a special edition of the natchitoches times weekend...

A special edition of the Natchitoches Times Weekend Edition, September 22-23, 2012

2C THE NATCHITOCHES TIMES Weekend Edition, September 22-23, 2012

BE SAFE, HUNTERS A MESSAGE FROM THE NATCHITOCHES PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE

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If you're a squirrel hunter,every once in a while itpays to "go back to thebasics." No matter howmuch you know, or thinkyou know, about squirrelhunting, a thorough reviewof the fundamentals almostalways improves success.

Many thousands of wordshave been written aboutbasic squirrel hunting tech-niques, and it's not myintention to rehash this inf-mation in great detail. My

goals are, first, to sharesome basic knowledge thatpersonally has proven suc-cessful, and second, to dis-cuss some of the less com-monly encountered factsabout squirrel behavior,facts the savvy sportsmencan use to improve the oddsfor a successful hunt.

Grays are agile, stream-lined squirrels weighing3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. Foxsquirrels are chunky andsquat, slower moving, and

usually much larger, weigh-ing up to 3 pounds. Bothspecies may occupy thesame areas, but fox squir-rels are typically found inmore open woods, usuallynear the forest edge. Graysprefer dense stands of treesin deeper woods.The species also differ in

activity periods. Grays aremost active at first light;fox squirrels arise a bitlater. Hunters should be ingray squirrel woods at

Getting back to the basics of squirrel huntingdawn and hunt the first twohours for best results. Thethird hour is somewhat pro-ductive, but midday usuallyoffers poor hunting.

When hunting strictly forfox squirrels, you can stayin bed an hour later andfind best results the secondand third hour after sun-rise. The first hour is OK,but again, afternoon activi-ty is minimal. Top huntingin woods harboring bothfox and gray squirrels isduring the first three hoursof daylight.

Local Hunting AreaJust look for woods with

mature nut-bearing treesopen to hunting, and youshould find squirrels. Thesetup is even better ifthere's a stream flowingthrough the area, or maybea nearby farm pond orcornfield.

Acorns are the most abun-dant and basic food ofsquirrels, but you can't takeit for granted that acornswill be abundant every fall.There are two primarygroups of oaks: white andred. Except in poor grow-ing years, white oaks pro-duce mast every year. Redoak acorns require twoyears to mature, thus theircrops are staggered.Further, white oak acornsare preferred by all wildlife,because they're sweet. Redoak acorns are bitter, andthough squirrels eat them,if they have a choice theymay be found in greaternumbers in white oakstands. Some trees mayalso get special attentionbecause they produce larg-er acorns or because theiracorns are exceptionallyabundant.Check for acorns and fresh

cuttings (fragments of nut-shells) on the ground.Fresh cuttings have bright-ly colored edges, a signsquirrels have been feedingin the area, and it should begood for hunting.

Walnuts, beechnuts, hicko-ry nuts, pecans, butternutsand other hard mast are alleagerly sought. Craftysquirrel hunters also keepa lookout for special forageitems other hunters mayoverlook. Fox squirrels

love corn at all stages of itsdevelopment, thus woodsnear a cornfield are certainto be a good place to take astand. Squirrels may befound gorging on the budsand flowers of maples,birch, basswood, elms andother trees. Seasonal fruitslike wild cherries, wildgrapes, hackberries, mul-berries and persimmonsare especially important tothe hunter, because theyoften concentrate squirrelsin small areas, if only forbrief periods.

The WeatherWeather is an important

consideration for the squir-rel hunter, because weatherdictates specific squirrelbehavior and hunting meth-ods.

Squirrels, like people,enjoy pleasant weather, andstill, sunny mornings andafternoons will find themactively feeding. If thewoods are dry on thesedays, hunters should listenas much as they look, assquirrels will often beheard before they're seen.When woods are dry, it'salso wise to sit while hunt-ing, rather than prowlingnoisily about.

Wet woods and mist ordrizzle change the picture.If the temperature is mild,squirrel hunting can besuperb. Bushytails don'tmind wet days and are oftenseen foraging on theground with tail spreadover back and head like anumbrella. The damp forestfloor creates ideal condi-tions for the quiet stalker.

Approaching fronts, per-sistent stormy weather andhigh wind shut off squirrelactivity like closing a watertap. Squirrels den up andstay until the weatherchanges, drastically reduc-ing your chances for suc-cess. Squirrels don't hiber-nate, but they may remaininactive in their dens fordays on end.

You needn't forgo the plea-sures of squirrel huntingjust because the weatherisn't perfect. But knowinghow your quarry will reactto various weather condi-tions can help you make thebest of your time afield.

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Jump Shooting...this is oneof the favorite ways toshoot wood ducks.

