Huntsville Ducks Unlimited banquet is Nov. 6

Waterfowl season is just around the corner in Alabama, and area DU chapters are holding events to raise money for projects.

The annual Huntsville Ducks Unlimited Chapter banquet is scheduled for Friday night at the Huntsville Jaycees Building.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are available for pre-purchase or at the door. Tickets are $45 for singles, $65 for couples and $25 for Greenwings (age 17-under), and $260 for Sponsors or $350 for the “Sponsor Plus” package.

The banquet will include a meal, cocktails, live auction, silent auction and tier raffle. Additional specials offers will be set up in the Duck Hunters’ Extravaganza, Deer Hunters’ Extravaganza and Turkey Hunters’ Extravaganza with special items in each for those hunters.

Eighteen guns will be raffled, along with special Ducks Unlimited artwork and other DU items for hunting or the home.

Additionally, representatives from the Super Retriever Series will be there to discuss their national championship qualifying event scheduled Nov. 6-8 at Hampton Cove and the Jones Farm in Jones Valley. (See more on that below.)

The Huntsville Jaycees Building is located off of Airport Road across from the Huntsville Municipal Golf Course. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. following a social hour.

For more information about the Huntsville Ducks Unlimited Chapter banquet, contact Jon Stephens at jon_stephens@bellsouth.net or 256-221-8083

Genmar to sell Ranger Boats

Bankruptcy filings show Genmar Holdings will attempt to sell Ranger Boats, and others in its lineup, instead of continuing a reorganization plan that so far has proved fruitless.

That sale could be done outright to an individual or a group. It also could be via auction in a breakup of the company. Should the latter occur, I suspect any auction would be completed by mid-December and would need to be approved. That would give the companies time to get squared away before the new year begins.

Genmar, a boat manufacturer and distributor, is being sued by what seems to be about 40 bazillion creditors for payments. A list of creditors has included small companies such as a restaurant in Minneapolis and large international corporations seeking millions. The situation is ugly, deep and while maybe more common in the world of Wall Street business, is quite unsettling and scary to the employees of the boat companies and anglers on the FLW Outdoors circuits trying to fish professionally for a living.

Interestingly enough, Genmar founder Irwin Jacobs will be a bidder in the sale.

“Unfortunately, I can’t give you the information for that right now because it’s not public, but I plan on being a bidder for the assets and continue the business as it is,” Jacobs told Soundings Trade Only.

It’s unsettling throughout the fishing industry right now no matter how many little bits of sunshine people want to try to find. You can ignore the news but that doesn’t make the reality go away. I’ve talked with people who say the recession is bad enough, but that Genmar’s bankruptcy and the uncertainty of the FLW Outdoors circuits is troubling for the entire industry. Stability is needed. Perhaps the sale of Genmar will provide that.

FLW has announced it’s 2010 tournament schedules, which were tweaked, and is moving forward despite reports of loss of sponsors or reduced sponsor involvement. That’s good. For whatever business models exist, it’s good to have competing professional fishing circuits. It provides anglers more opportunities, keeps the organizers on their toes and helps the industry.

So what happened to the boating industry? In a nutshell, from one of the Genmar bankruptcy filings: “The marine industry began to be negatively impacted by a number of macro-economic factors and other factors unique to the industry beginning in the fall of 2007. The Debtors responded immediately to these market conditions with operational changes, and infused additional equity, but conditions continued to erode as overall economic concerns lead to falling customer confidence and declines in retail sales. In addition, financing sources previously available to Debtors and their dealers became more restrictive and, in some cases, unavailable.”

In other words, boat purchases slowed to the point that companies began scaling back. Then the bottom dropped out when consumers quit buying boats and banks quit lending money. Voila! Instead of a limit you have a basket of dying fish.

The next year should be quite interesting for the industry, without a doubt.

Jim Gaffigan on Christmas and Easter

One of my favorite comedians has a quite funny take on the holidays and folks who go gung-ho into decorations, among other things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjJCIbC9sxA

New gear: Waterfowl lanyard keeps stuff close at hand

Note: This release is from our friends at Mallory Communications and is part of a periodic look at some new hunting items for the coming seasons.

Drop the birds and not your calls this waterfowl season with the help of the EZ Wings Lanyard, in Realtree APG HD.

This handy and innovative lanyard will keep your calls organized and within a hand’s reach at all times. You’ll never again have to fumble through a gear bag or your oversized pockets in search of your calls with birds on the brink.

