With Illinois archery season comingsoon, I hope you have all got yourgear out and are all practiced up.Probably not! I try not to endorseproducts and businesses, but if youhave problems with archery productsor in making decisions on what is ac-tually necessary, ask a professional ora local “accomplished” hunter forsome advice rather than just spend-ing money at random.

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025_001.qxd 8/31/12 11:34 AM Page 1


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TOURNAMENT AND OTHERNEWS:

Lake Mattoon -- Wednesday July25th, 2012 – Monte Woodyard andJosh Williams took 1st place honorswith a five bass ”limit” weighing in at13.35 pounds which included the

“big bass” of the event at 3.75pounds. – Mike and Amanda Blackplaced 2nd with four bass totaling10.20 lbs – 3rd place went to GruenVonBehrens and Corey Reynoldshaving three bass and 6.65 pounds. –

The Lake Mattoon Catfish Clubtournament results for 07-28-12 arerather impressive with the team ofBob and Matt Tate of Mattoon cap-

turing 1st place. This team weighedin a total creel of 39 pounds 6 ouncesincluding the “big fish” of the eventat 15.6 pounds. – Shawn Durbin ofgays and Matt Carmean of Mattoonplaced 2nd with 36 lbs 4 ounces.

The Lincoln Heritage Chapter ofPheasants Forever are anticipatinggreat successes with their 2012 ban-quet to be held at the LifeSpan Cen-ter on Sept. 8th, 2012. The deadlinefor early registration is August 15th

and a “sell-out” crowd is expected sono tickets will be sold at the door.

Seven boats turned out for the LakeMattoon Catfish Club tournamenton 08-04-12. The team of Jeff Wal-lace of Mattoon and Chris Phillips ofNeoga captured 1st place with a totalcreel of 34 lbs 4oz. Jeff and Chris al-so weighed in the “big fish” of 13pounds 6 ounces. They hope for a bitbetter turnout as the weather moder-ates.

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SHADOW…Cont’d. from previous pg.

(right) Here is Woo Daves in hisboat with friend Johnny Jonesand Brandon Long. Brandon

(left) is a Wounded Warrior...hestepped on a land mind and lostboth his legs. During surgery tosave his life they ran out of mor-phine. He told Woo that he died

9 times! “And the last time,”Brandon said, “I went thru thePearly Gates and God told me itwasn't my time because I had something waiting for me hereon earth.” His daughter was

born the very next day. HOW WONDERFUL THISHERO MADE IT HOME!

Thanks to Woo & Patti Davesfor sharing this story with ASO!

026_001.qxd 9/2/12 12:09 AM Page 1


Early fall is one of the best times to chasemuskies and northern pike. As waters cool,the activity level of predators begins to in-crease. Some offerings however, seem toproduce better than others.

*Red Hot Toothy ActionDuring an early fall Midwest Outdoors

TV shoot with my good friend and out-door media personality Larry Ladowski ofMWO, we experienced some incrediblefishing for muskies, using a tactic that has

been producing for my guides and I formany years. Larry is an excellent angler andI always really look forward to our annualfall muskie TV shoots, which have becomea regular event that many of you enjoyevery year on MWO TV. Larry and I hadsome great action that beautiful early au-tumn day, landing several muskies includ-ing one of Larry’s biggest fish, a fat 46”er,pictured here. I forgot how many muskieswe raised that day, but it was a lot. Themuskie action was almost non-stop all day,

THINK SMALL IN EARLY FALLTHINK SMALL IN EARLY FALLSMALLER OFFERINGS ARE OFTEN PRODUCTIVE

FOR AUTUMN MUSKIES & PIKEBy: Colby Simms with Ray Simms & Andrew Veach

Photos by: The Colby Simms Outdoors Teamwww.ColbySimmsOutdoors .comwww.ColbySimmsOutdoors .com


and with many big bonus large-mouth bass thrown in for goodmeasure, it turned into anotherfantastic MWO TV program forviewers.

On another fall trip, after thefirst real cool down of the season, Ifound myself out on the waterwith more good friends. I was fish-ing with media personality HarryCanterbury, and his son Billy, whohad just returned home from atour in Afghanistan with the Ma-rine Corp. I was also accompaniedby champion tournament prosRay Simms and Andrew Veach.While filming an AdventureSports Outdoors TV Show, we ex-perienced great early fall muskie action,with the same tactics previously men-tioned. While we’d captured miles of bassfishing show footage in the United Statesand Mexico with Harry and ASO TV be-fore, this would be our first muskie hunttogether and it turned out to be a greatone. Harry had been muskie fishing before,but this trip and this tactic proved eventful,as Harry landed his very first muskie, abeautiful 40”er. On back to back magazinetrips in both the Midwest and Canada oneearly fall season, Ray Simms and I caught agood number of muskies and many bigpike. The pike were so aggressive that they

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027_001.qxd 8/31/12 3:36 PM Page 1


*Lure & Equipment SelectionThere’s a few lures we’ve found to be

productive on all waters. We’re generallyselecting 4-8” range baits weighing around3/4-2oz, the small end of muskie/pike

Midwest with this method. I’m talkingabout downsizing.

*Against The Grain Many anglers believe you have to use big

lures all through fall. There’s no doubtlarger lures can produce throughout fall,but they’re usually not the top choice inearly fall. We have great success with largelures, sometimes even giant lures, in thecold water period of late fall, but when wa-ters are cool to warm, toothies go crazy forsmaller baits. Through our lure companyand outfitting operation, we’re fortunate tohave a lot of top fishing pros on staff, allacross the Midwest and beyond. Thismeans we’re able to garner a lot of infor-mation about seasonal patterns. Fishinglogs speak for themselves, and having manylogs to go over, from many top pros thatare on the water a lot, makes it clear whatworks best on most waters, most of thetime, during particular times of year. Whilewe often notice the masses out on the lakesin early fall slinging huge baits, we just stickwith the smaller lures and mop up on lotsof big fish, while everyone else complains ofa poor bite.

lures, things that are also applicable for saylargemouth bass. The new tiny 4” SofttailPhantom jerkbait (phantomlures.com) isthe smallest true jerkbait I’ve seen (bass an-glers usually refer to lipped minnowbaits as

jerkbaits). This lip-free little bait walks thedog underwater with ease while the curlytail wiggles, driving fish crazy. Small min-nowbaits like the 5” Czar from TyrantTackle (tyranttackleinc.com) are highlyproductive. The Czar has a great injuredbaitfish wobble and is one of the few min-nowbaits in that size tough enough to han-dle giant toothies. Along that same line ofthought, the new downsized Tyrant Cru-sader is a perfect sized propbait for early fallsurface fishing at just 5”. Long arm, multi-blade safety-pin style spinnerbaits are fan-tastic lures for fall muskies. The triple wil-low blade Baby School N Shad from ColbySimms Tackle (colbysimmsoutdoors.com)has been producing incredible numbers ofmonster muskies and pike for many years.This downsized yet heavy-duty skirted1.5oz lure perfectly resembles a smallschool of baitfish, exactly matching thetype of prey that muskies and pike are afterin early fall, with 3 blades and a swimbaittail.

The hot new Baby Hatchet Shad spin-nerbait through Colby Simms Outdoors isthe same compact size as the Baby SchoolN Shad, with the same extra tough hard-ware, but features a highly unique triplecounter-rotating hatchet blade design,which produces vibration and action unlikeany other kind of lure ever created. The Ba-by Hatchet Shad produced all of our

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FALL…Cont’d. from previous pg.

Media personality Larry Ladowski caught this big early

fall muskie with Colby Simms ona Midwest Outdoors TV shoot

using downsized lures.

Media personality Harry Canterbury caught his first

muskie shown here on a ColbySimms Tackle Hatchet Shad onan ASO TV shoot with Colby.

028_001.qxd 8/31/12 3:39 PM Page 1


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throughout Missouri and Illinois for offering the very bestsign work of all kinds. One look at their impressive list ofcustomers tells the story. A vehicle wrap is the very best wayto advertise your business and Summit designs and applieswraps that grab the public’s attention better than anything.Colby Simms Outdoors relies on Summit for all it’s adver-tising needs, a perfect option for sportsmen. Contact: www.SummitSAG.com / 866-217-0529.

muskies, as well as bass, during the lastMWO TV shoot with Larry. It also pro-duced Harry’s first muskie on ASO TV, aswell as countless giant pike and muskiesacross the Midwest and beyond during thelast year. Its wild action has made it ourteam’s most productive lure for muskiesand pike. One last lure to mention is a jigand swimbait combo. We generally choosejigs around 1oz and match them with apaddle tail shad style swimbait of around6”. For all these applications, the strong 9’Tackle Industries MH Split Grip Rod is an

excellent choice (tackleindustries.com).The extra length is perfect for deep figure-8s, long distance hook sets and fighting bigfish, yet they weigh much less than manyshorter rods. One last critical equipmentitem is a quality pair of polarized sunglass-es designed for fishing, like the Master An-gler optics from Flying Fisherman (flying-fisherman.com), featuring optically flawless

Champion tournament pro &guide Ray Simms of Colby

Simms Outdoors with a pair ofearly fall northern pike taken on

Baby School N Shads from Colby Simms Tackle.

ground and polished glass lenses. Smallerlures are harder to follow with your eyesand these glasses make that much easier, soyou’re prepared to do a proper figure-8.

*Get Out ThereIf you haven’t caught any of our fall TV

shows the last few years, tune in to Mid-west Outdoors and Adventure Sports Out-doors and watch for future episodes. It’s in-credibly exciting fishing and there’s a goodbet we’ll be throwing the little stuff tobring it to you, so try it yourself this season.Early fall is one of those time when you justcan’t spend enough time on the water. Theincrease in fish activity and feeding means

a better chance at putting these monsters inthe boat. Throw out the excuses, chase ear-ly fall pike and muskies, feel the rush, andget out there…

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029_001.qxd 9/1/12 9:10 PM Page 1

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BILL "BONGO" FLEMING

Bill Fleming has always given ofhis time and monetary means to anyand all fundraisers to benefit his com-munity, IVC school district, individu-als and youth activities.

Bill owns the Blarney Castle onOld Rt 29 in Rome. His family hasowned and operated this establish-ment for over 70 years. Bill is stillcooking and preparing delicioushomemade pizza, catfish dinners onFridays plus a full menu and bar isavailable Tues.-Sun. at Blarney Cas-tle.

Bill has been diagnosed withprostate cancer and has suffered astroke. He needs our help. A commit-tee has been formed to raise funds tohelp with his medical expenses. Justas Bill helped countless others, it isour time to give back to him.

Please join us Saturday, October13, 2012 at the Peoria Casting Club,Chillicothe, IL. There will be food,

beverages, kid’s games, music, a liveauction and a silent auction, raffles, abags tournament. Preston Jackson &Friends band playing at 4 p.m.

We are seeking items to be auc-tioned, as well as monetary dona-tions.

Please contact: Michelle Kerr 309-648-6326,

[email protected] or Pat Kelly 309-253-4752,

[email protected].

Monetary donations welcome at the Chillicothe branch of:

South Side Bank, Bill Fleming Fund917 N 4th St. • Chillicothe, IL 61523

Les Vissering and his sons Joe and Jake at Irish Acres with a bunchof crappies and bluegills caught on July 24th! Les purchased a

guided fishing trip which was donated at the St. Jude pasta dinnerput on by Barrack's Cater Inn last month. Thanks Les for your

contribution! Great Catch!

On July 8, Steve Warfield caught this nice big 6.9 lb. lunker at Mike O’Bryan’s

Irish Acres.

Thanks to Mike O’Bryan for donating this trip to St. Jude.

Mike is a great guy always helping others. Let him hook

you up with your own recreational property, call him

today at: 309-635-8901 & See properties at:

www.CommercialPeoria.com

030_001.qxd 8/31/12 5:19 PM Page 1


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(left) One nice limit of crappie caught on jigs!

(right) Dave and Co. caught this 21-pound blue cat on shad on

a limb line.

(bottom left) John and Sheila caught 2 limits 3 days in a row. All on jigs in 4-foot deep water

with 65 degree water!

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031_001.qxd 8/31/12 7:29 PM Page 1


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BOWFISHING NABS NEW STATE RECORD RIVER CARPSUCKER

by Joanie StraubBELTON, MO – Cody Chaney, 18, of

Belton holds the new official Missouristate record for river carpsucker. Chaneywas bow fishing with his father Terry,younger brother Brady and grandfatherBill Hill in a spring-fed cove at Lake of theOzarks just after midnight May 27 whenhe struck something big.

“We didn’t realize it was a record, butwe thought it had potential,” said TerryChaney. “We actually thought it was ahighfin carpsucker from the looks of thefish. But once we brought it to our con-servation agent Phil Needham, he helpedus figure out that we really had a rivercarpsucker.”

Cody’s catch weighed 5 pounds, 8ounce, and was 20.5 inches long. Mis-souri’s previous state record, which stoodfor a mere three weeks, was a 5-pound, 6-ounce fish caught May 6 on a trotline inthe South Grand River.

“Last year, we actually shot one that wasbigger,” said Terry. “But it was late andwe didn’t have enough ice to keep the fish

alive, so it rotted.”This time, the family was prepared and

had a spare cooler with ice ready to holdany potential record fish. According toTerry, the family learned their lesson andnever goes fishing without a cooler full ofice just to hold fish.

Cody has been bow fishing for aboutthree years and spends approximately 300days a year enjoying the Missouri out-doors, either hunting or fishing.

“During the summer, whenever wehave a free weekend, you’ll find us outbow fishing,” said Terry. “It is definitelyone of our favorite family summertime ac-tivities.”

The river carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio)

is silvery, with a deep, thick body, a long,sickle-shaped dorsal fin and whitish lowerfins. It is also called "white carp," "silvercarp" and "quillback." It is the mostabundant and widely distributed carp-sucker in Missouri.

River carpsuckers prefer quiet, silt-bot-tomed pools, backwaters and oxbows oflarge streams and deeper pools of smallprairie creeks. They also often thrive inimpoundments. Adults typically are 12 to

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Cody Chaney of Belton holds the newofficial Missouri state record for river carpsucker. The fish was

harvested on May 27 by bow fishingand weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

It was 20.5 inches long.(Photo courtesy MDC)

15 inches long.The river carpsucker is often confused

with the highfin carpsucker. The two canbe distinguished by the length of the firstray of the dorsal fin, which reaches to orbeyond the back of the dorsal fin in thehighfin carpsucker.

Conservation makes Missouri a greatplace to hunt and fish. More informationabout Missouri fishing records is availableat mdc.mo.gov/fishing/reports/records.

Missouri anglers can get hooked with MDC Missouri anglers can get hooked with MDC "F ind MO F ish" mobile app"F ind MO F ish" mobile app

by Joe JerekJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri anglers can now get high-tech help locating fishing spots with the Mis-

souri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Find MO Fish mobile appli-cation for smart phones, tablets and other mobile communication de-vices. MDC developed the mobile app with Timmons Group (timmons-gis.com), a national leader in innovative geospatial solutions.

Using the Find MO Fish application, users can view location maps ofMissouri’s major lakes, rivers and streams. The application also gen-erates fast and accurate driving directions to numerous MDC boatramps across the state. The application also allows users to find exactlocations of underwater fish structures and guide their boats to theirfavorite fish attractors.

Find MO Fish is available as a free download on the Google Play Store and Apple iStore. Multiple iOS andAndroid smartphones and tablets are supported by the application. Download the application for iOS de-vices at http://tinyurl.com/brma6ef or Android devices at http://tinyurl.com/csxgglc.“MDC wanted to be able to use map data we already had available in this mobile application,” says MDC In-formation Management Manager Kirk Keller. “Timmons Group worked with us to develop an application thatdynamically pulls this map data as we update it. This approach allows us to efficiently use taxpayer dollarsto provide mobile services to the public. This new technology is another way conservation makes Missouri agreat place to fish.”

032_001.qxd 9/1/12 8:59 PM Page 1


MDC feral hog removalefforts making progress

on public lands By Bill Graham

KANSAS CITY, MO- Feral hogs damagecrops, destroy wildlife habitat and pose risksto humans and livestock. The MissouriDepartment of Conservation(MDC) is working to eliminateferal hogs from public lands man-aged by the Department.

“If you enjoy wildlife, and if youhunt deer or wild turkeys, thenyou don’t want feral hogs,” saidDebra Burns, regional Wildlifesupervisor for MDC’s Kansas CityRegion.

People who value Missouri’snatural outdoors can help. Anyonespotting feral hogs on an MDC conservationarea is asked to contact their local MDCoffice or conservation agent. Feral hogs spot-ted on private lands can be reported to MDCoffices or to the USDA Wildlife Services at573-449-3033, ext. 13.

Feral hogs aggressively root in the groundwith their snouts for food such as roots andinsects. They tear deep furrows over broadareas in soil supporting pastures, crop fieldsand woodlands. Sensitive natural areas, such

as glades and fens where rare or endangeredwildflowers grow, can be destroyed by hogrooting. What is at stake for wildlife habitatis not just the individual plants destroyed,but also the seeds and roots for new growthin future years. Feral hogs also destroy eggsand nests of ground-nesting birds such asbobwhite quail and wild turkeys.

Water quality problems occur when feralhogs wallow in farm ponds and streams. In

the current drought with lowwater conditions, problems aremagnified as the hogs add addi-tional nutrients and disease agentsto the water.

Most feral hogs have been ille-gally released by individualsintending to hunt them or tocharge fees for guiding hoghunters.

Feral hogs reproduce quickly.They are wary, mean and able in

the wild to quickly expand populations.Family groups of feral hogs can cause thou-sands of dollars in damage to crop fields.They can be aggressive and dangeroustowards people.

Feral hogs can also carry diseases trans-ferrable to humans, wildlife and livestock.The Centers for Disease Control has report-ed several hunters in the eastern UnitedStates contracting a form of swine brucellosisfrom field dressing feral hogs. Diseases car-

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ried by wild pigs that are threats to farmherds include swine brucellosis, pseudora-bies, trichinosis and leptospirosis.

Scattered bands of feral hogs have beenfound on public lands in west centralMissouri, Burns said. MDC crews in recentmonths have reduced feral hog numbers onMDC wildlife areas by using traps andshooting. The goal is to prevent feral hogsfrom becoming established, she said. Somestates with long-established feral hog popula-tions are dealing with millions of dollars indamages annually to agriculture and ongoingthreats to native wildlife habitat. MDC seeksto protect public wildlife areas from thisthreat.

Reporting feral hog sightings is the bestway to help. Feral hogs are not consideredwildlife. They can be shot on sight, exceptduring certain portions of the fall deer andturkey hunting seasons. MDC does notencourage hunting specifically for feral hogs.

MDC crews may spend weeks working ontraps for feral hog eradication projects. Oftenthese traps set are outside the normal hunt-ing season times. Disturbing a trap site canruin those efforts.

It is illegal to transport a live feral hog onor through public land under Missouri statelaw. That law is in place to prevent violatorsfrom releasing feral hogs in new locations.Violators have been arrested and successfullyprosecuted under this law. Anyone with

information about a possible release of feralhogs on public lands can call OperationGame Thief at 800-392-1111.

“Feral hogs, wherever they spread, can sys-tematically change the supporting habitat forwildlife,” Burns said. “Simply put, they hurtMissouri’s natural and agriculturalresources.”

This feral hog was captured inwest central Missouri. As they

root for food, they develop longand strong snouts that enable

them to tear deep into soil.(Photos courtesy MDC)

033_001.qxd 8/31/12 8:15 PM Page 1


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and Maintz WildlifePreserve near Jackson,according to Bowyer.

He said the biggestregulation changes thisyear are at Otter Sloughand Ten Mile PondCAs, where there will bea lottery drawing to allo-cate hunting positionsat 4:30 a.m. the firstthree days of the season.After Monday, hunterswill participate in self-check-in at the areasheadquarters before going out to hunt. AtTen Mile Pond CA, one field will be with-held from the draw on Saturday and Sun-day to facilitate a Wheeling Sportsmanhunt in cooperation with the NationalWild Turkey Federation.

Bowyer said hunting permits are nolonger sold at Ten Mile Pond CA, andhunters must be properly licensed beforearriving to hunt at any conservation area.

At Maintz Wildlife Preserve, all huntersare required to sign in at one of the parking

lots on the area before hunting. One fieldat Maintz will be closed opening day until1 p.m. for use as part of a youth managedhunt. Bowyer said the designated field willbe marked on area maps found at eachparking area and will be open to all huntersafter 1 p.m.

Other limited dove hunting opportuni-ties in southeast Missouri include HollyRidge, Crowley’s Ridge and Little RiverCAs, and Sweet Gum Access. Huntersmust sign a hunter card in the parking lotsat Crowley’s Ridge and Little River CAs.

“All of these places have decent huntingopportunities, but they don’t facilitate aslarge of a crowd as the more intensivelymanaged conservation areas such as TenMile Pond, Otter Slough and Maintz,”

CHANGES IN STOREAT POPULAR

SOUTHEAST DOVEHUNTING AREAS by Candice Davis

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – Sept. 1was opening day of dove season and south-east Missouri has some great areas for dovehunting, according to MDC WildlifeManagement Biologist Matt Bowyer.Bowyer said hunters will see regulationchanges at a few of these top hunting loca-tions.

“These areas are a big reason why Mis-souri is such a great place to hunt,” Bowyersaid. “They’re intensively managed forwildlife diversity and hunting is just one ofthe benefits we reap from that manage-ment.”

The top conservation areas in southeastMissouri for dove hunting are OtterSlough Conservation Area (CA) near Dex-ter, Ten Mile Pond CA near East Prairie,

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Bowyer said.As a reminder, only non-toxic shot is al-

lowed at Ten Mile Pond, Otter Slough andLittle River CAs. Hunting hours at all ofthese areas follow statewide regulations, be-ginning one half-hour before sunrise andending at sunset. This is a change from pre-vious years at Maintz Wildlife Preserve.

For more information, directions andmaps of dove fields at these conservationareas, go online to mdc.mo.gov or call(573)290-5730.

A boy dove hunts while using over-ear protection. Photo by David Stonner

WALLEYES CHICAGOVETS DAY SEPT 15H

Due to an overwhelming request byVets organizations to participate weneed volunteers to take a couple ofVeterans fishing for the day. Right

now there are more Vets that want togo fishing than we have fishing boats

& don't want to turn anyone away.If you can help out please contact uson our website: walleyeschicago.com This is an awesome event that gives

a little back to those that have servedand sacrificed so much to keep ourcountry free and safe. God Bless!John Mannerino - 847-875-9979,

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034_001.qxd 8/31/12 8:34 PM Page 1


thought.

Getting there is half the battleWorking at MDC means there’s al-

ways someone around to help out witha hunting or fishing adventure, sowhen I decided to try frogging I askeda coworker if I could borrow a gig.“Absolutely,” he said, slyly.

The next morning he greeted mewith a 10-foot, five-prong fishing gig.Besides being almost twice my height,the gig couldn’t even stand upright inmy office—let alone fit in my car. Af-ter a good laugh, I politely declinedhis offer and borrowed a 5 1/2-foot gigfrom the Jefferson City MDC office’sFisheries Division. The second gigwas still a bit of overkill with fiveprongs, but it was available and itwould work.

With as hot as this summer hasbeen, I haven’t made my usual semi-annual fishing trip. Since I hadn’t yetpurchased a fishing permit, I opted forthe less expensive daily fishing permitto cover me for the night. Bullfrogsand green frogs can be taken with ei-ther a fishing permit or a hunting per-mit using each permit’s respectivemethods.

I convinced my fiancé that weshould take his younger brother out tohis family’s farm pond and face thechallenge as three first-time froggerstogether. With borrowed gig, hand netand reused paint bucket in hand, wetiptoed to the bank where that firstbullfrog awaited our arrival.

Harder than it looksOur subsequent catches weren’t

nearly as easy, and the ones that gotaway definitely were not. We wadedalong the banks, traipsed throughpond vegetation, climbed throughbushes—and even fell in a 3-footpond hole—chasing camouflaged am-phibians that jumped faster than ourhands could move and navigated thepond with much more skill.

Novices though we were, webrought in seven frogs at the end of

the night, two of which were mine—not quite a possession limit, but notbad for beginners. Then we moved onto our second adventure: cleaning.

Doubling our rewardsSeven frogs means 14 legs.Using instructions I’d looked up on-

line, we cut off each pair of legs justabove the hip then peeled back theskin and cut it off at the feet. I’ll omitthe other gory details, but I did dis-cover that frogs’ connective tissue re-ally does its job when it comes toholding skin and body together. I rec-ommend cutting back the skin a bitwith a sharp knife before trying to peelit back.

Once cleaned, we rinsed the meatand put it in a freezer bag full of wa-ter. This Missouri Conservationist ar-ticle recommends adding a tablespoonof salt per gallon bag of frog legs.

Future adventure for our taste budsWe’re not done with our frogging

adventure. Fourteen legs isn’t a lot ofmeat, but frying it will certainly be acelebration for us. I may have been afirst-time frogger, but I’m not a first-time fryer, and I have high hopes forthese legs.

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Calling the Frogsby Rebecca Maples“I can’t believe that just happened,”

I said, shooting a bewildered look atmy fiancé that I’d be surprised if hesaw by the faint LED-flashlight glow.

We looked wide-eyed and doubtfulat the plump bullfrog he held in frontof us.

“That was too easy,” we said togeth-er, and I laughed to think of the teas-ing I’d brought on myself just daysago from my family when I an-nounced that I was going to try frog-ging.

After that first catch, I couldn’t fig-ure out why everyone thought the ideawas so hilarious. If the process was re-ally as simple as sneaking around apond with adequate aim and a quickgig, why did they seem to think I’dend up mud-caked and frog-fooled?

Two hours later, I embraced the sol-id realization that frogging is a muchmore slippery sport than I initially

Frog Gigging at Night

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035_001.qxd 8/31/12 9:48 PM Page 1


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Power Scouting Part 2Here’s how to find the bestdeer stand site in 500-1,000

acres in one day or less.by Bill Vaznis

You now have some parcels of landthat show potential. After using yourplat or tax maps to gain permission tohunt, the next step in power scouting isto verify as quickly as possible thosestrongholds that you suspect harbordeer. There is no use hanging a stand orpussy-footing through unfamiliar turfuntil you can locate a concentration ofdeer and deer sign. And there is no rea-son why you cannot scout several hun-dred acres in just a few days.

In farm country, I like to first zero-inon food sources. Wearing rubber boots,I will quickly skirt the edges of activeagriculture as well as old orchards,hardwood flats and the edges of steepravines for deer sign. Do this during themiddle of the day when deer are not aslikely to be up and about, but pay atten-tion to the wind. You want to avoid hav-ing your scent drift into suspected bed-ding areas.

Then in the evening and early morn-ing hours, I will glass some of these

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feeding areas as well aslikely travel routes froma safe distance so as tonot disturb their dailyroutines. Fence lines,irrigation ditches andhedgerows are favoritecorridors used by bucksas they move from bed-ding cover to preferredfeeding locations.

A spotting scopewould be handy rightabout now, but if you area serious trophy hunter,you might want to investin a high-power pair ofimage-stabilizing binoculars that have abetter field of view than a spottingscope. By scanning with both eyes youwon’t get as tired working the thickcover for a wide rack, either. Best of all,you can hand-hold these optics withoutthe image “jumping” about at long dis-tances.

A few years ago using a topo map onan out-of-state hunt, I located a steepravine that separated a series of openfields with a hillside of thick brush. Isneaked around that ravine during themiddle of the day, and located plenty ofbig buck sign, including a scrape linethat was recently freshened. I still-hunt-

ed that scrape line firstthing the next morningwith my bow, andcaught a 140-class 9-pointer flat-footed as he,too, worked the scrapeline. At 30 yards, henever knew what hithim!

Wilderness bucks areusually few and farbetween, so your firstorder of business is tolocate a concentration ofdeer sign. Using yourtopo map and aerialphotographs, you

should be able to pinpoint some logicalfeeding and bedding areas. I like to con-centrate my initial efforts inside clear-cuts and any hardwood ridges that lieabove those clear-cuts. Think of theclear-cut as nothing more than afarmer’s hay field, and you should haveno problem locating entrance/exit trailsand feeding sites within the clear-cut.You should also find deer sign alongspurs or gentle slopes that lead to andfrom those ridges above the clear-cut. “There is no time to dilly-dally,” addsMiraglia. “Walk as quickly as you canso you will be able to cover as muchground as you can. And so you don’tmiss anything, follow a grid patternuntil you stumble upon plenty of tracks,rubs and droppings. You might be sur-prised how small a buck’s core area is in

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a wilderness setting.” Swamps also get my attention, and I

will walk directly to any gentle slope orridge that seems to offer easy access,and look for rubs and scrapes as well astracks and droppings. I will also lookfor natural bottlenecks at the top ofsteep ravines and saddles that liebetween hilltops. Bucks will passthrough these locations looking for adoe near estrus as the rut nears.

Don’t overlook that invisible line thatseparates the open hardwoods frommature softwoods such as hemlock andmixed spruce or fir. Deer love to weaveback and forth across this line leavingplenty of scrapes and rubs in theprocess. When you can add topograph-ical features such as swamps, creekbeds or uneven terrain to the mix, youmay have a hot spot good for severalseasons in a row.

Anyone can power scout. If fact, asMiraglia points out, there is no reasonnot to make power scouting an integralpart of your year-round quest for rackeddeer. I couldn’t agree more.

036_001.qxd 9/2/12 12:04 AM Page 1

eral Gregg Abbot and great statesmen like Ron Paul,Bill Flores, Louie Gohmert and many others.

But never forget, we also have America hatingObama clones like Sheila Jackson Lee who representall that is wrong with America and Texas.

Remain engaged Texas, we are different and weare better. Let’s make sure we keep it that way. No-vember 2012 is literally do or die for the AmericanDream. I pray that the embarrassing apathy that gotus here is being chipped away in Texas. If you are notregistered to vote, doing your “we the people” re-search and activism and getting everyone you knowto do the same, we will end up with exactly what wedeserve, and I for one firmly believe we deserve bet-ter than the terrible mess we have right now. Fightlike Texans.

Me, I get up as early every day as my weary oldrock-n-roll bones allow me to, share a cup of Nuge Ja-va with Mrs. Nugent, hit the laptop to answer my

If it were not for this crazy out of control corruptgovernment, my life would literally be perfect. Evenmy agonizingly painful battered knees are livable,but the enemies of America infesting our govern-ment have got to go.

I fight with all my might and resources on a daily,if not hourly basis to spotlight the cockroacheseverywhere I go, and it is getting scarier and moredangerous all the time to speak out in America like Ido. But I give you my word, I will never back down andI will never giveup.

In fact, as the greatest most enjoyable rock-n-rolltour of my life throttles intensely all across Americaon through the end of the summer 2012, I am doingmore media interviews all the time and finally feelthat America is slowly but surely waking up to thelevel of criminal abuse of power and corruption in theObama administration and so prevalent across thisotherwise great country.

I can honestly and happily tell you that Texas is in-deed the last best place. We are not perfect yet, butwe are incredibly ahead of the pack when it comes toquality of life and proper Constitutional representa-tion by the great Governor Rick Perry, Attorney Gen-


by:

tsunami of Emails and send out my recent interviewsand writings to all my editors.

Then my first order of ranch biz is to let the dogsout of their kennels, run them a bit, do a little re-triever training, take care of various chores andcleanup, then fire up the Polaris for a SpiritWildRanch fence, traps and feeder check.

There is always a little repair work to performhere and there, maybe a limb or branches to chain-saw off the fence or off the trails, a little Hang ‘emHigh feeder or water-crossing touch-up, and I usual-ly fire-up the Challenger tractor and groom the laneswith my Road Boss grader.

After a few hours of this wonderful hands-onranching fun, I head back to the house for some morecomputer work, and every day I conduct numerousphone interviews with radio shows, magazines,newspapers, blogs and other media all around theworld.

In a typical day, I get the truth the whole truth andnothing but the truth about guns, hunting, conserva-tion, private property rights, the self-evident truthabout the US Constitution and Bill of Rights to any-where from a few million people to a few hundred mil-lion people.

Of course during the months of September, Octo-ber, November, December, January and February,my first order of business each and every day is toget to my deerstand before first light. I assure you, Inever fail to accomplish this glowing priority of myAmerican Dream.

Since 90+% of my hunting is done on our home-

grounds right out my backdoor, it makes it all thatmuch better, and in fact, I would have it no otherway.

Through our Sunrize Safaris, I guide hundreds ofhunters each fall and winter at our Texas and Michi-gan hunting grounds, plus my annual adventures atthe YO Ranch, Kenedy Ranch and Stasney’s CookRanch as well. We also book and guide hunters inmany other states and Canadian provinces, includingAfrica and beyond on occasion.

The lyrics to my song Workin Hard Playin Hard sayit all.

“I’m workin hard to earn my way, but lucky me mywork is play.”

Priorities, my friends. Plain and simple, good oldfashioned priorities.

Rock-n-roll, hunting, fishing, trapping and everyimaginable variation thereof has been my life forev-er. I feel incredibly blessed to have figured out whatturns me on the most, way back when I was a littlekid in Detroit. Couldn’t stop hunting, and couldn’tstop rocking, and it has kept me fascinated and in-trigued for more than 63 years, so far.

Pretty simple stuff when you think about it. Butnow more than ever, the important thing is to pro-mote and fight for the freedoms that guarantee ourunique American pursuit of happiness. The more wefight, the more secure this sacred experiment inself-government will remain.

Live to fight, fight to live. Live free or die.

I Got It So Bad I Got It Good

TedNugent.com

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THE THE MORNING MORNING

IS MINEIS MINEBy: Wayne Baughmanw e d a n c e 2 @ p i ke n e t . n e t

For More Information Call:(217) 868-2950

Or Write To:P.O. Box 1371 • Effingham, IL 62401

www.anthonyacres.com

O n Be au tifu l Lake Sara

• Fishing• Water Sports• Golf• Family Fun• Reunions• Business Meetings• New Rooms

Anthony Acres on Lake Sara hasGreat Fishing forLargemouth Bass,

Channel Cat, Crap-pie, Bluegill, White

Bass & Walleye!

popular hunt club, has farming interests, raises cattleand has cutting horses. His business activities are soextensive that a complete description can not bemade in a single article. I have elected to focus on theunique aspect of his total operation, the production ofgame bird eggs and game bird chicks.

The bird production facilities which are located onRoute 96 about 5 miles west of Pleasant Hill beganwith a modest start some 34 years ago that has grownto the point where over a half million quail and par-tridge eggs and chicks are produced annually.

The enterprise came about as the result of Rick, hisDad and several other bird hunters having decliningsuccess bird hunting in eastern Illinois 3 decades ago.

On one of their last hunts the group was in the fieldfor 3 days and only took 2 birds. Rick came away fromthat outing convinced there had to be way for huntersto have an enjoyable, productive field experience.

He set out to learn everything he could about wildgame bird production. Rick consulted with individualsthat were producing limited numbers of game birdsand read everything he could find on the topic. He thenformed several partnership arrangements with inter-ested parties and the initial enterprise got underwayin the 1978-79 era.

The original idea was to produce birds for thegroups own enjoyment and for the hunt club. Withpassage of time the original partnerships broke up asthe other parties elected to focus on their own busi-ness endeavors. Rick is now the primary proprietor,with Mary and a current staff of 3 keeping the opera-tion humming.

To be successful ingame bird production rigidsanitary conditions mustbe maintained. When Itoured the facility I woresanitized boots and did nothandle any of the equip-ment. The interior of thebuilding is squeaky cleanand the air quality regulat-ed with huge fans thatforce volumes of sir fromlarge tubes buried deepunderground to utilize theconstant air temperatureof the earth of some 53 to55 degrees. Consistent airtemperature is vital to birdhealth.

The production buildingis divided into segmentswith the primary egg pro-ducing quail and partridgestock isolated into one area of the building. Only em-ployees in sanitary wear are permitted in this area ofthe building. They care for the brood stock and gatherthe eggs daily. They do not enter the sorting room.

The fresh laid eggs are passed through a limited ac-cess door to staff in the sorting room, all part of a con-trol process to avoid cross contamination of the facil-ities.

The crew in the sorting room place the freshly laid

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eggs in specially designed trays, then moved into acooler where the humidity and temperature is closelyregulated. All of the quail eggs will be incubated whileabout one half of the partridge eggs are incubated.The remainder is sold to individuals that wish to dotheir own incubation.

The incubators are large rotary machines with com-puter regulated humidity and temperature levels. Thesystems slowly rotate on an hourly basis to simulate

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Mary Boehm and Rick Wombles with some of quail chicksthey just removed from the incubator. The shipping carton

in front of Mary is filled with the active little critters.

SUCCESSFUL GAMEBIRD PRODUCTION

They reminded meof a hive of oversizedbumblebees as theyscrambled around inthe incubation tray.

