Southern Traditions Outdoors - January 2017

1 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

HUNTING THE

HUNTERS

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On the Cover

Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine Mission Statement:Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine vows to put forth a publication to promote the outdoors lifestyle in a positive manner. We will strive to encourage veteran and novice outdoorsmen, women, kids, and the physically challenged to participate in the outdoors in a safe and ethical manner. Our publication will bring positive attention to the wondrous beauty of the world of Nature in the mid-south.

Garry MasonWalter WilkersonTerry WilkersonSteve McCadamsKelley PowersShawn ToddEddie BrunswickLarry Self

John SloanRichard SimmsDana WatfordBuck Gardner Richard HinesEd LankfordDrew BrooksJohn Latham

John RobertsRichard HinesRob HurtMark BuehlerRichard FaganNeill McLaurinSam BradshawTodd Cotten

Field Staff Editors

Owners - Eddie Anderson Rob Somerville Kevin Griffith Stacey LemonsPublisher - Eddie AndersonEditor - Rob SomervilleMagazine Design -Donny Byrd

Advertising Sales Rob Somerville - Managing PartnerDistribution Johnathan Anderson Mike Robinson

Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine, LLC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PG .................. ARTICLE .......................................................... AUTHOR

6...........................Hunting the Hunters...........................................................Rob Somerville9 ...........................Duck Heaven .....................................................................Steve McCadams15..........................Late Winter Crappie at the Quake Lake ...........................Steve McCadams18..........................Trail Cameras ....................................................................Richard Hines23..........................The History of Farming in America ...................................Rob Somerville31..........................TWRA News ......................................................................STO38..........................Opportunities in the Outdoors ...........................................Sam Bradshaw41..........................Hypothermia the Silent Killer .............................................Richard A. Fagan53..........................Trophy Room .....................................................................STO

Coyote hunting is exciting, because in the Mid-South, it is the only time you are Hunting a Hunter!Self-timed photo by Rob Somerville


Letter from the EditorFrom the Desk of Rob Somerville

One of the most precious natural resources we are fortunate to have in Tennessee is Reelfoot Lake. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in our state. Reelfoot Lake draws hunters, fishermen, campers, wildlife enthusiasts, history buffs, family vacationers and photographers from all over the

world. The Quake Lake is a magnet which draws tourists from every section of the nation to Lake County, the county which has the highest percentage of tillable land of any county in the state; whose farms lands are assessed higher than any other farm lands in the state; the only county in the state which

grows alfalfa in any appreciable quantity; the county which produces more cotton per capita than any other county in the United States, turning out approximately three bales for every man, woman, and child. This is the county which differs from all others in that there cannot be found within its borders

a native rock, hill, nor a running rill. Here lies the beauty spot, Reelfoot Lake, which has attracted nation-wide admiration. It is a land of delight for the naturalists, the photographer, the angler and the hunter. You and your family can

enjoy this historic and natural area in many ways. Here are just a few:

UPCOMING EVENTS• All Day, December 3, 2016 – January 29, 2017 – Duck Hunting Season - Visit their website for "Guide

Services"• All Day, January 2, 2017 – February 26, 2017 – Eagle Tours hosted by Reelfoot Lake State Park-$5.00

per Person-More Information 731-253-9652• 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, January 14, 2017 – February 25, 2017 – Birds of Prey Programs each Saturday eve-

ning in January & February -More Information 731-253-9652• 8:00 am – 10:00 pm, February 3, 2017 – February 5, 2017 – 13th Annual Reelfoot Lake Tourism Eagle

Festival• 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm, February 11, 2017 – Reelfoot Lake Archaeology bus tour to Indian mounds at

Samburg & Grassy. $5 per person - 731-253-9652• All Day, March 4, 2017 – April 30, 2017 – Deep Swamp Canoe Floats - Saturday's 1:00pm & Sunday's

9:00am - $10 per person-More Information 731-253-9652

For more information on Reelfoot Lake, visit our friends at Reelfoot Lake Tourism’s website atreelfoottourism.com/reelfootlake. There you can find upcoming events, as well as lodging and restaurant

information.


Hunting Hunters!

Hunting Hunters!

By Rob Somerville

He has been touted as the Master of Motion, the Culler of Coyotes, the Predator Pro and the Crow Crusher. His name is George Brint, and to put it simply

he is the best coyote hunter in the business. Allow me to introduce you to George, and we will learn how and why he got started in predator hunting. I will also pick his brain on how to become a suc-

cessful coyote hunter.Humble beginnings A retired Farm Bureau agent, George has always had a passion for the great outdoors. He is an avid turkey hunter, and an expert marksman with a rifle. In between deer and turkey seasons, he al-ways enjoyed tinkering with his guns, fine-tuning his rifles and scopes and searching for the per-fect loads that would enable him to “Shoot the eyelashes off an ant at 200 yards.” His life changed one day when he met a man who would later be-come a lifelong friend and hunt-ing companion, Gary Cook of the TWRA. Cook, a TWRA biologist at the time, was giving a seminar on coyote hunting at an outdoor show and George just happened to be at the right place at the right time to hear it. Something clicked as he listened to Cook explain the challenges involved in hunting the ultimate predator, and the rest is history.

Hunting the Hunters George avidly absorbed every word of Cook’s seminar and got excited at the concept of a new sport that would allow him year

the

With Master Predator Hunter – George Brint.

Master predator hunter, George Brint, uses the shadows of the woods and keeps the sun at his back to help conceal his profile, when hunting the eva-

sive coyote. Photo by Rob Somerville


around shooting and hunting en-joyment. He realized that coyote hunting differed from hunting other large and small game ani-mals, in the fact that all of the oth-er species had natural predators to be wary of. But, the coyotes are at the top of the food chain, and had only one predator to be concerned with, that being man.

Coyotes – A lean and mean hunting machine

Brint explained the efficiency that a coyote has as a hunter as follows, "If you could combine the wariness and eyesight of a mature gobbler, with the sense of smell and fleetness of foot of an alpha whitetail doe, you would have a coyote. They are the only huntable game in the states, where when calling for them, you become the hunted. To lure them in you use social calls of their own species or distress calls of animals they eat. That is why they pose such a unique and interesting challenge.”

The invisible man Brint believes that the first key to becoming a successful coyote hunter is to become invisible in their natural habitat. He likes to set up on the edge of a field, sur-rounded by dense woods. He in-sists that full camouflage is a ne-cessity, all the way down to a face mask and gloves. Brint also uti-lizes shade to hide his silhouette and claims the sun at his back will help hide his form, as it puts the coyote’s line of vision in direct line with the sun. An interesting point he made, which surprised me, was that he doesn’t worry too much about total scent control explain-ing that, “If that coyote gets close enough to smell me, he ought to be close enough to feel the sting of my flat-shooting 22-250, rested steadily on my bi-pod.”