With the EZ Wings Lanyard, you can attach up to four calls to your clothing or equipment strapping. In addition to game calls, the EZ Wings Lanyard is also perfect for carrying your expensive caller remote as well as dog trainer and decoy remotes, GPS, flashlights, walkie-talkies, keys, cameras, cell phones, wind meters, compasses, small rangefinders and other essentials.

All items can be removed and detached as needed. The lanyard is made of soft, lightweight polyester webbing for comfort and years of use.

Included:

• One lanyard with quick-detach buckle
• One phone cord assembly
• One black key ring
• Four call lanyards
• Four sets of clips to attach and adjust calls and dog whistles

Take advantage of the EZ Wings Lanyard’s ingenious design and make it a part of your essential waterfowling gear this season.

Available at select Scheels stores, Mack’s Prairie Wings, www.ezaccessgear.com and www.sportsmansguide.com.

Suggested retail price is $16.99.

For more info, check out www.ezaccessgear.com.

October’s a great time for buzzbaits and bass

Earlier this year during the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Guntersville Lake, I was chatting with Clark Reehm of Arkansas while he prepped some tackle for the next day.

One lure he had in his boat was a big buzzbait with a large blade and heavy-gauge wire. This one had heft, with the wire not flexing too much and an appearance of an obvious bass-slamming bait. I asked why he didn’t use one with a lighter wire.

“Why would I?” he said. “A buzzbait isn’t a finesse bait. It’s a power bait and I use it on heavy line. When I set the hook I want it in the fish’s mouth and the fish coming to the boat.”

Makes sense. Buzzbaits are a bitch-slap to a bass, something they see toodling along on the surface and most of the time will attack it pretty savagely. So it stands to reason you would use a bait that puts the steel to them.

One  of the nicest and steadiest anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Dustin Wilks of North Carolina, recently offered his autumn bass tactics for a piece on Bassmaster.com that you should read.

Wilks has been around the block a few times. A few years ago he had elbow surgery (two times, actually) and missed a full season. Unlike other sports, professional bass fishing does not have an injured reserve list or anything like that. If a guy misses a day, a tournament or a season … he’s just out.

Fortunately, Wilks rebounded nicely from the elbow problem and his sponsors stood by him. His insights into autumn fishing should help you catch one or two more bass this month.

Final approach layout blinds easy to use, great for mobility if you need to switch positions in a field for ducks or geese

Note: This release is from our friends at Howard Communications and is part of a periodic look at some new hunting items for the coming seasons.

Successful waterfowl hunters know that mobility is the key to success particularly late in the season after birds have been pressured. The new Eliminator Cargo Blind from Final Approach makes it easy to move all your gear – ground blind, decoys, guns, etc. – with minimal effort.

The Eliminator Cargo Blind is a full-featured ground blind with removable wheels that will carry up to a dozen full body decoys, four dozen silhouettes or more than 200 rag decoys, plus your gun, flags and other gear. The blind is built on a lightweight, collapsible aluminum frame so it won’t rust. Just attach the wheels, roll it out to your favorite field and set up your decoy spread. No need to make multiple trips. If the action moves to another location, you can be on your way within minutes.

The ground blind is constructed with durable 600-denier poly fabric with a waterproof coating for extra protection from the elements. The base of the blind uses ¾-inch closed cell foam to insulate the user from head to toe against wet and cold. For extra comfort and convenience, the blind has fast-access flagging holes on each side, a padded head and gun rest, built-in gun scabbard for transporting shotgun and a roomy interior.

When set up, the Eliminator Cargo Blind has a very low profile for better concealment. It features the original FA double lid system for fast shooting access and Stubble Straps for attaching natural cover. At the end of the day, it can be easily cleaned out with the quick-zippered foot pouch. The collapsible design of this blind allows it to fit into short bed pickups while retaining its structural integrity.

For greater versatility, the Eliminator Cargo Blind is available in three popular camo patterns: Advantage Max 4, Mossy Oak Duck Blind and FA Field Brown.
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For more information, visit www.fabrand.com or call consumer inquiries at 800-423-3537.

Southern Wildlife Festival always a nice event, and this year again has waterfowl decoy carvers

One of the nicest art shows around is the Southern Wildlife Festival held every October at Kelly Gym on the campus of Calhoun Community College north of Decatur.

I suspect every art show is nice. You never hear about drunken brawls or biker gangs or a guy selling “Dogs Playing Poker” on blue crushed velvet. That might liven things up a bit, though it could cost a ticket sale or two. People just don’t like to be around crushed velvet.

