The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Well folks, it's finally November, which is when gun season for deer hunting kicks off! With both Northern and Southern zones starting on the 22nd of November, all of us are dusting off those orange caps and vests, sighting in the old rifle, and scouting around for the best spot to bring home a buck. You've got muzzleloader season starting on the 17th, and youth seasons starts on the 14th! In the Southern Zone, there's also a period from December 1st through 10th where gun hunting is out, and...
The groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots. These rodents live a feast-or-famine lifestyle and gorge themselves all summer to build up plentiful reserves of fat. After the first frost, they retreat to their underground burrows and snooze until spring, drawing their sustenance from body fat. While hibernating, the animal's heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow. Groundhog hibernation gave rise to the popular...
Hello everyone, my name is Steve Long, and I'm a life-long outdoorsman with a soft spot for turkey hunting! I enjoy just about every kind of hunting and fishing there is, especially with my four boys. I've even managed to get my wife of 29 years, Renee, to go along once or twice! They say do what you love, and that's exactly where I'm at. I own a couple of small businesses in Montgomery, I do guided hunts at Great Southern Outdoors, and I even co-host a hunting and fishing radio show, Cast &...
Beavers are the largest living rodents in North America, with adults averaging 40 pounds in weight and measuring more than 3 feet in length, including the tail. These semi-aquatic mammals have webbed hind feet, large incisor teeth, and a broad, flat tail. Once among the most widely distributed mammals in North America, beavers were eliminated from much of their range in the late 1800's because of unregulated trapping. With a decline in the demand for beaver pelts, and with proper management,...
Hunters statewide can celebrate the beginning of dove season at noon Saturday, September 8th. The long-awaited opening day is traditionally considered the beginning of the fall hunting season. Hunting the opening day of dove season is an absolute tradition in Alabama and many other southern states. For most hunters, pitting their shotgunning skills against these speedsters is the ultimate challenge. Mourning doves are not only fast, they can display aerial acrobatics under fire that make them...
The fox is said to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world. While you may know the basics about them, you are about to find out lots of fascinating facts about them. Then you will be able to expand your knowledge and to share them with other people. The scientific name for this animal is Vulpes Vulpes. There are 37 species of foxes, but only 12 belong to the genus "vulpes" or "true foxes". The best known of them are: Red Fox, Arctic Fox, Kit Fox, Fennec Fox, and the Gray Fox. Foxes...
Bass fishing during the "dog days" of August can be tough, but it's not impossible. Some of the biggest bass of the year can be caught in the summer. Because a bass's metabolism speeds up as the temperature climbs, they are more active and must feed regularly. But when and where you fish are key, because bass develop particular habits in hot weather. Let's look at some different approaches to hot weather fishing. If pond fishing is your thing, it can be very productive during the early morning...
One of the most adaptable animals in the world, the coyote can change its breeding habits, diet and social dynamics to survive in a wide variety of habitats. The coyote is one of eight species of the genus Canis. Four of these are the jackals of Europe, Africa and Asia. Other members of the genus include the gray wolf (C. lupus), the red wolf (C. rufus) and all breeds of the domestic dog (C. familiaris). A coyote looks a little like a collie dog, and indeed, coyotes are members of the dog...
The heat and humidity of mid-summer are not only trying on one's temperament, but can result in brutal conditions for fishing as well. With temperatures soaring into the upper 90’s and heat indexes in the triple digits, it doesn’t sound much like fishing weather. However, catfish enthusiasts will tell you that the best time to catch these whiskered fish is during hot weather…often the hotter the better. And the month of July surely fits the bill for hot weather. This month we’ll look at some ti...
This months' animal is everybody's favorite "little stinker" the Skunk. The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal, and is fearless. Skunks are not only fearless but supermen that are immune to venomous snakes. They are the most common member of the Mustelidae family: Weasels, Minks, Badgers, and Otters. They are easily recognized by their characteristic thick, glossy black fur and the white stripe that extends posteriorly from its head to its bushy tail. It has a small head and short legs with pla...
With June comes hot weather, but the fishing can be just as hot. Bluegill will bed around the full moon of this month, which falls on the 13th, and the bass are in a feeding mood following the spawn. Last month, we shared some tips on how to improve your bream fishing. In this month's article, we will look at some tactics that should help you put more bass in the boat. As we move into June and the water warms, the bass gradually shift to deeper water and by the end of the month they will occupy...
May has to be my favorite month for fishing. The weather is not yet steaming hot, the bass are hungry and active after spawning and the bream are preparing to bed. The full moon of May, which occurs this month on the 14th, will see bluegill and shellcracker bedding. Several days before, as well as several days after the full moon, bedding activity will be at a peak. Let's take a look at some fishing tactics that will help you fill your stringer this spring. Most of us started our fishing career...
April presents a mixed bag to outdoorsman across central Alabama. Turkey season continues all month, and with warmer temperatures, the fishing is getting better. This month will see turkey hunting transition from really active gobblers during the first half of the month to a slowdown towards the last half. As hens go to nesting, the gobblers will slow down a bit and hunters will have to modify their tactics to be successful. For you fishermen, April finds crappie and bass moving into shallow...
Even under "normal" circumstances, taking an Eastern wild turkey is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, hunting activities we engage in. However there are always some unique scenarios that require special tactics that make closing the deal an even greater challenge. With turkey season coming in on the 15th of this month, we'll look at some of these tactics and perhaps help you bag that gobbler this season. Most of the time, when hunters encounter difficult challenges while turkey...
Well, it's February. Deer season is over and the cold weather makes the spring turkey season seem like an eternity away. However, for the diehard whitetail hunter, there is no better time than now to begin preparing for next deer season. Why start scouting this early, months before the season even opens? Post-season scouting is the most valuable scouting I do. The sign is all there waiting for me -- the trails, the rubs, and the scrapes. And now I can roam at will, explore those bedding areas, f...
December can be a tricky month in deer hunting. The gun season has been in for a few weeks and there has been enough hunting activity in most areas to alert the deer. Seasoned deer hunters know that whitetails respond quickly to pressure, and the additional sounds and smells associated with hunters cause deer to alter their movements accordingly. However, the pre-rut can be the most exciting time of the year to hunt. Testosterone-filled bucks are starting to become reckless, so if you want to...
Deer gun season comes in on Saturday, November 23rd. Hunters across the state will head to their favorite hunting sites in anticipation of taking an "opening day" whitetail. If you have done your homework and know where the deer on your property are most likely to be, you could be one of the successful hunters who are able to harvest a whitetail on the opening weekend of gun season. This month, let's take a look at some early season tactics that will help increase your odds when you hit the...
Bowhunting whitetails during the warm and buggy early days of the season is a challenge. Temperatures are usually warm enough to send beads of sweat rolling down your back. Swarming, buzzing mosquitoes can make staying motionless on stand virtually impossible. On top of dealing with sweltering temperatures and biting bugs, another problem is that deer are mostly nocturnal, with their daylight movements limited to very early and very late in the day. Hunting conditions are tough, but the...
September has finally arrived. This month signals the beginning of college football, cooler weather, improved fishing and most of all, hunting season. Dove hunters will hit the fields on the 7th for the opening day of the season. This month, we will look at some tactics that will improve your odds of harvesting these speedsters, as well as tips to help you select the best spot to set up on a dove field. If you are lucky, a dove breast barbecue may be right around the corner. First of all,...