These were Quailchicks fresh from thecomplex incubatorthat Rick Wombles us-es in the production of Quail and Partridge.

I was given the rare privilege of entering the pro-duction facilities recently to see first hand howWombles produces premium quail and partridgechicks for a broad based market place that includesindividuals that raise birds for their own hunting pur-poses, hunt clubs and folks that are either supple-menting birds on their property or working to estab-lish coveys on their land.

In addition to game bird production Rick operates a

In the heart of historic Menard County,IL, RiverBank Lodge offers a unique andmemorable lodging experience. Locatedon the southern edge of Petersburg, Illi-nois, on the banks of the Sangamon Riv-er. We are very close to Abraham Lin-coln’s New Salem State Historic Site, aswell as the Jim Edgar Panther CreekState Fish & Wildlife Preserve.

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038_001.qxd 9/2/12 11:00 AM Page 1


how the eggs would be turned by a nesting hen. In 23days the hatching process begins. The quail chicks areabout the size of a man’s thumb at hatching and thepartridge chicks a little larger.

It is fascinating to watch the little birds scrambleover the empty shell casings until they are moved fromthe hatching trays and placed into ventilated card-board boxes. The birds are now ready for delivery. Witha very narrow time frame to get the tiny chicks estab-lished in their new surroundings, Wombles arrangesfor customers to pick up their orders or for large or-ders Rick and Mary will make delivery. They can not re-ly on commercial delivery to get the chicks to ultimatedestination in a timely matter.

Over the years Rick has become greatly respectedfor the quality of game birds he produces. He has de-veloped this respect by being an arduous student of hisindustry, and working hard to insure that his birds ex-ceed customer expectations. He recognized early inthe game bird production business that many of thebirds that some breeders raised lacked the vital wild-ness trait and when released they reacted more likedomesticated fowl. Their field survival rate was virtualzero with predators taking advantage of the easymeals.

By selective breeding and genetic diversity Rick hasestablished in his game birds the traits that makethem respond just like their wild cousins. Careful fieldmanagement has also improved their survival ratewhen they are released in the field.

Over the years Rick has worked closely IDNR on var-ious projects. During the deer herd management dis-cussions the past few years his input has invaluable.

Rick has several other outdoor ventures that de-serve acknowledgement and I intend to do a follow uplater this fall.

restaurants and shopping, and I researched fishing!One of the best ways to get information about some-place new is to search for forums on the location.Websites will tell you a ton, but they are influenced byproducts and places that want you to spend moneywith them. Forums on the other hand, are groups ofregular people sharing information with no agenda. Ifound www.gulfcoastfishingconnection.com online,and joined the forum, which is always free, and intro-duced myself and presented a slew of questions. I wasgiven a ton of information, and the most importanttidbit, was to go Sam’s Tackle in Orange Beach, andask for Chris! I didn’t have time to go out on a char-tered trip, and wanted to catch fish from the beach infront of our condo that would make for good table fare.Chris told me exactly what I needed, what I’d catch,when the best times to fish were, what the rules andregulations were, and provided me with a fish identifi-cation sheet. I was set!

The very next morning I was set up at sunrise on thebeach, fishing for pompano, one of the best eating fishin the gulf, with the double-hook rig Chris suggested,armed with pieces of shrimp and little chartreuse ballson top of each hook. There were dolphins surfacing allaround me, and when my oversized surf rod doubledover and drag started to pull out, I just knew I wasabout to be pulling a dolphin up on the beach, and be-gan pondering the regulations and cooking methods of“flipper”. After a long fight, I got the fish up closeenough to see it, and was stunned. I landed the two lbpompano, and caught two more a little bigger to get tomy three fish limit. It is absolutely unbelievable howhard those fish fight, and just as unbelievable howgood they taste!

We booked our condo through Meyer VacationRentals, and our agent Missy Zak, took extraordinari-

H E A R T L A N D E R A B R O A D : H E A R T L A N D E R A B R O A D : Alabama’s Gulf Shores

By Josh GowanMany families across the Midwest embark on that

great American staple, the summer vacation, beforethe hustle and bustle of school and fall sports getstarted again. I recall many family vacations during myyouth, particularly taking the pontoon out on NorfolkLake in northern Arkansas, and spending a week fish-ing and boating at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. I wasfortunate to spend a lot of time at lakes and rivers as akid, living in the heartland and being raised by out-doorsmen, and my son has the same advantages now.I truly enjoy living in the center of the country and hav-ing such bountiful wildlife and natural beauty at myfingertips, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.However, there is certainly something to be said forthat gorgeous stretch of white sand beach along Al-abama’s southernmost border, with waves crashing inand dolphins surfacing in the background. That, myfriends, is a vacation!

Like most folks who go on vacations nowadays, wedid a lot of researching via the internet before wewent. My wife and sister were researching condos and

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ly good care of us. We ate out quite a bit, and our topthree meals were had at Nikki’s, Live Bait, and De So-to’s Seafood Kitchen. We visited all the “touristtraps”, and took the obligatory pictures with our facesstuffed in holes in plywood cutouts of pirate scenes,surfer dudes, and so on. We bought souvenirs andgathered jars of sand, and while all of those “expens-es” are fun and entertaining and should be done atleast once, the best times were had without cost. Ear-ly in the morning, fishing and watching the dolphinsrise and fall in front of a Gulf Coast sunrise, jumpingwaves and drifting about the ocean in the mid-dayheat, and chasing sand crabs along the beach at nightwith a flashlight and a net, those are the sort of mem-ories that stick with you.

The other budding journalist in my house wanted towrite about the trip too, so here is my 7-year-old’sversion, verbatim, minus a couple spelling correc-tions. “At the beach I caught sand crabs. It was fun.There was salty water and I saw fish jumping out of thewater. I got a cool kite and shark teeth. I foundseashells, I’m gonna make a shell box. I got to play withSam and Lynn-Avery. I saw jellyfish and a starfish. I ateshrimp. The End.” By Jameson Gowan.

Josh Gowan was born and raised in the bootheel of Mis-souri he hunts and fishes all over the region. He is an avidoutdoorsman, the humorist and field staff for Crappie An-gler Magazine, and a syndicated outdoor columnist with aweekly that runs throughout Southeast Missouri and WestTennessee. Josh works and is Pro Staff for Grizzly Jig Co.,the nation’s largest crappie store, is a dedicated father andhusband, and a baseball coach for his 7 year old son’s team.Josh is a tournament crappie fisherman whose sponsors in-clude Grizzly Jig, YETI Coolers, EGO Nets, LakeFork Lures,PerottiBuilt, and Hi-Tek Stuff. You can follow Josh’s adven-tures on his website, www.joshgowanoutdoors.com

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For the observer, the Southern IllinoisBuckmasters will score whitetail antlers foranyone wanting to see how their trophyscores according to the records of Boone &Crockett Club or Pope & Young Club.The display of trophies is always a crowdpleaser. An added attraction this year is the31-point Williamson County buck“Ginormica” mounted full size. It is the4th largest buck take with archery tackle inhistory.

The campus gym is set up with the workof artists, taxidermists and other artisans ondisplay. Food vendors are available acrossthe campus with reasonable family friendlyprices.

Look for Rend Lake Marina’s SteveVercellino & his crew at the show with thenew Lowe Frontier series of boats,Bennington pontoons, and jon boats allspecially priced for big savings!

Event hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. onSunday. This year’s sponsors are WeeksChevrolet Buick and GMC, John A. LoganCollege, Williamson County TourismBureau, Crab Orchard Refuge, Friends ofCrab Orchard Refuge, Sam’s Club,Southern Illinois Bank, McDonalds –Moreland/Bishop Organization.

For more information see website at:www.sihfd.org

Northern Illinois Hunting and FishingDays is 9am to 5pm (Both Days rain orshine) at Silver Springs State Park -Yorkville, Illinois - www.nihfd.org

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very popular jumping dock dogs. A special limited edition Red Ryder style

BB gun is available for purchase this year incelebration of the 25th anniversary of theevent. Each is numbered and engraved. Toorder one or more, contact Dwight Hoffardat John A. Logan College, 618-985-2828extension 8208. They are available prior tothe event to get a lower number.

The dock dogs display includes a compe-tition among the “pros” for distance jump-ing from a platform into a tank of water.Also included will be some training exercis-es from the more novice dogs as they pre-pare for careers as dock dog pros.

The annual waterfowl calling contests areback this year. They include the DonGasaway Youth Goose Calling contest, TheTim Grounds Open and the Illinois State(meat) Duck Calling Championship heldin the campus auditorium. These eventsattract callers from across the nation whodesire to compete against the best of thebest.

For the younger generation there is avariety of supervised activities. This yearfor the first time, the first 500 youngsterseach day will receive an activity card topresent at a variety of displays as part of aKids Treasure Hunt. Once they have com-pleted the card and returned it to theSIHFD Headquarters tent, the youngstersreceive a Certificate of Participation and

GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION IN

HUNTING & FISHINGThe many activities of the Southern

Illinois Hunting & Fishing Days celebra-tion are both educational and fun. The25th annual celebration on September 22-23, 2012 will draw some 30,000 partici-pants to the campus of John A. LoganCollege in Carterville, IL. The familyfriendly event is free and includes free park-ing.

To the casual observer, watching a childfishing with his mother at the fishing pond,or a boy shooting a bow and arrow for thefirst time is nice. More importantly, it isthe future of conservation. Hunting &Fishing Days is an introduction to the wildand the ethics involved. These children arethe consumers of the future who, with theirtaxes paid on equipment and license feeswill be the stewards of the wild and protec-tors of wildlife.

Attractions this year include over 200vendors with products ranging from foodto hunting and fishing equipment. Boatsand All Terrain (ATV) vehicle are on dis-play.

Dog demonstrations include retrievers,foxhounds, coon dogs, pointing dogs,search and rescue dogs, agility dogs and the

special gifts. Adults can also register for hourly door

prizes at the same location. Winner’snames will be posted for them to pick uptheir prize at any time during the event.

Camo the Clown entertains the kids andBlue Grass Music is for the adults.

Hands-on activities for children includeshooting, fishing, BB gun shooting, andarchery. Nature demonstrations willinform attendees on the environment andthe place of the hunter/fisherman in it. Thefishing activity also includes chances forparticipants to win one of a number ofbicycles awarded for the largest fish caughteach day.

Specialty tents located in the parking areainclude The Waterfowl Tent, The DicksSporting Goods Archery Tent, and a DeerHunting Tent sponsored by Team Harvest.Brody the Bear returns this year. The adultGrizzly bear is a popular attraction.

Other fishing activities include the KingCatfish Contest weigh-in on Saturdaymorning as well as the weigh-in for theHigh School Team Bass fishing contest inthe afternoon. Some 40 teams are partici-pating this year.

For the shooters, there is a field archerycourse on campus as well as a clay targetshooing set up. Other attractions backfrom previous years include bass and crap-pie seminars at the 5,000-gallon Bass Tub,The Buck Skinners Village and a 1200-pound Kodiak bear, the son of popularBrody the Bear from previous years.

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Love Fishing In September

September is one of my favoritemonths to be on the water. I find Ihave the lake or river all to myself alot of days, as jet skiers and waterskiers have vacated the water. Mostof the summer timers have movedback to town. You start to get somecooler nights and bait fish start mov-ing into the shallows and the bassare right behind them. This can offersome great fishing like topwater,shallow cranking and Carolina rig-ging.

I love to find an area where baitfish are working because I am surebass will be with them. Look forgulls working an area or if your on alake with a lot of stripers look forstriper fishermen and work thepoints and coves in that area. I justlike to turn my Motorguide trollingmotor on and simply go down thebank working a Bass Pro Shops

and all of a sudden bam, bam, bam,you will catch two or three bass.This is a good time of year to alsowork propeller baits and some timesthat can make all the difference.

A lot of lakes in September arestarting to be drawn down to winterpool. So this is a good time to go tothe back of creeks that have flats orup in the rivers that have flats. HereI’m looking for isolated cover likebrush piles, logs, stumps, and laydowns. This is the only ambushpoints left for bass to lay in ambush.One of the key elements to fishingthese is to approach cautiously withyour Motorguide trolling motor andmake a little longer cast than nor-mal. This is a situation where youhave to think there is a bass thereand you want to make repeated castwith different lures until you makehim bite. Many times I have seen anangler fish through an area way toofast and I have gone in behind himand caught fish. George Cochran hasmade a career out of doing this.Worm it with Zoom baits, spinner-bait it, and crank it until you aggra-vate him into biting and sometimesyou can get two or three off of onespot.

Another good technique is to fisha small worm like a ZoomCentipede on a Carolina rig. Mostlakes start to clear up in Septemberand I will use a 1/0 Mustad J-bendhook with Bass Pro Shops’ 10pound Excel line and a leader aboutthree foot long. I like to work longer

WOO’S CORNERBY WOO DAVES

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WOOSHOES

tapering points out to about ten feetdeep. If you can find stumps orrocks you will probably find bass. Ifthey are generating current trypoints close to the dam or in themouths of main lake points.

If all else fails run up the river inyour Nitro looking for current andfish spinnerbaits and jigs around laydowns, under cut banks, and on theends of bluff walls. Many times youcan get a little pattern going up theriver and get a nice bag of fish.Once you find the fish, stay andwork them.Good luck on your next fishing trip.Be sure to thank any military per-sonnel you see for their service toour country. If you need a new vehi-cle please visit

God Bless you and your family

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Slim Dog or a spook and just fish.You will catch a lot of roaming bassand in places where you wouldn’tthink there would be one. I havecaught a lot of bass on flat sandybanks that you would not think therewould be anything. If there are scat-tered stumps, rock piles or brushpiles that is even better.

A lot of these bass are movingshad down the bank and you canactually push them into the back of apocket and they will go hog wild.You can have some furious actionfor a few minutes. I’m not lookingfor a pattern I’m just going down theshore line following the contour ofthe bank and random casting ahead

041_001.qxd 9/1/12 10:21 AM Page 1


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A FALLENFALL

TURKEY IS A REALTROPHYE

Harvesting is lovesick spring gobblerisn’t easy. But the general strategy is.Think about it: you know you’re deal-ing with Toms that are on a quest toscore with hens. So you gravitate to afavorable location close to knownroosting sites. You set up a blind, putout a decoy or a combination of hen,jake and/or longbeard decoys. Then youmake the calls of a lonesome hen inneed of company to elicit a gobblingresponse. You stay still and coax thedizzy gobbler into shotgun or bowrange. Bang. You’re done.

Now, a lot can go wrong in this sim-

ple scenario. Even though gobblers aredriven by a desire to breed, they stillkeep their wits about them. Their eye-sight is just as keen, and their instinct toflee the scene if things aren’t right is justas strong. So even though you knowjust what’s in a big Tom’s head, he’s stillhard to kill.

In the fall, he’s harder to get. He’s notdriven by desire. He’s driven by neces-sity to eat and not get eaten. Simple asthat. So how in the heck do you goabout harvesting a fall longbeard?There are generally four ways to huntautumn birds: ambush, spot-and-stalk,scatter/call-back and flock calling.

Ambushing is a great way to score, ifyou know the lay of the land and thebehavioral patterns of the birds you’reafter. For example, if you have a pre-dictable roost site, and know that atsome point during the day the turkeysfeed in a certain field or scratch in thesame places, then you can approach fallturkeys like deer hunting. Set upbetween bedding and feeding areas andwait.

Spotting and stalking is a fun way tobag a bird too. This requires a lot oftime spent glassing and studying birds.If they’re loafing on a field, hillside,ridge or whatever, you can creep withinrange. It’s tough, because their eyes are

so amazingly good. Plus you’re typical-ly dealing with flocks. A pack of 17 has34 eyes – all on the lookout for you.Only the best stalkers equipped withgreat camouflage and a lot of patiencecan pull off a successful stalk. If you seea flock marching, then it’s time to puton the gas and get yourself in front ofthem to intercept a bird.

The scatter & call back method is avery proven fall technique. If you’reafter a mature Tom, this really isn’t theway to go. That’s because Toms are notterribly social in the fall. They don’tcare about the hens and poults. They’remore likely to hang out with other Tomsas they vie for their pecking order in theflock. When scattered, they take theirsweet time getting back to other birds.

But if you’re content with a hen orpoult, go ahead and do the scatter tech-nique. Find a flock, run into them mak-ing as much racket as you can and try tobust them up into as many differentdirections as possible. Then hunkerdown, wait a few minutes and makesome standard yelps and purrs. If youget a response, or hear a turkey in thedistance calling independently, mimicthat bird. Give the same call right backto it. The turkeys desperately want toregroup for security, and if you imitatetheir language then you can’t go wrong.

If it is only a longbeard you want, andif you want to get him by calling, thencalling to a gobbler group is the way togo. The one thing that never changes

among gobblers is their disdain for oneanother as they rank in the peckingorder. And they’re always up for a fight– or at least to watch one and see how itunfolds. So here’s what you do: imitatea turkey fight. Fights are loud, so youneed to make a lot of noise with fight-ing purrs, cutts and clucks. And remem-ber that turkeys fight with their wholebodies, so mix a lot of wing beats,thumps and brush busting into the sym-phony. It’s helpful to have a buddywork with you as a team to accuratelyduplicate the sounds of a drop-down-drag-out fight. One guy can call whilethe other guy beats the wings and brush.For safety’s sake, make sure you knowyou’re hunting in an area where thereare no other hunters while doing this.

If you succeed on an autumn long-beard, then my hat is off to you. It’squite an accomplishment, and we’d liketo hear about your success story and seea picture of your bird atWinkelman.com!

Good Hunting!Babe Winkelman is a

nationally-known outdoorsman whohas taught people to fish and hunt for

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042_001.qxd 9/4/12 2:03 AM Page 1


mind racing all night. Twice, I rosefrom bed to recheck my equipment.For some unknown reason, the fearof forgetting something keeps meup all night. Another look at theclock made me mad. Hell, it wasalready 3 o’clock. Next time, I amjust going to get a couple oldmovies and spend the night watch-ing them and cat napping. I had justdozed off when the sound ofAC/DC “Back in Black” punchedthrough my eardrums and rattledmy brain. Out of the bed I leaped,and well, let’s just say that alarmclock is taking a dirt nap! Thesmell of the coffee brought meback to my senses. A quick cup andit was off to get my morning choresdone. With the dog fed and a cou-ple cups tossed down the hatch, Igrabbed my stuff and headed to thetruck, pack, bow, cooler. Yep, it’sall here. “Like it would not havebeen since I was up all night fuss-ing over it,” I thought to myself.

I turned over the key, and theFord came to life. I backed out ofthe drive and pointed her to Rt. 98,just outside of Pekin, Illinois. Withthe windows down, the trip was ac-tually a nice one. It was the firsttime in a long while I didn’t need

the air on, even this early inthe morning. Up aheadwas my destination, alittle gravel road onthe left. I turned inand started up thehill. My palms werestarting to sweat a lit-tle as I turned thetruck to the left towardthe parking area. I pulledin and shut her down.

It did not take me long to load4 arrows in my quiver, grab mypack, and work my way across theopen field toward the timber. Myheart was thumping pretty hard as Ineared the edge of the timber. Justinside the brush edge, I stoppedand did a quick once over of the

The Warm Up

by Daniel VinovichA nervous excitement rushed

over me as I double checked myequipment. Let’s see, bow, arrows,range finder, binoculars, check.Yes, it was all in good shape as Iloaded it in my pack. A quickglance at the clock announced itwas already 11 o’clock. “My howtime flies when a man is playingwith his toys,” I thought to myself.

Sleep did not come easy thatnight. A mixture of the sun the daybefore and the anticipation of thenext day in the woods kept my

layout. I looked to the left,nothing, forward, noth-

ing, but to the rightstood a good buck. Hehad no idea I was eventhere. The wind wasright, and he was fac-ing the opposite direc-tion, looking down the

well manicured trail. I picked up my

Nikon Range Finder andfired a burst of whatever comes

out of that damn thing. It read 27yards in the view finder. Carefully,I nocked an arrow, and drew myMathews Z7. He still did not moveas I searched through the peep forthe kill area. A slap of the release

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actually doing real good and hell, Iwanted that 300! The targets start-ed getting more challenging down-hill, through the trees, behind thelog. Wow, this is as close to realhunting set ups as it gets. With 4stations left, it happened. It was a 2target set up, and they were not far.I ranged them and drew my bowwith great confidence. I let thearrow fly, smack, #^%$&*…@#$%!@.

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sent my Easton Axis arrow speed-ing down the trail toward the buck.

A loud thump was reassurancethat my arrow had hit home, Thebuck did not go down. I quicklygrabbed my binoculars andsearched for the spot where myarrow had connected. Back andforth across the shoulder I panned.There it was, firmly seated in the10 ring. A hearty nice shot camefrom my group of 3 other fellowarchers. Yes, my anticipation wasnot from an opening day whitetailhunt but from my first 3D shoot atthe Pekin Archers Range locatedapproximately 1 mile east of Rt. 29on Rt. 98.

My fellow archers were DanTerrill, President, who we willrefer to as Coach, Nate Culbertson,who we will refer to as Mark, andthe last being Josh Houston,Secretary, who we refer to as well,hell, I don’t know. He had a greenand purple Mohawk. That kind ofscared the hell out of me, so wewill just call him Dry Fire!!! If youwant to ask him why I called himDry Fire….well, you will just have

to ask him yourself ‘cause I ain’ttelling!

The anticipation and anxietywere all real. I had no idea what toexpect when I paid my 10 bucksand signed up. Dan, Nate, and Joshwere just 3 guys who felt pity forme as I tried to pump them forinformation on how the hell toshoot this course without lookinglike a complete Dummy. Dan wasthe first to see I really had no cluewhat I was doing, followed byNate. I think Josh just jumped in‘cause he thought it might be fun towatch this Bass Pro Shops ProStaffer fall on his A!

I called Dan, “Coach” because hewas my coach. He talked methrough every station. Now Nate,well, Nate was just a really goodshot, and I refer to him as Mark‘cause he shot before me and I justtried to hit his arrows. Most of thetime, they marked where I neededto hit. The rest of the time, I justtried to hit Dan’s arrows. And, ofcourse, there was Josh. He was notusing his range finder, and let’s justsay, he was out to have fun chasingthe 14 point mark all day. I thinkthat damn antenna he had on thetop of his head was just not getting

the right reception!The first few sta-tions, I was hittingthe 10 ring everytime. On the 5th sta-tion, I was awarded12 points. “What isthis, pity points,” Iasked? No, it wasthe 12 point ringlocated in the lowerquadrant of the killzone. Okay, now Iwas getting in agrove the 10’s and12’s were comingeasy now.

In fact, I askedhow I was doing and“I was 6 up,” Josh said after look-ing at my score card. With a dumblook on my face, I asked, “is thatgood?” I was quickly reassuredthat it was real good. So I askedanother dumb question, “what does6 up mean?” With a subtle laugh,Nate told me I was on course tofinish over 300. Okay, what’s 300?Dan explained it.

After the conversation I figured itwas kind of like par in a golf game.I started to get a little nervous onthe second half of the course. I was

WARM UP…Cont’d. from previous pg.

Nate takes a closer look as Dan & Josh look on.

044_001.qxd 9/1/12 11:56 PM Page 1


ous. Only one targetleft. Nate pulled upand sunk his arrowfirmly in the 12 ring.He walked past meand said, “There’syour mark.” I drewand put the 30 yardpin right on the tipof his arrow andreleased.

The slap of my tipagainst his fletchingsent a feeling ofhope that I had madeup the points fromthe #28 target. Wewalked toward thetarget as a group.

Crap, I had hit Nate’s arrow, butjust above the 12 spot.

Back at the clubhouse, Dantotaled up my score and announcedmy 299! “Grrrrrr,” I growled, withfellow archers looking on. Mymind scrambled for an excuse. Abird crapped on my head. A beestung me. I remember, I waswounded just before I shot #27 and#28. I quickly brought the incidentup and placed blame solely on DryFire! That’s my story and I’m stick-ing to it!

n’t in a good spot. Shaking, I drewagain, concentrating on my secondtarget, smack, !#$^&**&^%$#.Once again, the arrow did not findthe right mark Nate had left for me.I set down my bow as Dan pulledthe arrows from the target. A voicemumbled ewwwwww. That putsyou 1 down Josh pointed out to me.“There went my 300,” I thought tomyself. With 2 targets left, I need-ed to pop a 12 ring to keep my 300in tact. I popped the 10 ring on thenext target. Okay. Now I was nerv-

I really can’t rememberwhen I have had thismuch fun. The membersshooting with me werehelpful and a great groupof guys. The range waslike finding a diamond inthe rough. The 3D coursewas well groomed. Thepractice range was wellmarked with yardage, andthe targets stopped every-thing my 70 poundMathews could throw atit. I did not get a chance toshoot the field course, butafter a short conversationwith Josh, I hope to meethim after work one nightand shoot it. At least thatis what he thinks. Really,I’m just going to geteven!!! LOL

For information on the PekinArchery Club, you can get updates,schedules, and any other informa-tion you may need by looking themup on the internet at: www.pekinar-chers.net

SEE ‘YA IN THE WOODS! And yes my 299 was good

for top spot in the Bow HunterClass!!

I am booking the fewdates I have open for fall

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by phone at 309-267-8309

Dan Terrill takes aim on his targets

Lace Seibel locks on a target at the ASA Shoot

045_001.qxd 9/1/12 11:49 AM Page 1


Back beforeBlaze Orangewas even in-vented andguns could stillbe ordered fromthe Sears andRoebuck Cata-logue I was ayoung lad whodecided to takeup the sport of hunting! I rememberthe agonizing dilemma over whetherto purchase the standard Winchester22 rifle or saving more money in or-der to buy the fancier version for sev-enteen dollars! No matter, I did nothave the disposable cash for either!The hours spent viewing the riflesand calculating the pros and cons ofeach rifle was entertainment enough.

Hours were spent reading left overOutdoor Life and Field and Stream

magazines the local Barber gave meafter their duty at his shop. Huntingtouched a nerve and I would dream ofriding over the mountain passes insearch of big game enjoying thepanoramic view it afforded! Back toreality, I found a box of squirrel loadssuitable for use in my dad’s Winches-ter Model 37 Single Shot 16 GaugeShotgun which ought to be able toproduce the power to lead to a rab-bits’ demise. My grandfather gaveme an old Brown canvas uplandhunting coat which was much olderthan I was and I was able to purchasea red Jones style hunting cap to com-plete the hunting set up.

The Thanksgiving break fromschool was upon me and I had a fewdays to stock up the freezer withfresh rabbit or at least provideenough meat until I ran out my box ofshells! The first day out was perfect,the sun was shining and the splendorof the wilderness was exhilarating asI stomped through the briar and hon-eysuckle patches of the woodlots andfield edges. Several hard hours ofhunting had failed to produce a single

THE INNOCENCETHE INNOCENCEOF YOUTHOF YOUTH

by Dave Herschelman

trophy, noreven a potentialshot opportuni-ty! Day onehad come andgone with not asingle rabbitshowing hiscotton tail!

Not to giveup easily, Iworked at dif-fering locationsattempting tojump my firstrabbit but noluck! I mustconfess doubtwas creepinginto my mindover whether this hunting adventurewas worth the effort. I was an athlet-ic kid but I must admit I was flat tiredafter walking and stomping over halfthe county. What was I doing wrong?Was the sport of rabbit hunting onlysuccessful if one had the use of hunt-ing beagles?

By the third day, doubt was re-placed by consternation over my badluck! I could stay home and watchcartoons on our black and white TVset on Saturday morning rather than

go through this business of huntingrabbits. I kept at it but the sweat andcold of this particular overcast Satur-day was testing my will! I droppedinto a ditch running between twofarm fields that required my layingthe shotgun on the shelf of the oppos-ing bank as I clamored to the top. Asmy head rose over the bank ditch topeer over the ground on the other sideof the ditch – I came face to face withmy quarry! Needless to say, which ofus was more surprised we will never

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Red Jones Style Hat a few years later.

046_001.qxd 9/2/12 12:00 AM Page 1


know but he blasted from the brushand ran to the east! I scaled the hilland grabbed my gun to pursue. Notreally knowing a thing about rabbithunting, I reasoned he had ran to thenext county but to my surprise as Iwalked a few paces to the east - hejumped from the brush and ran awayalong the field edge. I pulled mymodel 37 to my shoulder and tookaim in quick fashion! The blast ofsound, the recoil and the sight of my

target halted inmid run will bef o r e v e rengrained in mymind! Success!

All of thework and sweatto get to thistime and placewas forgotten.Placing my tro-phy after muchadmiration intothe pouch of myhunting coatwas very satis-fying. I trekkedthe quarter mileback to the farmhouse to pro-duce my trophy

rabbit for all to see. With meat in the larder, I cleaned

up and made one of my favoritesnacks, cornflakes in a pint containerfilled with chocolate milk with themixture left to make the flakes soggyto eat.

Since the dawn of mankind, noevent is more satisfying than baskingin the glory of a successful hunt!

David Herschelman September 2012

David on Pony a few years prior to his hunting career.

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047_001.qxd 9/1/12 3:01 PM Page 1


EXPLORINGTHE

YUCATANBy Bill Cooper

Hunting the Yucatan Jungles for the Ocellated Turkey

After beating down a rugged, moun-tainous jungle road in a 4-wheel drivevehicle for almost two hours, elationswept over my son, Jayson Cooper,and I as Tiki lights broke into view.The headlights of the Montero illumi-nated a well thought out jungle wilder-ness camp as Ruben Encalada, ourdriver and General Manager of MayaAmazing Outfitters, swung the vehicleinto a dirt parking space surroundedby towering Piich trees, the sprawlingfavorites of spider monkeys andTarzan types. Overwhelmed by themagic of this remote place in thesouthern part of Campeche State, weknew we were about to enter a worldof hunting like few will ever experi-ence. We would spend the next fewdays hunting Ocellated turkeys much

like the ancient Mayans.Jordi Gene, the owner of the outfit-

ting service, is a big man. He has asmile to match his stature. His massivehand swallowed mine as we met out-side the dining tent. “Welcome to thejungle,” he said excitedly. “Your ad-venture is about to begin.”

Camp staff members quickly stowedour gear in an enormous, luxuriouswall tent, complete with a portable airconditioner. Over-sized cots lookedsufficient to handle even the largestguests. A portable shower and bath-room sat only a few meters down thehill. The dining tent and kitchen hadbeen carefully planned and were con-

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veniently placed 20 yards way. As tou-cans croaked a camp welcome, I quick-ly determined that I had become a res-ident of the most well organizedwilderness camp I had ever seen.

Encalada and Gene covered every as-pect of the camp over a fabulous din-ner. Plans for the next day’s huntbrought our day of excitement to anervous peak. Guides Fransico “Pan-cho” Sambranis and Juan CarlosLechuga introduced themselves andsported convincing smiles as Gene ex-plained that the young guides hadscouted the jungle thoroughly beforeour arrival and had successfully locatedseveral pavos.

Four a.m. would come early the nextmorning, so Jayson and I elected toturn in soon after dinner. We had en-dured a long day of travel. “I am so ex-cited I don’t think I can go to sleep,”Jayson whispered. I understood, butsecretly reveled in the fact that my sonwould share the jungle experience.

Coffee, juice, cereal and muffinsawaited us in the dining tent at 4:15a.m. Jayson trembled with anticipa-tion of the idea of being the firstshooter while I filmed the adventure.Gene had fitted him with a BennelliBlack Eagle 12 gauge the night before.

Our guides showed up ahead of time

and already had daypacks loaded withwater and snacks. Our foursomeloaded into the 4-wheel drive andrumbled through the rough jungleroads for 45 minutes before pulling offonto a grown over logging road.

Juan Carlos and Pancho quickly un-loaded our cameras and hunting gear.Juan handed Jayson three 2 3/4-inchshells in size BB. He explained that the

The ocellated turkey roams the jungles of southern Mexico in Yucatan and Campeche states.

Jayson Cooper carries his brightlycolored ocellated gobbler from

the dense jungle.

048_001.qxd 9/1/12 4:32 PM Page 1


large shot penetrated the jungle vege-tation very well. As a last tip, beforeheading into the foreboding darknessof the jungle, Juan instructed Jaysonto shoot a turkey in the body, unlikeour custom of shooting birds backhome in the head and neck. Juan madean assuring gesture that the heavyloads would do the job.

Sweat soaked my back as we headeddown the old logging road. I secretlyenvied Jayson’s new RedHead StalkerLight II camo shirt and Under ArmourLightweight Performance camo pants.Both garments whisked the profusesweat away from his body rapidly. Mymuch older lightweight camo provedeffective, but fell far behind the per-formance of Jayson’s clothing.

The jungle wise guides stepped offdown the trail at a brisk pace. Oursmall headlamps became worth theirweight in gold as we traipsed along be-hind. We had been instructed to staywithin an arms length of the guides byhunt camp manager Jose Enrique Ca-mara. Becoming lost in the jungles ofthe Yucatan is serious business. Milesof inhospitable jungle lay between usand the nearest improved road.Guatemala lay 50 jungle miles to thesouth.

My line of work keeps me in reason-able physical condition even though Iam 63 years old. Jayson is a cage fight-ing promoter and stays in superb phys-ical shape. Any hunter thinking aboutventuring to the Yucatan junglesshould begin a well structured exerciseprogram long before making a trip.

Our guides spent considerable timethe previous evening to locate birds onrelatively flat terrain. A half mile downthe trail, the duo halted our advance.The unmistakable bongo-like begin-ning of the ocellated turkey’s singing(gobble) rang through the dark jungle,sending a tingle of excitement down

my spine. The moment at handseemed like an impossible dream. Themelodious notes reached a high pitch,which woke me from my temporaryinattention, and dropped off to a seriesof short chops. Nervous anticipationcaused me to swallow hard. I sippedmy water bottle both to calm mynerves and replace the fluids I had soquickly lost. Staying hydrated is para-mount to staying healthy in the jungle.

Jayson chattered with excitement asthe gobbler sounded off again. Hisfirst attempt to take a marvelously col-ored ocellated turkey rapidly ap-proached. We quickened our pace asthe guides resumed their stalk towardsthe bird singing well over a half mileaway.

As we closed the distance, Juan Car-los and Pancho stopped again to get afinal fix on the bird’s location. I feltgood and confident. Our guides’ ex-pertise in the jungle had quickly be-come evident. Too, my concerns abouttraveling in the jungle had been dissi-pated by my extremely lightweightUnder Armour boots, which cush-ioned my feet against the ever presentrocks and downed timber. Confidencein your equipment goes a long way to-wards bolstering your abilities to getthe job done in the jungle.

The ocellated gobbler sounded offonce more, less than 75 yards away,just off the left side of the faint trail.Pancho moved up for a closer look andsoon slowly signaled for Jayson to qui-etly sneak toward him. Pancho careful-ly pointed to the roosting bird high ina Red Chaca tree. Jayson stared at meindicating that he wanted me to moveinto position to film the action.

The silhouette of a large MeleagrisOcellata stood out against the rapidlyfading darkness. Jayson slowly andcautiously raised the Benelli to hisshoulder and waited for Pancho’s in-structions to shoot. Our foursome hadsuccessfully completed a stalk on awild ocellated jungle bird, just as theMayans had done hundreds of years

The author with his gobbler and expert jungle guides Juan Carlos

and Pancho.

The author and Maya Amazingmanager Ruben Encalada pose with

a beautiful specimen.

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049_001.qxd 9/1/12 4:27 PM Page 1


before us. The 12-gauge roared and the first

ocellated turkey of the hunt tumbledto the ground. Jayson danced in thedim light while Pancho and JuanCarlos raced through the jungle toclaim the hunter’s prize. Dozens ofphotos later, we made the long hikeout, loaded our gear and headedback to camp for a splendid breakfastand siesta before heading out for theafternoon hunt.

Our arrival back at camp sparked acelebratory gathering. Gene, Encala-da, Hunt Manager Jose Enrique Ca-mara, Camp Manager Alonso Puertoand the camp staff greeted us. Every-one listened as Jayson retold the sto-ry of his hunt. An incredible honorfell heavily on his shoulders when“The Legend of the Yucatan”, elder-ly Senor Alfrevo Lechuga shook hishand, embraced him and extendedhis personal congratulations for asuccessful hunt. During his lifetime,Lechuga earned the reputation as thegreatest jaguar hunter in all of theYucatan.

Our air conditioned tent relaxedus quickly. Siestas are a very impor-tant part of a jungle hunting camp.The heat and humidity saps onesstrength quickly. Paying attention toproper amounts of rest and waterand food intake is absolutely neces-sary for staying healthy in the jungle.

A variety of game birds exist in theYucatan jungles. We spent our after-noons pursuing Crested Guans andCurassows. Our superb guides knewwhere each of the species lived in thedense jungles and lead us to success.Additionally, they pointed out ea-gles, toucans, monkeys, brocket deerand parakeets. Pancho noted aneight inch wide trail which ribbonedthrough the jungle. My imaginationflashed back to scary jungle moviesof my childhood when he told us thelitter free path had been created bymillions of army ants during thenight.

