Forrest Fisher – Page 3 – Share the Outdoors

Deer Hunting, the Rut, Common Scents

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Doe-In-Estrus scent is the “hot scent” during the annual Whitetail Deer rut cycle.

-Super Moon Last Night: Rut Happens in 6-10 days

-Use an Effective Scent

-Keep a Grunt Call and Bleat Call Handy

Doe-In-Estrus scent is the “hot scent” during the annual Whitetail Deer rut cycle.

By Forrest Fisher

All year long, hunters talk with each other about their great experiences in the woods, especially with observing whitetail deer. During the peak of the rut, observing deer is the most fun, as deer ignore almost everything else except the opposite sex.

Bucks will fight each other for does that have come into estrus, bucks will follow does step-for-step all day long, bucks will usually ignore anything else going on in the woods – or on the roadways – at this time.

For hunters, some of the best outdoor experiences occur during the rutting period, the hot deer hunting time that is set to begin this week in the northeast, or about a week after the super-moon that occurred last night (11/13/2016).

The bucks have been ready to mate for several weeks, but biologists tell us that the majority of female deer (does) are usually not ready to mate until 6 to 10 days after the full moon in November. That puts prime time rutting activity to begin this coming weekend and it should last for about a two weeks. Get ready for action!!

Hunters can help themselves at this time by using attraction scents, since deer have a very keen sense of smell. If you’re new to the scent for deer world, note that deer can detect human presence very easily too. That is one reason why it is not a good idea to use scented fragrance soap for your morning shower on the days you go hunting. Use scent-free soap, there are plenty of brands in the outdoor stores.

To enhance the potential for attracting deer to your stand location, add a scent bottle placed at eye level to a tree near your stand. There are various scent wick dispersant containers on the market, whatever type you choose, fill it with a scent that is likely to attract a lovesick buck. For this next week or so, that “hot” scent will be “Doe-In-Heat” or “Doe-In-Estrus” fragrance. There are dozens of manufacturers, I have used Kishel’s, Tink’s 69, Code Blue and many others. Kishel’s works well for me (http://store.kishelscents.com/products/deer-urine-plus/doe-in-estrus-plus-deer-urine/).

Ideally, your pre-season scouting trips should have helped you locate a ground scrape where mister big buck is announcing his daily presence to a following harem of does. If your stand is nearby, the scent wick container should be in a position that will allow wind drift to spread the desired smell over the area. That will convince any passing bucks also checking the scrape that a hot doe is nearby and your hunting adventure could be about to begin.

Many hunters also drag a scent rag for their trips into and out of the woods, and right across an active deer trail. This is a very simple piece of braided string about six-feet long with a small rag tied to one end and flavored with – you guessed it – “Doe-in-Heat” scent. The other end is looped around your boot.

The Quaker Boy Brawler Call offers big buck or small buck call tones and is durable. Quaker Boy Photo

If you are in a tree stand, you will be able to see much more than from a ground location. Use care if you are well above the forest floor. I have watched deer with their nose to the ground walk right to my tree stand and never look up, thanks to the drag rag. It’s not always that easy, but it has happened exactly that way more than once. A drag rag adds to good hunting strategy, but don’t apply too much scent. Just lightly wet the rag. When you reach your stand, remove the rag 20 feet from your stand and hang it in a small tree or bush.

The doe-in-heat scent will help attract bucks that are in a search for a hot doe. It is a great experience to see. When you see the big guy and it appears he will not come your way by his own nature, use a grunt call and bleat call to lure him closer to your position. I like the Quaker Boy Brawler call (https://www.quakerboy.com/product/brawler-buck-call/) first, it has a deep tone and is adjustable, wait 3-4 seconds and then flip over the Quaker Boy Bleat.

Remain as motionless as possible. Big bucks seem to notice everything, even hunters in trees. Use a face cover, as many hunters agree it is the hunters face with blinking eyes and breathe vapor trail on cold mornings that can spook a buck.

When all the sounds and scents worked for you in the manner intended, that’s where a well placed stand and good shooter accuracy now comes in handy. As that big buck enters your range, your heart may seem to beat like a drum and if you didn’t know better, you might think the deer can hear it. If possible, talk yourself into a state of calm, it is easier to shoot more accurately that way. Experience helps with this, but even veteran hunters have to wrestle with their emotions, the shakes and cold sweats too, when a big buck approaches. Especially during archery season.

The rest of the adventure and the storytelling that will remain in your mind for all time begins at that moment.

Get out there this season and enjoy our free America and the great outdoors we support with our hunting license fees. Effective wildlife conservation in the outdoors begins with hunting. Thanks for understanding that and for continuing to be an effective member of the hunter participation audience.

Remember, not everybody can be a hunter!

Destination for Fishing Adventure – the Lower Niagara River

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

– Monster Salmon, Steelhead and Trout all year long

– Hang on to your Hat!

Chronicles in History is written by Timothy M. Powers and published by Tate Publishing - an exciting book about the reality of American government today from an expert, just in time for the 2016 Presidential election. Visit: http://tmpowers.tateauthor.com/. (Photo by Jack Savoy) — Photo by Jack Savoy

By Forrest Fisher

If you have ever had the “itch to fish” a world class fishery in a hotspot fishing adventure wonderland, you gotta try dropping a line in the Lower Niagara River at Devil’s Hole from a boat.

The sheer sound of the gurgling water flowing past will bring a pleasant surprise to your hearing senses. It is so relaxing at first, but only until you hook into a monster salmon or steelhead or brown trout or lake trout, or maybe even a sturgeon, and your drag begins to sing a song that you’ve never heard before. You know, that pleasing, whining, sound of a continuous rip-off of your fishing line with a fish that you have not seen yet, but you know that fish is heading off somewhere into the horizon. You want him! Anglers scream when this happens, some holler, some cheer, some find a new combination of letters that describe a brand new word. Yes, it’s mystifying and these are among the ultimate moments that sportsmen can call “Incredible Fun!”

The best part? You can fish the Lower Niagara River all year long – summer and winter, as the flowing water changes level and never freezes due to reservoir fill and release cycles from the electric power generation plants located on both shores of the river. There is one in New York, USA, and one in Ontario, Canada.

Different fish species become available at different times of the year, but there are always fish to be caught in the lower river. One of my favorite fishing charter captain friends is Captain Jeff Draper. He says, “Starting in September, giant King Salmon that get in the 30 lb range move up river to spawn. This great fishery lasts until the end of October. Then in November, some of the finest steelhead angling in North America begins with fish that average 8-10 lbs and get up to 20 lbs. The Steelhead are followed by Lake Trout and Brown Trout that can get even bigger, 20 lb Lake Trout are not uncommon. Many of these fish stack up at the mouth of the river and Lake Ontario in an area called the Niagara Bar. This season peaks in spring, in April, with Coho Salmon, Lakers and Browns everywhere feeding on bait. We drift for all these fish with light tackle using eggs, minnows and lures for bait.”

