Earlier this spring, listening to sleet blow against the windows, I absentmindedly doom-scrolled Instagram. But my hit of melancholy was unexpectedly delayed.

I paused on a post showing a wild turkey, a tom in full strut, with a quote by writer Tom Kelly running across the top of the image.

As the words sank in, the familiar, distorted lens of social media cleared:

Turkey hunting is not a game that needs a score or a score keeper and does not require the production of a dead turkey to qualify as a success. Done properly and unscored, it is about as even as anything can be when one of the participants has a loaded shotgun and the other has not.

Who was this person promoting the virtues of an unsuccessful hunt? And near the beginning of turkey season, no less – internet blasphemy. And it got worse.

A quick review revealed previous posts and stories had nuance, history, balance on touchy issues, non-cliche’ literary references, and conservation principles that didn’t smell of virtue signalling. I couldn’t figure out what The Old Pro Turkey Hunter Instagram account was about.

This person was doing a poor job of courting a pro staff gig. The lack of effort made me smile. I couldn’t even figure out who was running the thing; he or she hadn’t included a glowing, self-penned profile.

I realize I’m being awfully hard on social media. I’ll soften it by acknowledging not all brands are craven opportunists. Not all influencers are camouflaged narcissists; I can think of at least a few who are lovely people behind and in front of the camera.

My old man-ish grumbling is driven by the overall, long-term impact of the platforms.

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Social media’s attention economy ruthlessly rewards extremes. The hunting community is no more or less beholden to the algorithm than other groups. But for hunters, the self-harm inflicted by the digital funhouse mirror cuts especially deep.

Hunting is nothing if not nuance. The difference between hunting and just killing is subtle. It hinges on ethics, conservation, and a profusion of other big, messy ideas to make the distinction.

But big ideas are in short supply on social media, so I talked myself into figuring out who was responsible for the broader, more complicated narrative filling The Old Pro Turkey Hunter’s feed. Why expend so much effort quietly bucking the trend? Call it curiosity.

Our mystery man, Jason Worley, 47, of southwest Missouri, wasn’t really a mystery.

The missing bio? He said, “For me it’s 100 percent about the bird and the future. I have no desire to be known or thought of as anyone other than a guy who deeply cares for the resource. Other than a by-line for some freelance writing, few will ever hear my name. I don't want to detract from the message in any way.”

Worley and I went on to speak at length about his background and motivation, turkey numbers, social media, hunting culture, and much more.

He has opinions, but his perspective is clear-eyed about the state of our sport, yet practical about where we go from here.

[Interview has been edited for clarity]

BRS: You have a unique Instagram account, what motivated you to start it? And where did your handle (The Old Pro Turkey Hunter) come from?

JW: I started it as a way to share the story behind the tradition of turkey hunting and to promote the literary side of turkey hunting. Really, I wanted to share something different. Twenty-ish years ago I shut off most video media because I just didn't care for what I was seeing. 

After a handful of friends started showing me some clips of the up-and-coming trends as well as the "look at me" mentality of many leading shows, I felt I needed to share a side of turkey hunting that was more intimate. I'm actually not a huge fan of social media, all I do is IG, but saw it as a way to reach out to hunters and make them think beyond just trying to be relevant to what is mainstream these days.

The wild turkey has been facing issues for several years now and I hoped, even if in a small way, to take the focus away from just killing. I am a collector of turkey hunting literature as well as anything about the ''why" of hunting.

I will say over time it has turned into a way to address some of the issues that face wild turkeys and turkey hunting. I try to draw from the past and relate them to certain topics I feel are important. 

My handle is actually the title of a book I read in the mid-80s, The Old Pro Turkey Hunter, by Gene Nunnery. It was this book that shaped me as a turkey hunter and in many ways, a hunter. The main premise of the book is that turkey hunting doesn't have to end with a dead bird to be considered a success. It taught me respect for the bird and the experience.

BRS: The Old Pro Turkey Hunter falls outside the big buckets of typical hunting accounts. It seems to me most of these accounts are: 1) This is me or me and my friends hunting; 2) I’m an influencer or associated with the industry and this is me hunting PLUS a marketing angle; 3) Other side of the coin: Anti-influencer / anti-industry hunting memes. Your account strikes me as none of these. Am I right?

JW: I believe your analysis is right. In the beginning I fell into that "look at me" mentality but realized quickly that just wasn't showing anyone the things I held as important.

I have tried hard to engage hunters in a way that will make them think and want to embrace the deeper side of the experience and not just the grip and grin so many would like us to believe is the only definition of success.

I really want hunters to define for themselves what success is. I hate seeing people and/or hunters become a product of the industry themselves. As you may be able to tell, with the exception of a couple companies and organizations, I feel the industry – and I hate calling it an industry – has instilled in many a concept of success that ultimately only benefits them and their bottom dollar.

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BRS: What do you make of the internet (let’s say IG) hunting culture? Is it possible to draw any large-scale conclusions about what social media is doing to hunting as a whole? I could argue the two extremes of “bringing people together, educating, promoting hunting,” vs. “simplifying, dumbing down, exploiting, monetizing an important part of our culture.” Is one more correct than the other?

JW: I agree completely on both arguments about Instagram. There is so much good that can come from it, and there is some good out there, but I feel like we as hunters have fallen into a hole or mindset that hunting is about "me."

Social media is a tricky thing mainly due to human nature and a want to be recognized and relevant. It's a very scary thing when the center of attention is a natural resource, and in the case of wild turkeys, a declining resource.

I think we are just beginning to see the real impacts of it. Many of us who grew up in different times may not recognize those negative impacts until they have taken hold.  I'm always surprised at the number of young and new hunters that look to social media as a way to truly learn. 

Yes, one can gain some knowledge, but nothing beats an actual hunter taking you out and showing and teaching and exemplifying what hunting is and how to respect it.  Social media has shortened our attention span to a point that it's nearly impossible to gain a solid message.

It becomes just entertainment and a way to attempt to be relevant. It's something the hunting world needs to wrap themselves around and sort out fully. I truly believe it will play a big role for each individual hunter. As big a role as the gun they choose, the ammunition they shoot or the camo they wear. It's a part of what we do these days and we better learn to respect it and hold it accountable – at an individual level.

BRS: And do you think influencers are having an actual effect on hunting culture at-large, or is it just surface level entertainment and marketing? 

JW: I absolutely believe that influencers have an impact on hunting culture, due to human nature and the need for relevance. Through their actions they can normalize and make many things acceptable, especially with young and new hunters. It's something we’re only beginning to realize.

Sadly, many of them don't view their responsibility as stewards of hunting as anything more than entertainment or a way to get paid. Many only care about a number and not their long-term impact on hunting as a whole. It truly will play a role in our future; I'm confident of it. 

Social media is a godsend for anti-hunters and animal rights people. They no longer have to provoke us into a response, now we give it to them freely. Influencers can also have a tremendous impact on hunting pressure on specific places if they fail to be careful about what and where they show.

The concept of an influencer is really nothing new, it just now has a title and a much broader impact. In years past there were outdoor writers who showcased states and locations, but they only reached a select few who may subscribe to a magazine or happened to read an article.

There was a cost to see them and the impacts were limited and delayed. Then we had video media personalities who did the same and also fell into that limitation of cost and availability.

Then came the internet, social media, YouTube, and we have a message at our fingertips and it’s free. Worse, it’s unlimited, unchecked, in our faces 24/7 and it reaches millions in a matter of seconds. The impacts are not delayed and I fear it could lead to specific locations and resources becoming overused and abused.  Influencers should be held to a much higher standard, and should be held accountable.

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BRS: It’s no secret there’s a growing issue with declining wild turkey numbers. You probably know more about this than I do. What’s going on here? Liberal bag limits? More hunters? Different techniques (reaping, etc)? What can or should be done? 

JW: Yes, turkey numbers are definitely declining and have been for some time now.  There are many reasons why, and as Dr. Michael Chamberlin said, "It's death by a thousand cuts."

We turkey hunters are a passionate lot and everyone you talk to will have a specific reason for why those numbers are declining and I have to say, each reason is most likely a part of it. I rank habitat loss as the number one reason. The changing landscape that has taken away the needed nesting and brooding habitat is huge. 

Much of that changed landscape is now a perfect home for predators, specifically nest predators. The changing weather patterns that lead to colder and wetter springs also play a role. The loss of insects due to pesticide use ,and disease that is easily transmitted from domestic poultry also play a role.

To fix these problems, though, we will need a huge shift in how people use the land, namely private land since it makes up the vast majority of the turkeys’ range. Changing that land use is a huge undertaking that I fear will never reach the level we need it to.

Now, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to make a change. We should, and we do it through education and showing people the value of the bird, a value that goes beyond hunting. 

A strong incentive program offered to private landowners, either by state agencies or conservation organizations could be huge, especially in areas seeing the most declines. An incentive program focused on helping wild turkeys and promoted to all private landowners and not just those who own hunting land.

On hunting and the turkey hunter: Where do I begin? I believe we turkey hunters play a much bigger role in the future of the bird than we realize. That role goes way beyond promoting management practices, donating money, becoming a member of an organization, or bringing in a new hunter.

Our biggest role will be embracing change and accepting the fact that we can't continue to hunt this bird as we did in the 90s and 2000s. Sadly, in many ways we are hunting it harder and promoting trends that are not sustainable, not with a declining population.

If we want the bird to be around at levels that are huntable at any scale we will have to accept a loss of opportunity, and impose upon ourselves some limitations. We will need to pass that acceptance onto young and new hunters. We have to get away from a kill at all cost mindset. 

We also need to wrap ourselves around the fact that our advancements in technology and trends have outpaced our understanding of the impacts of those things, or at least our acceptance of those impacts.

We have removed the bird's ability to elude the average hunter. There are birds that were once unkillable unless you were willing to devote days or even an entire season to hunting them. They are now being killed with specialized guns, spewing TSS from 70 yards behind a fan, on opening day, before they were ever given the opportunity to breed.

The same bird that may have only lived for a week or two longer was at least given more opportunity to breed. But due to our technology, it has now been removed, the breeding cycle has been disrupted and nesting delayed. It's something I hope managers take a serious look at.

In short, If we continue to hunt the bird as we are, we will be as big a reason for their decline as habitat loss, disease, and weather changes, and maybe, in some locations, especially on public lands, moreso. The bird's future rests heavily on us as hunters and what we choose to accept both from a regulation standpoint, but also on a personal level.

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BRS: How does your history and experience inform your message?. Where’s the motivation for this effort come from?

JW: I grew up in a hunting family in southwest Missouri. In typical, traditional fashion, my father introduced me to hunting at a young age. He, along with my grandfather and uncles, allowed me to tag along anytime they went hunting or fishing.

Mostly it was small game hunting, but my father also hunted deer and turkey, fall only, as the population of both grew on our family farm. Fortunately, I still live on the same farm.

