Bible Study Verse
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

Thoughts
Habitat in Georgia is quite different from Minnesota I discovered while whitetail deer hunting. Northern Minnesota forests provide dogwood shrubs, willow, alder, ironwood, white birch, red and white oak, aspen, several species of conifers, and a few agricultural fields. Georgia varies with live oak, hickory, magnolias, holly, pine, various trees draped in Spanish moss, and scattered peanut and cotton fields. The temperature varies about 40 degrees. I realized how far from home I was when a lizard scurried across the rail of my tree stand. Although, we didn’t see any, we were warned about the alligators, snakes, and wild pigs. Amazing is the whitetail’s adaptability in thriving from Canada all the way south to Mexico. The South blessed us with southern hospitality, great Christian fellowship, two bucks, and two does.(Tom L)

Action Point
It is my prayer that we adapt our lives to the leading of the Holy Spirit by using our gifts in serving God. Let us not sit on the sidelines and conform to this world, but be transformed by following God’s direction in our lives.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
When hunting some of the southern states in December and January, be prepared for a broad range of temperatures–ranging from 30-75 degrees and very wet, stormy conditions

Scouting for a great treestand?
Newly redesigned Gorilla Treestand Website
makes your search easier than ever

FLUSHING, Mich. Gorilla^® Treestands^TM, a leading manufacturer of quality treestands has re-launched its Gorilla^® Treestands website (www.gorillatreestands.com) to better serve the needs of its consumers.

As part of the launch, Gorilla^® Treestands is giving away a Gorilla Expedition Hunter treestand every day for five days starting May 1st.  To register to win one of the popular treestands visit www.gorillatreestands.com.

The newly revamped site will highlight Gorilla’s entire line of award winning products including the Silverback series featuring the new Silverback Scout and the Kong Series featuring the New Kong Expedition Lounger Ladder.

With detailed product specs, and product support section, the new site is designed to assist consumers in choosing the best stand or stands for their individual hunting needs.

“The updated site will help our customers find the best product for their needs quickly and easily,” stated Gorilla^® web marketing manager Ken Cooper. “In addition, the new site allows us to more clearly communicate the innovative features our products offer and makes for a truly interactive experience for our visitors.” 

In addition the new support section of the site offers a convenient way for customers to find product instructions and order accessories and replacement parts.

About Gorilla Inc.

Gorilla Inc. is an award-winning manufacturer of high performance treestands and accessories for hunters who demand comfort, strength and stealth.  For more information contact customer service at (810) 733-6360 or visit www.gorillatreestands.com.    

Well here is the latest from waterfowler.com and it may look good for us as well. As many of you know the season starts Saturday and there is a cold front moving in as we speak! Looks like the Deer and Duck hunting will be unbelievable the next few weeks, hope you have some vacation time!

MIGRATION ALERT - November 6, 2007

A cold front dropping down out of Canada has waterfowl on the move in the
northern portions of the Pacific, Central and Mississippi Flyways.   Reports
from North Dakota stated waves of mallards were on the move throughout the
state on November 5th.  

As the cold front moves eastward over the next 72 hours, WFC members are
encouraged to monitor and participate in the WFC field reports to aid in
tracking this major migration event.

For the latest state-by-state waterfowl information, visit Waterfolwer.com
today at:

http://www.waterfowler.com

As many of you already know September 15th was an amazing day for archery here at Tobacco Road. Pro staffer Sean Ottaly was the second to take an awesome buck that Saturday. With all that has been going on with the wedding and such, I owe Sean an apology for the time it has taken to get his article up but here it is!

On opening day I missed a doe in the evening hunt, followed by another miss on an evening hunt during the week. I began to get very frustrated at my shooting and wondered what it could be, however, little to my knowledge the third time out would not be as disappointing and would show the third time is a charm!