Jayson filmed my hunt for a beau-tifully colored ocellated turkey aswell. Awe overcame both of us whenwe observed the two inch plus needlesharp spurs on our birds. Locals havethe uncanny habit of removing thespurs from ocellated birds they har-vest and taping them to the legs oftheir fighting roosters. Despite ourextensive turkey hunting experience,our pair of ocellated turkeys becameour most prized turkey harvests.

As side trips, Jayson bow huntedfor peccary and I sat in a tower blindoverlooking a water hole watchingfor a puma. Neither of us scored, butour respected water holes held heavyamounts of sign. We will be attempt-ing to take those animals on our nexttrip.

Water holes are magnets for yellowflies, which have a heavy bite, andblack gnats. It would have been im-possible to withstand the steady at-tacks from insects without my Red-Head 3D Evolution Suit which dou-bled a bug suit. It added minimalheat retention while keeping hordesof biting bugs at bay. A RedHeadBug Suit will definitely be in mybags for the next trip.

Our grand adventure with MayaAmazing Outfitters proved the bestof my life. A professional staff, wellorganized camp, excellent food, andabove all, superb hunting, created ahunters dream come true deep in thewild jungles of the southern Yucatan.I knew as soon as I entered camp thatthe operation would be first class.And unbelievably, internet serviceand satellite phones gave this campthe ultimate in up to date technolo-gy. For more information about this in-credible jungle hunting adventurecontact: www.mayamazingoutfit-ters.com.

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JUNE 6THREGION 1OPERATION WARM WEATHER, COLD WATER

A District 7 CPO conducted sport fishing checks byboat at Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife area.Multiple boats were checked with only minor violationsnoted.

OTHER ACTIVITYA District 1 CPO responded to call on a hit and run

boat collision. A Savanna woman was arrested after thepontoon boat she was operating collided with an unoc-cupied boat when leaving a sand bar on pool 13 of theMississippi River. The investigation resulted in thewoman being issued the following tickets: unlawfuloperation of a watercraft while under the influence ofalcohol, unlawful operation of a watercraft with a bloodalcohol concentration of .08 or greater (.204), care-less operation of a watercraft and failure to render aidor provide information after a collision. The woman wasfingerprinted, given a mandatory court appearance andreleased after posting $200 bail.

A District 1 CPO responded to a complaint of a mancutting live trees behind his campsite at Apple RiverCanyon State Park. A Chicago man was issued a warn-ing for cutting trees within a state park. The same manwas also issued a written warning for allowing a minorto possess a BB gun in a state park.

Patrolling Black Hawk State Historic Site, a CPOlocated a group of subjects in a restricted area afterhours. Checking the subjects, one was found to be amissing/runaway juvenile. The parents were contactedand juvenile returned.

A CPO in Henderson Co arrested a subject for unlaw-ful dumping in a state area. A female subject haddumped eight bags of dirty diapers at Gladstone Lake.The subject was cited and ordered to remove the trashfrom the site.

REGION 2 A CPO cited a subject for possession of 2 undersized

largemouth bass. The subject received 2 citations forthe bass and a written warning for failure to obtain anon-resident fishing license.

A CPO responded to a boat on fire on Crooked Lake.The fire was extinguished by the fire dept after it drift-ed across the lake unoccupied. A witness assisted inlocating the operator, who was already back at his resi-dence, uninjured. The operator said his boat stalled outand caught fire as he was trying to restart it. He usedtwo fire extinguishers without success, then jumpedoverboard and swam to shore. He said he didn't knowhow to swim, but somehow made it to shore. The boatburned down completely to the hull.

A subject cited for unlawful use of lights from a vehi-cle pled guilty and was fined $271.

A CPO arrested a fisherman at the McHenry Dam forfailure to immediately release a 21" Northern Pike.

CPOs cited a subject fishing on Nippersink Lake forfailure to immediately release a 22 1/2" walleye.

A CPO arrested a subject fishing at the Algonquindam for failure to immediately release an 18" small-mouth bass and no valid fishing license.

CPOs cited two fishermen on Petite Lake for failureto immediately release an eight inch Largemouth Bassand an eleven inch Walleye.

JUNE 13THREGION 1

A District 6 CPO located a fisherman on the IllinoisRiver in possession of a 12 1/2” sauger. A citation wasissued.

The District 6 Sergeant and a CPO located 4 individ-uals bank fishing on the Vermilion River. Behind thefishermen were clearly posted “No Trespassing” signs.As the Sergeant was watching, one of the individualstore down one of the “No Trespassing” signs. Sevencitations were issued for Criminal Trespass, CriminalDamage, and Fishing License not in possession.

A District 1 CPO responded to a complaint of a neigh-bor taking a rabbit out of season. Two juveniles wit-nessed a neighbor shoot a rabbit in her garden. Aninterview with the neighbor revealed the greyhound doghad first attacked the rabbit and she then fatally shotthe rabbit with a BB gun. She believed she was doing theright thing by not letting the rabbit suffer any longer.The woman had a fence around her yard and the garden,but the rabbit was still able to get inside the yard. TheCPO discussed other options for rabbit repellant andthe woman was educated about the rabbit season.Appropriate enforcement action was taken.

A District 1 CPO conducted a boat patrol on Pool 13of the Mississippi River. Boat safety, registration andfishing compliance checks were completed. One of theboats stopped had the following violations: insufficientpersonal flotation devices, unsecured/covered battery,


s

d

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JUNE 2012REGION 3

A CPO checked a Paris man and juvenile fishing MillCreek and cited the Paris man for fishing without alicense. The juvenile stated he was 15 years old and didnot require a license. The CPO discovered the juvenilelied to him about his age. The CPO drove to their resi-dence in Edgar Co and saw numerous untagged deerskulls with antlers. Upon questioning, the Paris manstated he found all the deer skulls, but did not requestincidental kill tags. The CPO seized the deer heads andcited the man in Edgar Co for Unlawful Possession ofUntagged Whitetail Deer.

A CPO cited a Nokomis man for Pollution of aWaterway in Shelby Co near Oconnee, IL.

A CPO cited 3 Champaign men for being over limit onCrappie on Lake Shelbyville.

REGION 5A CPO cited a Metropolis subject for fishing the Ohio

River without a fishing license. He stated he bought alicense about a month earlier, but no transaction couldbe found on POS.

A CPO issued a DuQuoin man a citation for unlawfulpossession of a furbearing animal without a permit. Theviolation originated from the man trying to sell a rac-coon on Facebook.

A District Sergeant responded to two men fishingwithout permission on a private pond. The land ownerrequested the two men be issued written warnings forthe offense.

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POLICE… Cont’d. from previous pg.no sounding device (battery or horn), failure to trans-fer watercraft registration within 15 days of purchase,improper display of registration and unserviceable fireextinguisher. Enforcement action was taken.

A District 1 CPO patrolled area state parks. Afterobserving individuals fishing the Apple River within theboundaries of Apple River Canyon State Park, fishingcompliance checks were conducted. Four Chicago areasubjects were issued citations after they were found tobe sport fishing without valid sport fishing licenses.One subject stated he couldn’t even catch fish becausehe wasn’t using bait. He was informed that lures, in thiscase a small spinner bait, do in fact catch fish and thata fishing license is required.

A CPO assisted a District Sergeant and another CPOwith two motor vehicle accidents in, or around, StarvedRock State Park.

A District Sergeant attended the MolineConservation Club Annual Fishing Derby. There were190 kids and parents in attendance. The Sergeantanswered conservation questions, assisted in baitinghooks, removing fish, untangled lines, provided castinglessons, and monitored the area for littering.

A CPO assisted the Putnam Co Sheriff’s Dept in thesearch and recovery of a drowning victim in LakeThunderbird. The CPO utilized side-scan sonar equip-ment to assist the recovery.

A CPO in Henderson Co responded to a call about aboat in distress on the Mississippi River. The officerlocated the stranded vessel floating in the channelnorth of Oquawka. The boat was pulled to safety.Further inspection revealed the boat had completely

sheared off the lower unit of the motor. District 1 CPOs conducted a boat patrol on Pool 14 of

the Mississippi River. Several written warnings wereissued for various boating violations, and the appropri-ate enforcement action was taken on an Iowa fishermanfor running trotlines with hooks in excess of fifty onIllinois Waters. Also during the boat patrol, a Maywoodman was cited for being in possession of an illegalundersized Largemouth Bass on Cattail Slough.

While on boat patrol on the Rock River in Ogle Co, aDistrict 1 CPO observed a pontoon boat underway withseveral children under the age of 13, not wearing PFDs.The boat was stopped and a safety inspection was com-pleted. The operator was informed about PFD require-ments and other safety equipment regulations. Theoperator was issued one citation and two written warn-ings for his violations.

A District 1 CPO is investigating a personal injury hitand run boat accident which occurred on the Rock Riverin Ogle Co.

A District 1 CPO was on his way home from a boatpatrol on the Rock River when the CPO received a callfrom ISP District 7 to respond to the Port Byron, IL.,boat launch on the Mississippi River for a river rescue.The information given to the CPO was that a Port Byronman who was intoxicated and possibly suicidal, had leftJimmy Lee’s bar in downtown Port Byron, walked over tothe river, took his clothes off and jumped in. The CPOlaunched his boat and began a search for the missingPort Byron man. The subject was located a short timelater at the Le Claire, Iowa boat launch area. The sub-ject stated he intentionally swam across the river to win

a bet he made in the bar. Le Claire, Iowa Police arrestedthe subject on a “Public Intoxication” charge and hewas taken to jail.

A District 6 CPO located a fisherman on the FoxRiver in possession of a 32 inch muskie. The fishermandid not know what type of fish he caught, but because itwas so long he thought it would be legal. A citation wasissued.

Two District 6 officers were on boat patrol on theIllinois River when they observed a jet ski spraying 2individuals on an inner tube. The operator went towardsthe inner tube at a high rate of speed, then when he wasapproximately 10 feet away from the inner tube hewould turn away. The officers observed the operator dothis same action 2 times. During questioning, the oper-ator stated he had been boating for 15 years and knewwhat he was doing. He was issued citations for CarelessOperation of a Watercraft and No Wake Zone violation.

REGION 2CPOs arrested the operator of a pontoon boat on

Nippersink Lake for operating a watercraft while underthe influence of alcohol. Her BAC was .133.

A CPO cited a fisherman for failure to release asmallmouth bass during closed season and two fisher-men for failing to release three largemouth bass underthe required size limit.

REGION 3CPOs, while on boat patrol on Lake Shelbyville near

Lithia Springs, in Shelby Co, arrested two Beecher Citysubjects and one Herrick subject for UnlawfulConsumption of Alcohol by a Minor.

A CPO cited a Chrisman, IL, man for Unlawful Entryinto a closed area for climbing onto a closed and barri-caded courtesy dock in Wolf Creek State Park.

A CPO assisted Piatt and Douglas County Sheriff’sOffice searching the Kaskaskia River in Douglas Countyfor a missing runaway Piatt Co youth. The youth waslocated the next day at a campsite along the river byDive/Search Team using kayaks in the shallow waterand was returned to his parents.

CPOs stopped a pontoon boat attempting to come upon plane in a no wake area. After stopping the boat theynoticed the operator had been drinking. During theinspection, the CPO asked for his whistle and the oper-ator gave him the fire extinguisher. After FST's he wasfound to be OUI and blew a .113 BAC.

REGION 5CPOs received a complaint of persons fishing with-

out permission on Peabody Coal ground in Saline Co.They located the subjects and issued 4 fishing citationsand 4 boating citations.

A CPO finished an administrative investigation inFranklin Co. A man was cited for unlawful take of awhitetail deer during the closed season and issued awarning for a 2nd violation.

While walking the primitive camping area at WayneFitzgerrell State Park, a CPO and District Sergeantfound minors in the possession of, and consuming,alcohol. 49 cans of beer were dumped out and appro-priate enforcement action was taken.

CPOs were on boat patrol at Rend Lake. One CPOarrested a man for OUI, who registered .19.

A CPO investigated a grass fire at Sahara Woods.Carrier Mills Fire Dept responded and extinguished thefire.

A CPO and the District 14 Sergeant responded to aboat accident that occurred at Rend Lake. A boatrammed the riprap near the entrance of the NorthMarcum Day use area, crossed the sidewalk and came

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to a stop in the grass. The CPO cited the operator forcareless operation of a watercraft, failure to notify apolice agency of a property damage accident and notusing the lanyard cut-off switch.

JUNE 20THREGION 1

A District 1 CPO & Sergeant worked a boat patrol onPool 16 of the Mississippi River. During the patrol writ-ten warnings for miscellaneous equipment violationswere issued. A subject was also arrested for Operationof a Watercraft While under the Influence of AlcoholBAC above .08.

District 1 CPOs conducted a boat patrol on the RockRiver in Ogle Co. During the patrol numerous boats wereinspected and a total of 18 violations were addressedwith citations and written warnings.

Two District 6 CPOs, Region Captain, local police,fire, and water rescue units responded to a boat acci-dent on a private pond. The local police dept received a911 call of a boat accident with a subject missing. Oneof the officers launched his sonar equipped boat toassist in the search. An hour into the search, the bodyof the missing man was located. The officers learned 2men were fishing from a boat when it capsized. The mentried to swim to shore where one was able to make itsafely. The other man disappeared under the water.There were no personal floatation devices on board theboat.

A District 6 CPO responded to a boat accident atLaSalle Lake. The boat, with 5 individuals fishing whilethe boat was drifting, did not notice until it was too latethat they had drifted dangerously close to a rock cov-ered dike. They were unable to get the motor startedbefore they struck the dike. All aboard were able to getto shore without incident and were able to save most ofthe items they had on board. When the officer arrived,he saw all the items from the boat on shore and quicklydetermined that the boat was overloaded. The boat wasrecovered by a local tow service. One citation wasissued for an overloaded watercraft and three writtenwarning issued for equipment violations.

Two District 1 CPOs worked an OUI detail at theLowden State Park boat launch near Oregon on the RockRiver. The 1st boat safety check revealed a mother hold-ing an infant without a PFD on the infant as required bylaw. The occupants of the boat tried to justify thisaction because the infant was being nursed. The CPO

advised the occupants the proper way to handle thissituation was to pull onto a sand bar or dock while thePFD was off the infant. No adults onboard were wearinga PFD. The CPO brought to their attention in the eventof an accident it would be almost impossible to save theinfant’s life while trying to keep their own heads abovewater. The child care provider should also have on a PFDso they are in a position to render aid to the child in theevent of an accident. A citation was issued to the boatoperator for this violation. Over 20 boat safety checkswere completed at the ramp and from a patrol boat.This detail resulted in 2 citations and seventeen writ-ten warnings being issued. 2 subjects were put throughfield sobriety testing but no OUI arrests were made.

A District 1 CPO was traveling westbound, west ofMt. Morris on Highway 64. The CPO observed thickblack smoke billowing from south of Hwy 64 nearMaryland Rd. The smoke was so thick it was creating ahazard on the highway. The CPO found a large fire burn-ing at a farm. The fire was near the farm buildings,diesel fuel tank, corn bins and the smoke was blowingtoward the house. It appeared somebody was home butdespite repeated attempts knocking at the doorsnobody came to the door. The CPO had Polo Fire Deptrespond to the scene and put out the blaze. A familymember drove into the farmyard as the CPO was inves-tigating the fire and went in the house and woke up thefarmer and had him come outside. It appeared thefarmer was heavily intoxicated and he denied settingthe fire. The heavy smoke from the fire was due to mul-tiple tires and shingles on fire. A large tractor tire wason top of the pile on fire. The Polo fire Dept worked forover an hour to extinguish the blaze and used a bobcatto tear the pile apart and apply foam to burning tiresand shingles. This event remains under investigation.

A District 1 CPO was on patrol in Morrison RockwoodState Park when a male subject was observed drivinginto the lake parking lot area not wearing a seatbelt. Atraffic stop was conducted. The driver and his passen-ger both had open Budweiser beer cans in the vehicle.The driver was cited for not wearing a seatbelt, illegaltransportation of alcohol and issued a written warningfor not having his driver license on his person. The driv-er has a mandatory court appearance in Whiteside CoCourt in July, 2012.

While conducting trail enforcement at IllinoisCanyon at Starved Rock Stated Park, a CPO found 8juveniles in a restricted area swimming. The juveniles

were escorted from the area. With assistance of anoth-er CPO, their parents were called and they came to theStarved Rock Office to get them. The dangers of thearea were explained to the parents.

A Galesburg paper delivery boy, after observingnumerous rabbits along his route, decided to invitesome friends to shoot them with a pellet gun as thepapers were delivered. As one friend drove, the otherrode in the pick-up bed shooting rabbits along thestreets. Upon stopping at an area gas station, theattendant observed blood on the clothing of the sub-jects as they bragged about shooting rabbits as thepapers were being delivered. The attendant calledGalesburg Police Dept, and a unit stopped the suspectvehicle a short time later. The officers found severalpellet guns and 8 dead rabbits in the truck. Citationswere issued to the shooter for unlawful taking of rabbitsduring a closed season. He was also arrested forUnlawful Use of Weapons. The driver’s pick-up truck,the rabbits, and the weapons were seized as evidence.Follow-up investigation by the local CPO resulted in thepaper boy being issued a citation for unlawful taking ofrabbits during the closed season (Contributing to ille-gal activity), since he initiated the plan and assisted inrecovering the animals after they were shot. The driverwas issued written warnings for being an accessory tohunting without a license, transporting an uncasedgun, hunting without permission, and unlawful taking

of rabbits during a closed season. He will be required topay a $500 impound fee to recover his 1987 pick-upfrom the city.

A District 7 CPO assisted Knox Co Sheriff’s Dept &the IL State Police with a battery that occurred on theSpoon River near London Mills. While consuming largequantities of alcohol, 2 parties of tubers began arguingand a battery occurred. The victim called 911, claimingthe offender had a handgun and that a pregnant womanhad been assaulted by several male subjects. Severallaw enforcement agencies responded. Due to the heavyalcohol consumption of the victim, a suspect could notbe identified. 2 subjects, one from each group, werearrested on Failure to Appear Warrants.

A CPO responded to a call for assistance with a sus-picious subject in Mercer Co. During the course ofinvestigation, the CPO confirmed the theft of multipletrophy deer heads/racks. The trophy heads/racks wererecovered at the scene. Arrested at the scene byMercer Co Sheriff’s Police, the suspicious subject waswanted on 2 felony warrants and was found to be in pos-session of over 75 stolen items. The suspect was alsolinked to burglaries in 9 Illinois and two Missouri coun-ties. Multiple charges are pending.

During a patrol on Mississippi River Pool 16, a CPOarrested a subject for operating a watercraft under theinfluence of alcohol. The subject submitted a breath


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POLICE… Cont’d. from previous pg. when he came across 2 fisherman way out on a sand barpoint. The first man said he had a license, but did nothave it with him. After a little bit of talking, he finallyadmitted that he did not have one. The other man lookedin his wallet and finally said he didn't have a licenseeither. Citations were issued.

A CPO was checking fishermen at Mermet Lake whenhe came across two subjects with six poles/lines in thewater. When asked for fishing licenses, one man said hewasn't fishing. The CPO explained that he had beenwatching them before he approached and the manadmitted that he had cast the line out a few times.While running the subject's info, the CPO was notifiedthat the man had an arrest warrant from Franklin,Williamson and Saline Counties. Citations were issuedand the man was taken to jail in Metropolis.

CPOs worked boating enforcement at Kinkaid Lakeand Lake of Egypt, noting several warnings and publicassistance for stranded boaters.

A District Sergeant and CPOs attended the visita-tion and funeral of retired Conservation Police OfficerPeter Clark in Cairo as the Honor Guard with a CPO play-ing Taps at the funeral.

A CPO concluded an administrative investigation ofout of state hunters that were getting false tags. Theinvestigation resulted into 17 charges that were filed inUnion Co for various wildlife violations.

A CPO had a disposition on a case in Alexander Co.The case was made during a wildlife checkpoint in 2010during firearm deer season. It was determined at thecheckpoint that subject had been falsifying applicationdocuments to obtain resident deer permits and huntinglicenses. He had moved to Florida several years prior,but continued to use his old Illinois address. The sub-ject was convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor and paid a$2500.00 fine.

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sample in excess of .08.While on foot patrol at Black Hawk State Historic

Site, a CPO arrested a subject for the illegal possessionof cannabis.

REGION 3A CPO cited a Sullivan man for Selling a Watercraft

without Certificate of Title.A CPO cited a Mattoon woman for Unlawful Entry into

a Restricted Area, climbing over barricades onto aclosed dock at Wolf Creek SP.

CPOs were on boat patrol on Lake Shelbyville andarrested a Shelbyville man for Unlawful Possession ofLess than 2.5 Grams of Cannabis and DrugParaphernalia.

REGION 4A CPO was checking fishing license north of Quincy,

when he checked an individual without a license. Theindividual was wanted on a warrant for failure toappear.

REGION 5District CPOs completed 2 administrative investiga-

tions. Individuals were cited for unlawful taking of adeer in a county closed during the antlerless only deerseason and unlawful take of deer without a permit.Another violation discovered was unlawful use of anoth-er's permit.

A District Sergeant and CPOs worked a boat patrolon Forbes Lake. A boat safety inspection was conduct-ed on a pontoon boat operated by a man and his fiancé.

Field sobriety tests were conducted on the male opera-tor. The subject had been drinking but was not over thelimit. The next day, CPOs were back on Forbes Lake andchecked the same pontoon boat. This time the femalewas operating the boat and was arrested for OUI with aBAC of .11.

A CPO concluded an administrative investigationthat resulted in 3 arrests in Missouri for hunters claim-ing residency in Illinois.

A CPO arrested a Union Co man for unlawfully dig-ging ginseng from a state site. He was arrested andbonded in Union Co.

A District Sergeant used sonar to search for stolenguns in the Mississippi River. The guns were not foundand the suspect later stated he lied about where heactually threw them.

A CPO investigated a Saline Co man for making falseapplication for free land owner deer permits. The man isthe son of the land owner and had moved out of hisfather’s residence to another home his father owns. Thesubject was issued a written warning for the violation.

A CPO is investigating a subject in Williamson Co forobtaining a free landowners permit on his father'sproperty in Jackson Co.

A CPO conducted two boat registration and titleinvestigations in Williamson Co.

A CPO responded to a complaint of a subject guidingfisherman on Crab Orchard US Fish & Wildlife Refuge.The complaint was unfounded.

CPOs conducted boat patrols on Kinkaid Lake andLake of Egypt.

A CPO was checking fishermen along the Ohio River

054_001.qxd 9/1/12 9:25 PM Page 4


Nothing. The starter whirred all right,but the engine failed to fire. All hadbeen okay when I'd hooked the horsetrailer the evening before and locatedthe pickup for tomorrow's quick exit. Iraised the hood, expecting to find a coilwire dangling. But all wires seemedtight and in place. Being somewhere left of a box of rockswhen it comes to things mechanical orelectrical, I called my friend Lyle. Anhour later, he wiped his hands andadmitted defeat. So I called a couple ofshop mechanics to see if they'd makehouse calls. They thought I was a DavidLetterman talent scout searching forsuckers.

Meanwhile, the ponies were pawingout the floor boards on the trailer, Janegrew more irritable by the minute, andour accompanying friends looked asthough it was "Black Friday" during the'29 stock market crash.

I called another mechanicallyinclined friend. He came, he saw, heconquered, diagnosing a failed controlmodule. And thus, three hurs after ourplanned exit time, we were at last underway. Four hours later, almost withinsight of our destination, our friendsblew a tire on their truck.

Since the day had progressed to thepoint it rubbed shoulders with the com-

ing night, Jane and I left our friends tochange tires while their horses stampedand pawed the floorboards in their trail-er. Jane's and my plan was for us tomake bushwhack end-of-the-road campand prepare supper. Our plan was notfor our friends, with only four miles totravel, to lose their way to the trailhead. Tired and cranky, it was well into thenight when we finally got things sortedout, all ponies unloaded, watered, andfed. Then it was our turn for the feed-bag.

We'd expected all along to camp atthe trailhead -- but had not anticipatedsuch a late arrival. Jane had pre-cookedthe chicken. She set out melon slices,ambrosia salad, cheese dip and chips.There were pastries for dessert.Unfortunately, everyone was too tired toeat. Which created a problem: what todo with all this leftover food?

Ours was a full-course meal for four.Our packs were already prepared for anearly morning departure. We planned tobe gone nearly a week. Although no onewants fermented melon slices or rottedchicken breasts on their hands at jour-ney's end we finally left our garbageinside the cab of our pickup truck; to doanything else would invite bears. Still,grizzly bears in our part of the worldhave been known to pop out wind-

C A M P F I R E C A M P F I R E C U L T U R E : C U L T U R E : Murphy's Law En

Route to Adventure

by Roland Cheekwww.RolandCheek.comIt was one of those not-to-be-forgot-

ten adventures. The horses were stamp-ing nervously in the trailer. Their sad-dles and tack were stowed in their prop-er compartments. All food and equip-ment necessary for a five-day wilder-ness packtrip had been weighed,wrapped into canvas packs and loadedinto the back of our pickup truck. Janebounced in eagerness on the passenger'sside. We grinned at each other in antici-pation as I twisted the ignition key.

shields to get to a vehicle's smell-goodcontents. But what else could we do?

This is a question I've not heard put tobear experts who are concerned aboutwe humans leaving bear attractinggarbage where bruins could get it, but itposes a thorny conundrum -- what arefolks supposed to do with leftover foodwhen events overtake them in bearcountry?

I'll predict their answer will soundeasy, but when Murphy's Law takesover, the doing will be hard.

Next month? Another walk on thewild side.

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Roland Cheek wrote a syndicated outdoors column(Wild Trails and Tall Tales)for 21 years. The column

was carried in 17 daily andweekly newspapers in two

states. In addition, he scripted and broadcast adaily radio show (Trails toOutdoor Adventure) thataired on 75 stations from

the Atlantic seaboard to thePacific Ocean. He's alsowritten upwards of 200

magazine articles and 12fiction and nonfiction books.

Read his stories on his website.

055_001.qxd 9/1/12 11:51 PM Page 1


There are certain comments that ring true, no matter the subject. Treat your car(etc.) right, and it’ll treat you right. That statement presumes you know how to treata car: proper maintenance, clean fuel, and minimized abuse. You might not be able toavoid winter driving, but you can try to dodge the potholes.

This principle works equally well for your treasured firearms. Learn and apply prop-er maintenance, avoid or minimize abusive weather conditions, and examine theammunition condition and fit before use, especially prior to an important hunt.

One part to analyze is the use of ammunition in loading, but not firing. The firearmwill be unloaded later, and there is the probability that those same shells will be loadedinto the magazine again, and thisaction may repeat. There should be a

method of track-ing the placing oflive shells into themagazine so thatthe same shells arenot repeatedlychosen, especiallyif there is anychance of weatherexposure or acci-dental scraping ofthe cartridge case.

You may noticein picture 1 thatthe cartridge caseshave a number ofscratches anddings from therepeated loadingand unloadingthat those particu-lar shells haveendured throughthe ages. Theseexamples wereinside the maga-zine of the gun inpicture 3, with theshell in picture 2being the cause ofthe stuck bolt ofthe aforemen-tioned 30-30 rifle.The lever wasunable to stroketo operate the mechanism properly and forceful tries by the shoot-er only succeeded in creating and enlarging the rim damage in pic-ture 2.

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056_001.qxd 9/1/12 11:24 PM Page 1


Some amount of initial damage was responsible for the jamming, but the exactamount of original damage was impossible to determine. The owner admitted that theshells had been in and out of the gun before, and when being unloaded, the lever wasjust stroked until the shells were all out on the ground. Sometimes the shells mighthave been landing on gravel or other hard materials, and that was responsible for theding marks on the cases. I recommended that the shooter place the ejection port in aposition to make catching the shells a possibility, whether by hand or into a contain-er or blanket, etc.

Some ammunition may deteriorate during storage, and new shells may still havedefects that are not readily noticed unless individually examined. This may not be easyor practical for some high volume shooting situations, but when the expected shell useis low, there is no reason to be stuck with a defective shell. ANY SHELL being placedin a LIFE DEFENSE situation should certainly be closely examined.

Picture 4 shows a shellwith some corrosion that wasmostly present on the basearea and primer. Excess cor-rosion around a primer maybe a sign of dampness expo-sure that could cause aninopportune misfire, and ifthere was a hangfire during aheated shooting session inthe duck blind with a pumpgun, the bolt might be openduring pumping when theshell decides to quit fizzlingand go BANG. I was speak-ing to a safety rep. that wasgoing to examine a gun thathad been in such a situation very recently.

Picture 5 has a shell in a rather extreme brass failure condition that should be easilynoticed before being loaded into a shotgun. Any mis-shapened shell is a potential jam

or mis-feed that everyone would rather avoid, if possible. Would the condition becaught if not so extreme as this example? A quick spin of the brass in the fingers wouldbe sure to have any splits be noticed, but lets hope that there isn’t a large sharp cornerpresent to cause an unpleasant interruption to your shooting preparation. Who’s gotthe band-aids?

Please be attentive to the ammunition condition to ensure the safety and success ofyour shooting experience. Realize that other deformities may be present that are notshown in the few examples here, such as out-of-round shotgun hulls due to being sator stepped on, as well as dropping damage to shells that are still in the container. Acardboard box may not be very damage resisting when landing on hard surfaces oragainst a box corner. Exposed shell loops on a belt may be OK for the movies, but asturdy plastic shell carrier is cheap insurance for a special hunt.

057_001.qxd 9/1/12 11:42 PM Page 1


The 2012 Snag & Brag Fishing Se-ries is a fundraiser for the Heart of Illi-nois United Way and Boys and GirlsClubs of Greater Peoria. The series in-cludes several great events including afull-day fishing tournament, a raffle“perfect for the outdoorsman,” fishingclinics for local elementary and middleschool students, and exclusive sponsor-ship opportunities and events.

FISHING SERIES INCLUDES: Fishing Clinics for Kids for nine (9)

days. Specific Sponsorship Opportunities Exclusive Sponsor Dinner on Thurs-

day, Sept 13 Fishing Tournament and Raffle on

Sat. Sept 15

Money raised for the Heart of IllinoisUnited Way stays in our communityfunding programs and services in Mar-shall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewelland Woodford Counties. The Boys and

Girls Clubs of Greater Peoria providesupport, guidance and hope to morethan 1,500 youth ages 6 to 18 years oldin the Peoria area.

Fishing Clinics for Kids Held atPrairie Lakes Farm in Farmington,IL Sept 4-7 & 10-14, 2012 9:00 a.m. to4:00 p.m.

Kids are provided with a box lunch &water for the day plus an open campfiredessert.

The fishing clinic offers each youth achance to fish, hike and observe nature.

Each Boys & Girls Clubs youth willreceive a T-Shirt, a tackle box withgoodies & a photo.

Kids will need to bring a jacket, ten-nis shoes, hat, sunscreen & a list of anyspecial dietary concerns.

Register for the fishing clinic for kidscontact Lesley Matuszak, ExecutiveDirector of the BOYS & GIRLSCLUBS OF PEORIA at 309-685-6007 or [email protected]

Sponsor DinnerThurs. Sept 13th

6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Cocktails will be provided. Dinner will be open fire grilling and

dessert.

Snag & Brag Raffle Tickets are $5each and will be sold before the eventand throughout the entire Fishing Serieson Sat. Sept 15. Prizes will be givenaway during the awards presentation onthe day of the Fishing Tournament. TheSilent Auction will be Thurs. Sept 13 atthe Sponsor Dinner. NEED NOT BEPRESENT TO WIN.

A FEW OF THE RAFFLE PRIZESINCLUDE: Multiple Guided Pheasant Hunts - Mul-tiple Guided Fishing Trips - GuidedArchery Deer Hunt - Guided GooseHunt - Shotgun - Tackle Boxes - Rods& Reels - Ducks Unlimited Shotgun -Ducks Unlimited Print - Tree Stands -Fire Extinguishers - Spring Clean-Up -Family Outdoor Photo Shoot - Jewelry- Maui Jim Sunglass Baskets - OutdoorClothing - Dry Cleaning Package -North Face Jacket - Ladies Muck Boots- Guitar - Gift Baskets - Television - OilChanges - Refrigerator - Coffee Maker

SIGN UP TODAY TO FISHHEART OF IL UNITED WAY’S

SNAG & BRAG TOURNEYFor more info: Don Johnson (309)674-5181, ext. 230 or Nick Williams

(309) 694-4500, ext. 2400

Brief program towards the end of theevening.

Covered tent atmosphere, sports-man’s blue-jean casual attire recom-mended.

Sponsors who attend the dinner atPrairie Lakes Farm in Farmingtonwill have a chance to win a gun or apainting.

SNAG & BRAG TOURNAMENT Sat. Sept 15, 2012

6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Prairie Lakes Farm in Farmington, Illinois

Two flights of boats at check-in. Breakfast provided for tournament

participants. Weigh-in is at 3:00 p.m. with awards

presentation to follow.Two anglers per boat that may only

possess a limit of 5 fish in the boat atonce.

Five fish tournament, total weightwinning, all fish must be alive.

Each boat provided with: water,boxed lunch, tournament t-shirt, spon-sor flag for stern light, weigh-in bag,lure assortment and memorable plaquewith picture from weigh-in.

Grand Stand set-up at weigh-in sitefor sponsors and tournament partici-pants.

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HUNTING TIME - Part 1Make the most of every hunting

minute with a tactical approach.

by George Robey

My hunting partner, Bill, threaded his wayalong a brushy fenceline, dodged some tractorruts and slogged uphill to my location. His down-ward gaze and slumped shoulders revealed histhoughts without the need to speak them: “Nodeer today! Rascal Ridge is NOT a place for morn-ing hunts!” he said emphatically. He had justburned half his weekly hunting time on an unpro-ductive vigil. Bill furrowed his brow and tightenedhis jaw before asking the definitive question. “So,which is better, morning or evening?”

Bill is typical of countless bowhunters whomust balance hunting time with multiple obliga-tions. He has three toddlers, a job requiring regu-lar overtime, a working wife, and myriad respon-sibilities. So when Bill budgets two hunting ses-sions during a week, he needs to make everyminute count.

He needs to hunt within a time-managementplan.

The secret to successful time managementmeans optimizing deer sightings every timeafield. Wise selection of hunting hours is the first

step. Most stand sites, based on time of seasonand locale, offer premium hunting at one specifichour.

Tactical timing may very well be the sleepertechnique of successful deer hunting.

Show Me The Data The Pope and Young Club has compiled a signif-

icant amount of trophy whitetail data thatincludes the time of day taken. Records indicate54 percent of P&Y entries were killed between 2p.m. and sunset. Conversely, 31 percent weretaken between sunrise and 10 a.m. The remaining15 percent were harvested at midday. It should benoted these statistics reflect only whitetail deertaken within the organization’s parameters andrestrictions, including a minimum antler score of125 (with deductions). In reality, this is a tinyfraction of the total U.S. whitetail harvest.

Unsurprising, bowhunters harvest 78 percentof the trophies from an elevated perch.

I conducted an impromptu survey of a dozentreestand bowhunters and was greatly surprisedwhen, without hesitation, they selected eveninghours as the favored hunting time. The reasonsranged from better hunting opportunities to aninability to get out of bed before sunrise. Thisinformal survey, while admittedly unscientific,can shed some insight into the P&Y data.

Students of bowhunting can recognize thatP&Y statistics tell only half the tale. The morningversus evening debate is not simply answered bythe number of deer taken in a given time period.

A scientific calculation would require the numberof man-hours per harvest at a specific time ofday.

A likely reason P&Y documented more deerharvested in the evening hours is logically simpleand a reflection of my impromptu survey:

Evening hours typically are more convenient.It is easier to hunt after work than before.Evening hours are warmer and more pleasant.Getting out of bed is not an issue. No doubt, P&Y statistics show evening is a

great time to hunt. But the kill factor alone doesnot reflect reality.

Related research and evidence suggests morn-ing and evening are equally productive huntingtimes. Telemetry studies, trail monitor research,and deer vehicle accident surveys all concludethe greatest movement patterns are around sun-rise and sunset. In fact, there seems to be littlestatistical variation between morning andevening deer movement patterns. Seasonaltrends, such as the November deep rut, and latewinter also hint of good hunting during off-peakhours. This is all good news for bowhunters.

Each segment of the day has a distinct allure.Morning signals revitalization, beginning with thebrilliance of a starscape creeping gently towardthe visual feast of daybreak. Evenings are morerelaxed, gradually diminishing the hard edge oflife to the cover of darkness. But, neitherromance nor random selection will increase deersightings. Time of day must be viewed as a hard

and cold tactical decision.Deer seasonal phases are the ultimate guide in

selecting stand sites geared for specific times ofthe day. Early-season treestand hunting is pre-dominately over food sources, rut-hunting is cen-tered on buck movement patterns, and the lateseason again returns to food sources. Each of theseasonal trends offers a tactical decision regard-ing time of day.