They were adamant and often very strict teachers, but that strictness didn't end with safety. It carried over into strong lessons about respect for the animal I was hunting.  Hunting for attention or a number was not tolerated.

We hunted to eat, relax, and spend time with one another. My turkey hunting began in the October woods. My father never hunted turkeys in the spring but loved to hunt them each fall. After shooting my first turkey in the early 80s I became obsessed with the bird and taught myself to hunt them in the spring.

Of course, I read everything I could and wore out a handful of VHS and cassette tapes. I also grew up, and still am, a fisherman. Second only to turkey hunting is floating the rivers fishing for smallmouth bass. I’m also a serious deer hunter. I try to get into the woods each fall with a rifle, muzzleloader, and bow. 

Squirrels also hold a special place in my hunting each year. I guess I’m an all around hunter and fisherman. I simply love being outside and this love led me to study wildlife conservation and management. Sadly, after graduating, life took some strange turns and I unfortunately don't work in the wildlife management field these days.

BRS: R3 (recruitment, retention, reactivation) is the current darling of many state agencies, and conservation and hunting organizations. Is it making a difference? Is the execution living up to the ideal?

JW: R3 is a good thing, but I think we fall short of its potential. Many organizations seem to promote it more as a participation number. This concept that all we need is a high number of participants and we can fix our problems leads to a lot of unacceptable outcomes.

Sometimes it feels like many are just wanting to profit off of that number and our standards are lowered because of it. I'm a firm believer in quality over quantity. That quality can be reached on a large scale, but we need to first create hunters that care about the resource 365 days a year, not just when they can kill it. We do that by devoting ourselves to new hunters for the long term.

We don't create hunters by simply taking them on one hunt, we don't create hunters by simply helping them pass a hunter education course, we don't create hunters by simply getting them to become a member of an organization. 

We create hunters by doing all of that for each and every one of them, but it doesn't end there. It's a multi-season, multi-year, and in some cases, a multi-generational commitment to an individual. Through that long-term commitment we create those year-round stewards that care and they will, in turn, do the same.

In many cases they will see their real role as a hunter and steward of the tradition of hunting and never leave our ranks, eliminating that need to "retain and reactivate." And, if they do leave our ranks they are much more likely to continue supporting hunting and its role because they still see the good in it.

I also believe it should be expanded to R4 with "Representation" being added. We hunters have a serious issue with how we represent our beloved way of life. How we represent hunting is as important as recruiting new hunters. 

The most important people we need to impress aren't fellow hunters or those opposed to what we do, although we need to keep them always in mind. The most important are those sitting on the fence; the people who don't hunt but have no real opinion on it. 

Those that are currently neither for or against it. Those are the people who will make or break our future and we have to get better at understanding how our actions impact them and their decision to support us or not.

Ben Shadley is Editor & Publisher of The Sportsman.

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The river is running chilly and hard. Not high, but with some shoulder. The White bass are running and it’s now or never, they won’t last long. They come in the spring, when the Indiana weather is unsteady.

The year is 1993. My 10-year-old self is almost up to his armpits in the current, moving deeper, straining to get within a short cast of the fish. I’ve got a fly rod in my right hand, line pinched under my index finger, both elbows high keeping my shirtsleeves from getting wet.

Two experienced hands, my Father and our friend Jack Spaulding, watch my progress – or lack thereof.

A long cast would reach the far bank without going too deep. But this is my first time working out the puzzle of wading and fly fishing; long casts aren’t in the cards. With water up to my chest, simply casting would be a success. Catching a White bass and not filling my waders with cold water from the East Fork of the Whitewater River would be Christmas morning.

All rivers are characters in the story of the landscape, this one even more so. The East Fork cuts south through the Whitewater Valley on the edge of central Indiana, not far from the Ohio line. History runs near the surface in this part of the state. Impressionist T.C. Steele painted the Whitewater Valley just before the turn of 20th century. The subtle, untamed, beauty he found over 100 years ago is still there.

In 1974 the Army Corp dammed the East Fork for flood control just north of Brookville. The reservoir covers a little over 5000 acres. It’s pretty, like a small version of the huge impoundments in Kentucky and Tennessee, long and narrow with fingers reaching off into wooded drainages.

In late April, early May, the White bass run up, out of the reservoir, and into the river to spawn. They come in droves, ten of thousands, I’m not sure. But once a year, for approximately a couple weeks, they dominate the lower part of the river. When the water temperature reaches the mid-50s this temporary migration happens all over the Midwest and beyond.

Spring rains bring the magic temperature, but often return to blow out the river, running out the clock on fishing. So when it happens, you go.

If the conditions are right, the fishing is easy and fast. Hundred fish days can be true and fishermen sometimes retire early complaining of tired arms and the monotony of catching a fish on every cast.

But “easy and fast” is on a sliding scale nested inside the baseline difficulty of river fishing. Bobbers and bluegills it isn’t.

A fly rod delivers life-like presentation but comes with complexity that is by nature a mess. The trick is turning the mess into something worth more than the sum of its many parts. Done well it’s beautiful, and looks deceptively easy.

Independent of fishing, wading is a skill of its own. Some people never take to it. Only so much water can be fished from the bank. But in the river, minding depth and current, you’re free to roam at will.

The initial sensation of water pressing around you, increasing as you step deeper, confirms the river’s in charge. You can almost never see your feet, so there’s a technique of feeling as you go along. And it’s work. Just moving through the water takes effort, pushing against current is exercise.

Finally, there’s the real possibility of screwing up and going downstream. Learning how deep is too deep, how much current is too much, can’t really be explained. Finding your limit is a balance of risk tolerance and experience.

Despite, or maybe because of, the challenges, my Father chose to introduce me to river fishing during the run. It’s not a guaranteed success, but If you get your technique correct, do everything “right,” in so far as that counts in angling, these fish will usually cooperate.

Also Read: Tying your own flies is rewarding, and easier than you think // Our Fishing Editor explains why tying flies can improve your fishing. Here’s how to get started.

Fighting the current, my younger self battled on. But a mind, especially a young one, can only focus on so many things at once. I wanted a fish. I wanted to make the men with me proud, and most of all I wanted to be successful in this world I was enamored with.

As an outdoor writer, our friend and fishing partner Jack Spaulding is a scribe of that world. He falls into an increasingly rare category: A master of traditional outdoor articles and stories.

Weaving local color, humor, and practical knowledge into a few hundred words, his writing captures a time and place before my generation. A romantic world where half-wild kids grew up on the river, access was a given rather than an exception, and outdoor writers had weekly columns in every newspaper. These things are mostly in the past.

With my companions close, but not too close, on I went. Getting pushed around in the current, water near the top of my waders. Getting unbelievable knots in the snarl of fly line floating around me. Getting my fly hung in overhanging trees, on the bank, on submerged logs. Dropping casts and starting over. Not casting far enough or blowing the mend. Not waiting long enough for my streamer to sink. Not casting upstream at the correct angle. Not stripping the line with enough snap to make the fly dart and stop, dart and stop.

Spaulding quietly observing, my Father paused his own fishing to give me one of the day’s many streamside casting tune-ups, sending me back out with a few words of encouragement and renewed confidence.

But time was tight. The sun slipped down into the trees, casting faint shadows, the undercut banks starting to dim. We’d have to pack up soon. While my Father was feigning nonchalance, Spaulding was taking mental notes.

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Not long after, he wrote about our trip in his weekly syndicated column. It even included a photo, black and white. So this is the second time our fishing trip made it into print, just 29 years and a world apart.

The framed article still hangs in my Father’s study. I’ve seen the story a thousand times, but it never fails to stop me. A time machine in glass, wood, and paper.

I don’t know if I remember what happened in those last few minutes of fishing, or if his article has slowly enveloped it. Either way, Spaulding told it first and I can’t top it:

As the man quickly unhooked and strung his sixth white of the morning, he looked at his watch and reluctantly said, “We have about 10 more minutes to fish!”

As the words echoed along the river bank they were cut short with a resounding, “YEEOWEEE, Dad, I’ve got one!”

With 7 feet of fly rod bent into a large “C” shape, the small boy struggled with what would prove to be the largest white bass of the day.

Quickly wading upstream to lend any needed assistance, the father was wearing a grin even bigger than his son who strained against the powerful runs of the fish.

Soon the fish was alongside and the boy beamed in telling the details of the strike and the ensuing fight to his father.

Later I had the opportunity to ask the boy how he liked flyfishing for whites. His reply was exuberant as he said, “It’s the greatest especially when you have someone to show you how!”

Four years later Spaulding gave me my start in the writing business. Things progressed from there.

How to Fish the Run

The first task is finding a location where the White bass run up out of a larger body of water into a river, and then timing it correctly. White bass are widely distributed across the U.S. and parts of Canada, so the fish aren’t hard to find.

Warming spring water temperatures trigger the run, science indicates mid-50s will do it. In practice, however, just keeping an eye on your river of choice is the best way to time it correctly. In Indiana this typically happens in May. Local knowledge is hard to beat. Guides, tackle shops, online fishing forums and groups can be indispensable if you or your fishing buddies can’t check in person.

When they’re in, they’re hard to miss. If the water is clear you might see the fish. But more often, a quick test fish will tell the tale.

We’re fishing the run in central Indiana, so geography may require different tactics, but here’s what works in our area.

Weighted streamers on a sink tip line are necessary to get the fly down in the current. Anything less and you’ll be above the fish.

Clouser minnows in sizes 6 through 10 are a good place to start. The Shadley Streamer (my Father’s creation) is a local favorite. It’s tied on a streamer hook (also sizes 6-10) with a white marabou tail, a silver mylar tubing body, and a white chenille head. Wrap .020 or 0.030 lead wire under the mylar body.

Tapered leaders aren’t necessary, a 5-foot length of 3x tippet will do.

A 5, 6, or 7-weight rod, depending on your preference, is what you’ll need.

Wading is a necessity, especially for fly fishing. Stocking-foot chest waders and appropriate wading shoes are the best bet. Remember, if you take a spill and fill your waders with water, don’t panic. Water on the inside of your waders doesn’t weigh any more than water on the outside – you won’t sink. Keep calm, regain your footing, and sheepishly go dump your waders.

You’re casting to cover much like smallmouth fishing. Target outside bends, cut banks, downed timber, and rocks as long as there’s enough depth to hold fish.

Cast upstream at about a 45 degree angle, mend quickly before too much of the sink tip goes down, and give it short, sharp strips with a brief pause between. You’ll probably need to wait at least a few seconds for the fly and sink tip to get down before starting the strips.

We usually catch and release, but some folks keep them to eat. Maybe our palettes aren’t sophisticated enough, but they tend to just taste like, well, fish.

Ben Shadley is Editor & Publisher of The Sportsman.

