Post & Voice 2014 Hunting & Fishing Guide

Hunting & Fishing 2014

POST Voice The Pender-Topsail

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Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 4, 2014

Toothy troublemaker tempts, tests anglers

By Jefferson Weaver Contributing Writer Blackfish have almost as many names as they have teeth.

A prehistoric predator, blackfish are also known as bowfin, mud bass, swamp trout, beaver fish, chopique, and grindle. The latter name was given to the homely, illtempered critter in colonial times, after a well-to-do Virginia gentleman developed an inexplicable passion for blackfish, and his slightly embarrassed friends tried to make the fish more socially acceptable.

Whatever the angler calls a blackfish (amiacalva) they readily take a hook, make for a challenging fight, and according to some folks, are actually quite tasty.

The state record for bowfin tends to stand for years, since most anglers consider them trash fish, and never bother to take the toothy varmint to a certified weigh station. Currently, the record belongs to Gregory Demery Sr., who caught a 17-plus pound blackfish on Black River in 1997. Larger fish have been caught in Lake Waccamaw and the adjacent river, as well as in the Black, but since those fish were never weighed, they became fish stories instead of state records.

Blackfish, according the fossil record, once swam with the dinosaurs, and

Photo contributed

A bowfin in an aquarium. The bowfin is known by a number of names, including blackfish, grindle, mud bass, beaver fish, swamp trout and cypress bass. haven’t really changed since that time. They have a big appetite, and are efficient users of everything they consume—and blackfish will eat nearly anything they find.

Bream, bass, catfish, crappie, minnows, ducklings, goslings, baby muskrats and nutria, snakes, small turtles, frogs, even mice can be taken by a hungry blackfish. Bowfin can survive out of water for brief periods, and can even propel themselves on their dorsal fins, although not with the efficiency of invasive species like snakeheads.

Blackfish are often caught by young anglers, especially those working cane poles or light spinners close to shore.

Bowfin regularly huntweedbeds and other dense struc-

ture used as fish nurseries, and as such, find themselves tempted by a spinner, minnow or juicy worm.

Unlike other predator fish like bass, they don’t have the same good manners of other members of the upper rungs of the foodchain.

A blackfish that’s hunting frogs and fingerlings has no problem hunting, attacking and eating a bass or catfish, given the right chance. Some biologists estimate that half the game fish kills which are attributed to snapping turtles are actually bitten by bowfin. If you’re interested, check the shape of a turtle’s mouth, versus that of a blackfish. The turtle’s triangle “beak” is designed for gripping and tearing, and the turtle will continue to eat until he’s full. The bow-

fin will casually take a semioval shaped killing bite out of a crappie and move on.

If you catch a blackfish, don’t just kill it and throw it away. The meat is, according to some devotees, firm and somewhat off-white, but tasty.

Fish markets once kept large live tanks of blackfish at the request of customers, and the fish were fattened up and kept for weeks at a time — if they didn’t get sold first.

Blackfish do need to be cleaned and cooled immediately, or kept in a live-well until the end of the day (without other fish, obviously). Unlike many popular species, icing down a whole bowfin isn’t enough to keep the flesh firm and fresh until it’s time to head for the hill and go home.

Another precaution about blackfish is their infamous teeth. They have a strong bite, and sharp teeth—a lot of them. Incidents of even two or three pounders biting through an unwary angler’s thumbnail have been documented. Blackfish can crush a turtle’s skull, so a human finger is no real challenge for a ten-pound terror.

Those teeth, and the accompanying armored jaws, make bowfin a challenging fish to hook. They usually manage to set the hook themselves, while making a slashing surprise attack on the bait or lure. A heavy leader is encouraged if you are intentionally targeting bowfin.

Bowfin are also popular targets for bowfishermen, since the big fish aren’t unduly concerned by shallow water, and often work the surface of any waterway at night as well as during the day. As with their second cousins, the garfish, use extra sharp fishing heads with good penetration capability, and never grab a grindle by the lip.

If you clean him while he’s fresh, and take proper care of the meat, bowfin can be as tasty as any other freshwater fish. Observe mercury warnings wherever you fish, however, since predator species can have a toxic buildup of mercury absorbed from their prey.

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September 4, 2014

Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Page 3

Method comes as a ‘shock’ to catfish

Cranking for cats

By Jefferson Weaver Contributing Writer Although the practice is considered controversial in some quarters, electrofishing or “shocking� is becoming more popular in Southeastern North Carolina.

Small generators—antique telephone boxes are the most popular— are outfitted with long electrical leads that are lowered to the bottom of a creek, lake or river. A special device license is required. Only hand-cranked electrofishers of 300 volts or less may be used in North Carolina.

The angler spins the generator, and uses a dip net to scoop the stunned fish from the water. Only shocked catfish may be kept—other species must be allowed to regain consciousness and swim away. The method has been used by biologists for years for fish counts and other research.

Electrofishing critics have complained at every public hearing held by the Wildlife Resources commission for the last ten years, since electrofishers became legal tools in North Carolina.