Devotion to Motion The main reason Brint is so

successful, is due to his inno-vative designs in decoy motion enhancement. His PREDATOR SUPREME DECOY HEART, manufactured through his com-pany, ADVANCED DECOY RE-SEARCH, is a baseball-sized de-vice that causes a decoy to wobble and move like an injured critter. It is best used inside a stuffed an-imal George manufactures, which I have nicknamed the “Furry Fi-nale”. This decoy, when mounted on its spring activated stake and loaded with a decoy heart, is dead-ly on bringing in wary coyotes. If you want to see it in actual action, pick up a copy of PRIMOS THE TRUTH 1 – PREDATOR HUNT-ING, in which George is featured.Brint explains, “My motion decoy will lock-in a coyote with a visual signal that tells it dinner is about to be served. It also keeps the coy-ote from busting the hunter who is calling, as the coyote switches from an audio to visual recogni-tion of its supposed prey.”{Note – This decoy heart is also available with a black, foam crow decoy that is awesome for crow hunters and is widely used by ‘gobbler getters’ by inserting it into turkey decoys to simulate feeding or moving hens. But that is for an-other article}

Wile E. Coyote The coyotes in our region would sooner test their fate against the Road Runner of cartoon fame than go against the likes of George Brint. Dissatisfied with the quali-ty of predator calls on the market, Brint decided to design and build his own. After months of work, he opted for an open-ended tube call,

This coyote is howling to his pack, as a signal to begin their afternoon hunt for game. Photo by Rob Somerville


which would not stick due to sa-liva or humidity. He also built his call so that it would be adjustable by mouth placement, instead of moving a series of rubber bands. George finally perfected the call, which he aptly dubbed the “ALL-CALL”. This call was so named for a good reason as recently demon-strated to me. By just moving his lips up and down the reed and changing tone and inflection, George expertly mim-icked the sounds of a coyote pup, a bark, a howl, a mouse squeak, a rabbit squeal and a fawn distress call. It was a truly awesome display of the call and the caller’s versatility.The touch of the Mas-ter’s Hand Though the sub-title above could be speaking of the coyote calling talents of George Brint, it has a special mean-ing instead. I happened to sit in on one of George’s seminars at an outdoor show in recently, and thorough-ly enjoyed his informational talk. But, the part of his talk that touched me most was his personal testimony that he later told me he always gives at the end of a semi-nar. It consisted of a poem he has memorized entitled “The Touch of the Master’s Hand”. It embodies his Christian beliefs and his love

for God. You see, George may be the master of predator hunting, but he knows to give the glory to God, w h o i s

master of all. It has been my pleasure to know my good friend George Brint.Quick Tips for Coyote Hunting:.•During summer months, con-centrate on hunting early in the morning and late in the after-noon, when coyotes are most ac-tive.•Use calling techniques perti-

nent to the time of year. During January and February, use so-cial mating calls. During April through May, use coyote pup distress calls. During late June through September, use fawn

distress calls. Any other time of year, use mouse or

rabbit dis-tress squeals.

•When howling or barking, a good rule of thumb to remember, is that a short call signals aggression and longer

calls tend to signal social-ization.

• Call for about 20 seconds, and then watch for about

two minutes. Repeat this sequence three or four times. If no action occurs after these steps, move to a

new location.•Learn to read a coy-

ote’s body language to gauge what

they will do. For instance, if it stops or looks confused, take

the shot if you have one, as soon it

will leave the area quickly.•From the period of February to August, mix your prey distress calls in with coyote vocaliza-tions.Good luck in hunting the hunt-ers!


DUCK HEAVEN

By Steve McCadams

Build it and they will come. Ducks that is, from the high heavens, descending rapidly with

wings cupped. Like meteors, the formation of distant specks fall from the sky, banking downwind

on one final approach, hovering over the massive decoy spread and showing no signs of indecision. Dancing in the backwater of a Ballard County, Kentucky pond are some 800 - yes 800 - of the most beautiful decoys I’d every hunted over. In my 55 years of waterfowling it was the biggest spread I’d every hunted over. Super magnum size greenheads with the unique, non-glare flocked heads looked real indeed. Appar-ently the wild ducks flogging our pothole in the backwaters, sur-rounded by a few cypress and tu-pelo gum trees, thought so too. They were clearly convinced a bunch of other ducks had locat-ed a buffet, inviting them to the dinner table. Darting in a unique path were several drake and hen decoys, swimming throughout the spread. Tied to a system of pulleys on a contraption built right here in Paris called “The Duck Thang” movement added realism to an al-ready great looking layout.

Calling at distant ducks, from a pothole in West Kentucky, is Paducah’s Brooke Richard. A massive 800 Higdon duck decoy spread helped attract ducks from

the high heavens. Photo by Steve McCadams


Elsewhere in the hole was Hig-don’s Splasher Flasher, an upright decoy flapping its wings. Feeder butts were also nearby, feet ped-dling and shooting water up as though a duck was scrounging the bottom for morsels. Their Pulsator style feeding duck also emitted a small wake throughout the area as a powered bilge pump timer set to go on and off with a split second delay fur-ther accented the layout. Tied to a dunking machine were eight more, stopping and starting just the way puddle ducks would do. It was indeed decoy heaven on earth. Several species were rep-resented throughout the gather-ing such as greenwing teal, black ducks, widgeon and an occasional redhead. Dominating the decoy convention however were hand-some, foam filled drake mallards that stood out and mimicked a

real one about as closely as I’ve ever seen. As a cold dark morning’s dark-ness lost its grip, Brooke Richard, a young contest caller whispered “duck, duck, duck” as he uttered a feed call. After a few notes of the waterfowler’s national anthem, the big mallard winged smack dab in front of the blind about 35 yards away. One shot and the duck splashed. The zero was gone off the blind