In the 1970s and 80s, I fished a lot of bass tournaments. My favorite circuit was Red Man. There was a constant disagreement between tournament anglers and those who fished just for the fun of it. The argument was a good one and may finally be put to rest.

The concern was tournament anglers were taking bass from one area of a lake, river, or reservoir and releasing them at the ramp. This was of greatest concern during the spawn.

Another point to ponder was stressing bass to the point of delayed mortality by hauling them around all day in an aerated live well.

When I fished tournaments, my thought was "The further I get away from the ramp, the fewer fish." On the Ohio River tournaments, all the fish caught in the tributaries in a 40-mile stretch were taken to Deer Creek, above the Cannelton Dam.

The locals loved this. They would go out and catch limits of bass three days after the tournament. It seems like most of the bass recovered from their experience and got hungry at the same time.

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I fished Tarr and Clover creek seven miles upstream on the Kentucky side. At the confluence of the two tributaries were a big boat ramp and ample parking. A lot of Kentucky-based tournaments are launched out there. Those creeks were deep and full of bass and big crappie.

I avoided Big and Little Deer because too many other competitors chose to fish there.

Earlier this week, on FaceBook, there was a post by Josh McDermott (317-292-6150). He is the director of Team Fishing Circuit and has some great ideas.

He is holding a three-day tournament on Monroe, July 28-30. Don't pull down on your suspenders, each of three groups of 59 anglers will fish one day. 

There will be no weigh-in at the ramp. Each team will be given scales and a FishDonkey app to download. Every legal bass you catch is video weighed and immediately released. This allows, if I read correctly, for a team to weigh more than a limit of bass.

Realistically, bass caught the first day might again fall for a soft plastic the next day or two. The fish will be none the worse for wear.

Instead of 150 boats in three flights, the 50 will make much less of an impact on the recreational angler.

The tournament has a huge payout for Indiana. The entry, pre-registration fee, is $650 per team up to July 11. After that to July 24, add $50. The big bass pot is another $50. First place will pay $20,000.

I've seen tournaments on TV where the fish are weighed in the boat and released. This idea is really catching on and with the video app, sets the stage for tournament fishing in the future.

This almost makes me want to give tournament fishing another try, but it would be me an old-timer guessing where the fish would be against modern anglers with their high-tech electronics showing them the fish.

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Rick L. Bramwell began writing for the Anderson Herald Bulletin in 1972. He likes to hunt small game, deer, turkey and morel mushrooms. Bramwell’s 174-7/8 typical whitetail is the largest ever taken in Madison County. He used to compete in Red Man and BASS Federation tournaments, but is now content to fish ponds and small lakes for bass and panfish. For most of 43 years Bramwell has coached Baseball and softball. He has three grown children and resides in Madison County, near Pendleton.

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You might be a little early if you head out shed antler hunting now, but you also might be the bird who gets the worm. Bucks, male deer, shed their antlers each year. This typically happens from December to May, but the majority of bucks drop their antlers between late January and early March. Meaning right now is the prime time. 

Some call shed antler hunting the second deer season. It can be even more addicting. Like hunting, trying to find these trophies can be as tough as finding a needle in a haystack, or as simple as glassing a picked bean field and spotting a number of them at once. You take the easy ones in stride and relish in the success of a hard earned piece of bone. 

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Hunting for sheds is just another way for hunters to enjoy learning about their quarry and the landscape on which they live. When you go out shed hunting, you’re not just looking for sheds. You’re also studying the available sign to help you formulate a plan for next season. Now is when you want to bust through the deepest darkest areas of the places you hunt, because it really doesn’t matter if you spoke deer. They have six months or more to forget you were ever there. 

Of course one does not need be a deer hunter to enjoy time spent outdoors looking for shed antlers. This is an activity anyone can participate in. Finding shed antlers is a lot like looking for mushrooms. There is an entire culture of folks who enjoy the challenge of finding a natural treasure.

To be more successful and time efficient, don’t just walk aimlessly. Instead, focus on certain areas and types of terrain. Bedding areas, feeding areas, fence lines and trails connecting these areas are the key places to focus your search. Bedding and feeding areas are prime because this is where deer spend the majority of their time. Fencerows are key because when bucks jump a fence, the jarring effect of hitting the ground often knocks their antlers off.

Antlers could just as easily fall off while a buck is traveling to or from these areas. Walking major trails on the property you’re shed hunting may turn up some antlers. Keep in mind, mature bucks are a lot like old men, they don’t mind a little time alone. Sometimes big sheds are found on the road less traveled.

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South-facing slopes warm up faster, so they attract deer during day light hours looking to take advantage of the sun’s warmth during cold months. If you can locate a bench – a level shelf of land running along a hillside - on a south-facing slope, you’ve located a high probability shed hunting location. Finding sheds is exciting and educational. They open a window to the possibility of next season. An impressive shed let’s you know a big buck should be in the area come autumn. 

This time of year, just getting out and stretching your legs is worth the trip, but it’s also a valuable part of the complete deer hunting picture. Look for old rubs and scrapes. Figure out the trail system. Put the information together for a more successful deer season next fall. 

See you down the trail…

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Brandon Butler is a syndicated outdoor newspaper columnist and freelance magazine writer. His column, Driftwood Outdoors, has appeared in over 50 different newspapers and magazines, and currently runs in over 30 publications. He has won many awards for his outdoor communication work.

Butler has established himself as a conservation and outdoor media leader of his generation. He is currently Director of Communications for Roeslein Alternative Energy, a renewable natural gas company dedicated to conservation. He spent five years as the executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. He created and taught Conservation Communications at the University of Missouri.

Butler is actively involved in conservation organizations. He is a life member of CFM, NRA, Boone & Crockett Club, Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International and Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation. He holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University, a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and is currently completing an Executive M.B.A. at the University of Missouri.

Share The Sportsman

originally published October 29, 2020

I had to let my blood pressure settle before I began to write this article. My day started out pretty good. My friend Rick Cockrum and I were heading out to fish one of my favorite streams. Within the first half hour I’d caught my biggest smallie of the summer. 

The handsome fish was briefly admired and set free. We decided to move to a different spot on the river, that’s when my day started going downhill. 

Rick and I were heading upstream to hit a couple of good holes that usually produce some action. I very rarely see anyone on this stretch of the river, that wasn’t the case today. 

As Rick and I looked upstream we saw another fisherman heading toward us. The man was dragging a minnow bucket and a stringer of fish. It was obvious he was using live bait. I told my buddy “I bet this guy is keeping smallmouth.”

Using live minnows or crawfish is a simple and deadly way to catch smallmouth bass. It might be too deadly. Bass tend to swallow live bait, even those returned to the water often die. 

We exchanged pleasantries and I asked him if he had any luck. He said he just wanted a few fish to eat and raised the stringer of fish shown in the photo. That was the moment my blood pressure went through the roof. I was furious. 

Instead of telling him what I really thought of his stringer of fish I bit my tongue and asked if I could take a picture of those beautiful fish. I saved the lecture and wished him well. I felt sure a conversation concerning catch and release fishing would have fallen on deaf ears. 

I tried to convince myself that I had no reason to be angry, after all he wasn’t breaking any laws. It didn’t work. I was still pissed. 

I haven’t taken a smallmouth bass home to eat since I was a teenager. In my opinion smallmouth are a treasure and should be treated as such. I always use barbless hooks, handle them as little as possible and return them to the water as quickly as I can. 

So what does that make me, a saint, an arrogant fly fisherman? I’m not sure. What I do know is that small streams can’t take much of that kind of pressure. Some of the smallmouth on the stringer were probably five to seven years old. 

They were the brood stock of this smallish bass stream. Are those five bass bound for the frying pan going to greatly impact the fish population on this stream, probably not. My fear is that this fisherman will return. He might also invite his buddies. Why not share, he had a hell of a day. 

When I see a stringer of smallmouth I’m tempted to ask the fisherman what compelled them to fish for smallmouth. My questions would be “do you need the food, do you love the flavor of smallmouth bass, or do you enjoy the sporting aspect of catching them?” 

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess the vast majority would say they really love catching them. If that is indeed the case, why would they keep one? Smallmouth bass are too precious a commodity to catch only once.

I’d like to think they don’t understand the biology of smallmouth bass. They don’t realize that a mature bass may be 6 to 8 years old. They don’t understand that removing the mature fish damages future bass populations. I’d like to think if they knew these facts they’d quit eating them. 

Where do we go from here? If you believe as I do you believe that there needs to be some significant changes in the law. I would suggest greater protection for smaller streams and rivers, or catch and release fishing, or possibly artificial lures only. 

If you're on the minnow fisherman’s side and think I’m way out of line, don’t blame me if your next smallmouth outing ends with an empty stringer.

There’s something very rewarding about making your own stuff. Over the years I’ve made my own recurve bows, built boats, fly rods and a host of other things. However nothing has been more beneficial to me than making my own flys. It is extremely cost efficient and there’s nothing like fooling your favorite game fish with a gob of feathers and hair you personally put together at the tying vice.

There is a myth that flies and lures are hard to construct and that they have to be perfectly constructed. My flys are far from perfect, some even embarrassing. Sometimes I think it is beneficial if my fly looks a bit shabby. Once you learn a few basic tying skills you’ll be able to create any fly pattern that fits your needs.

One of the greatest advantages to making your own flies and lures is that you can customize your baits to fit any given situation. For example if you notice fish feeding on two inch silver minnows you can return to your tying bench and create a two inch silver minnow.

The next time you're fishing your favorite stream and fish are chasing two inch silver minnows you’ll have something to feed them.

Another perk is that you can get very specific. One of the rivers I frequent has crawfish that are dark olive in color. I’ve seen crawfish in other bodies of water that are dark brown, dark red and sometimes almost black. By tying my own flies I can perfectly match the color and size of the crawfish to the river I’m fishing. The fish might not mind if my flys are off a shade or two but it makes me feel better. On the other hand it might be the slight difference between a successful day and one that could be classified as marginal.

Another reason you may shy away from making your own artificial baits is that you don’t have time to tie all of those flies. Unless you're a trout fisherman you’ll only need to learn to tie a handful of patterns. Trout fisherman need boxes of flies in various sizes and patterns. They’re trying to imitate an exact insect that the trout are feeding on.

That insect may change in size and color throughout the day. I’ve found that’s not true when you're chasing bass, largemouth or smallmouth. When I fish my favorite smallmouth stream I’ll only have two small fly boxes in my possession. In those boxes there will be a maximum of six different fly patterns.

The vast majority of my experience creating my own fishing baits is with fly tying. I’ve made a few spinners and wooden bass plugs but it’s not my area of expertise. I’ve fished with friends that used their home grown spinning and bait casting lures and they caught their fair share of fish.