(Why is it always dogs playing poker in the velvet prints? Why not “Bass Pro Breakdancing on Front Deck” or “Woodpecker Scaling a Pine” or “Legislators Adding Pork to the Amendment?” Don’t cats play poker? Why only dogs? And why are those dogs smoking? Don’t they know today’s 5-Card Stud game is friendlier to your health? Such questions … maybe the artists this weekend could provide answers.)

The Southern Wildlife Festival has been going on for a couple of decades. It has attracted top artists from the Southeast, and features a wide variety of works. It is a juried show, meaning artists will enter their works for judging by a panel, and also will have a “working decoy” competition among waterfowl decoy carvers.

This year I was asked, and have accepted, to be a judge in the art competition. I’m flattered by the honor, and appreciative. A few years ago I also helped judge the decoy competition over at Wheeler Lake where the decoys were not only examined for realism but also how they fared in the water as a working decoy. That was quite fun and I’m looking forward to seeing all the great works again this weekend.

In the past I’ve seen nice little paintings of songbirds and larger oils, pastels and other pieces featuring birds of prey and a variety of wildlife. There are some crafts, prints, sculptures, photographs apparel, jewelry and other neat pieces. Much of what will be on display will be for sale.

Presentations will be held on different topics and a special “Kids Gone Wild” section will be set up for youngsters to make bird feeders and artwork.

The festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults (good both days), $2 for students and senior citizens (65 years and older), and children under 6 years old are free.

Calhoun Community College is on U.S. 31 north from the “Y” where the highway meets U.S. 72. If you’re coming from Athens or points north head south on U.S. 31. The gymnasium is located on the south end of the campus and there’s plenty of parking.

Visit www.sowildfestart.com for other info.

Cabela’s King Kat Classic catfishing championship should be a slugfest on the Tennessee River

One of the coolest things each year is to see the results of the big catfish tournaments held on the Tennessee River lakes, especially Wilson and Pickwick lakes where some giants lurk.

Wilson is only about 14 miles from Wheeler to Wilson dams, but that short run is one of the most fertile, oxygenated and forage-rich lakes anywhere. Gravel bottoms, rocks, bars, cuts, the main channel, tributaries and an angler’s paradise of largemouth, smallmouth, at least three species of catfish, sauger, crappie, drum, bream, paddlefish (yes, paddlefish) and probably a few others I’m forgetting all create one cool fishery.

This weekend the Cabela’s King Kat Classic catfishing championship will be held on Pickwick and Wilson lakes, and will be based in Sheffield. The tournament is Friday and Saturday at Sheffield Riverfront Park on Alabama Street. Anglers must be in the weigh-in line by 4 p.m. each day and can have up to five catfish; only live cats will be allowed, so good livewell maintenance will be a must.

The weigh-in is free and open to the public. If you want to see some giant catfish, round up the kids and head over. You won’t be disappointed.

Kids fishing derby is Saturday

The Cabela’s King Kat Kids event Saturday morning, a free derby for kids age 12 and younger.

Registration is from 8-9 a.m. and fishing is from 9-11 a.m. at Riverfront Park. All kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bring your own rod, reel and bait.

Boone & Crockett reveals North American big game hotspots

The venerable Boone & Crockett Club has revealed its hotspots for North America’s big game species, which includes walrus.

Walrus?

Bubba and Joe Bob might have an interesting conversation about that.

“Yep, gonna get me one of them ugly walruses this season.”

“Watche gone do with it?”

“Put it on the smoker. That there teevee “Sportin’ Chef” from California told me about a dry rub and I’m a’gonna try it.”

Anyhoo, the latest from the B&C:

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MISSOULA, Mont.—Which areas of North America have produced the most Boone and Crockett trophies so far in the new millennium?

With appearances in nine categories of big game species and subspecies, Alaska is tops. Longtime trophy mainstays like Colorado for mule deer and Montana for bighorn sheep also remain at their lofty spots. But even the most discerning hunter might be surprised at other states on the list.

Illinois, for example, is out to a big jump on record-class whitetail deer. Utah is the new hot destination for monster elk. Nevada has emerged as No. 1 for desert sheep and, amazingly, also makes the list for trophy mountain goats.

“Boone and Crockett records have always been a classic indicator of habitat quality and on-the-ground performance of conservation and management programs. The states and provinces on this list are the best of the best right now,” said Eldon Buckner, chairman of the Boone and Crockett Club’s Records of North American Big Game Committee. “We congratulate these respective wildlife agencies and hold up their work as a model for conservation and game management in the 21st Century.”

