A Look Back

I began this blog as an exploration of the of a sportsman’s skill. I purposed that this blog look indulge in the finer techniques that makes a sportsman successful on both land and the water. I believe that this blog may have missed the initial mark of in-depth exploration and evolved into an elaborate overview of a sportsman's concerns mixed with a touch of skill advancement. However I still believe that the blog was an informative glimpse into the world as a sportsman.

This deviation as quit evident with my first post which centered on the debate over hunting and its ethical position in society. This post right from the start didn't discuss the skills that hunter possesses but rather defended hunting as a whole. While this post may be more important in the grand scheme of society it veered off the path that was set in the post that preceded it.

However I began the fishing aspect of the blog with and introductory to the exciting realm of flats fishing. I introduced three highly targeted gamefish, snook, redfish, and trout, and discussed the varies ways that an angler could catch such cunning fish. These couple of post corrected the direction of the blog and placed it back in focus with the original direction of the blog. Not only did that series of post explain and explore different methods of fishing the flats it also had a sense of research with the fishing trip I took to test the various flats fishing techniques.

I began to shift away from the direction of the blog again with the introduction to hunting posts. The blog began the shift towards the overview of the sport rather than its techniques. However I believe that hunting tends to do this naturally. Most of the population views fishing in a much different and accepting light as opposed to hunting, so the defense of hunting always seems to be on the tips of every hunter when they start to discuss they spot they enjoy. As a result my hunting posts tend to have an underlying sense of defensiveness to them.

However this I believe is what makes this blog better than what was initially set forth. The blog did not just speak to the population that was already involved but it also pertained to the portion of society that had no connection to them. Thus making the blog more than just a cookbook of techniques for a sportsman but rather an informative piece for both the sportsman and non-sportsman alike.

Invasive Species

Florida is under attack. Its natural flora and fauna are being devastated without any foreseen natural defense.  Snakes, lizards, exotic fish, stubborn tropical plants, and feral hogs are all taking their toll on Florida’s fragile ecosystem.  There are two shows that I have recently seen that demonstrate how bad this problem is Python Hunters on Nat Geo Wild and Hogs Gone Wild which airs on the Discovery Channel, both of these shows are in existence because of the extent of how many invasive species there are in Florida.

The Python Hunters is about three men running around the Florida Everglades trying to find and remove exotic reptiles such as iguanas, monitor lizards, and big pythons. However these guys are not just some bums that decided to go save the everglades on a whim; they are well trained and very seasoned reptile handlers. Shawn Heflick is a herpetologist from Palm Bay, police officer Greg Graziani is from Venus, and Mike Coleis and python breeder from Haines City, as the Orlando Sentinel’s Hal Boedeker describes them,  together these three crusaders make up the python hunters. The last episode I watched the hunters were out trying to catch iguanas and monitor lizards with only a net while highly entertaining it proved to be very ineffective. The group saw many targets but only was able to catch one monitor lizard the whole episode.

Bryan Swanson, a wildlife biologist and founder of Allstar Animal Removal, Tim Smith, a seasoned hog hunter and employee of Allstar animal Removal, and Ryan Killoran, also a wildlife biologist, make up the Florida portion of Hogs Gone Wild. These men travel all over the state helping people remove feral hogs from their property. Many of the hogs they have captured have been close to urban areas.  They have even caught hogs on a school’s soccer field.  They mainly use dogs to capture the hogs because discharging a gun is illegal so close to such residential areas.

Now after watching these two shows I began to wonder, if we have such an invasive species problem in Florida why can’t sportsman hunt on state land year-round? While I agree with hunting seasons for game animals such as deer and turkey, I disagree with not allowing hunters on that land throughout the year. This to me seems like a viable solution to the problem. Allow hunters who like hunt, like to be in the woods, like to continue to hone their craft, and most of all pay for the privilege to go hunting to chase after these invasive species all year. If history has shown anything its unregulated hunting can wipe out the population of a species. We nearly did it to the buffalo and almost every other game bird and animal that we targeted at the turn of the 20^th century. So I don’t see a problem with allowing hunters on public state land that is already used for hunting to be open all year for the eradication of these intrusive species.  