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E A R LY F A L LE A R LY F A L LL O N G L I N I N GL O N G L I N I N G

F O R C R A P P I EF O R C R A P P I EBy Tim Huffman

Crappie arelikely to bemoving whenwater temper-atures start tocool. Eachlake and riveris different soyou’ll have tolearn thec r a p p i e ’ smovements in your home waters. Twofishermen who spend a lot of time on Mis-sissippi lakes are Brad Chappell and BoHudson, but their techniques should workanywhere. Here are few of their guidelines.

Going Long“We do longline trolling,” says Bo Hud-

son. “Whether I’m on a guide trip or pre-fishing for a tournament, I start by riggingdifferent rigs to see what the fish are hit-ting. For example, today we’re practicingfor a tournament here on Grenada and

we’re fishing a point ledge type area thatgoes from 20 feet up to 10 feet. By check-ing different depths we found them at 17feet. We’re looking for active, suspendedfish right now but we want them relating tostructure. Structure to me is a ledge, humpor flat. We target these fish instead of theones in the cover because they are more ac-tively feeding. If we find shad balls we’lldefinitely be fishing around them becausethe fish will be with them or somewhereclose.”

In the fall Hudson says the fish on mostlakes start moving up the river channelsand can be found on river ledges. He be-gins on the top of a ledge and works hisway down until he finds the fish. He says70 degrees is the key temperature whencrappie start moving in the fall. Therefore,take a look at your temperature gauge tosee if crappie on still on their summer pat-tern or moving up river.

He says any weekend fisherman can im-prove their fishing by paying attention.“When a fish is caught I immediately lookat my depthfinder to see what depth we’rein, what type contour and then what colorthe fish was caught on. The key is to mim-ic what works. If the fish was in 18 footdeep water suspended up at 12 feet and hita black/chartreuse jig that’s important andsomething you want to repeat.”

Hudson controls the front of the boat

while partner Brad Chappell fishes out ofthe back. Chappell says his job is to findthe depth of the fish and the right color jig.“Bo controls the boat, speed and watchesthe locator. I’m looking for the rightweight combinations and colors that willcatch the most fish. You asked me aboutmy favorite color if I could only pick one?That would probably be a color called ‘Ve-gas’ by Bobby Garland, a dark purple andpink.” Chappell starts with favorite colorsand those that have been working thengoes through everything else. One tip isthat if a color, for example pink, is hot,make sure you try every color combinationyou have with pink in it. You not only havethe jig body but the jighead that offers col-or.

Get R’ DoneThe team’s equipment includes BnM

poles with 14-foot out the front and 12 and8 out the back. They use spinning reels, 6-pound test Vicious high-vis line. Riggingincludes two 1/16-ounce jigs, two 1/32, ora 1/32 and 1/16 depending upon thedepth. Their jigs include all of the BobbyGarland jigs with the Stroller often pro-ducing best when fast trolling.

“I like to go with the wind and parallel toa ledge,” says Hudson. “But many days thefish want something different. The key isnot get set in your ways and adapt.

Longlining allows you to fish with oragainst the wind without a problem. Whenfishing in an area that has current it’s im-portant to go with the current, not against

Bo Hudson caught this fish by long lining a ledge formed by a big point. He says speed,depth and bait color are all

important factors.

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it, especially in a river.”Speeds vary and can be difficult to control in the

wind and current. A GPS is very important. Hudsonsays 0.8 to 1.2 is often a good range.

Chappell says one key to this technique is settingthe hook. “You’ll often only have one or two secondsto set the hook. Also, the bite may be very light so it’sdifficult to see. Sometimes they hook themselves butoften you have to set the hook.”

Their line distance is about 50 to 60 feet. This getsbaits behind the boat a little distance. Also, there isenough line that depth can be controlled by slowingor speeding the boat up. They don’t measure the linebut rather make a simple cast that gets the distancethey want.

“Fish change often so the biggest thing is to stayopen minded and try a lot of different things,” saysChappell. “The key is to find a pattern. Once you finda pattern you can fine-tune baits, colors, depths, speedand the area all in one package. Once you find a pat-tern you can reproduce it in other parts of the lake.This is the same no matter what season you’re fish-ing.”

Fall TipWatching your locator is critical to finding cover,

baitfish and fish. Don’t be fooled in the fall when fish-ing areas close to shore or small creeks. The leaves fallfrom the trees and suspend in the water giving youfalse readings on your locator.

Final CommentsLonglining jigs give a fisherman the options to vary

speed, baits and depths. It’s a versatile technique thatcan be used to fish any part of a lake. The above ex-perts prefer ledges on the lakes they fish and explainedhow they fish them. On your lake it may be riverledges but could also be an old roadbed or other typestructure. Adding this method to your fishing will giveyou a tactic for targeting fish in the fall or any otherseason when fish are suspended up from cover.

To contact Bo Hudson for a guided fishing trip onRoss Barnett Lake or another hot Mississippi Lake,call 601-503-6417. For more crappie information orto order his books, visit Tim Huffman at:

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BAI NewsB y E d D e V r i e sState Fairs and

Bowfishing Championships

Greetings to all once again from all of us at theBAI!!

We in the BAI have been very busy the past fewweeks with the Illinois State Bowfishing Champi-onship and our info area and bowfishing range atthe Illinois State Fair in Springfield.!

The BAI was formed eight years ago to fight an-ti bowfishing moves from outside and inside theoutdoor sporting world. We have to fight the at-tacks of anti hunting groups as all outdoor sportlovers must, and unfortunately we must also fightanti bowfishing moves by those in the outdoor

sporting world who simply think bowfishing is bad.They feel the only way to harvest a fish is by hookand line and bowfishing is "barbaric and should beoutlawed".!

In our opinion these groups are much worsethan animal rights groups. The are hippocrateswho only help the cause of animal rights groupswho wish to shut all our outdoor sports down.!

As I said, protecting bowfishing from thesegroups is the reason the BAI was originally formed,and one of the ways we do this is by increasing theamount of people who enjoy the sport thru outdoorshows where we set up informative displays andeven let people shoot at submerged foam targets.This gives people a taste of what bowfishing is.Many start bowfishing and those who dont usuallysupport it.

Last month we let thousands of people shootbows and check out bowfishing at the Illinois State

shoot was divided into a day and night shoot. Theday shoot had numerous big and small fish compe-titions as well as the Cabelas Invasive Numberscompetition. The night shoot was split into a Big30 competition and a numbers competition. Bran-don Newby, Steve Beres and Ryan Wilson won justabout every competition this year including the In-nerloc Day Big 6 Championship and both Big 30and Numbers Night Championships. Everyone wenthome with some great prizes. We had 40 boatstake part in this years shoot.

In addition to the shoots we also held the thirdannual AMS Bowfishing Illinois Youth BowfishingChampionship. Kids 16 and under were instructedto keep their 3 largest fish separate from othersharvested off the boats they were on. The largest 3

Fair after we were asked to be part of the IDNRsconservation world by the fisheries department.There we set up several tables loaded with gear,pictures, video and bowfishing mfgr. catalogs. BAImembers were on hand all week to answer ques-tions about bowfishing. And out on the dock peo-ple young and old were able to shoot at underwatertargets using actual bowfishing gear. The lineswere never ending and everyone seemed to love therange, especially kids, many who were shooting abow for the very first time. Inside the tent our infobooth was constantly crowded with people inter-ested in learning about bowfishing. As many asfive BAI members could be seen talking bowfishingwith fair goers at a time thru the days.

The BAI is very proud to be part of conservationworld and are already making plans to improve thedisplay and range for next year. We would like tothank the IDNR for allowing us to be part of thearea and all the BAI members who spent theirweekends teaching bowfishing to thousands. Andwe want to thank all the fair goers who stopped byto take a few shots and learn about bowfishing.!

Another way to protect bowfishing is thrushoots where we show how important bowfishingcan be to the health of the fisheries by removingtens of thousands of invasive and over populatedfish from the waters. This year over 16,000pounds of asian carp were removed at the InnerlocState Championship and Directors shoot. The

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2012 AMS Youth ChampionshipParticipants

Troy Evans Winner of the RattlinRandy Big Gar Competition

A nice grass carp taken at theNight Championship

Brandi Melton teaching at the fair

062_001.qxd 9/2/12 8:55 PM Page 1


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fish won. Each kid received an award and a com-plete AMS Fishhawk Jr. was raffled off to all whoparticipated and awarded by AMS rep MattSchillinger. Getting kids involved in bowfishing isalso a great way to insure the sport will be aroundfor many years to come! Here are the completeresults of this years youth bowfishing champi-onship;

AMS ILLINOIS YOUTH BOWFISHING CHAMPIONSHIP9th place-Matt Beyer8th Place-Josh Swietek7th Place-David Thacker6th place-Justin Swietek5th Place-Tim Beyer4th place-Zack Lytle

3rd place-Jake Swietek2nd Place-Tyler Juergens1st place and 2012 Illinois Youth BowfishingChampion......TERRY GRUNS!!!!!!!

All the fish harvested at the shoot were stored ina refrigerated trailer supplied by Schaf fersFisheries and were turned into a high grade fishemulsion fertilizer. We want to thank Schaffers fortaking the fish, all the BAI members who worked tomake this shoot one of the best and biggest in thenation and the IDNR for being an important part ofthe tournament. This year IDNR Director MarcMiller did some pre-shooting with Frank Pauliks thenight before and shot the entire day shoot off myboat. Marc did his part in filling the trailer har-vesting several silver carp. !

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Big lines at the BAI table inConservation World

Tom Beyer teaching at the Fair

Hanna Kovel teaching at theBAI Bowfishing Range

Rick Urban keeping the linemoving at the range

Bowfishing is a great outdoor sport and we inthe BAI will always be there to promote and protectit wherever and however we can. And we hope allreading this will also help us by supporting, andbetter yet trying bowfishing!!

063_001.qxd 9/2/12 8:57 PM Page 1


crowded and people are playing agame of bumper boats but com-pared to spring and summer, thefall is pretty relaxed and quiet onmuch of the water I fish. The lakesare so quiet that by and large someof the best bites happening are onwell known community holes.Now obviously community spotsare good spots otherwise the spotwouldn’t attract enough fish andboats to be considered a communi-ty spot but these locations can real-ly shine during the fall.

Typically, a community spot is awell known spot that attracts atten-tion. These spots are often big andprominent or are limited. Perhapsa big reef or bar that is a majorstaging area for fish or an incomingriver or hole that can hold a goodnumber of fish. Obvious structuretypically attracts fish come fall.Bottle neck areas that funnel cur-rent along with any incoming cur-rent from rivers or creeks can alsostack fish up. Most of these typesof spots are no secret. Despite thefact that these locations are allknown spots on most bodies ofwater, the pressure is light comefall and these spots just seem to getbetter. These types of locations aregood when there are a lot of boatsaround but really heat up aftereverybody puts their boats in stor-age.

The biggest lesson I have learnedover the years about fall fishing isto not out think myself. There is noworry about finding little wrinkles

The fact that walleye fishing isgood come fall is no secret.Realistically one of the best timesof year for seeing solid patternsdevelops with great fishing. Bigfish are often fairly easy to targetwith some consistency. Despitehow good the fishing is late in theopen water season, there are notthat many people out fishing comefall on many major walleye fish-eries. Just too many things to dooutside like hunting and for manypeople, they have got their fishingfix for the season long before fall.The only people left on the waterare the real diehards and their num-bers are few.

Somewhere, there has to be a bitegoing on where the boat ramp is

CLASSIC FALLCRANKBAIT

PATTERNS FORHUGE WALLEYES

With Jason Mitchell

or patterns that are off the wallbecause you don’t typically have tofactor angling pressure into theequation. Don’t worry about find-ing a secret spot where there are noboats, typically you can fish themost well known spots on a bodyof water and not have many boatsaround. What can hurt the ego dur-ing the fall is that many of thesewell known spots that everybodyknows about often fish much betterthan the small off the wall spotsthat might be considered secret.

This is a big adjustment for someanglers to make. Many goodanglers succeed through the seasonby staying one step ahead of thecrowds and finding small spots thathaven’t seen pressure. You reallyhave to turn this switch off in thefall on many bodies of water. Fishthe obvious and swallow yourpride. The biggest fish each seasoncome from many of these wellknown locations that are punchedinto just about everybody’s GPSand the time to fish them is rightnow when not many boats are lefton the water.

There might be many reasonswhy community holes light upcome fall besides the obvious lackof angling pressure. Fish oftenseem scattered early in the fall butas fall progresses to winter, fishseem to stack up in areas. Comemid to late fall, fish often seem toform large schools and at somepoint congregate into a pretty defi-nite area. The spot has to typicallybe pretty big and obvious to hold areally large school of fish. Smallspots are not capable of holding agigantic school. The other thingthat big spots do is stop or stalltraveling fish. During the fallwhen the fish typically move a lotat some point, big spots intersectand stop more fish. Typically whenfish put on a lot of miles traveling,they will get paler in color.

Incoming creeks, rivers and bot-tle neck areas that focuses currentare also phenomenal places to tar-get big fish during the fall.Typically as well, the fewer thelocations like this on a body ofwater, the better the spot is and alsothe more well known the spot is.

On some fisheries, the gametakes place after dark. Wading outon current seams and eddies next toincoming streams or causewaysmight be the hot pattern. Trollingstick baits along rip rap or across

064_001.qxd 9/2/12 10:24 PM Page 1


large reefs can also create top afterdark patterns and usually these pat-terns fish best around a full moon.Day time patterns can run thegamut but typically range from bigprominent points and reefs to cur-rent.

Across the board, I have caughtmost of my really big fish comefall by either trolling or castingsome type of crankbait. Big fisheat crankbaits any time of the yearbut they seem to be even more pro-

ductive during the fall.Crankbaits tend to triggerthe bigger fish in a schooland enable you to coverwater to fish through a spotfast. There are many theo-ries as to why, but biggercrankbaits and lures seem tobecome more productiveduring the fall. Larger lureslike the number 6 size SalmoHornet pull hard and dis-place more water than mostcrankbaits but they sure dobecome more effective latein the season. Short lininglarger deep diving lures sothey move more water is atop tactic for triggering fishin the fall. Other great fall

lures include the Reef Runner DeepRippers, Bomber Long A DeepDiver, Rapala Jointed Shad Rapand the Salmo Bullhead SDR.Suspending stick baits are also adeadly lure option when fishingafter dark. Lures like the RapalaHusky Jerk or Salmo SuspendingSting catch several trophy walleyeseach season.

Big baits on big fish, fishingclassic community holes and spotsis the theme come fall across many

walleye fisheries. Not manysecrets this time of the year, youjust have to commit the time to beon the water. If you can bear thecold and face fishing communityspots, you have a great chance ofsticking some of the biggestwalleyes each season.

The author, Jason Mitchell holds up a jumbo walleye caught trolling a Salmo

Bullhead SDR. Catch big fish in the fallby trolling big baits over prominent main

lake structure or near current areas.

Jason Mitchell with a hugesmallmouth bass. The reservoirs

on the Missouri River in bothNorth and South Dakota offertremendous opportunities for

smallmouth bass.

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wire hook just straightens bend itback and keep on fishing. I havetried several brands of braided lineand keep going back to the Crystal.It has a wax coating that just helpsthe bobber stop stay in place and itis much easier to re-string itthrough the slip bobber. We catcheverything on my summer rig androutinely catch a limit of large-mouth while crappie fishing.Everything likes a lively minnow.

Then once we start getting thosenice cool evenings followed bysome very breezy days. I startsearching for white bass again andof course walleye will be withthem. The baitfish will get pushedup on the main lake flats with thewind and we will fish shallow andI mean shallow for them. I tellfolks that I anchor in two-feet ofwater and cast towards shore. Anexaggeration not really the whitebass will push shad right up on the

Finally SomeCool WeatherBy Steve Welch

I have pushed my way through ablistering hot summer and caught aton of crappie doing so and I don’tplan on quitting soon. Septemberfor me is no different than Augustuntil we get to the tail end of themonth. Then we will see the watertemps plunge and the lake will turnover. Once we get the water tempsabout 60-62 the lake will stratifyand the thermocline will be gone.This will allow fish to be in justabout any depth.

I start my month crappie fishingjust like I have been doing sincethe end of June. Using deep downtrees on channel banks and driftingminnows over them and catchingtons of crappie.

The tackle I use for this is a cus-tom Norm’s rod eight-feet in lengthspooled with twenty-pound Fire-line Crystal braided line then I puton a quarter-ounce weight go downto a barrel swivel and then I tie ona foot of seventeen-pound StrenFluorocarbon for a leader and last-ly a number four light wire Ab-erdeen hook and a slip bobber bigenough to hold everything up. Thisis my summer rig and folks areamazed on how you can snap therod and free your snag. The light

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bank and when you catch them andset the hook you will pull theirback out of water. Believe me thisis a ball and we catch them by thethousands.

The wind can be so strong onthese shorelines that I use a thirty-pound anchor to aid me in slowingdown when drifting these longstretches of shore. I simply let outenough line to slowly allow me toslip drift and once we hit a school Ilet out about ten -feet and the thir-ty-pound anchor will hold me.

Wind is the key out on the mainlake but the shad are also goingback into any large cove that has afeeder creek in the back and thewhite bass and muskie follow. Sowe mix it up and do some flatsfishing and cove searching.

The tackle that I use to fish theseshallow flats are my 3/8 and 1/2oz.Candystripers, a number three BlueFox Vibrex spinner or a Big Dudeblade bait. For the coves I like my5/8oz. Candystriper. I use a seven-foot Abu-Garcia Veritas mediumaction rod spooled with a Pfluegerspinning reel and ten-pound line.For my 5/8oz. Candystripers I liketo use a bait caster so I once againuse an Abu-Garcia Veritas medium

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066_001.qxd 9/3/12 5:02 PM Page 1


action rod and a Revobait casting reel spooledwith fifteen-pound mono.You tie into a muskie youwant a heavier set up.

So September really isa month of transition andI really look forward tothe great fall fishing thatfollows. Crappie back inthe shallows, maybe ahuge eye mixed in withthe whites or an evenbigger muskie lying onshallow shore back in acove. It all gets me excit-ed.

I have several openingsas of the time of thiswriting and you cancheck my availability bygoing to www.LakeShel-byvilleguide.com andwhile you are there feelfree to join Illinois FishTalk our fishing forumthat is growing leaps andbounds.

BOOK YOUR FISHING TRIP WITH STEVE TODAY!217-762-7257 Cell: 217-840-1221 • LakeShelbyvilleGuide.com

Kurt Maubach hefting a 3-man limit of crappie that were

caught, along with is Dad-John, on 08/05/12.

S.W. Hardwick also with a 3-man limit of crappie caught,

along with his Dad-Mike, on 08/07/12.

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Kevin Hicks with a beautiful 10# bass caught at Kentucky Lake.

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067_001.qxd 9/2/12 11:39 PM Page 1


Should I get a Flu Shot 2012-2013?For the 3rd year in a row something simple from

the Federal Government!Everyone 6 months of age or older should re-

ceive influenza vaccination! (I looked and I cannot see that this simple gov-

ernment mandate came from the White House.)Flu vaccines are designed to protect against 3

influenza viruses that experts predict will be themost common during the upcoming season. Threekinds of influenza viruses commonly circulateamong people today: influenza B viruses, influenzaA (H1N1) viruses, and influenza A (H3N2) viruses.Each year, one flu virus of each kind is used to pro-duce seasonal influenza vaccine.

The 3 strains included in this year’s vaccine area little different than last year:

an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09-likevirus;an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus;a B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus (from the B/Ya-

magata lineage of viruses).While the H1N1 virus is the same as the 2011-

the following contraindications:-Severe allergy to eggs (the virus is grown in

chicken eggs)-Severe reaction to past vaccines (shortness of

breath or throat swelling) -Tenderness at the site is not severe and usual-

ly means you have been exposed to -one of the 3 strains in the past and the body al-

ready has made some antibodies. It is -likely that the local reaction will be more this

year since this is the same as last year. It is likelyto be more like a tetanus booster reaction.

-Developed Guillain-Barre’ syndrome within 6weeks of receiving a flu shot.

-sick with fever (Wait until recovery, then getvaccinated).

Each year about 15 million days of work are lostdue to Influenza. The vaccine will prevent about 5million days of work lost to illness or about a sav-ings of $253 million a year. One study estimatedthat by taking a flu shot each person will gain onehealthy month of life. Each worker receiving a flushot will prevent about 1/2 day off work due tosickness. The flu shot will also decrease the inci-dence of the common cold virus by about 30%.Doctor visits are decreased by 44% in those takinga flu shot. Get your flu shot!

Dru Hauter, MD is an avid sportsman and Central Illi-nois native. Dr. Hauter grew up in San Jose, Illinois andhas hunted upland game in Logan and Mason Countiesand waterfowl on the Illinois River for the last 40 years.His wife, Marcia, and his children, Emily and Ben, helphim run Sunny Slope Hunt Club and Lodge. Dr. Hauterpractices Occupational Medicine at the Illinois WorkInjury Resource Center (IWIRC) in Peoria, Illinois. Hecan be reached at [email protected]

Industrial Park

2012 recommendation, the recommended in-fluenza H3N2 and B vaccine viruses are differentfrom those recommended for the Northern Hemi-sphere for the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine. Therecommendation is always to get a flu shot everyyear. Over time the immune response to influenzadecreases. As we prepare to enter the Flu Seasona high, revved up immune response allows the bestsurvival. The goal of the flu shot is survival, notjust prevention of influenza. Influenza A is a lifethreatening disease. The commonly used term of“flu” may be used to describe other viral illnesssuch as the stomach flu. The stomach flu is not aslife threatening as Influenza A. The question toask yourself is; Am I alive this year, yes! Thenyour flu shot worked. If you did not get a flu shotand survived, then the odds are against you thisyear, so get a flu shot. An annual flu shot will helpdecrease the spread of the disease as well. So doyour part to help decrease the disease overall.

Two main types of flu vaccines are available inthe United States, the inactivated vaccine and thelive-attenuated vaccine. The inactivated vaccine

SHOULD I GETA FLU SHOT?

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has been around for 40 years and is recommendedfor people older than 6 months. It can be given topeople with high risk medical conditions and preg-nant women. It is given by a muscular injection.There is a High Dose formulation of the inactivatedinjection that contains four times the amount ofantigen. This was recommended for people over65 years of age and designed to produce astronger immune response. This high dose immu-nization is also given by a muscular injection.There is also an interdermal or skin injection thatcontains the least amount of antigen yet providesa similar response. This can be given to people 18to 64 years of age.

The Live-Attenuated vaccine is only for healthypeople from age 2 to 49 years. It is recommendedthat the live vaccine not be given to people work-ing with patients that are immune suppressed fora period of 2 weeks after receiving the live vac-cine.

Antibodies to the 3 strains given in the flu shotare made by our immune system and our body re-members the identity of the virus strain and therecipe for the specific antibody attacker to thatvirus. This explains how people who get an annualflu shot are better protected when a new strain oc-curs. Virus replication is very fast. Fast replica-tion speeds evolution and new strains occur.

When is the best time to get a flu shot? ….Assoon as the vaccine is available. I received mysupply in early August this year. (New Record) Youcannot get the flu shot too early. It takes about 2weeks to develop the antibodies and Influenzastarts to show up in the Midwest in October.

The CDC recommends everyone over 6 months ofage get a flu shot this year unless you have one of

068_001.qxd 9/3/12 12:04 AM Page 1

We departed around noon on Sunday drivingthrough heavy snow and about 2-3 inches on theground when we left.

This was my first hog hunt and it was more chal-lenging than I expected. I only saw one hog duringour spot and stalk ventures. The other threehunters saw none! The hogs have an excellentsense of smell and this makes stalking them verydifficult. The bait holes proved to be the most pro-ductive strategy. However night hunting might bean option next time.

I know the drought had a major impact on thequality of our hunt. I would say in a couple of yearswhen the rainfall returns to normal and the habitatrebounds, the hunting will be much better. Thisoutfitter has a large tract lease and has manyhunting opportunities. I would definitely considerthem for another hunt. (TXH12)

New Destinations:Following destinations - 5 great hunting outfit-

ters and 2 first class fishing lodges have beenevaluated over the past few weeks and will beadded to the “Outdoor Connection inspection list”at this point. Thru out the year some of ourOutdoor Connection people, sometimes accompa-nied by guests, will be inspecting them. If they areapproved by our panel they will be added to ourimproved list. We presently have outfitters inthese areas but we are constantly adding top qual-ity outfitters and lodges.

(GAS-Outdoor Connection Agent) Cont’d. on next pg.


OUTDOOR CONNECTION

By Gerald

A. Sampen

“TRUE HOG HUNTING” CAN BE TOUGH & SEVERAL MORE TOP

QUALIT Y ADVENTURES!

Who Said “Real” Hog Hunts Are Easy? FromOutdoor Connection Publication As Told By BrianB.-IL

We arrived on Friday afternoon to our remoteoutpost. The accommodations were modest butwell suited for our group of four hunters. After abrief introduction, and all the formalities, we wereon our way out to the field for the first hunt. Thefather and son took a stand near a watering hole,while myself and another hunter were let off to doa spot and stalk hunt thatwould end up at a bait hole.The weather was cool and thearea was in one of the worstdroughts on record. Normalwatering locations were dryand the only water to be foundwas at the cattle wateringlocations. The terrain wascomfortable walking withrolling hills and mild ravinesthat made for excellent glass-ing. The mesquite flats on theother hand were challengingbecause you could not seeover the mesquite and notbeing familiar with the area,and no landmarks to guideyou, made a GPS worth every

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penny. While it marked boundaries suchas fence lines and roads, landmarks

of visible reference were notmarked. I have been to Alaska,Montana, Wyoming, and a fewother states and I must admit at

one point, without my GPS I wouldhave been lost.

After reaching the bait hole just beforedark, I set up about 150 yds away and was suc-cessful in harvesting a nice mid sized hog.Although my shot was a little misplaced, the boardropped in its tracks. I was the only one to harveston Friday evening.

Back at the trailer house, the hog was dressedand hung to cool out, and a nice evening meal wasprovided. The night turned much cooler and thepropane tank was empty so it was quite chilly inthe bunk.

Saturday morning we once again went on a spotand stalk. No one saw anything. Saturday eveninghad all the hunters setting up over bait holes.Myself and another hunter were successful in har-vesting just before dark.

Once again the hogs were dressed and hung anda good meal to relax after a long day. Sundaymorning brought a much colder day and a blanketof snow falling about mid morning. Only the twohunters that were scoreless went hunting. Myselfand the other hunter stayed and broke camp.

Alberta Big GameHunt the boreal forest of Alberta, along the

Athabasca River - an area abounding in wildlife.Bears, moose, whitetails, wolves all thrive in thiswilderness. In the spring and early fall their river-boats get you into some of the best bear andmoose country in Alberta. After freeze up we turnour sights to Alberta's giant whitetails that live inthe agricultural fringe areas. One of our agentsjust had two clients return from hunting these andboth took nice black bears. We will inspect themeither this fall or next spring.

Another BC Hunting OpportunityThis outfit is an expansion of another great out-

fitter we already represent. Mike just purchasedthis area and will be offering moose, mule deer,black bear, cougar and wolf hunts out of this area.They are located in central British Columbia on theNorth Chilcotin plateau.

Kansas Upland and TurkeyThis outfitter is located in northwestern

Kansas and offers hunts for pheasant, turkey andwhitetail. Hunts take place on a ranch and accom-modations are in cabins on the property.

North Dakota Pheasant Come and hunt 9,000 acres of creek bottom,

cattail sloughs, and CRP. Each day you will seehundreds of WILD PHEASANTS. Sharp tail grouse

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time. Check us out! "Check out what's going on !"Battles with kings thrill on Lake Michigan salmon.The fun and action is waiting for you and yourgroup. Kings & Coho Salmon with a few Rainbowsmixed in are providing Great action off the Port ofSheboygan. (WIF3)

Give us a call, Captain “Pat”

SPECIALS:

Colorado Fly Fishing (COF5)July 1 – October 31

4 Night/3 Day - $2,000 Per PersonBrowns, Rainbows, Cutthroats, Cuttbows

Nebraska Pheasant (NEH5)October 25 -27

$1,199 Per Person2 Night/2 Day All Inclusive

Manitoba Combo (MBH5)Book a Moose Hunt And Get A Free Black Bear

And Wolf1 On 1-$9,500

Alaska Salmon And Halibut (AF7)3 Day/4 Night $2,495 Per Person

Sitka, Alaska Offers Excellent Salmon AndHalibut Fishing In The Summer

If you are interested in any of the adventureshighlighted in this article or in the many otheradventures Outdoor Connection offers, give us acall. These adventures make great gifts for highschool and colleges graduations, weddings, birth-days, anniversaries, etc. Time to get your name onthe book for that great 2010 fall hunt and even insome cases 2011.

Yo u r O u t d o o r C o n n e c t i o n A g e n t G e ra l d a n d J e a n n e S a m p e n

4 2 1 O l i v e S t . • E m d e n , I L . 62 6 3 52 1 7 - 3 76 - 3 8 73

g e ra l d @ o u t d o o r - c o n n e c t i o n . c o m

O.C. … Cont’d. from previous pg.

and Hungarian partridge are also common and canbe taken on your day to day normal hunts.

Mexica’s Riviera Maya Fishing

This lodge is consistently named one ofMexico's most exceptional boutique resorts, is seton 14 acres, including a private beach. It is per-fectly situated along Cancun's famed Riviera Mayajust 20 minutes from Cancun's InternationalAirport. This beautiful lodge is located in the heartof Puerto Morelos, near the well-preserved PuertoMorelos National Marine Park, which is one of thelargest barrier reefs in the world. The fishing isexcellent here.

can be on the dock and ready to head out for a dayof fishing in the almost always calm waters thatonly this charter can give you. Several condos orvillas are available for anglers during the fishingtrips.

A Reminder:Summer is here for most of us. It is time to

enjoy some time with the family and get out thereand be a participant in all things outdoors. If youhaven’t booked a fishing trip somewhere yet, thetime is now. An upland or waterfowl hunt for thisfall? Never too early to get that booked. Whatabout the deer or elk hunt you have been thinkingabout? There are some great deals out there andas we all know, the calendar never gets clear, wehave to clear it and take time to do the things welove.

In the Outdoors, OC Corporate Staff

Report From Sheboygan (Wisconsin That Is) TheBig Bang Is/King Salmon Are Here

Welcome Aboard! What a spring...graduations,weddings, great weather, river Steelhead run,Brown trout off shore, Walleyes in the Bay and nowsome great Lake Michigan Salmon and Trout fish-ing. Yup, we had a crazy spring but as we shift intosummer we wanted you to know about the Cohoand King Salmon action we been having, it's sec-ond to none. The crew has them dialed in close toshore so it's not a boat ride it's a fishing experi-ence of a life time. If you have been waiting to takethe special someone on a fishing trip now is the

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Rose Mary Millett’s“Sitting Pretty” &“Rustic Outlook”

Costa Rica FishingThis is a 5-Star sport fishing operation and the

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Alan Thompson, Agent623 E. Jackson • Macomb, IL 61455

Bus.: 309-833-2400Cell: 309-333-0100www.Alansf.com

Max Thompson, Agent108 N. Orange • Havana, IL 62644

Bus.: 309-543-6248Fax: 309-543-4899

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070_001.qxd 9/3/12 4:24 PM Page 1


Get your pond or lake ready for Fall!

Mel’s Sporting GoodsMel’s Sporting Goods• Custom Built Bowstrings• Pro Shop• Indoor Range• Computerized Video Simulated Hunting

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DUCK CREEK HUNTING UPDATE

by Keith CordellMissouri Early Season MigratoryBird Hunting

All early season migratory bird hunt-ing will be allowed on Duck Creekthrough October 14. Hunt areas willinclude Pool 1 north of the posted whitesigns, Units A and B, Fishponds, KinderPool and Dark Cypress Swamp. Arearegulations will follow statewide regu-lations. Remember, you may only useor possess non-toxic shot while huntingon this area. See the 2012 MigratoryBird Hunting Digest at Missouri’s con-servation website: www.mdc.mo. govfor season dates and shooting hours.

Units A and B ReconfigurationUnits A and B are a bit different than

they used to be. Some of the pools andaccess roads will be familiar, but manyof the recognizable landmarks such astree lines and levees are no longer there.To take a look at the hunting positionsmap: mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2012/08/unit_ab_huntunits.pdf or go to link at the bottom of the pageunder "Related Information" and openthe pdf on the next page. This will illus-trate the location of roads and parkingareas for access to the hunting pools.We have attempted to retain as muchfamiliarity with pool numbers as possi-ble but it is definitely going to takesome getting used to the alterations.One of the biggest changes in Unit A isthe removal of the west boundary roadand ditch which historically separatedUnit A from Unit B. Unit A now con-sists of all the ground north of McGeeCreek while Unit-B lies to the south.

The renovation of Units A and B isnearing completion; however, we arestill waiting for the last and most impor-tant part to be finished. The wells and

main water control structure are still notoperational and it is presently uncertainwhen this is issue is going to beresolved. There is some water in thenewly created scours that is alreadybeing utilized by early migrating birds.Hunting opportunity will be limited tothese areas until the wells can be turnedon or we receive substantial precipita-tion.

Teal and Early Goose SeasonTeal hunting will be “self-check” uti-

lizing the blue hunter sign-in cards anddrop boxes at the HQ and parking areason Highway Z and at Dark CypressSwamp. Early Canada goose seasonwill be allowed in a similar manner.Hunting is allowed opportunisticallyand will be available as long as it doesnot interfere with simultaneous man-agement activity. It may become neces-sary to temporarily close portions ofthese areas for safety or logistical rea-sons as our staff and/or contractors areworking in the area. This informationwill be posted at the sign-in areas ifrequired. We are currently working onestablishing and finishing access roads,parking areas, seeding and mulching thelevees, getting signs and pool bound-aries posted as well as preparing theunits for the November waterfowl sea-son. Please be patient with these activi-ties concurrent with the teal season.Updates will be posted pertaining to thestatus of water pumping capability assoon as the information becomes avail-able.

PEKIN DUCKS UNLIMITED CHAPTERAnnual Banquet Tuesday. SEPT. 18th

Pekin Moose LodgeDoors Open at 5 p.m. Dinner 6:30

Tickets $35 at door or $30 in advance from TomSponsor Banquet Fri. Sept. 14th at Pekin K-C Hall

Prime Rib Dinner for Sponsor & Guest, $250.00Call Tom Sonderman at: 309-241-2132

PEKIN DU CHAPTER NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!

071_001.qxd 9/4/12 2:18 AM Page 1


OUTDOOR NEWSFEDS OK PLANS FOR DEER KILLS AT INDIANA DUNES

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind — Federal officials havegiven final approval to a deer-management planauthorizing deer kills at the Indiana DunesNational Lakeshore.

The plan approved June 22 by the National ParkService calls for sharpshooters to begin takingdeer this fall at the northwestern Indiana park. Italso permits the capture and euthanasia of deerand using fencing and repellents to keep deer awayfrom rare plants and restored areas of the park.

The Chesterton Tribune reports the ParkService said the plan will “preserve the exception-al biodiversity within the park.’’

Wildlife biologists will monitor deer’s impact topark vegetation each year during the long-rangeplan to determine whether the managementefforts should be adjusted to better control thedeer population.

NEW MEXICO SELLING DEER, JAVELINA, ELK HUNTING LICENSES

SANTA FE, NM — The state Game and Fish Deptsays more than 3,000 licenses to hunt deer andjavelina remain available to sportsmen in NewMexico and other states.

The licenses are left over from the state’sannual drawing and can be purchased by hunters

of any age who didn’t obtain a permit for thatspecies.

The department also is offering 1,500 antler-less elk licenses for hunters under age 18, NewMexico residents and nonresidents, who didn’tdraw a license for the upcoming big game huntingseasons. The elk licenses went on sale Thurs. Aug.9, 2012.

The licenses are available online at the depart-ment’s website: www.wildlife.state.nm.us

BRANSON CHIEF SUPPORTING DEER HUNTS INSIDE CITY

BRANSON, Missouri- Branson police chief KurtCrutcher says the city ought to allow bow huntingof deer inside city limits. Crutcher says anincreasing number of deer have caused at least 25car accidents in Branson in the past year.

The chief supports a plan to allow the huntingduring bow and arrow season. Hunters would berequired to have the appropriate permits and safe-ty training.

KYTV reports http://bit.ly/MRnwvG the plan issimilar to hunts allowed in recent years in otherMissouri cities, including Springfield.