and our group of five hunters grunted with success. What a way to start the morning! Any day in the duck blind is a good one. Yet today was even more special for me. I don’t often stray from my Tennessee blinds and venture to distant lands, due to the demands of guiding. Seems there’s always something that needs attention, but today was dif-ferent. Thanks to an invitation from Ben Higdon, co-owner of the Pa-ducah based Higdon Decoy Com-pany; I was taking a busman’s holiday. Sharing the sunrise were Paducah’s Drew Gray and Ben’s dad Mark, who founded the fa-mous decoy company some 15 years or so ago. Nestled in the swamps not far from the confluence of the Ohio and mighty Mississippi Rivers is where we scanned the skies, searching for meandering flocks of ducks on this brisk December morning. Not much wind, but we didn’t need it; the motion within our pothole decoy spread made it look like live ducks were on a feeding frenzy. There were about a hun-dred motion decoys at work. Within an hour we were ap-proaching dou-ble figures, as straps support-ing our bounty hung high in the blind right be-hind our indi-vidual shooting stalls. Ben wres-tled up bacon, sausage and eggs

from a separate room, where a kitchen and heated area made it feel like home away from home. I’d like to think our calling techniques helped fool the fowl, changing their flight paths and grabbing their attention toward our little corner of the world. No doubt it was a factor, but at times we’d just look up and find ducks already falling out from high alti-tudes, toward our huge display of plastic Judas floaters. Our little symphony sounded pretty good. Hail calls screamed at high ducks and fell soft and raspy when the fowl responded, swing-ing cautiously as they window shopped at times. Brooke loves to call speckle belly geese, having guided some in both Arkansas and Louisiana, but his talents on the duck call had earned him contest titles. He was now developing Hidgon’s new venture into the waterfowl call business, working with Union City’s World Champion Goose Caller Kelly Powers. Complementing our morn-ing was the companionship of a well-mannered, black Labrador named “Judge”. Dogs add another dimension to any hunt and Judge lived up to his breed’s reputation.

Hefty bunches of mallards fell prey on a cool December morning in the backwaters of Ballard County, Ken-

tucky. Once a popular destination for wintering geese, most of the area has now converted to duck hunting.

Photo by Steve McCadams


Calling at distant ducks, from a pothole in West Kentucky, is Paducah’s Brooke Richard. A massive 800 Higdon duck decoy spread helped attract

ducks from the high heavens. Photo by Steve McCadams

Creeping through the treetops were rays of sunshine that accent-ed the decoy spread. Most veteran waterfowlers know a little sun-shine works in your favor, adding light to the dark confines of dawn and helping draw attention to decoy spreads that cloudy, foggy days just don’t do. Five gadwalls made a rapid de-scent and almost slipped by us, before two swings put them down

and dirty over this early morn-ing decoy Mecca. A rapid volley proved lethal. No survivors. A few high fives followed as Judge splashed his navigational route through the blocks. Gadwalls are known for their uncertainty at times. Often illu-sive and skittish, this bunch came in like they had leg irons on. No flaring. Up close and personal. Sharing stories with Mark had

me going back in time and talking about old hunters and duck and goose blinds come and gone. Once a popular destination for Canada geese, Ballard County was like the rest of the world, south of the Mason-Dixon Line; geese no longer migrated south to the area and famous hunt clubs had either vanished or switched over to duck hunting. By mid-morning our tally stood at 16 ducks with a couple still in the weeds somewhere. To me it was a successful hunt before we ever fired a shot. I stood in awe most of the morning after fall-ing under the spell of the decoy spread. Having hunted ducks and geese throughout the flyway all the way from Canada to Louisiana, I’d seen my share of decoy layouts, pits and blinds. It was my first time to shoot over such an impressive array. Any waterfowler suiting up over such a spread would have confi-dence. All that’s needed are ducks in the air. Before midday our outing fell prey to father time. After shooting photos and making new friends the duck party ended, but not be-fore more pleasant memories were filed. Duck seasons bring folks togeth-er, establishing new acquaintanc-es out in God’s garden of frosty mornings, muddy boots and end-less stories within the confines of a camouflage duck blind. Bagging a few ducks was just a bonus.



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Late Winter Crappie

at the Quake Lake

By Steve McCadams

Most crappie fishermen across the country think spring is the only time to that their favorite panfish bites. Not so for the earth-

quake lake of Northwest Tennes-see, as long before the dogwoods bloom, buttercups turn yellow and bees begin to buzz, anglers

at Reelfoot Lake are landing hefty stringers. Long known as Tennessee’s Ev-erglades, Reelfoot Lake has also had a reputation as one of the South’s best bluegill lakes, where big bull bream hung out beneath the limbs of shady bald cypress trees. Yet the stump infested wild-life wonderland has also garnered a good reputation for late winter and early spring slab crappie. In fact, most anglers testing the shallow waters of Reelfoot Lake may vary in their techniques, but pretty much agree the months of February and March produce some of the year’s best crappie. Look no further than the nearest boat ramp to confirm the rumor. Scores of anglers flock to the southern portion of the lake soon as ducks head north, in route to their spring breeding grounds. Duck season is popular here but so is winter fishing. Seems the crappie fill the void once ducks and geese vacate the region. When unusual warm spells lin-

Don’t wait for spring before venturing to Reelfoot Lake. Here’s a good reason why. Photo by Steve McCadams


ger in late winter, fishermen waste no time in heading to Big Blue Basin to wet a hook. The thought of some golden brown fillets sur-rounded by white beans, a slice of onion, hush puppies and a little vinegar slaw on the side, help trig-ger the urge to get out and about.

Pole bending, black crappie of-ten dominate the creel and the presentations vary among the ranks of sport fishermen, as do their choices for bait. Some slab, white crappie are also likely to show up in the live well too. Veteran guide Jackie Van Cleave

(731-431-9700) has decades of fishing under his belt and varies his approach with the weather and movement of the crappie. During the winter months he stays busy scanning the skies for weary ducks, as he double as a waterfowl guide as well. Once season ends and the de-coys are back in storage for a long off-season nap he hits the water with big crappie in his crosshairs. “Sometimes, when fish are deep, I back out to deeper water and slow troll or drift a spider rig ap-proach using eight poles,” says Van Cleave when asked about his favorite way to fool the slabs when taking clients. “Although Reelfoot is basically a very shallow lake with a ton of stickups, I target depths of 15 to 16 feet deep at times in the lower basin.” “I often bait up with shiner min-nows, or tip a plastic tube jig with a minnow if that’s what the fish prefer on any given day. Usually I start with just jigs first and see how it goes, varying colors as the fish here change their minds just like any other lake at times.” “When fish move up, I love to cast jigs around shallow structure or sometimes even along a clean shoreline, when fish are staging. The depth can be as shallow as one to two and a half feet.” “During the last few years, Reel-foot Lake has given up some big black crappie in the 2-pound plus range. That’s a ton of fun anytime, but especially when casting light tackle and swimming a grub or curly tail, beneath a slip-bobber. That way you can detect light