Why I Hunt

I got asked a couple days ago why I hunt deer. At first I have the generic answer of because I like it. However this wasn’t what my friend’s brother wanted to hear. He classifies himself as an animal lover and can’t stand to see an animal in pain, so he asked for a better answer. So I thought about it for a minute and told him that I like many aspects that the sport provides me the solitude of nature, the art of preparation, the competition with the animal, the meat that the animal provides, and the camaraderie of fellow hunters. I told him that hunting is not just about killing an animal it’s the much more than that. After that answer that didn’t focus on the actual killing of the animal, he seemed satisfied with it but still didn’t like it. After our conversation I began to realize that many people focus on the actual killing of the animal and do not see all the other parts of hunting that make it so great. I can only speak for myself when saying my goal as a hunter is to harvest an animal but it’s not the only factor that makes it memorable or enjoyable.  Like I told my friend’s brother there is so much more that goes into the whole experience.

Being secluded in nature is probably the most enjoyable for me. It’s a time where you can let all your worries go and become in tuned with what’s going on around you. The wind breezing by, leaves rustling, the slight change in temperature as the seasons change, or birds gliding from limb to limb in search of food, squirrels scurrying across the ground looking acorns, even the smell of pine trees and wildflowers they all begin to come into clear focus when you get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To me getting in touch with nature so closely is the biggest part of hunting I enjoy.

However to say that I do not enjoy the other aspects would be a false. I never really enjoyed organized team sports growing up. I didn’t enjoy the feeling of letting people down or being let down. I always gravitated towards independent competitions, so the natural one on one competition in hunting really appealed to my interests. The scouting of trails, food sources, and bedding areas not only got me in tune with nature as stated above but set the stage for the challenge that was ahead me. I could see how my opponent was playing his game and prepare a contour of my own. Whether I succeed or not is not what I focus on at the end of the day because I know that I had a satisfying time just playing the game.

The people that I meet while hunting also weigh in on the appeal of hunting for me. To me the tight nit groups that make up hunters are very generous and approachable. Many are always trying to help you succeed and get better. However, they won’t give up any “secret spots” or “honey holes” they will give you advice and techniques such as what to look for and when to look for it which will make you a better all around hunter.

As for my first answer I gave my friend brother whether generic or not it holds true. I like hunting but I like it for more than the act of killing I like because it fills many different aspects that I seek for enjoyment nature, competition and camaraderie.

Rifle Or Archery?

What is the best method of hunting rifle or archery? Personally I like rifle because it increases my odds of connecting with a deer. However I know many people who have sworn off powder and lead in favor of carbon shafts and mechanical advantage. This argument is along the lines of chocolate verse vanilla there is no wrong answer.

Rifle hunting has its advantages the biggest being its ability to harvest a deer from a great distance away.  This means a hunter does not have to predict the movements of the deer with great precision. Yes he has to have some knowledge of his quarry but not to such detail that it requires him be able to get within feet of a deer. As a result this type of hunting is great for beginners. It allows the hunter more leeway when it comes to overall skill. Another facet of rifle hunting is the capability of more accurate shots because of the addition of advanced telescopic optics. Even at increased distances a hunter can place its projectile where he needs to.

When it comes to archery the most popular reason given is the mental change that is presented as a result of trying to get with an acceptable shooting distance. Unlike a rifle which can be deadly out to a couple hundred yards a bow can has an upper limit of around fifty yards. Therefore it requires a better more intimate knowledge of the deer and its habitats.  This intense form of hunting usually draws an older more experienced following. Many are crossovers from rifle hunting and are seeking a more challenging form of the sport they love.   

Whether someone prefers rifle or archery hunting it really shouldn’t matter. It’s the fact that they are participating and extending the sport that we all cherish that should take paramount in the discussion. So if the question of which is better should ever arise the universal answer is both.