FATAL DEER DISEASE FOUND IN 2 MICHIGAN COUNTIES

LANSING, Mich — A viral disease that is oftenfatal to deer has turned up in two Michigan coun-ties.

The state Dept of Natural Resources saidTuesday that deer infected with epizootic hemor-

rhagic disease, or EHD, have been found in easternIonia and northern Branch counties. The diseasehas been confirmed in one deer in each county.DNR spokesman Ed Golder said other carcasses arebeing tested.

EHD is transmitted by a biting fly. It causesextensive internal bleeding. Infected deer losetheir appetite and fear of humans, grow weaker,salivate excessively and finally become uncon-scious. They’re often found sick or dead along or inbodies of water. There is no evidence that humanscan get the EHD virus.

EHD outbreaks have happened in isolated sec-tions of Michigan nearly every year since 2006.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CONFIRMED IN 7 KANSAS DEER

PRATT, Kansas- The Kansas Dept of Wildlife,Parks and Tourism says chronic wasting diseasehas been confirmed in seven deer in the state.

The agency also said there are two other pre-sumptive positive samples that require more test-ing. The number is down slightly from the 10 foundwith the disease last year.

Since testing began in 1996, Kansas has had49 confirmed cases of deer with chronic wastingdisease. The disease was first detected inCheyenne Co in 1955.

The fatal disease causes holes in the brain, giv-ing it a sponge-like appearance. The agency saysthere’s no evidence that the disease in deer posesa risk to people or livestock.

KANSAS HUNTING CAMP CASE SNARES 3 MORE HUNTERS

WICHITA, Kansas — A major investigation into

2 0 0 1 F o r d R a n g e r X LT S u p e r c a b 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 6 9 0 02 0 0 1 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT Re g u l a r C a b , S h o r t b e d , 4 x 4 . . . . $ 78 8 02 0 0 1 F o r d F 3 5 0 L a r i e t C re w c a b , 4 x 4 D i e s e l . . . . . . . . . . $ 75 0 02 0 0 2 C h e v y S 1 0 C re w c a b 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 79 5 02 0 0 3 F o r d E x p l o re r S p o r t T ra c X LT 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 76 4 02 0 0 3 D o d g e R a m 1 5 0 0 S LT Re g u l a r C a b 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . $ 7 7 702 0 0 3 F o r d F 2 5 0 X LT S u p e r c a b 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 8 9 9 02 0 0 4 F o r d E x p e d i t i o n E d d i e B a u e r 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7 74 02 0 0 4 F o r E x c u r s i o n LT D 4 x 4 D i e s e l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1 6 , 5 0 02 0 0 4 C h e v y S u b u r b a n LT Z 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 9 9702 0 0 4 D o d g e R a m 3 5 0 0 C re w c a b 4 x 4 D i e s e l . . . . . . . . $ 1 8 , 4 8 02 0 0 4 D o d g e R a m 2 5 0 0 Q u a d c a b 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 9 0 0 02 0 0 5 F o r d E x p e d i t i o n E d d i e B a u e r 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1 2 , 9 9 02 0 0 5 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT Re g u l a r c a b 4 x 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 9 8 8 02 0 0 5 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c a b 4 x 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1 2 , 9 9 02 0 0 5 C h e v y 1 5 0 0 S i l v e ra d o LS E x t e n d e d 4 x 2 . . . . . . . . $ 9 5 6 02 0 0 5 F o r d F 2 5 0 X LT C re w c a b 4 x 4 D i e s e l . . . . . . . . . . $ 1 5 , 5 0 02 0 0 5 F o r d F 3 5 0 X L Re g u l a r C a b 4 x 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 6 9 5 02 0 0 5 F o r d F 3 5 0 K i n g R a n c h C re w c a b 4 x 4 D i e s e l . . $ 1 9 , 5 5 02 0 0 5 F o r d F 3 5 0 L a r i e t C re w c a b D u l l y 4 x 4 D i e s e l $ 1 8 , 8 0 0

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illegal deer hunting in Kansas has snared threemore out-of-state hunters.

The U.S. attorney’s office says three customersof a hunting camp called Camp Lone Star pleadedguilty and were sentenced Monday on misde-meanor charges of interstate transportation ofwildlife taken in violation of state law.

A judge sentenced Bart Stelly of Arnaudville,La..; Ryan Pinkston of Center, Texas; and TimMetcalf of Lafayette, La., to probation. They mustalso pay fines and restitution.

The government says 25 people have now beensentenced for activities of the hunting camp nearthe south-central town of Coldwater. Plea hear-ings are scheduled later this month for three oth-ers.

The camp’s owner and his brother were sen-tenced last year to 41 and 27 months in prison,respectively.

WYOMING LEFTOVER BIG GAME LICENSES GO FASTCHEYENNE, WY

The state Game and Fish Dept says its leftoverWyoming big game hunting licenses went fast.Leftover full-price elk, deer, and antelope licenseswent on sale at 8 a.m. on July 10, and reducedprice cow/calf elk and doe fawn deer and antelopelicenses were released a week later on July 17.

Game and Fish says more than 2,500 full pricelicenses were sold in the first 30 minutes on July10 and over 5,500 reduced price licenses weresold within the first half hour on July 17.

The agency says the licenses went so fast becausehunters could go online to buy them. For severalyears the Game and Fish has been issuing leftoverlicenses online via the Game and Fish website.

072_001.qxd 9/3/12 12:24 PM Page 1

IDNR URGESBOATERS TO USE

CAUTION AT BOATRAMPS DUE TO

LOW WATER LEVELS

IDNR is urging boaters touse extra caution at public boatlaunches throughout the statedue to low water levels as aresult of ongoing drought con-ditions.

Low water levels increase therisk to boaters putting in ortaking vessels out of the waterand could cause damage toboats if proper caution isn’tused.

“The most important thing is to usecommon sense,” said IDNR DirectorMarc Miller. “As we continue throughthis drought, water levels on lakes andrivers will probably continue to decreaseand some boat ramps may not be able toaccommodate the angle some boats needto get in and out of the water.”

Additionally, boaters should exerciseadditional caution once on the water.Some areas that are usually navigable


The 8th annual Operation Santa isgearing up to ship 20,000 Christmasstockings to deployed service person-nel. The cost is substantial for thiseffort, with the majority of those fundsgoing to postage costs. RemainingOperation Santa organizational fundsare used to subsidize items to fill thestockings. All funds must be raised andstockings all shipped by the end ofNovember 2012.

Imagine being in a strange hostilecountry, living in barracks or tents,sometimes without electricity or anability to connect to phones or internet.Now imagine that you are 21 years old,on your first deployment, during one ofthe most family-oriented times of theyear, away from your family, spouse,children, friends, the warmth of yourliving room, or the bustling crowds atthe mall. Below are some Thank youcomments received from some of therecipients.

“Thank you for the stockings. It’snice to know there are people out there

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that care about us. We are so far awayand people like you make ourChristmas better. Thank you from thebottom of my heart from the 216 FoxCompany Machine Gun Section.” SPCGonzalez.

“Our company has been living out ofvehicles, outside ‘the wire’, for almosttwo months. Without Internet or accessto anyone back home, things like thestockings hanging from the radio makesa big difference to our morale. MerryChristmas.” Patrick 1st Lt, USMC

Operation Santa supports the militarycommunity, not policies nor politics.The effort opens the door for citizens toprovide support and appreciation to ourtroops, a way to say, “We are behindyou and remember you.”

PO Box 1975Bloomington, IL 61702-1975

Phone 309-692-4008www.operationsanta.info

Find us on Facebook:Operation Santa – Central Illinois

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may not be due to lack of water. The IDNR owns and manages hun-

dreds of public boat access areasthroughout the state. As of now, noboat ramps are closed and boaters mayuse the ramps at their own risk.

Private property owners living nearrivers, lakes and streams should also be

alert to the low water accompa-nying the ongoing drought.Low water levels and hotweather are stressing fish andin some cases are causing natu-ral fish kills due to low oxygenin the water. The public canhelp minimize fish kills byhelping to keep pollutants outof surface waters. The IDNRasks the public to avoid chemi-cal applications on lawns whenpossible and walk their proper-

ties close to surface waters to be surenothing is or can enter the water.

Illinois residents and visitors boatingand fishing at IDNR-managed sites areencouraged to check with the specificIDNR park office for information oncurrent conditions.

For more information on droughtconditions in Illinois, check the State ofIllinois drought information website atwww.drought.illinois.gov.

073_001.qxd 9/3/12 4:05 PM Page 1


TRAVELING WITHA HUNTING DOG

Part IIWhen it comes to travelingwith your retriever, the old

Boy Scout motto, “Always Be Prepared”

is never more applicable.by Michael D. Faw

You hunted hard all day yesterday,and it’s the wee early hours of themorning when your dog suddenlyneeds out to use the bathroom. Don’tjust crack the motel room door andlet Rover roam and relieve no matterhow weary you are and eager toreturn to bed. There might be dangersout there that you wouldn’t want yourdog to encounter. Watch him.

A first concern is the cars that zipthrough parking lots and aroundevery corner. When it’s dark, yourdog becomes nearly invisible. Also,your dog could encounter raccoons,other dogs and even coyotes aroundthe ever-present dumpsters found atmotels. Such an encounter might leadto a fight or chase that spills into anearby highway. Raccoons, in partic-ular, are carriers of rabies.

On the road, nearly any parking lotcan be an obstacle course of anunwanted source for antifreeze andspoiled human food. If your dogingests such attractive nuisances, it

can be fatal to him. The best that youmight hope for is that your dog willonly be out of action for a few days.Dogs should always be leashed —and under immediate control andsupervision — at any rest area, truckstop, roadside park or gas station.

And remember to lock up every-thing when you head into a restaurantif you stop while traveling. It onlytakes a minute to keep your dogsecure — and it only takes less than aminute for someone to steal him.

Pack For Your Dog’s ComfortRoad trips can be stressful for your

dog, or, if done properly, can be funor at least comfortable. Take alongblankets, fluffy dog beds and otherpersonal gear your dog likes. I alsotoss in a few towels to wipe paws orclean up messes. And there are sever-al sources for pet wipes. If you traveloften to hunt, consider packing suchitems in a travel bag that stays in yourtruck until hunting season is over forthe year.

To keep any dog healthy, rememberto frequently clean kennels andbowls. A Clorox wipe will work toclean most kennels. All feeding andwatering bowls, however, that touchthe ground anywhere should becleaned daily with hot soapy waterand rinsed well. This can be accom-plished in the motel room.

Along with containers of dog foodthat seal airtight, I also pack waterjugs. In most cases the inexpensive

gallon jugs found at supermarketswork fine. Another reason to carrywater is that it’s available when yourdog wants it, and you don’t have tosearch far and wide for a spigot — orquestion the water source. Never letyour dog drink from a puddle or astream if you can help it.

Finally, never leave a dog in a hotvehicle for any period of time, espe-cially on hot days. If you’ll be park-ing and leaving the vehicle enginerunning, be alert for another danger -carbon monoxide poisoning. Truckbeds with large drain holes or rustyopenings combined with rusty orworn exhaust systems can combineto asphyxiate a dog. On the other sideof the coin, should you leave yourdog inside a truck cab with the engineand A/C running, be certain that he istied or confined so that he can’t

engage the gear shift or release aparking brake. Such “driving” dogsmake headlines every year, usuallybecause of the accidents they cause.Life on the highway can be filledwith dangers for dogs, but most canbe avoided or anticipated and over-come if you prepare and plan proper-ly. At the end of a long trip, yourreward for doing things right is thecompanionship and good service ofyour best hunting buddy.

A Doggie First-Aid Kit Checklist:• Benadryl• Splints• Large towel for use as a blanket• Gauze wrap and scissors to cut it• Hydrogen peroxide, iodine andsaline solutions• Latex gloves• Cotton swabs and balls

074_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:59 PM Page 1


• Small, clean, absorbent towels• Pepto-Bismol chewable tables• Forceps• Hydrocortisone and Neosporinecreams• Gatorade or Pedialyte fordehydrated dogs• Karo syrup for exhaustion problemsor heat stroke• Pack a muzzle and a leash to protectyourself and your dog. Some injuredand frightened dogs don’t wantanyone touching them, including theowner.

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RETRIEVERS: RETRIEVING TO HAND

Expert advice to preventyour dog from stoppingshort or dallying during

bird deliveryBy Gary Koehler

Having trained his first retriever some 40 yearsago, Mike Stewart knows dogs. He follows a specifictraining regimen while raising and handling BritishLabradors at Wildrose Kennels (uklabs.com) nearOxford, Mississippi. Some of his methods differ fromtechniques employed by other dog trainers, but theywork for him. Proof is in the finished product. Includedamong his long list of fine retrievers are DucksUnlimited mascots Drake and Deke.

Stewart strives to produce what he calls"gentlemen's gun dogs." But do not misinterpret thatdescription. His Labs are full of get-up-and-go and arealways ready to get down and dirty when in the field. Heeschews the use of shock collars and does not submithis retrievers to the rigors of force-fetching. Applyinglittle pressure, he nurtures their education in acontrolled and positive environment.

When asked how to handle a retriever that stopsshort during a retrieve, or dillydallies after picking upthe bird, Stewart has some sage advice. "When I hearfrom people that their dog is not completing thedelivery, one of the first things I ask is what's going onat home," Stewart says. "If they're playing games withthe dog, like tug-of-war, or giving them toys to playwith, I tell them to pick that stuff up and take thosethings away.

"Dogs can become very possessive. Toys and chewthings promote possessiveness," he adds. "You don'twant to get that started in a pup. Once the pup getsolder and you start hunting him, he just might figurethat the bird he goes out to retrieve is his, not yours."

The only chewable objects Stewart provides hispups are those approved for dental care—and only

when the dog is in its crate. Indiscriminate chewing,he says, may also lead to "hard mouth," a relatedproblem that sometimes results in chewed-up birds.

"I always look at everything that cuts across theboard," Stewart says. "You can't have dogs doing onething in one spot and expect them to do something elsein another. Dogs are creatures of habit. If they arechewing or mouthing while in training, I say let's fix ithere, not in the field."

The size and texture of training bumpers areimportant factors to consider when introducing dogsto retrieving. Stewart uses natural-textured canvas orfire hose and cork bumpers. "These have the feel of abird when picked up," he says. "I start with largerbumpers, because these are not so enticing to chew,and they add volume to the carry. Plastic bumpers areeasier for dogs to chew on and are unnatural."

Stewart also puts game bird feathers—chukar,pheasant, or duck—on the bumper. The feathers areattached to one side of the bumper with a strand oftape around the middle. When the dog picks up thebumper, he has feathers in his mouth, so he startsgetting used to feathers.

Stewart gradually switches to smaller bumpers andadds feathers accordingly, but never too many toosoon. This way, the dog becomes accustomed to thefeathers, does not chew them, and learns that thisfeathery object is to be brought to the handler. Thetransition to actual birds (including frozen fowl usedduring training) becomes that much easier.

The dog is then conditioned to hold objects. Stewartplaces the dog on an elevated platform and uses

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pressure-point manipulation—a massage, if youwill—to relax the animal. A wooden dowel is gentlyplaced in the dog's mouth and the "hold" command isgiven.

"It's all done using a positive technique," saysStewart, who this fall will introduce a new trainingbook (Sporting Dog and Retriever Training theWildrose Way). "It's easy to apply once you knowwhere the points are that get the dog to relax. The dogwill hold the dowel all day. We'll reinforce this skillwhen the dog is seated on the ground, condition him tohold the dowel while heeling, and eventually move towater."

When the conditioning is done properly, "hold"means hold, and the bird is delivered to the handler. Nomore dallying. No more stopping short. Missionaccomplished.

Photo by John Hoffman, DU

075_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:57 PM Page 1


FUNDRAISING FORHOMELESS HEROS!

These guys dressed up in dresses to look outrageous and raisemoney to help the Homeless Heroes. This group of great guyshad a fun, successful day raising a lot of money for homeless vet-erans.

Thank you to the Deer Creek Legion for feeding these hungryladies a free lunch. This group started at Jak's Dog House & Idon't know where all they went except that they were at the DClegion and I got to take these photos.

This Group is for Bikers and Riders that Love and Honor thosethat have Served their Country and Now Find ThemselvesHomeless on the Very Streets where they Grew Up.

Thanks guys for all your time and effort to help those in needwho served this country.

Support the Wish Upon A Hero Foundation at: www.wishuponaherofoundation.org

Come On Out & Support Your Come On Out & Support Your Local American Legion! Local American Legion! 31473 American Legion Dr.31473 American Legion Dr.

Deer Creek, IL Deer Creek, IL (309) 447-6776(309) 447-6776

SEPT. CALENDAR OF EVENTS:SEPT. CALENDAR OF EVENTS:2 . . . . B re a k f a s t 6 : 3 0 - 1 0 : 3 0

C a d i l l a c J a c k B a n d 2 p m - 6 p m8 . . . . T u r ke y S h o ot 1 1 : 0 0 a . m . - A l l D a y

C a d i l l a c J a c k B a n d 8 p m – m i d n i g h t9 . . . . T u r ke y S h o ot 1 1 : 0 0 a . m . - A l l D a y2 0 . . F a m i l y M e e t i n g 6 : 3 0 p . m . S A L m e e t i n g 7 p . m .2 2 . . S t e a k F r y 5 : 0 0 - 8 p . m .

B a n d M ot o w n J u n k i e s 8 p . m . - m i d n i g h t2 7 . . L e g i o n M e e t i n g 7 p . m .2 9 . . B a n d ( T B A )

Starting in Oct., all meetings will change to Wednesday.Sign up for darts!! Starts Oct. 18 - every Thurs.

We are now taking sign up for Bags. Starts Oct. 23, every Tues.Every Tues. is Mexican Night featuring Homemade Chicken Enchiladas!

Stop by & check out our kitchen. Great Food, Great prices!

PUBLICALWAYS

WELCOME!GRILLOPEN

NIGHTLY!

Deer-Creek American Deer-Creek American Legion Post 1276 Legion Post 1276

NewsNews && EventsEvents

An American Legion for ALL Americans…

PUBLICWELCOME!

Every Tuesday is Mexican Night Featuring Homemade Chicken Enchiladas

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They say having a baby changesyour whole life forever. Those of uswho are parents know this to be true!But bringing home a new baby is abig change for your family dog, too,and it isn't always fun and excitingfor a dog. It can be an overwhelmingexperience for your dog and causeunnecessary anxiety, especially ifthey have been the "baby" of thefamily. There are some things youcan do to minimize the burden onnew parents and your beloved dog.

while the baby is an infant. This willget your dog ready for the kind ofbehavior he will get from babies asthey start to crawl, walk, and inves-tigate their surroundings. Despitewhat many of us want to believe,kids and dogs don't mix well unsu-pervised. Dogs can't ask a child toleave them alone- they growl andbite.

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The first thing that I always recom-mend is basic obedience training.All responsible dog owners shouldmake sure their dog knows the basicsit, stay, down, no jump, and comecommands anyway, and it's veryimportant for the safety of the babyand the dog.

Just as important is the dog needsto be prepared for the physicalarrival of the new baby into the homeas well as the realization that hedoes not need to be jealous.

Optimally, this should be done sever-al months before the baby comeshome so your dog has plenty of timeto adjust to changes and a hecticschedule. The key is to allow him tobe included in the daily routine.

You can help your dog with chang-ing up the feeding and walkingtimes. Incorporate as many antici-pated activities into your daily rou-tine as early as possible. If you planto nurse the baby in the nursery qui-etly, start spending quiet time in theroom with the dog on a daily basis.The nursery should not be off limitsto your dog. I recommend putting adog bed in the nursery. Includingyour dog in activities like this helpshim to know that he does not need tobe jealous.

Let your dog smell and get familiarwith all of the baby items that youprobably have well in advance, likecar seats, highchairs, swings,mobiles, diapers, etc.. Give the doga non-animal based chew bone or toyif he picks up a baby item to let himknow doesn't belong to him. Butalways let him investigate the items.

Touch your dog’s ears, then givethem a slight tug. Play with the tailand feet. Open the dog’s mouth.Handle your dog as much as possible

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Each Spring sport-ing collectors con-verge on the PheasantRun Resort in StCharles, Illinois inhope of adding some-thing great to theircollection; a decoy, aduck call, piece of folkart maybe a shell box or advertising poster. Hostedby the Midwest Decoy Collectors Association, thisweek long convention held the last week of Aprilhas also become the site of the Guyette, Schmidt& Deeter Inc. Spring Auction and the Call Makers &Collectors Association Show & Sale. All the roomtrading and decoy auction sales culminates in thePheasant Run Mega Center for the MDCA's Decoy& Sporting Collectibles show. The general public isinvited to bring in any hunting or fishing items to

Today as well as a century ago, the area is a Mecca for migrating ducks and for other wildlife as well. Big Lake was a creation of the NewMadrid Earthquake of 1811-12. When all the shak-ing stopped, and the Mississippi River recoveredfrom running backward for a while, several largetracts of land had sunk creating Reelfoot Lake innorthwest Tennessee, the St. Francis Sunken Landsalong the St. Francis River from near Paragould andBig Lake which is essentially a wide, shallow areawith extensive bottom land hardwoods.

Ducks love it, especially mallards. During the

WATERFOWL WATERFOWL 20122012terns; a model 1897 shotgun, a dog pointing apheasant, a brace of ducks, a fish and an alligator.Around the stopper coils a cotton mouth snake.The call was given to Joseph Nathaniel Whitley,supervisor of the commercial fisheries for theArkansas Game & Fish Commission in 1919. Hegave the call to his daughter, Vannye shortlybefore his death telling her to hang onto it becauseit would be worth lots of money.

Big Lake is in northeast Arkansas in MississippiCounty west of Blytheville and east of Jonesboro,with the region extending north into Missouri.

be appraised by the members of the MDCA board.Over the years several good pieces like carvedPerdew duck calls or decoys. Items were sold bythe board for the owner at a silent auction held atthe show giving show goers and exhibitor equalchance to purchase the items

This year something special walked in off thestreet: a J.T. Beckhart duck call: definitely thebest item to ever walk in to the show. As it wasbeing appraised by board members Joe Tonelli andRoger Ludwig, one of the on looking collectorsoffered $35,000 for the call. Carved by JamesTillman Beckhart (1864–1922), considered bymany 'the Father ofArkansas duck calls',this call can easily tran-scend into the realm ofgreat American folk art.Created in the early1900's, this 'Big LakeSpecial Duck Call' hasfour panels each carvedwith intricate sportingtheme designs accentedwith fine checking pat-

$100,000 DUCKCALL FOUND IN

DRESSER DRAWERby Donna Tonelli

Beckhard duck call

078_001.qxd 9/3/12 4:28 PM Page 1

1800's Big Lake was a hot spot for markethunters. Their families ate wild game of all sorts,fish of many varieties, and this was their basicyear-round food. They knew the swamps as well asmost people know their living rooms. JT Beckhartwas one of those men.

Born on February 14, 1864 in Warsaw Indiana,Beckhart work at a St Louis railroad house until1897 when the lure of Big Lake duck hunting con-vinced him to move his family to the Big Lake area.They settled in a houseboat moored at Buck's

Point. Here Beckhart duck hunted for the St Louismarket, fished commercially, built boats and of-fered guide service with room and board to visitinghunters. Most certainly he produced duck callduring this time but it wasn't until 1900's as mar-ket hunted waned that Beckhart started to pro-duce duck calls in earnest. His first commercialcalls had raised panels that were decorated withfine checkering patterns and sold for $2.50. Onhis 'Famous Big Lake Call' that sold for $5.00,Beckhart added carved detailing featuring, a dog,game birds, a gun, alligator, ducks and a cotton-mouth snake.

This wasn't the first time Whitley's Beckhartduck call cause a stir. The December 5, 1957 edi-tion of the Stuttgart Daily Leader ran a front pagestory entitled “Big Lake Calls Now Antiques” de-scribing the Big Lake duck call Joe N Whitley hadbrought along to Stuttgart's World ChampionshipDuck Calling Competition. Whitley told a notedgroup of the call admirers; Ed Dodd, author of con-servation comic strip, Mark Trail, Murray Chrow-der (Spring Valley, IL), president of the OutdoorWriters Association and Charlie Elliott (Atlanta,Georgia), feature writer for Outdoor Life Maga-zine, that he had owned the call since 1919 andbeen offered $100 for the call.

Whitley prediction to his daughter, Vannye, wascertainly correct. After appraising the duck call atthe Midwest Decoy Collectors show, Tonelli con-vinced Vannye and her husband to consign the callto the Guyette, Schmidt & Deeter Inc. for theirSummer Decoy Auction that was coming up in July

at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (Note article on Beckhart by

James Goodrich July 1996 issue De-coy Magazine)

Contact the Tonelli’s [email protected]

edecoy.org


Joseph Whitley’s daughter,Vannye & her husband

with Joe Tonelli.

J.T. Beckhart

079_001.qxd 9/3/12 4:45 PM Page 1


Illinois: Jenkins Marsh/VanZelst Farm

Ducks Unlimited and its part-ners have protected 237 acres ofland in Illinois as part of theJenkins Marsh/VanZelst Farmproject. The plan (pendingrestoration) is to transfer owner-ship to the Illinois Departmentof Natural Resources' WoodfordCounty State Fish and WildlifeArea.

To date, this project is an acquisition,but the protected area contains approxi-mately 100 acres of restorable marsh, a wet-land fen, floodplain forest and upland bluffforest that provides a magnificent view ofthe Illinois River Valley. Restoration plansinclude rehabilitation of a levee andrestoration of cropland to prairie or bot-tomland hardwood.

Additional improvements, such as park-ing lots, are planned to facilitate public useas a designated waypoint on the IllinoisRiver Road National Scenic Byway.

Partners: Illinois Clean Energy Commu-nity Foundation, Grand Victoria Founda-tion, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation,USDA Natural Resources ConservationService, Illinois Department of Natural Re-sources and Ducks Unlimited.

A PROFILEIN COURAGE

The author recalls a special hunt with a

young man whose ferventwish was to become a

duck hunterBy Jim Kennedy

No one should ever ask me—or any other crazyduck hunter—to write or speak about our mostmemorable duck hunt. Because, as I get older, themost memorable hunt is likely the one I've just beenon. I can recall every detail, and keep replaying it in mymind until the next adventure in a duck blind.

When I take time to really reflect, I remember cer-tain special moments. My children's first duck huntshave to rank at the top of the list, followed by otheryoungsters and their first hunts. It's hard to forget theexcitement in those young faces as my Lab retrievedtheir first ducks.

But I suppose one young man's first duck huntstands above all others in my memory bank. His nameis Martin Blaisdell, and his story is one of rugged de-termination and unbelievable courage.

I met Martin, who was 14 at the time, through hismom, who works down the hall from me and said oneday that her son wanted to become a duck hunter.Sandy told me that Martin, after watching me appearon a Ducks Unlimited television show, wondered if hemight be strong enough to ever go duck hunting.

You see, Martin had been battling cancer for half ofhis young life and he didn't know what the future hadin store for him. That was all it took for me to make thecommitment to take Martin hunting during the up-coming season. I hoped it would give him the incentive

to continue his battle so that he would be strongenough to handle a gun safely.

The first order of business was to sign him up as aDucks Unlimited Greenwing so he could get all the ma-terial, read the magazine, and think about his upcom-ing hunt. When Martin and his family took a tour of DUheadquarters after a trip to St. Jude's Hospital inMemphis for treatment, Martin fell in love with DU andall the duck hunting memorabilia in the main lobby.

At work, I often talked with his mom about the up-coming duck season and Martin's commitment to be-ing strong enough to go. Though Martin's treatmentfor cancer was long and tough, and would have proba-bly humbled a professional athlete, Martin faced itwith unbelievable resolve.

As it always does, the close of the duck seasoncame way before I was ready. But that year I had some-thing extra-special to look forward to. Martin and hisdad, Alan, would be joining me the first weekend ofFebruary 2005 for the South Carolina Youth Water-fowl Hunt.

They arrived Friday evening at my family's farm inthe Lowcountry, near Beaufort. That night we wentthrough the usual prehunt ritual of making surewaders fit and all the equipment was ready to go for anearly morning start.

Martin was going to be shooting a 20-gauge Rem-ington 1100 Youth Model shotgun that had helped mywife and all three of our children kill their first ducks.Martin proudly showed me his Ducks Unlimited water-fowl identification guide and told me he was going totry to pick out the ducks we saw the next day.

After a big dinner, we sat around the fire and talkedabout duck hunting until I told Martin he probablyought to get to bed and get a good night's rest beforethe morning's hunt. He said he'd try, but worried thathe was too excited to sleep much. I, too, lay awake thatnight and said a selfish prayer that Martin would beable to have a good hunt the following day.

Saturday morning dawned clear and cold with agood breeze out of the west—a good day for duckhunting. Skim-ice bordered the pond that we were go-ing to hunt as we loaded Martin into a decoy-filledpirogue and headed to the blind.

I pulled the boat through waist-deep water whileAlan and my Lab, Winston, followed behind. After I ex-plained to Martin what kind of decoys we'd be using(cork ones that I had made myself that vaguely resem-bled mallards and black ducks), Alan got his son situ-ated in the blind and I put out the decoys. Once thatwas done, Martin, Alan, Winston, and I began to watchand listen.

We were treated to what I call a duck blind sympho-ny. The show was better than any IMAX theater. Theseducks hadn't been hunted in a week, so they haddropped their wariness a bit and flew with great en-thusiasm. Ringnecks, just over the top of the blind,sounded like jets, while green-winged teal splashed inthe decoys just outside our small blind. Wood duckssquealed overhead. Hen mallards raised a ruckusthroughout the pond. I could tell Martin was mesmer-ized.

When my watch showed that it was legal shootingtime, I warned Martin to get ready. He looked nervous,but Alan placed his hand on his son's shoulder and toldhim everything would be fine. I began calling and sev-

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builder, and duck hunter. Heloved to tell a joke, and his smilewas both infectious and inspira-tional. Martin was a junior atNorth Gwinnett High School inSuwanee, Georgia, and a proudROTC cadet. He is missed by allthose who were blessed to knowhim.

For 15 years, Jim Kennedysimultaneously was president ofWetlands America Trust and amember of the Ducks Unlimitedboard of directors. "A Profile inCourage" was excerpted from thenew book Legends, Leaders andCharacters of Ducks Unlimited, acollection of 36 essays aboutsome of the most memorablepeople in DU's 75-year history. For more informationon how to order this exciting new book, please visit theDU website at www.ducks.org/75book or call 800-45-DUCKS.

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eral ducks offered an opportunity, but we weren'tquite fast enough.

Finally, a beautiful drake wigeon landed in thedecoys. Martin stood and raised his gun and the duckjumped. Understandably, his first shot missed, but atthe urging of his father and me, he shot a second time,then a third. At the last shot, the wigeon paused inmidair and then fell back into the decoys. Martin hadhis first duck. The smile on his face was almost as bigas his father's and mine as we watched Winstonretrieve that beautiful duck.

Martin kept admiring his wigeon until I remindedhim that he could still shoot a few more ducks. The nextone that fell to the little 1100 was a drake woodie.Then, after a few misses, a drake hooded merganser.By then, Martin was cold and his energy had beentapped.

After picking up the decoys, I might as well havebeen towing the King of the World as I headed to shorewith Martin, that little 1100, and three beautifulducks. If it had been dark, Martin's smile would have litup the way home. Three ducks didn't make a limit, butI'd never felt more fulfilled than I did after that hunt.We had all done everything we had hoped for andMartin was a duck hunter.

The next day Martin's gas tank was a little low. But,despite the cold weather, he managed to bag a drakeringneck and a drake wood duck. The statement that

"numbers don't measure a good duck hunt" couldnever have been more true. Martin was thrilled withhis two beautiful birds. The hunting weekend was asuccess, and Martin the Duck Hunter slept contented-ly as he and his father drove home to Atlanta.

On Monday, I called a taxidermist friend, DanaStanford, and asked how quickly he could mount aduck for me. I explained the need for speed. Dana did-n't disappoint, and within two weeks Martin had amounted drake wigeon on the wall of his bedroom alongwith a framed photo collage from our hunt.

Martin isn't able to duck hunt anymore, but if hisheaven is like I hope mine will be, I'll bet he's listeningto whistling wings and ducks talking on cold fall morn-ings.

When I told Martin's mother that I was writing this,she said that Alan carries Martin's Ducks UnlimitedGreenwing pin with him every day in his wallet toremember his son. I remember Martin too, for hiscourage. And I give thanks that I was able to show thatwonderful boy the world of ducks and duck hunting.

James Martin Fichtner Blaisdell was born May 11,1990, and left us much too soon, on May 29, 2008.Throughout his ten-year battle with cancer, Martinovercame unspeakable challenges with grace andcharacter to become a Boy Scout, baseball player,karate kid, fisherman, wood craftsman, pen maker,remote-control wizard, pool ace, cat lover, Lego

081_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:50 PM Page 1

DU RECEIVES LARGEST GRANT EVER FOR ILLINOIS WETLANDS

CONSERVATIONP h ot o b y M i c h a e l F u r t m a n . c o m

Located in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, Illi-nois is a state steeped in waterfowling tradition. The

Prairie State remains pop-ular among dedicated duckand goose hunters, eventhough it has lost most ofits native prairie and origi-nal wetlands. The IllinoisRiver valley provides impor-tant migration, breeding,and wintering habitat for avariety of waterfowl, in-cluding wood ducks, mal-lards, canvasbacks, andCanada geese. Recognizingthis, the Illinois Clean Ener-gy Community Foundationhas awarded Ducks Unlim-ited a $5 million grant toconserve, restore, and pro-tect up to 3,000 acres ofvital wetland habitat alongthe Illinois River. The grantis the largest gift DU hasreceived to date for wet-lands conservation in Illi-nois.

"Over the past sixdecades, the number of


OAKWOOD BOTTOMS PROJECT COMPLETED IN SOUTHERN IL

P h ot o b y M i c h a e l F u r t m a n . c o m

Ducks Unlimited recently completed its latest proj-ect at the Oakwood Bottoms Greentree Reservoir inJackson County, Illinois. The Otter Slough project en-hanced water-management capabilities on up to 560acres of flooded bottomland hardwoods. This is the

third in a series of projects that DU is developing in co-operation with the U.S.

Forest Service (USFS) under a multiyear challengecost-share agreement to improve wetland habitat inShawnee National Forest. During the past two years,DU and the USFS have invested approximately$107,500 in these cooperative projects.

The history of Oakwood Bottoms spans eightdecades. In the 1930s, the USFS purchased more than3,600 acres along the Big Muddy River and immedi-ately began planting flood-prone farmland to pin oaksand other native hardwood trees. In the mid-1960s,the USFS worked with the Illinois Department of Con-servation and Southern Illinois University to developthe site, now known as Oakwood Bottoms, into aGreentree Management unit by constructing leveesand installing pumps that allowed the young timberstands to be flooded during the fall waterfowl migra-tion.

By the early-1990s, water-management capabili-ties at Oakwood Bottoms were rapidly deteriorating asthe aging equipment, levees, and water-control struc-tures began to fail. The USFS and DU responded by de-veloping a plan to rehabilitate and upgrade the Green-tree Reservoir system in phases to improve habitatconditions for waterfowl and help maintain the healthand growth of the bottomland forest. The first two

phases of rehabilitation work were completed by2000 at a cost of more than $1 million. DU's currentchallenge cost-share agreement includes the thirdphase of the Oakwood Bottoms rehabilitation and ex-pands the scope of work to include an additional 550acres of small wetland development along the Big Mud-dy River.

According to DU regional biologist Eric Schenck, theestimated cost of completing the third phase of theOakwood Bottoms rehabilitation and Big Muddy wet-land development exceeds $2 million. "While DU andthe USFS can be proud of the progress that has beenmade so far, we have a long way to go to reach our ul-timate goal," Schenck said.

"Our hope is that the Otter Slough project reinvigo-rates support for this conservation partnership, whichhas helped make Oakwood Bottoms a truly remarkablewaterfowl area in southern Illinois."

ducks surveyed along the Middle Illinois River duringthe peak of the fall migration has declined by 60 per-cent to 90 percent," said DU Regional Biologist EricSchenck. "This grant will allow DU to become muchmore proactive in directing our wetlands conservationefforts to the places where we can do the most for wa-terfowl."

Ducks Unlimited's conservation efforts will focuson two areas. The first is the Illinois River from Henryto Peoria, where DU will expand the existing network ofconservation lands and restore acquired sites to high-quality wetland habitat. The second is a 30-square-mile area of wetland and bottomland forest habitat atthe confluence of the Sangamon and Illinois rivers.This vast, undeveloped area is the largest expanse ofwetland habitat left intact in the Illinois River valley.