This particular hunt was fairly unique from the start. It was the first night of the year all the boys were spending the night at camp, we had a first time bow hunter, and a hunter who is in his second season trying for his first bow harvest as well. We all met at camp about an hour early that evening to put in our requests as where we wanted to hunt and enjoy each other company. A little before four we pack up our things and were off. Where I had chose to hunt that evening was a stand I had wanted to hunt after some observations the year before. During the rut in the 06’ season I had seen several bucks and does but they were out of my range. I observed their travel route and was more then excited to hunt this area. Although I hadn’t completely walked this area in the past I knew where I wanted to be. It was picture perfect, a big draw in a little strip of hardwoods connecting two giant cattle fields. This spot was truly the perfect funnel. At about 5:30- 5:45 I finally got settled in after trimming the limbs that needed to be taken out and reaching my desired elevation. Archery season during September in North Carolina can be tricky weather wise, it can be unbearable. On this particular afternoon it was around 78 after several days above 90 and a week of 100+ so it was just perfect. I had hardly got my bearings in order, after just getting situated, and I heard footsteps. I figured it was a few cows, as the cattle have access to the block of woods I was hunting but to my surprise I turned around to see the legs of a whitetail. Looking a little closer over my left shoulder I then saw horns and knew right then I was going to take this deer. He was heading right down the draw, straight towards me. I reach around to grab my bow, turn back slowly in hopes I wasn’t busted by all the movement seeing he was only about 45 yards out. I hadn’t anticipated deer moving down the draw at all, I was set for them to come up it instead, besides the wind was blowing up the draw virtually eliminating any chance of seeing a deer from that direction. Anyhow, here we go, I wheel around to this bucks direction and manage to do it unnoticed. Once turned in his direction I notice another buck behind the first. My heart is beating out of my chest at this point because the bigger bucks are usually the last in the group and this first deer was already wall material. As it turns out the second was actually a little smaller, which  was a little disappointing actually, but with that behind me now I can focus on the first one. He hung up around 30 yards grazing through the under brush, about that time I notice the smaller of the two stick his nose in the air and check the wind, my heart sank as I had gotten this close only to be busted by this deer I have no interest in. Much to my surprise they continued on, apparently the scent free shower and scent blocker suit worked to my advantage. Fifteen minutes had passed, I had gained my composure and was awaiting the perfect shot. They covered more ground with every second and were going to pass me right at 20 yards. Just at that point I realized where they were about to come out, a severe downhill shot was in the works and a vision of last years identical shot and miss on a potential record book buck pops in my head. I knew what went wrong then and told myself not to let it happen again! As he steps behind a tree without a care in the world, I draw my bow, three more feet and he stops broadside, THWACK! Astonishingly he drops right there, the shot was a little high but had penetrated the vitals as well. I sat down, gathered myself, called the rest of the crew and let them know we had a big buck down (BBD Baby!), and started down the tree. Not but about 8 feet down the tree at this point I hear something else coming down the draw, a dang coyote, “Great!” I think myself, my bow is 30 feet at the base of the tree and there is a great buck dead 15 feet from this mangy coyote. Without thinking twice I let out a “Yaaaaaaa!, Yaaaaaaa! Get Out Of Here!! Just as he had smelled my buck like a flash of lightning he gone with his tails between his legs. I finally reached my dee, thinking he was a nice 10 I realize his left side only had four points. He may not be a monster, but this excellent 9-pointer is my personal best with a bow! Looks as if the ante has been raised for the rest of the season.

NCWRC has set some baiting guidelines and here they are.

Guidelines Established for Mineral Supplements

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2007) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has established guidelines for the placement of mineral supplements to attract or feed deer, effective immediately.

Under the guidelines, any commercially available mineral supplement is considered a processed food product, which would prohibit the taking of black bear or the release of dogs in the vicinity.

In North Carolina, placement of processed food products in areas with an established bear hunting season is against the law. General Statute 113-294 defines a processed food product as any food substance or flavoring that has been modified from its raw components by the addition of ingredients or by treatment to modify its chemical composition or form or to enhance its aroma or taste.

The use of commercially available mineral supplements was not specifically addressed within the definition of processed food products under the state statute. That led to uncertainties about areas where mineral supplements had been placed for deer, but were also open for bear hunting. A resolution adopting the guidelines was approved by the governing board of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission at its Oct. 19 meeting.

In areas containing non-processed food products, such as corn, sweet potatoes and peanuts, it is against the law to still hunt for bear. Hunters using dogs to hunt bear may release dogs at a site containing these non-processed food products.

