Missouri Big Bucks Ready for New Entries
October 20, 2008
Apply now to add your trophy deer or shed antlers to a database with more than 8,000 records.
JEFFERSON CITY–Missouri hunters who have been waiting to enter deer in the Missouri Show-Me Big Bucks Club need wait no longer. The club is accepting applications again.
The club was founded in 1968. It is dedicated to recognizing trophy white-tailed deer and successful hunters and promoting sportsmanship. It also aims to help members obtain national recognition from the Boone and Crockett Club, the Pope and Young Club and the National Muzzle-Loading Rifle Association.
The club stopped accepting applications in 2004, when outdated record-keeping infrastructure made the process unmanageable. Now under new leadership and with a more efficient record-keeping system, the Club is accepting applications again.
“The Missouri Show-Me Big Bucks Club is back in business,” said club Central Region Coordinator Larry Lueckenhoff. “A backlog of nearly three years of record entries has been processed, and the club is now accepting new entries.”
The fee for registering trophy deer is $20. The shed-antler registration fee is $15. Successful entry of a deer in the record book confers membership in the club.
The club recognizes records in four categories: typical trophy deer, nontypical trophy deer, typical shed antlers and nontypical shed antlers. To qualify, typical trophies must measure at least 140 inches under to the Boone and Crockett measurement system. Nontypical trophies must measure at least 155 inches. Shed antlers must measure 60 inches typical or 70 inches nontypical. For measurement procedures, see boone-crockett.org/.
The club has accepted more than 8,000 records. Several hundred are in the relatively new, shed-antler catetgories. The top nontypical deer scored 333 7/8 inches, while the Missouri record typical measured 205 inches. The nontypical shed record currently stands at 111 6/8 inches, and the typical shed record is 98 inches.
Records are further divided among categories for hunters using high-powered rifles, bows and arrows, muzzle-loading rifles, pistols and crossbows during firearms deer season or under a medical exemption, as well as found or “picked-up” trophies.
Anyone interested in more information about the club or needing contact information for an official measurer in their area can contact the following regional representatives: St. Louis, John Detjen, Jr., 636-338-4114, jdetjen [at] centurytel [dot] net
; Kansas City, Bradley Harriman, 660-886-6654, bharriman [at] yahoo [dot] com; Central Region, Larry G. Lueckenhoff, 573-477-3552, lueckenhoff [at] embarqmail [dot] com; Northeast Region, Bradley Ream, 660-933-4700, reamx5 [at] memr [dot] net; Northwest Region, Martin Marks, 660-442-5332, mam64437 [at] squawcreek [dot] net; Ozarks Region, David Nance, 573/714-4011, bowbender [at] semo [dot] net; Southwest Region, Kevin Asbury, 417-847-2210, fishunt [at] earthlink [dot] net; Southeast Region, Ronnie Gadberry, 573-547-2301, rgadberry [at] stoneresourcesconsulting [dot] com.
Inquiries about past or pending entries should be directed to Lueckenhoff or Harriman.
The club’s website is under construction. When it is completed, plans call for offering separate areas for the public and for members, with information about official measurers, public measuring events, records, photos of record deer and more.
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Cacapon Resort 3-D Archery Shooting Range Open in West Virginia
October 7, 2008
Cacapon Resort has gone 3-D. Archery shooting that is, and it’s the newest addition to outdoor sport activities in the West Virginia state park system.
The course features 15 - 21 targets made of foam and plastic replicating wildlife game species found in West Virginia along a quarter mile designated trail. Represented species include whitetail deer, bear, wild boar, turkey fox, raccoon, groundhog and coyote.
“Targets are laid out in a variety of settings and positions, providing easy shots for beginners and more challenging poses and distance for advanced archers,” says Brad Reed, Assistant Superintendent. The archery course is located adjacent to the Wobble Clay Shooting Range. A fee is charged for this activity and reservations are required.
Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 17 and from December 1, 2008 to May 25, 2009. The course is open Sundays only from October 18 to November 30. The course range use is by reservation. There is a maximum limit of five individuals per reservation.
“A small number of shooters per reservation creates a good sport experience and promotes a safer shooting environment,” Reed explains. He says the course is ideal for archery clubs and individuals with archery equipment who want to improve field skills.
Cacapon Resort currently offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including: 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Sr. golf course; hiking trails; horseback riding; and Wobble Clay Trap Shooting Range. The park is located near Berkeley Springs in Morgan County accessible via Route 522. For information about Cacapon Resort and 3-D archery go online, www.cacaponresort.com and click on “things to do.” Question and answer pages are posted for both Wobble Trap Range and 3-D Archery. For lodging, special events, trap or 3-D range reservations or additional information, phone: (304) 258-1022.