To say this kind of big fish fishing is simply fun would be a simple understatement. It is an unforgettable adventure! The rushing water, the power plants, the boat ride itself is exciting and fun, but the fish straining the rod and line is the best part that will forever etch a location in your memory for all time.

Watch this video and see for yourself, how a 4-hour fishing trip on the Lower Niagara River with Captain Jeff Draper unfolds from start to finish, in this excellent and informative video provided to created by Jack Lavoy: https://vimeo.com/188567458.

Most of all, it is hard to believe how all this fishing is so affordable. Check it out: http://niagaraguides.com/index.html. A whole day on the water for less than the cost of an overnight stay in a nice hotel. Not sure how Captain Jeff can do it, but you’ll need to call ahead for reservations as his schedule is usually very well booked.

Crossbow for Big Game

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Easy, Fun, Less Training Time

Beverly Ruhland of Wales, New York, enjoys hunting with her brand new crossbow, and she has enjoyed several big deer experiences during the last two weeks of early archery season – that’s when crossbow season opens in New York. Forrest Fisher Photo

By Forrest Fisher

It took 30 years of haggling with legislators and blocked laws in a confused legal system that New York is famous for, not to mention high taxes, but the good usually does win over time, and so it is in New York today. Crossbow hunting is legal.

The New York State crossbow season (last two weeks of early archery season: Nov. 5 – 18, 2016) has brought many happy elderly hunters back to the woods and started new interest in hunting for many young others. I recently received a note from a hunter in Wales, Beverly Ruhland, who shared the excitement of her first day with her new Barnett crossbow in the woods last weekend.

Watch Your Fingers

Ruhland says, “I went hunting today and it was so exciting! I was literally face to face with a big buck that had to be least an 8- or 10-pointer. I was too scared to count his points, but he was so big! I was walking the woods and saw him a short distance away.”

Continuing, Ruhland said, “I did take a shot with my new crossbow, but being so excited I didn’t pay much attention to the proper placement of my left hand. I pulled the trigger and the exiting string caught my thumb, sending the bolt awry. That stung my thumb! The big buck looked at me as I stood still and actually walked right toward me. I couldn’t believe it. He stopped about 5 yards away, stayed about 60 seconds staring right at me. I closed my eyes and thought maybe he was going to spear me with his antlers. Then, thank God, I opened my eyes and he turned to slowly walk away. I was scared and shaking so bad!”

Being a brave hunter, Ruhland admits, “My thumb was throbbing and still is. I really thought the deer was going to attack me. My husband, Bob, a retired Lake Ontario charter captain and avid deer hunter, is still laughing at my story. Even though I missed, I saw 11 different deer that day while sitting in my ground blind. There was another smaller buck, but not close enough to get a shot at him or at any of the others.”

Ruhland is a daily church goer and says, “I’m hoping I can go out again tomorrow after morning mass. Maybe I’ll do better then.” By the way, Bob Ruhland used his crossbow to harvest a big-body buck a few days before Beverly’s sore-thumb, big-deer encounter.

Strong Hunter Groups in New York

The New York deer and bear populations are a great recreational wildlife resource, economic resource too, for Empire State hunters. The nearly 700,000 strong hunter group suggests that big game hunting is an important part of the American outdoor heritage for many folks. The general population is thankful to hunters who provide a valuable public service by maintaining wildlife populations at levels that are compatible with public interest and natural resources, providing for safer travel on our roadways.

While hunting camps in New York State southern tier areas were only alive during the opening day of firearm season, coming in two weeks, now archery hunting with long bows, compound bows and crossbows has enticed hunters to camp weeks ahead of the historical gun season schedule. Hunters now check their stands and assure safe shooting lanes in late summer, how times have changed, all for the good too.

Hunting Camp – Excitement is Ordinary

With every week-ending Friday night, there is extra excitement in the air. Young archers and newcomers to the sport usually do not sleep well on the nights before the hunt, there are dreams of a deer opportunity after daylight. Wind-up alarm clocks begin to sound off around 5 a.m. as lights turn on across hilltops.

Hunters hop out of toasty sleeping bags, scurry across chilly cabin floors to a welcome pot of old-fashioned, percolated coffee – real coffee. Light switches are flicked on and gas lanterns brighten. Flashlights and candles too, offer pre-dawn light, depending on your hunting camp situation.

The grumbling low-frequency voice tones of elderly hunters sort of sound like those of a buck grunting his way through the morning woods in search of a doe. This is the week predicted week of pre-rut in New York. The recurring “thump” heard across the cabin usually means a new log has just been tossed into the wood stove. The sounds of “camp flavor” are welcome and special, because somehow you feel assured that all is well here among your hunting family.

The wood stove and the extra dry air, the sound of humble morning chatter between coffee sipping, cabin laughter and jokes, side bets for biggest deer and the same bull-tales that smelly old men retell every year about this time, are all somehow a special deal for the many who have been there and will never miss an opportunity for a day at deer camp. Deer camp offers those kinds of special times. Hunting and deer camp is an unforgettable experience!

Toilet Tissue Advice

One thing to remember is that most folks usually eat too well when in deer camp, so when you head into the hunting forest, wood-side restrooms are easy to find, but comfortable dry leaves are not. Take a small roll of tissue or toilet paper with you in a re-sealable plastic bag. It’s good to be prepared! I keep my gutting knife in the same bag, that way all is dry too and I can’t forget the really important stuff!

Deer camp fun is still alive even 80-year-old hunters that seem to turn into youngsters. Getting dressed often looks like a group wrestling match, with all hands on deck at once. Everyone is working to reach their hunting stand by a half-hour before sunrise – in the dark, not everyone will make it there in time, but 30 minutes after sunrise works too.

Even during the firearm season, if you are hunting in close quarters to heavy brush and timber, the crossbow is a great way to consider hunting. Crossbows during gun season, something to think about.

Inspiring Musky Wisdom

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Chris Kempf landed this 46.25” musky while trolling Lake Erie aboard Mostly Musky Charters with Captain Larry Jones of Buffalo, New York.

-Niagara Musky Association – Catch & Release

-Musky Lures, Secret Musky Logic

-One Musky Champion: Captain Larry Jones

By Forrest Fisher

Chris Kempf landed this 46.25” musky while trolling Lake Erie aboard Mostly Musky Charters with Captain Larry Jones of Buffalo, New York.

When I was just a little boy in the 1950’s, I would read the Breem’s Forrest outdoor column in the Buffalo Courier Express (New York), noting that “musky fishermen from Chet Bowman’s livery at the foot of Sheridan Drive would score on big muskies off Strawberry Island.” I was always fascinated by the size of the fish shown in the newspaper pictures – some 50 pounders, so these big fish have always had my personal attention (and fear).

In those days, anglers would brag about the great taste of musky – which was really not all that good, but they were actually bragging more about their big fish catch. It’s a guy thing, especially post-era WWII, success was hard to find at times.

Anglers did eat many of the musky’s caught back then, many of those anglers were elderly post-depression era fisherman and they knew what it meant to have zero food. They would not waste anything, especially a big fish that might provide many meals. It was a different time.

