NCWRC has released a free Game & Fish cookbook that looks pretty good. It is a collection of staff recipes for a wide variety of species found in the woods, fields, air and water across North Carolina. So if you want to make some Fricasseed Raccoon or maybe Crappie Tacos or a number of other dishes then you should check the cookbook out.
Judging by the great collection I suspect that there is some good eats at company parties or potlucks.

I can hardly wait to give some of these recipes a try. Never know when a beaver or groundhog maybe a possum will end up in my game vest.

Last evening in a venue more often used for Rock Concerts then talks about navigating rocky streams I met T Edwards Nickens. He is currently Editor at Large for Field and Stream magazine and just released his first book The Total Outdoorsman Manual. A book filled with outdoor skills that if you can master will give you a PHD in the great outdoors. Every page is loaded with diagrams, photos, skills and tips to make your next outing a success be it fishing at Lake Raleigh or driving the Dalton road to Prudhoe Bay.

I didn’t realize that T Edward Nickens lived in Raleigh so I was a bit surprised when I saw the article in the N&O announcing his Monday Evening presentation at the club Kings in downtown Raleigh. The crowd of about 200 people squeezed in to hear the stories and photos of a life full of hunting and fishing all over the world. Photos of giant brook trout caught in Canada where few have ever ventured as well as stories about hunting with his children in Johnston County.
The evening went by way to fast and like the campfire at the hunt camp you hate to end it because there is always one more story to tell and one skill tidbit to pass on but you know you must end. After the presentation I got to pick up my own copy of his book and he graciously signed it for me. I haven’t completely read it yet but I can tell you it will become an important reference tool for me. I’m sure no matter your outdoor abilities you’ll find things in this book that will help you in your outdoor pursuits.

Saturday Morning the 2011 Turkey season will open across the state of North Carolina and many hunters will be hoping to call a gobbler in close enough to put a tag on. If your like me you’ve checked and double checked you vest and made sure every call is in its place and ready to go. After work tomorrow I’ll join a number of other hunters in turkey camp it will be a sleepless night I’m sure partly because of the anticipation of opening morning as well as all the snoring from the surrounding bunks.

Turkey season is about my favorite season so I’m always excited about it. I have a number of things I’m trying out this year; a new choke tube, some calls, and a few other unique items. Seems like every year someone gets hurt or killed chasing turkeys so please be careful out there. Remember your safe gun handling skills and always and I mean always identify your target.

Good Luck

200 people showed up for the bigfoot hunt in Uwharrie National Forest along with a film crew from animal planet . Mike Greene and his encounter with bigfoot is what attracted Animal Planets film crew to NC. Mike Greene claims that he used a Zagnut Candy Bar to attract a bigfoot in to capture his thermal image to prove his existence. The video of this encounter is available if you go to his website and pay to view it. I’ll admit I didn’t view it.
While the hunt did not flush out a bigfoot some signs of the bigfoot were supposedly uncovered.

On Saturday approximately 200 people gathered at the Eldorado Outpost for a search in the Uwharrie National Forest. Walking through an open field a long line of searchers spread out as if they were doing a drive. A helicopter flew overhead, filming the scene. Camera crews on the ground filmed the searchers and whistles and bullhorns alerted the searchers when to stop. The searchers, found a deer carcass, animal hair on a fence and a Bigfoot print in the ground.

Montgomery Herald

Maybe they should of set up some Zagnut bait stations to increase their chances of an encounter. We’ll continue to follow this and update when there is additional news.

Fall camping is something I do fair amount of with many of my other outdoor pursuits so now is the time to begin planning. For most of my adventures I have my F250 pickup so I keep some minimal supplies in it so I’m always ready. I try to carry a number of things that I can use for shelter including a small tent a couple of tarps and a sleeping bag. Additionally I have a blanket and an old coat that I often roll up to use as a pillow.
Some important tools to have with you are a number of methods to start a fire. Fire is important not only for warmth but cooking and boiling water as well as signaling if you need help. Camping just doesn’t seem to be camping without the campfire and how you going to make Smores?
I don’t often carry firewood with me but opt to get it in the area I’m at. Some places won’t allow you to transport fire wood in because of the danger of introducing a dangerous pest or invasive species. So always check before you bring firewood from home. You should have an hatchet or axe to split up some wood and make kindling to help get the fire going. Always check if you’re on public lands if it is legal to use wood lying on the ground for your campfire and any rules they may have around building campfires.
I always carry a First Aid Kit and a knife in my truck as well as in my packs I take into the wild. These are key components you don’t want to be without. Other important items are insect repellent, your thermacell , some cookware, a COFFEE POT (which means you better have coffee) I’m useless without my coffee. I keep drinking water in my truck and at times when weather conditions may make it hard for me to move or I suspect supplies may become more difficult I carry an abundance of water.
Finally gadgets that make our life that much easier face we are for the most part addicted. Be it flashlights, radios, walkie talkies , GPS, digital camera, etc… we got a bunch and how we power them is just as important. A number of years ago I found myself in the middle of the Maine Woods with night coming on fast and a dead flashlight. Luckily I had a pack of brand new C Batteries in my truck but unfortunately I had a dead flashlight that took D.
From that day on I try to simplify my life and my battery use as much as I can so you’ll find the majority of gadgets I use all take AA batteries. Now I have a big flashlight in my truck that takes 5 D batteries but my core gear all takes AA. That way I can swap batteries between items if things get tough. I would also recommend you don’t skimp on the batteries you use because if you do they may die on you at the most inopportune time. Energizer is a quality battery and they have the Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries that will perform in some of the toughest conditions. Not that we get into those conditions much however if you’re like me and keep your equipment in your truck that’s some tough conditions on a battery.