It's a great fallback whenother forms of hunting isslow, and you don't need anabundance of ducks to besuccessful. Sleeping in andheading out at mid-morningis perfectly reasonable, andyou don't need any moregear than your shotgun, apocket full of shells andcamouflage clothing(although a few extra itemslike hip boots and binocu-lars definitely help). The easiest place to jump-shoot woodies is on a wood-ed, meandering stream orsmall river with plenty ofslack-water pools. If thebanks are lined with mast-producing trees such as redoaks and beech, you'realmost certain to stumbleonto a few birds.

There are basically twoways to jump-shoot woodies.Slipping along the bank is ahighly effective way to hunta short stretch of stream orbeaver ponds, while drifting

in a canoe or other smallboat is a better option forcovering water. Either way,focus on river bends, eddiesand sheltered coves wherewoodies are likely to gatherduring the middle of theday.

Loafing wood ducks willusually give themselvesaway with ripples on thewater and occasionalsqueals. When you suspectbirds are nearby, locatethem with binoculars if pos-sible, then plan yourstalk. Whether you're onfoot or in a boat, jump-shoot-ing is great fun with abuddy. Boat hunters cantake turns paddling andshooting. Bank hunters cansplit up to flank and flush aflock of ducks. In a perfectworld, both hunters shouldhave plenty of shooting.

Wood Duck LoadsWhile some hunters prefer

a 20-gauge for wood ducks, a12-gauge is a much morecapable choice. Wood ducksare often hunted in areaswith thick cover where a

wounded bird can be virtu-ally impossible to recover,and using heavier loads canhelp ensure clean kills. Iprefer 2 ¾- or 3-inch loads ofsteel No. 4s and a modifiedchoke for woodies. Thiscombination produces atight pattern that will deliv-er multiple pellet strikes ontarget, which is what youneed to anchor woodies inthick cover.

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Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. ConsultWildlife Management Area and Federal Land sections for specific regulations and dates onthose areas. Daily Bag Limits: 1 antlered and 1 antlerless (when legal). Possession Limit: 3antlered and 3 antlerless per season.

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Field dressing whitetaildeer is a relatively easytask. The only items youwill need are a sharp knifeand a stomach that is noteasily upset.

For those that do not likethe feel of warm blood orinternal body parts, I rec-ommend you wear a pair ofsurgical gloves.

Listed below are some verybasic steps to aid you incompleting the field dress-ing process.

Step 1Lay the deer in a belly up

position. Start your cut atthe anus or below the breastbone. Be sure to only cutthrough the skin. Cut thefull length of the carcassfrom the anus to the breastbone. Be careful not to cutthe stomach.

Step 2Using a knife, saw, or axe;

split through the pelvicbone and the breast bone.Tip: If you intend to mount

your deer do not cut skinpast or split the breast bone.This will require you toreach up into the chest cavi-ty to cut the esophagus andremove the heart and lungs.

Step 3Reaching up into the chest

cavity grab hold of thewindpipe and cut it loose.Roll the deer onto its sideand cut and pull away allinternal organs. Always becareful when handling thestomach and bladder. If youpuncture the stomach beprepared to deal with thesmell that follows.Tip: If you spill any urine orfeces onto the meat washaway immediately withwater or a clean cloth.

Step 4Wipe the body cavity clean.

If water is available, use itto aid in cleaning the cavity.If it is a warm day, place abag of ice into the chest cav-ity to help keep the meatcool.

Waiting on Daylight....A young dad waits with his five year old son on daylight the first day ofsquirell season. As expected the opening day didn’t go by quietly for the hopeful duo.However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be repeated.

Field dressing whitetail deer in four easy steps

Dove hunting doesn’t takea great deal of planning.Finding where they roost,feed, drink, and pick upgravel are things you shouldknow.

Drive around the country-side looking for doves. It iseasy to be fooled by smallgroups of birds sitting onpower lines. These birds arejust resting while goingfrom one place to another.Watch the surrounding areafor more birds. Note thedirection they come and go.

These birds should leadyou to fields where moredoves are feeding or treeswhere birds areroosting. Don’t waste your

time looking for doves ingrassy pastures.

Grain fields left standingor recently cut are excellentdove areas especially ifthere is water and gravelroads nearby.

Tips for a successful dove hunt


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The Louisiana Wildlife andFisheries Commission(LWFC) adopted proposedseason dates, bag limits andshooting hours for the 2012-13 migratory waterfowl sea-son. The dates will be rati-fied by a declaration ofemergency from theCommission, after approvalfrom the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service.