They claim the method cleans out all catfish in a body of wa-

ter, while proponents of the method say they only take larger fish.

J.D. Blackburn of Lake Waccamaw and his stepsons Ashton and Kolton recently tried their hand at electrofishing, and the boys are hooked. Lewis Sellers and Brad Edwards loaned the family some electrofishers, and they went to work on finding some big flathead cats. “When the electricity hits a fish, he’s stunned and floats to the top,�

Blackburn said. “Then you scoop it with a net.�

Blackburn said electro-fishing was something the family hadn’t tried, but likely will hit it again.

The entire family enjoys spending time in the outdoors, and he especially tries to encourage Ashton and Kolton in their outdoor pursuits. “I like to expose the boys to all different kinds of activities on the water or in the woods,� he said. “Teaching them how to be good sportsmen is something I believe they will value in the years to come.�

For more information about electrofishing, go to ncwildlife.org.

Photo contributed

Ashton and Kolton recently tried electro-fishing with stepfather JD Blackburn at Black River.

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Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 4, 2014

Tree stand safety important before the hunt The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Home From The Hunt™ safety campaign is reminding hunters to be just as cautious with tree stands prior to deer season as they should while hunting.

“As hunters begin to set up tree stands as part of their preparation, safety is still rule number one,” said Travis Casper, coordinator of the Commission’s Hunter Education Program.

“Whether you are scouting a location, trimming shooting lanes and putting up a tree stand, even on a trial basis, use the same precautions you would during hunting season.”

Casper recommended using a lineman-style belt in addition to a full-body harness when first putting a tree stand in place. This minimizes the chance of falls and potential injury, he said.

“Always select a healthy,

N.C. Wildlife photo

A lineman-style belt is essential to maintaining safety in a treestand. straight tree for placement,” he said. “Let someone know where you are or take someone along during pre-season

work.”

Other tree stand safety recommendations: · Never carry anything as

you climb — use a haul line to raise and lower equipment. · Maintain three points

of contact when climbing. · Follow manufacturer instructions. · Don’t exceed manufacturer’s maximum height settings.

As with any piece of equipment, tree stands need inspection before use. Replace rusted bolts, frayed straps or, if needed, buy a new tree stand.

Leaving a tree stand up from one season to the next has some inherent problems that outweigh any convenience. When a tree stand is exposed to the elements due to long-term placement, it may have damaged straps, ropes and attachment cords — any of which potentially may lead to breakage and failure.

For more information on hunting seasons, Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permits and the Hunter Education Program, go to www.ncwildlife.org or call 919-707-0031.

N.C. Wildlife has free deer hunting seminars in September The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has scheduled two free deer hunting seminars in September at the Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education in Raleigh. The seminars complement each other, but attendees have the option of registering for one or both seminars.

“Deer Hunting 101,” Sept.

9 from 6−9 p.m., will provide basic instruction for novice

hunters. Participants will gain practical knowledge, with topics including scouting techniques, equipment needs, and deer behavior and habitat.

“Deer Processing, From Field to Freezer,” Sept. 11 from 6−9 p.m., will cover field dressing, processing techniques and taxidermy, as well as different ways to cook and serve venison.

For more information or

to register, contact Casey Williams at casey.williams@ ncwildlife.org or call 919707-0202.

“Deer season is around the corner, with archery segments opening across the state on Sept. 13,” said Williams. “These seminars have been well-received in the past couple of years and they tend to fill up fast on a first-come, first served basis.”

The seminars will be led by qualified instructors from the Cape Fear River Branch of Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), which is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and the hunting heritage.

The Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education is located on the first

floor of the Wildlife Commission’s headquarters at 1751 Varsity Drive on N.C. State University’s Centennial Campus in Raleigh.

It is one of four learning centers operated across the state by the Wildlife Commission, and features interactive exhibits highlighting Piedmont wildlife species and habitats. Learn more at www.ncwildlife.org/lear ning.

September 4, 2014

Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Page 5

Snakeheads an invasive species in North Carolina Anglers have even more reason to despise an aggressive invasive species that will soon make its debut in southeastern North Carolina.

Northern Snakeheads—a fish sometimes mistaken for the native bowfin, or blackfish—are native to Asia. The fish have the ability to survive for long periods of time without water, and with their voracious appetites, eat everything from small amphibians and reptiles to bass, catfish and even (occasionally) very small mammals.

Several have been caught in North Carolina since 2007, with most of the reported catches in the Lake Wylie Photo contributed area.

Now the fish can make native spe- A photo of the front of a Northern Snakehead showing the teeth of the cies sick, too. fish.

A virus that can cause disease in largemouth bass has now been identiLargemouth bass virus is a Ranavi- is likely to increase its range. fied in other- wise apparently healthy rus, a group of viruses that are known Little is known about pathogens in northern snakeheads taken from two to cause lethal diseases in amphibians northern snakeheads that inhabit U.S. Potomac River tributaries in Virginia, and are associated with significant waters. This study, done in cooperation the U.S. Geological Survey announced population declines. with the Virginia Department of Game recently.