Additional Information
- Reservations are required and may be made up to 30 days in advance. A $7 fee is required to hold a reservation. Call (304) 258-1022 to make reservations.
- The archery range is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 1 through October 17 and December 1 through May 25. From October 18 through November 30, it is open Sundays only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the prime archery hunting season when no uncased bows are allowed on state parks. State parks are not open to hunting.
- A fee of $7 per person per hour is charged for range use. A maximum of five people may participate in one reservation/round. Special arrangements for different times and group sizes may be made by contacting the park superintendent in advance.
- All ages are permitted, but children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.
- Customers must provide their own archery equipment, and it must be cased at all times when not in use on the range. No firearms are permitted on the archery range.
- Compound, longbow and recurve bows are allowed on the range. Broad head tipped arrows are now allowed. Only arrows tipped with field or target points are permitted. Cross bows are allowed only for people possessing a current and valid Class Q (handicapped) hunting permit.
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N.H. Fall Shotgun Turkey Season Is October 13-17, 2008
October 6, 2008
CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire’s five-day fall shotgun turkey hunting season takes place Monday through Friday, October 13-17, 2008, in select Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in the Connecticut River Valley and southwest portions of the state (WMUs D1, D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2 and K). These areas have New Hampshire’s densest wild turkey populations.
Participants in the fall shotgun turkey season need both a turkey license ($16 for N.H. residents or $31 for nonresidents) and a current N.H. firearms hunting license. Hunters can purchase licenses online at www.HuntNH.com or from any Fish and Game license agent.
New Hampshire’s turkey license comes with 2 tags, one for use during the spring gobbler season, and one for use during either the fall archery or the fall shotgun turkey season. Hunters are restricted to taking a single turkey during the fall, either with bow and arrow during the archery season, or with a shotgun during the shotgun season. The bird must be tagged with the “fall” tag that comes on the regular turkey license.
Mark Ellingwood, a wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, notes that, “Hunters no longer require a special fall shotgun turkey permit in order to hunt the fall season. Beginning in 2008, purchase of a turkey license gives you the option to take a spring bird and a fall bird. The fall bird can be taken during the archery season (statewide, except for WMU A) or the shotgun season, in the 8 designated Wildlife Management Units open to fall shotgun hunting.”
Ellingwood advises fall turkey hunters to be extremely selective in deciding when to shoot, both as a matter of safety and to guard against hitting more than one bird with a single shot. “Even if the turkeys are not “flocked up,” their cryptic coloration, coupled with the pellet pattern cast by a shotgun, requires that hunters exercise extreme restraint when choosing a shot,” says Ellingwood. He also reminds hunters to use good judgment in deciding where to pursue turkey flocks: “Pursuit of flocks visible from public roadways is discouraged for reasons of safety and fair-chase.”
New Hampshire’s 5-day fall shotgun turkey season has been in place since 2006. Last fall, shotgun hunters tallied 343 turkeys (226 hens and 117 gobblers) from the 8 WMUs open to fall shotgun turkey hunting, all in the western half of the state. During the first year the fall shotgun hunt was offered (2006), hunters took 122 turkeys during the limited season.
New Hampshire’s fall archery season for wild turkey runs from September 15 through December 15 (statewide except for WMU A, which is closed to fall turkey hunting). A total of 418 turkeys were harvested during the 2007 fall archery season, double the previous year.
Nearly 20,000 hunters purchase New Hampshire turkey hunting licenses annually. The spring gobbler season, which occurs statewide in May, is the more popular turkey season. During the 2008 spring season, hunters harvested a record 4,098 turkeys in New Hampshire.
For more information on turkey hunting in New Hampshire, visit www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_turkey.htm.
New Hampshire currently has an estimated 40,000 wild turkeys statewide.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s marine, fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Visit www.HuntNH.com.
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Practice Should Be On Bowhunters To-Do List
September 26, 2008
MADISON – Twenty minutes of daily practice with a bow and arrow will not only improve a hunter’s aim but also muscle strength – two factors state hunting safety specialists call crucial to a safe and successful outing.
“Hunting with a bow and arrow is not like riding a bike. You forget over the year and you can get hurt if you venture out without taking time to review and practice those skills,” said Tim Lawhern, Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education administrator, and a bow hunter himself. “Shooting with archery equipment is not something that comes back to you just like that. Specific muscles are called into action in archery, and those muscles must be conditioned through practice.”
But, Lawhern adds, before hunters practice they must inspect their equipment.
