Author: Tyler Mahoney

Nocqua Portable Adventure Power…In Your Pocket!

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

Outdoor Adventure Power in the dark is no mystery with this new, super-high capacity pocket power pack.

Why do we need a SMALL portable charger with BIG energy?

By Tyler Mahoney

As much as many of us would hate to admit, we all probably need a solution for a portable charger when we are out hunting and fishing. In between cell phones or GoPro’s, it seems there is always something that needs a charge.

Our outdoor excursions often times last for hours. Even if you’re not spending much time on your phone or other electronic devices out in the wild, sometimes the weather can cause the battery to die as well. Having a full charge becomes a safety factor these days, too. A dead phone isn’t going to help save you if you fall from a tree stand and can’t move to get help.

The Nocqua Adventure Gear power bank fits right into my front pocket.

I happened across Nocqua pretty much by accident. My good friend, David Gray, attended the 2019 iCast and came across their booth. The company representative offered him the power bank for free just to try. David returned and knew that I have the opportunity to be out in the woods or on the water quite often. So, he gave it to me to put to the test.

I’m glad he did.

(Click picture below for short video)

My initial thoughts and feedback:

The Nocqua Adventure Gear Powerbank is extremely small and lightweight. This is extremely beneficial when it comes to how effective outdoorsmen can be while packing gear for their trips. Weight can add up in a hurry, so something thin and compact is very important.

There are 4 bars to identify the remaining charge in the portable energy pack.

While it is very small, it keeps charging for a long time. I’ve only had it 10 days, but have used it 5 times during that span to power my GoPro and my cell phone. Each usage was between 2-4 hours. I’ve only recharged it twice.

To me, that’s extremely impressive. I probably could have gotten away with only charging it once, but I’m one of those people that would rather be safe than sorry so I don’t miss out on any recording opportunities with a dead GoPro.

While my experience with it has been short, I am extremely impressed with its performance so far.

To ask the author a question or leave a comment, visit Mahoney Outdoors, please click here: https://mahoneyoutdoors.com/nocqua-adventure-gear-portable-charger/.

 

Home Fishing MO-Kan Kayak Fishing Series returns MO-Kan Kayak Fishing Series returns

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

With the help of Sportsman’s Outfitter and Marine out of Belton, MO, the MO-Kan Kayak Fishing Series will be returning, starting with an event on October 13th at La Cygne Reservoir.

Tournament Info

Registration will be at 6:00am with the Captain’s meeting at 6:30am. Launch time will be announced at the 6:30am meeting. The tournament entry fee will be $45, cash only. There will be an additional Big Bass entry fee option of $5, cash only. Sportsman’s Outfitter is matching each $5 entry for Big Bass!

There is a daily park/fishing fee at La Cygne. Passes are $3 for non-motorized boats (kayaks). You must have a pass on your boat to be on the water at this lake. There are no other fees collected for this lake/park.

Divisions:

Adult Division:  Payout for Top3, Prizes for Top5

Youth Division:  Prize for Top Youth Angler (under age 18)

La Cygne Reservoir Park and Lodging Info

The link to the La Cygne Reservoir Park information is HERE. 

You will have the option to camp. Both primitive options or trailer hookups are available if bringing a camper. View that info HERE. If you are interested in arriving early and staying at the cabins and motel just as you enter off the highway, please contact:

  • Cabin Ridge – 913-757-3999 (ask for Janet)
  • 22072 Valley Rd, Lacygne, KS 66040
  • Google Maps link is HERE.

​

Joe Falco, owner of Sportsman’s Outfitter and Marine, became the new Jackson Kayak dealer for the greater Lee’s Summit area in the last year. As a result, he wanted to become more involved in the sport and has since helped with the resurgence of the Mo-Kan series, which is led directly by Jason Griffith.

There will be Jackson Kayak demos at the majority of these tournaments and lots of prizes. In the future, there will be a tournament on Lake Jacomo, a popular bass fishing lake in Lee’s Summit.

To stay up-to-date on all the future tournament events, be sure to visit their website: https://www.mokankayakfishing.com/.

James A. Reed Dove Hunting yields great dove hunting

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

Contributed by Tyler Mahoney of Mahoney Outdoors. Tyler Mahoney is a Rockhurst University-educated outdoors fanatic who works to support his hunting and fishing habits. Read more of his next-generation insight at mahoneyoutdoors.com.