Deer Hunting Basics

I introduced deer hunting in the last post by detailing the controversy over elitist ideals and Quality Deer Management practices.  This controversy can only exist however if hunters are able to harvest the deer that they are pursuing. There are four key points that a hunter must pay attention to if he wishes to consistently harvest the elusive whitetail deer. A hunter must focus on food sources, bedding areas, trails, and his own concealment to be successful.

Indentifying potential and primary food sources are the most important factors that a sportsman can focus on when chasing whitetails. Knowing where highly valued food sources are located gives the hunter a great advantage over his quarry. This knowledge in turn shrinks the total hunting property into isolated pockets that can be scouted or hunted rather efficiently.

Food sources are divided into two groups soft and hard mast. Soft mast includes fruit, seed pods, or any fleshy product that a tree produces.  These are the most appealing and desired food source by hungry deer. Soft mast usually peaks in the summer and early fall then gradually tapers off as winter approaches.  After the substantial amount of soft vegetation dwindles down during late fall, beginning of winter hard mast becomes the target of the deer nutritional attention. In general hard mast food sources umbrellas oak trees that produce acorns as well as the nut trees such as walnuts, pecans, and hickory.  As a result of the changing preferences that occurs during a hunting season it vital that a hunter knows which food source the deer are converging on at that time.

Just as a deer needs to eat it also seeks shelter by the way of bedding areas. These are places that a deer can rest and sleep in relative safety. Deer usually search for a soft place that offers concealment from predators. These areas usually comprise of tall grassy areas, thick scrub oak, or palmetto flats. Many deer stay in their bedding areas until they are ready to forge for food which is usually around late afternoon.

This mini migration from the bedding areas to the food sources is the best opportunity a hunter will get at harvesting a deer since deer frequently use the same routes or trails. These trails are the third factor that at hunter must key in on to increase his chances of being successful. Deer are creatures of habitat they frequent the same food sources and bedding areas regularly thus navigating the same trails repeatedly. They use the trails in the evening on the way to the feeding area and return to the bedding areas on them in the early morning. If a hunter can locate these deer highways and determine the direction that the deer will be heading he is bound to connect with a deer.

Knowing all this information is useless if the deer smells, hears, or seeing the hunter. Therefore it is imperative that he tries to blend into the environment. A good set of camouflage and cover scents will help accomplish this task and tilt the odds of victory in his favor.

Even with all four of these points scrutinized to the finest detail it is still hunting and unforeseen events will happen making come home empty handed.  However with ample knowledge of the factors list above the odds of harvesting that deer of a lifetime should go up.

Quality Deer Management Is Not To Blame

Bigger is better. While this may be true for paychecks and TVs it does not apply to everything.  However it seems to be a growing motto in the hunting community, and many believe that Quality Deer Management is to blame. Quality Deer Management, QDM, is a program that was established to increase the vitality and quality of a weak and inferior deer herd. QDM states that their program's success is built upon herd management, habitat management, hunter management, and herd monitoring.  By incorporating these four elementsof QDM can revitalize and sustain a depleted deer herd.

Herd management involves gauging the appropriate number of deer that a piece of property can hold comfortably. To properly manage the herd one must become aware of the sex and age ratios. When these ratios become unbalanced in either direction the overall heath and quality of the herd will start to decline. If these ratios should ever become unbalanced the hunter should remedy the problem by harvesting the deer in a fashion that will bring the ratios back to an equilibrium point. For example if the buck to doe ratio becomes heavy tilted in favor of does the hunters should start to harvest more does and less bucks to bring the ratio back the optimum amount.

Habitat management is closely linked to herd management because the ratios that herd management are based upon are dictated by the quality and size of the habitat available. For a deer to reach its optimal potential it requires a diet that consists of twelve to eighteen percent protein and adequate amount of calcium, phosphorous, and other minerals. If the property does not have a sufficient amount of nutritional foliage then the hunter or manager can supplement the natural vegetation with food plots or feeding stations. A food plot is usually between a one and three acres in size and provides supplementary vegetation, such as alfalfa, rye, clover, and soybeans, that is a quantifiable nutritional improvement over the natural vegetation. A feeding station is another way to improve the nutritional benefits provided to the deer. Many of the stations are nothing more than a drum filled with corn or commercialized bagged feed that is dispersed by a timer. Either of these two methods will increase the habitats nutritional value thus increasing the carrying capacity of the property.  