“Inspect the bow limbs, string, handle and other parts. If there is anything not in excellent condition, take your bow to any archery shop for repairs or parts,” he says.
Once the equipment is ready, Lawhern recommends starting to practice immediately.
“This will help bow hunters get their arm, shoulder and finger muscles accustomed to the task for shooting and help improve accuracy,” he said.
“Two weeks before opening day, your first shot in practice is your gauge of whether you are ready to go into the field,” he said. “If your first shot is on target, you’re set.”
If a hunter’s practice time is limited, Lawhern says take closer shots than normal. “For most, that is less than 20 yards.”
Another valuable practice tip is to do your sessions from the same set-up you will use while hunting. “That includes a tree stand while wearing heavy clothing,” he said. “That means practice from an elevated position in your back yard – and wear your hunting clothes.”
Other safety tips from Lawhern include:
Use arrows tipped with broadheads.
Get a fall restraint device, such as a harness, and use it.
Use three points of contact while climbing into and out of tree stands.
Never climb into a hunting location with bow and arrows – raise and lower the equipment with a haul line.
More information about hunter safety and bow hunting safety is available on the DNR Web.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern, DNR Hunter Education Administrator – (608) 266-1317
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Master Archer Byron Ferguson Returns to Stonewall Resort State Park For West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days September 27 and 28
September 16, 2008
Roanoke, W.Va. – Master archer Byron Ferguson will return as part of the 2008 line-up during West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days at Stonewall Resort State Park September 27 and 28. The event, which draws nearly 20,000 outdoor enthusiasts each year and is the biggest outdoor-oriented event in the state, is sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the West Virginia Wildlife Federation.
Ferguson first amazed the crowd at the 2007 Hunting and Fishing Days event. “We’re proud to have him back this year,” said Jerry Westfall, event coordinator for DNR. “Byron is able to do the nearly impossible when it involves the bow and arrow.” Â
Ferguson took an interest in the longbow at the age of 12, first shooting out candles in the pitch dark to hone his skill. He is able to shoot coins out of the air, split playing cards, and even shoot an arrow through a wedding ring in mid-air.
When asked why he prefers the longbow, Byron replied, “It’s because of the romance that is tied to the weapon. Longbows are traceable to the cavemen and have been praised in songs, poems and stories since the dawn of mankind.”Â
Byron Ferguson is expected to be a show favorite again this year, attracting not only avid bow hunters and archers, but also the whole family. He has taken his talents around the world, performing in eight foreign countries and on dozens of television programs. Additional information is available from Ferguson’s Web site at www.byronferguson.com.
The public is invited to attend the 2008 West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days at Stonewall Resort State Park on September 27th and 28th between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m on Saturday and 9 a.m. and 5.p.m. on Sunday. A complete show listing and schedule are available on the Division of Natural Resources Web site at www.wvdnr.gov.
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Florida Youth Field Day Promises Family Fun
September 8, 2008
All school-age kids and their families are invited to a free outdoor program called the Youth Field Day on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Ocala Conservation Center in the Ocala National Forest.
The event is free and includes a chance to try shooting a shotgun, rifle and bow and arrow, as well as fishing, canoeing and kayaking – all with expert instruction.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Heart of Florida Chapter of Buckmasters and numerous partners are holding this hands-on program for the first time and hope to make it an annual event.Â
“The Youth Field Day is a great chance for kids of all ages, and their parents, to come out to a beautiful setting in the forest and learn several outdoor activities under the watchful eyes of experts,” said Greg Workman, director of the FWC’s Ocala Conservation Center and event co-organizer.
In addition to the hands-on activities, there will be live programs by the Florida Division of Forestry Fire Safety Clowns, FWC K-9 Bubba and his partner Officer Jeff Gier, interpretive historical displays about the Civil War and the Mountain Men, door prizes and lunch. The first 70 kids to sign up get free membership in the National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes Program.
“Our goal is to give families a better appreciation of the many fun, safe and healthy outdoor recreational activities and opportunities available,” Workman said.
For more information on the Youth Field Day call Workman at the FWC Ocala Conservation Camp, 352-625-2804.
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Tips For A Safe Archery Hunt
August 7, 2008
Stay safe this year by following a few, simple rules.
Utah’s general archery buck deer hunt and the state’s general archery elk hunt kick off Aug. 16.
“Every year we receive reports of archery hunters injuring themselves,” says Gary Cook, hunter education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Two practices lead to most of the accidents: being unsafe in tree stands or having arrows out of your quiver when you shouldn’t.
