Post & Voice 2016 Hunting Guide

Hunting ‘16 Fishing

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POST Voice The Pender-Topsail

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Hunting & Fishing 2016 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 15, 2016

Bird seasons in Pender County The season for doves—by far the most popular webless migratory bird, and the second most sought game animal in the country— started Sept. 3 at noon. The season runs through Oct. 8.

Except for opening day, when shooting starts at the traditional noon hour, hunting is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.

The second dove season runs from Nov. 21 through Jan. 14. Daily limit is 15, with a possession limit of 30.

Both mourning doves and the larger Eurasian ringneck (whitewing) doves are legal during these seasons.

A full set of North Carolina bird seasons may be found at www.ncwildlife.org.

Although they are here in huge numbers, hunter interest in the resident Canada Coose population is still low, while bird numbers continue to grow.

Hunters are urged to take advantage of the resident Canada goose season in North Carolina, both to get some extra hunting time in and to cut down on the large pests.

The goose season runs Sept. 1-30, and shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.

The September season is also the only time waterfowlers may use unplugged firearms and electronic calls, but only for geese.

The relaxed rules only apply to the September Canada season west of U.S. 17. Daily bag limit is 15, with a season limit of 30.

The no-holds-barred approach to Canada geese comes in the wake of a goose population explosion in the state in recent years.

The seven to 20-pound birds are considered a nuisance in many areas, due to their droppings and crop damage.

Waterfowlers east of U.S. 17 may also pursue teal during the Sept. 10-28 season. Green, blue and cinnamon teal are legal game. The daily bag limit is six, with possession of eight.

Steel or non-toxic shot must be used for geese and teal.

Hunters looking for a new challenge can also pursue rail, gallinules, and moorhens starting Sept. 1. That season ends Oct. 9, and the second season runs Oct. 14-Nov. 21. Hunters may take 15 gallinules or moorhens, or the harvest limit in aggregate, per day.

Daily bag limit for king and clapper rail is 15, with possession of 30. For Sora and Virginia rail, the limit is 25 daily and possession of 25.

S e a s on f o r c ommo n snipe—a bird that is surprisingly common in eastern North Carolina, summer camp pranks aside—is Nov. 14-Feb. 28. Daily limit for the leggy, white meat bird is eight, with a possession of 16.

Hunters looking for “marsh quail” or “Timberdoodles” – better known as woodcock—can hunt these crafty birds from Dec. 15-Jan. 28. Daily bag limit is three, with a possession of six. Woodcock populations have begun to rebound from a slight decline in recent years.

With the exception of the September Canada goose season, bird hunters may only use shotguns that are plugged to carry no more than three rounds.

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Most new repeating shotguns come equipped with a removable plug.

The state maintains a number of public dove fields that can be located by going to www. ncwildlife.org.

One of the largest fields is in the Bladen Lakes State Forest, and is planted with millet, corn and other attractive feeds.

Many of those fields, however, have suffered from dry conditions that came immediately after extended rainy periods.

For more information about migratory and non-migratory hunting rules, seasons and bag limits, go to www.ncwildlife.org.

September 15, 2016

Hunting & Fishing 2016 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Wearing blaze orange is a safe choice In North Carolina, hunters are required to wear a cap or hat of blaze orange color, or wear an outer garment such as a shirt or game vest in blaze orange that is visible from all sides, when hunting bear, deer, wild boar, rabbit, squirrel, grouse, pheasant or quail with a firearm.

A new law also requires that any hunter in the woods during a season requiring blaze orange wear the same type garment, regardless of his or her weapon. Previously bowhunters were not required to wear blaze orange during gun seasons.

“It’s a good idea for anyone in the woods this time of year,” said Capt. Chris Huebner, hunting safety coordinator for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “Wearing blaze orange is a wise precaution for the outdoors through February. It alerts hunters to your presence and, in case of an injury, makes it easier for rescuers to find you.”