Both deep water spider rigging and casting jigs around shallow stickups, can produce hefty slabs like this. Photo by Steve McCadams


strikes and also regulate your depth, especially when working stickups, logs and stumps,” con-tinued Van Cleave. Van Cleave targets the Big Blue Basin and Buzzard Slough sector of the lake, but there are plenty of other fish producing areas too. “The last few years have been pretty good for us and I think the upcoming months will be good too. A lot of boats hit the lower ba-sin with spider rigs and the mul-tiple pole presentation style. With this technique we’re fishing for suspended crappie that are scat-tered out, so you just have to cov-er a lot of water and sort of move about.” The increased popularity of crappie fishing here has attracted

the attention of a lot of anglers too. Fishermen travel here from several states to test the water. It’s been good for fishing guides to get a head start on the spring season and stimulated the tourism indus-try here as well. Resorts and restaurants have seen a significant influx of tour-ists when the word gets out the crappie bite is on. Some fishermen choose to rent boats from local resorts, while others trailer their own rigs and launch at one of the many public boat ramps, or per-haps dock at one of the resorts. An important part of any trip to Reelfoot Lake is testing your taste buds at one of the local eateries. Long known for great family style feasts, nothing compliments a good day on the water like partak-ing of a famous big spread of cat-fish, country ham or fried chicken surrounded by a lot of trimmings and homemade biscuits with strawberry butter. Yum! So you’ve been warned about

this February/March madness at Reelfoot Lake, when slab crappie go on the prowl. Don’t put off go-ing too long. If you wait until late spring here, you’ll still have a good time, but you’ll miss out on some of the prime time crappie bite. If you’re making long range plans it’s best to call ahead to book guide dates or lodging.

Editor’s note: I recently stayed at Reelfoot Lake twice in the past cou-ple of months. I stayed at Boyette’s Resort both times, owned and oper-ated by Miss Judy Capps – the very standard of southern hospitality. We also had my birthday party at Stump Jumpers Bar & Grill, where Mike and Vicky showed our group a tremendous time and I was in awe of all the outdoor décor in their building.

Reelfoot Lake’s late winter and ear-ly spring crappie fishing is consid-

ered prime time for big slabs.Photo by Steve McCadams


Trail Cameras Help with Post Hunting Season

Deer Herd EvaluationsBy Richard Hines

Last year, I left my game camer-as in the woods for about a month after the season had ended. I stuck one of the cards in my computer and low and behold there was a 12-pointer we spotted early in the season. Like most bucks in his age class he had managed to elude ev-eryone. Worse of all it had walked right by my stand! My ego really didn’t need to see that, but it did give me hope for the next season. Most hunters take down camer-as on the last day of the season, giving little thought to how many deer are on the property, at least

until next fall. This year, don’t store those cam-eras in the closet so quickly. Why not look at your post season deer herd. It’s a great way not only to anticipate next year’s hunt, but post hunting season game camera surveys also tell you a lot about your deer herd. A little extra time spent evaluating your post season herd could provide benefits next season. A post hunting season camera survey can show how many deer you have and it’s a safe bet that any deer you see on cameras this

late in the year are resident deer and not transients. Knowing how many deer you have on the property will help you determine management needs, such as food plots or mineral stations, all of which help boost the herds nutri-ent production. Additionally, you will see how your bucks look after a combination of the rut, winter weather and other stressful condi-tions. Game cameras also give me a glimpse into predator numbers, which help me determine how ag-gressive I might get with reducing coyotes during the off season. Every August I typically do a pre-season camera survey so my post season survey is not much differ-ent than the preseason survey. I set two cameras out for ten days on my 214-acres, which is a stan-dard camera survey. For a popu-lation estimate you only need one camera site per 100 acres. If you prebait for seven days, research shows that at some point during a 10 to 14 day survey period most deer will visit your site. During hunting season, we have six to eight cameras out determining where deer are moving, but a post season survey does not have to be so intensive. Remember, this sur-

A trail camera can let you know the quantity and quality of the bucks on your land with minimal human intrusion. Photo by Rob Somerville


Continued on page 22

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vey is not a precise count, only an estimate. We now have our post and preseason surveys in the same location each year, which allows me to compare deer numbers year after year. Picking a camera survey site does not necessarily mean you must use regular feeding stations. If you do use regular sites, move feeders out of the line of sight. Having photos of deer that are obscured by feed-ers can make it difficult to fully identify or evaluate deer. I use corn on my camera bait sites and I pour the bait out in a straight line from the camera which gives me a side view of ev-ery deer. Your camera should be set to record date and time. Also, point the camera north or south to avoid glare from the sun. Most people look for a tree to hang the camera in but if suitable trees are not available use a steel fence post. Set the beam for 20 to 30 inches above the ground so you are not loaded up with too many squirrel and raccoon photos. If you have not used game cam-eras yet, this might be a good time to catch them on sale and learn a

little about their use. My favorite is the Moultrie M-999i which has a trigger speed of 0.5 seconds, a detection range of 50 feet plus a flash range of 70 feet. This top of the line camera will also record full HD video with sound. When choosing a camera, it should have a minimum flash range of 30-50 feet and a 5-6 MB memo-ry card. Moul-trie also makes the Mobile Field Modem MV that allows you to wirelessly trans-mit, view and manage images! One of the problems with post season sur-veys is possible early antler shed-ding and that’s why a high-res-olution camera is needed to let you recognize younger bucks or differentiate between deer. A

grainy photo from a cheap cam-era will show you a deer but is worthless for surveys. During the fall, trigger speed is important on cameras taking snapshots along trails, but on bait station surveys set cameras on a delay of 4-5 min-utes per photo. Place the camera about 12 feet from the bait, check bait about every four or five days and always check batteries and pull cards. Other items to consider when setting up bait stations is choosing a narrow food plot or field with a closed background, where you can set the bait. Bait stations laid out in a wide-open field are not prac-tical because deer seen in the dis-tance are only an “unidentified” set of eyes. This will not let you determine sex ratios or age struc-ture. If you have multiple sites,

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place a marker or number on site so you will know where the photo was taken, which will save time. Also, take time to clear back brush and even grass stems that may be in front of the camera. Nothing like having hundreds of photos of limbs in the latest wind storm! Dr. Bronson Strickland who is an Associate Extension Professor

at Mississippi State University and helped design camera deer surveys told me; “The beauty of the game camera is that it will work in all types of habitat and requires less time that other deer surveys”. Just remember, when doing this you are only getting a “snapshot” of deer on your land, which in most cases may be enough for manage-ment decisions. The biggest com-mitment for a camera survey is establishing and maintaining bait prior to the beginning of the sur-vey. Darrin Durham who is the Product Development Manager at Moultrie said he likes to have his bait sites in place at least 10 days prior to starting the camera sur-vey so deer are already visiting the site. I am going to suggest two great websites to learn more about how to use this deer management tool: Mississippi State University Deer Website at; http://msudeerlab.com/index.asp and The Quality Deer Management Association has a link that will help you calcu-late deer densities at: https://www.qdma.com/uploads/pdf/QDMA_trail_cam_survey_computation.

pdf. If you have never used a trail cam it’s a good time to try one. It’s also a good time to start record keeping, which in the long run will help you improve your deer herd. Best of all these deer surveys are fun!

