Moose Droppings Radio Show: May 9, 2008

by Steve Remington

Turkey Hunting and the odd season we seem to be having here in NC. How I tagged out using unconventional methods. Kids wildlife art competition, Ducks Unlimited Banquet, and the Black Bear roaming the prison grounds in Louisiana.

Ninety-two and Counting

by Coyote John

I awoke to the sounds of helicopter blades whirling and men shouting out commands.  I immediately reached for my AR and flak jacket, but they were not within reach, they are always beside my bedroll, why not now?  Then I realized, hey I’m not in some far away land but here in Arizona.  The helicopters and the men however were real.   The Border Patrol had begun a sweep of the moutain side that we live on.  The hillside was aglow from the spotlights on the copters and we could see illegals and BP Agents all over the mountain.  From our vantage point on the back patio it looked like someone had kicked an anthill.   Don’t know how many they ended up with, but we heard one Agent call out “Nine-two and counting.”   With all three Presidential canidates willing and anxious to grant amnesty our borders are being assualted like never before.   So folks when you hear our political hacks say “we have the border under control”  you tell them “your a damn liar.” 

WOW!

by Coyote John

Hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I posted something here.  For those that sent me e-mails and pointed out my lack of blogging I promise to try and do better in the future.  For those that make this space available to me at no cost I sincerely apologize.  This past season (I stop calling and killing coyotes in March and bobcat and fox season closes the end of March.) was an exceptionally good one for me with plenty of fur on the ground.  However, the best part of the season was that I made two new calling partners – Sarge and AZBuckeye.  Sarge and I had been out many times and we always seemed to be able to call them in – just never able to put them on the ground.  Either he or I would not see them soon enough or they never presented themselves for a decent shot.  That finally ended on our next to the last calling session.  I set the Scorpian (gofoxpro.com) out about 30 yards in  front of us and started with the jackrabbit in distress.  About 5 minutes into the call I heard a shot and then saw a coyote do a nose dive into the dirt.  Although he was dead he obviously didn’t know it as he got up and ran about another 40 or so yards.  The other highlight of the season was with AZBuckeye.  He and I didn’t get out near as much as Sarge and I did – but – I had the privilege of calling in his first ever coyote.  As a matter of fact three came into that stand.  And yes he did shoot and yes he did kill it, not only his first Arizona coyote but in fact his first ever coyote.  I also learned that when we go out again I had better be on the ball, as his young eyes and quick reflex are a lot better then these old eyes. 

The lost places of Trout

by Aroostookbasser

(Click on Picture to see the entire scene)

The lore and romance of limestone evades me. I prefer the brackish springs of swamps and tannic waters. I look for my trout to hide in the same places I hunt for moose. If you look at my picture above you can see what look for. Don’t think you can walk into this place. This is an anglers Eden in the middle of a swamp with a great brook flowing through. This area has deep water, springs and lots of shiners. But the barrier around it keeps most anglers out.

To find this place you go out in the woods and run the logging roads. Locate a trickle that crosses the road, and follow it for a few miles, in a canoe. Through the undergrowth and overhanging branches that try to block your passage. Be careful not to cut too good a trail to get through. The next guy by may see where you went.

Now imagine you have just cleared the underbrush and this is your upstream view. Little fishes scatter about ahead of you. The rapid exit of trout mixes with skittering baitfish. You carefully cast out a leech pattern and strip it back in. A flash, a tug and a hefty Brookie explodes to the surface. The bruiser fights the hook all the way to the gunnel. The 13 inches of glistening trout netted and creeled. A good trout for home and to savor later.

This is my life, and I love it. I feel more satisfaction from my Lewis and Clark style fishing than the usual “public” waters. If everyone can fish it than it will be a lesser experience for me. Preferring to “rediscover” waters lost or forgotten. Not to mention I hate stock trout!

These trips are a source of many articles for me as I try to share the experiences with you. I have been taught much of this “voyageur” style of discovery fishing from my woodsy Uncles. Under their tutelage I learned to read a map and a compass. The Prentice and Carlisle maps show the current roads. So I cruise the roads in a given area looking for the brook the maps say cross the road at a certain place. Upstream or down from the road. I know there is a beaver pond or dead water.

Now to navigate these waters you need hip boots or waders, a light canoe and a long rope. A saw is handy and a partner to help paddle and pull on trees to get up through.The bulk of the time you will be towing the canoe, as you wade. But be aware of black mud. Step into this stuff and you can sink out of sight, permanently.

I usually tie a rope to my waste and tow he canoe that way. Keeping my hands free to move branches and navigate the canoe up through the tangles. If I get into a soft bottom I can haul the canoe to me in a hurry and use it to pull myself out. This is where it helps to bring along “Clark” to your “Lewis”.

The biggest reason these waters are untapped is the treacherous mote of blackwater swamp that encircles them. No pedestrian is going to fish these waters at all. You must have a canoe, but how to get it in there? You can come at it from upstream or down. Sideways is not accessible because of the swamp. In most cases these brooks appear out of nowhere and lead nowhere. Just spring fed flows from one swamp to another. They can be short little puddles, or long rivers of trout water.

The use of aerial photos and satellite images is strongly suggested. Why spend a day going into a puddle? When you could find and claim a beautiful river? But it’s all good. The adventurous fisherman will reap the greatest rewards.

If you think you are up to it try my style of trout fishing. But be cautious and take a friend. Do your homework. Never forget to let others at home know where you are heading. Above all else plan for the worse, and expect the best.

Don’t worry I will be posting more helpful tips as time goes along. If you have a story to share. Please email me at aroostookbasser@yahoo.com. I will post it here for all of us to enjoy.

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