Placement of mineral supplements specifically for attracting or feeding deer remains legal. Bear hunters are reminded they cannot hunt or release dogs on these sites.

For more information, click here or call (919) 707-0030.

 

Recources Commission needs cooperation, please read!  Let’s stop the deer disease!

Commission Warns Hunters about Deadly Deer Disease

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2007) – In an ongoing and continued effort to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) from infecting North Carolina’s resident deer population, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding hunters to use extreme caution in importing out-of-state harvests.

Currently, there is no reported incidence of CWD in North Carolina. The Commission needs hunter cooperation to help prevent this dangerous disease from infiltrating the state’s deer population.

“This is a devastating, always fatal disease, and this warning is another precaution the Commission has taken to minimize the chances of CWD entering the state and becoming established in North Carolina,” said Evin Stanford, the Commission’s deer biologist.

According to state law enacted in early 2006, it is illegal to import the carcass or carcass parts of a cervid – meaning any member of the deer family, such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk or moose – from any state or province where CWD occurs unless specific precautions are taken.

The purpose of this law is to prevent potentially dangerous, infective tissues, such as the brain, spinal chord and nervous system tissues, from entering the Tar Heel state. Legal implications most often arise when a hunter brings an out-of-state carcass to a North Carolina processing facility for butchering or tries to deliver an out-of-state cervid to a North Carolina taxidermist.

However, there are safe, legal methods for hunters to import a harvest, even when taken from a location with documented cases of CWD.

A carcass or carcass part may be transported if it is:

Cut and wrapped Meat that has been boned out Caped hides Cleaned skull plates	In quarters or portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached Antlers Cleaned teeth A finished taxidermy product

Additional restrictions that apply to cervid carcasses, carcass parts or processed meat packages entering the state of North Carolina include labeling with the following:

• Hunter’s name and address
• State or province of origin
• Date of harvest and the hunter’s hunting license number from the state of origin
• Destination of the package

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is constantly watchful for animals that fit the clinical profile for CWD.  Individuals observing animals displaying CWD symptoms should contact the Commission so that agency biologists can determine if it is necessary to test the animal for CWD.  Symptoms of the disease include:

Extreme weight loss Excessive salivation, drooling, drinking or urination Listlessness Lowering of the head	Blank facial expressions Repetitive walking in set patterns Lack of coordination or other displays of neurological disease

Although CWD is 100 percent fatal in cervids, there is no evidence to suggest that humans are susceptible to infection. However, experts do not recommend consuming meat from animals afflicted with the disease.

For a current list and map of states or provinces with documented cases of the disease visit the Web site of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance at www.cwd-info.org. West Virginia is currently the nearest state to North Carolina with documented instances of CWD.

As of September 2007, the following states had documented cases of CWD: New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Chronic Wasting Disease has also been found in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

For more information about the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, or Chronic Wasting Disease, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

Just a friendly reminder, the early waterfowl season starts October 3 and runs through the 6th.  Don’t forget to go get your duck stamp and your steel shot and let’s get ready for some good ol’ duck blastin’.

Also don’t forget muzzle loader season starts in the Eastern section on October 6th and in the Western on the 8th.

With the recent cold front that pushed it’s way through NC came a change in weather. A change in weather that many were not expecting. Flash flooding, wind, rain, lightning, and tornado’s didn’t give a very good out look for a Saturday morning hunt. Not a problem, there is always a afternoon hunt, which is exactly what Tobacco Road pro staffer Kevin Johnson had in mind. Let’s see how this all went down…