I don’t feel qualified to guide you any further on your path to creating your own spinning and bait cast lures. I’m sure there are plenty of fishermen on YouTube to guide you in the right direction.

I do have a few bits of advice to offer before you rush out and buy equipment and materials to start your new hobby. Stay away from kits, those all-inclusive packages that supposedly have everything you’ll ever need.

At age 11 I was desperate, I had a fly rod but couldn’t find any flies to purchase at my local bait shop or sporting goods store. My only solution was to tie my own. My Herter’s Catalog had a basic fly tying kit for sale so I ordered one. Since I had no idea what a tying vice or fly tying material looked like I thought it was wonderful. In retrospect it was a disaster.

I would have been better off with a pair of vice grips and a dead sparrow. There may be some decent packages out there that contain the basic tools for fly tying, but stay away from any kit that contains fly tying material.

As I stated earlier one of the advantages of fly tying is that you can tie flies for your specific need. If you want to catch bluegills, buy the material to tie bluegill flies. The same goes for any other fish species you decide to pursue.

You don’t need to spend a ton of money to get started. You’ll find you can spend all you want but it’s not necessary. Decent tying vices range from $50 to hundreds of dollars.

They come in fixed and rotary head designs. I prefer the rotary head even though they are more expensive. The rotating head allows me to rotate my fly 360 degrees while tying. This can be very advantageous while tying certain patterns.

Plan on spending somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty bucks on the rest of your tying tools. One place you can save some hard earned cash is on hooks. Hooks designed specifically for fly tying are expensive. You won’t find them outside of a fly shop or a retail store with a fly fishing department.

If you're tying dry flies for trout, buy the fancy hooks. If not buy

basic hooks you can find anywhere fishing equipment is sold. I tie and lose a ton of flies so I like cheap hooks.

And last be not least, how do you learn the basics of fly tying? YouTube of course.

Shadley’s interest in hunting, fishing and a ton of other outdoor activities started at a very young age. He was hunting and fly-fishing on his own when he was eleven; it’s always been his passion.

He was employed by the Indiana DNR as a conservation officer for 34 years. For the first 17 years, Shadley worked southeastern Indiana as a field officer. For the last 17 years he was in charge of Indiana’s Turn In a Poacher program (TIP) and was the chief public relations officer for the law enforcement division.

Since his retirement he’s spent most of his time fly-fishing, shooting sporting clays, hunting and photographing wildlife.

Shadley is Fishing Editor of the Sporting Report.

Winter is a wonderful time for a float trip. With trees bare of leaves, you’ll be able to see features hidden away by summer’s foliage. Certain animals are more abundant, like the bald eagles who find their way south to open water.

You’ll likely have any water you choose to paddle all to yourself, providing peace and solitude not found amongst the crowds in warmer months. 

Dress for the water temperature, not the air, and expect to go into the water.

But with solitude also comes danger. If you were to experience trouble along your float, there may not be another person along to help for some time. You need to be prepared for the weather and any accident that may occur.

Todd Robertson, Iowa DNR River Programs Water Trails Coordinator, said, “Many paddlers, especially those just starting out, don’t realize that although temperatures may be above average during some of the winter, the water is still dangerously cold and cold-water shock and hypothermia can set in quickly. Dress for the water temperature, not the air, and expect to go into the water,” Robertson said. “A wet or dry suit and a life jacket are crucial to remain safe.”

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There are many other tips to consider when heading out for a cold weather float trip, but the most important is not to paddle alone. I understand the appeal of taking off on a solo adventure.

I too appreciate time alone in the wilderness, but if you were to find yourself in a dangerous situation without another person, there's no one to administer aid or seek assistance – and in cold weather, time is of the essence.   

You may think it’s just a leisurely float on a calm river, but things can change quickly. You should always wear a life jacket. I know it may not be as comfortable to paddle wearing a life jacket, but if you are swept into a root wad or branches they could flip you over or knock you out of the boat very quickly. 

Related: Butler’s Driftwood Outdoors Podcast, Rivers and Streams - Public or Private?, Are You Trespassing? Know the Rules of Indiana's Waterways, Top Five Indiana Canoe Trips, Canoeing 101

You could also hit your head and need a life jacket just to keep you upright in the water. For your own sake, and for those who love you, just wear a life jacket. 

Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Pack a dry bag with an extra set of clothes. Also bring a first-aid kit and a fire starter. If your bag is big enough, stuff a compressible sleeping bag or blanket into it. 

Floating rivers in the winter is a special experience. There is an incredible calm in the cold-weather setting.

Make sure you keep your cell phone protected in a water proof container. This could be a small dry box where you also store your keys and wallet, or something as simple as putting it in a quality sandwich bag.

Many of us who spend a lot of time outdoors invest in a quality waterproof case for our phones. The ability to keep your phone out and not need to worry about the weather (or an unfortunate dunk) destroying it is worth the money. 

Share B.R. Shadley Sporting Report

Never just take off without letting someone know where you’re going and when you are expected to return. If something were to happen, and you don’t return by the expected date and time, it is much more likely rescue personnel will find you quickly. 

If the person you are telling is not familiar with the water you’re going to float, show them on a map. Make sure they understand the route you plan to take. 

Floating rivers in the winter is a special experience. There is an incredible calm in the cold-weather setting. You see animals that would likely be hiding from the crowds in the summer, and although fish may be more lethargic in winter, you should bring a fishing rod along, because smallmouth still need to eat. 

See you down the trail…

——————————————

Editor’s Note: For our Indiana readers, depending on where you live, access to rivers and streams may be your main impediment to a winter float trip. A few of the state’s larger rivers have decent public access, but numerous medium-sized waterways worthy of a float may not. Keep in mind you need two access points a reasonable distance apart. 

An inelegant solution is to float “bridge to bridge,” using county or state right-of-ways at bridges to access navigable water without trespassing. But this is at best a workaround. In this scenario parking is often a problem, adjacent landowners may not respect the public right-of-way, and getting boats in and out can be interesting. 

Related Resources & Articles: IN NRC Navigable Waterways Roster, IN DNR Law Enforcement Contact Information

The safe, and smart, bet is to contact the local conservation officer before going. He or she will most likely know the area you’re trying to float and can advise on the best way, if possible, to gain access. In our experience, if there’s a problem, you’re going to have a conversation with that same CO, so you might as well go ahead talk beforehand.

- BRS

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For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Brandon Butler is a syndicated outdoor newspaper columnist and freelance magazine writer. His column, Driftwood Outdoors, has appeared in over 50 different newspapers and magazines, and currently runs in over 30 publications. He has won many awards for his outdoor communication work.

Butler has established himself as a conservation and outdoor media leader of his generation. He is currently Director of Communications for Roeslein Alternative Energy, a renewable natural gas company dedicated to conservation. He spent five years as the executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. He created and taught Conservation Communications at the University of Missouri.

Butler is actively involved in conservation organizations. He is a life member of CFM, NRA, Boone & Crockett Club, Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International and Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation. He holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University, a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and is currently completing an Executive M.B.A. at the University of Missouri.

The winter weather roller coaster ride we’ve been on has taken another turn to colder days. As temperatures drop and lakes freeze up once more, ice fishermen will be heading to local waters in search of some fine catches and much needed relief from cabin fever.

Ice fishing offers anglers the opportunity to wet a winter line, while potentially hauling in a mess of great eating fish. If you’ve been searching for a way to spend time outdoors during the remaining frigid days of winter, ice fishing may be just what the doctor ordered. Remember though, utmost caution must be applied when heading out onto ice covered waters.

Ice fishing is a great pastime for many reasons, but one of the main reasons I enjoy it so much is because it allows a group to get outside and spend time fishing when most people aren’t even considering the possibility. Ice fishing is a pretty simple endeavor. Only a few tools are necessary, including: an ice auger, a fishing pole, bait, and a skimmer. The ice auger is for drilling holes in the ice. Special ice fishing poles are beneficial for fishing close to your hole, but regular old fishing poles will work if you don’t want to invest in special ice fishing gear. Skimmers are simply scoopers for taking chunks of ice from the water inside your drilled out fishing hole.

Ice fishing consists of lowering your offering down through the hole you have augured, and working to find the depth fish are holding at. Try dropping your bait all the way to the bottom, and slowly jigging it up and down. If I do not have any strikes, bring in a couple of feet of line, and continue to jig. Fish often are found holding near the bottom, but at times you can find them suspended at different depths.

Depending on what you’re fishing for, baits vary, but the old reliable worms, beemoths, and minnows are favorites of most ice fishermen. Jigs used for ice fishing are small and some savvy ice fishermen will use various fly fishing flies. Some ice anglers choose to fish from a shanty, which is a shelter used to protect from the elements. These are nice for staying warm, put limits scenery and natural exposure.

Ice safety is essential to the enjoyment of ice fishing. Be sure to check the thickness of the ice near the edge of the water you intend to fish. A good rule of thumb is to never fish on ice less than 4 inches thick. While thinner ice may hold one person, ice thickness varies across a body of water, and you do not want to risk falling through.

Never ice fish alone. Having the assistance of another to pull you to safety if you were to break through is essential. Wear a lifejacket and carry an ice pick or screwdriver in your pocket. The jacket will keep you afloat, and the ice pick will allow you to grip the ice and pull yourself out.

Ice fishing can be a ton of fun when a group gets together to spend some time outdoors during the cold winter months. The group I ice fish with likes to build a fire in a barrel on the bank of our local pond. The fire sure is nice for warming our hands after handling a few ice cold bluegills.

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Brandon Butler is a syndicated outdoor newspaper columnist and freelance magazine writer. His column, Driftwood Outdoors, has appeared in over 50 different newspapers and magazines, and currently runs in over 30 publications. He has won many awards for his outdoor communication work.

Butler has established himself as a conservation and outdoor media leader of his generation. He is currently Director of Communications for Roeslein Alternative Energy, a renewable natural gas company dedicated to conservation. He spent five years as the executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. He created and taught Conservation Communications at the University of Missouri.

Butler is actively involved in conservation organizations. He is a life member of CFM, NRA, Boone & Crockett Club, Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International and Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation. He holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University, a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and is currently completing an Executive M.B.A. at the University of Missouri.

Years ago now, when there wasn’t much space between hunting and everyday life, about this time of year, I’d take my camo to school.

Impatiently waiting for the bell, then shucking on my too-big realtree pants and shirt, I’d watch for my Dad’s green car with the yellow shield on the door, always wearing a little county road dust. Guns and gear across the back seat, we’d head off to a local dove field.

Cool mornings and shortening of days remind me of those early hunts. On the edge of my fourth decade,“few” may not fully cover it. But the memories are still sharp as the smell of freshly fired shells.

On paper dove isn’t the first hunting season; squirrel opens mid-August. Instead of chasing bushy tails, the heat usually found us fishing instead of sweating in the woods. Cool streams provide at least a partial respite from the sauna we call home.