Here are the top 3 trophy producing areas, by type. The number in parentheses is actual entries into Boone and Crockett records (typical and non-typical combined, where applicable) since 2000.

Bear
Alaska brown—Alaska (195), n/a, n/a
Black—Wisconsin (238), Pennsylvania (118), Alaska (97)
Grizzly—Alaska (88), British Columbia (50), Yukon Territory (5)

Bison—South Dakota (42), Wyoming (36), Utah (17)

Caribou
Barren ground—Alaska (55), Yukon Territory (8), n/a
Central Canada barren ground—Northwest Territories (74), Manitoba (19), Newfoundland (1)
Mountain—British Columbia (48), Northwest Territories (44), Yukon Territory (29)
Quebec-Labrador—Quebec (113), Newfoundland (10), n/a
Woodland—Newfoundland (89), n/a, n/a

Cougar—Idaho (36), Alberta (31), Colorado (31), Montana (31)

Deer
Columbia blacktail—California (155), Oregon (76), Washington (20)
Coues’ whitetail—Mexico (117), Arizona (60), New Mexico (6)
Mule—Colorado (234), Saskatchewan (88), Wyoming (67)
Sitka blacktail—Alaska (54), n/a, n/a
Whitetail—Illinois (523), Wisconsin (442), Iowa (339)

Elk
American—Utah (120), Arizona (86), Montana (47)
Roosevelt’s—Oregon (54), California (50), British Columbia (19)
Tule—California (28), n/a, n/a

Moose
Alaska-Yukon—Alaska (158), Yukon Territory (30), Northwest Territories (7)
Canada—British Columbia (117), Maine (39), Alberta (25)
Shiras’—Wyoming (84), Idaho (70), Montana (62)

Muskox—Nunavut (56), Alaska (34), Northwest Territories (31)
Pronghorn—Wyoming (339), New Mexico (207), Nevada (102)
Rocky Mountain goat—British Columbia (107), Alaska (52), Nevada (24)

Sheep
Bighorn—Montana (220), Alberta (32), Oregon (29)
Dall’s—Alaska (59), Northwest Territories (26), Yukon Territory (20)
Desert—Nevada (61), Arizona (53), Mexico (41)
Stone’s—British Columbia (30), Yukon Territory (4), n/a

Walrus
Atlantic—Nunavut (2), n/a, n/a
Pacific—Alaska (11), n/a, n/a

Complete Internet access to the Boone and Crockett Club’s trophy records database is available via subscription to Trophy Search. Records from 1830 to the present may be searched by species, locations, years and more. An annual subscription is $50 (Boone and Crockett Club members receive a discount). Order at www.boone-crockett.org or by calling 888-840-4868.

About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the National Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont.

For details, visit www.booneandcrockettclub.com.

Ducks Unlimited report for Canada shows favorable conditions

Ducks should be wending their way south as colder conditions in Canada and northern states are keeping hunters in their wool socks and Gore-Tex outerwear.

The latest report on habitat and ducks from DU-Canada is favorable. Glad to hear things are doing well.

Check out the latest reports and all the other reports from the biologists in Canada to see what’s going on.

Wood duck management critical to population rebound, and helping provide nesting sites is easy to do

Note: Unlike some publications, I believe in providing the authors of press releases with due credit instead of snarking the press release straight into the product. Thanks to the state wildlife agencies for providing timely info to the public about fish, wildlife and conservation matters.

By Phil Miller

Wildlife Biologist

Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

During the early 1900s, the wood duck was threatened with extinction due to unregulated harvest and habitat loss. Through conservation efforts, research, and the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the wood duck now thrives in 42 states and five Canadian provinces.

Many consider the wood duck the most beautiful and colorful bird in the world. The male has a purple and green crested head with bright red eyes. His bill has a red base with white parallel lines along the top. The head also has a white parallel line that runs from the back of the eye to the crest of the head. Its chest is a burgundy color with white specks and the back is purplish-black. The breast and belly are white. The female is gray-brown with a white teardrop-shaped eye ring.

The wood duck inhabits a variety of habitat types, including bottomland hardwood swamps, marshes, wooded sloughs, beaver ponds and other areas with flooded timber. These habitat types are vital to their survival. These birds require hollow tree cavities for nesting, as well as areas with ample cover, food, and rest sites.

Wood ducks prefer shallow water of 18 inches or less for feeding. These areas are preferred because they provide a variety of insects, emergent plant material, and acorns that are readily accessible in the shallow water. Insects are an important source of protein for wood ducks. Emergent plants such as cattails, smartweed, sedge, and pickle weed, and mast producing trees such as water oaks, Nuttall oaks, and white oaks provide high-energy food.