Blaze orange, also known as hunter orange, safety orange, fluorescent orange or 10-mile cloth, is readily available in a variety of clothing, caps and hats, through sporting goods and hunting supply stores, as well as general retailers.

“It is essential for a hunter to be absolutely certain of their intended target, knowing what is behind the target and its surroundings,” Capt. Huebner said. “Unlike your fellow hunters, everyone is not required to wear blaze orange. You have to be sure before you shoot.”

Successful completion of Hunter Education, offered free by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission throughout the state, is required for all first-time hunting license buyers. Advanced courses are also available. For course schedules, game regulations and additional hunting safety information, go to ww.ncwildlife.org or call (919) 707-0031.

Wallace Outdoor Power Products Wallace Outdoor Power Products North Norwood Street Street 1321 1321 North Norwood Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-5030 Wallace, NC 28466 910-285-5030

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Hunting & Fishing 2016 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 15, 2016

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Whether it’s for an afternoon dove shoot with family and friends, pursuing a trophy buck on a crisp autumn morning, calling in a colorful wood duck, or matching wits with a coyote or bobcat in the increasingly popular sport of predator hunting, now’s the time to get ready for opening day for your favorite quarry. To the right is a brief list of dates and target species, but be sure to pick up the latest copy of the N.C. Wildlife Commission’s Regulations Digest at your favorite hunting and fishing dealer, or go online to www. ncwildlife.org for all the details.

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Some photos and information courtesy N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. Trappers Association, N.C. Predator Hunters Association, USDA Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ducks Unlimited.

September 15, 2016

Hunting & Fishing 2016 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

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BIG GAME SPECIES Whitetail Deer

Black Bear

Pender County is part of is part of the Eastern Deer Season district.

Bowhunting Sept. 10-Oct. 28 Muzzleloader Oct. 1-14 Gun Oct. 15 - Jan. 2 . Check the regulations digest for more specific details.

Nov. 14 - Jan. 2 One per season, with possession of one. Bears less than 75 pounds may not be taken.

Wild Turkey

April 8-May 6 Youth Season: April 1-May 7 One per day, with possession of two. Only bearded (male) turkeys may be harvested.

Information on special Games Lands hunts may be found in the regulations digest.

Feral Hog

Feral hogs may be hunted at any time, by any legal method, with no bag limit or possession. Hogs may be trapped under a free permit.

SMALL GAME SPECIES Squirrels (Gray or red only)

Oct. 17 - Feb. 28 Daily limit is eight. No season or possession limits.

Fox Squirrels Oct. 17 - Dec. 31.

Daily limit of one, possession of two, and season limit of 10.

Quail

Nov. 19 - Feb. 28 Daily limit of six, with a possession of 12. No season limit.

Nov. 19 - Feb. 28 Hunting and box trapping. Daily limit of five. No possession or season limit.

PREDATOR & VARMINT SPECIES Coyote, Striped Skunk, Armadillo, Nutria & Beaver

No closed season or bag limits.

Beaver may only be taken if permission has been granted by the landowner. Beaver may be hunted with firearms or bow and arrow.

Rabbit

Raccoon, Opossum, & Bobcat

Oct. 17 - Feb. 28 No limit on bobcat and opossum.

For raccoons, the daily limit is three, with no season or possession limit.

WATERFOWL & GAMEBIRDS Mourning Doves Sept. 3 - Oct. 8, Nov. 21- Jan. 14 Daily limit 15, possession of 45.

Resident Canada Geese Sept. 1-30 statewide. Daily limit 15, possession 45.

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots Oct. 5-8, Nov. 12-Dec. 3, Dec. 17-Jan. 28.

Rail, Gallinule, Moorhen Sept. 1-Oct. 1, Oct. 14 - Nov. 21 Woodcock Dec. 17 - Jan. 30 Snipe Nov. 14 - Feb. 28 Check the Regulations Digest or go to www.ncwildlife.org for more details.