Following a comment peri-od that began after the Julycommission meeting, theLouisiana Department ofWildlife and Fisheries(LDWF) recommended a 60-day season for ducks, cootsand mergansers in the threezones in place for the 2012-13hunting season.Shootinghours begin one-half hourbefore sunrise and extenduntil sunset.In the West Zone, the firstsegment will open on Nov.10 and close on Dec. 9. Thesecond segment will openon Dec. 22 and run throughJan. 20. In the East Zone,the first segment will runfrom Nov. 17 to Dec. 2. Thesecond segment will startDec. 15 and end Jan. 27. Inthe new Coastal Zone, thefirst segment will open onNov. 10 and close on Dec. 2,and the second segment willopen on Dec. 15 and runthrough Jan. 20.

Youth waterfowl weekendhunts will be held Nov. 3-4 inthe West and Coastal Zones,and Nov. 10-11 in the EastZone.

A proposal to move theyouth waterfowl weekend tothe end of the final huntingsegment in the East Zonewas not adopted due to pub-lic comments received infavor of the traditional pre-season dates normally pro-vided for youth.Additionally, public com-

ment asking for an EastZone opening segment with16 days and second segmentwith 44 days was accommo-dated.

The daily bag limit onducks is six and mayinclude no more than fourmallards (no more than twoof which may be females),two pintails, one canvas-back, one mottled duck, oneblack duck, three woodducks, four scaup and tworedheads.

The daily bag limit oncoots is 15. The daily baglimit for mergansers is five,of which only two may behooded mergansers. Themerganser limits are inaddition to the daily baglimit for ducks.

The possession limit onducks, coots and mer-gansers is twice the dailybag limit.

Light geese and white-fronted geese will have a 74-day season. The first seg-ment in the West Zone willopen on Nov. 10 and close onDec. 9. The second segmentin the West Zone will runfrom Dec. 22 to Feb. 3. Thefirst segment in the EastZone will open on Nov. 3 andrun until Dec. 2. The EastZone second segment willrun from Dec. 15 to Jan. 27.In the Coastal Zone, the sea-son on light and white-front-ed geese will be Nov. 10 toDec.2 and Dec. 15 to Feb. 3.The daily bag limit on lightgeese is 20, with no posses-sion limit. The daily limiton white-fronted geese istwo, with a possession limitof four.The Canada goose seasonwill run concurrent withthe light and white-frontedgoose season, but close onJan. 31 in the West andCoastal Zones, EXCEPT a

small area in southwestLouisiana will remainclosed. That closure zoneincludes the following area:Beginning at the Texas stateline, proceeding east alongHwy 82 to the CalcasieuShip Channel, then northalong the Calcasieu ShipChannel to its junction withthe Intracoastal Canal, theneast along the IntracoastalCanal to its juncture withLA Hwy 82, then southalong LA Hwy 82 to its junc-ture with Parish road 3147to Freshwater Bayou Canal,then south to the Gulf ofMexico, then west along theshoreline of the Gulf ofMexico to the Texas stateline, then north to the pointof beginning at LA Hwy 82.Open waters of Lake Arthurand the Mermentau River,from the Hwy 14 bridgesouthward, will also beclosed to Canada goosehunting.

The daily limit for Canadageese is three in aggregatewith white-fronted geeseand the possession limit issix in aggregate with white-

fronted geese. So the dailybag limit will allow threedark geese (white-frontedand Canada geese), no morethan two of which may bewhite-fronted geese.The Statewide ConservationOrder for light geese willopen the first segment inthe West Zone on Dec. 10andrun to Dec. 21, andthe sec-ond segment will run fromFeb. 4 to March 9. The firstsegment in the East Zonewill run from Dec. 3 to Dec.14, and the second segmentwill run from Jan. 28 toMarch 9. The first segmentin the Coastal Zone will runfrom Dec. 3 to 14, and thesecond segment from Feb.4to March 9. During thistime, only snow, blue andRoss geese may be taken anddaily bag and possessionlimits are eliminated. Theuse of electronic calls andunplugged shotguns isallowed. Shooting hoursduring the ConservationOrder begin one-half hourbefore sunrise and extenduntil one-half hour aftersunset.

Rails may be taken fromSept. 15 to 30 and again fromNov. 10 to Jan. 2. For Kingand Clapper rails, the dailylimit is 15 in the aggregatewith a possession limit of30. Sora and Virginia railshave a daily and possessionlimit of 25 in the aggregate.

Gallinule season will beopen from Sept. 15 to 30 andagain from Nov. 10 to Jan. 2.The daily bag limit is 15with a possession limit of30.

Snipe season will open inthe West Zone with the firstsegment from Nov. 3 to Dec.10, and the second segmentfrom Dec. 22 to Feb. 28. Inthe East Zone and CoastalZones, the first segment willrun from Nov. 3 to Dec. 3,with a second segment run-ning Dec. 15 to Feb. 28. Thedaily bag limit is 8 and thepossession limit is 16.