For the countless electronic gadgets that you can’t live without, get the latest lithium battery technology that’s proven to be the world’s longest lasting AA and AAA batteries in high-tech devices.
Other things you should know:
• Last up to 8x longer in digital cameras (versus Energizer® MAX®. results vary by camera.)
• Weigh 1/3 less than standard alkaline batteries
• Perform in extreme temperatures from -40°F to 140°F
• 15 year storage life
• Leak resistant construction

While -40 would feel nice about now for the most part I rarely see those temperatures much unless I head to Maine in the winter. The 140 is far to frequent with the sun beating down on my truck so the packs of spare batteries I carry in the truck take a beating long before they get put into any of my gadgets. Make sure your battery can take the heat or better yet switch to Energizer you know the one with the bunny that keeps going and going…..
Camping is a lot of fun and with some planning ahead you can make it a very enjoyable adventure. From time to time events like a natural disaster can force us all into an unexpected camping trip. Some preplanning on your part stock piling some supplies like food water and batteries will keep you from hunting for them just prior to or just after the event when supplies may be limited or even unavailable.

If I’m not careful I can easily end up looking like a Maine Lobster at a summertime shore lunch. I burn pretty easy and now that my occupation keeps me inside more I seem even more susceptible to the sun. Using sunscreen is usually a greasy smelly mess that is less then comfortable if you are active in the outdoors.
SmartShield out of Texas contacted me asking me to try their sunscreen product .

SmartShield is serious sunscreen that you can wear all-day, everyday. Our oil free sunscreen won’t clog your pores, won’t stain your clothes and won’t sting your eyes. Our special sunscreen formula is quickly absorbed by your skin for serious, tough protection.
Let Your Skin Breathe
Unlike oil-based sunscreens that clog pores and capture heat, SmartShield sunscreen products are quickly absorbed and bond with the top layers of the skin. This invisible and natural feeling protective shield allows the skin to perspire naturally and stay cooler.

I’ve agreed to give it try and see how well it works and report back here on Moose Droppings. Additionally one of my readers will win a free bottle as well. To have a chance to win just leave a comment on this story between now and midnight July 1st to weed out the robot comments included “SmartShield Summer Contest” in your comment. I’ll then randomly draw a name from the readers who entered and post the winner. The winner then can contact me and we’ll get the bottle of sun screen out to you.
I’ve got my annual fishing charter coming up and I plan to use Smartshield on that to see how it works s. Hours in the sun with the reflection off the water I think will be a good test especially with the heat we are experiencing right now.

Don’t forget to enter here to get a chance to win a bottle, What a better way to kick off your summer then with some sun screen protection?

Local church youth group looking for a challenging activity for their youth may have gotten more than they bargained for when local, state and federal agencies were called in to rescue them. The Living Word Church youth group was on a “Survivor Camp” guided trip with God’s Country Outfitters on the Uhwarrie River when rapid rising water seperated a number of the 24 youth and 6 adults on the outing. According to the 911 call wghp-mp3-low-water-rescue-911-090618,0,1713170.mp3file 9 boys were missing for an hour and possible in the water.

Morton said authorities were called at 12:16 p.m. and told that between 22 and 30 people were in the water and in need of rescue. It was not raining at the time, and heavy rain had not been reported today in the region. But heavy rain has fallen in much of North Carolina in recent days.
Randolph County Emergency Management officials say seven people were rescued from the river on N.C. 109 at Reservation Road, several hundred yards from the bridge.
It is not clear how far the other boaters had drifted when they were rescued.
Morton said Montgomery County has set up an Emergency Operations Center near the site and asked for the N.C. Highway Patrol to provide its helicopter in the search. A pair of Army Blackhawk helicopters involved in a training exercise nearby also was called in, according to emergency radio reports.

N&O

While this could have had a very tragic ending it is good to see that everyone is accounted for and all right. I have to wonder after looking at the Church’s website and seeing the name and the description of this camp if it was somewhat prophetic.

Survivor Camp 5th – 7th grade students
In the Uhwarrie National Forest, God’s Country Outfitters are waiting to take you on a 3 day journey known as the Survivor Challenge. Combining outdoor adventures with Bible studies, the Survivor Challenge is a chance for you to open your eyes to the many ways God prepares you and partners with you. You will overcome your fears through physical challenges, build community through group activities, and grow in confidence to do God’s work.

The Living Word Church

I hope they overcame their fears but I suspect this outing could lead to some PTSD but let’s hope not.