So for us, Dove season was the real kick-off to fall and huntings seasons to follow; a private celebration of switching from rods to guns. We’re somewhat of a shotgun family, and if you like to shoot, dove season won’t disappoint – that is until you burn three boxes of shells and your pile of doves doesn’t reflect the effort.

With the season upon us, here’s how to stack the odds in favor of a safe, legal, and pleasant hunt.

Indiana Season & Regulations

Indiana mourning dove season has three sets of dates: September 1 to October 17; November 1 to November 21; and December 1 to January 1, 2022. That means you can indeed hunt doves for the rest of the year, notwithstanding the breaks. The best hunting, however, is typically at the top of the season. By the time it’s too cold for you, it usually is for the doves as well. 

The daily bag limit is 15 birds, with a possession limit of 45. To legally shoot at these agile fliers, you must have a hunting license, HIP number, and a migratory bird game stamp. Keep in mind migratory birds are managed by the Feds, so screwing up here means you're breaking state and federal law. 

If you luck into killing a few, don’t throw everyone’s birds in one pile. The conservation officer will not have as much faith in your mental tabulation as you do. Keep one pile, or game bag, per hunter; it also makes for easier ribbing.

Guns must be plugged, which means they can hold no more than three shells. A typical pump or auto will hold a total of six (five plus one in the chamber), so some sort of plug must be inserted into the tube magazine to take up three shells worth of space. [Adjust the math for your gun as needed]

If you find yourself in the field with an unplugged gun, your day isn't over. Find a stick of appropriate diameter, trim to size, install, and you’re legal.

Every year I read the regs for what I’m hunting; you should too. Regulations sometimes change, game laws are often complicated, and close enough to legal isn’t.  

Finding Doves

Being migratory birds, literally and in legalese, finding doves includes a combination of timing and habitat. Hopefully and typically, in the general vicinity of opening day, migration patterns usually start delivering a good number of doves to the Midwest. Not all migrate, but our numbers significantly increase as the travelling doves make their way south for the winter.

Classic dove hunting habitat includes sunflower fields (often planted specifically for doves), wildlife food plots, and some types of common farm crops. Gravel pit operations tend to draw doves as well. Birds are looking for a combination of cover, an abundance of small seeds, and water. They also need small bits of gravel or sand to aid the grinding of their seed-based diet.

Water sources can be as small as puddles and cover can be as simple as trees or structure doves can land on to stay clear of danger, and possibly use for roosting.

Finding places to hunt is another story in itself, but the first step is understanding what doves are looking for. The DNR does have a nice map of public hunting locations, many of which include doves. 

Equipment

One of the beauties of dove hunting is the short list of required gear. You can take a truckload of equipment, but can get by on just a few essentials. 

With the exception of your 10 gauge, any shotgun will do. Hunters looking for a more sporting experience may shoot a 20 or 28 gauge, but the most common gun you’ll find in dove fields is a 12 gauge. 

Shot sizes of 7 and 7 ½ seem to be the right balance. Pair them with a modified choke tube, or something close. 

An auto will burn shells faster but doesn’t kill them any deader. There’s an advantage on follow-up shots with an auto, but a skilled shooter with a pump can be awfully fast. I started out shooting doves with a single-shot .410 and did just fine, so don’t overthink it. Stack the odds in your favor and take what you’re most comfortable shooting.

Opinions on camouflage are mixed. Unlike turkey hunting, for example, which requires full concealment, doves aren’t quite that sensitive. I usually hunt in a camo t-shirt and heavy work pants to bust the brush. 

But I’ve also seen hunters limit out wearing solid color, button down shirts fit for a nice post-hunt dinner. My take is that camo helps, but staying in the shade, standing still, and hiding your silhouette is just as important, if not more.  

Consider taking something to sit on. A handy option is some sort of shooting bucket that has storage, a handle, and a lid that doubles as the seat. You’re going to need shells, lots of them. You can only stuff so many shells in your pants pockets, so a sporting clays-style vest or belted carrier is a must. You’re picking up your empties, so allow space for them as well.

Rarely do you stand in one place for whole hunt, so a game bag is useful for carrying your take and keeping track of your count. 

Eye protection is a must. Some of the best hunting is in the evening, so you’ll be battling low-angle sun, not to mention the benefits of safeguarding your vision in close proximity to firearms.

If you’re hunting near a body of water, a way to retrieve splash landed birds is a good idea. 

Murphy’s law applies to hunting; if birds can fall where you can’t get to them, they will. Waders, a kayak or canoe, or a fishing pole with a floating (preferably treble-hooked) lure can all work depending on the situation. The other option is waiting for the wind to blow your bird ashore.

Until recently I was agnostic on decoys. Just this season, a friend brought a motorized dove to a gravel operation we've been hunting. There were enough birds to make it interesting, but the shooting was inconsistent. As the evening wore on, after hunting all over the operation, we couldn't deny the decoy was working. As shooting hours came to a close we all gravitated toward the big pile of gravel with the motor dove perched atop.

Compared to the other 30 or 40 acres we'd been milling around in search of the sweet spot, birds wanted in to that gravel pile. The place was generally homogenous, nothing special other than the toy-like bird flying in place. I'm more sure than not that, at least on that hunt, the decoy made a difference. I bought a pair I'll use this season. We'll see.

Shooting & Hunting

A pre-hunt tune up on sporting clays is a good idea. Even shooting off a simple trap is better than nothing, just remember to shoot a variety of shots. 

From experience, if my normally ok shooting falls apart in the field it’s one or a combination of simple things. I’m either A: Not fully mounting the gun or getting my cheek on the stock; B: Not leading the birds and following through; or C: taking shots that are too long because I’m just real excited. 

Much like fly-casting, great form in the yard can fall apart in real-world scenarios. When in doubt, go back to the basics. 

Even if you seem to be shooting blanks, and the ridicule is rising, hold on to your hemlock. Doves rightly qualify as one of the toughest winged game animals to hit. They’re small, they’re fast, and their agility means they flare hard at the first sign of trouble. 

Hunting doves looks much like standing, or sitting still until birds come into range. Find a spot out of the sun that hides your silhouette. Pay attention to where the birds want to be and get as close you can.

Like other feathered game, doves can sometimes take more punishment than seems reasonable. Typically, a solid hit results in a downed dove. But sometimes all you get is a poof of feathers, a few wobbly wing beats, and the dove looks no worse for the wear. My theory, however, is any bird that’s clearly been hit is not ok, and attempting a follow-up shot is the best practice. 

The in-between scenario, the cripple, is tougher. When a dove is hit and makes a semi-controlled crash landing, or looks fine but lands when it should shooting skyward, it’s time to start fast-walking. 

Find a marker where the dove went down, make sure you’re loaded, safety on, and be ready to shoot the flushing bird as you approach. If it can see you coming take a route that gives cover on the way in, then make the ambush and be ready to shoot. For birds that haven’t yet expired, run it down if you can and use your preferred method of quick dispatch. 

What about shooting other hunter’s cripples he or she hasn’t found or can’t get to? Whether in the air or on the ground, if a wounded bird is in danger of getting away, the answer is “yes.” It’s the ethical call, and if someone gets their feelings hurt. don’t say anything – just keep the bird. 

Know A Kid, Take A Kid

I started going on dove hunts early. My job was to run down birds and solve problems with my BB gun. By the time I was shooting at the ripe old age of seven, I knew the ropes. But more importantly, I was hooked. 

Clear as a bell I remember the evening I dropped a couple birds with my .410 faster than I could pick them up. I was proud of my shooting, but my little heart nearly burst when I realized my Dad stopped shooting to watch. His smile meant more than all the doves that ever were. 

This is going to be a bits and pieces column. A lot has happened in the last two weeks involving visits, fishing, memories and an emergency. Hopefully, I can make sense of it all.

My daughter Jourdan and her husband Ryan came to visit. They were saddened by the passing of Jourdan’s Aunt Lori, her mother’s sister. Still, we spent some enjoyable time together.

For old time's sake, Jourdan brought her bike to revisit the landscape from years ago. I baked a fresh peach pie. They did some guitar strumming and I sang. It was a good visit.

The week before, Brittany Contreraz came to visit. Jourdan, Brittany, and Brit’s twin sister Brianna went to Timber Ridge Church Camp, Spencer, Indiana. The 222-acre camp with a 12-acre lake must be marvelous because all three have related what good times they had.

The Teen Camp is July 18-25 and is for ages 15-17. Activities, I remember, are crafts, fireside fun, horseback riding, cave exploring, tubing, hiking, riding trail bikes, skiing and swimming. All loved the high dive, low dive, and barge rope (you swing out on). The kids stay in air-conditioned cabins.

I believe there are still some openings. The cost is quite reasonable at $250, I think. Timber Ridge also offers a Family Camp from July 25-August 1. Go to: www.indysdayouth.org. The folks there make a video of the week so participants can relive the memories for years to come.

Steve Jett and I tried to find redears in deep water at Geist a week ago. In 85-degree water, those fish were shallow and often just off the bank. Our biggest problem; the 22 we caught were smaller than we have caught in the past. And, they were shallow for a reason, the females were egg-laden.

There is an evening bass tournament each Tuesday at Geist. In four hours 19 tournament limits of five fish per boat were weighed. That is 95 bass. There were 43 participants with either one or two people per boat. Do the math. There were easily 150 bass caught.

At the dock was a guy using a cast net to harvest shad and small bluegill to use as catfish bait. Surprisingly, he has gathered zebra mussels in his net from a muddy bottom, but most are on rocks, docks, cement, rocks, and even attached to the catfish he catches.

Last Thursday, I drove to Fishers to give my son Brian’s mate Barb Kleeman a ride to the dentist's office. She was to be sedated for an extraction and Brian wasn’t feeling well.

When I arrived, Brian was not looking good. He was light-headed and when I strapped my fit-watch on his wrist it indicated a heart rate of 37 bpm.

Brian’s family physician agreed to see him as soon as we could get there. Barb had neighbor Susanne take her to the dentist.

As I was waiting for Brian in the car his doctor came out with him and instructed me to take my son to the ER at Ascension St. Vincent's Heart Hospital.

He was released once for about four hours and had to go back. It was decided that his heart could no longer work on its own. He needed a Pacemaker implant. After five days and a lot of prayers, Brian went home and seems to be doing well. Brian Bramwell is Brian Casey of the morning show on MAX Classic Rock 93.5 FM.

During all this turmoil I and my son Greg got in a couple of hours fishing at a local pond. I went back to basics and caught my fish on a four-inch Slider worm. Greg used a swimbait. We brought eight bass up to three pounds to the boat.

Life is an adventure and this time it had a happy ending.