Today, modern-era anglers are educated and know much more about conservation, they understand the fishery for giant fish is limited to preserving and maintaining the smaller fish. One organization, the Niagara Musky Association (NMA), has many dedicated members and is passing on the master plan of catch and release to everyone when it comes to musky.

As a result, members of this fishing and conservation organization have proven with catch data and record keeping that their view of catch and release is working. They catch a musky monster, handle it carefully, take a photo if possible and release the fish back to nature. Wall mounts today only need a length, birth and picture to recreate your catch and allow life in the musky world to flourish.

With this program in effect for many years now, decades, big musky are caught all year long, but musky are especially on the mega-feed as we enter November. Upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor currents attract baitfish in large schools as fall weather turns toward winter months and the muskies know it. The savvy anglers know it too, anglers like Captain Larry Jones, who is literally booked for every day from October through the end of November. Why? Because Jones catches fish and he catches them all the time. He knows the strategy of baitfish location change and that means big fish for his clients.

Just yesterday, Captain Larry Jones was fishing some of his secret water trolling areas with a client, Chris Kempf from Cheektowaga, New York, and the musky were cooperating despite the 34 degree air temperature. Kempf reeled in two musky over the few hours of night preceding sunrise, one of them measuring nearly 47 inches.

Jones set up his client trolling a Legend Plow crankbait, a modified $100 lure, with the lure running feet down over 41 feet of water out in lower Lake Erie in front of Buffalo. Jones says, “We were marking schools of emerald shiners 25 feet down, lots of walleye hooks and a couple bigger muskie hooks. Using lead core line to acquire extra depth, we set our crankbaits at 25 feet and trolled through the baitfish from different directions of approach. On the 4th pass at 5:30 am we got a hook up and after a short fight into the net went an extra fat 46.25” muskie. We managed to catch a 2^nd fish too, a 38″ muskie closer to the Buffalo Harbor South Gap in 34 feet of water.”

Catching two fish normally defined by anglers as “the fish of a thousand casts” in less than two hours is an incredible feat in itself, but Captain Jones does this all the time largely because he understands the fishery.

Jones adds, “Yes, a lot of the conditions that allow you to catch big muskies before the water temperature drops cool enough to bring in bait fish from deeper waters of Lake Erie are short lived. The wind-induced water temperature changes with wind direction change and everything is either there or gone just like that.”

While late fall is the best time to hook a real giant, Jones says, “The only other chance you have before the water temp in Buffalo Harbor gets warmer then the deep waters of Lake Erie is strong winds with big waves turning Lake Erie silty grey and water behind the walls is green tint, everything moves to cleaner water, baitfish and predators. Get a North or NW winds and it blows up the Harbor behind the walls replacing warm water with equal lake temperature water and everything disappears again. So timing to conditions is everything.” Jones is sharing his secret tactics with words from the wisdom of experience.

I will personally admit to the joy and surprise of landing 12 or 13 of these monsters while fishing for walleye and bass over the years. Each time I have noticed the eyes of the hooked musky are actually focused and turning to observe the angler with the rod or the net in the boat. As the fish moves around the boat during the landing process, the eyeballs and pupils of the fish turn with every fish change of movement.

Yes, it is fascinating, but a bit spooky too, especially on Halloween night! Exciting to be sure! We have always carefully released them because we value our fingers and because they are such a magnificent, handsome, fish! They are freshwater sharks, lots of teeth!

Captain Larry Jones has been trophy musky hunting the Niagara River and Lake Erie for nearly three decades and catches many fish near the 50 pound mark on frequent occasions. He also fished the Upper Niagara River and Chautauqua Lake. In 1996, Jones caught and released 112 muskies of his own to win the Muskies Inc. – Masters Division Championship. Add that his clients that year caught another 79 muskies from his boat. Wow, this guy is spooky good at musky fishing!

Captain Larry holds a U.S. Coast Guard Masters License and his boat rig is U.S. Coast Guard inspected each year, he is fully insured and well equipped. His contact info is (716) 833-6739, or on the web, visit: http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/businesses/mostly-muskies-charters/.

Respect these magnificent fish if you hook one, release them quickly, and be careful not to damage their gills or fins.

Share life with others, make new friends in the outdoors, lead by example.

False Rut – Always between Fridays & Mondays!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

The eyes of every good hunter are optimistic with a conscious perception of nature and an uncanny calmness that can understand the daily dialogue of the woods and whitetail deer. Photo by Bella Gulino

-Early Season Deer Hunting

-Scent and Scrape Control

-Understanding Moon Phase

The eyes of every good hunter are optimistic with a conscious perception of nature and an uncanny calmness that can understand the daily dialogue of the woods and whitetail deer. Photo by Bella Gulino

By Forrest Fisher

At this time of year, sportsmen that live to hunt deer with a bow crave the sweet dreams of active outdoor weekends. For archery hunters, every weekend is a hopeful time for finding the deer in their reproductive rut and in full disregard for hunters and hunter mistakes. If only it could be!

In the archery woods, the deer-watching action is at full throttle way ahead of the season or the rut. In New York, the early archery season opens for six weeks starting October 1^st, this year that’s 6-7 weeks ahead of the predicted fall rut cycle.

While the bucks always seem ready to mate, experts teach us that the doe’s need the recipe of shorter daylight hours, the changing low angle of the sun and the full moon plus seven to 10 days (after), to allow their hormone system to reach fertile. After that, they become more commonly know as “hot doe’s” or the deer that bucks are looking for.

From opening day until about one week after the full rutting moon, the deer often appear unaware that their survival-oriented mating season is coming up.

The deer meet in local open field food plots, oak tree groves and apple orchards each afternoon just before sunset and seem to have a sacred conversation of sorts. It is their habitual social ritual and they are perhaps discussing the sweet delight of sugary apples. It’s fun to watch them, it’s a time that hunters often learn quickly that too much calling will usually cause the deer to flee. The deer gather like that in groups until they break up just before the full rut.

“The Grim Reaper broadheads did the job for me this year,” says Alessio Gulino of Clarence, New York, who downed this heavy mature buck with a perfect 30 yard arrow shot.

The formula for when the full rut should happen is complicated, but most folks that hunt with arrows believe in the Alsheimer theory and this year, that means the rut will peak after the full moon in November, so the full rut will occur in the middle of November. False rut occurs in the moon prior to the rutting moon when bucks think they should be mating, but the doe’s are not ready. Scrapes, rubs, lots of deer action can occur in the woods and it’s a good time to get out there if you can.

Peak rut is the time when rutting bucks chase doe’s that are actually ready to mate, with some doe’s literally screaming for their buck to find them using their high-pitched bleat call. Indeed, their gesture to signify immediate need to mate.

During this October, a month before peak rut this year, the bucks can become frustrated, providing vulnerability for the deer and adding to hunter advantage with the proper use of downwind location and use of scent attractants. It’s a hot time to be in the hunting woods if you can accurately place an arrow on the mark of your aim. That’s what young hunter, Alessio Gulino, 23 years old from Clarence, New York, did last weekend.

