The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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I hope everyone had a great start to the New Year! I know I've gotten my year off to a solid start with some quail hunting down at GSO this past Monday. This time the posse of hunters was from Florida, making their way up to our neck of the woods to enjoy a little bird hunting. All the fellas had a great time, and, of course, the dogs did too. They love a good day's work on the field. The birds were flying great and the hunters were shooting straight! We managed to pick up 129 quail, so...
The reclusive cougars — also called pumas, catamounts, mountain lions or panthers and, perhaps most fittingly, “ghost cats, is the second largest cat in North America. Unlike other big cats, however, the cougar cannot roar. Instead, the large feline purrs like a house cat. Cougars also have similar body types to house cats, only on a larger scale. They have slender bodies and round heads with pointed ears. They vary between, 5-9 ft from head to tail. While males can weigh up to 150 lb, fem...
This week, I want to talk about how to anticipate tracking a deer after it's been stuck with an arrow. There are some tell-tale signs to keep an eye out for when the arrow hits that can give you a good idea of where you hit it and how long you need to wait before tracking it. Of course, I can right out tell you that shots to the head and neck aren't really what you want. Sure, they're pretty vital, but with all the bone, skin, muscle, and fur in the way, you're more likely than not just going...
Disabled animals don't realize that they are handicapped: "I want to tell you a little bit about special needs raccoons (wildlife) and our disabilities. I have several handicapped raccoons, some are blind, and some are amputees, deaf and six with neurological (brain damage) from mild to severe. While working with these animals all these years I have come to the conclusion that we are a lot like them except it's harder for a human to accept disabilities and overcome them. The difference I see is...
Summer’s been shown the door, and the weather’s certainly gotten a little bit cooler. Sure, we could use some rain, but you better believe we’ll get some more of that sooner rather than later. Bow season kicks off Saturday in Alabama for buck hunting, with Zone B getting to harvest does starting the 25th of October. Of course, scouting is in full swing, and part of that is studying trail camera photos. One topic that’s always up for debate is how to properly age a buck, and just like anythin...
The Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur Catta) is a large prosimian (representing forms that were ancestral to monkeys, apes and humans), belonging to the family Lemuridae'. The name 'lemur' comes from the Roman festival 'Lemuria', during which ghosts were exorcised. It is descriptive of some lemurs' nocturnal habits, noiseless move-ments, reflective eyes, and ghost like cries and appearance. Today lemurs are known as 'ghosts of the forest.' Like all other lemurs, it is found only on the island of...
It may just be me, but it feels like everything's settling into place. The air seems just a hint cooler, college football is kicking off, and the anticipation of another round of deer hunting keeps on building. Up first, of course, is bow season, and before we get too excited and just stomp off into the woods, there's a few things you wanna keep in mind so that you don't ruin your season before it even begins! For starters, you need to know the lay of the land. Sure, you know how to get in and...
The coati is a medium-sized mammal only found on the American continent. The coati is found widely distributed across North, Central and South in a number of different habitats. The coati is primarily found in dense forests and wet jungles as the coati will spend a great deal of its life in the safety of the trees. However, there are also coati populations inhabiting grasslands, mountains and even deserts across the continent. Coatis are members of the Procyonidae family, a group of New World...
I know a lot of you folks have deer on the brain for just about every waking moment, and I can say that I'm no different. I'm always thinking about all the different things that go with it, and with my work at QDMA, I'm also looking at what hunting means to us as both individuals and as members of society at large. Ultimately, I'm also thinking about what will lead to maintaining deer hunting as one of our great heritages that we can proudly pass down to the next generation. For starters, we...
The kinkajous are from Central and South America, they primarily live in trees, hang by their tail, and love to eat fruit and honey. However, the kinkajou (Potos flavus) is not a primate. Actually more closely-related to raccoons, coatis and lemurs. Kinkajous are one of only two members of the Carnivora order with prehensile tails, the other being the binturong. Fully-grown kinkajous weigh 8-10 lbs and have a total body length of 16-24 inches. In addition, their powerful tails may equal or excee...
As each day rolls on by this Summer, I can't tell you how ready I am for deer season to get here. Sure, maybe some of that cooler weather that goes with it, too! As we're looking forward to the upcoming months, one of the things many of us are doing is setting up Trail-Camera Surveys. Mr. Lindsay Thomas Jr. wrote an excellent article on this over on QDMA's website, and I'll break it down for you here. A Trail-Camera Survey is an incredibly useful tool to give you a look at your deer population,...
The Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is native to North and South America having a range that extends from Southern Canada to the northern reaches of Argentina. Raccoons have feral populations in Europe, especially Germany, where they escaped from fur farms and were set loose to be hunted for sport during the time of World War II. The raccoon gets its name from the Algonquin word arakun which means "one who scratches with his hands." Raccoons are plantigrade animals, walking on the entirety of their...