Snakeheads are found in the Mary- and Inland Fisheries, is a preliminary This is the first time that the illness, land and Virginia parts of the Chesa- survey of introduced pathogens from known as largemouth bass virus, has peake Bay watershed, in Florida, northern snakeheads living in Virbeen reported in northern snakeheads. North Carolina and New England. ginia waters.

The virus has been found in bass, Efforts to eradicate or control the “The long-term and populationsunfish, and other fish species, but spread of this invasive fish have been level effects of largemouth bass virus largemouth bass are the only species unsuccessful so far, and scientists on bass inhabiting these rivers are known to develop disease from it. predict that the northern snakehead unknown,” said Iwanowicz.

The disease makes some largemouth bass unable to submerge, causing them to float on the surface of the water. There are no other obvious symptoms directly resulting from this virus.

Large-scale fish kills have occurred in some infected largemouth bass populations, while others appear to be healthy. It is not known how the virus is transmitted or how disease is activated. Genetic and other differences in the virus; environmental stress from pollution, high water temperatures, and co-infections; in addition to hostrelated factors contribute to the outcome for infected largemouth bass.

The origin of largemouth bass virus is uncertain. The first report of it in the U.S. was in 1991 in Florida. It has since been reported throughout the eastern, southern, and Midwestern U.S. In 2001, most Virginia waters tested with no or very low infection rates, but by August 2011, the virus was found in all sixteen bodies of water tested statewide and major rivers except the tidal James River.

If anglers suspect they have caught a snakehead, they are asked to keep it, freeze it or place it on ice, and report the capture to the Wildlife Resources Commission at (919) 707-0220.

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Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 4, 2014

September marks the beginning of hunting season Clean and fine-tune your weapons, break out the camouflage, count your shells and get ready to head for the field.

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.

-- Jefferson Weaver

September 4, 2014

Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Page 7

BIG GAME SPECIES Whitetail Deer

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

Bowhunting Sept. 13 - Oct. 3 Muzzleloader Oct. 4 - Oct. 17 Gun Oct. 18 - Jan. 1 Limit: Six per season, all of which may be antlerless.

No more than four antlered deer may be taken. Check the regulations digest for more specific details.

Black Bear

Nov. 10 - Jan. 1 One per season, with possession of one. Bears under 50 pounds may not be taken.

Wild Turkey

Feral Hog

April 11 - May 9, 2015 Youth Season: April 4-10 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 hogs may be hunted at any time, by any legal method, with no bag limit or possession. New rules affecting hunting of hogs at night using artificial lights are also being implemented. Hogs may be trapped under a free permit.

SMALL GAME SPECIES Squirrels (Gray or red only)

Oct. 13 - Feb. 28 Daily limit is eight. No season or possession limits.

Fox Squirrels Oct. 13 - Dec. 31.

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

Quail

Nov. 22 - Feb. 28 Daily limit of six, with a possession of 12. No 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

Nov. 22 - Feb. 28 Hunting and box trapping. Daily limit of five. No possession or season limit.

Raccoon, Opossum, & Bobcat

Oct. 13 - 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. 1 - Oct. 11, Nov. 27- Jan. 15 Daily limit 15, possession of 45.

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

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots Some waterfowl seasons were still pending at press time.

Rail, Gallinule, Moorhen Sept. 8-Oct. 11, Oct. 27 - Dec. 1 Woodcock Dec. 18 - Jan. 31 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 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

September 4, 2014

Dove season underway across North Carolina Dove hunting season opened in North Carolina Sept. 1. Shooting hours are half-hour before sunrise to sunset for the entire season. The 2014-15 season for mourning and white-winged dove is Sept. 1 – Oct. 11 and Nov. 27 – Jan. 15. Daily bag limit is 15 and possession limit is 45. “Opening day is a Monday, not a traditional Saturday,� said Kate Pipkin, Wildlife Commission rules biologist. “Although many hunters prefer the season to open the Saturday prior to Labor Day, federal guidelines do not allow states to open migratory game bird seasons prior to Sept. 1. Rather than wait until Sept.

6, which is the first Saturday after Labor Day, the Wildlife Commission went with the earliest possible date allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.�

The Commission’s Home From The Hunt™ campaign encourages hunters to be safe and responsible in the field, with the following recommendations: ¡ When hunting in a group, adhere to established zones of fire. ¡ Never shoot at low-flying birds and alert others when a bird is too low for a safe shot. ¡ Take time prior to hunting to walk the field and inspect the area for bait. ¡ Never place decoys on utility lines, which is trespassing and risks electrical shock. ¡ Don’t combine game bags, which is a hunting regulations violation.

All hunters must follow applicable licensing requirements and hunting regulations. It is an individual hunter’s responsibility to know the area being hunted. Don’t hunt over baited fields. According to state regulations, the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as a lure for migratory game can constitute a baited area. Because birds often return to a feeding area even after the food source is exhausted, hunting within 10 days after complete disappearance of feed from a baited area is illegal.

For more information on hunting seasons, Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permits and the Hunter Education Program, go to www.ncwildlife.org/hunting.Â

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