Cook provides the following advice to help you avoid these accidents:
- Tree stands: Before you climb a tree, make sure it’s large enough to hold your weight. To lessen the chance that you’ll fall while climbing the tree, attach a hauling line to your bow, arrows and other equipment, and leave them on the ground. After you’ve climbed into your tree stand, attach your safety harness. Then use your hauling line to lift your gear to you. Cook also recommends using a portable tree stand, rather than building a “permanent” one. “Permanent tree stands can deteriorate and become unsafe,” he says. “They’re unsightly, too. And you can damage the tree by putting nails in it.”
- “Until you’re ready to shoot, keep your arrows in a hooded quiver that covers the broadheads,” Cook says. “One of the most common accidents we see is archers jabbing themselves or other hunters while carrying arrows in their hand that should be in their quiver.” State law requires that arrows be in a case while the arrows are in or on a vehicle. When you’re outside your vehicle, it’s up to you to protect yourself.
More tips
In addition to the safety tips, Cook provides tips on getting prepared for the season, safety items to remember while you’re in the field and tips on tracking animals and preserving their meat.
- Preparation
- Equipment checks: Make sure the laminations on your bow are not flaking or separating and that the strings on your bow are not fraying. And if you have a compound bow, make sure the pulleys and cables are in good working order. Also, make sure that your equipment is matched, that your arrow’s spline (the stiffness of the arrow’s shaft) matches your bow’s draw weight. If your bow’s draw weight produces more force than your arrow can handle, your arrow will probably fly off target when you shoot.
- Broadhead sharpening: Sharpen your broadheads carefully. Your broadheads should be razor sharp, but don’t cut yourself while sharpening them.
- Practice your shooting as much as possible.
- Obtain written permission from private landowners before hunting on their property or using their property to access public land.
- Know the boundaries of limited-entry units and other restricted areas in the area you’ll be hunting.
- Never take a shot at a deer or elk that is beyond the maximum, effective range you’re comfortable shooting at. Also, before releasing your arrow, make sure of your target and what’s beyond it.
- After the shot
- Watch the animal and determine the direction it took. Then go to the spot where you last saw the animal and find your arrow. If there’s blood on it, and if you have a compass, take a reading of the direction the animal went. Then wait 30 minutes before tracking it. If you track the animal too soon, you can spook it into running. If you wait 30 minutes before tracking it, you’ll find most of the deer and elk you shoot dead within a reasonable distance of your starting point.Â
- When you track an animal, look for blood not only on the ground but on the brush too. If you begin to lose the animal’s trail, tie a piece of biodegradable paper near the last blood spot. Then search for the animal’s trail by walking a circular pattern out from the paper. The paper will serve as a marker and will let you know where you started. Also, tying paper at the locations of the last three or four spots you see, and then stand away from the paper and looking at the paper trail, can help you visualize the direction the animal took.
- Once you’ve found the animal, check to see if its eyes are open. If they’re not, the animal probably isn’t dead. If its eyes are open, touch one of the eyes with a long stick. That will keep you out of harm’s way if the animal is still alive. Once the animal is dead, field dress and cool its meat immediately. It’s usually warm during the archery hunt, and the warm temperatures can cause the meat to spoil quickly.
Cook also provides tips for reducing conflicts with homeowners and those who don’t hunt:
- Find access points to your hunting area well in advance of the season.
- If access requires crossing private land, you must obtain written permission from the landowner. If you can’t obtain written permission, find another access point.
- Before you start hunting, make sure you’re well beyond the minimum distances you must maintain from roads and dwellings. If you’re going to hunt in Salt Lake County, please remember that the county’s hunting restrictions are more restrictive than the rest of Utah. Read the 2008 Big Game Guidebook closely for more information.
- Avoid hunting in areas that a lot of people use. Also, whenever possible, avoid hunting near heavily used trails.
“Most of the people in Utah choose not to hunt. But they support hunting as long as hunters are safe, legal and ethical,” Cook says. “When hunters don’t behave that way, the way people feel about hunting can take a turn for the worse.”
Extended archery areas
If you want to hunt the Wasatch Front, Ogden, Unitah Basin or Sanpete Valley extended archery areas, please remember the following:
- Before hunting any of these areas, you must complete the DWR’s Extended Archery Ethics Course. The free course is available online at wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation.
- While hunting in an extended archery area, you must carry two items with you: your 2008 statewide general archery buck deer permit and your Extended Archery Ethics Course certificate. If you’re a member of the Dedicated Hunter program, you must also carry your Dedicated Hunter certificate of registration.