Every year, there is great anticipation for the dove hunt at James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area near Lee’s Summit, MO. The area touts great wheat and sunflowers on an annual basis. You can expect to see lines out the door of anxious hunters hoping to grab a spot in their favorite field.

During my scouting, field 63 was the place I wanted to be. There were literally hundreds of doves flying the day before hunting was allowed on September 4th. I showed up at 9:45am thinking I was getting there early enough. Boy was I wrong. The guy in front of picked the last available spot for 63, so I was forced to make a decision to go somewhere else. I chose field 57, which didn’t have as many sunflowers on the ground when I walked it previously.

Luckily, it usually doesn’t matter a whole lot where you hunt the first two days at Reed because there are birds everywhere. My girlfriend, Sami Thomas, and I made it out at 2pm on the 4th and picked our spot. Shooting was already going on all around us.

It wasn’t long before we got in on the action, too. We had several birds down before a short downpour of rain interrupted the hunt. There was a large system moving through the area and unfortunately we didn’t come too prepared with rain gear. The doves didn’t fly during the rain, but as soon as it stopped, they were out in full force.

By 5:30, I was up to 14 birds, and unfortunately ran into a string of bad luck trying to get my 15th. Sadly, I think I went through an entire box of shells to finally get the last one.

The cool thing about hunting James A. Reed is that hunters have a much better chance at taking a “banded” bird. They band many of the doves on annual basis right there at Reed. My 15th bird should have been my second of the day, but another hunter that was having a difficult time downing some birds shot at the same time I did. I elected to let him have it since I was so close to a limit. When he raised it up and shouted it was a banded bird, I slightly second guessed my decision. But he deserved it too!

My good friend, David Gray, who was lucky enough to grab a spot in field 63, also downed a banded bird as well. Both of ours were banded at Reed and born in 2018.

Many people think that the first two days at Reed are the only good days of the year before all the doves get blown out from the hunting pressure. They aren’t wrong, but it doesn’t hurt to check back in the area later in the season. Sometimes a new flock of birds arrives ahead of a cold front.

Five days later I returned to a different field after hearing reports of more birds and limited out even faster than I did the first day. There were also some large flocks of pigeons flying around, which are not protected by the Missouri Wildlife Code. You can shoot those too and they are just like a giant dove.

Keep in mind, you must check in ahead of time at the main office before going out to hunt any of the fields at Reed. When you are done hunting, you must turn in your card that records the number of doves you shot. You must also have a plug in your shotgun while hunting. Unfortunately, hunting isn’t allowed in the morning, but you can start at 1pm until sunset.

Good luck out there and be sure to check all hunting regulations to make sure you are good to go!

Lee’s Summit Area Fishing FB group helps clean up around Longview Lake

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

As first seen on mahoneyoutdoors.com…

Lee's Summit Area Fishing

Scroll through your social media home feed these days and you’re likely to see many “doom and gloom” posts about politics and everyday events. For some reason, it’s just hard to find positive news whether it’s on social media or even in the local paper. Over the weekend of July 21st, the Lee’s Summit Area Fishing Facebook group, a community of avid anglers, banded together and created a much needed reprieve from the negativity.

How it started

In late February 2018, the “Lee’s Summit Area Fishing” FB group was created to bring attention to local fishing opportunities in the area. The group started with the goal of providing updated fishing reports on a daily basis.

“You just couldn’t find much up-to-date, accurate info about the lakes here locally,” Payden Hays, co-founder of the group, said. “We wanted to create something that would bring people together and also help us all catch a few more fish without having to travel so far from Lee’s Summit.”

To Hays’ surprise, the group took off quickly and within a few months has already reached over 1,300 members. As membership grew, many posts came in each day about the fishing, but also about the unfortunate amount of litter that was present at local fishing areas like Longview Lake, Lake Jacomo, James A. Reed Conservation Area and more.

Kevin Cox, a member of the Lee’s Summit Area Fishing Facebook group, mentioned that even his seven-year-old daughter recognized the trash issue around Longview when he took her out there to fish from the bank.