Dennis O'Brien, executive director of the IllinoisClean Energy Community Foundation, noted thatDucks Unlimited's 26-year history of conserving landthroughout the state was an important factor in thefoundation's decision to award the grant. "Anotherimportant factor was the opportunity to protectwilderness-quality wetlands on a landscape scale inthe Illinois River valley," O'Brien said. "We have confi-dence that DU will successfully meet all the challengesassociated with this grant and deliver an outstandingconservation project for the people of Illinois."

082_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:43 PM Page 1


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FWS SURVEYINDICATES RECORD

DUCK NUMBERS,AVERAGE POND

COUNTDuck numbers remain

strong as habitat declinesThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(FWS) released its preliminary report todayon breeding ducks and habitats, based onsurveys conducted in May and early June.Total populations were estimated at 48.6million breeding ducks in the surveyedarea. This estimate represents a 7 percentincrease over last year's estimate of 45.6million birds, and is 43 percent above the1955-2011 long-term average. This year'sestimate is a record high and is only thesixth time in the survey's history that thetotal duck population exceeded 40 million.

"Early indications were that the mildand dry conditions experienced acrossNorth America this past fall and winterwould negatively impact spring pond con-ditions and allow increases in grasslandconversion rates, ultimately impactingnesting efforts this season," said DucksUnlimited Chief Scientist Dale Humburg."Strong returning duck populations andlate spring precipitation have brightenedprospects for 2012 duck production. Ifnesting and brood-rearing conditions arefavorable over the next few months, we

could see another strong fall flight." Habitat conditions observed across the

U.S. and Canadian survey areas during the2012 Waterfowl Breeding Population andHabitat Survey were characterized by aver-age to below-average moisture, especially inthe southern portions. Significant decreasesin wetland numbers and conditionsoccurred on the U.S. prairies in 2012. Theestimate of ponds for the north-centralUnited States was 1.7 million, 49 percentbelow the 2011 estimate of 3.2 million andsimilar to the long-term average. Nearly allof the north-central U.S. habitat was ratedas good to excellent in 2011; however, onlythe habitat in the Coteau region of Northand South Dakota was rated as good in2012, and no areas were rated as excellenthabitat this year. Drastic wetland declinesin western South Dakota and Montanaresulted in mostly poor-to-fair habitat con-ditions.

Conditions in most portions of theCanadian prairies declined as well.Residual moisture from prior years ensuredretention of permanent wetlands on theMissouri Coteau in Saskatchewan and nearthe Saskatchewan and Manitoba border,but temporary wetlands retained littlemoisture due to a shallow frost seal andbelow-average precipitation. The 2012estimate of ponds in Prairie Canada was3.9 million. This was 21 percent below lastyear's estimate and 13 percent above the

This chart summarizes information about duck populations and wetland habitats during spring 2012, focusing on areas

encompassed by the USFWS and CFWS Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey.


083_001.qxd 9/3/12 2:39 PM Page 1

84 ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS “THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN” September2012

"As good as the population news is thisweek, waterfowl and wetland habitats con-tinue to face significant long-term threats.The Farm Bill and North American Wet-lands Conservation Act are up for renewalby Congress this year and both are crucial toour ability to conserve this critical habitat.We are also fighting to increase our invest-ment in wetlands conservation by raisingthe price of the federal duck stamp," saidDU CEO Dale Hall. "Conservation is in-deed at a crossroads this year."

Nesting habitat across the Prairie PotholeRegion continues to decline, particularlyfollowing the mild, dry winter. In manyplaces in Canada, the mild conditions al-lowed farmers to tile and return shallowwetlands to production. On the U.S. side ofthe border, expiring Conservation ReserveProgram (CRP) contracts, high commodityprices and other economic factors are notonly pressuring wetland drainage, but alsopushing conversions of grasslands to crop-land.

A recent report from North DakotaGame and Fish noted nesting cover in thestate continues to decline. During their sur-vey, biologists noted many large tracts ofgrassland and CRP land had been convert-ed to cropland since last year. CRP acres inNorth Dakota alone have dropped to about2.3 million acres, which is down about 30percent since 2007. Projections are that

more than 650,000 acres will be lost in2012, and an additional 1.1 million acreswill be lost in 2013-14. The loss of this crit-ical nesting cover will be disastrous forbreeding ducks, other nesting birds andhunting opportunities in the future.

As always, fall weather and habitat condi-tions along migration routes will have a bigimpact on migration chronology and localhunting success. "Severe drought in someimportant wintering regions adds a bit moreuncertainty about prospects for the fall.However, I am encouraged by the numberof breeding ducks surveyed this year, andhopeful production will be at least average,"Humburg said. "As a waterfowl hunter, Iam always optimistic. As a waterfowl biolo-gist, I am realistic but committed to theconservation challenges ahead."

The FWS spring surveys provide the sci-entific basis for many management pro-grams across the continent, including thesetting of hunting regulations. The four fly-way councils will meet in late July to rec-ommend and adopt the season structureand bag limits for 2012-13. Individualstates will make their specific selectionswithin a federal framework of season length,bag limit and outside dates. Hunters shouldcheck their states' rules for final dates.

View all the data and get a species-by-species breakdown at www.ducks.org/sur-vey.

1961- 2011 average. Total pond counts for the United States

and Canada combined showed 5.5 millionponds, a 32 percent decrease from last year'sestimate and 9 percent above the long-termaverage. This was the first time since 2008that ponds dropped below 6 million.

Of the 10 species traditionally reported,nine were similar to or increased in numberfrom 2011. Two species (northern pintailand American wigeon) remained belowtheir long-term average. Mallards, northernshovelers, blue-winged teal and scaup werebright spots on this year's survey. For thefirst time since 1999, mallard populationshave exceeded 10 million. Northern shovel-ers and bluewings again reached recordhighs (5.0 and 9.2 million, respectively).Scaup numbers showed improvement andare above 5 million for the first time since1991, but still remain below the NorthAmerican Waterfowl Management Plan(NAWMP) population goal. Only threespecies—northern pintail, Americanwigeon and scaup—remain belowNAWMP goals.

"This year I am reminded again of the dy-namic nature of wetland cycles and whathappens when several years of strong pro-duction line up with the possible beginningsof a drought cycle," Humburg said.

DUCKS UNLIMITED CELEBRATES VICTORY

FOR GULF COASTRESTORATION

RESTORE Act passed by Congress

WASHINGTON – Ducks Unlimited is celebrating the in-clusion of key elements of the RESTORE Act in the Sur-face Transportation Extension Act reported out of con-ference committee today. The RESTORE Act directsClean Water Act fines levied against the parties respon-sible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to restore the GulfCoast's ecosystem and economy.

"Ducks Unlimited is pleased to see Congress recog-nize the national importance of the Gulf Coast and seizethis precedent-setting opportunity to support itsrestoration by including the RESTORE Act in the bill theywill send to the president," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "With-out this investment in restoration, the people and wildlifethat depend on the Gulf region's ecosystem, as well as in-dustries vital to the entire country, remain even moresusceptible to future disasters."

Since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, DU andits partners have worked with Congress to build supportfor legislation ensuring penalties paid by the responsibleparties under the Clean Water Act are used to restore theGulf Coast region.

"Ducks Unlimited commends Senators Barbara Box-er, Mary Landrieu, Richard Shelby, Bill Nelson, David Vit-ter, the other Senate cosponsors of RESTORE and theirstaffs for their dedication to seeing the legislationpassed," said DU President John Newman. "House

SURVEY… Cont’d. from previous pg.

084_001.qxd 9/3/12 4:49 PM Page 1


Speaker John Boehner; Majority Leader Eric Cantor; andCongressmen Steve Scalise, Jo Bonner and Steve Palaz-zo should also be applauded for making Gulf Coastrestoration a priority."

"This legislation is a rational and necessary solutionthat adds no further burden to taxpayers or the nationaldeficit and ensures the fines levied against the responsi-ble parties are invested in the areas most damaged by thespill," Hall said.

Just as the Gulf region's multi-billion-dollar fishingand wildlife industries depend upon the habitat thesemarshes provide to fish and wildlife, the nation's energyand shipping industries depend on these same marshesto protect important infrastructure from Gulf storms.

"The economic health of the United States dependson sustaining the navigation, flood control and energyproduction provided by the Gulf Coast ecosystem, andeach of those functions is currently at severe risk due tothe degradation of these coastal wetlands," Hall said."This legislation is important to the entire country. Theregion is an often overlooked but important part of thefoundation of our national economy, and the financialstrength of the nation is intrinsically tied to this region'senvironmental well-being."

As the single most important wintering area for wa-terfowl in North America, the Gulf Coast is one of DU'sfive highest-priority habitats for conservation on thecontinent. Unfortunately, no wetland system in NorthAmerica is sustaining the rates of loss incurred in theGulf Coast region, especially in coastal Louisiana. Hence,Ducks Unlimited's focus remains on addressing the long-term loss of coastal wetlands threatening this vitalecosystem.

DU extends its appreciation to the U.S. Senate's 64-35 passage of the 2012 Farm Bill. The $969.9 billion bi-partisan bill maintained a conservation title that willbenefit wildlife and people. Critical conservation initia-tives include the Conservation Reserve Program, a con-servation easement program with a strong wetland com-ponent, a regional partnership program aimed at im-proving water quality and a Sodsaver provision. The Sen-ate also moved to link eligibility for federally subsidizedcrop insurance to compliance with conservation prac-tices.

The 2012 Farm Bill encompasses a wide range of pro-grams connected to American land and agriculture. Theconservation programs have been streamlined to providepractices that will allow farmers to be better stewards oftheir land, as well as conserve critical water, soil andwildlife. DU is especially pleased to see several key provi-sions that will conserve wetlands and native grasslands.

Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest nonprofit or-ganization dedicated to conserving North America'scontinually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Establishedin 1937, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year,with special events, projects and promotions across thecontinent. Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12million acres thanks to contributions from more than amillion supporters across the continent. Guided by sci-ence and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works to-ward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies withwaterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more infor-mation on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect withus on our Facebook page at facebook.com/ducksunlim-ited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/ducksunlimitedand watch DU videos at youtube.com/ducksunlimitedinc.

WOOD DUCKTRIFECTA

Try these three strategies to bag more woodies

By Will BrantleyA creek bend, falling beechnuts and a cool October

morning are heaven for a teenage boy with a borrowedshotgun. Years before I really considered myself a duckhunter—one with decoys, calls and waders—I washunting wood ducks in places like this.

Today, I have a host of waterfowling adventures un-der my belt, but there remains something so pure andhonest about jump-shooting a wood duck from acreek. If you live virtually anywhere in the Mississippior Atlantic flyways (and quite a few places in the otherflyways), chances are there's a place nearby whereyou can shoot a few wood ducks in the fall. One of thebest things about wood duck hunting is that it can bedone successfully in a variety of places without muchgear.

Pass ShootingWood ducks often roost in great numbers in beaver

sloughs, river oxbows and similar backwater wetlands.Woodies going to roost can provide fast-and-furiousshooting opportunities, but hunters should be carefulhow they pursue them. It's mighty tempting to huntthe heart of the roost, where hundreds of wood ducks

OCT. 13 & 14 • SPRINGFIELD GUN SHOWILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS

OCT. 20 & 21 • CHAMPAIGN GUN SHOWCHAMPAIGN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

OCT. 27 & 28 • EFFINGHAM GUN SHOWKNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

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2012

may pour in just before sunset, but such a move canruin a great wood duck spot for the rest of the season,possibly even for years to come.

The better bet is to spend a morning or two watch-ing the ducks and where they go before the hunt. Finda preferred flyway, perhaps a turn in a creek or a nar-rowing in a slough a couple hundred yards from theroost and set up there. Wood ducks are predictable,especially during the early season, so this is a high-percentage way to hunt them.

The limit on wood ducks is only a few birds, so it canbe tempting to bring several buddies along. But moreguns mean more pressure and fewer quality days ofhunting. It's usually best to pass shoot woodies withonly one or two other buddies.

Decoys and CallingYes, you can actually decoy wood ducks. These

quirky birds are notorious for snubbing decoys andcalling, but that's often the result of where, ratherthan how, you're hunting. If you set your decoys alonga flyway where you normally pass shoot, wood ducks

David Morgan photo.


085_001.qxd 9/3/12 4:55 PM Page 1


There are basically two ways to jump-shoot wood-ies. Slipping along the bank is a highly effective way tohunt a short stretch of stream or beaver ponds, whiledrifting in a canoe or other small boat is a better op-tion for covering water. Either way, focus on riverbends, eddies and sheltered coves where woodies arelikely to gather during the middle of the day. Loafingwood ducks will usually give themselves away with rip-ples on the water and occasional squeals. When yoususpect birds are nearby, locate them with binocularsif possible, then plan your stalk.

Whether you're on foot or in a boat, jump-shootingis great fun with a buddy. Boat hunters can take turnspaddling and shooting. Bank hunters can split up toflank and flush a flock of ducks. In a perfect world,both hunters should have plenty of shooting.

Wood Duck LoadsWhile some hunters prefer a 20-gauge for wood ducks, a

12-gauge is a much more capable choice. Wood ducks are of ten hunted inareas with thick cover where a wounded

bird can be virtually impossible to recover, and using heavier loads can

help ensure clean kills. I prefer 2 1/2 or 3 inch loads of steel No. 4s

and a modified choke for woodies. This combination produces a tight pattern that will deliver

multiple pellet strikes on target, which is what you need to anchor woodies

in thick cover.

will likely ignore your spread while en route to a pre-ferred feeding or roosting area. But if you're waitingfor woodies at their final destination, they might fallright into your decoy spread like a flock of mallards.

Two Septembers ago, while scouting before theTennessee wood duck/teal opener, I found dozens ofwood ducks feeding along a mud flat with blue-wingedteal. At daylight the next morning, the first 20 birds todrop into my dozen decoys were woodies. Toting a 20-gauge, it took a few more shells than it should have totake my two-bird limit and switch my focus to teal, butthe action the woodies provided at dawn was impres-sive.

The bottom line: if you've found a spot where woodducks are gathering to feed or roost, they'll work de-coys the same as any other puddle duck. And it cer-tainly doesn't hurt to have a wood duck call on hand toadd another degree of realism to your spread.

Jump ShootingThis is my favorite way to hunt wood ducks. It's a

great fallback when other forms of hunting is slow, andyou don't need an abundance of ducks to be success-ful. Sleeping in and heading out at mid-morning is per-fectly reasonable, and you don't need any more gearthan your shotgun, a pocket full of shells and camou-flage clothing (although a few extra items like hipboots and binoculars definitely help).

The easiest place to jump-shoot woodies is on awooded, meandering stream or small river with plentyof slack-water pools. If the banks are lined with mast-producing trees such as red oaks and beech, you're al-most certain to stumble onto a few birds.

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TRIFECTA…Cont’d. from previous pg.

DELTA WATERFOWL STUDY CONFIRMS LATER HARVEST SEASONS

A Delta Waterfowl study has confirmed what veteranduck hunters have long suspected: harvests of many wa-terfowl are taking place significantly later in the yearthan in previous decades.

The Delta Duck Migration Study, commissioned bythe Bipartisan Policy Center, was written by science di-rector Dr. Frank Rohwer, Louisiana State Universitygraduate student Bruce Davis and senior director of U.S.policy John Devney.

The study examined data from the annual Parts Col-lection Survey. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has col-lected comprehensive harvest data from hunters since1961.

"With few exceptions, harvest dates for mallardsthroughout the mid-latitude and southern states havebecome consistently later," says Dr. Rohwer. "Mallardharvest is on average ten days later in Arkansas, fifteendays later in California, sixteen days later in Illinois, andtwelve days later in Virginia."

The study found that most migrant duck species, in-cluding gadwall, ring-necked, pintails and green-wingedteal, have significantly later harvest dates. Blue-winged/cinnamon teal and mottled ducks were the onlyspecies to run against the trend.

The report examined whether later hunting seasonswere a simple explanation for later harvests. While it'strue that most states have extended their seasons fromthe 60's, the report found this was not the 'sole driver'for shifts in harvest dates. For example, non-migratingmottled ducks in Texas and Louisiana are being harvest-ed at about the same time as 50 years ago. But huntersin those states are harvesting mallards much later in theyear, suggesting that Mallards – which are strictly mi-grants from the north - are arriving later.

So does a later harvest mean ducks are actually mi-grating later?

Dr. Rohwer says the best way to evaluate shifts in mi-

grations would be a history of waterfowl counts through-out the flyways. Unfortunately, comprehensive fall mi-gration surveys do not exist.

"The beauty of the Parts Collection Survey is that ithas been conducted in the same manner since 1961 andrecords the date, location and species of duck killed. Itprovides a good general sense of when duck harvest istaking place, which we suspect is a reasonable surro-gate for timing of migration."

A hot topic in southern duck blinds is whetherchanges in northern agriculture that provide additionalfood may be holding ducks longer in northern states. Thetheory goes that field-feeding ducks like mallards andpintails will stay longer; fatting up on left over corn andsoy beans in higher latitudes.

If food was the driver of migration and harvest dates,says Dr. Rohwer, then gadwall and ring-necked ducksthat never feed in fields should migrate and be harvest-ed at the same time as in prior decades. The harvest da-ta, however, shows that all four species show similarshifts in delayed harvest. The idea that northern agricul-ture is holding ducks back is ‘unlikely’ concludes the re-port.

The report also had a preliminary look at whether ornot migration may be delayed because of the potentialeffects of climate change. While the report concludedits 'plausible', the harvest data can neither prove nordisprove any connection between migration and climatechange.

The Delta Migration Study is available in its entiretyat Delta Waterfowl's web site deltawaterfowl.org/pressrelease/120529-MigrationStudy.pdf or www.sea-sonsend.org.

Delta Waterfowl Foundation is aleading North American conservationorganization, tracing its origins to thebirth of the wildlife conservationmovement in 1911. The Foundation supports research, providesleadership and offers science-based solutions to efficiently con-serve waterfowl and secure the future of waterfowl hunting. DeltaWaterfowl is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Bismarck, N.D.

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might be justified to prevent harm.”Lead ammunition sales also fundwildlife conservation.

“Hunters pay an excise tax on allthe lead ammunition they purchase,which directly funds wildlife conser-vation programs,” said author andNCPA intern Alexis Hunter. “Ban-ning lead ammunition would actuallybe unsound wildlife management.”

Since 1991, there have been re-strictions on using lead ammunition

NCPA: Lead NCPA: Lead Ammunition BansAmmunition Bans

Harm WildlifeHarm WildlifeContrary to environmentalists’

claims, the use of lead ammunitionposes a minimal risk to wildlife,while a lead ammunition ban wouldpositively harm wildlife, according toa new report from the National Cen-ter for Policy Analysis (NCPA).

“The EPA is not allowedby congress to regulate orban lead ammunition,”said NCPA Senior FellowSterling Burnett. “Howev-er, even if it were, there islittle evidence supportingthe claim that lead ammu-nition poses a significantharm to animals and hu-mans.”

“Condors are one of thefew species in which leadammunition is arguablycausing harm – but pro-tecting them does not justi-fy a call for a nationwideban,” said Burnett.“Rather, limited restric-tions covering only thecondors’ home range

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Edgewater, Wisconsin CALL TODAY TO

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Thanks to ASO Rep and good friends Alan & Pat Johnson for sharing their son and granddaughter’s fun trip!

088_001.qxd 9/4/12 1:20 AM Page 1

COME DEER HUNTING WITH US!


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089_001.qxd 9/4/12 12:54 AM Page 1


October 4-8, 2012The 10th Annual Iron County

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Hurley and Mercer offer the largesttrail system in Wisconsin and invite youto experience the true northwoods dur-ing the changing of fall colors and par-ticipate in fun, family friendly ATVevents and spectacular fall ATV riding.

PRE- REGISTRATION for this eventis available for $10.00; now throughSeptember 17, 2012. Those who pre-register will receive a Pumpkin RunPoker Run Sheet, an Official LimitedEdition Pumpkin Run Bandanna, a freeIron County ATV trail map, free entryinto a raffle drawing for free lodging inIron County and lots of other great

prizes too!Registration will increase to $12

beginning September 18 through theevent. Those registering after theSeptember 17th will receive a PumpkinRun Poker Run Sheet, a free IronCounty ATV trail map, and OfficialLimited Edition Pumpkin RunBandanna while supplies last (NOTGUARANTEED).

The 2012 Poker Run sheet will featurea list of pit stops at area businesses allserving Great Food & Drinks all week-end long with the top three final handsdrawn winning a big payback! Winnerswill be notified by mail.

There will also be a THE GREATPUMPKIN ATV Parade on Fridaynight, live music throughout the week-end, parties, prizes, and more........ so besure watch the www.mercercc.comwww.hurleywi.com for updates onevents.

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Sat. Sept. 15th 3rd AnnualRiver Bottom Speedway St. Jude Charity Event

We are coming up on our 3rd year of the veryfun and successful St. Jude charity racing event.We will be hosting this on September 15, 2012starting at 4 pm. We will be doing events in aslightly different format this year.

Dinner and Silent Auction: 4 – 6 p.m.St. Jude Presentations: 6 – 7 p.m. Racing under the lights 7 – 9 p.m.Comatose Catfish Band to follow af-terwards at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20at the door. Children 12 and underare free. Ticket includes dinner, rac-ing, band and all the keg beer youcan drink.

You can purchase tickets from drivers,Christy's in Washington, Outpost in Eureka, RedRock in Morton and the Deer Creek American Le-gion.

We accept donations of any size or for the

silent auction. For the silent auction, contributorsneed to deal directly with Carrie. The silent auc-tion will cap at around 10-12 items and each itemneeds to be around $100 in value. Some of the

items donated so far for 2012 are:canoe, 32" TV, 4 Nascar tickets, bagboard set.

$250 donation/sponsoring of acar will get your information on aracecar. We have already gottenthese spots covered for this year. Asponsor board will be on display that

evening showing all the businesses that donatedmoney, silent auction items, food, beer, etc.

Thanks to all for the previous year’s donations,we appreciate all the generous gifts that havehelped our cause to benefit St. Jude Children’s Re-

We appreciate all contributions and look for-ward to hearing from you. Please also feel free tofind us on www.facebook.com/riverbottomspeed-way.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with anyquestions. Thanks to everyone in advance for yoursupport of this event: River Bottom Speedway forSt. Jude Charity!

We look forward to seeing you on the 15th!Ron Joos and Carrie Elliott at:

309 965-2902River Bottom Speedway

18298 Zimmerman RD • Deer Creek, IL 61733

search Hospital. Last year, with everyone’s help,we were able to donate $16,000 to St. Jude! So,you can see that every little bit helps. Please feelfree to donate again this year. If you would like toparticipate again this year, there are severalways: 1. Monetary donation of any amount.2. Sponsor a car - $2503. Silent Auction Donation (please call for moredetail s on this)4. Purchase tickets @ $15 per any person over theage of 12. 5. Any combination of the above options!

Come by and hang out with us…AN ADVENTURE AWAITS!• Native Illinois Animals• Neat Lodging• Hiking Trails & Fishing• Education Programs• Games & Activities• Train Rides & Adventure TrekBecome a Member of the Park!Located minutes from Peoria: 3826 N. Taylor Rd., Hanna City,IL

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Charity event founders and organizers Ron Joos and Carrie

Sweatt Elliott auctioning off a printat the 1st Annual event for St. Jude.

091_001.qxd 9/4/12 9:01 AM Page 1


earlier than we would have liked for it to,but was still a great trip. A few of thegals loved kayaking so much they are outshopping now to buy their own kayak fornext summer.

All of us met up at the cabin then de-cided to go check out Alley Mill. Boywhat a place, it was Awesome, and thewater was so beautiful. We walked thetrails, peeked into the caves and enjoyeda few hours there. When you are in theCurrent River area, you need to taketime to visit this breathtaking place weare all glad we did. I have more detailson this unique landmark on page 94.

I want to thank Shady Lane Cabins &Harvey’s Alley Spring Canoe Rental for

accommodating this large group ofwomen. It just goes to show you thatthis is a sport all ages can enjoy. Notjust the young college kids. It is very af-fordable, especially when you have alarge group. There is still time to go en-joy the fall paddling. September has fiveweekends, gather some friends & plan atrip, you will love it.

I know most of the ladies that came onthis trip will be back. We decided this isgoing to be an annual event for sure.Thank you to all my friends for joiningme on this adventure and making it sucha memorable time. Having you alongmade it even better, I love you all.

I would like to welcome Akers Ferry

MO… Cont’d. from pg. 14

the water was cold and didn’t want tocome any further, I insisted they experi-ence the spring. They walked a littlecloser to me and couldn’t believe howextremely cold the water was just a fewfeet further. It was invigorating to saythe least. We all got back in our raftswith our blue legs and feet and contin-ued to float the river.

We didn’t see many people that day.Being a Sunday usually doesn’t make adifference down there, but it was the 2ndweek in August and all the college kidshad gone back to school. It was really

kind of nice to have the river so quiet.The Jack’s Fork River is very clear. Itwas running nice and we enjoyed ourday very much. Harvey’s was waiting forus when we arrived at our take out spot.

Shady Lane was very accommodatingto our large group. They even made surewe were able to move into a larger 2 sto-ry cabin for the next two nights. Themorning before we left on our raft trip,we move our stuff in and really appreci-ated that, especially since we had plansof cooking in crock pots while we wereout. So of course after returning ourfood was all ready to enjoy a nice dinneron the patio. Then we joined anothergroup of people on the volleyball court,and really enjoyed the evening onceagain.

The next day seven of us went kayak-ing on the Current River. The otherthree went sightseeing and shopping.The Current River was awesome like al-ways. We loved the kayaks. I started offin a canoe, for two reasons, we had oneperson that was a little intimidated bythe kayaks and we needed a place to putour big coolers & stuff. We took turnsthough so everyone was able to kayak fora bit. The River was so nice and went ata very fast pace. Our trip ended a little

Trading Post Canoe, Kayak & CampgroundPO Box 150 • 7525 E 300 N • Mongo, IN 46771

(260) 367-2493 • www.TradingPostCanoe.comLocated 1-block west of Mongo, Indiana on the Pigeon River.

MODERN FLEET OF OVER 200 CANOES AND KAYAKSLarge groups and individuals alike Welcome!

Choose from 6 canoe and kayak river trip options…travelthrough 13,000 acres of the beautiful Pigeon River Fish &Wildlife Area…

SHORT EXCURSIONS & ALL-DAY OUTINGS AVAILABLE!Come float the historic Pigeon River for an exciting

adventure the whole family will enjoy.

CAMPGROUND has approx. 60 sites; electric, primitive andgroup areas. Indoor hot showers &restroom facilities. Campsites bor-der the river or the inland pond.

Snacks, drinks, ice, firewood,camping supplies, gear & apparelare available at the camp store.

Open 7 days a week during the season!

Open Apr. 25 thru Oct. for paddling &

Open thru mid-Dec. for camping.

COME HUNTING WITH US!

Lady Bartenders of TremontAmerican Legion Rafting theJacks Fork River. Mary Dana,

Angie Sweckard and Cheryl Hagan.

Current River Kayaking with Cheryl Hagan, Carla Capps, JodyKruse, Pam Tanner, and Heather Martin. Jody & Pam are both very

involved at ASO sponsor and friend Deer Creek American Legion.Carla Capps is the manager at ASO sponsor and friend Don’s

Hide-A-Way in Mackinaw. Be sure to support these ASO sponsors!

092_001.qxd 9/4/12 2:09 PM Page 1


Shady Lane also can accommodatehunters as well, in the Eminence area.Visit their websites & plan a trip.Missouri is a great place to visit.

Eminence Chamber has many activi-ties on their website too. Be sure to

drive to several towns and check outwhat all they have to offer. I love MO.

Thank you to all our outfitters foranother great paddling season.Remember there is still time to enjoy fall

paddling. Many of our outfitters havehunting opportunities, Wisconsin,Indiana, Missouri and Illinois, so checkout their websites, give them a call to getit lined up.

We offer peaceful floats and quality fishing in beautiful, natural surroundings. Our campground is located along a beautiful bluff

overlooking the Big Piney River. Along with nice breezes, the trees provide plenty of shade on those hot summer days.

Rafts, Kayaks, Canoes, Tubes & Jon Boats from 14-24 ft. Primitive Camping • Hot Showers & Flushing Toilets

OVERNIGHT FLOATS FOR THE PRIMITIVE OUTDOOR FAMILY!For your outdoor adventure, take off in a boat & camp

along gravel bars for a true outdoor experience! You canchoose from 5 to 7 days to complete your journey!

www.LayZDay.com • (573) 336-8639

back in to ASO. They advertised with usmany years ago. While I was in the areaI went to visit Akers to see their place.They have many opportunities for thehunters this season and are located onthe Current River, near Jadwin.

~FUN FLOAT TRIPS~~FUN FLOAT TRIPS~Akers Ferry® Canoe Rental is a familyowned operation with roots at Akers

Ferry® dating back to the middle 1800’s.OUR CABINS WILL BE

OPEN FOR TURKEY & DEER SEASON…CALL FOR DETAILS!

Our facilities include canoes, tubes, camping, cabins, pool, dining, general store, hot showers, modern restrooms and electric hook-ups.

Missouri Hunting and Fishing Permits are available only at our Akers Ferry® Canoe Rental store.

ON THE CURRENT RIVER:Akers Ferry® Canoe Rental

HC 81 Box 90 • Salem, MO 65560 • 573-858-32241-800-365-AKERS (2537) • 1-800-333-5628

ON THE JACKS FORK RIVER:Jacks Fork Canoe Rental & Campground

P.O. Box 188 • Eminence, MO 65466 • 573-858-32211-800-JACKSFORK • 1-800-522-5736

Open Year Round!

All the girls posing in one raft after a great day on the river. Vanessa, Sheila, Pam & Heather having a great day rafting.

Angie and Terri stayed a few extra days to

celebrate Angie’s b-day.…

Lordy, Lordy,Angie’s

29 & holding!HAPPY BIRTHDAY

PRETTY LADY!

The rolling hills of southern Missouri…Beautiful!

093_001.qxd 9/4/12 2:08 PM Page 1


to process and selltheir grain. At har-vest time, farmersfrom all over thesehills would gatheraround the mill.Some would bringthe whole family inwagons or by horseand mule, preparedto camp for a fewdays while the busi-ness got done. The

mill's immediate vicinity was a bustlingplace where news was swapped, childrenplayed, families picnicked, friendships wereforged and reinforced, and maybe a ro-mance or two was sparked.

The community at Alley thrived for awhile, then declined as times changed.While fewer folks came to Alley for themill's services, the tradition of gathering atthe spring remained. People from all overthe area kept coming to picnic by thespring's blue waters, to hold family re-unions and gatherings. From 1913 into theProhibition era, Alley was even a commer-cial resort, attracting people who came bytrain from as far away as Saint Louis!

Today, as part of Ozark National ScenicRiverways, Alley Spring offers its cool wa-ters and tranquil atmosphere to all Ameri-cans. It is still very popular with local peo-

ple who still camp, picnic and hold re-unions at Alley. A hundred Springs andFalls have come and gone since Alley Millfirst opened its doors. As a commercialmill, it went out of business over sixty yearsago, but as the anchor for a community itremains firmly anchored in the rock oftime and tradition.

The Haunting in the Hills will be Oct. 13, 2012 at

Alley Spring. Enjoy traditional Ozarkcrafts, music and storytelling at our annu-

al harvest season event. There will bedemonstrations of daily chores such ashomemade soap making, traditional

craftsmen showing us how life was wayback when, turn of the century children's games and lots more!

OPEN YEAR ROUND WITH CABINSFOR LARGE & SMALL GROUPS!

• All cabins are heated and air conditioned. • Daily maid service and linens provided! • Full RV hookups!

SO COME SEE US! WE'LL MAKE YOUR STAY IN THEEMINENCE AREA ENJOYABLE!

CURRENT RIVER • SPACIOUS LODGING IN THE HEART OF THE OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS • JACKS FORK RIVER

www.ShadyLaneCabins.com

Harvey's Alley Spring Canoe RentalHCR 3, Box 18 • Eminence, MO 65466

1-888-96-FLOAT • 573-226-3386www.HarveysAlleySpring.com

Owners Shane & KimVanSteenis have over 25 years

experience in the canoe

business.

Harvey's Canoe Rental,since 1965,

provides friendly &

knowledgeableservice at

Alley Spring.

Harvey's Canoe Rental,since 1965,

provides friendly &

knowledgeableservice at

Alley Spring.

Owners Shane & KimVanSteenis have over 25 years

experience in the canoe

business.

www.HarveysAlleySpring.com

CANOE JACK FORK & CURRENT RIVERS

NEAR EMINENCE, MO…THE CANOE CAPITAL

OF THE WORLD!

C A N O E S , K A Y A K S , R A F T S & T U B E SC A N O E S , K A Y A K S , R A F T S & T U B E SCAR SHUTTLES, GENERAL STORE, CAMPING SUPPLIES & SOUVENIRS.

PICK UP & DROP OFF AT LOCAL CAMPGROUNDS & LODGING.

Alley Spring Mill

Alley Spring is a well known spot forfamily reunions, picnics, camp outs andfishing trips. It became part of Ozark Na-tional Scenic Riverways in 1969. Ten thou-sand years ago, the Ozarks looked quite abit different. In this region these early Indi-ans hunted the abundant game and fishedthe rich waters of the nearby rivers. Alleywas an almost perfect place to camp forthese original Ozarkers.

In the 1830s and 1840s, European set-tlers from Tennessee and other areas beganto homestead in the region. The rivers andsprings of the Ozark Riverways area at-tracted them just as they had the Indianscenturies earlier.Jacks Fork river and up hollows emptying

into it. In time, the spring, then calledBarksdale's Spring or Mammoth Spring,became the focus of a community. The firstmill was built in 1868. A post office was es-tablished, named after a prominent local

farming family, Alley.From that day to this,the area has beenknown as AlleySpring, Alley Mill, orjust plain Alley.

It wasn't until 1894that the current AlleyMill was built by a lo-cal speculator, GeorgeWashington Mc-Caskill and his busi-ness partner, JenoahH.(J.H.)Whitacre, their names are still seenengraved on the siding next to the en-trance. With a turbine rather than a waterwheel, and with rollers rather than stonegrist stones, it was considered to be very"high tech" for its day. It served the needsof the local community by processing thefarmers' grain. As flour or meal it could besold or bartered for goods and services. Intime, other services became available at Al-ley, including a blacksmith, a general store,and a school.

Alley Mill had a much more importantrole than just turning wheat and corn intomeal. It served to cement the widely scat-tered farmers and settlers in the nearby hillsand hollows into a single community. Peo-ple who might live fifteen miles from theirnearest neighbor would all come to thesame place, Alley, at the same times of year

Heather & Sheila

…on the deck

094_001.qxd 9/4/12 10:52 AM Page 1


KIM RHODESOLYMPIC

CHAMPION

Kim Shot Her Way Into theOlympic Record Books …Winning 5 Medals in an

Individual Event in 5 Consecutive Olympic Games

Shooting for near perfection …No American athlete in an individual

sport has ever gone to 5 consecutiveOlympics and meddled 5 consecutivetimes. That was until today when KimRhodes won gold in woman’s skeet.Rhodes set an Olympic record and tied theworld record by hitting 99 of 100 targetson the way to winning the gold medal. Shealso became the first woman to win threegold medals in Olympic shooting.

She earned a gold medal in women’sskeet, setting an Olympic record and tyingthe world record by hitting 99 of 100 tar-gets. She also became the first woman towin three gold medals in Olympic shoot-ing.

After Rhode’s final shot, the audiencerose to its feet for an ovation, which wasfollowed by Rhode’s tearful acceptance ofher medal.

Kim Rhodes said during her interviewthat she would be back for a 6th Olympicsto defend her gold medal. Hey why not,she began her Olympic career at the age of17 in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GAand she expects to compete in the 2016Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Isn’t this interesting, I bet thatDemocrats like Chucky Schumer, DianeFeinstein, Frank Lautenburg and BarackObama would block and question KimRhodes as to why she uses so many roundsof ammunition. She averages 500 to 1,000

rounds a day, 7 days a week. Sen. FrankLautenberg (NJ) and Rep. CarolynMcCarthy (NY) announced new legisla-tion to regulate the online and mail-ordersale of ammunition. Because no one couldever have a legal reason and purpose to uselarge amounts of ammunition.

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095_001.qxd 9/4/12 11:17 AM Page 1


hauls in the United States since the1950s. The overhaul began in 1992and included extensive overhauls ofits running gear, pumps, piping, val-ues and springs, along with replace-ment of its firebox and extensiveboiler work.

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When diesels took over all passen-ger train duties in the mid-1950s, No.844 was placed on freight service inNebraska between 1957 and 1959. Itwas saved from being scrapped in

Thousands of people lined theroute between Cheyenne, Wyomingand Denver, Colorado, as Union Pa-cific’s historic steam locomotive No.844 traveled between the two citiespulling the Denver Post FrontierDays special train.