Montie Halteman made history with an interesting Pennsylvania turkey. After chasing this bird for three seasons, he finally put a plan together that led to his cousin, Kenton Halteman, wrapping a tag on the wise old gobbler. To their surprise, each leg hosted multiple spurs and it sported a double beard. 

“I say it’s a seven spur turkey,” Monte said. “There’s four on the right leg and three on the left. Four of the spurs are real obvious. The rest compare to jake spurs. You can’t argue about six of them. The seventh is there, but not as distinct.” 

After examining the photos, I think it maybe a little stretch to call some of the bumps on the back of this turkey’s legs spurs, but they are certainly a little strange. Whether or not you count the spurs, this is one heck of a bird. The gobbler sported a 10 ½ inch main beard and a six inch second beard,” Monte said. “The main beard is real thick. The second one is a about as big around as a regular wood pencil.” 

Monte roosted the gobbler on Friday night, but when Saturday morning arrived, the old bird didn’t give them a single gobble from the roost. He was patient though, and was rewarded for his experienced play. 

“Even though he wouldn’t gobble, I told Kenton he had to be there. Finally, we heard a hen yelp, so we knew turkeys were around. Then I heard him fly down. We’d set up about 80 yards from his roost,” Monte said. 

Once the birds were on the ground, the duo moved up 30 yards to see the gobbler and three hens in a field. Monte said they used extreme caution as they slowly moved through the timber. This was an experienced bird and they knew the slightest movement would send him over the next ridge in a hurry. When Monte finally made it to a safe place to peer out into the field, he liked what he saw. The gobbler was in full strut. Monte and Kenton looped around about 125 yards and set up on the opposite field edge. 

“Last year, he was out in the same field in full strut. His head was brilliant. Full of color. I yelped at him and he broke out of strut, his head lost all its color and he sprinted in the opposite direction. This year, I just let him come. At 35 yards, I called once. He broke out of strut and Kenton put him down,” Monte said. 

Having history with an animal or fish can add to the excitement of finally finding success. I know many fly fishermen who have watched the same big trout lurking near the bottom of a deep pool for years, before finally hooking it. And deer hunters nowadays too often, in my opinion, name deer and watch them grow for seasons before taking them. Turkeys are a little different, though. There aren’t too many multi-year stories like this one, which culminated in a great hunt over numerous seasons. 

The hunt took place near Newville, Pennsylvania. The seven spur bird is being full body mounted at Outback Imagery Taxidermy in York Springs. 

See you down the trail…

If you would try to predict when the best bass fishing of your life might occur, Central Florida around the fourth of July would not be on the calendar but maybe it should be.

My son Greg and friend Tom Morgan traveled to Winter Haven FL with their wives Dawn and Tami. The Morgans have a home on a chain of lakes and a nice bass boat waiting.

Shortly after their arrival, Greg called with some typical “Bramwell bad luck.” The boat had been at the dealership since March for a trolling motor problem. The replacement part had yet to arrive.

Greg and Tom began searching for guide services. They found one at www.cfbucketmouths.com . The cf stands for Central Florida. Their guide for this past Monday was Capt. Monte Goodman.

They learned that Goodman has been a full-time guide for 20 years. Through a phone call, I learned that he had been fishing tournaments for 30-years. Besides trophy bass, Goodman guides for crappie, bluegill, and redear.

The three met at the ramp at first light. Modern electronics and the skill to use them put Goodman’s Triton bass boat over an 11-foot weedbed. The fish finder showed a school of minnows hanging over the cover. The weeds came to within five feet or so of the surface. The guide expected there to be bass down in the weeds. As it turned out, a big school of bass.

Using spinning outfits with Penn bait-runner reels spooled with 30# Berkeley braid and fluorocarbon leaders a live shiner was fished on a 3/0 circle hook five feet below a bobber.

“Dad, we caught 25 bass. It was like being in a school of bluegills. Seldom did we go more than eight minutes without a fish on. Most of them were between three and six pounds,” Greg said.

Goodman uses 3/0 - 5/0 circle or kayle hooks depending on the cover and the size of shiners available. The Central Florida Guide said, “I don’t use any weight. I want that big minnow looking as natural as possible.” One of the shiners, according to Greg, came out of the water trying to escape a big bass.

As one might expect, from a good guide, Goodman’s personal best largemouth is 11-lbs., 8-ozs. A client caught one 13.8-lbs.

Too often, visiting anglers make the mistake of only fishing shoreline weeds and lily pads. According to Goodman, the water is just too warm in the shallows once surface temperatures creep into the 80s. Also, some of these lakes stratify during warm months leaving too little oxygen in the shallows.

Some anglers don’t want to use live bait and Goodman can’t either when fishing tournaments. He likes 10-inch Berkley plastic worms but will drop down to five inches when the bite is tough. “I keep it simple on the colors; red, junebug, green, and blue/black,” he suggested.

When the trio ran out of their 48 shiners, they began fishing artificial worms through Goodman’s man-made brush piles.

As Greg and Tom learned, you can catch big bass year-round in Central Florida. The spawn is stretched out from December to April. A big female has added weight when laden with eggs.

To make reservations go to their websites. This service has more than one guide. If a day you want is booked, call Capt. Goodman partners with other local guides in order to accommodate anglers.

If your favorite angler plans to visit the Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland, or Winter Haven area, surprise them with a gift certificate from Central Florida Bucketmouths. The instructions are on the website as is Goodman’s personal email address. I’m hoping someone will take this hint.

The White River below Bull Shoals Dam in Northern Arkansas is one of the premier trout fishing waters in America. This bold statement is, in my opinion, unquestionable. Yet, the White isn’t the only river in the region worth traveling to for trout fishing. The Norfork River and the North Fork of the White River are each special destinations in their own right.

My introduction to the White River came early in life. Extended family moved from where I grew up in Northwest Indiana to Lakeview, Arkansas. Summer vacations to explore the lakes and rivers of the Ozarks followed. I caught the first trout of my life from the White River while in high school, and I’ve never lost my love of the place and the exceptional trout fishing the river provides.

As my trout fishing exploits increased in seriousness, I began fishing waters all across the country. Name a river in Montana, Wyoming or Colorado and I’ve likely fished it. Yet, I’m still drawn back to the Ozarks and the beautiful waters coursing through the region. The White River maybe the main draw, but a number of smaller rivers also deserve to be recognized, not only for their incredible fishing opportunities, but also for the scenery they provide.

The North Fork of the White and the Norfork are the same river on opposite ends of a reservoir. The North Fork of the White has its origin in Texas County, Missouri. It flows south for 109 miles until it turns into Norfork Reservoir. This river is certainly the most western like water in Missouri. Meaning, it has a fast, natural flow with riffles and runs that remind one of being on the Madison or Yellowstone. It has a healthy population of trout, especially rainbows. But the further downstream you go, the more likely you are to tangle with a brown trout.

The Norfork River is a tailwater flowing out of the Norfork Dam. This little gem is only 4.5 miles long, but fishes much larger. It’s home to four species of trout; brook, rainbow, cutthroat, and brown. Well, maybe five now, as Tiger trout, a hybrid of brown trout and brook trout, have now been stocked in the White River system. Back in 1988, the world-record brown trout was caught out of the Norfork. It weighed almost 39 pounds. The record has been broken numerous times since, but a larger brown trout than the current world-record being caught out of the Norfork is possible.

Last weekend, five friends and I traveled down to the White for a weekend of trout fishing. We rented a cabin at Copper John’s Resort right on the water. It’s perfect fish camp for those plying the waters with fly fishing equipment, because there is an excellent fly shop, called Fly’s and Guides, right onsite. Jeremy Hunt and his wife Lisa own and operate the shop, out of which they run a number of fishing guides. If you have never fished the White River before, hiring a guide to give you the lay of the land is good idea. It’s a big water, so having a professional break it down for you can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Two of the fellas on our trip are guides. Mike Sexton and Damon Spurgeon operate Cardiac Mountain Outfitters. We certainly had the advantage of knowledge on our side when we launched our boats Saturday morning. The six of us caught a ton of fish on the White, which is one of those rare rivers that provide the opportunity for a numbers game. Meaning, you can try for a 50 or 100 fish days and have a realistic chance of achieving such a lofty goal. My good friend and podcast co-host, Nathan “Shags” McLeod is out for those sort of numbers every time he hits the water. You’d be foolish to bet against him. I, on the other hand, am more easily satisfied with a few good fish and the relaxation of rowing a boat down a gorgeous river.

See you down the trail…

Florida is a diverse outdoors state. The interior is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the country. The coast offers some of the best saltwater fishing. There are deer, turkey, alligators, bears, panthers and countless bird species all adding to the amazing plethora of wildlife found in the state. Yet, Florida has a new species that needs to go. Burmese pythons are harming the Everglades ecosystem and a new initiative looks to eliminate as many of them as possible. 

The 2021 Florida Python Challenge is a competition with a $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize to the participant who removes the most pythons. It kicks off at 8 a.m. on July 9, 2021 and ends July 18, 2021 at 5 p.m. Registration is now open and people can sign up to participate until the last day of the event. There is a $25 registration fee and participants must complete free online training.

The challenge is being conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), South Florida Water Management District and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation (SFWMD) of Florida. It is supported by a sponsorship from Virtual Business Services. Even if you don’t win the $10,000 top prize, there are still opportunities to win thousands of dollars for the most pythons in the “Professional” or “Novice” categories. There are also awards for the longest snakes in both categories. Active-duty military personnel and veterans who register for the competition will be eligible for additional prizes.

In a press release, FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said, “This is a monumental contribution to the cause of removing Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem. We are grateful to Virtual Business Services for their generous donation and hope this sparks more interest in this important effort. Working under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, we will continue to work with our partners to protect our natural resources from the threat of invasive species.” 

Burmese pythons are a non-native species spreading throughout the Everglades. These giant snakes, which have been recorded at over 18 feet long and weighing over 100 pounds, are doing serious damage to the native wildlife populations. They consume what they come across, including eggs from nest, both on the ground and in trees. They’ll eat everything from mice to deer. 

“I want to thank the public and all of our corporate sponsors for making this challenge possible. The South Florida Water Management District, the FWC and our partners in this great endeavor are teaming up to take the fight to the pythons and we won’t stop until these invasive snakes are eliminated and the Everglades are protected,” said SFWMD Governing Board Member “Alligator Ron” Bergeron.

Some of the main areas where pythons are found in south Florida include the Everglades National Park, Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area, Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, Big Cypress National Preserve, Collier-Seminole State Park, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and adjacent areas. 

Even outside of the competition, the rules of engagement for pythons in Florida are simple. If you encounter one, kill it. For those who actually want to go hunt for them, pythons are typically found near water. They can be on the ground or up in trees. The vegetation is so thick in most areas though, it makes finding them difficult. Your best is to locate them on levees along canals and crossing roads at night. 