Post season camera surveys help evaluate herd condition and the doe to buck ratio. Photo by Richard Hines

During the pre-baiting period, it is also a good time to check camera position. Photo by Richard Hines

Start your baiting survey site about a week to ten day prior to begin-ning. Photo by Richard Hines


Part 1 of 2.

The History of Farming in AmericaThe History of Farming in America

By Rob Somerville

This article is part one of two about the history of farming in America. I hope all our farmers enjoy it and those that do not farm will have a greater appreciation for those that do. The history of agriculture in the United States covers the peri-od from the first English settlers to the present day. In Colonial America, agriculture was the pri-mary livelihood for 90% of the

population, and most towns were shipping points for the export of agricultural products. Most farms were geared toward subsistence production for personal family use. The rapid growth of the U.S. population and the expansion of the frontier opened up large num-bers of new farms, and clearing the land was a major preoccupa-tion of farmers. After 1800, cotton became the chief crop in southern plantations, and the chief Amer-

ican export. Around 1840, in-dustrialization and urbanization opened up lucrative domestic markets. The number of farms grew from 1.4 million in 1850, to 4.0 million in 1880, and 6.4 mil-lion in 1910; then started to fall, dropping to 5.6 million in 1950 and 2.2 million presently. Prior to the arrival of Europe-ans in North America, the con-tinent supported a diverse range of indigenous cultures. While some populations were primarily hunter-gatherers, other popula-tions relied on agriculture. Native Americans farmed domesticated crops in the Eastern Agricultural Complex and Agriculture in the prehistoric Southwest.

Colonial Farming: 1610–1775 The first settlers in Plymouth Colony planted barley and peas from England, but their most important crop was Indian corn (maize) which they were shown how to cultivate by the native In-dian, Squanto. To fertilize this

A few scientifically informed farmers (mostly wealthy planters like George Washington) began fertilizing their fields with dung and lime and rotating

their crops to keep the soil fertile.


The "Black Belt" was originally named after the black soil, but came to refer to the high percentage of Afri-can-American slaves working the farms and plantations in the area.

crop, they used small fish which they called herring or shads. Plantation agriculture, using slaves, developed in Virginia and Maryland (where tobacco was grown), and South Caroli-na (where indigo and rice were grown). Cotton became a major plantation crop after 1800 in the "Black Belt," that is the region from North Carolina in an arc through Texas, where the climate allowed for cotton cultivation. The "Black Belt" was original-ly named after the black soil, but came to refer to the high percent-age of African-American slaves working in the area. Most farms were for subsistence, producing food for the family and some for trade and taxes

Ethnic Farming Styles

Ethnicity made a difference in agricultural practice. German Americans brought with them practices and traditions that were quite different from those of the English and Scots. They adapted Old World techniques to a much more abundant land supply. Fur-thermore, the Germans showed a long-term tendency to keep the farm in the family and to avoid having their children move to towns. For example, they gen-erally preferred oxen to horses for plowing. The Scot-Irish built their livelihoods on some farm-ing, but more so to herding (of hogs and cattle). In the American colonies, the Scot-Irish focused on mixed farming. Using this tech-nique, they grew corn for human consumption and for livestock

feed, especially for hogs. Many improvement-minded farmers of different backgrounds began using new agricultural practices to increase their output. During the 1750s, these agricultural inno-vators replaced the hand sickles and scythes used to harvest hay, wheat, and barley with the cradle scythe, a tool with wooden fingers that arranged the stalks of grain for easy collection. This tool was able to triple the amount of work done by a farmer in one day. A few scientifically informed farm-ers (mostly wealthy planters like George Washington) began fer-tilizing their fields with dung and lime and rotating their crops to keep the soil fertile. Before 1720, most colonists in the mid-Atlantic region worked in


small-scale farming and paid for imported manufactures by sup-plying the West Indies with corn and flour. In New York, a fur-pelt export trade to Europe flourished and added additional wealth to the region. After 1720, mid-Atlantic farming was stimulated by the in-ternational demand for wheat. A massive population explosion in Europe drove wheat prices up. By 1770, a bushel of wheat cost twice as much as it did in 1720. Farmers also expanded their production of flaxseed and corn, since flax was in high demand in the Irish linen industry and a demand for corn existed in the West Indies. Many poor German immigrants and Scot-Irish settlers began their careers as agricultural wage labor-ers. Merchants and artisans hired teen-aged indentured servants, paying the transportation over from Europe, as workers for a do-mestic system of the manufacture of cloth and other goods. Mer-chants often bought wool and flax from farmers and employed new-ly arrived immigrants, who had been textile workers in Ireland and Germany, to work in their homes spinning the materials into yarn and cloth. Large farmers and merchants became wealthy, while farmers with smaller farms and artisans only made enough for subsistence.

New Nation: 1776 to 1860 The U.S. economy was primarily agricultural in the early 19th cen-tury. Westward expansion, plus the building of canals and the in-troduction of steamboats, opened up new areas for agriculture. Most farming was designed to produce food for the family, and service

small local markets. In times of rapid economic growth, a farmer could still improve the land for far more than he paid for it, and then move further west to repeat the process. In the South, the less fertile lands were held by poor white farmers, who generally owned no slaves. The best lands were held by rich plantation owners, were operated primarily with slave labor. They grew their own food, and concen-trated on a few crops that could be exported to meet the growing demand in Europe, especially cot-ton, tobacco and sugar. The main export crop was cotton. But, after a few years, the fertility of the soil was depleted and the plantation was moved to the new land fur-ther west. Much land was cleared and put into growing cotton in the Mississippi valley and in Alabama, and new grain growing areas were brought into production in the Mid-West. Eventually this put se-vere downward pressure on prices, particularly of cotton, first from 1820-23 and again from 1840-43. Sugar cane was being grown in Louisiana, where it was refined into granular sugar. Growing and refining sugar required a large amount of capital. Some of the na-tion's wealthiest men owned sugar plantations, which often had their own sugar mills. In New England, subsistence agriculture gave way, after 1810, into production to provide food supplies for the rapidly growing industrial towns and cities. On the West Coast, beginning in the mid-1700s, Spanish missions in California spread Christianity

among the Native Americans, and also transferred European agricul-tural techniques. The Spanish also introduced domesticated animals including Churro sheep, which were then farmed by some indig-enous tribes.

