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A hunter’s attitude and spring gobbler season

Some friends and I were talking a few weeks ago about the current attitude of some hunters these days and hunters’ ethics in general. I know hunting has changed from the days I was growing up and a whole generation of hunters that were my mentors in those days are no longer around. I have touched base on some of these subjects before, but they still are an issue that I can’t get a handle on. Most hunters in my day, at least the ones I was around, were not so envious and begrudging about some of the things that go on these days. We were ALL hunters; we were members of the ...

Spring gobbler harvest numbers and rattlesnake encounters

If procrastination was an Olympic sport, I would have been in Paris collecting my gold medal. Here it is the first part of September, and I am just getting around to reporting on Spring gobbler harvest numbers. I, myself, did not have a very good season. Although I didn’t hunt very many days, I was unable to hear a single gobbler during the season. Also, I really didn’t see very much sign in the areas I usually hunt. Some other hunters must have run into the same difficulty as 11,650 bearded turkeys were harvested down from the 12,217 that were taken in the 2023 Spring season. ...

2024 trout stocking underway around the Mountain State

If you haven’t had the chance to go yet, you should know that 2024 trout stocking started on Jan. 2. Although the last week or so has brought a fair amount of snow and frigid temperatures, the forecast shows some above average temperatures soon. Once the snow melts and waters receded, there might be some good opportunities to get out and wet a line. With the recent temperatures, a lake like Spruce Knob might give you the conditions to try ice fishing. If you ice fished before then you probably know it can be productive under the right circumstances. Usually, it’s not very ...

The practice of baiting deer is still a subject of controversy

While sitting in my tree stand this season, I got to thinking about the practice of baiting deer. This is still a subject of some controversy. While some states ban the baiting of the deer altogether and I believe there are some states that have a certain period that can bait if it is ceased by a certain time. In West Virginia it is illegal to bait or feed any wildlife on public land. It is also illegal to bait deer in the CWD containment areas. This is one of the precautions to try and curb the spread of CWD in those areas where it has been found. It also got me thinking about ...

Thanksgiving means the first week of buck season

Thanksgiving week is upon us. In West Virginia that has always meant the first week of buck season for as long as I have hunted. Even with the drop in the number of hunters and less accessible hunting land, I’m sure this is still one of the busiest weeks of the year in our state. It is a time when a lot of families get together to hunt, go to a traditional deer camp and celebrate Thanksgiving. I have visited several deer camps where it seemed to be about more the camaraderie of camp than the harvesting of a deer. If you were lucky enough to get a deer that just afforded you ...

Outdoor activities with kids, grandkids a joy

It’s hard to believe we are already over two weeks into archery season. I’m sure you’ve heard all your life how the older you get, the more time flies. I’m getting to the age now where I’m finding it to be very truthful. I find it harder and harder to find the time and energy to partake in many outdoor activities, I was motivated in the form of taking my grandsons hunting, but now that is even starting to go away some, as they get older and are branching out on their own. The youngest while he does hunt, seems like he could take it or leave it and that’s fine because ...