If the python problem is not addressed aggressively, these snakes could become a much larger problem. A female Burmese python can lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. Since 2000, more than 13,000 Burmese pythons have reportedly been removed from the state of Florida. The hope is that number grows rapidly and the 2021 Florida Python Challenge is one attempt to make a serious impact. 

If you are ready to head off to Florida to hunt pythons and try to win $10,000, visit www.FLPythonChallenge.org to register for the competition and take the online training. The website also has more information about Burmese pythons and the unique Everglades ecosystem they are invading. You’ll also find plenty of resources for planning your trip to south Florida to participate in the Florida Python Challenge.

See you down the trail… 

Last Thursday, I had plans for heading south, but one thing and then another kept holding me back. As it turned out, I only needed a little more than three hours to have a great day’s fishing.

My biggest obstacle was waiting for the groomer to put the finishing touch on Jeter, my grandson Grant’s dog. Normally, this task is handled by my son Greg, however, he was participating in a mid-day golf outing business-related, I’m sure.

It was 6 pm when I slid my two-man bass boat into the 12-acre lake. One week earlier, I caught big bluegill spawning, surely they would be off the nest and suspended in deep water.

It only takes about four days for the eggs to hatch and the water had warmed considerably. It has often been said that bluegill will spawn as often as three times during the warm weather months, but I assumed the first time would be in unison. At 77 there is still a lot that I don’t know or understand.

They were not exactly where I found them the week before but very close. Once I caught one, I dropped anchor and began catching big males on nearly every cast. Except for a couple, all had already fertilized the nest they were guarding.

I won’t go quite so far as to say, I was tired of catching fish, however, I was concerned about taking too many from this one spot, thus leaving the nest unguarded. Besides, I wondered where the fatter females were located. Yet another concern was having too many fish to clean.

I caught a couple of big females suspended at eight feet, but really hit paydirt when I found a school hanging in some underwater tree branches. These fish were still laden with eggs.

In this lake, when I fish timber the down-sized Slider crappie grub attracts stunted bass. I do not throw them back. The bass was adding mightily to the weight of my fish basket.

With about 20-minutes of light left, I caught a big redear. This fish destroyed my last rigged plastic grub. A fitting way to end a fabulous evening.

I had planned on spending the night but never realized the fishing would be so hot. A thought came to mind that bad weather was predicted for early Friday. Did I want to be loading my boat in a thunderstorm?

The answer came not from these thoughts but rather when two teen girls came hiking by and asked if I would like some help.

The next day almost 10” of rain accumulated and by Saturday morning water was going over the earthen dam. The storm also knocked out the power for two days.

After two good outings, I wondered why I could not buy a fish last fall? Were the fish not biting? With bluegill, you usually catch a few on a bad day.

I do remember One fall when the fish were hugging the bottom. Because of the algae, I can no longer fish the bottom. It would be difficult to believe it was the angler’s fault.

I like to measure fish as I clean them and often take pictures with a ruler alongside the fish least someone might accuse me of stretching the truth. The shortest bluegill measured nine inches.

Did some of the fish go over the dam? I’d say they did. How it will affect the fishing may be learned on my next trip.

Rick L. Bramwell began writing for the Anderson Herald Bulletin in 1972. He likes to hunt small game, deer, turkey and morel mushrooms. Bramwell’s 174-7/8 typical whitetail is the largest ever taken in Madison County. He used to compete in Red Man and BASS Federation tournaments, but is now content to fish ponds and small lakes for bass and panfish. For most of 43 years Bramwell has coached Baseball and softball. He has three grown children and resides in Madison County, near Pendleton.

It all comes down to money. At least, that’s how it normally seems when working with government. But that’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes, it becomes apparent how valuable a resource is to those formally unaware when dollar figures are determined. Such is the case with outdoor recreation.

Arkansas is the latest state to create an office of Outdoor Recreation, growing the list to 17. Most of those are out west, where vast amounts of public lands are recognized as tourist attractions and strong economic drivers. The states that have created outdoor recreation offices, task forces, or advisory councils have done so to place a focus on expanding their state’s outdoor recreation economy.

In Arkansas, Governor Asa Hutchinson created the Office of Outdoor Recreation (OREC) within the state’s Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT). The focus of the new office will be on highlighting the state’s wide variety of outdoor activities, including boating, trail activities, and cycling. Which is big business in Arkansas. According to a press release from the governor’s office, outdoor recreation in the state is responsible for producing $2.9 billion in annual economic impact while supporting over 39,000 jobs. Fish the White River or canoe the Buffalo River on a Saturday in June, and you’ll swear that number has to be higher.

“The Office of Outdoor Recreation provides critically needed support as we look to expand our recreational opportunities in Arkansas and contribute to the state’s tourism value,” Hutchinson said, in the release. “These new outdoor recreation offerings illustrate the many opportunities at hand.”

One important aspect of the new Office’s responsibility is collecting and analyzing data. This information will be used to further understand how both residents and non-residents are interacting with the outdoors in Arkansas, which will allow the state to make wise investments accordingly. Once they have a better understanding of outdoor recreation is impacting the Arkansas economy, they’ll know where to spend tax for developing new recreational opportunities that generate the sort of returns the state hopes for.

“If there’s one thing the pandemic has made clear, it’s that people need the freedom of the outdoors for their health, quality of life and peace of mind, and it helps attract businesses and families to create thriving, livable communities,” Stacy Hurst, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism said. “I am looking forward to working with this team to enhance the state’s economy and offerings for the public.”

Outdoor recreation extends far beyond hunting and fishing, and it is a huge economic driver across the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, data shows that the outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.1 percent ($459.8 billion) of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) for the nation in 2019. That number must have skyrocketed in 2020 with the droves of people finding an escape from the pandemic in the outdoors.

Every state has some form of a Department of Natural Resources or a Department of Fish and Wildlife. Many of those agencies have a division related to outdoor tourism and recreation. However, many of them simply aren’t doing enough, likely because they are limited by the resources provided to them. By creating a new office, like Arkansas has now done with their Office of Outdoor Recreation, a significant amount of interest will be given to understanding and expanding outdoor recreation. I hope more Midwestern states will follow their lead.

See you down the trail…

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Brandon Butler is a syndicated outdoor newspaper columnist and freelance magazine writer. His column, Driftwood Outdoors, has appeared in over 50 different newspapers and magazines, and currently runs in over 30 publications. He has won many awards for his outdoor communication work.

Butler has established himself as a conservation and outdoor media leader of his generation. He is currently Director of Communications for Roeslein Alternative Energy, a renewable natural gas company dedicated to conservation. He spent five years as the executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. He created and taught Conservation Communications at the University of Missouri.

In the summer of 2019, I wrote about a 12-acre lake that became infested with Eurasian clams. I’m guessing this invasion began 12 or so years ago when a boat was transferred from nearby Cagles Mill Lake. The excrement greatly fertilized the water causing blue-green algae to flourish. These clams needed a predator.

The folks that own the private lake decided to stock several thousand redear sunfish in the fall of 2019. I wonder where they got that idea?

I’m getting ahead of myself. In May of that year, I helped the owners treat the lake with copper sulfate. We divided the lake into four parts and treated a section at a time. A full application would have killed a lot of fish. The fish have to be able to flee the chemical.

I have fished these waters for 15-years. At first, one could catch many bluegills over nine inches. Out of 50, the creel might have three that measured 10-inches.

Then, the size gradually went down. It did not seem like an overpopulation issue because there was an abundance of stunted bass that kept most of the bluegill fry from maturing.

With the diminishing size of the bluegill came an increase in dark-green algae becoming attached to my jig when I let it get too close to the bottom. By 2017, it was rare to catch bluegill that would measure nine inches.

By the time we treated the lake, there was so much algae that it was picked up on almost every cast. My favorite lake seemed ruined forever.

The copper sulfate got rid of a lot of the algae, but after the treatment, a bluegill bite was hard to come by. In fact, out of four trips last year, I caught five bluegills in total. On the last trip, I caught none.

This spring, I have had good success catching redear from a local pond and at Geist Reservoir. Last week, I was ready to see if any of those six-inch stocked redears had survived.

The lake looked decent. It had some algae but was very fishable. I looked across a shallow flat to see multiple panfish beds. I was ready to give these fish a new look with a ¼-inch cut off the head of a Slider 1-½ inch paddle tail crappie grub. The grub was attached to a Charlie Brewer panfish jig in 1/32nd ounce. My proven color was Junebug/chartreuse.

The bluegill did not like this intruder and hit it aggressively. They were large too. Most were better than nine inches and several measured 10. My biggest gill ever, for this lake, came to my pond prowler. It measured 11”.

A cast to deeper water, just beyond the beds, had me hooked up with something nice, a 10” redear. I soon caught another the same size. This does not tell me how many survived, but these two have been eating well. I returned them to dine on some more clams.

At first light, Friday morning, I retied a big Whopper Plopper and began casting through the fog for bass. In a pocket, I had the most vicious hit ever. The big fish dove deep and was slipping a heavy-set drag on my Lew’s casting reel.

As I played the fish, I also ran the boat to the middle of the lake. Thoughts of a 10-pound bass ran through my head. What else would hit a fast-moving topwater lure?

It was 20-minutes before I got a look at the fish, a big grass carp. Finally, I beached the fish and called my friend Seth in search of a set of scales. We did not weigh the monster but measured it at 38-inches.

I’m not sure what brought this lake back to life. Perhaps, some of the fish were killed or maybe the spawn was ruined. Less competition for food usually results in bigger fish.

Did I just get lucky during the spawn? I’m not sure, but I can’t wait to try it again.

Rick L. Bramwell began writing for the Anderson Herald Bulletin in 1972. He likes to hunt small game, deer, turkey and morel mushrooms. Bramwell’s 174-7/8 typical whitetail is the largest ever taken in Madison County. He used to compete in Red Man and BASS Federation tournaments, but is now content to fish ponds and small lakes for bass and panfish. For most of 43 years Bramwell has coached Baseball and softball. He has three grown children and resides in Madison County, near Pendleton.

Waterfowl numbers are going to dip due to a lack of water. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently released the findings of their 74th annual breeding duck survey, and the results are not good. They found the number of breeding ducks below average. They blame it on the drought.

According to a recent press release from Ducks Unlimited, North Dakota’s May water index was down 80 percent from 2020, and nearly 68 percent below the 1948-2020 average in the state.

“These weather conditions are an early indicator of the broader drought across the North American prairies. And while these survey numbers and behavioral observations are sobering and indicate a decline in duck production in North Dakota, we must keep in mind that periodic drought on the prairies is a normal part of the climate cycle,” said Ducks Unlimited (DU) Chief Scientist Steve Adair. “While the drought persists, these periods allow wetlands to recycle nutrients and re-vegetate, setting the stage for a boom in populations when water returns.”