“She was upset about all the trash around the dam at Longview,” he said. “I thought it was adorable. She knows better than to litter like that and she’s seven.”

When a seven-year-old notices the sad amount of trash present, it’s evident something must be done to combat the problem.

Plan of action

Luckily, some group members knew about an organization called MO Stream Team, a non-profit partly funded by the Conservation Federation of Missouri, which helps manage various teams of people across Missouri waters with activities like trash pick-ups, water quality monitoring, tree planting, and much more. After contacting MO Stream Team, the Lee’s Summit Area Fishing group was able to set up their very own team – the LSAF Stream Team. MO Stream Team provided trash bags, gloves, and other items necessary free of charge.

After some organizing, the group was ready for their first event, a trash pick up at Longview Lake on July 21st. Just under 20 members met at the Longview Marina parking lot ready to start cleaning up the area. They focused their efforts around heavily fished areas like the marina, the dam, and the lake’s spillway.

The results

In just over two hours, the team members had picked up 42 bags of trash that filled an entire trailer. The weight of the trash bags was estimated to be over several hundred pounds. While it isn’t a permanent fix to the problem, the group is confident their ongoing efforts will make a positive difference while simultaneously raising awareness of the issue.

With all the negative posts on social media, the Lee’s Summit Area Fishing Facebook group was happy to bring a positive news story to the local community, and plans on many more to come.

 

 

 

“Midwest Experience” helps first responders, vets enjoy outdoors

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

Midwest Experience, a local 501c3 nonprofit, is hosting a fundraiser banquet on August 25, 2018 at 6pm in Blue Springs, MO. The event will feature raffles, live and silent auctions, games and more! A CZ over and under 12 gauge, a Ruger American Rifle with scope in .308 caliber, and Sig Sauer P365 9mm, will be among several guns raffled off during the event.

Who does the Midwest Experience organization benefit?

Midwest Experience provides outdoor adventure opportunities to all of the following AND their families: current members and veterans of the Armed Forces, Gold Star Families, First Responders, and children who are less fortunate and/or disabled.

 

How can you sign up or support Midwest Experience?

Visit Midwest Experience online at their website https://midwestexperience.org/ or reach out to one of the organizers listed in the top photo. Phone numbers are listed for each contact.

“Whether you are an outfitter, retailer, guide, landowner, donor, or just a patriotic American who believes in giving back to those who lay it on the line every day, THANK YOU. Our goals can only be accomplished through your generosity.”

KC Chiefs Ticket Fundraiser to benefit Conservation Federation of Missouri

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

Press Release

Are you a football fan? You can now support your football team and the Conservation Federation of Missouri at the same time. Click on the link below and enter the promo code CONFEDMO when you buy your tickets for 2018 Kansas City Chiefs games. You can get tickets for $33.50 with $10 going to CFM.

Promotion allows you to get tickets for these games:

Preseason
Packers vs. Chiefs 8/30 at 7:30 p.m.

Regular Season
Jaguars vs. Chiefs 10/7 at noon
Bengals vs. Chiefs 10/21 at noon
Cardinals vs. Chiefs 11/11 at noon

Link: http://www.chiefs.com/ticketfundraiser/
Promo Code: CONFEDMO

Thank you for your support!

About the Conservation Federation of Missouri

The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) has been instrumental in the promotion and protection of Missouri’s natural resources and outdoor heritage since 1935. As “The Voice for Missouri Outdoors,” CFM is the leading advocate for the conservation community of our state.

Visit our website at http://www.confedmo.org

Unbelievable, True Missouri Fishing Stories

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

By Payden Hays As first seen on mahoneyoutdoors.com…

 

Fish stories usually have one common thread between them: exaggeration. Most of us have been guilty of adding a pound or two to our catch or stretching our arms a little farther apart than we know the fish actually was. However, with social media instantly connecting us with other anglers and their fish, photographic evidence of some unbelievable fish being caught is rolling in. Here are three quick, unbelievable fishing stories from Missouri.

The Prairie Lee Spillway Trout:

While Tyler Mahoney and his girlfriend, Sami Thomas, fished the spillway in early spring, they were expecting to catch a few bass and maybe a crappie or two. So when Sami reeled in a rainbow trout, they were a bit surprised. Trout were never stocked in the spillway or Prairie Lee, the lake that feeds into it. Aside from this fact, rainbow trout need cold running water to survive. So how did it end up in there? The best explanation is that it was caught out of one of James A. Reed’s trout ponds and dumped in the spillway.