An extended falconry sea-son for ducks, rails andgallinules will take placefrom Nov. 3 to Feb. 1.

L.W.F.C. Sets 2012-13 Migratory Waterfowl Season

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A tree stand is one of my favorite pieces of deer huntingequipment. It provides me with a higher perspective of mysurroundings. Keeps me higher than a whitetails directline of sight and gives me another advantage when I amattempting to keep my scent from being discovered by theirall powerful noses. On the market today you can find a vari-ety of tree stands that are sure to meet your needs. Whenshopping for a stand, check out the specifications. Look athow much it weighs, how much weight it will support, if itis TMA certified, etc. When using a tree stand rememberSAFETY FIRST. Multiple hunters are injured each yearfrom improper use. Be sure to read and follow all safetyguidelines that are set for your stand. In the section below Iwill be explaining the 3 most popular stands.

Climbing StandsA climbing stand is the most versatile and easiest stand touse. They usually weigh in a range of 20-25 lbs so you caneasily carry it in the woods with you just like a backpack.With a climber you can adjust your height and change posi-tion of the way you face in merely seconds. They are alsovery portable. All you need is a decently sized straight treethat will support you and the stand. They are also very com-fortable. Most new stands come with a padded backrest thatwraps around the tree and a hammock style seat that willmake long hunting days more comfortable. When you leaveyour stand in the woods you may also want to leave sometype of locking equipment attached so you can secure yourstand to the tree. This will help in preventing theft of yourequipment.

Hang-On StandsA Hang-On stand is for setting up a semi-permanent hunt-ing location. They usually weigh in the 12-18 lb range. Theyare little more difficult and time consuming to hang than aclimber but once you have the stand in place it is there forthe whole season. You will also need to purchase climbingsteps or screw in steps to assist you in hanging and huntingout of the stand. You have a wider tree selection with ahang on stand due to the fact that you do not need a treethat is completely straight. Most hang on stands come witha chain or strap that wraps around the tree to hold thestand permanently in place. It is a good idea to add a ratch-et strap to this stand to give you a little more snugness toinsure the stand does not shift when climbing into or out ofthe stand. Always wear a safety harness when hanging andhunting out of this stand.

Ladder Stands A ladder stand is used when setting up a stand locationthat you plan to use for an entire hunting season or severalseasons in a row. A ladder stand comes with your sittingarea and ladder all in one package. The ladder will get youan average height of 12 to 16 feet off the ground. You can

also buy extensions to giveyou some added height if youwish to hunt further off theground. It is bulkier andheavier than a hang-on butusually provides a more com-fortable seating arrange-ment. You can buy ladderstands that fit one hunter ortwo. The greatest positivewith 2 man ladder stands isthe opportunity it provides tobe able to share hunting expe-riences with youth huntersand friends. Just like with ahang on stand you may wantto add an extra ratchet strapto the stand and tree to giveyou some extra security.

Deer stands: whichone is right for you?

Happy Hunting!

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Facing facts squarely, we must concede that our belovedhunting guns are inherently capable of inflicting great bod-ily harm and even death when used carelessly or handledincorrectly.

Today mandatory hunter safety programs have signifi-cantly reduced the number of shooting and hunting acci-dents, making them much rarer than they were during myyouth, when everybody was sort of on their own to "learnby doing."

Nevertheless, accidents still happen when people becomecareless or inattentive while handling firearms.There are various short lists enumerating correct and safefirearms handling and use. The 10 Commandments of GunSafety remain an excellent guide. However, these guide-lines only work if shooters read, remember, and practicethem. Following is my own little list of safe gun handlingrules based mainly on what seem to be the most commonlapses of sound safety principles. •Pay attention to what you are doing. When you have a

firearm in your hands, the gun and what you are doing withit are the most important things in your immediate world.But you also have to pay careful attention to the actions andpositions of other people in your immediate vicinity. Thiswould particularly apply to other hunters in duck blindsand goose pits as well as shooters at target ranges.•Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. The

bullet or shot charge is going to go where the muzzle ispointed. If you keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction,the worst consequence of an accidental discharge is a goodscare. •Never assume a gun is unloaded until you have personal-

ly verified that the chamber is empty. If you don't know howto check the chamber, put the gun down pointed in a safedirection and find someone who does. Point of caution! Inautoloading shotguns and other semiautomatic firearms,opening and viewing the chamber can set up the next round(if present) in the magazine to be loaded into the chamber.If you are not familiar with the firearm being examined,it's possible that checking the empty chamber will inadver-tently and unknowingly load a cartridge into the chamber.

