Driftwood Outdoors

Not to beat a dead horse, but this weather has been crazy. Mid-March 80 degree days aren’t normal. Factor in the week long rain shower and it feels like we should be flipping the calendar to May any day now. With the warm temperatures and wet weather comes one of nature’s finest bounties…morel mushrooms. Reports from the field confirm that folks are already finding them.

Mushroom hunting is something I greatly enjoy for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I absolutely love the taste of morels. I don’t care if you fry them, bake them, sauté them, or whatever, I think they taste incredible. Secondly, mushroom hunting is something the whole family can participate in together. My five and six year olds aren’t too good at sitting still and keeping quite. Luckily, mushrooms won’t spook at the screech of a little kid like a deer and turkey will. Third, mushroom hunting is active. Walking through the woods is my favorite type of exercise, and after months of winter inactivity, it feels great to get out and stretch the old legs.

Good areas to look for morel mushrooms include south facing slopes, around fallen logs, and certain types of trees. South facing slopes are prime spots early in the season because they warm up first. Decomposing logs are generally worth a second look. If you have any elm and/or ash trees on your hunting grounds, be sure to finely comb those areas. Apple trees, especially apple orchards, are always worth a look, and are often hot spots. (more…)

Many factors go into the overall harvest of deer in Indiana. Season lengths, limits, number of hunters, weather, fawn reproduction rates and the economy are just a few examples. Overall, hunters killed fewer deer statewide in 2011 than in 2010, but the total harvest of 129,018 was still the fourth-best season on record. It was just 3.7 percent below the all-time record harvest of 134,004 set in 2010.

“It becomes somewhat predictable that the harvest would fall in line close to where it has the past couple of years,” said Chad Stewart, deer management biologist for the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. “It appears in some areas the deer population is in fact down, but those areas aren’t many. Overall, the deer herd is thriving in our state.”

Over the years, deer numbers have increased greatly in Indiana. So much so, efforts have been made to reduce the numbers significantly in certain high population corridors of the state. Liberal antlerless kill quotas have been set up to help control the population, and the one buck rule was implemented to encourage the killing of does. (more…)

The classic picture of a turkey hunter is someone covered from head to toe in top- notch camouflage nestled tight against cover. This hunter remains motionless to stay undetected by the incredible eyesight of the wild turkey. He is a good enough caller to bring birds into his decoys, so he sits and waits.

I’ve never been good at waiting. Sitting still is something I can handle for about an hour, and then my feet begin to dance. On a recent hunt out west, I discovered a whole new way to look at turkey hunting.

Glassing for big game is utilized much more in the vastness of western states. Hunters spot and stalk game by first locating them with optics, and then attempting to close the distance to what is necessary for an ethical shot. I have learned to apply these tactics to eastern turkeys, and really enjoy it. Perhaps my calling is not where it should be and maybe some traditionalist would frown on running and gunning, but I love to move when I hunt and stalking turkeys is no easy task.

Being a mobile turkey hunter requires doing you homework. Learning where birds roost and where they spend their days feeding is the key to intercepting turkeys on travel patterns. As deer hunters, we do this very same thing nearly every time we hunt. I do not use a ground blind very often when turkey hunting, because I like to be able to hit the road when need be, but using a blind along a turkey travel route is a sound method. (more…)

Maryland, Vermont, Alaska and now Missouri have all banned felt soled wader boots. Although felt soles may be the best bet for keeping anglers from slipping and taking a plunge, they are also potentially damaging to fisheries, as the felt allows for spores and larvae of non-natives to transfer from water to water.

Rubber sole waders or boots, like these from Chota are the best alternative to felt.

Missouri is wade fishing state. We have many beautiful warm water streams and enough cold water fisheries to make our Midwest neighbors green with envy. Felt soled waders and wading boots are usually found in high numbers in states where cold water fisheries draw out of state anglers, like Missouri. Anglers can transport invasive species in felt from out of state waters, which is exactly why they had to be banned.