For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
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“Froggers” Ready to Leap After July 1
June 19, 2008
Bullfrog season a favorite pastime on hot summer nights
PRATT — Kansas summer temperatures frequently reach more than 100 degrees, and many Kansans prefer the comfort of air conditioning to the outdoors. Others, however, relish the freedom of summer nights, when shorts and a T-shirt are all that’s needed to cool off in the water and pursue their favorite quarry — the bullfrog.
These “froggers” can enjoy a season that runs July 1 through Oct. 31 although most frogging activity is in the hotter months of July and August. The daily creel limit is eight, with a possession limit of 24. A valid fishing license is required, and while bullfrogs may be taken on hook and line, most froggers use more primitive techniques. Firearms are not allowed, so bullfrog hunters usually employ a light, a sack, and old pair of tennis shoes. The only other necessary ingredient is access to a local pond or lake.
Frogs can be taken legally day or night by hand, dip net, gig, or bow and arrow, as well as by hook and line. The best method is to walk quietly through the water at night and shine a bright light along the bank until a pair of glowing eyes appear. Temporarily blinded by the light, frogs can usually be netted or grabbed by hand.
The fruits of this effort are not only fun times but good food. Frog legs are regarded as a delicacy and have a taste and texture resembling a mix between shrimp and fish. A popular way to cook them is to dip the legs in egg and then into a mixture of flour and corn meal, seasoning salt, and pepper. Then the legs are fried to a golden brown in about 1/2 inch of oil. This gourmet meal is a bonus to a great summer evening that both kids and adults will always remember.
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It’s The Time For Hunting Bullfrogs – All Across Arkansas
June 19, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – It may be the least talked about but popular Arkansans outdoor activity. It’s frog hunting. Some call it frog gigging. Some just say frogging.
We are referring to the warm weather pursuit of bullfrogs, and it occurs all across the state.
Yes, there are rules, but they are few and generous. There is a season for taking bullfrogs – April 15 through Dec. 31. – the daily limit is 18, and a “day” of frog hunting is noon to noon. You are required to have an Arkansas fishing license, not a hunting license in spite of it often being called frog hunting.
The method of getting a bullfrog is open to debate. You can’t shoot them with a gun, but you can use a bow and arrow. By far the most common method is to use a gig, which is a needle-sharp pronged metal tool fastened to the end of a long pole, usually cane or bamboo. You can use a long-handled net or a fishing rig with a hook. Old timers say a strip of red flannel on the hook is a good bait.
Some folks will puff out chests and tell you that “real” frog hunting is grabbing them with bare hands. There are two drawbacks to hand grabbing of bullfrogs – it’s hard to get close enough to them, and bullfrogs tend to inhabit the same areas as cottonmouth snakes.
Other needs are a shallow-draft boat, such as an aluminum flatbottom, and a strong light since nearly all frog hunting is done after dark.
A common practice is to use a 12-volt marine battery in the boat with alligator clips connecting it to a quartz beam or similar spotlight. Two hunters work together – one using the light and the other the gig.
Frogs tend to sit on a bank very close to the water. A quiet approach is needed with the light shining squarely on the frog. Get close enough (it’s easy to underestimate the distance in the dark) then use a quick thrust with the gig.
Experienced frog hunters know that an open stretch of bank is much preferred to one choked with brush, fallen logs and other obstacles. They shy away from frogs sitting on logs because a sharp gig stuck deep into wood is a chore to extract.
Another necessity is a container of some kind to hold the frogs brought to the boat. Burlap bags or other kinds of cloth bags, like feed bags, have long been used. A cooler with a hinged lid can work, but some frogs may not be dead when put into the cooler – and frogs have amazing jumping ability.
Typically, a frog outing starts with gathering of gear late in the day then heading out so the action can begin when it’s dark. Most frog hunters buy the metal gigs at a sporting goods outlet and cut cane for the poles. Sturdy cane is needed, not the limber type you may choose for pole fishing. Serious frog hunters take along a spare pole or two and maybe an extra gig, safely secured, in case something breaks out on the water.
Best frog territories tend to be where water is quiet. Slow-moving creeks are good as are oxbows of cut-off lakes in lowlands. All along the Arkansas River is good for frogs, but use caution. Rocks on the shore can be hard on gigs just as logs are.
The end product of a successful frog outing is on the dinner table. Fried frog legs are regarded by legions of Arkansans as some of the finest eating you can find. Around the dinner table or even a campfire, the flavor of the fried frog legs is enhanced by recollections of the recent hunt that produced them.
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Ask the Wyoming Game and Fish - 6/9/2008
June 9, 2008
Question. What are the regulations for