• When hunting with a loaded gun, keep you finger off thetrigger until you are ready to shoot. Waterfowling oftentakes place in a messy and cluttered environment.Stumbles and falls are common. Better to not have your fin-ger in firing position until your feet are planted firmly andyou are mounting the gun to your shoulder. What about thesafety? Short answer, don't rely on it. Safeties are mechani-cal devices, and as such are subject to malfunction. Fewsafeties on sporting guns actually lock the striker (firingpin). Most merely block the trigger, preventing it frombeing pulled until the safety is disengaged. The relation-ship between the trigger and the sear (which releases thestriker) is a delicate one. Probably most safety failures andmalfunctions are the result of improper after-market guntinkering or simple wear on the parts.

Most of us know or know of someone whose side-by-sideor over/under has "doubled," meaning both barrels firedafter one pull of the trigger. That likely occurred as a resultof worn parts. And yes, a gun with a worn sear can dis-charge if dropped or simply knocked over, even with thesafety on. Sadly, many have, with disastrous consequences.DOWN-RANGE DANGERS:Always be aware of what liesbeyond your target. For shotgunners, this means anythingwithin the extent of the pattern spread as well as distantobjects that could be hit by skipping or falling pellets.

10 Commandmentsof firearm safety

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Near Kisatchie National Forest - a Deer Hunter’s Paradise

Oct 1, 2012 7:10 AM 6:59 PM

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Sunrise/Sunset Tables for Natchitoches, Louisiana

By Juanice GrayI write this on a clear

Wednesday morning. It’scrisp. It’s cool.

It’s making me want tohead back to Coloradowhere we just spentalmost two weeks in hotpursuit of the elusive elk.I was excited this yearbecause I finally drew aneither sex muzzleloadertag so I could shoot a cowor bull.

The American Indianscalled the large critter awapiti. I think that musttranslate into “sneaky,tasty animal that knowsit’s on private property orotherwise not legal to

shoot so I’ll pose for thenice hunter while her fin-gers itch on her trustymuzzleloader.”

That must be the accu-rate translation, becausethat is exactly what threecow elk and one bull did.

My husband, Ralph,and I were strategicallypositioned behind amakeshift stand of piledtree limbs and, having satfrom just after noon tillabout 6:30 p.m. in thesteady pitter patter ofrain, decided to finallytake shelter under thefull branches of a nearbyspruce tree. It was gettingcooler and there wasn’tmuch light left. I glancedto my right, and like theChristmas tale says, “Towhat did my wonderingeyes did appear? “Therewas no jolly fat guy bear-ing gifts, but there werethree cow elk easing upthe field heading our way.Our location was near aproperty line fence thatdivided national forest

land and private owner?Hunting Prohibited?land. Guess where thoseblasted cows were?

Yep, smack dab in thewide-open spaces of theprivate property, just assafe as if they were inFort Knox.

They knew it too.Ralph and I watch a lot

of hunting shows. Inthem, the hunters usetheir calls and the elkcome running. Not so.Not so at all.

We used our calls andthey just found anotherpose. They also were wellversed in the art of tease.They would walk severalyards toward us, narrow-ing the distance to thefence to about 60 yards orso. A perfect muzzle-loader shot.

Then they would turnand trot back a few yardsthen look back. This littledance continued foralmost 30 minutes.Finally we decided wewouldn’t get a shot so I

dragged out my trustycamera and tried to snapa few shots in the waninglight. Ralph continuedhis calling and actuallygot them to talk back tohim. Sassy things theywere. I got that on thecamera video. It’s rathercool.

By now it’s almost com-pletely dark and they’restill there. It’s an odd sit-uation when you can’tcall 'em in or run 'em off.

They just hung around.So did we. It was almost astand off. Finally theygave up and headed backinto the woods and wemade it back to camp tothaw out and dry off.

No elk meat for steaksand gravy or chili. Notone shot fired. Two disap-pointed hunters. Oneempty freezer.

Did I mention thesewere not the only elk wesaw? It gets better. Thisepisode was on the heelsof an even more frustrat-ing situation.

Earlier that afternoonwe had a close encounterwith a bull elk. Samelocation. Same steadyrain. Same divider fence.A couple of differences.

An elk appeared out ofthe rain and mist and myheart stopped beatingwhen I saw the tips ofantlers appear. Not hav-

ing ever killed a bull,Ralph was going to giveme first shot. We bothheld our breath as thebull drew closer.

All hunters know thatwhile we sit in ourstands, our minds con-jure up the perfect sce-nario. The elk or deer orwhatever game we areafter will enter from thisspot. It will walk to exact-ly this spot. It will turnbroadside and standstock-still. We will drop itin its tracks.