Rick over at Whitetail Woods gave us a great reminder to get ready for tick season with some great tips. As the weather warms the ticks will be out and a little bug like that can cause major illness and suffering if you’re not careful. Rick shows the product he uses I use a similar product from Repel.

Permanone® Clothing and Gear Insect Repellent
An item for every campers packing list.
This odorless insecticide is designed to protected clothing, shoes, tents and other gear from ticks and mosquitoes. Spray any item, let dry and Permanone will provide up to two weeks of protection. Permanone will bind to the fabric being treated, and actually kills insects that come in contact with it. Enjoy a bug free camping trip.

Repel

I’ll spray all my turkey hunting gear down with this a day or so before I plan to go out. It lasts for two weeks even if you wash it. I use to pull a lot of ticks off me every year until I started using this stuff. I think last turkey season I only found two ticks on me.

The snow the beginning of the week and 70’s and sun to end the week has gotten me thinking about summer. As a kid I loved to spend a week or two at camp shooting guns, archery, swimming and hanging out with my friends. Well now I go to hunt camp but for the kids I’m sure that summer camp is something many look forward to.
The 27 annual Fur Fish n Game Rendezvous, a weeklong camp, will take place this summer.

What is the Rendezvous?
Entering it’s 27th year, the Rendezvous is an opportunity for youth to earn their hunter safety certification, study natural resources, create an ourdoor ethic, and learn outdoor recreation skills.
The week-long residential camp is for boys and girls ages 12-15, and held at Millstone 4-H Center, in the beautiful sandhills gamelands. Campers learn firearm safety and shooting skills from hunter education officers. Other activities include: falconry, bird dogs, trapping, wildlife identification, taxidermy, first aid, canoeing, fishing, a low-ropes course, swimming, and much more! Those that have already attended the beginning Rendezvous, or already have their hunter safety certification, can apply for the the Adavanced Rendezvous. During the Adavanced track, campers will learn more about being a wildlife and fisheries biologist. Advanced activites include trapping, wildlife surveys, wildgame cooking, and fish surveys. For more information, please call Renee Strnad, NC Cooperative Extension, at 919-515-5518. Questions regarding registration and fees may be directed to the State 4-H Camping Office, at 919-515-8471.

Ok I’ll admit if I was a few years younger I’d want to go to this camp. It sounds like a great week filled with a lot of opportunities to learn more about the natural world around us. Now a program like this is not cheap and the cost of the camp is $325. With the economy the way it is right now I’m sure for many families that this is something they can’t afford. Well hang on I’ve discovered an organization that is giving out 36 full scholarships to this year’s camp.
The Wake County Wildlife Club will be using some of the money they raise at the Dixie Deer Classic to offer these scholarships.

The Wake County Wildlife Club uses the money it raises from the Dixie Deer Classic to support the resources and for education. One of our projects is to send 36 campers to the annual Fur, Fish, and Game Rendezvous in Ellerbe. Kids 12-15 years old are eligible. They will take the NC Hunter Safety Course and be exposed to a number of hunting and outdoor related activities. If you have or know of a boy or girl who would like to attend this camp please go by the Wake Co. Wildlife Club Hunter Safety Booth at the Dixie Deer Classic and get them registered. This camp would cost you $325.00 if you sending them yourself. It’s a great experience for the kids.

Now when I heard about this I had to do a little bit of checking because it seemed to be too good to be true but it is on the up and up. I was totally unaware that parts of the money raised during the Dixie Deer Classic went to such a worthwhile cause. Additionally I asked about how the scholarships were awarded;

we pay for all 36 slots , whether we fill them or not. We fill them first come first serve. Some years we only have a few names submitted by members or registered at the DDC in which case the FF&G folks ( 4H extension, etc.) fill those spaces.

Well the Dixie Deer Classic is this weekend so stop by their booth to get your youngster signed up. I’m sure if these slots get filled and there is still space at the camp and someone wants to go there are other civic organizations and sportsmen groups that will step up to help. For the rest of us who wondered what our entrance fee to the classic got used for now we know. A tip of the hat to the Wake County Wildlife Club.

A short Video to give you an idea of what is at stake.

This is a follow up to an earlier story I did about the court case that could potentially end the long standing practice of driving on the beach to access the area for recreational activities, the decision is in.
A decision that certainly seems to favor the special interests groups and seems to push sportsmen out. The beach access is supposed to be preserved for human recreational access and not to preserve habitat and species. Now I don’t think there is many sportsmen that would oppose sensible restrictions but to set up a distance equivalent to 11 football fields around a shore birds nest to me seems to excessive. At least my quick reading on the subject seems to suggest that is the distance that will be required.

It is also very concerning to me that little if any public input was sought and basically the special interest groups seemed to have the most voice. If I understand it right these are temporary rules while the National Park Service draws up the official rules. I have little faith in the National Park Service because access does not seem to be a high priority for them nor the desires of sportsmen.

Some Important Links to Check out; Tommy over at Carolina Region has an updated story and he has much more information and details about this story. So please check out his blog. The second link you should check out is SAVE HATTERAS & OCRACOKE ISLAND. Even if your not one who normally access the outerbanks please speak out and support your fellow sportsmen and an entire regions way of life.