In areas were nesting cavities are limited, artificial nest boxes can be constructed and installed near or in areas that have water and suitable brood-rearing habitat. Nesting boxes should be built from seasoned woods, such as cypress, cedar, or hemlock. Nesting boxes made of plastic, fiberglass, or metal should not be placed in areas of full sunlight due to the high temperatures that can be generated in these boxes. The high temperatures can overheat the eggs and kill the embryos.

Nesting boxes need to have a strip of hardware cloth that stretches from the bottom of the box to the entrance hole to provide traction for the ducklings to climb out of the box. Boxes should have three to four inches of wood chips in the bottom to serve as nesting material. Erect boxes by mid December prior to the time when females start searching for suitable nest sites. Nesting boxes should be cleaned out and wood chips replaced once a year.

Predation harmful

The primary factor that leads to mortality of eggs and young ducklings is predation.

Predator control can be accomplished by providing a predator guard beneath the nesting box. The predator guard should be constructed of metal flashing or other types of metal wrapped around the tree. Overhanging limbs should be trimmed back from nearby trees. The predator control devices deter predators such as raccoons, snakes, and squirrels from climbing to the box and destroying the nest.

Wood ducks are one of the many wildlife management success stories of a species that has made a tremendous come back from the brink of extinction. These birds thrive today due to the work of wildlife professionals, effective wildlife management practices, game and fish laws, and support of the public.

Phil Miller is a wildlife biologist with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. For more information about state conservation, lands, parks and marine resources, visit www.outdooralabama.com

Cool fish fryer, awesome fishing video and going pink (yes, we’re still pushing the pink hair thing!)

Greetings …

Back in July during a trip to Port Mansfield and Get-A-Way Adventures Lodge, I had the pleasure to meet and fish with Joe Cermele of Field & Stream.

Cermele shoots and produces the “Hook Shots” videos at FieldandStream.com, which like the OutdoorLife.com site is chock full of photo galleries, news, stories, blogs, videos and other things to consume your time. If you like solid hunting and fishing info or how to make fire from underwear and condoms, you can find it on the sites. If you want to see hot chicks with fish or big snakes or photos about hunting iguanas, you can find those, too.

Cermele’s videos are just flat-out cool. He’s young, wild about fishing and apparently is as comfortable with a video camera in his hands as a fishing rod. His videos are interesting, have good info such as how to rig a bait – but without being dry or boring — and some ass-kicking music appropriate to the different segments.

Some links to check:

Fishing down in Port Mansfield at Get-A-Way Adventures Lodge

Blues and stripers in New York City

No tuna? No big whoop with a giant Jersey marlin

Great stuff. Old-timers and purists may not care for the music or all the different scenes, but so be it. There are a lot of people on the outdoor television networks who could learn a thing or two from Cermele’s videos, including beefing up their whispery boring shows and toning down some of the more amped-up ones that come across as too much.

There is a happy medium and Cermele’s nailed it like a gaff through a 40-pound amberjack.

Coolest fish cooker in the world

If you enjoy fried fish and want to check out what I believe is the coolest fish ‘n chicken cooking fryer in the world,  you need to learn more about the Cajun Fryer from R&V works in Louisiana.

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend some writer’s workshops where this ingenious cooker has been used and it’s one of those things you say, “Damn, I wish I had one of those at home.” The best way I can describe it is the Cajun Fryer is clean, efficient, cost-effective because you don’t have to use new oil every time and large enough with the bigger models to cook for a bunch of friends.

Jump over to The Fishing Wire, where I wrote about the Cajun Fryer today, and then check out their home page for the different models and other information.

While you’re on the Cajun Fryer site,  pop into the Coating Buddy site as well to see how cool their system is for chicken, fish or other things. It may make you forget about the paper sack full of meal when you see how easy it is to use.

When you’re at The Fishing Wire, click on this link to sign up for free and receive The Fishing Wire in your in-box every morning for industry news, regulations, new products, opinions and more.

Still in that “Think Pink” mode

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we’re trying to raise $5,000 by Oct. 31 … resulting in some pink hair.

Check out my entry about the little project and help out if you can. Every dollar counts in research against this terrible disease.

Also, The Huntsville Times is about to begin a month-long promotional-type project with stories about breast cancer survivors, research and other timely topics. If you still are among those who happen to read the actual printed newspaper, even on occasion, and notice the stories or any changes, that’s what’s going on with them.