Using a Grim Reaper broadhead and Diamond compound bow set up for a 65-pound draw, Gulino dropped the buck at 30 yards with a clean heart shot. Gulino says, “The deer did not even take one step, he simply crashed on the spot.”

Gulino adds, “Since October 14^th, I have seen signs of false rut. I have had a few smaller bucks come around my food plot leaving their scent behind. Making rubs and scrapes, it been a joy watching the little ones. On the day I got my buck, I switched to a stand in a more wooded area. When this buck came out his behavior was different. More of a strut as he walked, neck was swollen and nose to the ground. That was my false rut experience, I have also been monitoring the moon phases, as well as the weather. To me, the biggest things that matter about the rut, false or full rut, are moon phase and temperature.”

Many experts will say, “Yes, very true.”

Mid-day scouting and a quiet walk around your hunting terrain in search of tree rubs and ground scrapes can help identify active buck locales. The bucks that made those rubs and scrapes are not far away and they usually return to check for tell-tale signs of a hot doe at least twice a day, just before sunset and again in the morning sunrise hours just before they head to their bedding area for a daytime snooze.

Once an active buck zone is located with the rubs and scrapes, there are a number of things to take advantage of the location. Savvy hunters set up in a tree stand downwind and wait for the buck to check his area, though in the meantime, you may have to willingly pass on multiple doe’s traveling the area because of scrape and rub marks, and the smell scent left by the buck.

This is where use of scent lines can offer honest advantage to bring the deer right to the hunter. There are two ways to think about using scent, one is to attract a buck by use of hot doe scent, also known as “doe-in-heat” or “doe-in-estrus” scent, and the other is to upset the buck and trigger him into a more aggressive mode with the use of “buck scent”.

The use of buck scent is working when you see the buck come back to his scrape and then start a violent surge of attacking the ground all around his scrape. He is upset. When that happens, you know this buck is upset and considers this area “his area” and thinks he is the dominant buck there. On the other hand, if he knows he is not the dominant buck, the buck scent may cause him to bolt away and never return, so you gotta be careful with buck scent if you are willing to settle for an ordinary six-point buck.

Alessio Gulino was “thumbs up” after realizing that his arrow placement and shot distance estimate were right on.

With “doe-in-heat” scent, you will attract whatever buck is making the scrape and by dragging a scent line from the scrape to your stand location, can win the prize of a possible perfect shot at a range of your choosing. Sounds easy right?

It can be at the right time of year, like now, when bucks are in heavy search for estrus doe’s and not finding many. It’s a nice time to drag a scent line tied from to your boot from the scrape area to your stand area, with the scent line loaded up with “doe-in-heat” liquid lure. Use a small piece of rag tied to a 6-foot string line for the scent line (drag line).

So which “doe-in-heat” scent lure to use? Some hunters will say they are all good, that may be true. In Western New York we have at least one source of natural “doe-in-heat” lure that is bottled from local deer herd stock specifically for hunters at Pines & Tines Whitetail Farm. This is a deer farm with over 60 live deer animals located at 7852 Lewis Road in Colden, about six miles south of East Aurora.

While commercial store versions of “doe-in-heat” are sold in one or two ounce bottles at $12-$14, most of these are chemical equivalents of the real thing. Pines & Tines sells an eight-ounce bottle for $10. Yes, that is a buy. This real nature local product has worked for me and many hunting friends for the last several years and we just never told anyone where we bought our hunting attractant scent. Well now the secret is out! Call Eric and Cheryl Lafferty at 716-655-5007, or stop in, there is a sign on the door that will direct you to the refrigerator stock of “doe-in-heat” and “buck lure”. Use this stuff sparingly to help you set the stage for deer hunting success.

One of the other well-proven local scent formulas made in East Aurora, New York, is Kishel Scents. Their mock scrape kit is among the most effective ever made. Born from the experience of a young boy as a trapper, several of my close friends have used the Kishel Mock Scrape Kit to harvest trophy deer in the past few years. There are other companies that make similar products, but for some secret reason, the Kishel Product Kit lasts for weeks and deer keep coming back.

Not saying other products are ineffective, we have all tried many of them – they do not all work, but this local Kishel Mock Scrape Product Kit is quite amazing. To visually see how a mock scrape is made, go visit this link on You-Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8irLbm7kCs. Without the kit, get out there, find a scrape line, set up your fixed or climbing tree stand down-wind and drag the scent line from the scrape area to your preferred tree stand location.

Gulino was hunting on his own land and using a safe, metal, fixed ladder stand with a full body harness for fall protection and safety. He put on his patience hat, sat down and relaxed until the deer of his choice showed up, took his time and made a very clean kill shot.

Prime time is at sunrise and sunset, most hunters know that. Don’t forget your full body harness to stay safe when you go vertical, anything less than a full body harness is asking for trouble. The most exciting fun of the year is between Friday’s and Mondays if you can settle your honey-do chores before hitting the outdoors.

Gulino’s 10-Point buck was the victim of good hunting by a good hunter who set up his stand in the travel corridor between the bedding area and the feeding area.

Good luck to everyone on the water or in the woods!

False Rut – Always between Fridays & Mondays!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

-Early Season Deer Hunting

-Scent and Scrape Control

-Understanding Moon Phase

By Forrest Fisher

From opening day until about one week after the full rutting moon, the deer often appear unaware that their survival-oriented mating season is coming up.

Many experts will say, “Yes, very true.”

Good luck to everyone on the water or in the woods!

Successful Deer Hunting-How to Hunt

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Learn tips, where and when to hunt, selecting a firearm or bow, scouting deer, looking for sign, predicting deer behavior, understanding deer biology, choosing stand sites, processing your venison, preparing venison meals, learn the science and the skills with this new QDMA book.

-Learn Science and Skills to Hunt

-New 267 Page e-Book

-Written by QDMA Field Experts

By Forrest Fisher

Learn tips, where and when to hunt, selecting a firearm or bow, scouting deer, looking for sign, predicting deer behavior, understanding deer biology, choosing stand sites, processing your venison, preparing venison meals, learn the science and the skills with this new QDMA book.

There may not be an organization in the outdoors that has done more to allow hunter folks to learn about how they behave and what to do about becoming a more effective hunter than the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). They have recently provided to the public a well-written learning guide in their newest book, QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting. It is available as an e-book for purchase or as a free graduation gift to all who complete their hunting safety course at Hunter-Ed.com, providers of Internet hunting safety courses for more than 45 states.

“Many of the students from Hunter-Ed.com were asking for more information on how to hunt deer, and we were asked to contribute materials that could help them,” said QDMA Director of Communications Lindsay Thomas Jr. “Our staff responded by producing an entirely new and complete guide to deer hunting that will be provided free to all Hunter-Ed.com graduates across the country. They’re certified safe hunters now, and our e-book is designed to help get them into the woods and on a path toward a lifetime of successful deer hunting.”

