Finally a February day that felt like one instead of day in May. The air had a bite, the wind was really blowing and I actually saw some snow flakes as the front rolled through giving us a small taste of winter. There was about 10 of us and a dozen beagles and lots of great rabbit cover to push to see if we could find some. It didn’t take long for the beagles to pick up a hot scent and the race was on. There is something special listening to the beagles chasing a rabbit through an overgrown clear cut. Anyone who thinks the rabbit doesn’t stand a chance hasn’t done much hunting because they are pretty sly. These rabbits we hunted yesterday seemed to have advanced degrees in eluding the dogs and the coyote signs we saw all over the place told us who the professors at that university was.

We had a number of chases but only 3 rabbits made it to the bag before we called it quits. There is still a few weeks left in the season here in North Carolina but likely this was the last rabbit hunt of the season for me.

Overall it has been a good season even if I haven’t taken a rabbit this season. The thrill of the hunt the social aspects of small game hunting all have made for a fun season. If I’ve learned one thing it’s we need to control the predators and most specifically coyotes. Coyotes are expanding across the state and we’ve got to slow them down a bit but that’s another story for another day.

Small game season is in full swing here in North Carolina and I jumped at the chance to join some friends as they chased bunnies yesterday near the Cape Fear River. While for many the lack of winter weather around here is a blessing for hunters it has been a curse. Yesterday was the last day of duck season and a pretty dismal season with the unseasonable warm winter we have been having. So I past on the duck hunting and headed out with some rabbit hunters and soon found out the warm weather was having a negative effect on them as well.

The hunting land was some overgrown cut overs that had some of the nicest crop of briars, blackberry bushes and holly I’ve ever seen. My face and arms today show the scars of me trying to push through that stuff to keep up with the dogs. The beagles ran some rabbits but if you weren’t right up on them it was so thick you’d hear the rabbit but never see him. We had a few nice chases and bagged one lone bunny before we called it quits around lunch time. The temperatures by then were close to 60′ and the dogs and us hunters were feeling the terrain and the warm weather.

I got back to the truck and checked my pedometer and saw that I’d covered a little over 6 miles that morning the dogs easily did 3 to 4 times that I’m sure. As I said before hunting success is not only measured in what you bag but the experience you shared.

I’d never hunted with these guys before but I really had a blast. They are a pretty dedicated group of rabbit hunters and hopefully before the season goes out maybe I’ll get out with them again. It would be nice if the weather would turn more seasonable and help things out.

The song of the beagle is a special one to hear. Hopefully before the season goes out I’ll get the chance to experience it again maybe this time that rascally rabbit will pass close enough to me for a shot.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Game Page

The alarm went off at 430 am Saturday for me to get moving to head out on a much anticipated hunt. This was going to be a rather unique hunt for a number of reasons the biggest being I was going to get to go on squirrel hunt with dogs. My GPS told me I had a 77 mile drive ahead of me to meet up with my fellow squirrel hunters. The hunters I was meeting on this trip are all members of NC Hunt & Fish a message forum we all participate on. Technology has allowed all of us to connect with each other and throughout the year we have hunts, fishing trips, and get togethers across the state.

We all met up at BiscuitVille to get some breakfast before we headed out to Uwharrie National Forest.

The squirrel dogs (Curs) were anxious to get hunting so after a brief hike into the forest they were turned lose to find some squirrels. Watching the dogs work was really fascinating as they ran around looking for the scent of a squirrel once they found it they would tree it. Our job as hunters was to get to the dogs quickly so we could find the squirrels before they climbed into a den or a hole or jumped from tree to tree to give the dogs the slip.

The first squirrel was treed and it took us a few minutes to find it pressed against the trunk of a tree near the top. My second shot from my 22 found the mark and the squirrel dropped from the treetop. I don’t know who was more excited me or the Curs.

Saturday was unseasonable warm with the temperatures climbing into the 70′s which seemed to me to be less than ideal conditions to be hunting in for a number of reasons. One the squirrel movement seemed to be a bit subdued and the conditions seemed less than ideal for the dogs to scent the squirrels out. Also the warm weather increased the traffic in the forest with lots of hikers but who could blame them on a day better suited for the end of April rather than January.

We hunted the morning and while we didn’t bag a lot of squirrels the hunt was a blast as we got to meet and reunite with friends we talk to more often than not in cyberspace.

I can’t tell ya how fun a hunt this was and I hope to be back out chasing squirrels with dogs soon. If you’ve never tried it find someone with squirrel dogs and give it a try.

A family here in North Carolina is learning a hard lesson about interactions with cute wildlife after they were exposed to rabies after playing with an over friendly raccoon.

