January 2014 Archives - Page 3 of 7

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

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. […]

A depth finder can help fishermen anchor over humps and slopes to cast to structure holding shellcrackers.

Double-anchor is key to admission to shellcracker heaven

Brian Cope

Although Tony Alexander likes to keep things simple when fishing for shellcrackers, he said some tools are very helpful in catching these fish. […]

Squirrel hunting is enough reason to get into the woods once deer season is over.

A sport with side benefits

Terry Madewell

Not only does Chuck Porter of Sumter see and take squirrels during the middle of the winter, it extends his productive hunting and scouting time considerably. […]

Holman Byrd’s scaup (left) and canvasback decoys were made from cedar and tupelo; he also uses cork, which he says is indestructible.

Indestructible decoys? Make your own

Mike Marsh

Diving ducks come into the decoys flying extremely low, often barely above the surface of the water. When using large decoy spreads, low-flying waterfowl like scaup and canvasback can draw fire from hunters that riddles decoys with shot. […]