TRAPPING SEASONS Trapping season for coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, possums, weasels, otters, muskrats, mink, and other furbearers--Dec. 1 - Feb. 28. Nutria and armadillo may be trapped year-round. Landowners having documented beaver damage may use any legal hunting or trapping method to harvest beavers, and may allow others to harvest beavers if they are licensed and follow all state trapping laws. Foxes may not be hunted or trapped in Pender County.

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Hunting & Fishing 2016 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 15, 2016

Sticks, string and fishing success

By Jefferson Weaver, Contributing Writer It has been said that fishing was revolutionized by the pre-Columbian “discovery” that adding a stick to a fishing line makes a more effective fish-catching tool. In the thousands of years since, we have moved from simple sticks to crude reels and handcarved line guides to space-age micro fibers, graphite and plastics capable of being tied in more knots than the line itself.

Many anglers, however, still prefer the simplicity of the cane pole. It’s especially popular along the Waccamaw River, where traditionalists still bring home bucketsful of bream, perch, catfish, jacks and bass using methods that haven’t changed for centuries.

True river cane (Arundinaria gigantean) is hard to find in fishing-pole size stalks in our area, due to a number of environmental factors. Many of the cane poles seen for sale in bait shops nowadays are products of Oklahoma and Arkansas, where the ideal ¾-inch thick, seven-foot stalk can still be found in harvestable numbers.

Invasive bamboo, however, makes an excellent substitute, and indeed, was introduced in some areas for use in making fishing poles. Bamboo stalks can be split into thinner sections, then glued and wrapped together for art-quality fishing rods, in sizes from ultra light fly rods to surf rods. Bamboo also has the advantage over river cane in that it can be used green, although with any wood project, allowing the wood to dry for a few weeks is a good idea.

Whether you can find a stand of thick river cane, or opt to fight your way into a bamboo grove, cut the stalk at the root. You want the butt end, where the stalk is solid, since that makes the pole significantly stronger.

Choose a stalk of ¾ to one inch in thickness, and six to eight feet long. The old standard of having the pole “half-your-height” higher is more applicable to wide-open river banks and lakes, as opposed to areas with lots of brush and trees, such as backwoods creeks, farm ponds and swamps.

Trim all the “leaves” off the stalk, and smooth the joints with a pocketknife or sandpaper. When the leaves are gone, hold the pole horizontally – the tip will bend.

This is where the stalk once gravitated toward sunlight. At the point where the bend straightens slightly, clip the end of the pole.

You can also force the pole to straighten, but either way, you want the end to be slightly smaller in diameter than a pencil.

Rigging a cane pole can be as simple or complex as you like.

Millions of fish have been caught on a pole with the line simply knotted to the tip, but it’s a good idea to wrap the tip with a few turns of heavier line, then tie that off, creating a base for the leader.

Some purists prefer to knot the leader directly to the pole, while others make a base of electrical or plumbers tape, then attach the leader, then put another layer of tape over the leader where it’s attached to the pole.

Leaders can be made of any weight line, but eight to 12-pound are most popular in our area.

Attach the leader with a barrel knot (if you feel fancy) or a series of smaller knots that distribute the stress of a fish on the line. Make sure the end of the leader comes off the tip of the pole.

A standard for line is to measure the line against your pole, then subtract a foot, but the best length is simply whatever length you can easily handle, based on your fishing waters.

If you’re using jigs, poppers or small spinners from a boat, a shorter length might be preferred.

Short lines on short poles have been popular with crabbers in the coastal sounds and tidewater areas for centuries. For fishing from the bank for bream and perch on the bed, a longer length of lighter line keeps you from spooking the fish.

Longer line of heavier strength is good for small to medium catfish and bass.

For less than $10, you can outfit your family with fishing poles, dig some worms from the backyard, and enjoy fishing like your grandparents did: at its simplest, with the lowly, but beloved, cane pole.