 

The Spoonbill in Jacomo:

This is a fascinating story. In 1974, 23 spoonbill were stocked in Lake Jacomo. Since spoonbill cannot reproduce in this lake and there were never anymore stocked, it was almost unbelievable when Stephen Delgado stumbled across one that had just died in early June of 2018. The nearly seven foot fish had survived in Jacomo for over forty years without being caught or seen. A true testament to the phrase “you never know what your going to catch!”

 

The Longview Sturgeon:

Most people have never seen a sturgeon let alone caught one. However, a lucky dock fisherman at Longview Lake had a rare encounter with one while crappie fishing. Catching the rare fish is only the beginning of this story. The amazing part is that sturgeon were never stocked. After viewing the photo, Jake Allman, the biologist for Longview, concluded it was most likely a Pallid Sturgeon, which are native to the Missouri river. Our best guess is this sturgeon swam from the Missouri river up the Little Blue River and held in the small stream while the dam was built and Longview lake was created thirty plus years ago. It is simply amazing that this fish, which is estimated to be fifty to one hundred years old, made such a long journey and survived. The amount of change this sturgeon had to adapt to during its journey to a new environment is hard to imagine. Couple all that with the fact that Longview is a heavily fished lake and I think you have the perfect recipe for an unbelievable fishing story.

Smallmouth Fishing Honey Hole near Joplin, MO

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

As first seen on mahoneyoutdoors.com….

I travel an awful lot for my day job. As a medical sales rep, I travel across Missouri and Kansas frequently (70k miles in last 15 months to be exact…ugh). The driving can get old, but I try to have some fishing gear with me everywhere I go. I was in Joplin, MO recently and discovered a good smallmouth fishing spot while I was in town.

I started by asking a couple of my buddies for some tips on where I might try. Paden Bennett, founder of the That’s a Good Fish brand and Ryan Walker, founder of the Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance, both recommended I look at Shoal Creek.

A quick google maps scouting session helped me pinpoint a spot that looked like a good access point. There appeared to be deep holes and water flows the fish might be sitting near. Grand Falls was the place to be, I decided.

I arrived about 7pm and there were a lot of people around in the main hole below the falls. There had to be fish sitting in there, but I moved downstream due to all the activity. I fished some timber and eddys that looked real fishy. It only took a few casts and had my first smallie on the bank. As a proud supporter of the Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance, I was happy to #freethefighter and let him swim back to his home to fight another day. My Ned Rig produced several more smaller fish as the night went on.

Near sunset, the crowd cleared and I made my move back to the main hole. It was hard to believe you could find such truly breathtaking scenery so close to town and so easily accessible.

There were a few younger guys with some GoPros strapped to their chest throwing whopper ploppers up close to the falls. I thought they must know something I don’t, but I honestly didn’t see them catch a fish.

I stood up on a rocky bluff behind them and casted my Ned Rig out as far as I could and found a hole that started producing fish on cast after cast. The most I got in a row was five. A lot of the fish were nice quality too, hovering around the 12-13 inch mark.

Luckily, I was able to have someone snap a quick photo of me as they were heading to their vehicle.

If you’re going smallmouth fishing near Joplin, I definitely recommend this spot. Come prepared with some dirty tennis shoes you don’t mind getting wet. There will be some places downstream you’ll want to fish to kill some time before the crowd clears. That’s when you can make your move back to the falls. I was throwing a Ned Rig with the small Z-Man finesse TRD worm in California Craw pattern. My jig head was a 1/6th oz. It was non-stop action the last 45 minutes and I could not have had more fun during an evening of work travel.

 

To see more stories like this one covering outdoor news from around Missouri, follow along at https://mahoneyoutdoors.com.

Grandson helps Grandpa catch giant rainbow trout at Lake Taneycomo

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

The big rainbow trout were biting on Lake Taneycomo over the weekend. Payden Hays and his Grandpa, George Hays, both residents of Lee’s Summit, made the trek down to Branson over the weekend. Their goal was to help George, who has fished his whole life, catch his very first trout.