Drought conditions affect waterfowl in numerous ways. Reduced breeding is one of those ways. If conditions are bad enough, ducks won’t nest at all. They’ll leave the breeding grounds to find more stable wetland conditions.

“We’ve benefitted from above-average moisture on the breeding grounds for more than two decades, and this drought is a difficult, but necessary, part of the prairie climate cycle,” said DU Chief Conservation Officer Karen Waldrop. “Ducks Unlimited will continue our on-the-ground habitat work across North America to sustain waterfowl during tough times and to set the stage, so when the water returns to the prairies, waterfowl of all species will be able to get back to the record-setting populations we have seen in the recent past.

Wetlands are critical for waterfowl. When we experience periods of natural strife for wildlife, as this drought is for waterfowl, we see the critical importance of conserving habitat. Organizations like Ducks Unlimited lead the way in protecting such areas. For example, Ducks Unlimited and partners, including Pew and First Nations, have played a huge role in protecting 950 million acres in the Boreal Forest in the last 20 years. Areas such as the Boreal provide stability during a drought. This is why you should support such organizations if you care about their mission.

Because on the flip side, writing this article about the critical importance of wetlands at a time when the State of Indiana just passed legislation to degrade protections on the few remaining wetlands in the state, leaves me shaking my head in disbelief and a sadness in my heart. As humanity continues to influence climate change, bringing about these larger swings in weather events, like periods of severe flooding followed by severe drought, and we watch the impacts on wildlife and wild places, we still show through legislative action our society remains so greedy we’ll lift regulations on what little habitat remains for waterfowl.

I don’t know who the very rich person is, or the group of rich people, celebrating this new legal ability to destroy wetlands in Indiana, but they certainly exist. No one woke up and thought wetlands need not exist. A wetland or wetlands stood in the way of someone making more money, so they had to find a way to get rid of the regulations. So they bought some lawmakers with the power of their wealth. I imagine it wasn’t too hard to find a few state legislators more concerned with where the next donation is going to come from than they are about the number of ducks that are not going to be born this year due to a lack of habitat. Shame on them.

See you down the trail…

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Brandon Butler is a syndicated outdoor newspaper columnist and freelance magazine writer. His column, Driftwood Outdoors, has appeared in over 50 different newspapers and magazines, and currently runs in over 30 publications. He has won many awards for his outdoor communication work.

Butler has established himself as a conservation and outdoor media leader of his generation. He is currently Director of Communications for Roeslein Alternative Energy, a renewable natural gas company dedicated to conservation. He spent five years as the executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. He created and taught Conservation Communications at the University of Missouri.

Butler is actively involved in conservation organizations. He is a life member of CFM, NRA, Boone & Crockett Club, Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International and Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation. He holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University, a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and is currently completing an Executive M.B.A. at the University of Missouri.

Catching any fish under twelve inches long usually isn’t worth my time. There are a few exceptions however and bluegill are one of them. Pound for pound they fight like a tiger and are second to none when it comes to table fare. 

Most of the year giant bluegill can be difficult to catch. Thankfully late spring and early summer offer an exception. This time of year trophy sized gills are going through their mating ritual and aggressively feed while producing next year’s crop of offspring.

Spring is about the only time I target bluegills. After they are done spawning and return to deeper, cooler water I’m pretty much done with them. I may catch a few while bass fishing but chasing them in deep water doesn’t interest me.

As soon as I spot a few beds I head for my favorite farm pond; a beautiful little gem about two acres in size. The bass fishing in this pond is average at best. It’s the home of way too many twelve-inchers. But the bluegill, now that’s a different story. Over the years I’ve noticed that small ponds seldom produce big bass and big bluegill.

Every spring I look forward to heading southeast with my fly rods and belly boats packed in my truck. Belly boats is plural. I own one for myself and I loan one to whoever fishes with me. Since I fly fish all of the time I like an unobstructed back cast. The belly boat provides that plus great maneuverability. If there is a drawback it’s that they are not puncture proof. On far too many occasions I’ve had fish poke a hole in my boat with their dorsal fin. You won’t notice it right away but soon you’ll get that sinking feeling.

Spawning bluegills are easy to spot. The beds will be in shallow water. You’ll see numerous, clean circles of gravel congregated together. At times you can even smell them.

Yep, it will smell like fish.

Taking bluegill from their spawning bed is a bit controversial. Some anglers say never. Others say it’s a valuable tool for population control. I’m somewhere in the middle. I don’t think I’ve ever caused any harm by taking a few fish home to eat. What I don’t do is beat up on them day after day. Once I’ve captured my dinner I leave them alone to reproduce in peace.

I haven’t caught gills off of the beds with anything but a fly rod since I was a child. I have friends that use live crickets under a bobber and do quite well. Others use grubs or meal worms.

Spawning bluegill bring out the amateur fly fishermen. I know anglers that fish once or twice a year with a fly rod and it’s always during bluegill spawning season. The great thing about fishing for gills with a fly rod is you don’t have to be an accomplished fly fisherman to be successful. Any sloppy cast will do so long as the fly lands close to a spawning bed.

There is one rule that I always follow to increase my daily catch. Fish to the closest bluegill first. When I’m sitting in my belly boat I always cast to the fish closest to me. By doing so I don’t disturb the rest of the spawners and I can pick them off one after the other.

Last year I took a friend of mine with me that was just learning how to fly fish. Bluegill beds are a great classroom to learn the basics of fly fishing. Beginners quickly learn how to set the hook and land the fish. My buddy learned more about fly fishing in two hours than he would have learned by watching YouTube for a week.

For bluegill fishing I like a long fly rod. A long rod keeps your back cast high while sitting low in the water. I wouldn’t recommend anything shorter than eight and a half feet. A five weight rod is perfect for bluegill. Pair it with a floating line and you’re ready to go.

You don’t have to use a tapered leader but I would highly suggest it. A tapered leader will straighten out better making your cast more accurate. Most anglers use a seven and a half foot tapered leader. The leader is tapered to around six pound test on the narrow end. You should attach two feet of six pound mono to the end of your tapered leader. This may sound a little complicated to the non-fly fisherman. If that’s you check out fly fishing leaders on YouTube for visual instruction.

Bluegill flies can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make them. You can use expensive trout flies or you can fish with a rubber spider. I always opt for the spider or a small popper. Anything that floats and looks like a bug will do. Occasionally bluegill are hesitant to hit top water offerings. In this situation try a size ten or twelve woolly bugger.

Last but not least, take good care of your fish. I see people dragging dead fish around on a stringer all day and wonder why their fish don’t taste good. When I head out to bluegill fish I always take a cooler full of ice. It’s important to ice them while they're still flopping. I take great care to keep them alive until I can put them on ice. Fillet your fish as soon as you return home.

It’s hard to beat deep fried bluegill, so that’s how I cook them. First I roll them in a mixture of egg and milk. Then I bread them with crushed Townhouse Crackers before dropping them in 325 degree oil.

Everyone knows walleye are great tasting fish but I’m not sure I’d trade them for a platter of delicious deep fried bluegill.

Shadley’s interest in hunting, fishing and a ton of other outdoor activities started at a very young age. He was hunting and fly-fishing on his own when he was eleven; it’s always been his passion.

He was employed by the Indiana DNR as a conservation officer for 34 years. For the first 17 years, Shadley worked southeastern Indiana as a field officer. For the last 17 years he was in charge of Indiana’s Turn In a Poacher program (TIP) and was the chief public relations officer for the law enforcement division.

Since his retirement he’s spent most of his time fly-fishing, shooting sporting clays, hunting and photographing wildlife.

Shadley is Fishing Editor of the Sporting Report.

The ammunition shortage is here to stay. Well, at least for a while. Southwick & Associates, a market research and economics firm, specializing in the hunting, shooting, sport fishing and other outdoor recreation markets, recently released a report that shows demand for ammunition will continue to far outpace supply. With firearms ownership on the rise, finding ammunition is a real problem.

Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a bit of hunting ammunition. Shooting half of a box during a duck hunt or two turkey loads out of five has left me with a nice stash. But target practice ammunition is a different story. I don’t have enough to shoot without worry of running out. A lot of my friends feel the same way. We’re unable to practice or recreationally plink targets like we used to. This is a common story these days.

It is an inconvenience for us, but at least most of the people in my circles have experience shooting. It’s the new firearms owners who are in a worse spot. First time firearms ownership has spiked, and those new to shooting need to practice. The lack of ammunition available seriously hinders their ability to do so.

Southwick & Associates regularly surveys outdoor industry consumers to gain an understanding of market trends. Back in April, they surveyed more than 1,800 ammunition consumers for a study on the shortage. They found it is continuing post pandemic.

Their data shows 20 percent of consumers encountered out of stock issues while trying to purchase ammunition in 2020. The number has recently dropped to 75 percent, but that means three out of four people trying to buy ammunition can’t. Resulting in 79 percent of survey respondents reporting they have either cutback or completely quit target shooting and hunting. This leaves a lot of individuals out there looking to buy more ammunition, so demand is expected to remain high.

The report found, only 17 percent of shooters and hunters are satisfied with the amount of ammunition they currently have. And nearly two-thirds said their inventory is lower than they would prefer. Most shooters want more ammunition. The data reported 43 percent want “much more” while 38 percent want at least “a little more.” When asked why they desire more ammunition, key reasons included:

• Uncertainty about future ammunition supplies (72%). This is especially true among consumers 45+ years of age.

• Uncertainty about future restrictions on ammunition purchases (70%).

• Uncertainty about future economic conditions (54%).

• Increased shooting and hunting activity (26%). This was more common among the 25-34 year-old consumers.

“At some point, demand will certainly soften,” reports Rob Southwick, President of Southwick Associates. “However, frenzied purchasing and empty shelves often fuels further increases in demand. We do not see demand softening in the near future.”

Remember the run on toilet paper? I can’t imagine any of us will ever forget. It showed us how quickly a common resource can be depleted beyond demand. And it was because many people were hoarding and being ridiculous. To help us all get through the ammunition shortage, don’t be like the toilet paper people. Buy what you need and may be a little bit more, but be conscientious of our shooting and hunting community. Leave a box for the next man or woman.

See you down the trail…

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Brandon Butler is a syndicated outdoor newspaper columnist and freelance magazine writer. His column, Driftwood Outdoors, has appeared in over 50 different newspapers and magazines, and currently runs in over 30 publications. He has won many awards for his outdoor communication work.

Butler has established himself as a conservation and outdoor media leader of his generation. He is currently Director of Communications for Roeslein Alternative Energy, a renewable natural gas company dedicated to conservation. He spent five years as the executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. He created and taught Conservation Communications at the University of Missouri.

Butler is actively involved in conservation organizations. He is a life member of CFM, NRA, Boone & Crockett Club, Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International and Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation. He holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University, a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and is currently completing an Executive M.B.A. at the University of Missouri.