Saturday afternoon rolls around and I have yet to decide whether to hunt or not. The season has been on for more then a week and I had yet to sit in a tree. My six year old son, Hunter, and myself hung two stands that morning and I worried we had left too much scent in the area to hunt one of the new stands. Scent or no scent I had a gut feeling that today was the day. I still had dreams of killing a buck in velvet and the weather was just about as perfect as it can get here in NC so why not enjoy. I knew the bucks in my area were still in their bachelor groups so why not take a chance. A quick shower (to eliminate adding anymore scent to the area) and a change into clothes I head to the stand. Finally settled in my stand around 5:15 and prepare to enjoy the rest of the evening. It was getting close to 7:00 I catch a glimpse of movement and much to my surprise a nice eight pointer stepped out into my view at about 40 yards, here we go! With my hearting beating a mile a minute just from one nice buck there steps out another eight pointer, both still in full velvet. I couldn’t hardly control myself, with many deer under my belt and on the wall there something about the sight of two wall hangers working their way through the woods in full velvet. Trying to figure which was the biggest of the two, I position to take a shot as they take those last few crucial yards. I could see the first eight pointer was a high rack, 14”- 15″, with nice tines while other was an even nicer looking deer with taller looking tines and a little more meat for the table. That’s the one! As they move closer and closer, the biggest one stops while the other slowly continues, he’s starting to get too close! I don’t want to take this one but I don’t know how much longer I can wait to come to full draw, finally he begins to follow his little brother. By then I knew I had draw as soon as I got a window. The buck crossed in front of a big pine and I slowly drew my bow back , then there he was, just five yards away standing broadside looking around. The buck I wanted had stopped walking yet again while the smaller of the two was in my lap. I began to wander if he was going to come on in or if I would have to take the smaller of the two. I don’t know how much longer I can hold this bow at full draw. Finally! He is on the move again and I am gaining yardage in my favor, QUICK! The first buck never made another step forward. My buck came to about 30 yards , turned broadside and stopped. Being at full draw so long, every muscle in my arms and shoulders are turning to jelly and burn beyond belief. It;s now or never, I put my pin right behind his shoulder and let it fly. Whack! It was a great shot and I knew it immediately. The buck spun around and bolted off as his little brother follows not knowing what has happened. As the two run just a hair out of sight, another buck as big as the one I had just taken the shot comes out of no where following his brothers. Triplet eight pointers, wow this is AMAZING. I knock another arrow and sit down to help stop the shaking. I rehearsed everything back through my mind about that shot, I felt good about it, I know it was a great shot. The white vanes of the arrow disappeared perfectly in the boiler room and I knew I had my first buck in full velvet. Not only my first in velvet, but one I can put on the wall! I wait him out for just a bit and slipped down from the stand and walk to where he stood. Looking for the one thing that will make you grin from ear to ear, bright red blood, Yea Baby!! I walked a few more yards and there sat my arrow covered in the same beautiful red blood. That arrow was as straight as it was the day it came off the line. Now knowing for sure he was not lying far, I went back to the truck and called my wife so she could tell our son Hunter. He was almost as excited as I was. I tried to call anyone and everyone to give me a hand get this buck of a lifetime out of the woods but no one could make it to me in under an hour. It was getting late and the anticipation was killing me so I grabbed my flashlights and head back to find him. Picking up where I had left the arrow, I begin to follow the trail and it looks to be a heart shot just as I wanted. After about 45 yards there he was, THE BUCK OF MY DREAMS!! We all know white men can’t dance, but I know good and well the celebratory dance I did when I came to him looked great! Before I went any further I pause to thank the good Lord for this amazing experience and a day that I would never forget. At last – at last – I have finally done it. It was now time to get him home. I got the four wheeler and trailer, loaded him up and headed back to the house . My little boy was so excited , he jumped right in the trailer and grabbed his head so we could take a picture of him with daddy’s buck. I still do not think I slept a wink that night. Although the odds were against me the weather was too perfect to pass up. Now I have yet another story to add to my collection!

Looks as if EHD made it’s way here in NC which could make matters even worse for our NC deer herds.  Pretty disappointing….

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Reports Hemorrhagic Disease Among Deer

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 17, 2007) – Deer herds in several locations across North Carolina are again experiencing an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease. This virus is one of the most significant infectious diseases of white-tailed deer, and outbreaks are seen almost every year in the southeastern US.

Evin Stanford, deer biologist with the Commission, said the disease has been observed in at least 11 counties in the western piedmont, foothills and mountain portions of the state. While the outbreak of hemorrhagic disease is certainly less than desirable, Stanford said it poses no threat to the citizens of North Carolina.

“Humans are not at risk by handling infected deer, eating venison from infected deer, or being bitten by infected midges,” he said. “The disease is infectious primarily to wild ruminants, such as deer, sheep and antelope.”