If you were to wear felt soled waders duck hunting in Louisiana and an invasive species burrowed up in your felt, then you packed up your waders and traveled home to trout fish Taneycomo, that invasive could release into the lake. The invasive could over time change the fishery. It’s hard to imagine a Louisiana weed destroying the Lake Taneycomo, but it could happen.
“Didymo” (Didymosphenia geminata) or “rock snot,” is the main reason why Missouri has banned felt soles. This invasive alga forms large, thick mats on the bottoms of cold-water streams and rivers, reducing the quality and quantity of food vital to fish such as trout. Didymo also clogs water intakes and boat motors. It interferes with fishing gear and eventually makes fishing nearly impossible.

According to Missouri Department of Conservation Fisheries Biologist Mark VanPatten, “Didymo is kept in check naturally in other parts of the country and world by lower pH, or acidity, levels in the water. Missouri’s wealth of limestone creates higher pH levels in the water. These higher pH levels can allow didymo to spread unchecked.”
It would be devastating to see the beautiful little smallmouth creeks of the Ozarks and our trout rivers choked with rock snot. (more…)

The Missouri Deer Classic is set to return to the Boone County Fair Grounds, March 3 and 4. This year’s lineup of exhibitors and seminars should prove enjoyable for all who enjoy deer hunting the Show-Me State and beyond.

Brody the bear.

There will be a number of seminars taking place both Saturday and Sunday. John Legrand will be sharing deer and turkey hunting tips he’s picked up over many years of hunting Missouri. TW Norman, who is a member of the Christian body building team Extreme Team, will demonstrate feats of strength. Jim Wilson will be on hand to share food plot secrets. A crew from Bowfisher magazine will be talking about the popular sport of bowfishing. And, I will be giving a seminar on hunting public land, based on years of learning how to maximize public properties for hunting success.

A number of other attractions are also set to make the Deer Classic a fun and engaging experience. Brody, a live 1500-pound Kodiak grizzly bear, is back by popular demand. Jeff Watson, Brody’s trainer, will be presenting Brody to the crowd, while delivering a message of bear awareness. A big buck contest will honor some of the giant whitetails taken across the state. For those who are interested in knowing what your buck scores, simply bring your rack, or mount, to the classic and a certified scorer will figure out just how big that buck is. The annual 3-D shoot will again allow for some skilled, or lucky, shooters, to gain or retain serous bragging rights. (more…)

Standing amongst the endless ocean of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I always knew a trip to our nation’s capital was something I would enjoy, but never did I think it would touch me to the core.

Brandon Butler with Senator McCaskill of Missouri. Waiting to see how she votes?

Last week, I headed to Washington D.C. in support of restoring the Gulf of Mexico. The National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and the Louisiana Wildlife Federation have formed a joint venture called “Vanishing Paradise.” The goal of Vanishing Paradise goes beyond returning the Gulf back to where it was before hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill. The goal is to begin restoring the Gulf to what it was once, long before we changed the Mississippi River from a long, flowing marsh to deep, straight shipping ditch.

Now, I don’t live anywhere near the Gulf of Mexico, so why am I so concerned about this cause? Well, for the same reasons you should be. The Gulf of Mexico is a major wintering ground for much of North America’s waterfowl population. It’s also where the majority of our seafood comes from, is a recreational paradise and remains a true natural treasure of our continent. The Gulf of Mexico wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, and politics as usual may just let it happen.

Right now, there is a bill before the U.S. Senate called the RESTORE Act. Here is how it is explained on the Audubon website. “The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunity, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act of 2011” (the “RESTORE Act”). This Senate bill paves the way for Congress to do what voters expect: hold the parties responsible for the Gulf oil disaster accountable for restoring the Gulf by investing fines owed by BP and the other parties responsible for the Gulf oil spill into the Gulf region. The RESTORE Act will help rebuild and strengthen the environment and support America’s economic recovery.” (more…)

I remember the first time I met Jim Zumbo. It was at a writer’s conference in 2007. I saw him standing by the bar, and couldn’t believe my eyes. But there he was, black cowboy hat and all. It was like catching Santa Claus coming down the chimney. He was, and remains, the hero of my boyhood dreams.

Jim Zumbo and Brandon Butler

Many recognize the name, because of Zumbo’s was the longtime role as hunting editor of Outdoor Life. He has also published over 20 hunting books, including the popular, “To Heck With…” series. “To Heck with Elk Hunting” helped inspire my move out west.