They rented a boat from Lilley’s Landing Resort and Marina and took off to Monkey Island, a place where Payden has found success in the past when other spots won’t produce. Sure enough, the fish were there. In less than an hour, George had landed his very first trout at 86 years old!

When the fishing slowed, they made a move down lake past the Landing. It was a good move. Within minutes, they were seeing giant rainbows coming after their marabou jigs. George casted out and felt a slam. Fish on! A couple minutes later, his second trout was in the boat, only this time it was a lunker! The beautiful rainbow trout was 23.5 inches long and weight 3-pounds, 13-ounces. It was the biggest rainbow Payden had ever seen caught over several years of coming to Lake Taneycomo.

Visit Lilley’s Landing to learn more about how you can schedule your next trip to Lake Taneycomo too!

 

 

To see more stories like this one covering outdoor news from around Missouri, follow along at https://mahoneyoutdoors.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Need a Small Boat Transducer Mounting Rig?

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney
  • Hands-On REVIEW of a Cabela’s Product: Video & Commentary
  • Affordable & Works Perfect for Small Boats
  • Durable & Adjustable, but Instructions are Difficult
The Sonar Transducer Mounting Rig works perfect, but the instructions could have been more clearly written.  It did help me understand more about finding the bigger fish!

By Tyler Mahoney

“Up until this summer, I had never personally used sonar electronics to aid in my fishing. I finally broke down and bought a small Lowrance Hook 4x Sonar unit in June.

My intention was to use it to fish the smaller lakes and ponds that I fish regularly with my small boat that is powered by a small electric motor. Once I bought it, I needed to determine how I was going to mount it. Luckily, I came across a great product at Cabela’s product that would allow me to mount it on any boat.

The product is called the Cabela’s Portable Transducer Mount, see the link: (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Portable-Transducer-Bracket/699847.uts).
While it has some small imperfections, it works great for my purposes and I strongly recommend it, there is no hole drilling required and it is adjustable over a wide range of possible dimension.

The unit will fit boats with a 15-20 inch high transom and with a transom thickness up to 2-1/8 inches wide. It’s made from high-grade aluminum and while the instructions might have been more clearly written, it was not that hard to figure out once I got started.

The video will explain the issues I found. Overall, it meets my objectives and I like it.  Cost was under $50.
See the below Youtube video for a short product review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP2wqwZKMxc.

 

SPOT & STALK TURKEY HUNTING

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney
  • Effective, but BE VERY CAREFUL
  • Recommended ONLY ON PRIVATE, SECURED LAND
  • Tactics & Techniques

By Tyer Mahoney

When everything goes right, your stalk the long way around to expected turkey location is rewarded.

Heavy rain and wind can put the turkeys in a funk where they don’t gobble or respond to calls.  Severe rain can wash out nests, which means hens must breed again, thus prolonging the “henned up” effect every turkey hunter dreads.  Other times, such as late season, gobblers can be plain uncooperative and won’t investigate decoys or your calling.

So what do you do?

Simple.  It’s time to get on your feet and close the distance.  Although it’s not quite the same as a strutting tom marching into your decoys, spot and stalk turkey hunting can be just as exciting and rewarding, though your safety is of key interest in manner of hunting.

I have enjoyed much success stalking turkeys on secure, private land, but learned the most from my failures.  Whether you are by yourself or with a hunting partner, I have learned several strategies to follow when you begin your stalk.

Before you begin any spot and stalk, be sure of your surroundings and possible hunters that may be in your area.  I highly recommend you only do this on private land.

SPOTTING

This might seem like the easy part, but there are several factors you must keep in mind.

First, turkeys always find a way to be where you least expect.  As you approach your glassing point, stay in cover and below the line of sight of the area you think may have turkeys.  Always abide by the rule that if you can see out in the field, then whatever is out there can see you.

Also, stay in the shadows as much as possible, which should be relatively easy if you have good timber.  Ideally, you will make your way to a spot where you can see a good distance across a field that may be a strutting zone.  Along with a large field of view, your glassing point should be accessible to a good route to make your stalk.