“When it comes to the ‘what’s next’ beyond basic hunter education, Kalkomey relies heavily on partners such as QDMA,” said Mitch Strobl, Vice President of Business Development for Kalkomey, the parent company of Hunter-Ed.com. “We want our students to have access to the best resources out there, and this new e-book is a prime example of just that. Through strategic partnerships, we’re able to help our students along from initial interest to total participation, thus helping achieve our recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) goals.”

QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting is 267 pages long and includes 15 chapters written by eight different contributors, all QDMA staff members. Major subjects are expanded upon in 18 embedded videos produced exclusively for the project by Primos Hunting. Dozens of full color photos also help illustrate the chapters, and links to external resources and articles allow readers to explore every topic in greater depth as desired.

“Will Primos and his team produced a fantastic series of supporting videos for the e-book,” said Hank Forester, QDMA’s Hunting Heritage Programs Manager. “The videos cover some of the more complex subjects, like choosing a rifle or using deer calls, and they really round out the usefulness and interactivity of the project. For those readers who don’t have someone to teach them how to hunt or take them to the woods, our e-book will be a terrific help.”

QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting is also available for purchase on Amazon, and you can download and read it on any device using the free Kindle app. Gifting the e-book to new or aspiring hunters is easy through Amazon. All you need is the e-mail address of the gift recipient.

QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting is the first e-book in QDMA’s library. Previously, QDMA published Deer Cameras: The Science of Scouting and also Quality Food Plots, the highest selling book on wildlife food plots ever published, in addition to other educational booklets, maps and posters. Visit QDMA’s online store for more information on these other titles.

Screen Tent for Winter Beach Protection

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

-CLAM 1660 Mag Screen Tent

-Big, Safe, Light, Portable, Inexpensive

-SPF-50 and UV Protection

By Forrest Fisher

Ever noticed that it seems to take an outdoorsman or an outdoor group to come up with the best of the best ideas for outdoor use? It’s so true.

That’s why one of the Screen Tents (Quick-Set Escape Shelters) by CLAM seems to hit the nail on the head for protection from flying bug critters all year long. No matter where you live, there are pesky insects of some kind. With winter coming up and the snow birds heading south to Florida, there is an especially useful place to share one of these shelters, ON THE BEACH. Florida beaches in winter are famous for the “no see-ums,” those tiny bugs that bite, and one of these units is great for protection from the bugs and the sun on either watery sunshine coast in Florida.

There are convenient grommet locations for stake hold downs with the CLAM 1660 Mag Tent Screen.

My wife and I spread out two nice cozy (big) blankets on the sand and then pop up our 1660 Mag Tent Screen right on top of them. We’re finished in under a minute, literally, and both of us are pushing 70 years of totem pole marking. It’s that easy and maybe the best thing when you have grandkids and family along, these units are big and they’re tall too. Room and protection for everyone.

Our unit is 12 feet by 12 feet wide and is 7-1/2 feet high! It has the no-see-um screen windows all the way around and the roof and fabric are SPF-50 for sun protection. The side and roof panels also provide UV protection, something many of us have become more aware of these days. With the 6 stakes and tie-down ropes that come with the unit, you will enjoy a wonderful day in the sun free from bugs and flying sand.

The whole thing comes in a convenient carry bag that is light (34 pounds). We use a 2-wheel carry cart to move our shelter, chairs and our carefully stocked Yeti cooler to the beach and back from the vehicle. The same vehicle we use to beat the snow back during the memory of our brutal New York winters.

Hence, we drive down to Florida and love our stay there during the winter time, you can too, with one of these Mag Tent Screen units from CLAM. Fun times, no bugs, no sand, no sunburn, and also important – no snow! Love those Florida beaches in winter!

For more info, check on-line at the CLAM website (http://www.clamoutdoors.com/pages/quickset ) or through Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Clam-Corporation-9281-Quick-Set-140-Inch/dp/B00E3LF7FK), where you can also find free shipping with PRIME.

New Ruger Rimfire, 1-Button Takedown

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

– Innovative Idea for Simplicity
– Ruger Mark IV Offers Enhanced Safety

My wife loves her Ruger .22 caliber rimfire handgun, she was excited to hear about the new Mark IV improvements becaue she has a Ruger Mark III right now. She says, “The Mark Series of Ruger handguns are real firearms. Made from solid metal, my Ruger is durable, it shoots where you aim and it is not costly to have hours of fun at the practice range.”
Just a few weeks ago, Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) announced the latest development in the Mark Series line of pistols – the Ruger® Mark IV™. Ruger has long set the standard for reliable, affordable and accurate .22 LR handguns, beginning with the introduction of the Standard Pistol in 1949. Since then, the Standard Pistol has undergone a series of enhancements with the development of the Mark I, Mark II™ and then the Mark III™ in 2005.

While the heavily redesigned Mark IV maintains the same classic outward appearance as the Mark III, it incorporates a significant improvement customers will love – a simple, one-button take-down for quick and easy field-stripping. A recessed button in the back of the frame allows the upper receiver to tilt up and off of the grip frame without the use of tools. The bolt simply slides out of the receiver and the barrel can be properly cleaned from chamber to muzzle.

“We are thrilled to be introducing what we consider to be a monumental improvement to this iconic pistol that has been with Ruger from the start,” said Ruger President and COO Chris Killoy. “This one-button takedown alleviates the headache that our Mark III owners are all too familiar with and we anticipate the Mark IV pistols being some of the cleanest rimfire’s at the range,” Killoy concluded.

Other significant improvements include a one-piece grip frame that is precision CNC-machined from a solid piece of stainless steel or aluminum; an ambidextrous manual safety and a redesigned bolt stop for more ergonomic operation. The magazine drops free on release for faster reloads and a redesigned magazine disconnect safety prevents discharge when the magazine has been removed. Internal improvements include changes to the hammer, sear, bolt and firing pin for smoother, more reliable feeding.

Specific features vary by model, but the legendary, one-piece barreled receiver and internal cylindrical bolt construction remain the same. The robust design ensures permanent sight-to-barrel alignment and higher accuracy potential than conventional moving-slide designs. The Mark IV is compatible with a variety of Mark III aftermarket accessories including sights, scope bases and magazines.

The American-made Mark IV pistol ships with two 10-round magazines.

For more information on the Ruger Mark IV or to learn more about the extensive line of award-winning Ruger firearms, visit Ruger.com or Facebook.com/Ruger. To find accessories for the Ruger Mark IV, visit ShopRuger.com or your local independent retailer of Ruger firearms.

Lake Erie Perch Bite “is on!”

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

2-Hook Rigs
4-Anglers Help Keep Active Fish Under the Boat

Master angler and Western New York fishing legend from Blasdell, New York, Herb Schultz, is usually catching 12-14 inch perch not far from Sturgeon Point marina. Shultz says, “The fish are usually biting at mid-morning!” Forrest Fisher Photo

While many in the outdoor world right now are chasing King Salmon, archery hunting for deer and bear, or hunting for various forms waterfowl, a good number of outdoor folks are looking to fill their freezer with some of the best tasting fish fillets in the world. These can be found in the eastern Lake Erie deep – Yellow Perch fillets.