That was exactly whatwas unfolding before myeyes. The bull was com-ing in where I imaginedand walking toward thatexact spot at the perfectdistance. My heartbeataccelerated to a pace thatput a hummingbird’swings to shame.


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In hot pursuit of elusive Colorado elk

A huge black bear appears massive as hewalks into a clearing.

A spike elk appearsfrom seeminglynowhere whi leJuanice and RalphGray are hunting inColorado.

Then, it slammedagainst my chest, andstopped.

It was a spike. A two-pointer. No brow tines.

Not legal to shoot.Ralph has better eye-

sight than me andalthough we both tried,we could not find a forkor brow tine on that bullto make him legal.

The bull knew he wassafe. He stopped, heturned broadside, heposed, he licked his hoof,he scratched andpreened. He stood therein all his glory, with hisheavy spike antlers aslong as my arms, andknew he would not windup on the supper table.

I got a brief video andsome photos of him inspite of the disappoint-ment and the rain.

While those elk adven-tures left us empty hand-ed, as well as Ralph’s solosighting of five cows dis-appearing over a hill, ourencounters with othermountain wildlife left mycamera full.

The day following theelk sightings dawnedclear and beautiful andstayed that way all day.That afternoon as I sat onmy stand enjoying thesunshine and just beingoutdoors, I methodicallyscanned the area.

Left, right, left, right,left, Oh my!

About 125 yards awaystood a massive blackbear. They all look large,but this fellow was huge.He sidled up to the fence,his back even with thetop strand, and pushed. Ialways wondered howbear got over fences.

They don’t.They go through them.He pushed. The fence

gave. He sauntered on.I watched as he made

an arc around my posi-tion.

I knew he couldn’t hearme. I wasn’t breathing.

He didn’t catch wind ofme either thanks to myearth scent cover andeventually meandered offinto the oak brush.

What a rush!Besides these close

encounters, I also cameface to face with a couplecoyote, several flocks ofwild turkeys, cat andAlbert squirrels, muledeer and was overrun bychipmunks.

There must have been abumper crop of chip-munks this year. Theywere everywhere and bythe end of the time wewere there we were shoo-ing them out of thecamper.

They decided to visit.Often.

It could have some-thing to do with a pan-cake breakfast we had onour 28th weddinganniversary Sept. 7. Afterbreakfast we got thenotion to see if the chip-munks liked the leftoversyrup and if they wouldcome close enough to findout.

Chipmunks do not likesyrup.

They love it. Shyness is not a factor

to them when it comes tothe yummy, sticky, sweetstuff. They devoured it.

Chipmunks make forvery entertaining “out-door television.”

We also had the oppor-tunity to ride our mulesall over the mountainbefore season opened. Ifyou don’t know what awater ditch is, it is agroove cut into the side ofa mountain that spiralsdown and carries water,an irrigation ditch.

A narrow irrigationditch with no sides. Werode our mules aroundone of those ditches.

The little miniaturetrees and homes in thevalleys below the ditcheswere so cute as we woundour way up. (Yes, you dodetect a hint of sarcasm.)Sometimes there wasnothing but air whenlooking over one side orthe other.

I do not look overmuch. I mostly don’t lookanywhere but betweenmy mule’s ears. As longas they are still pointingtoward the sky, we’regood.

We also rode across val-leys and up steep hills.

Straight up. Once at thetop there was nowhere togo so it was straight backdown. My mule, HoneyBee, stopped at the bot-tom and turned her headto stare me in the eye.There was no doubt whatmessage she was sending.She was not happy.

This is the same animalI had to trust to take meback around the waterditch to camp.

I really should try tokeep her happy.

We don’t have elk onthe menu any time soon,but we did enjoy spectac-ular weather, breathtak-ing countryside, got toenjoy nature and wildlifeat their best and even hada visit from some friendsfrom Coushatta who werevacationing nearby.

This hunt goes down asone for the record books,and the photo albums.You just can’t beat thegreat Rocky Mountains.

Now, let me remind youwhat kicks off Oct. 6. DidI mention squirrels?


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One of the best advantagesa hunter can get when hunt-ing whitetail deer is doingso from an elevated posi-tion. In most hunting sce-narios, to achieve this ele-vated height, it is easiest todo so with a tree stand.

Modern tree stands arevery safe when used theproper way. Follow all man-ufactures guidelines oncare and upkeep of yourtree stand.

Failure to do so can resultin serious injury or death.To help prevent injury fromtree stand accidents, followthese safety guidelines.

Get familiar with yourequipment

Read and follow all factoryrecommended proceduresconcerning your tree stand.