Railroad Age: 1860 to 1910 A dramatic expansion in farm-ing took place from 1860 to 1910. The number of farms tripled from 2 million in 1860 to 6 million in 1905. The number of people liv-ing on farms grew from about 10 million in 1860, to 22 million in 1880, to 31 million in 1905. The value of farms soared from $8 bil-lion in 1860 to $30 billion in 1906. The federal government issued 160-acre tracts, virtually free, to about 400,000 families who settled new land under the Homestead Act of 1862. Even larger numbers purchased lands at very low inter-est from the new railroads, which were trying to create markets. The railroads advertised heavily in Europe and brought over, at low fares, hundreds of thousands of farmers from Germany, Scandina-via, and Britain. The first years of the 20th centu-ry were prosperous for all Ameri-can farmers. The years 1910 - 1914 became a statistical benchmark, called "parity", in which organized farm groups wanted the govern-ment to use a benchmark for the level of prices and profits they felt they deserved.

Rural Life Early settlers discovered that the Great Plains were not the "Great American Desert," but they also found that the very harsh cli-



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Farmers clearly understood the need for a hard-working wife and numerous children to handle the many chores including child-rearing, feeding and clothing the family, managing the housework, feeding the hired hands, and

especially after the 1930s, handling the paperwork and financial details.

mate {with tornadoes, blizzards, drought, hail, floods, and grass-hoppers} made for a high risk of ruined crops. Many early farmers were financially ruined, especial-ly in the early 1890s, and either protested through the Populist movement, or went back east. In the 20th century, crop insurance, new conservation techniques, and large-scale federal aid all lowered the risk. Immigrants, especially Germans and their children, comprised the largest element of settlers after 1860. They were attracted by the good soil, low priced lands from the railroad companies, and the chance to homestead 160 acres and receive title to the land at no cost from the federal government. The problem of blowing dust didn't come from farmers grow-ing too much wheat, but from the rainfall being too little for growing enough wheat to keep the topsoil from eroding away. In the 1930s, techniques and technologies of soil conservation, most of which had been available but ignored

before the Dust Bowl conditions began, were promoted by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) of the US Department of Agriculture. That meant that with cooperation from the weather, soil condition was much improved by 1940.The Expanded Role of Women in Farming On the Great Plains, very few single men attempted to oper-ate a farm or ranch. Farmers clearly understood the need for a hard-working wife and numer-ous children to handle the many chores including child-rearing, feeding and clothing the family, managing the housework, feeding the hired hands, and especially af-ter the 1930s, handling the paper-work and financial details. During the early years of settlement in the late 19th century, farm women played an integral role in assuring family survival, by working out-doors. After a generation or so, women increasingly left the fields, thus redefining their roles with-in the family. New conveniences such as sewing and washing ma-

chines encouraged women to turn to domestic roles. The scientif-ic housekeeping movement was promoted across the land by the media and government extension agents, as well as at county fairs which featured achievements in home cookery and canning, ad-vice columns for women in the farm papers and home economics courses in the schools. Although the eastern image of farm life on the prairies emphasiz-es the isolation of the lonely farm-er and farm life, in reality, rural folk created a rich social life for themselves. They often sponsored activities that combined work, food, and entertainment. These included barn raisings, corn husk-ings, quilting bees, grange meet-ings, church activities and school functions. The womenfolk orga-nized shared meals and potluck events, as well as extended visits between families.The History of Agriculture in America will continue in the next issue of STO Magazine.


TWRA NEWSTFWC’S FINAL 2016 MEETING INCLUDES VISIT FROM

HUNTER WHO BAGGED POSSIBLE WORLD RECORD BUCK

The Tennessee Fish and Wild-life Commission held its final 2016 meeting in December 2016, which included a visit from the hunter who harvested a 46-point buck that almost certainly will be a new state record and could pos-sibly establish a new world record for a whitetail deer. Stephen Tucker, 26, of Gallatin met with Tennessee Wildlife Re-sources Agency staff and com-mission and brought along a piece of wildlife history to the meeting held at the TWRA Region II Ray Bell Building. Stephen recent-ly bagged a non-typical buck in Sumner County with antlers that are record book quality,Without a doubt, the “Tennes-see Tucker Buck” as it is being touted, will be a state record for deer in what is referred to as the free-roaming, non-typical classifi-cation by the Boone and Crockett Club. Commissioners had the opportu-

nity to meet Tucker, view the deer’s antlers, and have photos taken during a break in the meeting. The commission heard a description from TWRA Capt. Dale Grand-staff about how the non-typical rack on Tucker’s buck seems to be inherent to other bucks in the area where Tucker had his harvest. Brad Miller, TWRA Region IV Elk Program Coordinator, pre-sented an update on elk manage-ment issues, which included the pros and cons of supplemental feeding. He also discussed re-search efforts, which included the collaring of elk. Cliff Walker, founder and own-er of Outdoor Recreation Corpo-ration of America (ORCA) was recognized for his contributions to the TWRA. ORCA has do-nated hundreds of coolers to the agency’s outreach programs and wounded soldier events. In addition, ORCA recently do-nated more than $200,000 worth of coolers for use by all agency wildlife officers, boating officers, wildlife managers, technicians, environmental services, and fish-eries field staff with engineering staff set to receive coolers in the near future. A lifetime sportsman license was purchased and pre-sented to Walker for his contribu-tions. John McFadden, Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Environ-mental Council, made a presenta-

tion on the council’s goals to plant or care for native trees in the state. He was accompanied by repre-sentatives from Hero Hunt, Inc., one of the council’s partners who spoke of the benefits of the coun-cil’s efforts to provide hunting opportunities. Two former sol-diers, who are recipients of Purple Hearts, spoke on how much the organization has meant to them. The recipient of the inaugural Robert M. Hatcher Ornitholog-ical Scholarship was introduced to the commission. Megan Hart, a graduate student at Austin Peay State University, was presented the honor in August. The $1,000 scholarship is named in honor of Bob Hatcher, who served the Ten-nessee Wildlife Resources Agency for 38 years including serving as the Non-Game and Endangered Species Coordinator from 1987 until 2001. The TFWC also approved a bud-get expansion for a computer assisted dispatch and reporting system and a “Weekend for Wild-life.” Two other budget expansions were matched funds for the Var-ney tract acquisition and for fire equipment and supplies.