The Lake Erie perch bite was delayed this year due to the extended hot summer weather, but the last few mornings of 30-degree weather have convinced the fish that winter is right around the corner and it’s time to start their annual binge feed!

Emerald shiners are the hot minnow bait, with ample supplies of these in frozen/salted minnow form and limited supplies of live minnows at local bait shops. Both work well. Some anglers are dipping their own at the foot of West Ferry Street in Buffalo, New York, but minnows have been in and out on days there.

From Buffalo, anglers accessing the lake at Buffalo Small Boat Harbor State Park start their search for perch off the windmills (southeast) near the old steel plant in 45 feet of water with 2-hook rigs fished right on the bottom. Similar rigs work at Sturgeon Point in 45 to 50 feet right straight out from the boat launch in 51 to 60 feet, three to four miles west of the launch. Likewise off the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek 35 miles south, where anglers fish off Evangola State Park in 56 to 72 feet of water.

The hotspots are easy to find. Look for a tell-tale circle of boats to find the huge moving schools of these tasty perch, but try not to crowd anglers already on site. Boat noise from above can spook an entire school of fish to move to another area. You’ll know if you get too close, as it is common for a friendly verbal greeting to accompany such a neophyte boat movement error. Of course, the greeting might not be as friendly as you might imagine.

Schultz may be fishing with perch leaders made from 50-pound test, but his perch rods and reels are ultra-sensitive models – he is a rod builder too! Note the rod-balance rigs – one of many Herb Schultz perch catching secrets.

During these fall perch fishing trips, I have occasionally been privileged to enjoy a fun trip to Sturgeon Point waters at the invitation of master perch angler, Herb Shultz. We generally fish together with friends and it makes for a day filled with laughs and great conversation on all the outdoor issues you might imagine. Johnny Held (“Chugger”) and Lenny Ingoldsby (“Gunner”) are among usual participants with Schultz, though I’m not sure if the day-long conversation about the upcoming hunting season, the Lake Erie water quality, 2^nd Amendment, the upcoming Presidential election or the great fishing was more fun.

On one trip while fishing only ¾ mile out from the boat launch in 48 feet of water, we were alone for the first 30 minutes or so. As other anglers saw Schultz’s high-profile 22-foot Starcraft fishing boat as they left the marina, not many passed and he seemed to draw a crowd. In fact, in less than an hour, there were at least 20 boats within rock-throwing distance, sparking some occasional boat-to-boat angler greetings, as active fish down below turned right off for our group of expert minnow dunkers.

The water was slightly stained from a combination of strong west winds and cooler air temperatures that provided the contributing momentum for lake physics to initiate the annual cool-weather lake turnover, which causes the bottom and top water layers to mix and turn stained or cloudy green.

While this phenomenon occurs three or four times before winter gets here, when it happens, the fish usually become disinterested in chow, but recent fish-catching activity shows this is not so with the yellow perch in our eastern end of Lake Erie for right now.

Shultz asked regular fishing partner, Len Ingoldsby, to weigh anchor in the big boat rig and this process is something to see and is another reason why, if you are in another boat – you really do not want to get too close to others, especially Schultz, before dropping your anchor.

Using a large, 15-inch orange ball float attached to a 3-foot long slip line and sliding hook rig, Shultz starts up and moves the boat forward in a 100 yard wide circle around the dropped anchor as the floating ball works its way down the anchor line to effortlessly dislodge the anchor and float it upward toward surface to allow for an easy anchor pull into the boat.

Shultz learned this trick from professional Alaska anglers when he visited his daughter in military service while she was stationed there about a decade or so ago. Schultz says, “I am always careful about not disturbing other anglers, but if they anchor too close to me, I can’t get my anchor out using this special “old man” anchor rig. I hope I don’t upset too many of them as we leave one area to head in or try another spot.” He was serious, but had a sort of grin. His usual facial profile.

We moved about two miles west to 50 feet of water where no other boaters were anchored and using his dash-mounted 4-inch Lowrance color screen sonar, Schultz grinned and said, “the fish are here guys, let’s drop anchor”. Ingoldsby quietly slid the anchor into the water and using the special bow-slip knot arrangement, was able to anchor off the bow without leaving the back of the boat. I constantly learn “new things” when my 60-years of fishing experience is in the midst of these savvy veteran Lake Erie anglers!

A few minutes later we all had our lines in the water and the fish seemed to have a case of lockjaw. “Chugger” switched to a Ted Malota 2-spinner perch rig with minnows, “Gunner” switched to a custom in-line spinner, a two-hook crappie-style rig with colorful beads, and “Unc” switched to an all-monofilament 2-hook dropper loop rig. Over the next 30 minutes, only Schultz with his all mono-rig was catching any fish and the rest of us were solidly eyeing up the details of his “hot rig” quite closely, especially with every fish he pulled up, which occurred every minute or two.

Being the gentleman that he is, Schultz offered each of us a custom rig like his from a well-stocked perch fishing box and only minutes later, we were all catching perch that had been spooked by wire rigs and spinner blades. “One more thing”, Schultz added, “I am tail hooking the minnows in one place, not two, like we usually do when fishing for perch”. This was an amazing discovery for some of us, that the fish would turn on and off with such a rig and minnow hook-up change, but that was the case.

Fishing with Herb Schultz is a seminar onto itself and can put you into a successful good-memory state of mind. Herb’s special advice? “You gotta keep it simple”. Herb says, “For perch, don’t get crazy with really light line and fancy rigs, you’ll just break them off and spook other fish, like you guys did.” He said that with a grin and there were teeth showing. That’s a big grin. He added, “Perch are fish that feed when they are hungry. They don’t care about anything else except where that minnow is coming from, just get it down there!” “Remember that!”

On the right day, angler hotspots and secret rigs that work can be shared at the marina.

To prove his point, Schultz told us he uses 50-pound leaders to make the rigs, then 20-pound test to tie the hook leaders on because he says, “I don’t like to lose multiple big perch when my line snaps off as I hoist them into the boat. It doesn’t happen anymore with the heavier leader line!” Schultz uses gold-plated Mustad hooks on a two-hook rig he ties himself with a sliding-loop bottom hook.

If you wanna know more about that trick “slider bottom hook”, look Schultz up at the next Southtowns Walleye meeting every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m., 5895 Southwestern Boulevard in Hamburg.

We all cleaned our fish for about an hour apiece later that day and the winter freezer is looking good. Get out there and follow some of Herb’s simple advice and keep your hooks sharp.

Tight lines to all!

Bright Moon, Night-Bite Walleye!