Cumberland County Animal Control officers said two raccoon picked up Tuesday have tested positive for rabies.

Before they knew the animal was dangerous, the Koonce family treated one of the raccoons like a pet at their home

“It acted like somebody’s pet. It would follow you, would play with you,” Bill Koonce said.

The family even made a bed for the animal in the garage.

The lack of fear the raccoon showed humans worried Stacey Koonce, so she contacted animal control to pick it up. She said there were a string of calls made before animal control picked up the raccoon the next morning.

The animal never attacked the family, but each must undergo shots in case they were infected.

WRAL

I’m amazed at times how people just forget about the “wild” in wild animals. I’ve seen people try to pet deer, elk, and buffalo inside a number of national parks or even worse send a small child over to stand next to a critter for a photo op. Maybe Disney has warped the thinking of these people or something. Wild animals are not pets and should not be thought of as such. While the treatment for rabies is not as bad as it use to be I still wouldn’t want to have to go through it.

The age old debate about age has been push to the forefront with a recent article in the News and Observer. I’ll offer my perspective on the article itself in another post but for this post lets talk about introducing kids to hunting in general.
I guess I should say first that I don’t have any children and I didn’t start hunting till I was an adult. I however have been around a number of people teaching young people to hunt and I have also taken a number of youth hunting over the years. So hopefully you’ll find my views on this subject helpful if you are facing this decision.

The history of our hunting roots is in family upbringings and traditions the vast majority of hunters today got their start with an older family member. Not too many generations ago many of us lived in rural settings being brought up a lot closer to nature and the earth then we are today. Even for me that was brought up in suburbia the vast majority of my free time was spent outdoors playing and observing the real world the only virtual world we had was what we created with our minds. Today technology has changed much of that and young people grow up with instant gratification of beeps and blinking lights on a screen. Sadly very few spend much time in nature these days.

With earlier generations food was more what was grown, gathered, raised, or hunted and every member of the family took part in it from the youngest up to the oldest. Hunting was more a necessity then a recreational activity today those roles have flipped. Small game was an important staple for many families a few generations ago but not so any more.

Today in North Carolina the primary species that are hunted are Whitetail Deer and Turkeys a few generations ago these two species were for the most part absent from the landscape. Small game was center stage for most hunters; quail, rabbit and squirrel were the critters that filled the game bag. Hunting was done with a 22 or a shotgun with birdshot marginal rounds at best if tried on turkeys or deer today.
Now a days it is not unusual for a young person to take his or her first animal as something classified as “Big Game” and that involves stronger weapons and larger rounds. Now I don’t have an issue with that I just think it takes a bit more maturity and physical strength then killing a rabbit or a squirrel. While I think there is some good reasoning behind having a young person first kill be a small game animal I understand for many that is unrealistic. Time constraints and limited opportunities have for many reduced or eliminated small game hunting all together.

What age can a person start hunting? I believe there are a number of factors to consider when determining what age that is and I believe that it is an individual decision not based on a set age. I think participation at the earliest age possible is great carrying a firearm and actually killing an animal is when they are ready. Things I look for when I’m teaching a young person to hunt; ability to listen and follow instructions, some understanding of safety, some understanding of the taking of a life and the meaning of that kill.
On the range I want to see that they can safely handle the gun they plan to hunt with. They may not be able to shuck the shell but I want to know they know how it should be done, how to line up the sights and hit a target, and how to operate the safety. Hunter Safety classes are offered in every state I think it is important that everyone takes the class.

At what age a young person matures enough to fully participate in a hunt will widely vary but any age kid that has a desire to hunt can participate in some aspects of the hunt. We should keep it fun and educational for them. Hopefully they’ll learn that unlike the virtual world there is a lot better rewards then blips and blinking lights on a screen when you fully engage with the natural world.

Youth Turkey Hunt

The Cottontail Rabbit busted out of the brush pile and was heading straight for me I had a split second to make my choice and I opted for the camera instead of the shotgun. The camera clicked about the same time the first beagle bellowed out the hot trail. The pack of beagles jumped on the hot trail and it wasn’t long before the seventh rabbit of the morning hunt was taken.

Having missed my planned trip to the mountains my hunting partner Rick invited me to join him and a group of people on a annual rabbit hunt in Efland NC. This is hunt that has been going on for about 18 years now the Saturday before Christmas and it is as much a social event as it is a hunt. Around 530 am they started gathering at the local garage to prepare a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, ham, and home fries. There are about 25 people at breakfast but as the morning goes on the numbers dwindle down.