Hunter management is probably that most difficult to control due to the fact that most people have differing opinions on what makes a “harvestable” deer. If a standard could be set, accepted, and enforced many of the deer that would have been harvested before their prime would be able to reach their potential thus adding to the quality and heartiness of the herd.  However with small a property size hunter selection may not be as effective because deer have been known to roam several square miles. Consequently the deer might venture onto a property that may not have the same ideals that a QDM property owner may have and would be harvested prematurely.  With this in mind hunters and property owners that practice QDM should recruit the surrounding owners to observe QDM practices as well.

Herd monitoring is a way of tracking the progress of the QDM. With an adequate amount of data one can find tendencies and forecast their deer herd’s development. There are two types of data collection harvest and observation collection.  Harvest collection the data recordings of every harvested deer. One may want to record weight, age, sex, date, harvest location, hunter’s name, and any other viable piece of information they deem crucial. Observation data can provide different types of information such as herd size, fawn rate, sex ratio, age ratio, and overall success of the program. Observation data can be collected by glassing, physically viewing at the herd though binoculars or with the naked eye, or with trail cameras.     

With the increase in QDM over the past decade many sportsmen feel that the sport of hunting is turning into an obsession with antler size.  They argue that with the strict minimums on rack size and the glorification by television personalities the sport is turning way from its roots and becoming more of an elitist’s community. The days of hunting for the pure fun of the hunt is dying and being replaced with a sense of hierarchical smugness that if a deer does not meet certain criteria it is somehow deemed unethical.

I have sensed this trend myself through the many articles, such as How Much Does Size Matter? by Doug Howett in the July issue of Peterson's Hunting as well as The Dark Side Of Deer Managment by Bill Winke in the July issue of Peterson's Bowhunting,I have read, however I don’t consider QDM is to blame. I believe that this arrogance has been cultivating within people all along. The hunting community is no different from any other population of people in that we always try to one up each other. Whether it’s in sports, our career, or our personal life people always try to out due the next guy. It just so happens that QDM is trying to produce high quality deer which in turn feeds right into our natural instinct to best the each other. QDM at its core only strives for a healthier deer population for us to harvest, however people have turned that into a competition to see how big they can get their deer.  As for this notion that QDM is the reason why the sport is turning into an elitist community it’s truly ridiculous. To find the true reason why the sport has shifted one only has to look in the mirror.

The Fishing Boat

From the earliest memories I have to the ones I’m currently creating now they all have a common thread binding them together, a twenty foot fishing boat. Since I was able to walk I have been spending most of my Saturday afternoons in that twenty foot fishing boat with my grandpa and dad. Like the mailman we would go out on the water rain or shine. However I wasn’t partial to the rain, the rough weather scared me as a young boy. Nevertheless like going to work or school I always knew what my schedule was for Saturday wake up at six o’clock, arrive at my grandpa’s between seven and seven fifteen, load the gear, launch the boat, and set forth for another day on the water. Granted not all these trips produced a bounty of fish, however they did reward me with something better, a strong bond with my grandpa and dad that I still have today.

As I grew older I began to value the time I was spending with my grandpa and dad rather than just the fishing trips alone. I was able to receive not only fatherly advice but grandfatherly advice on these trips. Whether that advice came in the form of stories that they were telling or straight up hit you in the mouth type guidance I was constantly learning how to become a better person. My grandpa, who is frugal with his resources, taught me to waste nothing from tackle to money it was all in limited supply and needed to be used sparingly. While my dad, whose motto was if you’re going to do something do it right the first time, taught me that it never worthwhile to take the easy way out.  I was being modeled like apiece clay and I didn’t even know it and for that I am grateful. So as I look back on the past twenty years I can thank that twenty foot fishing boat for providing my grandpa, dad and I a medium for which to grow closer as a family as well as friends.