Next, move slowly until you spot your bird.  One of the biggest mistakes I have made is quickly glancing across a field, seeing nothing, and then hustling to my next viewing area.  It is only then I realize I’ve spooked a strutting tom standing below a rise in the field I could not see from my first position.

Many people hunt from a blind to start their day.  If you’re like me, you have had plenty of times where birds hang up in the distance or won’t commit because they are with hens.  During set-up, be sure to position your blind so the entrance is facing away from where the turkeys are likely to be located.  In case you need to close the distance on foot, that allows you to exit your blind into cover without disturbing the turkeys.

STALKING

Once you have eyes on a gobbler, the fun part begins.  You will proceed with many of the same strategies you used to spot him.

Stalking works best in certain conditions.  After a rain or in the early morning when everything is still damp, you can move much quieter.  In addition, use the wind to your advantage.  If you must cover a large distance quickly, move as far as you can when the wind picks up and stop when it dies down again. And remember the golden rule, if you are in sight of the field, whatever is in the field can see you too. Stay below their line of sight!

If your turkey is on the move, always take the long way around to get out in front.  It might be more work, but I have failed most of the time when I tried to take the most direct route to the birds.  Taking the long way around allows you to stay in better cover and leaves more room for error on your part.  For example, you will inevitably step on a fallen branch in your haste.  If you’ve maintained a wide circle, inadvertent noises or movement shouldn’t spook the turkey.

As you get closer, you will more than likely lose sight of the birds at times.  When you stop to check the position of your gobbler, be sure you are next to a large tree or thick brush.  This will allow you to hide quickly in case he surprises you.

SHOOTING

If you follow the above guidelines, you will most likely end up with a shot opportunity.  You can always increase your chances by carrying a turkey fan with you as well.  Pop that up in front of you, in sight of the tom and many times he will close the distance running right at you!

Most importantly, remember to use the rules of hunter safety and to always be aware of your surroundings!

Spot and stalk is best done in an area where you are certain no other hunters are around.  In some parts of the country, this manner of hunting is not permitted.

Good luck and happy stalking!

Rabbit Hunting, an Underrated Experience

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney
When looking for rabbits in the scrub brush woodsy areas near Kansas City, Missouri, my hunting buddy, Joey Purpura (right) and I often enjoy a great hunt, share stories, and always look forward to a tasty meal afterwards. This is a great way to introduce youngsters into the sport of hunting!

As deer season winds down, many are left wondering what to do with their outdoor lives, but I have the solution with an underrated activity not widely talked about: rabbit hunting!

If you’ve seen rabbits hopping around in your hunting area, chances are there’s a lot more you haven’t seen!  Here are a few tips to help you have an enjoyable and successful rabbit outing!

Accessories

First, get yourself a game vest with some hunter orange on it.  You can find these from $30 on up at any Cabela’s or Bass Pro store.  If you don’t have a game vest, make sure to have hunter orange fabric on your person somewhere because it will become difficult to see your hunting partners in the thick brush.  You can use an old backpack in place of the game vest.

Next, select your gun and ammo.  Any 12 or 20 gauge with your average 2-3/4” game load will do, number 6 or 7 shot.  I use a Charles Daly 20 gauge semi-auto myself.

While not necessary, a helmet mount for a GoPro or other action camera will work great to capture your hunt on video.  Be sure to tilt it slightly downwards so it isn’t pointing up in the trees.

rabbithunting2

Hunting Strategy

If you don’t have a dog, don’t worry!  You can still be incredibly successful without one.  Here’s how to do it…

I recommend hunting with at least one, but preferably two other partners.  Rabbits can be very sly and sneak back behind as you walk through brush.  A line of 2-3 guys walking parallel to each other helps prevent this from happening. Be sure to walk anywhere from 10-20 yards apart.

Head to the areas you’ve seen the rabbits first. Move slowly through the thicket because it allows you a better opportunity to approach them before they flush. If you are moving quickly, you are likely making more noise, which can cause them to flush too far out in front of you for an effective shot.

A slight wind can be helpful in covering your noise as you approach.  I usually like to hunt in 5-10 mph conditions, but you can still be successful with greater or lesser winds.

rabbithunting3

If you aren’t finding rabbits, you might be walking the wrong spots. Search for the thickest, nastiest stuff you can find.  Patches of thorns, large piles of brush and branches, and ditches protected by heavy cover like thick weeds and evergreens are great rabbit producers.  You might have to jump on a pile of brush to flush a rabbit, but don’t be surprised when one bursts out!