We break for lunch after the seventh bunny goes in the vest. The morning was exciting with the beagles doing an exceptional job at running the cottontails. Many generations of hunters were represented on the hunt and there is a promise that such traditions like this will continue on. I had to leave after lunch but I understand the afternoon was equally productive with another seven rabbits taken making it a 14 rabbit day.

I don’t get the opportunity to rabbit hunt very much so this was a hunt I won’t soon forget. Hopefully it won’t be long before I hear the song of the beagles again and maybe next time I’ll opt for the shotgun so I have some rabbits to stew or maybe fry.

Dove Season Under Way
The first segment for mourning and white-winged doves (Sept. 4 – Oct. 9) is under way. Remember that it is an individual hunter’s responsibility to know the legal status of the area being hunted. Don’t hunt over baited fields; take time prior to hunting to “walk the field” and inspect the area. Be safe – never shoot at low-flying birds – and know your field of fire. Enjoy the outdoors and have a great hunt.

I’ve heard from a number of folks that game wardens have been out checking fields for illegal baiting of Doves. So don’t try it, you are likely to get caught and get a ticket. If you are hunting on someone else’s land it is your responsibility to look and make sure it is not baited. This includes paid fields because you to can be cited and likely will be.

The issue of safety is very important especially with the tragedy near Louisburg NC earlier this week. Dove hunting is a fun social event be safe and hunt legally.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologists are urging city folks and urban dwellers to not panic over seeing foxes during daylight hours.

Simply seeing a fox is not a cause for alarm. Catching a glimpse of one can actually be a rewarding experience in that it provides an opportunity to witness one of North Carolina’s most adaptable species. However, people still should not approach foxes or fox dens, even if they seem harmless. If the fox makes a den for pups, do not disturb them. Do not approach, touch or feed the fox or its pups.

Foxes are really a benefit in helping to control other pests, I had voles in the yard but between the hawks and the foxes they are gone. The important thing with any wildlife is to not allow them get habituated to people.

Here are some Tips from NCWRC

* Don’t feed wild animals – they can lose their fear of people.
* Make sure you are not indirectly feeding wildlife – by cleaning up pet food, securing trash in an animal-proof container, keeping barbecue grills clean and removing bird feeders.
* Establish protective barriers to keep wildlife from entering basements, crawl spaces, attics and beneath decks, where they might build nests or dens.
* Secure pets or keep them indoors. Dogs can disturb dens, prompting aggressive behavior from the foxes.
* Clear overhanging tree limbs or other means of access that wildlife can use to enter a structure.
* Clear fallen fruit from around trees.
* Encourage neighbors to follow these same methods.

Of course if the animal is acting odd or appears ill contact your local animal control.

For more info on Gray Fox or info on Red Fox

A bill to allow Greensboro to move problematic animals instead of killing them under depredation seems to be dead in the North Carolina Senate. It seems like many places in North Carolina beavers are causing trouble in Greensboro but the city seemed surprised that the trouble causing rodents were getting sent to the big beaver pond in the sky and nowhere else.

“We didn’t realize they were being euthanized,” Dave Phlegar, manager of Greensboro’s Storm Water Management Division, told the committee. Greensboro city officials would like not to kill the critters, he told the committee. He said there’s a spot near the wastewater treatment plant where beavers could be relocated should they be trapped.

I guess there was a time when there was places where beavers were needed but those days are gone. More often than not these days’ beavers get into areas and cause damages. Even if you release them on land where the landowner will allow them there is no guarantee they’ll stay there and not go somewhere else.

“Beavers cause a lot of damage in North Carolina,” said Gordon Myers, executive director of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Farmers and city-dwellers alike consider them a nuisance. Greensboro, he said, should not be allowed simply to make its beavers somebody else’s problem.

News & Record

There is absolutely no reason that lawmakers should step into the wildlife management arena leave that to the NCWRC. If you allow one city to be exempt from current wildlife rules others will soon follow and the rules will be a mess. We already see that to some extent when you look at fox rules that widely vary from county to county.
We also need to use sound wildlife management practices that includes the taking of surplus animals to keep the population healthy and in balance.
I hope Senate Bill 1345 & House Bill 1928 just die in committee.

I’ll be attending the annual Johnston County Quail Unlimited Banquet tonight in Selma NC @ the Moose Lodge. Always a fun time with some great food the fun kicks off at 6pm. Usually some great raffles, door prizes and auctions so if you get a chance check it out. Cost is $50 each $75 per couple and $275 for a sponsor if there are any left. Contact: Joe Moore at 919-915-0441 for more info.