It may not be so well-known or prevalent down here, but when it comes to measuring up just how big and bad that buck you downed is, the go-to system for trophy hunters everywhere is the Boone and Crockett guideline. It’s a pretty darned detailed method for determining just how good that rack is on your buck! It requires a ¼ inch wide flexible steel tape in order to be up to snuff. After counting points, measuring beams, and a whole lot of other things, you can calculate just how many points yo...
By DAVID K. NELSON, Supervising Wildlife Biologist, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and DR. M. KEITH CAUSEY, Ireland Professor of Wildlife Science, Auburn University, Retired "This article was published in the Spring of 2001 in "Alabama's TREASURED Forests" True wild pigs are not native to Alabama or the New World. Wild swine in North and South America, which may include European wild hogs, feral hogs and hybrids between the two have been introduced. Pigs were domesticated...
I gotta tell ya, folks, I just got my final turkey hunting fix for the year up in lovely South Dakota! Dan Schofield, Hunter Smith, and myself had 8 tags between the three of us, and in 5 days managed to tag out! The weather was phenomenal; pretty every single day. I've been making this trip each May for 23 years now, and even compared to every other time I've been chasing down those Merriam's Thunder Chickens, this year stands as one of the best. Those birds never disappoint! Of course, good...
This month were are going to try to help you understand one of the most intelligent animals in the US. The raccoon. The Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is native to North and South America having a range that extends from Southern Canada to the northern reaches of Argentina. Raccoons have feral populations in Europe, especially Germany, where they escaped from fur farms and were set loose to be hunted for sport during the time of World War II. The raccoon gets its name from the Algonquin word arakun...
By the time you folks get to cast your gaze over this article, there will only be 6 days left in Turkey season! For some, it's been a pretty darn good year for turkey hunting, while others have found it to be a little on the slower side. Regardless, it's going to be wrapped up fairly soon, and as we approach the end of one season, my mind starts to steer towards the next season. And in this case, I've got fishing on my mind. I imagine y'all might be a bit more familiar with fishing down in the...
I felt this information would help everyone to see the wide picture and great wonders of this unique creature. So without further a due, this months fur baby is the Opossum lets pity the poor opossum. The oft-maligned marsupial definitely suffers from an image problem - it is frequently perceived more as a giant, dirty, scavenging rat rather than a cute creature of the wild. But whether you love them or hate them, North America's only marsupial has a set of unique characteristics that might...
Turkey season has kicked off now in Alabama, and even though I haven't held a gun yet this season, I've seen plenty of action while helping hunters and huntresses chase after those elusive birds. Now, while some folks have started the season with a big bang, knocking down turkeys well before the morning's really started, there are also folks out there who just can't quite get the rascals to fly down from the roost in the right direction. Some of these birds have been talkative, and sometimes...
The chipmunks are small, ground-dwelling members of the squirrel (Sciuridae) family known for their burrowing habits and love of nuts. Despite their size, chipmunks can cause significant damage to homes, yards, and farms. The average size of a chipmunk is: 2-6" long with a 3" tail; less than 1 lb. in weight. Their lifespan in the wild: 2-3 years Identifying Features: Shades of brown/ yellow/grey fur with white and black stripes down the back. There are 23 existing species of chipmunks all chipmu...
Hope everyone's having a good break so far! By break, I'm of course referring to the lull in hunting after the end of deer season! Naturally, as we hunters and outdoorsmen are back home, deciding what to do with that freezer meat, there are lots of folks whose jobs are really kicking into high gear The Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) is going to meet next month to discuss some major changes in deer, turkey, and small game hunting. The CAB is the governing body of sorts over season length, bag...
Over the years if people heard Wolf they would shutter with fear, because of the stories and urban legends we were brought up to believe such as Little Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs, and don't forget the greatest urban legend the Werewolf. The fear of getting bit by a wolf would surely turn you into a blood thirsty murderous werewolf preying on humans. So as you can see the wolf has lived with these stories and legends for centuries. The truth of the matter is wolfs are non aggressive by...
I hope everyone had a great start to the New Year! I know I've gotten my year off to a solid start with some quail hunting down at GSO this past Monday. This time the posse of hunters was from Florida, making their way up to our neck of the woods to enjoy a little bird hunting. All the fellas had a great time, and, of course, the dogs did too. They love a good day's work on the field. The birds were flying great and the hunters were shooting straight! We managed to pick up 129 quail, so...
Well ladies and gentlemen, the weather hasn't exactly been top-notch this season so far. We're finally starting to see some weather that resembles December, but to this point in the season, the deer haven't done much moving. Unseasonably warm weather means that there's still browse in the woods, so the deer don't have to move far to get their grub. On top of that, deer are a prey animal. They're conditioned to stay as safe as possible, meaning that when the weather gets cold and chilly, the...
Many wild animals are cute, especially babies, and it might be tempting to try and care for one on your own. This is not a good idea! Wild animals can be aggressive and can carry parasites and diseases that may be transmissible to you or your companion animals. Wildlife rehabilitators have the facilities and knowledge to address the very specific needs of various wildlife species. These tips can help you decide whether to take action: 1. Signs that a wild animal needs your help. 2. Presented by...