With the height of fishing season upon us, it’s a great time to make some family memories – and catch some supper at the same time.

ESSENTIAL HUNTING SAFETY TIPS Be sure to keep these important safety basics in mind to ensure a safe and successful hunting season.

1.

Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

3. Be certain of your target, and what’s beyond it and in front of it.

4. Do not fire your gun at a target in the dark; wait for the animal to enter a lighted area.

5. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard and off the trigger until ready to shoot.

6. Unload firearms and unstring bows when not in use, and place in a safe and locked place.

7. Handle all firearms carefully and respectfully; never horseplay with them.

8. Don’t drink alcohol while handling firearms or bow and arrows.

9. Always wear ear and eye protection.

10. Wear orange so other hunters can see you.

September 15, 2016

Hunting & Fishing 2016 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

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Bill Howard Outdoors Opening day of bow season for whitetail deer is Sept. 10 and like any hunter, past adventures begin to dance in my head. A little less than a year ago I experienced opening day in Texas hunting with a childhood friend that lives there now.

Bobby owned a good number of acres of land and had enticed me several times to come visit. A business trip in Houston and Austin allowed the opportunity. Once I got there, I knew Bobby was proud of what he had accomplished there.

By Bill Howard Bobby put a lot of effort in manPost & Voice Columnist aging the deer population on his property and nearby properties. He established proper food areas, natural water sources, and the area was ideal for cover as well. Bobby made sure certain nutrients were plentiful to assist in developing a strong and healthy herd.

The results were astonishing. The deer grew with large bodies, beautiful antler growth on the males, and the doe to buck ratio was ideal for keeping a herd thriving. The deer grew to four and five years old with no issues. Compared to North and South Carolina, where a three-year-old buck is considered ancient, you can see how he was enjoying success in his endeavors.

The result was an amazing hunt. In one morning I saw more eight point and larger bucks as I had seen in my lifetime in North Carolina. Bobby had named each buck and knew when one hadn’t been around in a while as well as when a newcomer had joined the property. Cameras were set in various locations where the deer would frequent.

Bobby had managed and was managing his land and its resources properly.

Lessons in proper wildlife management do not come without failures though. In obtaining the knowledge we have now, there were many tough and detrimental results to what was thought at the time to be correct practices.

For instance, we once believed in order to manage a deer population properly that does should not be harvested. The resulting circumstances left the state with an overabundance of does, few quality bucks, and a huge population increase. Why? Because one buck can mate with many females. Then when the hunters went out, even when does became legal, the hunters were still looking for the big trophy to put on the wall.

We have learned lessons from other species as well. One story I used to share was with quail population and repopulation. A group set up what was thought to be ideal habitat for quail in the middle of a large farm. The natural habitat area had food the quail would eat, a water source, and they could use the cover of the small plants there.

After setting out the birds and waiting for a month, the group came back to survey the health of the newly established quail population. What they came to find out was there were no longer any quails, however there were owls and other birds of prey spotted nearby, raccoons and foxes had taken over the cover, and they were left bewildered.

Then it dawned on them. By setting the quail habitat in the middle of the farm, they had essentially placed a buffet table for the other creatures nearby, which in turn had taken all the quail. It had become apparent the habitat needed to be along the edges of the farmland and near naturally wooded areas to allow the coveys not only a place of cover, but a place to escape from predators.

The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) was established in 1988 with the purpose of using the past lessons in wildlife management to help people, groups and agencies in developing and establishing quality deer herds. The successes have been abundant regardless of the area of the country.

Bobby, and any of his guests can attest to it.

–Bill Howard is a lifelong North Carolina resident and hunter. He is a lifetime member of the North Carolina Bowhunters Association, an associate member of Pope and Young, and an official measurer of both. He is a certified hunter education (IHEA) instructor and bowhunter education (IBEP) instructor. Please share your stories with Bill at BillHowardOutdoors@gmail.com.

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Hunting & Fishing 2016 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 15, 2016

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