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

-Lake Erie, Buffalo Harbor: 3 KEYS

-Controlled drift/troll

-Short lines

-Floating/Diving Rapala stickbaits

By Forrest Fisher

Autumn walleye anglers throughout the Northeast and Midwest are tuned into the moon phase at this time of year, especially when it is nearly full and bright. It’s feeding time for walleye and other predator fishes. Night clouds can affect the moonbeam light intensity and fish-frenzy feeding rate, but under a bright moon, the walleye are usually unmistakable about their devouring behavior and timely habits to gorge feed on available forage. For them, it time to survive and prosper.

Walleye fishing will take center-stage for many sportsmen over the next few weeks, as predominant mature walleye key in on unsuspecting and vulnerable forage. In the eastern basin of Lake Erie near Buffalo, the angler catch logbooks will show that the feeding fish average three to six pounds, with an occasional lunker brought aboard.

Savvy night trollers need to have confidence in their boating equipment and their tackle in the dark of night. To catch fish right now, I asked an old friend from the East Aurora Fish and Game Club, John Murray, how he is so successful, so often, catching walleye during the fall months. His answer, “I fish with friends that know what they’re doing!” Yes, he is a funny guy. His friends, like Lou Budick, do know how to catch ‘em and the best thing is, they share what they know and help others learn as they go.

One night last weekend, Lou Budick positioned his perfectly rigged Lund boat in an area of slightly flowing current at the head of the Niagara River, but still in the outer Buffalo Harbor. There are upwelling residual and eddy current areas there that are forage-attracting locations and are, for anglers, good walleye catching hotspots.

As wind levels permit access for anglers to fish in fall, such hotspots are where schools of autumn walleye gather to enjoy an evening smorgasbord of emerald shiners, smelt fry and young of the year perch. With water temperatures descending to the low-60’s this week, the metabolism of the fish has entered the “let’s feed now – winter is coming” phase.

According to the humble Murray, “We were not challenged by the fall of darkness, but we still worked hard to make perfect presentations and the fish appeared to enjoy our gourmet of Rapala’s as we hooked up with walleye 16 times in less than three hours of fishing time.” Fishing with Lou Budick and one other friend – three in the boat, that’s not a bad measure of how to have fun in nearly no-time.

for-sto-10182016-fishing-picture-2of3 — The Rapala Husky Jerk is a unique lure invention that is perfect for fall walleye fishing, as the lure runs straight and true right out of the box, it is a suspending (neutral buoyancy) lure, and has premium VMC® Black Nickel treble hooks.

The Rapala Husky Jerk is a unique lure invention that is perfect for fall walleye fishing, as the lure runs straight and true right out of the box, it is a suspending (neutral buoyancy) lure, and has premium VMC® Black Nickel treble hooks.

Multiple fish catches and occasional limit catches for savvy anglers have been the order of the day for intent night anglers off Buffalo Harbor. Especially true for anglers with the know-how to work nighttime planer boards and slip-troll in areas at the start of the Niagara River current. With the colorful laser lights of the Peace Bridge in easy view, the trio landed fish, nearly one after another, keenly aware that the food chain relationship was working for them at the moment. These fish were definitely on the feed.

Other hot fishing areas include the Buffalo water intake, North Gap, South Gap, West Breakwater, the hump behind the windmills near the old steel plant and Donnelly’s Wall. The lures of choice? Floating Rapala stickbaits, F11 and F13 sizes and #11 Rapala Husky Jerks in fire-tiger color. For a copy of a printed map that identifies these areas, visit http://www2.erie.gov/hotspot/index.php?q=buffalo-harbor-amp-seneca-shoal.

At this time of year, the tiny areas that would hold the most fish in spring and brought scores of boats together for interesting conversations, still hold feeding schools of fish, but the boats are not present in any numbers. Many folks are deer hunting and getting ready for those lake effect snowstorms we know are not that far away.

The method is not difficult. Trolling, short lines, 60 feet or less to a 6-foot fluorocarbon leader with ball-bearing swivels and snap attachment hardware for the lure. Add lure-action inducing slow speed, deploy the boards, wait for a hook-up. Consider adding a Halloween style, neon glow-stick to the board for best viewing above the potential intimidation of darkness over the distance to the boards, then hang on.

Keep quiet in the boat, keep a big net handy and accept that it is possible to easily spook the light-shy walleye with a big bright light beam, as the good fishing can end in a hurry that way.

The delayed onset of fall has the fish and fishermen a little confused too. The sun angle calendar is telling them to feed now and so they are moving to shallows at night to gorge. The delay will likely hold true for a few more weeks and it seems we have plenty of walleye here to support angler demand.

For walleye anglers on Lake Erie, it’s time to enjoy some great fall fishing right now. Get out there soon!! If you want to learn additional details about these fall walleye fishing tricks on Lake Erie near Buffalo Harbor, consider stopping in to see John Murray at Murray Brothers Nurseries in Orchard Park, New York (http://www.murray-bros.com/). He might even share a few suggestions for your garden fertilizer!

Conserving Wetlands & Waterfowl

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Ducks Unlimited: Science, Research, Biology

for-sto-10192016-conservation-picture-1of1-credit-to-joe-forma — Thanks to the many conservation programs of Ducks Unlimited chapters across this great nation, waterfowl and other species too, are able to survive and thrive. Joe Forma photo

By Forrest Fisher

Ducks Unlimited is a dedicated group that may be underappreciated by all the rest of us outdoor folks. The work that this group performs for others will provide fundamental and ecological improvements for many waterfowl species. Their work will help waterfowl and other species overcome unforgiving vulnerabilities due to loss of habitat and will add to the dynamic transformation of the natural world to remain reciprocal and productive.

The Ducks Unlimited conservation programs have always had a strong biological foundation. Science and research tradition continues today with hundreds of studies to address the habitat needs of waterfowl. Although a great deal of work has been done and many important questions answered, there is still much to learn about how the birds respond to landscape, habitat and environmental changes.

DU has embraced an approach of constant monitoring and evaluation which allows for continual refinement of its habitat programs. In the end, such an approach ensures that each and every dollar invested in conservation programs is used as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Below is a summary of the methods DU uses to conserve wetlands and valuable habitat in priority areas for North American waterfowl.

How DU Conserves:

Restoring grasslands
Replanting forests
Restoring watersheds
Working with landowners
Working with partners
Acquiring land
Conservation easements
Management agreements
Geographic Information Systems

Restoring Grasslands

Ducks such as mallards, pintails and teal build nests in dense, grassy areas near wetlands. Grassland cover helps hens conceal their nests and increases their chances of successfully hatching a clutch. Once hatched, the hen leads the ducklings over land to a nearby wetland, where they grow into adults. DU and its partners help to secure and restore these grasslands to reduce predation rates and improve nest success.

Replanting Forests

Forests that flood regularly due to overflowing riverbanks, such as the bottomland hardwood forests in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), make for ideal wintering habitat for ducks, and provide essential breeding and foraging habitat for other wildlife species. However, 80 percent of these forests have been cleared for agriculture and other purposes, and rivers have been tamed with dams and levees. To date, DU has reforested more than 178,000 acres in the MAV and worked to restore backwater to these forests to mimic historical flooding.

