January 2014 Archives - Page 3 of 7

Coyotes are adaptable enough and are in enough places that wiping them out by trapping or hunting won’t happen.

USDA trapper: coyotes cannot be eradicated

The assistant director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Service said no state can eradicate coyotes. […]

Cheap shells are out of place on a late- season dove field, but does high brass automatically mean a better load?

The case for high brass

Phillip Gentry

For some reason, many hunters always shoot the cheapest loads available for dove. Most feel a heavier load or higher- quality shell will not help in a situation where numbers of shots count more than quality shots. […]

Roy Sowers (left) killed this Chatham County coyote; every one of North Carolina’s 100 counties has a coyote population.

Coyote information station

Craig Holt

Coyotes appeared in North Carolina in the early 1980s after illegal relocations from out of state and releases for sport hunting with hounds. […]

Hunters need to put in some time scouting for late-season doves and be ready to hunt them as soon as they are located.

Keep dove reports updated

Phillip Gentry

According to Billy Dukes, SCDNR’s small-game specialist, dove hunters who decide to take advantage of South Carolina’s late season should find plenty of birds, just like they have the past few years. […]

When natural foods disappear as the water cools toward winter levels, soft-plastic shrimp imitations are very effective.

Speckled trout particulars

Jerry Dilsaver

Spotted sea trout, Cynoscion nebulosus, are primarily called speckled trout or specks. They are a favorite of inshore and surf fishermen and can usually be caught along the North Carolina coastline all year — except during the coldest winters. […]

Not every duck knocked down falls into open water for easy retrieval. Make sure you mark down every duck that falls so you don’t lose any.

Mark that duck down

Pete Rogers

Retrieving ducks from beaver ponds or other small bodies of water can be a bit tricky. […]

Beaver ponds usually have enough natural vegetation that building a makeshift blind is not difficult.

A quick construction project

Pete Rogers

Building a good blind in a beaver pond is a matter of using what the beavers have provided. […]

Structure around marinas and docks offers protected, deeper water — standard winter habitat for black drum.

Top tips for catching more black drum

Jeff Burleson

Concentrating on docks and marinas will help you land more black drum during the winter months in the Cape Fear region. […]

Native shrimp, according to guide Jot Owens, are much preferred by black drum and red drum than store-bought, imported farm-raised shrimp.

Shrimp science: native shrimp rules!

Jeff Burleson

From Bubba’s shrimp rant on the famous blockbuster movie, Forest Gump, without a doubt, there are endless ways to prepare shrimp for the dinner table. […]

WMAs around South Carolina hold plenty of squirrels when the right habitat is present.

Top WMAs for squirrels

Terry Madewell

Biologist Billy Dukes said habitat for good squirrel hunting is a key, but not all habitat is created equal. Certain Wildlife Management Areas and key areas within those WMAs provide outstanding late-season hunting. […]