Practice using your standon a tree close to the groundto help you to become morecomfortable with themechanics and functions ofthe stand. I always keep allrelated safety equipment ina bag attached to the stand.You do not want to make itto your hunting spot beforeyou realize you have left keysafety parts behind. It is in

times like these thathunters decide to skip keysafety steps. The decision tohunt unsafe might just beyour last.

Always use your safetyequipment

Use a safety harness whenhunting from elevated treestands. Again read and fol-low all recommended proce-dures. Never use a rope toreplace your safety belt por-tion that is attached to thetree. I recommend a fullbody harness. In the eventof a fall while wearing a fullbody harness your bodywill be facing straight up. Ifyou are properly attached tothe tree you would only fall8 to 10 inches. This willallow you to easily pullyourself back up onto yourstand.

Never carry equipmentwith you while climbing

Use a haul line to raise orlower your gear. Make sureguns and crossbows areunloaded before raising orlowering them from theground. Make sure yourhaul line is sturdy enoughto withstand the weight of agun, crossbow, and any

other gear you plan to pullup to your stand.

Check permanent treestands every year before

huntingDo not use homemade tree

stands. These stands are notonly difficult to move whendeer change their trails, butthese stands often deterio-rate quickly and often areunsafe even when newlyinstalled.

Remember that weakenedwooden steps and standscan kill and cripplehunters. Even pressuretreated wood gets slipperyovertime. Read and under-stand recommended proce-dures when installing com-mercial stands. Straps orchains sometimes are rec-ommended to be changed inas little as 12 months of use.When installing never putall your weight on a singlebranch. Keep at least onehand and one foot on asecure place when reachingfor the next hold. Climbhigher than the stand andstep down onto it. Climbingup onto it can dislodge itand cause accidents. Eachtime you hunt from a per-

manent stand make a visualcheck to confirm every-thing is in its place.

Know the RulesOn public land in most

states it is illegal to placenails or other hardwareinto trees, or to build per-manent structures, such astree stands, platforms andblinds. On private landalways get the landownerspermission before you cutlimbs, remove trees or altertheir landscape in any way.

Check portable treestands before hunting

Inspect portable stands forloose nuts and bolts beforeeach use. Make sure tochoose only healthy, livingtrees when using climbingdevices. Rough-barked treesare always best. It gives theteeth and straps on yourstand something to grabonto. Do not use a tree thatis rotten or has dead limbs.Don’t go too high. The like-lihood of a serious injuryescalates if you fall fromhigh up. Usually, 15 to 20feet is high enough to givethe hunter an advantageabove the whitetails line ofsight.

Use updated equipmentYou might save a few bucks

on an older used tree standbut you are putting yourhealth at risk. Tree standequipment manufacturedtoday is solid, safe andsecure. The $50 you save ona harness or stand will nothelp you much when itcomes to calculating yourhospital or burial expenses.

Plan aheadTell a dependable person

where you’re hunting andwhen you plan to return.Map your whereabouts andleave a note at camp, athome or in your vehicle sothat you can be found incase of an emergency. Ifyour like me you alreadycarry enough equipmentinto the woods. But it alsothink it would be wise tohave a whistle, first aid kit,good flashlight and cellphone just in case of anemergency situation.

A successful hunt alwayscoincides with a safe hunt.Safety should be your num-ber one priority when goingon a hunting trip.

Always remember safetyfirst.

Get familiar with your tree stand safety guidelines

1 4 1 5 M e t r o D r .A l e x a n d r i a , L A3 1 8 - 4 4 2 - 9 7 7 7

@John Ward Ace Hardware

Starting with the first ofseveral friction calls — andone of the simplest to mas-ter we'll begin with the boxcall. Invented in 1897 byHenry Gibson ofDardanelle, Ark.

Box calls are basically twopieces of wood; a coffin-shaped tone chamber and apaddle-like striker or lid.The two pieces are fastenedtogether loosely by a screwat one end. Today's box callsare mostly made from cedar,walnut and a host of otherhard woods. Chalk or rosinis used to coat the playingsurfaces to allow it to strikeconsistently and vibrateproperly, which, in turn, pro-duces sound.To play or "work" a box call,

lightly grasp the lid handlebetween the thumb, indexand middle finger of theright hand while holding thebox in the palm of the left.(Southpaws should reversetheir hold.) Flexing thewrist, the lid is strokedacross the thin, top edges ofthe box to produce any ofseveral turkey calls. (SeeWild Turkey Vocabularybelow.)

For an alternate method ofholding a box call, hold it ina vertical position with thehinged end down. Hold yourhands straight out in athumbs-up position. Graspthe bottom of the box in theleft hand, while grasping thelid handle between the rightindex finger and thumb. Theforward stroke produces ayelp. For best results, try tokeep the lid in contact withthe box on the forwardstroke and away from thebox on the non-callingreturn stroke. A cluck ismade by placing the lid onthe lip of the sound chamberand giving it a quick strokewhile pulling the lid awaysharply.