Restoring Watersheds

A watershed is the area surrounding a wetland, and therefore has a great effect on the water quality and general health of a wetland. When watersheds are disturbed, silt, nutrients and contaminants can be washed into downstream wetlands, impacting the flora and fauna that inhabit these systems. For example, in the Chesapeake Bay, most of the aquatic vegetation has been lost and fisheries have been contaminated due to degradation of the watershed. DU restores drained wetlands, protects stream corridors and establishes buffer strips that filter nutrients and silt.

Working With Landowners

Nearly three-fourths of America’s remaining wetlands are on private lands. All over North America, DU works with farmers, ranchers and other landowners to improve the agricultural and recreational value of their land, making it more wildlife-friendly. Additionally, a new market is developing where landowners can become suppliers of environmental credits that can be sold in a voluntary trading market by adopting certain types of conservation practices on their land.

Working With Partners

No single group could perform the work necessary to meet the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and DU’s International Conservation Plan. Virtually all of DU’s projects are done in cooperation with a number of partners, including state and federal agencies, private corporations and foundations, and individuals.

Acquiring Land

In special cases, DU will purchase property then restore it to improve its value to wildlife. Once the habitat work is complete, DU will then sell or donate the property, usually to a government agency that will manage it for wildlife.

Conservation Easements

Some of the most valuable wildlife habitat is threatened by development. DU’s Conservation Easement Program is designed to protect habitats forever through agreements with landowners.

Management Agreements

DU offers financial incentives to landowners that manage their land for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. The landowner receives a number of benefits under this type of agreement, and hundreds of wildlife species are insured quality habitat.

Geographic Information Systems

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology enables DU to determine where our habitat work will be most effective as well as monitor the results of our work. Combining satellite images with other information, such as wetland inventories, land-use practices, soil type, wildlife use and more; DU’s GIS specialists produce models that help identify the best places to restore or protect habitat on the landscape.

For more detailed information about waterfowl habitat conservation in an area near you, please visit our Priority Areas.

Get Involved

Do yourself a favor and opt to learn more about all this goodness! Visit the DU link and read on about the details of DU conservation efforts: http://www.ducks.org/.

Hunting is an Extraordinary Experience

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher

Dieter Voss says “Hunting heavy cover on small tract private lands or on state forest public lands can yield big deer harvest results, patience and waiting it out thru the cold is the key.” Forrest Fisher Photo

-Real-Life Close Encounters

-Tradition and Wisdom = Proven Advice

-Building Steady Nerves

Dieter Voss says “Hunting heavy cover on small tract private lands or on state forest public lands can yield big deer harvest results, patience and waiting it out thru the cold is the key.” Forrest Fisher Photo

By Forrest Fisher

Big bucks and big doe’s too, are at home in thick mature forests. On very windy days where gusts are creeping up to 35-40 mph and more, look for sunken creek beds in gorged out valleys to find the larger whitetail deer, even groups of larger deer, which many of us are looking for.

It only took me 50 years to find that out on my own, but then I have not been able to afford to hunt on game farms and fenced private hunting camps with massive food plots. Of course, I honestly respect those who can do that, but for many the truth is – besides not being part of their budget, they simply say, “That’s just not real hunting.” Game farm hunting is more a test of your shooting skill for bragging rights, many say. You know the deer are there, you know you will get a shot at some point, the only question you have is simple, ”Is a 4-1/2 year old buck old enough to harvest?”

That’s not really a question for me and the tens of thousands of hunters like me who rarely even see a two or three year-old deer with all the hunting pressure we have in New York State. In the end, while I have passed on many two-year olds, I take the deer of my choice when I feel that the time for hunting season is running out and I need some venison in the freezer.

In my family, venison is the only essential red meat subsistence we eat. Venison is healthy, nearly fat free, high in protein and high in organic electrolytes and staples from the vegetarian diet without fertilizer and pest control products that deer consume as found in the natural wild. That’s the kind of meat we seek. So eventually, even if the deer is not a four-year old, I need to take one or two.

For most ordinary hunter guys (like me), hunting is usually done on small private tracts of 50-100 acres or less, and on public lands in New York State known as state forests. There are many state forests in New York, some as large as 5,000 acres and many in rugged and unforgiving terrain locations where only the “very fit” might consider the possibility for access and hunting. Many other state forest tracts are common with hills and grasslands, mixed with conifers and deciduous tree variations, good for young hunters and slow-moving oldsters alike.

Hunting camps on private land tracts of 50-100 acres or less is more common than hunting on game farms, and hunters like Jeff Liebler say, “It is a character builder.” Forrest Fisher Photo

For folks with little time for hunting and an adequate supply of funding, game farms are one way to go. For other folks with little time and a limited supply of funding, welcome to my world.

Pre-season weekends are used for exploring new hunting lands and setting trail cameras. We use the Wildgame Innovations CLOAK™ 6 LightsOut™ cameras that capture 6-megapixel images and daytime or nighttime videos, these have a stealthy 36-unit high-intensity black LED infrared flash that is invisible – all for well under $100. My budget can afford these.

I use the trail cam’s where I can see visible sign, but no deer, then try to identify what deer and how much deer herd activity is in that neighborhood before and during the season. It helps my hunting family to better manage where we focus our hunting efforts.

Wherever we go, we do know that we will likely have to work hard to succeed. There are fewer farmers with corn fields, an increasing supply of housing developments and fewer areas to hunt than ever before, but the bottom line is that we know we will enjoy the preparation for the hunt, researching the new brands of archery gear, firearms, optics and accessories, and we will enjoy the adventure of the hunt because we hunt together as a family and a team. On certain days, we may spend hours in quiet conversation with the great wind from the north, but that is just part of the nature community and our non-game farm hunting community. It is the reality of the natural world.

We work together to improve our hunting trip efficiency – staying safe as possible, but we know we always can be better.

We work toward fulfillment at the next level – seeing more deer and harvesting bigger deer. Hunting with our hunting family is a win-win for everyone across the board. Hunting season dates and plans are exciting times because while we never talk about it, we know that the bonds we form with nature and each other are powerful, satisfying and timeless.

We share our thoughts and questions often. We sense too, there is that magical link to our ancestral past – hunting is sacred to us in that sense. For hunters everywhere, many of us are irrepressibly drawn to the woods to ponder the challenge and vulnerability of the whitetail deer we seek. Without spoken words, there is love and affection for the species, and there is dilemma there too – all at the same time. Simultaneous satisfaction of this sort seems hard to define, yet it is real.

Entering the woods together, it is easy to affiliate with the spirit of the hunt as we develop a renewed sense of kinship and reverence with all the life we find in the deer woods. Hunting in the wilds of a non-fenced natural area is an extraordinary experience in these modern times and it will become even more extraordinary as time goes on.

Share life with others, make new friends in the outdoors, lead by example.

Conserving Wetlands & Waterfowl

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Forrest Fisher