Last week, at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Elk Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jim Zumbo received the RMEF’s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award. The award honors special contributions of lasting significance for the benefit of elk, other wildlife and their habitat across North America. A bronze sculpture was presented to Zumbo during the 28th annual RMEF convention.

According to the Elk Foundation, Zumbo joined RMEF in 1985, a year and a day after it was founded. The outfit was still teetering in infancy and Zumbo gave it only a 50/50 chance of lasting out the year. But he felt the spirit of the founding leaders, wrote a $600 check and became one of RMEF’s earliest life members. In 1986, he volunteered for duty on the organization’s first board of directors. It was the first of two terms that Zumbo has served on the RMEF board.

Aside from being a prominent member, Zumbo was also a contributor. He was among the earliest contributors to “Bugle” magazine. Zumbo’s endorsement helped build RMEF credibility among its most important audience – elk hunters. Still today, he continues to benefit the organization by spreading the word at sportsmen shows, in magazine articles, books and on television.
“Few people have done more than Jim to communicate the importance of conservation in elk country,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “But his influence also has helped to keep this outfit grounded. RMEF was founded by average elk hunters and they’re still the core of our membership. Jim never lets us forget that.” (more…)

Each and every year, I look forward to the Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show. It’s a time to see old friends, make new ones, and simply be surrounded by all things hunting and fishing for a few days. The dates for this year’s show are 17 – 26, and it is once again being held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

This year marks the 58th straight that the Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show has opened its doors to our state’s outdoor enthusiasts. As the weather keeps hinting that spring is coming early this year, the boat show offers a perfect platform for picking up the gear you’re going to need to chase those spring crappie and summer bluegills, as well as offering you plenty of chances to book a trip with one of the countless outfitters on hand.

The first weekend of the show, February 17 – 19, is highlighted by the annual Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Exposition. The “Deer Expo” show is always so packed that it can be tough to make it up and down the aisles. But that shouldn’t deter you. The reason for the crowding is simple, the show is awesome. I travel to a number of deer and turkey hunting expos each year, and I can honestly say that Indianapolis is hands down my favorite. (more…)

Certain topics are worth writing about every year. Shed hunting is one of them. For a number of reasons, this mid-winter past time is a worthy endeavor. Here are a few reasons why you should go shed hunting this month, and a few tips on how to improve your chances of success.

Antlers are a big part of why many hunt. I’m not saying it’s right, but it is the truth. The antler craze just seems to get worse every year as more and more companies market the killing of trophy deer. Well, in Indiana you can only kill one antlered deer a year (with the exception of urban zone and special application hunts), but you can pick up as many shed antlers as you can find. So, if trophy antlers are your thing, then strap on your boots and put some leather to dirt. You never know what you might come across.

I admit to loving antlers myself. Not nearly as much as I love food, especially medium-rare back straps covered with sautéed Vidalia onions, baby portabellas and blue cheese crumbles then lightly drizzled with Worcestershire sauce, but I do love antlers none the less. Shed are nice because they can be accumulated quickly and put on display in various manner. I have shed elk antlers on the mantle above my fireplace, shed whitetail antlers on my desk at work, and a pile of shed mule deer antlers on top of my gun vault in my man cave. Some turn them into chandeliers; others throw them in the rocks outside their house. My neighbor has a chain of sheds hanging on his front porch. Sheds are great for decorating. (more…)

My voice is broken. Some would say lost, but I’m sticking with broken. My feet are still sore and my handshake is weakened. Yet, I survived another SHOT Show. Not only did I survive, I left energized (mentally). The state of the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Industry is stronger than ever.

“It’s a wonderful time to be in our industry,” said Sandy Chisholm of North American Arms, a handgun manufacturer. “We’ve seen tremendous enthusiasm on the part of sellers and buyers, and we see the prospect of a very good year ahead.” Many agreed with that assessment of the market and of the SHOT Show.

The SHOT Show is the largest trade show in the traditional outdoor industry. It’s so large in fact, it’s the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, a city known for huge trade shows. This year, over 61,000 people attended the show. There were over 1,600 exhibitors showcasing their goods in booths, and 2,400 media members walking the floor to find out about the latest and greatest.
The SHOT Show is owned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. Revenues from the show support NSSF’s many programs that carry out its mission of promoting, protecting and preserving hunting and the shooting sports. (more…)