If one gets away from you, don’t worry.  Just keep walking slowly towards its direction and you will likely flush it again.

Final Thoughts

Rabbit hunting is the perfect activity in winter months after deer season. It provides the social aspect often lacking in deer hunting and is a great way to introduce kids to hunting.  So don’t miss out on some unforgettable memories in the woods!

Shed Hunting – Where, When, How

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

It’s That Time, Here is Some Advice

shedhunting1

Deer season may be closed for most, but a new season is just starting: shed hunting season! Searching for shed antlers offers a fun experience for everyone and also provides valuable scouting insight for next fall.

Follow this advice and your shed hunts will be more productive.

When to Look

Bucks drop antlers when their testosterone levels fall after the mating season, though drought or poor nutrition can also influence when bucks drop their antlers.  The more stressful external factors that exist, the quicker antlers will drop. Typically, February through March is the best time to begin looking, but it varies depending on your regional location.  Use trail cameras to help you best determine when to search.

My experience has shown that bright, sunny days make it difficult to find antlers in heavily wooded areas.  Shadows mixed with sunlight make it very difficult to distinguish what is what. My all-time best results actually come on cloudy days.  The ground is covered with consistent light, creating less strain on your eyes.  Rainy days can also be very productive because leaves become matted down from moisture. Antlers contrast well with wet leaves.

Some people enjoy searching in the snow, but my experience has shown it to be more difficult.  Most antlers will be packed beneath the snow, leaving only small lengths of antler tips available to spot.

Where to Look

If you have a major food source, like a feeder or food plot, start there.  Walk in a circle around it, moving in a wider radius.  Deer also tend to navigate around field edges because they feel comfortable having wooded cover quickly available for escape.  The first 15 yards of field next to timber can be a prime location for antlers.

shedhunting2
Boots on, water bottles in hand, kids love to join adults and go shed hunting on those warm, winter days. Yellow-tinted safety glasses are recommended for all outdoor pursuits, foe everyone.
shedhunting3
There is no doubt about the feeling that kids have with shed hunting success! A smile like this will go into the memory book for another 70 years or so!

Bedding areas are also good places to look.  Deep timber with thick undergrowth, fields of native grass, and shallow, marshy areas are all great bedding habitat.  Antlers will be hard to spot in these areas though. If you can find transition corridors from the bedding areas to food sources, you might have a really good day of shed hunting in store.

Many landowners and conservation areas practice controlled burning of their fields each year.  Walk an area just after it is burned to have a fantastic chance of finding antlers. They contrast nicely to the blackened ground. The downside is any antler you find may be slightly charred if it was subjected to direct fire.

Be sure to search near obstacles that force deer to jump or quickly maneuver around. Those objects jar the antler loose. Classic examples are large logs, fence rows, and creeks.

General Advice

I recommend wearing safety glasses, preferably yellow-tinted.  They protect your eyes from thick brush and low hanging branches, and also help to see the ground more clearly.  Additionally, take extra care to walk slowly. It is incredibly easy to walk within feet of an antler and never see it. Bringing multiple people along helps alleviate the chance of missing sheds. Lastly, bring binoculars. They will help lessen your walking substantially.

About Tyler Mahoney – Tyler is avid outdoorsman who enjoys and shares his passion for outdoor sports with deliberation and helpful lessons for others about things he has learned along the way to gaining experience. He is a focused outdoorsman when in pursuit of the biggest buck in the woods or when rigging up for an afternoon of crappie fishing. Tyler is rapidly becoming recognized as a recognized leader in the outdoors. Learn more about Tyler at his website: http://www.mahoneyoutdoors.com.

First Fish Story

Posted on by Tyler Mahoney

Episode 1

When a youngster started fishing with his dad at 3 years old, using a bait casting rig, despite his dad’s warning to leave the rig alone, the monster fish hooked on that “less than magnificent” first cast, left an indelible impression that FISHING IS FUN! It has become a lifetime journey today. Listen and enjoy the passion, excitement and love of this recollection from angler outdoorsmen, Tyler Mahoney.