The disease is caused by either of two closely related viruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) or bluetongue, and is transmitted through biting flies, commonly called midges. Because symptoms produced by these viruses are indistinguishable, a general term, hemorrhagic disease (HD), often is used when the specific virus is unknown. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has submitted samples to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at the University of Georgia for testing to identify the specific virus, but test results are not expected for at least another week.

According to Stanford, “a number of factors – including the potency of the virus, the immunity level within the deer herd and the population of vectors (midges) – determine the disease’s affect on the deer herd. Outward signs can range from mild illness to death within one to three days following infection. We have been participating in an HD monitoring program with the SCWDS since 1980, when an estimated 5,000 deer died in the upper Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions of our state. Since then, we have gained valuable insight into the epidemiology of this disease.”

 Large numbers of North Carolina deer also died from the disease in 1939, 1955, 1961, 1971, 1976, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2000 and 2002, according to Stanford.

“We were not really surprised when we began receiving reports of dead deer in early September,” he explained. “In many of the years when HD affected our herds, conditions were very similar to 2007 – namely a very dry summer. Drought conditions seem to contribute to a large vector population. However, it is surprising to see such high levels of HD activity in some of the far western counties, especially Madison, Buncombe and Henderson. Hemorrhagic disease is much more common in coastal and piedmont areas of the state, and we occasionally see activity in the foothills.  It’s quite rare to see high levels of activity this far west.”

Other counties where disease activity has been observed include Davidson, Stanly, Rowan, Iredell, Wilkes, Gaston, Burke and Rutherford.

Since deer in North Carolina have evolved with HD, wildlife officials do not expect severe mortality rates. Stanford estimated that 10 to 25 percent of North Carolina’s deer died in previous major outbreaks. Once a deer contracts a hemorrhagic disease virus and survives, the animal has natural immunity for the rest of its life.

In contrast, HD outbreaks in some Rocky Mountain states led to herd fatality rates of 50 to 80 percent. Biologists attribute the discrepancy to HD’s relatively recent introduction in those areas, as opposed to North Carolina’s lengthy history with the virus.

Stanford indicated that many infected deer which survive the disease will develop lesions or growth interruptions on their hooves.  Although this does not confirm the disease, it is a typical sign that the animal most likely did contract the virus.

There currently is nothing to prevent the occurrence of HD in a deer herd. An outbreak can occur in herds with high or low densities; it can afflict deer in good or poor condition. The disease typically runs its course and then subsides soon after the onset of a frost or freeze, when the midge population is essentially eliminated.

Bluetongue and EHD viruses can also infect domestic livestock.  Cattle and goats generally show no symptoms or only mild disease when infected.  Domestic sheep may develop severe illness when infected with bluetongue virus but do not get sick when infected by EHD virus, according to Stanford.

Persons observing sick or dead deer are asked to contact the Division of Wildlife Management at (919) 707-0050. To learn more about the virus or the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

Well this doesn’t apply to us here in NC just yet but if we don’t get some rain the horrible EHD outbreak could spread.  Keep your eyes open for it, this drought is starting to take a toll on our hunting.

LOUISVILLE, KY—Kentucky’s archery deer hunting season opened last weekend in the middle of what one state wildlife official called the “most significant outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in a decade.” The disease is also killing whitetails in Southern Indiana, Pennsylvania and much of Tennessee. EHD is a naturally occurring viral ailment spread from deer to deer by biting midges sometimes referred to as sand gnats or no-see-ums. It poses no threat to humans, but is one of the most common diseases among white-tailed deer.

David Yancy, a senior wildlife biologist and whitetail specialist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, says EHD is most prevalent in the Southern United States and that it will continue to be active until a hard frost kills the insects. Yancy says the only thing hunters can do is to report any sick or dead deer they see to their local game and fish department.

“There’s nothing you can really do about it,” Yancy said. “When you get a hard killing frost that (kills the insects), that wipes it out.”

Yancy says there has never been a documented case of a human contracting EHD and he suggests that hunters use common sense in the woods this fall and pass on animals that are obviously sick.

To report a sick or dead deer in Kentucky, call (800) 858-1549. In Indiana, call (812) 334-3795 and in Pennsylvania, call (717) 787-4250.

For more information, visit www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070902/SPORTS09/709020579/1002/SPORTS.