Box calls are best for pro-ducing the hen or gobbler"yelp," depending on howthe box is tuned. The two-toned yelp is the foundationto communicating with wildturkeys. Box calls producerealistic clucks &# 8212another basic call turkeyhunters rely on. With prac-tice, box calls realisticallyreproduce a hen's "cutting"

call, which is a staccatoseries of clucks. Slate-type Friction CallsSlate calls, also known as"peg and pot" type calls, areanother type of friction calland, today, come in a widearray of surface and strikermaterials. The earliest callswere made from a flat pieceof thin wood or slate. Earlystrikers, or pegs, were madefrom hickory and other hardwoods or bone. The playingsurface of the earliest callswas cupped in one handwhile the striker was held(like a pencil) in the oppo-site hand. The tip of thestriker is scratched acrossthe playing surface to pro-duce sound.

The evolution of the mod-ern slate call comes from aflowerpot, or more accurate-ly, the round water-catchingtray that sits beneath it. Theround, shallow shape creat-ed a cup or sound chamberto hold a round piece of

Today's calls come withsounding boards made ofslate, glass, aluminum,ceramic and a host of othermaterials. Strikers come inseveral wood types, carbon,plastic, aluminum andmore.

To properly use a slate call,grasp the pot in the left handby forming a "C" with theindex and thumb. Hold theoutside edge of the potinside the "C" and use theother fingers to give supportto the bottom of the call.Hold the peg like a pencil inthe right hand. Draw smallcircles on the soundingboard to produce yelps.Pushing down firmly withthe striker and pulling it in ashort, straight line will cre-ate a cluck. Increase thespeed of the rhythm to pro-duce a cackle or cutting ofan excited hen. Quietpurring calls, as well aslouder aggravated purrs,can be mastered on the slatecall. Wingbone and Trumpet

CallsCrafting calls from the wingbones of wild turkeys datesback to 6500 BC, accordingto archeological findings ofearly American inhabitants.Early Americans frequentlyyelped up their quarry into

blowgun or bow range usingwingbone calls. Severalwingbone calls have beenunearthed and show wherea single bone or multiplebones were fastened togeth-er to create a bugle-type call.Several variations of thewingbone call have beenmade from materials suchas cane, bone, horn andother hollow, slender mate-rials. One such call is the"Turpin Yelper" created inthe early days of the 20thcentury by calling legendTom Turpin of Memphis,Tenn.

Diaphragm CallsDiaphragm calls are some ofthe "oldest" modern turkeycalls. According to research,in 1867, Samuel McClaininvented and patented a birdwhistle that held a thinmembrane inside a horse-shoe-shaped, thin metalframe. In 1921, HenryBridges of Maryland patent-ed his own "sound produc-ing device" specifically tocall wild turkeys. Again,Bridges affixed a membrane

material inside a horseshoe-shaped frame, which was tobe held to the roof of themouth and blown across tocreate a sound.

Today's mouth diaphragmsuse thin latex rubber as reedmaterial in place of greenleaves. The reed material isheld inside a horseshoe-shaped frame and is mostcommonly taped with water-proof tape. The call is placedin your mouth with roundedside to the back and ispressed to the roof of themouth with the tongue.Huffing breath across thereed, which causes the reedto vibrate and create sound,makes the call sound..

Tube CallsTube calls are another ver-sion of the diaphragm call.Instead of the reed beingheld inside the mouth, thelatex material is stretchedacross the top of a roundtube. Some refer to this callas a "snuff can" call, whichwas an early source ofsound chambers for thiseffective turkey call. Today,

calls typically are madefrom plastic or wood, withthe reed stretched across thetop and held in place with arubber band.

Push-Pin CallsAlso called "push-button boxcalls," the push-pin call is awooden or plastic frictionbox similar in shape to thepaddle-type box call. Insteadof having an externalhinged lid, it incorporates alid that rides on a dowel thatsticks through the end ofthe box. A spring or rubber-band is used to give the pad-dle proper tension as it ridesover a pillar inside. Pushingthe rod causes the paddle toscrape over the internal pil-lar, which vibrates to maketurkey-like sounds.Push-button calls are theeasiest turkey call for begin-ners to learn to use. To use apush-button call, simplyhold it in either palm andpush the operating rod. Slowto medium rhythmic strokesproduce yelps. Quick taps onthe rod produce clucks.


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On Beautiful Black Lake! Come See Bubba, Theresa and Cody

318-875-2405 6414 LA Hwy. 9

Campti, LA 71411

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Campti, LA 71411

Beginner's Guide to Turkey Calls & Calling


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