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Opportunities

Outdoors Opportunities

By Sam Bradshaw

Outdoors in the

We o n l y h a v e a c e r t a i n amount of days to attempt the har-vest of certain species of animals from year to year, and this element creates a very short window for us to succeed and even less opportu-nity to pursue. Hunting seasons are placed strategically, for vari-ous reasons or traditions, but one thing will be true of every season and that is the chance at an op-portunity to harvest the game you are after. This window of time can consume some hunters, and others just simply flip the page of the cal-endar. What intrigues me is how we as individuals use our time to get involved in the outdoors and

create opportunities from our outdoor travels and experiences. These opportunities can create new avenues that last a lifetime, and we should never take them for granted. To me, an opportuni-ty in the outdoors is any decision we make to pursue our endeavors. Each one of us comes from a different walk of life, and has our own unique experience to remem-ber from the outdoors. Some sto-ries have good endings, and some stories are best left untold. One thing that we all have in common is the ability to take an opportu-nity and turn it into a story of our own. Stories to me are the greatest

conversation tools known to man. No, I don’t mean fairytale stories, but stories of past experiences that can inspire people and create ave-nues of interest for others to create their own opportunity. My father was the one who spread the hunting bug to me. My entire childhood, all I heard about was how great elk hunting was. In 2012, at 21 years-old, I was fortu-nate enough to get a chance to go on my first elk hunt in the state of New Mexico. Up until that hunt I had never attempted to harvest such a wild and vast ranging crea-ture. The enthusiasm I had on the way was nothing but speculation, as well as anticipation, inevita-bly from the stories I have been hearing since I was a young boy. Nothing was going to stop me from killing an elk. Determined and foolish enough to believe that, I started my first week in what I would call elk country torture. For days on end we chased bulls up and down the mountains, only to find another mountain waiting for us to cross, chasing another distant bugle. Reality had set in; this wasn’t what I expected. Nor. is this what I wanted to take home

You have to immerse yourself in the outdoors to create memories. Here, a successful scouting trip, led me and my fellow duck hunters to success.


for all my buddies to hear about. Throughout the week I constant-ly put notes in my phone about the hunt and the direction it was headed for me. Times were tough, and I was almost to the point of giving up. On the last morning of the hunt I finally caught up to a bull and released a lethal arrow to end my hunt. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the hunt was over. My entire life I had heard about how exciting elk hunting is, and now at that moment of releas-ing the arrow I completed what I considered to be the full circle of an opportunity. This story would be left a dream in my own mind if I had not taken the chance at it. Now, I plan to use my experi-

ence with elk hunting as an ave-nue to relate to other elk hunters and their experiences in the wild. Without taking the opportunity to go, there would be no question that I would have never killed an elk. Yet, I did, and from that day forward I had seized the oppor-tunity and froze it in time forev-er. The question crosses my mind, what if my father hadn’t taken his opportunity to go elk hunting and shared his story with me? Some opportunities in the out-doors involve chasing an elk, while others are simply a young boy catching his first bream on a hot summer day. Whatever it may be, they all start with an opportu-nity to create a story that can nev-er be removed from time. To me, where the rubber really hits the road is the after effect, once some-one reaches for an opportunity in the outdoors. For me, it was an elk hunt. To this day, I still hold my head high, knowing that I have chased an elk in the moun-

tains with a bow. It was not be-cause I killed an elk, but because I get to share my experience with others and hopefully inspire them to take a piece of my story and use that to create their own. We are all writing our own story in life as well as in the outdoors. Whether it is the time you have an oppor-tunity at the big buck you’ve been chasing, the time you take a close friend on their first or possibly their last outing, take every op-portunity you get in the outdoors to just simply get outside. Who knows where it will lead you? Or most importantly, where could it lead someone else?

Here is my opening weekend, ar-chery harvest in Tennessee. I was battling mosquitos and 100 degree

temperatures.

My father’s stories gave me the will on day six, to elk hunt, like it was day on




Southern Traditions OutdoorsSURVIVOR SERIES - PART ONE

Hypothermia The Silent Killer

By Richard A. Fagan

Hypothermia is the silent killer and can strike even the most seasoned hunters. STO File Photo

The boat raced between the large cypress trees. Dan had made this run to and from the duck blind a hundred times. Tonight was different, they were running late and the sun had gone down. They cleared the flooded forest and turned upstream on the main river channel. Neither of them saw the huge log until it was too late. The boat glanced off the log, dipped and filled with water. The cold water took their breath and had them gasping for air. Hold-ing on to the half submerged boat, they were in trouble and need-ed to get to the bank desperately. The river was taking them down-stream in the opposite direction. The struggle in the cold and swift current was exhausting, but they finally made it to the river bank. Everything was wet and it was getting colder. Their shivering was uncontrollable. They checked their phones; both had been done in by the water. There was no way to contact anyone. They had to get


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out on their own. Scott and Dan climbed the bank to the field and headed out in the direction of the truck. The two had walked for a good while when they came to a flood-ed field. There was no way to tell in the dark if or how they could get around the water. They stood there without speaking for sever-al moments, Scott couldn’t seem to think straight and his mind kept wondering. Dan managed to laugh, saying they were already wet, so they might as well wade the field. They agreed to rest awhile first. After sitting down Scott no-ticed he had stopped shivering and figured he was starting to dry out and was warming up. They sat down and leaned back, then fell asleep. The first responders found their bodies the next day. Sadly, every year there is news of waterfowl hunters or of folks pursuing outdoors activities dy-

ing of exposure (hypothermia). This silent killer starts to work the moment body temperatures starts to drop. Uncontrollable shivering is one of the first symptoms. The muscles are fighting to stay warm. As it progresses, the body natu-rally increases blood flow to the core and the shivering will slow or stop. The same thing happens with your brain. Blood flow is restrict-ed and the victim becomes disori-ented and incapable of a rational thought process. Speech becomes slurred. When this happens it is important that the victim gets im-mediate treatment.