This year was the 16th annual op-eration of this special train; my fami-lies first year to be invited as guests.Special trains have taken passengersto Frontier Days activities as far backas 1908. The trains operated eachyear, with a time out for WWII, forinvited guests until 1970. In 1992,the Cheyenne Frontier Days specialtrain was resumed for special events.

No. 844, also known as Union Pa-cific’s "Living Legend," returned to

by Keli Van Cleave

1960 and held for special service.Union Pacific Corporation owns oneof America's leading transportationcompanies. Its principal operatingcompany, Union Pacific Railroad,links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves thefastest-growing U.S. population cen-ters. Union Pacific’s diversified busi-ness mix includes Agricultural Prod-ucts, Automotive, Chemicals, Ener-gy, and Industrial Products. The rail-road offers competitive long-haulroutes from all major West Coast andGulf Coast ports to eastern gateways.Union Pacific connects with Cana-da’s rail systems and is the only rail-road serving all six major gatewaysto Mexico, making it North Ameri-ca’s premier rail franchise.

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096_001.qxd 9/3/12 6:15 PM Page 1


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A FamilyTradition

by Nici

Haerter

In my family, angling is seriousbusiness. I literally grew up castingfrom a john boat. A cabin on SpringLake, Illinois is where we spent oursummers and created some of myfondest childhood memories. My sis-ter and I would run along the lakebank chasing turtles, fishing off thedock with a cane pole, listening to mygrandfather talk about the “big onethat got away” and watching my momgig for carp. I was eight years oldwhen I broke my left wrist and had towear an awful cast. I recall balancingmyself on a log over a creek with the

cane pole in one hand, cast on theother, and pulling in catfish as fast asI could sling them onto the bank. Ourfamily vacations were based aroundfishing tournaments in Kentucky andLouisiana. My mother won a basstournament in Kentucky and was alsofeatured in a magazine in England forher award winning homemade recipefor carp bait.

Although I prefer spinning rods tocane poles I am, at heart, still that lit-tle girl fishing on a creek bed, pullingin catfish. It’s the Wekiva River nowbut still casting out of the same johnboat I grew up in. I enjoy angling somuch that upon graduation from col-lege my husband bought me a newtrig-spin rod and reel and I wasabsolutely thrilled with the gift.

Our family reunions are alwaysheld at various fishing camps. A fewyears ago we all met in MontaukState Park in Missouri during troutseason. This was the beginning of mylove affair with wading. What couldbe better than standing in that beauti-ful, crystal clear water and catchingfish at the same time? Why did I waitso long to try this? I was hooked andhaven’t been the same since. Whenwe returned to Florida, I told my hus-band I wanted a pair of waders for

Christmas and we headed straight toMosquito Lagoon. Now my passionis sea trout, reds, and black drum inthe flats. I love it when a manateeswims up or a dolphin rolls right infront of me. I once had a small ham-mer head shark swim between myankles. There is never a dull momentwhen fishing the flats of Florida’swaterways.

Over the years, I have learned tolisten to nature. On one outing, inMosquito Lagoon, a manatee actual-ly led me to, what would become, ourfavorite fishing spot. She swam up tome in three feet of water and thenpassed only another two feet out andtotally submerged and disappeared.That meant there was a shelf and thatcould only mean fish. Within twentyminutes of casting into this deephole, my husband had landed tworeally nice black drum and I hadcaught a small red and a sea trout. Wenow affectionately refer to our secretfishing spot as “The Black DrumHotel.”

Last weekend we took our beat upold john boat to the gulf coast andwaded in oyster beds. We came homewith Spanish mackerel, flounder andcobia. We also brought home some

wonderful memories of manta raysswimming next to the boat, dolphinsat sunrise and manatees coming up tosay hello. After a beautiful day on thewater, we loaded up the boat, put thefish on ice and jumped in our truckfor the drive home. My husbandknows the routine well. He handedme the cell phone and said, “Callyour mom.” As usual, she was wait-ing for the fishing report andanswered by saying, “Well?”

Right now I am looking at thehomemade gig pole my father madewhen I was a kid. It’s hanging in ourgarage awaiting the next adventure. Ithink the time has come for me tobreak it in to Florida waters. Maybesome flounder giggin’ on the coast?Yep, I think that will be our next fish-ing trip…

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For a Free Catalog, Call: 217-376-3873

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Emden, IL 62635

SEASONED BYLIFE, AND LIVINGTO THE FULLEST! By Anita WilliamsHungry fish cause ripples in the wa-

ter and beckon me to wet a line. I grabmy pole from the lodge and walk downthe grassy incline to the pond. The boatcaptain welcomes me with a smile. Henods toward the water swirling withfish. I push the boat into the water as Iswing my leg over the side. I take myseat in the front of the boat as a minnowis placed on my hook. Singgggg, plop!My bait flies overhead and hits the wa-ter. I barely have my line in the pondand the first fish hits hard. The steadytug from the other end produces a wall-

eye. I reel in one fish after another. This northern Minnesota hot spot

produces many large walleyes, crappiesand bass for me. This moment is toospecial to keep to myself. I reach intomy pocket, take out a cell phone, andcall to invite Marie to join me. I havefished with Marie several times in thepast but that was before her 90th birth-day. Last summer’s broken ankle didnot allow her to get into the boat. I hearthe frustration in her voice as I ask herto join me; she decides to visit with nopromise of fishing. The Captain and Ireturn to the lodge to put together a planto help her. Heat and bright sun wouldbe a consideration, being able to sitcomfortably, as well as walking to thepond and getting into and out of theboat. We decide to launch the largerboat as it had comfortable seat cushions

with backs and also the bow is flat andcarpeted. We will position her therewhile swinging her legs into the boatthus eliminating extra strain on herweak ankles. I watch her enter the lodgewalking with a cane and carrying herfloppy brimmed hat. I knew she waswilling to give it a try! Her step mustbe precise: a weak an-kle may cause dangergetting into a boat. Ihelp her down the slopeto the pond. Marie exe-cutes the plan preciselyas she settles into theboat. Our Captainsteers the boat to a shad-ed area on the pond andcasts her line into thewater. I watch as hepasses her the rod, herknotted hands curlaround the pole as she gazes into thewater.

Her fishing rod jolts as it curvesdownward to the sparkling pond. Mariesets the hook. I catch a glimpse of awhite belly and recognize immediatelyshe has a walleye on her hook. Thewalleye takes her minnow and heads to

deep water. She raises the pole as in-structed and then reels down toward thewater. Catching a prize walleye is not asimple task for anyone.

We are fishing with barbless hooks,and my fishing companion is into hertenth decade. Seasoned by life and liv-ing each day to the fullest, Marie is not

one to get caught upwith numbers. I havenever met a woman likeher. A ferocious reader,her home is filled withbooks, magazines andnewspapers. Readingkeeps her mind sharp.While her knees and an-kles don’t work as wellas they once did, shewhispers that she does-n’t have an ache or painin her entire body. She

still drives a car and enjoys getting out-side to ‘breathe the Minnesota air’. Shehas a zest for life that many half her agehave forgotten. She always thinks ofothers and how she can be helpful to them. Her clear blue eyes do not betray the challenges she has overcome in her lifetime. The death of a

Anita Williams & Randy KasalSHE HUNTS, HE COOKS

AND THEY TRAVEL

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098_001.qxd 9/3/12 5:25 PM Page 1


Add the mushrooms and sauté until cookedAdd juice of half a lemon and up to 1/2 cup of water.

Reduce by volume to 1/2Add the cooking liquid from the mussels/clams and

simmer for another five to six minutesAdd the cream and simmer for another five min-

utes. You can whisk in up to 1 tbl. of flour to thicken after

all of this simmering is completeSeason with salt and white pepperGrease a baking dish with the butterPlace the walleye fillets skin side down. Place the

shrimp and mussels/clams around the fishPour the cream sauce around the fishCover with foil and bake for five minutes. Remove

the foil and cook another five minutes. IF you used pre-cooked shrimp, add them in with

about two minutes of cooking time leftRemove from oven and plate. Sprinkle with diced

parsley and use parsley for garnishServe with crusty bread or baguette. You will want

to sop up all the juices. Pairs nicely with a dry white wine

Adventure Food…Walleye Normande

b y R a n d y K a s a lw i t h A n i t a W i l l i a m s

This recipe is adapted from a meal I had in France afew years ago. It was a 35º drizzly fall day. Withoutmy heated motorcycle gear from home, I was startingto feel the chill. Riding through a smaller French vil-lage, I located what looked like a family owned restau-rant. They had a roaring fire, and I saw a nearby hotelin the event the excellent French wines (and chill) heldme for the rest of the day. Sold me! The service wasexcellent, the food great, and I returned to the roadrejuvenated. I hope you enjoy this recipe using walleyeinstead of fish from the sea. Enjoy.

8 walleye fillets2 cups dry white wine. Use a wine you would drink.Never a cooking wineOne large or two medium shallots, diced1 lb. of fresh mussels and/or clams, cleaned2 to 4 tbls. of unsalted butter1 cup diced mushrooms1 lemon1 cup heavy whipping cream1/3 pound shrimp, rawYou can also put in some scallops if desired. Add at theend with the shrimp1 bunch fresh parsley for garnish and tasteSalt to tastePepper to taste. I used white pepper

Preparation: Peel the shrimpPre-heat the oven to 400F. Also a good time to put

a baguette in the ovenPlace the walleye fillets skin side down in a large

baking panSalt and pepper the fillets. Place in a refrigerator

under coverBring the wine and shallots to a boil in a large

saucepan. Simmer for five or six minutesAdd the mussels and/or clams. Do NOT add any

shells that are open. Cook for three minutesStrain and reserve the liquid.Discard any mussels/clams that did not open dur-

ing cooking. Remove the clams from the shells. Melt 2 tbls. of the butter in the saucepan.

Customer Service Index #1 at Watkins Marine for ‘08, ’09 & ’10!

spouse, burying an adult child andbeating cancer make her exceptionallystrong, she is a survivor. Her experi-ence shows now in the skill as she han-dles the rod and reel.

Years ago she took her six childrenfishing and enjoyed spending time atthe lake, a great respite from farm workand also a way to feed a large hungryfamily. “We would fish past dark,come home and clean fish, eat…..thenwe would all just fall into bed”, Marieproclaims with a satisfying grin. I

watch as she twists the handle on thereel now and pulls the walleye closer tothe boat. Her son, our Captain, slips anet under the walleye as it flips andflops safely into the white mesh. Marielands a 23 inch walleye, the largest ofher lifetime! The smile on her facesays it all as she grins for photos. Wewatch as the fish, too large for supper,is released back into the water. Herhook is re-baited almost immediatelyand she resumes fishing. Her goal is tocatch fish to eat.

After a tasty supper of freshly caughtwalleye, Marie leans toward me. Shepats my arm and whispers “I am tiredafter catching all those fish” she wipes

her lips with her napkin, winks, andcontinues “I am ready to fall into bed”.I feel the same mixture of exhaustionand satisfaction.

099_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:48 PM Page 1


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HATCHET SHADSare the hottest new lures for muskies, lakers, pike, stripers and all big game fish. The Wild Turbulence and Baitfish School Effectputs trophy fish in the net like nothing else and is already responsible for countless giants!

(below) Barb Hash from Peoria with a gigantic Canada Northern Pike. Barb’s fish was caught on Eagle Lake inOntario on July 3rd. “This is bigger than last year’s! We didn’t

weigh it but it was 50 inches long and had an 18 inch girth. It was a big fish that made the 18 foot boat seem small!”

(left) Barb displaying her 52" musky caught July 3 in Canadianwaters. Her husband Joe netted the lunker. Good net job Joe!

Thanks to ASO friend Mike O'Bryan for sharing these photos ofBarb with ASO. Call Mike to get your own recreational place,

309-635-8901 & See properties at: www.CommercialPeoria.com

Congrats toCaera Berryfor catching

a nicebluegill atTwinkie's

Lake.Thanks to

ASO friendsPat Sullivan

& GarySandberg for

sharingCaera's

fishing fun!

Kirsten Ferguson of Girard landed this

10 lb., 2 oz. giant on a live sunfish June 10th.

Thanks to her little brother Jake for wading in and lipping it for her.

WOW!!! Looks like Kirstenis an Outdoor Woman...Way to go for catching a

beautiful once-in-a-lifetimemonster bass!

100_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:37 PM Page 1


Portable Box Grill FoldsClosed for Easy CharcoalStorage, Transportation

Esbit Foldable BBQ Box Grill,perfect for Tailgating,

Traveling, Camping & MoreWhen you want to grill on-the-go you

have the option to lug along awkward andheavy grills that claim to be portable, oryou can use a flimsy disposable grill panthat is sold with charcoal inside, but nei-ther of these options lead to an enjoyablegrilling experience. The Esbit FoldableBBQ Box makes grilling easier through itsunique and truly portable design.

The sides of the Esbit Foldable BBQ Boxcollapse for travel and setting up the grilltakes less than a minute. Simply pull openthe sides of the grill, pour in your charcoal,light, and set in the three-level, heightadjustable grate. An added bonus, one por-tion of charcoal can even be stored insideyour grill as you drive to your destination.A special charcoal bag made of nylon witha waterproof internal coating can be filledwith charcoal and laid in the bottom of thegrill to save space in the rest of your car.

The Esbit Foldable BBQ Box is madefrom high-quality stainless steel and itcomes with a stand for stability as well as astorage bag with strap for easy carrying.The grill is 12-inches long and 9-incheswide. When closed it is 3.5-inches tall, andopen the sides of the grill stand at 7-inches.

The Esbit Foldable BBQ Box retails for$89.99 and is sold at LLBean.com, EasternMountain Sports stores, and amazon.com.For more information visit www.industri-alrev.com.

LADIES--COME JOIN THE FUN!2012 ILLINOIS WOMEN IN THEOUTDOORS EVENT SCHEDULE

(OPEN TO FEMALES AGES 14 AND OLDER)

Once finalized, aregistration form foreach event will be posted on our website:

www.womenintheoutdoors.org August 25, 2012Big S andy SpursChi l l icothe Spo r tsman’s ClubRoute 29, Box 13Chi l l icothe, IL 61523Event Co o rdinato r:Maria Geiger—(309) 274-6823E-mai l : [email protected]

September 15, 2012Lit t le Wabash Long beardsBal lard Nature CenterAltamont, IL 62411Event Co o rdinato r:Sharon Davis—(217) 53 6-6032E-mai l : skdavis21@g mail .com

September 15, 2012Lawrence Co. Long beardsRed Hi l ls State ParkS umner, IL 6246 6Event Co o rdinato r:Michel le Wal ler—(812) 881-53 89E-mai l : jmrlw4@f rontier.com

September 16, 2012Tri-County Cal lersSouth Wilmington Spo r tsman’s Club24628 County Line Rd.Essex, IL 60935Event Co o rdinato r:Lauren DeKlerk—(815) 955-4087E-mai l : [email protected]

September 22, 2012DeWit t Co. Long beardsLarry & Tammy Wil ham Proper ty1124 480th St.Elkhar t, IL 626 3 4(217) 871-4292

September 28-30, 2012Southeastern I l l inois Col lege—WITO EventCamp Ondessonk3 6770 Ondessonk Rd.Ozark, IL 62972 Event Co o rdinato r:Debbie Had fie ld—(618) 252-5001, Ext. 5E-mai l : debbie.had fie [email protected] u

TT AA LL KK DD EE EE RR PP RR OO CC EE SS SS II NN GG600 N. Ferne Cly f fe Rd. • Go revi l le, IL • (618) 9 95-2754

Owners: Timothy A. & Tamie L. Klein • Boneless trimmings accepted up to Jan. 15 (Must be thawed & ready to use)

Summer Sausage • Jalapeno & Cheese Summer SausageSlim Jims: Mild or Bold (With or Without Cheese) • Polish Kielbasa with cheddar cheese

Breakfast Sausage • Jerky • Bacon • Bologna • Dakota Brats • Italian Sausage

A $20 deposit is required on all orders.Open 7 Days a Week Oct. 1 – Jan. 17, 8am-8pm

Closed 3 Major Holidays & Day Af ter • www.talkdeer.com

Now Accepting:

& Debit Cards

** We accept deer up to one day after final season -- Hours subject to change in Dec.

101_001.qxd 9/3/12 5:43 PM Page 1


remembering where the men leftthe tools, running to Lowe’stwice a day, searching for a sin-gle moment I can put my feet up(Thank God I get to write thisarticle!), trying to make a con-struction zone as “homey” aspossible (Yes, dear, the barecement floor is fine! Oh damn!Did I just step on a nail!?), andit goes on and on, until DirtChurch.

Yes, those moments at the endof the day when I get to weed alittle bit and take the wilted pro-duce we can’t eat because ourkitchen isn’t up yet due to avariety of unforeseen issues,and feed it to the chickens (whoprance and strut their feathersaround like they won a majoraward whenever I toss them afew vegetables) are what holdmy mind together. Granted beeris nice (Yes, very nice indeed),but I can literally feel myselfcalm and center when I’m tend-ing the plants and animals.Nature is truly great medicine. Ithink what makes it work sowell is that it allows you to lookwithin and out at the sametime—doing nature work gives

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Choke work for all barrels and gauges, including thin barrels and chrome-lined bores

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Serious home protection, defense improvements for guns

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It’s the little things some-times, when it comes to DirtChurch, that help to keep mysanity in tact day-to-day duringone of many of life’s adven-tures. What do I mean? Well, werecently moved into a newhouse with a new set of remod-el/rebuild issues, and quitefrankly, Dirt Church has beenone of the only things I canhang on to during the roughdays. Mostly tending the chick-ens each morning and evening,but especially tending theplants, has kept me level-head-ed.

Those few precious minutesspent watering my tomatoes,chives, basil and thyme (not tomention our many wonderfulplants) allows me the time toprepare for the day and then,unwind from its unrelentingheat and the demand of roofing,hanging rock, cooking for theworking men (yes, I do BOTHlabor and cook, E-hem!), man-aging our gang of dogs, doingthe laundry in-between some-where, grocery-getting in mytruck that doesn’t want to runsteady anymore, fetching tools,

you the time to pause and breathand relax.

It’s also not just about thekitchen cabinets or the bath-room vanity when settling into anew house. I am planning thechicken coop and our compost-ing/recycling systems. I amlooking at ways to catch rain-water once the new roof andguttering is in order, so save onwatering the plants. Having DirtChurch projects in the back ofmy head during constructionwork is key to keeping it realfor me. Jesse and his crewsweat all day, worrying aboutdrywall seams, cursing the orig-inal builder of the home whotook a few shortcuts 30 yearsago that are causing majorheadaches today. But me? WellI just suffer in silence because Iknow that at the end of the day,when the sun finally quits I canstand outside and water mytomatoes and everything thatwent wrong in the previous 12hours suddenly doesn’t botherme at all. It’s just me and mylittle green fruits and the end-less possibility of dirt andgrowth and progress.

Nature’s Remedy for StressBy A.K. Thompson

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102_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:34 PM Page 1

CURRIED WILD TURKEYSALAD SANDWICHES

This turkey salad isper fect for a quicklunch at the cabin orthe evening meal. It hasgreat flavor and with al itt le curry in it youcouldn't ask for any-thing better.

Pumpernickel breadCooking Spray2 1/2 Tbsp onion (finely chopped)1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar1 1/2 Tbsp Cider Vinegar2 cups cooked lef tover turkey (chopped)3 Tbsp reduced fat Mayonnaise 1/2 tsp curry powderPepper & Salt to taste

In non-stick skillet, spray cooking spray,heat on medium high add onion cook 5 min-utes. In small bowl combine sugar, 1/2 tsp

vinegar and stir until sugar dissolves then addto onions remove from heat cool to room tem-perature. Combine onion mixture remaining 1Tbsp vinegar, turkey and remaining ingredi-ents. Place turkey salad on bread and serve.

CURE FOR BROWN TROUT OR ANY KIND OF FISHFOR GRILLING OR SMOKING # 6

I have had so many emails and calls askingfor this recipe so here it is again! It’s simpleand easy to do you will love the results it's myno fail recipe.

1 Cup water1 Cup Dry White Wine1 1/2 Cup Sugar3/4 Cup Kosher salt and regular salt 1/2 & 1/21/4 Cup Pickling spice1 Tbsp Pepper Corns1 Tsp Cloves1/2 Tsp seasoned salt

Bring water and wine to a boil over mediumheat. Add sugar, salt until dissolved reduce tosimmer. Put pickling spice, cloves, peppercorns and seasoned salt into cheesecloth andtie, put into liquid cover and simmer for 5 min-utes. Turn of f heat cover and let sit 30 min-utes. Remove cheesecloth; immerse fish incooled solution for 1-2 hours before smoking orplacing on hot grill.

I wanted to make sure this got in my summerrecipe columns it is our favorite side dishrecipe this is a family tradition for all potlucks


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Boat Dealers

Kris’sKitchen

By Kris Winkelman

and family picnics. This recipe works for every-one you can change the beans to your liking oruse beef or any kind of ground wild game. Makethis recipe your own it will be a new family tra-dition.

BBQ DRIED VENISON APPETIZER This appetizer can be made the night before,

I think when it's made ahead of time the flavorjust gets better and better. You can also addyour personal touch to make it your own.1 8 oz cream cheese (sof tened)1/2 lb Venison (dried and chopped in to pieces)1 1/2 tsp grated onion2 1/2 tsp Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce1/2 Tbsp chopped almondsPlace all ingredients into a bowl and mix addingdried venison last.Serve with crackers.

HEART Y BAKED BEAN SIDE DISH1 Can 16 oz Pork & Beans (undrained)1 Can 16 oz Kidney beans (rinsed & drained)1 Can 15 1/2 oz Great Northern Beans (rinsed & drained)1 Can 15 1/2 oz Hot Chili Beans (undrained)1 Can 15 1/2 oz Butter Beans (rinsed and

drained)1 Pound ground venison (fried & drained)1 1/2 Cup brown sugar packed1 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese (cubed)1/2 Cup Ketchup 1 Onion medium (chopped)2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Fry Venison and drain. Transfer in to largebowl and mix all ingredients. Put in greasedshal low 3 quart baking dish. Bake at 350degrees uncovered for 1 hour or until bubbly.

Kris Winkelman's "Ultimate Wild Game and F ish Cookbook" is available on Sale

for $10.00 plus s&h.To order, log onto

www.winkelman.com CALL 1-800-333-0471

103_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:10 PM Page 1


Take the dilemma out of dinner-time and have some fun with themouth-watering creations of world-renowned chef, Scott Leysath.

Here is one of his great recipes to try:

Fried Whole Panfish with Parmesan Peanut Crust and Spicy TartarSauce

Frying whole, small fish sure savestime. Scale them, clean them and frythem. This is true finger food that ismeant to be eaten with your hands,rather than a knife and fork.6 to 8 panfish, cleaned and dressed with heads re-moved 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs1/4 cup cornmeal1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese1 cup dry-roasted peanuts, finely chopped1 tablespoon Western Style Gourmet Fish Seasoning1/2 cup all-purpose flour1 cup buttermilkpeanut oil for frying

In a shallow bowl, mix breadcrumbs, cornmeal,Parmesan cheese, ground peanuts and Western StyleGourmet Fish Seasoning. Coat each fish with flour,then dip in buttermilk, then coat evenly with crumbmixture.

In a large skillet, heat 1 to 2 inches of peanut oilover medium-high heat. Add fish and fry on both sidesuntil golden brown. Drain on paper towels and seasonwith additional Western Style Gourmet Fish Season-ing.

Spicy Tartar Sauce2/3 cup mayonnaise2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard1/4 teaspoon Western Style Cajun Campfire1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

To prepare tartar sauce, combine all ingredientsand refrigerate for one hour.

Hi Mountain’s entire line of products, cooking tips,instructional videos, and recipes are also available atwww.himtnjerky.com and the products can be foundat high-quality sporting goods stores, farm and ranchstores and your local grocery stores.

Located in the heart of Wyoming, Hi Mountain Sea-sonings was founded in 1991. It is the premier manu-facturer of kits for homemade jerky and sausage. HiMountain Seasonings has successfully captured dis-tinct, traditional Western flavors in its Jerky Cure &Seasonings, Western Style Seasonings, Bacon curesand other products that make up the unique line ofgourmet Western seasonings.

For additional information, write:Hi Mountain Seasonings1000 College View Drive

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or visit www.himtnjerky.com

About Chef Scott LeysathScott Leysath is a leading authority on the

proper preparation of fish and game. He is theauthor of several cookbooks and the co-host ofthe popular television show HuntFishCook. Heis also the cooking editor for Ducks UnlimitedMagazine and writes regularly for several oth-er popular magazines including California Wa-terfowl, Cooking Wild Magazine and Waterfowland Wetlands to name a few. He has owned hisown restaurant and catering business and cur-rently serves as a consultant and chef to HiMountain Seasonings.

choosing and preparing a delicious dinner that yourwhole family will enjoy is easier than ever.

Scott Leysath, also known as The Sporting Chef,has carefully prepared a wide variety of excellentrecipes that are easy to prepare and will be savored byall palates. A leading authority on the proper prepara-tion of fish and wild game, Leysath’s creations includeboth wild game that you may have in your freezer or do-mestic meats and fish that can be purchased at thestore. From chicken, to salmon, to pork to venison,Leysath has recipes on the Hi Mountain Seasoningswebsite that will let you breeze your way to the dinnertable.

Simply log on to www.himtnrecipes.blogspot.comor dozens of recipe ideas. You can also order all your HiMountain Seasoning products conveniently online atwww.himtnjerky.com

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104_001.qxd 9/4/12 11:53 AM Page 1

Check and repair breaks in the flashing seals aroundvent stacks and chimneys, too.

Caulk around windows and doors. Gaps betweensiding and window or door frames are bigger than thewidth of a nickel; you need to reapply exterior caulk.(Check the joints in window and door frames, too.)Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’tshrink and it’s impervious to the elements. Check win-dow-glazing putty, too (which seals glass into the win-dow frame). Add weather-stripping as needed arounddoors, making sure you cannot see any daylight frominside your home.

Clean the gutters. If your gutters are full of debris,water can back up against the house and damage roof-ing, siding and wood trim -- plus cause leaks and icedams. You’ll typically pay $70 to $225 to clean gut-ters on a single-story house, depending on its size.Also look for missing or damaged gutters and fasciaboards and repair them.

Divert water. Add extensions to downspouts so thatwater runs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the founda-tion.

Turn off exterior faucets. Undrained water in pipescan freeze, which will cause pipes to burst as the iceexpands. Start by disconnecting all garden hoses anddraining the water that remains in faucets. If you don’thave frost-proof faucets (homes more than ten to 15years old typically do not), turn off the shut-off valveinside your home.

Drain your lawn-irrigation system. But call in a pro-fessional to do the job. Your sprinkler service willcharge $75 to $150, depending on the size of the sys-tem. Draining sprinkler-system pipes, as with spigots,will help avoid freezing and leaks.

Mulch leaves when you mow. Mow your leavesinstead of raking them. The trick is to cut the leaves,while dry, into dime-sized pieces that will fall amongthe grass blades, where they will decompose and nour-ish your lawn over the winter. Use your lawn mowerwithout its bag, and optionally swap the cutting bladefor a mulching blade (about $15 to $20). The process


Real Estate ChatterBy: Mary Ann Vance

It is now September and schoolis in full session, football has start-ed and soon that horrible wordWINTER will be here. Now is thetime to start thinking of fall andwinter maintenance for your home.Hopefully these tips will help youprepare your home for the upcoming winter.

FALL AND WINTER MAINTENANCE TIPSTune up your heating system. Have a technician

inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the sys-tem is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieveits manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection alsomeasures carbon-monoxide leakage. If you act soon,you’ll minimize the chance of being 200th in line forrepairs on the coldest day of the year.

Reverse your ceiling fans. If your ceiling fan has areverse switch, use it to run the fan’s blades in aclockwise direction after you turn on your heat. EnergyStar says the fan will produce an updraft and pushdown into the room heated air from the ceiling(remember, hot air rises). This is especially helpful inrooms with high ceilings -- and it might even allow youto turn down your thermostat by a degree or two forgreater energy savings.

Prevent ice dams. If your home had lots of icicleslast winter -- or worse, ice dams, which can causemeltwater to back up and flow into your house -- takesteps to prevent potential damage this year. A home-energy auditor or weatherization contractor can iden-tify and fix air leaks and inadequate insulation in yourhome’s attic that can lead to ice dams.

Hit the roof. Or at least scan it closely with binocu-lars. Look for damaged, loose or missing shingles thatmay leak during winter’s storms or from melting snow.If need be, hire a handyman to repair a few shingles.

may take several passes.Prepare to stow your mower. As the mower sits

through the winter, fuel remaining in its engine willdecompose, "varnishing" the carburetor and causingdifficulty when you try to start the engine in thespring. If you've added stabilizer to your fuel to keepit fresh longer, then fill the gas tank to the top withmore stabilized fuel and run the engine briefly to allowit to circulate. If not, wait until the tank is nearlyempty from use and run the engine (outdoors) to useup the remaining fuel. Check your mower's manual forother cold-weather storage steps.

Don't prune trees or shrubs until late-winter. Youmay be tempted to get out the pruning shears afterthe leaves fall, when you can first see the underlyingstructure of the plant. But horticulturalists advisewaiting to prune until late winter for most plants,when they've been long dormant and just beforespring growth begins. To get advice specific to yourplants and region, consult master gardeners at localnurseries or horticulturalists with your state universi-ty's cooperation extension department. One excep-tion: You may need to hire an arborist to remove dead-fall or trim limbs close to your home or power linesthat could cause problems in a winter storm.

Test your sump pump. Slowly pour several gallonsof water into the sump pit to see whether the pumpturns on. You should do this every few months, butespecially after a long dry season or before a rainyone. For more complete instructions for testing andmaintenance, check your owner’s manual. Most sumppumps last about ten years.

Call a chimney sweep. Before you burn the Yule log,make sure your fireplace (or any heating applianceburning gas, oil, wood or coal), chimney and vents areclean and in good repair. That will prevent chimney

fires and prevent carbon monoxide from creeping intoyour home.

Avoid the rush. Don’t wait for the first winter stormto restock cold-weather essentials, such as salt or icemelt.

DID YOU KNOW???A shark can detect one part of blood in 100 million

parts of water.All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln

Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland

because he doesn't wear pants.

I maintain a staffed office in Tremont,Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 4:00.Evenings and weekends are available byappointment. ~ Mary Ann

PH: (309) 925-3545Toll Free: (800) 331-8444

[email protected] S Sampson,

Tremont, IL 61568

Visit our website: www.maryannvance.com

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100 ACRES FOR SALERecreational Wooded Land

Great for Hunting Wild Turkey & DeerONLY $2,400 per acre

• Deer Trail Runs Through• Small Pond• Creek & Natural Spring

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100 ACRES FOR SALERecreational Wooded Land

Great for Hunting Wild Turkey & DeerONLY $2,400 per acre

• Deer Trail Runs Through• Small Pond• Creek & Natural Spring

Located in Hamilton County IL (East of McLeansboro in So. IL)

CALL: 309-267-2742 or 309-264-8875

SECRETS OFAUGUST

By: Dan Gapen, Sr.

Rivers low in your area this year? Good!!!I say ‘good’ because now you’ve got the fish con-

centrated in a smaller space and if you approachthem properly, with the right bait at the righttime, you’ll surely have a fish dinner to eat.

Oops--made a mistake! I’m supposed to releaseeverything I catch, you say. Well that’s not alwaystrue!

Why? With summer fish stacked so closetogether the overcrowding isn’t always good.Taking a few out, culling you might call it, gives theothers a better chance to grow and survive.

Ok, now where do you go, what do you use, howdo you fish the local river and what can you expectto catch?

If I’ve convinced you to give the local creek orriver a go I’ve a few suggestions.

August is always a hot month and keeping coolcan be a problem for the angler. Therefore it’s thetime of year I like to work, not in a pair of heavywaders but instead in a pair of tennis shoes andblue jeans. In other words, get wet and cool off inthe local creek.

Go after creek species such as smallmouthbass, small trout, rock bass, bream and a roughfish or two such as suckers and carp.

It’s my suggestion to get a little ‘Red Neck’ withyour fishing approach!

What to use:A five to six foot medium lite rod loaded with 6

pound line would be my weapon of choice. Live baitsuch as worms, crickets, leeches and dead min-nows along with a few assorted jigs and jig headsare my choice of bait. In jigs the 1/16 oz. Ugly Bugstipped with a bit of worm or a Red Ball anise egg incrawfish, brown or black colors would be my firstchoice. My second choice would be a twister-stylejig in similar colors. If the creek you wade has mud-died up from a recent rain try some white, pink orchartreuse colors in the jigs you select.Now, the approach to properly work the creek’swater flow.

When wading in flowing water it is best to walkup against the current. Such an approach givesyou the advantage of surprise to the fish beingsought. Besides this, casting is best presentedupstream and retrieved downstream, the correctway to work running water. Remember, foodcomes with the current in flowing water. Your bodybalance is best held steady as you walk against thecurrent flow. Example: approaching a hole in theriver from above often sees the angler set off bal-ance as his forward step drops into the hole and inturn he stumbles and falls in over his head.Approaching the same hole from downstreamallows the wader to back off and remain balancedas he steps backward away from the hole with thecurrent.

The upstream approach also neutralizes anysound or disturbance created by the wader by see-ing the disturbance travel downstream behind himas he advances. Wading can disturb a great deal ofsediment and create unfamiliar sounds not nor-mally part of the creek’s persona.

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The only lure which can’t be presented in anupstream manner is live bait. This must be pre-sented from above the targeted area.

Crankbaits, spinners, soft plastics and jigs allare best presented from a downstream position.Probably the best of these is the rock-walkingUgly Bug, a jig which will fulcrum in and out ofrock hang-ups creating the action and looks of acrawfish, hellgrammite or fly larva coming down-stream. To better the attractiveness of this jig tipit with one inch of crawler. Such a scenting devicegives off the smell of these three foods.

Most all of these suggestions previously men-tioned in this article can also be applied whenworking larger waterways.

In larger rivers, when fishing from a boat, thereare a couple spots which will enhance the angler’stake. Current cuts, the structure created wheretwo river currents come together are one ofthese.

Over the years I’ve mentioned the term currentcut a goodly number of times. Anglers in the knowrealize such a structure must be fished from adownstream position up along the inside of thecut (fast water) where the two opposing currentsjoin. It’s here that fish stage to gather in thedownstream presentation of food such as min-nows, which seek shelter in the eddy water alongthe inside of the cut.

Then there is the river lifts that should be

worked. Here, where hardpan causes the river bedto rise all species of river fish stage. This struc-ture is easily identified by the boiling of surfacewaters, or boils on the surface. Other than thefellow who wades on either bank these lifts arebest fished from a boat position up from thestructure. Anchoring your boat at this spot allowsyou to maintain an average casting distance andsees you present your offering properly.

This is the structure (lift) where the use of aBait Walker sinker or a straight sinker rig worksbest. Use minnows in the spring and fall and nightcrawlers in the summer months.

There are dozens of other structures whichhold fish during these hot months of August, many

of which you’ll find in your local river. If you have aneed to learn them go to Gapen’s website atwww.gapen.com and pick up a set of my River Ratseries DVDs or one of my many books on riverfishing. The book which will do you the most goodif you are a reader is ‘River Fishing’ a HappyWorld, which many call the ‘Bible’ of river fishing.It’s a hard back book which covers all species andall conditions.

Until next time this Ol’ Man is hoping youRELAX, SAVOR and ENJOY Our Great Outdoors.

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A late August channel cat is shown off by ‘Bobber’ Anne.

Cassie, Dan’s granddaughter with asmallmouth caught on an Ugly Bug.

Jen, with a Bait Walker and crawlercaught smallie.

Often a hand-tied crawfish jig riggedwith a jig spinner will entice bass.

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107_001.qxd 9/4/12 1:01 PM Page 1


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G a t o r H u n t i n g G a t o r H u n t i n g & F i s h i n g i n& F i s h i n g i nF l o r i d a w i t h F l o r i d a w i t h D r a ke Ta y l o rD r a ke Ta y l o r

At the age of seventeen,Drake Taylor is well on hisway to becoming an accom-plished hunter. While attend-ing the SHOT Show in LasVegas, Drake had the opportu-nity to meet Robert Arringtonfrom Respect Outdoors TV.After swapping several hunt-ing stories Robert asked Drake“What do you want to huntnext?” Drake respondedquickly “an alligator”. With abig smile Robert replied “Ithink I can make that happen,I’m from Florida!” Fiveweeks later we were on a planeto Florida.

Robert wanted to showDrake what Florida had tooffer as we toured orangegroves where we watched deerand wild hogs eating oranges.Quite a sight for a county boy

from Illinois. Next on the listwere the different styles offishing in Florida. First tripwas to Lake Okeechobee forsome bass fishing. Much toDrake’s surprise he caught a“whisker fish” (catfish), gar,bowfin, and of course a beauti-ful 17 1/2” Okeechobee bass.It took a while for Drake to getused to bait that is the samesize as the blue gill he catchesback home!

Salt water fishing was next.Robert fixed Drake with a spe-

cial salt water rig and to thefamily’s amazement Drakelanded a 7 foot nurse shark!Dad’s comment “we need abigger boat” was Drake’s real-ization that the shark wasgoing to have to be cut loose.The grand finale of the daywas fishing in the brackishwaters were Drake reeled in ablack drum and ladyfish.Another amazing day of fish-ing!

Robert saved the most excit-ing part for the last day - the

alligator hunt. Drake huntswith a custom made TenPointcrossbow. If you have not metDrake, we need to let you inon something at this time.Drake has a rare form ofdwarfism called MOPD 2. Atthe age of seventeen, Drakestands 39” tall and weighs 42lbs. TenPoint engineers metDrake at an archery trade showand they worked their magicto modify a crossbow to fit hissize. The crossbow hasbecome his hunting tool of

108_001.qxd 9/3/12 5:53 PM Page 1


choice and a gator was next onthe hit list.

The day started when Robertgot a call from a local farmerthat a gator had left the canaland taken up residence in thepond where his cattle drink. Hebelieved the gator was about 8feet and had a nuisance permit

to have it removed. Mom andDad were more agreeable tothis size than the 10 footer wehad seen the day before. So offwe drove, crossbow in hand,cameras ready and one veryexcited young man.

So what we thought would bea very smooth hunt turned outto be a lengthy cat and mouseevent as the gator proved whythey have existed for thousandsof years. The game of hide andseek lasted long into the nightuntil the gator was finallycoaxed into showing himself.With only a head shot avail-able, Drakeshot the 7 1/2foot gator justbelow the eyewith his“AMS GatorRig”. Whitewater swirledas Drakestarted his tugof war tobring thegator to theedge of thepond so thatDad couldhelp him fin-ish the huntwith the bangstick.

W h e nDrake sharesthe story withhis friends heis quick to telland show youhow the gatoralmost pulledhim back intothe pond!One veryproud young

man now shows off his full bodygator mount to anyone willing to lis-ten to the story.

Hunt Location: Lake Okee-chobee& Jupiter Florida Area

Harvested: 7 1/2" Foot Alligator,7 foot Nurse Shark, 17 1/2” Bass &Multiple Species of Fish

When Drake is not hunting andfishing one of his favorite activitiesis making jewelry. Visit his websiteat www.littleddesigns.com and viewhis many creations sold by Little DDesigns. Drake’s jewelry is alsoavailable at Exhibit A Gallery inJunction City located in Peoria,Illinois.

Drake & his parents Randy & Beverly

109_001.qxd 9/3/12 6:04 PM Page 1


M a c k i n a wfor much ofu p s t a t eMinnesota.

T h egrounds ofL e e w a r dShores havebeen underwater in lowp l a c e sbefore, butnever in mysixty yearshave I seenanything likewhat thissummer hasd e l i v e r e d .On June 27 the lake level peaked, andplaces where lake water had breached thebanks or seeped up through the groundseeking its own level had begun to dry. And

then another four plus inches hit us, cover-ing more of our grounds. Impacts: raisingdocks twice; wearing boots and rubbershoes to walk from place to place; ducksswimming in our “back yards”; wavessloshing over our rocked shoreline; parkingonly on high grounds; repairing deep rutswhere vehicles wandered too far from“safe” ground; mowing area reduced byhalf; a mosquito population of epic pro-portions; necessary changes in fishing strat-egy (what was ten feet in normal years istwelve now); and Maudie can’t wade tolook for fish.

Now the lake is dropping, and someareas are beginning to dry, leaving thestench of rotting vegetation. If Maudiewere here now, she would probably need a

bath twice a day, just from runningthrough the “rotten” water. As it is, we stillhear the “squish” of mud and soggy groundas we walk around the grounds. We arehaving warm, sunny days. If our Nokasippioutlet stays open (no beaver dams), we mayreach normal before August. But two feetof water on a 670 acre lake is a formidablevolume.

Beyond the flood headlines, I wouldlike to report that “our” loons on DougSampson’s nesting platform swam proudlyforth with a youngster. It has survived forseveral weeks, escaping attempts by a blueheron and an eagle to take it for food.Nature’s way. I watched the parents feed-ing the growing chick last evening.Apparently we have another young one

By the time this memoir reaches thehands of devoted readers, the season at thelake will be more than half over. Wasn’t itonly yesterday that I was writing aboutanticipation and opening? Once past theFourth of July the sunsets start coming ear-lier, and fishing in daylight until after nineo’clock is a memory. By the end of Augustit’s eight o’clock, and by season’s end,seven. Oh, those summer nights. Of coursebullheadin’ is nice in September - earlystarting time and no mosquitoes.

The topic for this summer has been theextraordinary amount of rainfall which hasalmost devastated some areas. The nightthat Duluth was almost washed into LakeSuperior by a ten inch down pour, our areareceived a half-foot or more. Towns ofAitkin, Brainerd and Little Falls have beenthe subject of daily flood reports since themiddle of June. The Mississippi can benasty up here too, even though it begins asa creek at Lake Itasca and resembles the

MINNESOTA MEMOIRSby Dave Evans

“Summer of 2012 - Half-way”

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110_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:05 PM Page 1

elsewhere on Nokay, but I have not seen it. Our annual Fourth of July picnic (on

July 7) went very well again. Great weatherand great food with great company. Julyfourth brought thunderstorms and tornadowarnings; so many events were postponedor canceled.

The third Annual Leeward Shores BassTournament was also held on July 7 from6:15 -10:15. Five boats/teams participated,but I was a team of one since Katie was notat the lake. Dennis and Melissa Raffterydefended their “trophy” (if we had one)and earned all of the prize money, withMelissa having the big fish. I had big fishthe first year, and Katie had it last year. Asa “team” I finished second – again. Oh,well. Much fun, and all fish were returnedsafely to Nokay.

I want to thank Shelly Sampson for typ-


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ing my article for the second time. She alsodid July’s, saving me from the misery of“hunt and peck.” Good neighbors doingneighborly things.

Katie will join me here for several daysbefore flying to Hawaii with sister Janetand Doug and Nathaniel. When she re-turns, August will be half gone, and PekinHigh will be preparing for another year.But not us anymore. We will still have Sep-tember and more memories for memoirs.

Thanks Mom and Dad!

Copyright: 2012

You can reach Dave & Karen at:

[email protected] &[email protected]

Dock almost under water. Maudie’s play area had high water.

Tourney winners Missy & Dennis. Bass tourney participants.

Katie keeping warm! Just a few of Katie’s flowers.

Water toys in the flooded yard! Hybrid sunfish on 10 1/2" plate!

RELEASED!

111_001.qxd 9/3/12 3:01 PM Page 1


Labor Day Blues Labor Day Blues By Brian Barton

Along with the final unofficial weekend ofsummer for boaters along the Tennessee Riv-er, also comes the start of some of the bestcatfishing of the year. By the end of August,many portions of the river have water temper-atures reaching the 90 degree mark, with lakeaverages in the upper 80’s. As Septemberprogresses and the days shorten and thenights gradually get cooler, the catfish will be-come more active. Large schools of smallthreadfin shad will suspend over open waterproviding an easy meal for cats. When the wa-ter temperature drops into the mid 80’s thecatfish will begin to move from the thermo-cline in the main lake and spread throughoutthe water column searching for baitfish. Catswill start roaming main lake shorelines andsloughs in search of shad.

There are several locations for catchingSeptember catfish. There are three locationsthat have proven to be consistent producersfor me over the years, so that’s the ones I willdiscuss today. The best place to catch num-bers of cats is below the hydroelectric damsalong the river. The two I fish are Wheeler andWilson Dam. Both blue and channel cats willgather in large numbers feeding on the mas-sive schools of small shad that school alongthe wall of the dam. When the dams are gener-

ating strong currents, shad minnows willswim the eddy currents created where two ormore turbines meet. Catfish can be caught inlarge numbers in a short amount of time whenthe feeding starts. The best bait is live shadminnows that can be taken from the dam, orsmall strips of skipjack herring. I like to fishstrips 2 to 3 inches in length with a width of1/2 to 3/4 inches. F ish the strips on ared/white or silver color spoon. I prefer theBinks or Dardevle spoons in 3/8 to 1/2 sizes.Cast the spoon across the current allowing itto fall to the bottom. Then retrieve slowlywhile raising and lowering the rod, allowingthe spoon to fall back slowly on a tight line.For fishing minnows, a three way swivel rig isbest. Attach the weight 12-16 inches belowthe hook and bump along the bottom.

The next place to find schools of cats isalong bridge pilings or any other similar struc-tures that provides a current break. Schoolsof baitfish will gather in the slack water be-hind the pilings. I have seen smaller cats bustthe surface much like bass or stripe when thebait is bunched tightly to the structure.

An example of this scenario happened tome several years ago. About two miles down-stream of Wilson Dam there is a sunken bargethat rests in about 20 feet of water with itstip exposed above the surface. The barge cre-ates a 400 to 500 square feet eddy pool be-hind it. One afternoon while drifting minnowsfor smallmouth bass, I noticed fish busting the

surface in the eddy behind thebarge. After moving closer, I no-ticed that is was catfish feedingon the minnows. I anchored theboat just upstream and to theside of the barge and begin cast-ing our shad minnows into thefeeding fish. In less than an hour,my father and I caught 44 catsfrom 1 to 3 pounds from thatspot. The action was so fast thefish would inhale the bait withinseconds of hitting the water.

The third place to catch acooler full of cats would be alongmain lake points. Cats will beginto follow the shad schools alongthe points and ledges leading in-to the creeks and sloughs. As thewater cools during the month thecatfish will continue to migrateinto the shallower water. The best method forfishing these points is to use your electronicsto locate schools of bait and the fish under-neath them. Once located simply lower yourbait to the depth the fish are holding. Linecounters attached to rods or reels like theABU 6500 with line counters makes this taskmuch easier. Many types of baits will work,but natural river species are always best.Threadfin shad, gizzard shad, both cut baitand guts work well, cut skipjack herring, andlive bream are all good choices.

As the heat of summer slowly fades alongthe Tennessee Valley region, the catfish arejust beginning to heat up. Grab a cooler ofbait and give these areas a try. If your timingis right you could experience some of the bestcatches of the year. Good luck and good fish-ing!

For fishing trips on Wilson and PickwickLakes contact Brian Barton at

256-412-0969 or email [email protected]

Brian with a 48 lb. cat caught in May. Wow what a monster! Call Brian now to

catch a big catfish on the Tennessee River.Sept is great catfishing!

112_001.qxd 9/4/12 3:18 AM Page 1


It is late summer and the fishing has slowedsome and our minds turn to the coming bow sea-son. Soon the leaves on the trees will begin to turnand the air will carry a hint of the coming fall.Anticipation of things to come will fill our whitetaildreams. Will this be the year that I get the big wallhanger buck?

Will I be ready when he comes out, can I makethe shot? These are the thoughts of a hunter withso many questions and so much to think about aswe daydream of the coming deer season.

A hunter is an optimist by nature; why else willhe or she put themselves through the rigors andconditions that go hand in hand with hunting. Ihave sat with snow falling and covering me like agiant snowman all the while patiently waiting for awhitetail to come to me. I have sat in pouring rain,freezing cold, and the ever marauding blood suck-ing early bow season mosquitoes, all in the hopesof getting a chance at a whitetail deer. I have satdawn to dusk without complaint but cannot standthe wait in a supermarket line, all in the pursuit offthe whitetail deer.

I spare no expense in my hunting equipment asis evidenced by the many camo clothes and coatsand hunting boots I own not to mention all the doo-dads that promise to drop big wall hanger bucks infront of my stand waiting to be shot.

Scent free sprays, charcoal lined hunting suits,my beloved Alpaca socks that never leave my feetfeeling cold even in sub zero temperatures.

Why do I do all of this? In the optimistic hopethat I will get the whitetail deer that I so doggedlypursue. Nothing is too much of an inconvenience ifthere is the promise of a whitetail at the end.

You know it occurs to me if I would put this mucheffort and relentless pursuit in living my Christianlife how much more could I gain in the knowledgeand ways of our Lord Jesus? I think we all couldbenefit from more time pursuing the knowledgeand personal relationship with Christ that he longsto have with us. As we approach the season forwhitetails let us also begin a new season instrengthening our relationship with Jesus. Therewards are out of this world. God bless you andyour hunts my friends.

CROSS ROADS

By Bob [email protected]

ACTION ALERT: MAKE A NEW FARM BILL REALITY

TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE HABITAT

Pheasants, quail and other upland wildlife depend on over 50 million U.S.acres enrolled in federal conservation programs. Packaged into a piece of legis-lation called the Farm Bill, this backbone of private lands we need your help toget Congress to pass the next Farm Bill now.

Earlier this summer, a new Farm Bill passed the Senate and the HouseAgriculture Committee with bipartisan support. Unfortunately, the bill hasstalled in the House of Representatives. In limbo are programs that greatly ben-efit wildlife, including an entire suite of Natural Resources ConservationService programs (long-term easement programs like the Wetlands ReserveProgram) and working lands programs such as the Environmental QualityIncentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Programs. The Farm ServiceAgency’s Conservation Reserve Program and voluntary access programs forsportsmen - that provide abundant wildlife and hunting access to those lands -also hang in the balance. This summer’s disastrous drought has only magnifiedthe need to maintain the Farm Bill’s strong conservation title. Congress reconvenes this month, and they need to know how you stand. Weneed your help. Contact your Representative, to let them know how the FarmBill conservation programs are important to you and your family. Tell them yousupport:

Conservation programs such as CRP and WRP that create habitat for wildlife. Voluntary access programs important to hunting trips with family and friends. Working lands conservation programs support your farm, ranch and communi-ty.

Conservation programs which support jobs in rural America. Encourage your Representatives in Congress to pass a Farm Bill NOW!

Thank you for taking action to support wildlife habitat and the farmers andranchers that are the nation’s leading conservationists.

www.PheasantsForever.org

113_001.qxd 9/4/12 3:06 AM Page 1


Recreational Ground…To Buy or Not To Buy? PT. 13PRECIOUS MEMORIES PT.2By Jack L. Hartph. 309-888-4071 [email protected]

O w n i n gr e c r e a t i o n a lground hasmany advan-tages. First ofall & probably,most important-ly, it gives us aplace to huntdeer, turkey,m u s h r o o m s ,

etc. When it comes to hunting deer orturkey we, of course, want to be in thetimber while it is still dark. While sit-ting in the deer stand there is nothingmore beautiful than watching the skyturn colors as the sun slowly works itsway up providing more & more light& eventually revealing the beauty ofthe forest that surrounds us.

As the sun rises, we are also givenan opportunity to observe the wonders

of Mother Nature. As I sit there, Iwatch the beautiful cardinals, blue-birds & field sparrows flying aboutsinging to their heart’s content. I lookup into the now clear & bright bluesky & watch the buzzards soaringeffortlessly looking for their next mealwhile the hawk has just swoopeddown grasping the mouse that hadventured too far into an open arealeaving itself exposed. It is deathlyquiet & the song of the BobwhiteQuail is easily heard coming from theneighbor’s field. The hammering ofthe woodpecker is a very familiarsound as he goes about seeking hisbreakfast. Mr. Bluejay is flying allover letting everyone know that he isguarding his territory as he loudlyhollers in his familiar voice. Thoseblack birds known as crows are every-where & are as loud as ever. They arealways on the lookout for those whohappen to invade their domain. Like adoe & her fawn with their noses to theground seeking out those fallenacorns. All sights & sounds not soonto be forgotten.

Taking hunting seriously by tryingto become an expert hunter is good forall of us. It forces us to slow down &observe what we may have never seenbefore. Life for the average individ-

property had more dead elms & pro-duced more morel mushrooms thanmine. Our present property in FultonCounty has its own character & isentirely different than the two proper-ties previously owned.

We really don’t know the characterof our ground unless we slow down &take the time to really study & enjoyit. I always look forward, with greatanticipation, to visiting my property.Many times I will slowly walk intothe timber & sit down along the creek& just observe the life that exists allaround me. I enjoy immensely listen-ing to the sounds of all the songbirdsas I try to identify them & continuallyplan for things that I can do toimprove the habitat for wildlife. Ifyou own property, take the time toenjoy it & if you don’t own recre-ational ground make it one of yourpriorities to acquire some.

ual is very hectic. Too hectic! Weneed to enjoy life during our shortstay on this planet. Owning somerecreational ground can be very thera-peutic. All of us need a place wherewe can retreat, slow down, relax,enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature,watch the wildlife, study the fauna, &slowly educate ourselves more aboutour particular piece of heaven & thewildlife that call it home.

After making several walks, at dif-ferent times, thru my property I deter-mined that it had its own character orits own personality. I believe that eachparcel of recreational ground has itsown character and/or its own person-ality & no two parcels are the same.

My son’s, previously owned prop-erty had its own character. My son’sproperty had no creek going thru it butit did have a pond. My, previouslyowned, property had two creeks run-ning thru it. His property had a powerline going thru it but mine didn’t. Hisproperty was almost square in shapewhile mine was rectangular. Hisproperty had no thickets where deercould hide while mine had a hugethicket that was so rough you couldhardly walk thru it. My property hadmore mature timber than his & wasmore hilly, whereas his was flat. His

PRIME HUNTING LAND FOR SALE WITH HOUSE!!! 70 ACRES +/- IN FULTON CO. IL !!!Just one mile West of Smithfield IL. Located off E IL RT 95.

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114_001.qxd 9/3/12 2:58 PM Page 1


year 65,000 people bought recreational salt-water fishing licenses. This year, it's up tonearly 70,000, according to the MississippiDepartment of Marine Resources.

At the marine supply store, President ofthe Mississippi Charter Boat Captain'sAssociation Tom Becker is buying a new rodholder for his boat.

“Recreational fishing, if you're talkingstrictly fishing, the fish are out there, believeme, they are out there. The problem is, thepeople, to my type boat, which is a big off-shore boat, they don't have that kind ofmoney,” he said.

Becker charges $750 for half a day and$950 for a full day. Fuel alone costs at least$200 for a trip, then he has deckhands topay. Usually about 10 people charter theboat, to cover the cost. Becker says with thecost of fuel and the weak economy, in thepast few years, he's lost about half of his busi-ness.

Capt. Kyle Jarreau runs the Jus AddWater out of its home in a Bay St. Louismarina. Jarreau is one of four captains whoput guests atop schools of sport fish at ShoreThing Fishing Charters.

They also say recreational fishing isbouncing back after Hurricane Katrina in2005, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in2010 and the release of freshwater from LakePontchartrain in 2011 into the MississippiSound.

Along with the closing of fishing at timesbecause of them, recreational fishing in theGulf of Mexico off the Mississippi andLouisiana coasts went through several yearsof hard times.

“I think it's helped. (The oil spill) gave thefish a whole year with no pressure,” Jarreautells the Hattiesburg American (http://hatne.ws/LHaUSK).

He said that while fishing is seasonal andsuccess hinges on the caprice of multiple

marine species, trips lately have producedcooler-loads of keepers.

“The storm and the spill happened, wecan't change that,” said Sonny Schindler, aninshore charter boat captain with ShoreThing. “Hopefully, something like that willnever happen again. What happened, itstinks, and we are so sorry for those who losttheir lives (in the oil rig explosion).

“But the fish and the ecosystem got a two-year break of fishing. We suffered, of course,but we got basically two bonus generationsof the food chain that is running wild.

“The trout fishing has never been as good,they are big and plentiful,” Schindler said.

Jim Franks, a fisheries biologist at theUniversity of Southern Mississippi GulfCoast Research Laboratory, agrees that thefish population is bouncing back, althoughhe is more cautious.

“We had a lot of environmental insults thelast seven years,” Franks said. “CoastalMississippi has undergone quite a number ofenvironmental challenges.

“We are hopeful and optimistic. We havesome of the best fishing in the world, one ofthe most highly productive areas in theworld. We are optimistic that things will

reach their capacity again. In some ways, it isat that point now.”

There are more than 120 charter boat cap-tains in this state, according to theMississippi Charter Boats CaptainsAssociation.

Some take their customers to the deepwater to hunt for snapper, cobia, tuna, mar-lin, wahoo and dolphinfish. Others, like captains at Shore Thing, keeptheir boats in shallow water above reefs, keys,points and contours, hoping to put redfish,trout, tripletail and flounder in their cus-tomers' crosshairs.

The people who want to fish on charterboats seem to be getting past the fears of the2010 oil spill because they're keeping thecharters busy.

From veteran fishermen to corporate out-ings to newcomers to the sport to people justwanting to go for a boat ride and enjoy thescenery, they are making up for lost time.

“Because many boats are out now morethan ever, the running joke among the char-ter fleet is, `What recession? If the economyis plummeting, why are all these people outhere?”' Schindler said. “People are enjoyingthe heck out of it.”

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COASTIn Mississippi, both inshore

and offshore fishing is gathering steam, according

to local anglers. Recreational fishing is making a strong

comeback on the Mississippi Gulf Coast andsmall charter boats are getting more of thebusiness.

At the D'Iberville Marina, Captain RobertBrodie pours buckets of water on the dockand tosses out the morning catch.

“Today we caught Florida pompano,that's sort of like an exotic species we catch atthe barrier islands. Also, we caught southernkingfish, which are commonly called whit-ing. Today we also caught some really bigflounder.”

Brodie's business, Team Brodie Charters,charges $375 for half a day and $475 for afull day. He can take up to four people.

“The fishing has really come back strong.Doing little boats like we do, we do theinshore. So we can fish no matter what theweather,” Brodie tells Mississippi PublicBroadcasting (http://bit.ly/NgjQRB).

For Jane Clare Edwards of Brandon: “Oh,the fishing was great. We got rained on, butwe made it work and we had a great time.

“We live on the reservoir, so we fish a lotat home. This is our second year. We camelast summer and had a great time and caughta lot of fish. And so we're back this summer.We went out further this time, and so wecaught bigger fish this time.”

Other people are coming back, too. Last

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Vying For Velvet (Whitetail, That Is)

Velvet-antlered bucks are all the rage.Where are your best prospects

for tagging one?

by Clint Stone Bowhunting trends come and go—deer slams,

turkey slams, even Super Slams (until blue-collarworking stiffs discovered this was the territory of on-ly the well-heeled). Everyone seems to have a loftygoal these days instead of simply bowhunting for sim-ple fun. I admit to having fallen into this mode myself,normally taking to the field with an agenda other thanpure relaxation in mind.

One of the latest trends is to somehow arrow a tro-phy whitetail buck still wearing velvet. In most white-tail strongholds this is statistically or, more accu-rately, physically impossible. Simple fact is, mostEastern and Midwestern whitetail seasons, even theearliest archery-only dates, kick off well after buckshave shed velvet to reveal hard-polished antlers foranother season.

Even when including those states with the earliestarchery opening dates of August and September, tag-ging a whitetail buck wearing velvet antlers remains a50-50 proposition. Velvet stripping is triggered by

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the changing photo period striking optic nerves, initi-ating a spike in the testosterone required for finalantler mineralization. The window of opportunityvaries just like any biological function, occurring ear-lier in some individuals and regions than others.

After giving the situation much thought, these aremy top opportunity picks for taking bucks in velvet. Ibase them on a combination of favorable seasonopeners with a reasonable chance at actually pat-terning a trophy whitetail during these early dates.

Northeastern WashingtonWith archery deer seasons starting the first of

September, northeastern Washington(www.wdfw.wa.gov) gives bowhunters a good shot atcollecting a velvet-antlered whitetail. The best betsare found on public lands north of Spokane all the wayto the British Columbia border. This is mixed borealforest with private agricultural habitat of wheat,oats, barley, peas, and garbanzo beans (a whitetailfavorite) at its edges. The best bet for early successis scouting for a buck feeding in such a field and ap-plying standard early-season ambush techniques.This includes hunting field edges only evenings toavoid spooking feeding deer still in morning. Or set upon an established trail well away from feed, catchingbucks traveling deeper into cover as heat rises.

Washington allows deer baiting, making this a vi-able option in public National Forest areas, whereplanted alfalfa, corn, or peas bring deer out of thewoodwork. The key is to find a site receiving minimaldisturbance from other hunters and non-hunting hik-

ers. Trophy quality can prove exceptional.

AlbertaAlberta’s (www.albertaregulations.ca) August 25

archery-only opening day makes it a prime pick forcollecting a velvet-wearing trophy buck. Areas suchas the Edmonton and Calgary Bow-Only Zones, andsimilar agricultural areas to the west and south, pro-vide classic farm country settings where deer alsogrow world-class antlers. Most bowhunting is con-ducted from stands at the edges of alfalfa fields,though bowhunters should not be intimidated by theprospect of spot & stalk ploys in more broken countrywhere the approach can prove highly profitable.

Northeastern WyomingNortheastern Wyoming’s (www.gf.state.wy.us)

Devil’s Tower region and outlying counties have be-come a go-to destination for the velvet-obsessed, of-fering a September 1 archery start date that makesthis a high-odds proposition. Booner bucks are rare,but plenty of P&Y-quality bucks are taken each sea-son. And since baiting is perfectly legal, luring a tro-phy buck within range is made easier with prepara-tion (especially during drier years), though manychoose to situate a stand at the edge of private agri-cultural fields found along the area’s major rivers. Ar-ranging trespass can prove tricky, as area outfittershave mostly secured the best properties.

KentuckyKentucky (www.fw.ky.gov) has emerged as the

up-and-coming trophy whitetail state, supplying a

high number of Boone & Crockett bucks in recentyears. With a September 4 opening day forbowhunters, the chances of velvet antlers are fair togood. Early seasons are tough here due to an over-abundance of prime habitat, but smart hunters focuson scouting concentrations of acorn-bearing white orred oaks to find success during these early seasons.

South CarolinaSouth Carolina (www.dnr.sc.gov) has the earliest

whitetail seasons in North America, “Low Country”areas (Zones 3 and 5) allow hunters to begin August15. This makes velvet bucks nearly assured, thoughbowhunting them is tough duty in Deep South jungle,and the frequency of trophy bucks can’t match othertrophy whitetail ground, though big bucks are cer-tainly available.

Taking advantage of early archeryopening Don Kisky beat the odds

and took this Alberta velvet-antlered whopper.

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“Go With The Wind”Wind can drive an angler crazy when

casting or controlling a boat. It can al-so be an angler’s best friend if he allowsit to point to the fish, and use the prop-er techniques.

Whether fishing from shore or from aboat fish the shores in to which the windis blowing. The wind works in spring,summer and fall. In the spring it warmsthe water and stirs up food; in the sum-mer it provide oxygen, cools the water,and stirs up food; in the fall it mixes thewater to keep a stable temperature, andstirs up food. As can be seen there aretwo main elements – a comfortable at-mosphere and food. Just like a human,the fish would prefer the most comfort-able place available that has food.

Boat control can be tricky, but it is thebest way to fish a shore which is beingwind blown. Casting in to the shore ismuch easier and productive. However,shore anglers can do well by casting par-allel to the shore, or if it is a cove or cor-ner area, casting from the shore that isperpendicular to the windy bank.

For most any species a float can beused with live bait, or a jig. The float rigis allowed to drift towards the windyshore, and being held back slightly fromtouching the bank. Let the wind do thejigging, and watch the float for any ir-regular movement, or a quick disappear-ance beneath the surface.

I’ve caught many species with lureswhile fishing the windy banks. They

have included bass, crappie, bluegill,white bass, hybrid stripers, walleye, cat-fish, carp and dogfish. In conditionslike these every species can be an aggres-sive feeder.

My favorite lures to start are the heav-ier and faster type, like the Sebile FlattShad, Lewis Rat-L-Trap, and Mann’sManniac, mainly in shad or bluegill col-ors. Spinnerbaits fall in this category aswell, but here I like to stay with any-thing from a 1/8-ounce Baby Wedge, toa 1/2-ounce Vibra Shaft double willowleaf. Vibration and flash is the key with

DAN’S FISH ‘N’ TALES®By Dan Galusha

Dragging a tube out from awind blown shore, where bass

were feeding on crawfish, produced this nice bass.

A Natural Science Road Runnerhead, teamed with a 2” Power

Minnow is a great combinationfor several species of fish, when

they are found feeding on baitfish.

These panfish anglers are fishing a wind blown weedy cove

at Carlton Lake, and allowingtheir baits and lures to drift backin to the edge of the weed line.


which to start.From this point I go with jigs. For

bass it would be a black/blue ? to ?-ounce jig with a black red or blue flakeChigger Frog, Rocket Craw, Y-Not orItza Bug trailer. This can be used with aswimming technique, which has provenvery productive. If some sort of cover isencountered than a cast or two should bemade where the lure can be crawled overand through this cover.

Plastic worms and tubes are next.Worms can be alternated from straight

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tails to ripple tails until the stylepreferred is found. Most of thetime in these situations the wormseems to work best when crawledon the bottom, and coming fromthe shore. Most strikes are withinthe first few feet, or if there is asharp drop off out from the shorethe fish may be holding at thatpoint waiting for anything beingstirred up from shore.

For several years Power Baits,Gulp and Gulp Alive baits havebeen a big advantage. I like fishingthe Power Jerk Shad on a DaiichiCopperhead Bleeding bait hook,swimming it along with a slowretrieve, much like slow rolling aspinnerbait. The standard 2.5”Gulp Minnow, and Gulp Alive 3”and 4” Minnow and Leech all workwell using them on a Road Runneror plain 1/8 ounce lead head jig,and fished with a slow swim, quickjerk, or bounce. The 3” Gulp AliveMinnow also works well as a traileron a Stanley Sexy West Swimmingjig, and fished with a swimmingaction.

All of the Gulp rigs mentionedhave worked for bass, while the 2”

and 3” Minnow and Leech on aplain jig head have done a good jobfor catfish and bluegill, with a fewwalleye and crappie.

Fishing the windy banks may notbe the 100-percent cure-all to find-ing fish, but it sure is a great start-ing point. Like every other angler,I hate fighting the problems ofwind, but it beats being “skunked”.

When I’m talking about windyconditions I’m meaning a normalwind. If it is too windy to be safe,and heavy storms are in the area,get off the water. No fish is wortha person’s life no matter how goodthe fish are hitting.

Remember, “go with the wind”and don’t be “gone with the wind”.Fish a wind properly, and you canfind a great fishing pattern.

If you have any questions aboutthis or another fishing subject,drop me a line through the Dan’sFish ‘N’ Tales® website atwww.dansfishntales.com, whichalso provides a link to theAdventure Sports Outdoors web-site, and the Dan’s Fish ‘N’ Tales®You Tube channel.

Until next time, get out on thewater, and enjoy a great day of fish-ing.

RARE BLUE LOBSTERMOVES INTO NATIONAL

AQUARIUM IN D.C.National Aquarium in Washington,

D.C. is the new home for Toby, a rareblue lobster found off the coast ofMaryland. Toby's particular blue hue issaid to be a 1-in-2-million exception tothe reddish-brown shade of most lob-sters.

The lobster has been staying inMartin's Fish Co.'s lobster tank since hewas caught in June 2012 by JohnGourley on his fishing boat, the PotLuck, near Ocean City. Gourley decid-ed to donate the lobster to NationalAquarium, Washington, D.C.

Toby was not immediately placed onexhibit due to standard precautionarymeasures regarding the safety of a newspecies. Toby has now been placed inthe Stellwagen Bank National MarineSanctuaries exhibit, which currently

WIND… Cont’d. from previous pg.

houses three black sea bass and one tau-tog. National Aquarium had Toby ondisplay starting July 3rd.

"We are always excited to be able toshare new animals with our guests, butthis lobster is particularly special," saidBob Ramin, chief development officerof National Aquarium and executivedirector of National Aquarium,Washington, DC. "Toby will be the per-fect addition to our National Aquariumfamily."

According to the University of MaineLobster Institute, Toby is blue due to agenetic variation that causes the lobsterto produce an excessive amount of aparticular protein. This characteristic isestimated to be present in every 1-in-2-million lobsters born.

National Aquarium, Washington, DC

14th & Constitution Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20230

www.aqua.org

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BUFFS TO VISIT BOYHOOD HOME OF MARK TWAINBy Keith NorringtonThe mere mention of Hannibal, Mo., evokes imme-

diate visions of Mark Twain. Long a destination fortourists, the small town on the bank of the Mississip-pi was the childhood home of writer Samuel Lang-horne Clemens (1835–1910). Clemens adopted thepseudonym of Mark Twain after hearing the leadsmantaking soundings while serving as a licensed river pi-lot, following an apprenticeship under Capt. HoraceBixby.

In 1902, Twain made his last visit to Hannibal,when he returned to accept an honorary degree at theUniversity of Missouri-Columbia. On his trip home, hestopped at St. Louis, where he made a speech, and onJune 6 was present for the christening, by the FrenchCountess de Rochambeau, of the St. Louis harborboat renamed in his honor. During an elegant lunch-eon on board, a bottle of champagne was broken onthe deck and the “Star Spangled Banner” was sung bythe guests and dignitaries gathered in the boat’s cab-in, which was elaborately decorated.

The Mark Twain was built at Madison, Ind., in1873, originally named Elon G. Smith. A sidewheelerwith a wooden hull measuring 160 by 32 by six feet, itbecame the boat for the St. Louis harbor master andwas renamed City of Saint Louis, retaining that name

until 1902.It was reported in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat

that during the cruise in the harbor, Capt. Matt Tully,the boat’s pilot, graciously stepped aside and surren-dered the wheel to the famous writer for a brief periodand that he “steered the boat with the easy noncha-lance of experience and his face illuminated with joy inthe memories of the past.”

The pilothouse was crowded with spectators andreporters who reveled in hearing the veteran pilot askfor the lead line to be used. As the plaintive calls of theleadsman began emanating up from the main deck asthe depths were measured, Twain was obviously de-lighted when the deckhand sang “Ma-a-a-ark Twa-a-a-ain,” translating as two fathoms, or 12 feet of wa-

ter. Cheers and applause went up from those gatheredon deck as Twain turned from the wheel and said,“That’s good enough water for anyone—and youcouldn’t improve it without putting in a littlewhiskey!”

He also told the assemblage that everyone was safeas long as he was at the wheel, but that this would behis final time at a pilotwheel. The Mark Twain contin-ued in operation as the city harbor boat until replacedby the steel hulled Erastus Wells in 1907.

Members and friends of the Midwest RiverboatBuffs will convene at Hannibal on June 9–10 to enjoya weekend remembering the renowned author of Lifeon the Mississippi, published in 1883, The Adventuresof Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckle-

berry Finn (1885) as well as other famous tomes. Alively roster of events has been arranged by organiza-tion president Judy Patsch and includes visiting theMark Twain Boyhood Home, a dinner cruise on the ex-cursion boat Mark Twain and touring several muse-ums, which feature exhibits of steamboat memorabil-ia and a replica pilothouse. Also on the agenda is apresentation, Mark Twain Himself, by impersonatorRichard Garey.

For further information contact Patsch [email protected]. Headquarters will be the BestWestern in downtown Hannibal, overlooking the riverand within easy walking distance of the Twain homeand other attractions. Additional information can beobtained at www.visithannibal.com

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The harbor boat Mark Twain is moored at the St. Louis levee in 1904. The

sidewheeler passing by is the Corwin H. Spencer, formerly the Anchor Line steamer Hill City.

Photo courtesy of Dave Thomson

Mark Twain and dignitariesaboard the Mark Twain on June 6, 1902, following the christening

and renaming of the boat in honor of the famous author.

Photo courtesy of Dave Thomson

This is Twain’s final visit to his boyhood home in 1902. The

Midwest Riverboat Buffs will visitthe home during their meeting.

119_001.qxd 9/3/12 2:28 PM Page 1

NOBREGAS WINS DEL BROWN PERMIT

TOURNAMENT INFLORIDA KEYS

Tony Nobregas of Islamorada, Fla., caught and released two permit onfly, measuring a total of 44.5 inches, to win the 2012 Del Brown PermitTournament that ended July 18 off Key West.

The annual tournament honors the late angling legend Brown, whocaught and released more than 500 permit on fly prior to his death in2003.

Nobregas garnered grand champion honors while fishing with CaptainRob Fordyce of Islamorada. Fordyce was named grand champion guide.

Tony is a passionate angler, said Fordyce, who fished the tournamentfor the first time. He loves it so much that he’s driven and focused whenfishing.”

Nobregas also caught the tournament’s largest permit, measuring 28.5inches.

Mike Ward of Helena, MT, was named the 2012 runner-up grandchampion. He caught and released a permit measuring 19 inches whilefishing with Captain Don Gable of Key West.

Event proceeds benefit the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.


This fawn wasspotted at

Sugar Creek nearBrowning, IL

in May.Dogs found this fawn

in May also!

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adventure sports outdoors sept. 2012

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