A Different Ending There are ways to combat and defeat this killer, or at least in-

crease the chances of being found alive. We’ll add two factors to our story and see how it ends. Everything was wet. It was get-ting colder and they knew they had to do something soon. Scott looked down and saw the mag-nesium fire starter hanging on his lanyard. His son had given it to him and made him put it there telling him, “A survival tool will not help you if you don’t have it on you. “They gathered tender and kindling to start the fire. Soon they were throwing larger logs on the flame. Their wet clothes began to dry out and they were warming up. Realizing it might take several hours before anyone came look-

A small waterproof bag, as pictured above, can hold the equipment

needed to ward off hypothermia. A fire starter, a Mylar emergency bag, waterproof matches, and a fuel cube can be put in a bag small enough to

fit in a coat pocket.Photo by Richard Fagan

Shown above are the symptoms and recommended treatments for basic exposure known as hypothermia. Photo by Richard Fagan


ing for them, they decided the best thing they could do is stay with the fire and keep it going, not only for

the warmth, but it also served as a good signal to potential rescuers. As the time passed, Dan contin-

ued to elaborate on the size of the steak he was going to eat when they got out of this mess. The night was half gone when they heard boat motors and then saw lights. It was their other hunting buddies and two boats from the rescue squad. They had seen the fire. I said we were adding two things to this ending. The fire starter was one and the other was knowl-edge, Dan and Scott knew what to do. By warming their bodies and building a signal fire, they were able to fight off the hypothermia and make the right decisions that kept them alive.

What to do? The best way to keep yourself from being caught in a situation where hypothermia could occur is to be aware of conditions such as weather forecasts, flooding and the location of your planned trip. No hunting trip is worth taking chances with hypothermia if it looks to bad to be out then most of the time it is. • Use common sense: Take the time to learn. Know what to look for and how to treat hypothermia. If you are going to be around water you should know that being wet increases the danger of hypothermia. You should also be aware the hypo-thermia can happen in mild, cool conditions as well as frigid cold.• Face reality:The better physical shape you are in, the better you can fight back against the onset of exposure, but the truth is that anyone can suffer from exposure, even tough guys. • Be prepared:

The Rule of three is an important guideline for any outdoorsman to remember. Photo by Richard Fagan


Here is a table that shows a comparison of water temperature and expected survival times. Being wet or submerged in water will increase the effects of hypothermia. Photo by Richard Fagan

First of all, if you consider the cost of a few boxes of steel shot and compare that to my sugges-tion, you will see that being pre-pared for this kind of trouble is easily affordable. Keep a small water proof bag with the follow-ing items: a fire starter, a contain-er of waterproof matches, a fire fuel such as wet-fire, and a Mylar survival blanket or sleeping bag. There will most likely be room for any other items you want to add, but keep it small enough to carry with you. As I said above, a survival tool is no good if you don’t have it with you. A friend of mine, who is a pro-fessional guide, keeps a more equipped pack on his boat. The pack contains other items such as flares, some candy bars, a water filter, and a first aid kit. The pack has a length of Para-cord tied to it. On the other end there is a snap, where it can be hooked to a belt loop.

This Just Makes Sense Here are some things you can do that will not only help out if things were to take a turn for the worse,

but will be of benefit for other cir-cumstances. Wool should always be one lay-er of clothing you wear. It retains more body heat than any fabric, and even when wet, it can still work to keep you warm. Cotton, when wet, is useless and loses most all of its insulating value. I have included “The Survival Rule of Three” in this article for one reason, the section of three (3) hours without shelter. To protect your body from the elements is to shelter it. A lay-er of warm wool and one of the emergency Mylar bags can pro-vide needed shelter. A waterproof phone box that floats is a good idea. Keep your phone in a water-proof container. Contact to the outside world could be the dif-ference between life and death. This might also save you a trip to the phone store for a new phone. A good light

supply that is waterproof. Also, consider a flare gun for your boat or pack. Another great rule of thumb is to keep others informed of your hunting location and the time that you will be there. Also check in, to let them know of any changes and that you are ok.

Summary In closing, knowing what to do if you find yourself in a hypother-mia situation is critical. The most effective survival tool you have is your brain. If you are going to be venturing into the great outdoors take time to troubleshoot things before you head out. Good hunt-ing and stay safe.



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TRADITIONS TIPS - with Richard A. Fagan

1. This is a throwback from a previous tip using the reflective windshield sunshield. A couple of these and a staple gun and you can insulate your dog’s house. Add a heat light and your BFF (Best Furry

Friend) will stay warm on the coldest nights.

2. A hot glue stick and a lighter make a great emergency repair kit for holes in waders and air mattresses. A small tire patch also

works well with this setup.

4. There is no better time to work on tree stands, ground blinds, walking trails or any projects you may have in mind for next deer

season. The leaves are off the trees, offering better visibility, it’s not hot, there are no snakes out and the best thing of all is that there are

no mosquitoes.

3. When the rut is over and the cold part of winter sets in, bucks are trying to recover from the massive weight loss they have

suffered from chasing does. Keep deer feeders up and full and add any other foods that will help them recover. This will improve the

quality of the herd for the next season.

5. Get your rack traps ready! Build homemade antler traps using a food bucket and bungee cords to tangle the loosened antlers.

Editor’s note: all photos and graphics are provided by the author. If you wish to submit a “TIP” send emails to [email protected].


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Patty Ross of Paris, Tennessee is pictured here with two Kentucky Lake crappie taken in early spring of

2016. Each slab weighed in at over 1 and 1/2 lbs.

Isabella & Gabriella Ross with their first Kentucky Lake crappie. They live in Jasper, Indiana but were fishing with grandparents Billy and Patty Ross of

Paris, Tennessee.


Brayden Norwood shot this 7-point buck on Nov. 25thof 2016 in Paris, Tennessee. Photo by J.D. Norwood


Christian Trevathan is shown here with his first buck, which he harvested in Huntingdon,

Tennessee. It was a 9-pointer.

Garrison Wilson-Cooley {9 years-old} caught this 8lb. bass at Wolf Bayou in the Mississippi River right outside of Caruthersville, Missouri.

Robert “Doc” Jackson caught this monstrous, slab crappie on a big shiner minnow at

Pickwick Lake.

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 55 JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 55

Patty Ross of Paris, Tennessee with her first antelope. She shot it in Wyoming on Oct. 1st, 2016. Pic-tured with her is her husband, Billy and son, Stephen. Billy's Antelope wasn't as nice as Patty's.

Here is Vanice Parker {formally from Dy-ersburg, but who now lives in Paris, Ten-nessee} with a 2.4 lb. crappie. Winter time

fishing is great at Kentucky Lake.

These two bass were caught by 4 year-old Hunter Hancock this summer out of a

farm pond. Photo sent in by Maria Colvin

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Entertainment & Humor

Southern Traditions Outdoors - January 2017