Published: November 09, 2007 05:40 pm            

MARTINO: Too cold? No way, November is perfect

“If it wasn’t for Thanksgiving, I’d hate November,” a young lady said last week after hearing the impending weather forecast which called for sub-freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow flurries.

“This starts the bleakest time of year,” she added.

Personally, I don’t see it that way. For outdoor sports enthusiasts, November may just be the best month of them all. Whitetails are in rut and hunters will pursue them with bows, shotguns, pistols, muzzleloaders and this year, rifles. Ducks and geese are migrating down from the prairie pothole regions. Rabbit season begins and so does our upland game bird seasons. Trappers begin harvesting fur bearing animals. They help control the populations of critters largely ignored by hunters.

On the fishing side of things, steelhead and salmon are in the tributaries of lake Michigan and just about every species of warm water fish begin their feeding frenzy before the coldest part of winter sets in.

Most importantly is that everyone buying a hunting or fishing license is doing their part in protecting the future of our fish and wildlife resources, as well as our outdoor traditions.

More so than anytime of year, November provides the utmost opportunities to “cast and blast.” Unfortunately, it also provides a time where our resources are shared by numerous people with varied interests. This can set the tone for conflicts among sportsmen.

Here are a few examples. There have been instances where crappie fishermen have mistakenly trolled through someone’s well placed decoy spread. There are other times when deer hunters have had small game hunters unknowingly walk in close proximity to their stand.

Instead of looking down your nose at the offending sportsmen, how about saying something nice instead of the alternative. After all, everyone deserves the right to enjoy our natural resources.

Don’t take me wrong, I am not saying we should turn the other cheek and ignore ignorant or dangerous behavior. What I am saying is as sportsmen, we should strive to be courteous and helpful. Here’s why.

Animal rights extremists are some of the most organized groups in the country. They are also adept at raising huge sums of money which helps them spread their nonsense propaganda. Instead of using their millions of dollars to benefit fish and wildlife, like hunters and fishermen do, they use it to chip away at our outdoor heritage. Their objective is to end hunting, fishing and trapping forever.

Let’s face it, most Americans don’t hunt, fish or trap. Thankfully, most of these folks still think its OK. When you get right down to it, our continued right to take part in consumptive outdoor opportunities depends on the image we portray to the non-hunting public.

When these folks see sportsmen at each others throats, our public image quickly loses stock and these same people may start listening to the ‘antis’. “Hunters are bad because I have seen it and heard it for myself.”

As sportsmen and women, I am sure you belong to one or more conservation groups. If you don’t, join one, anyone! Although we can’t afford to join them all, we should never condemn any outdoor oriented group either, even if we don’t participate in that particular activity.

Huge organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited can not protect our traditions alone. We also need the National Trappers Association, American Coon Hunters Association and Varmint Hunter groups as much as we need Pheasants Forever.

Not one of these organizations can raise enough money to single handedly guarantee the future of our rich outdoor heritage, but as a group, these organizations do make a huge difference. So, instead of slamming someone who chooses to hunt or fish in a legal manner that you may not choose to participate in, we are all better off if you thank them for what they do.

Whether you realize it or not, we are all on the same team, even though we may be playing different sports. We have got to treat our kindred spirits in the outdoors — our brothers and sisters — with respect. And the month of November is the perfect time to start showing it!

Hunting results

As far as outdoor successes are concerned, any deer taken with archery equipment is a sizable accomplishment. Even more special is the first deer collected by the beginning bowhunter.

Take Stacy Rogers for example. Through the encouragement of her boyfriend, Don Pickell, Stacy took to the woods for the first time this fall with her Darton compound. The female hunter, who looks more like a model than a hunter, collected her first deer, a nice doe just several weeks back. Then last week she collected a beautiful eight-pointer that tipped the scales at 185 pounds.

Here is this week’s list of other local bowhunters who have collected deer and taken them to one of our area’s state certified check-in stations. This information is provided by Bryant’s Outdoor Store, Burlington Locker, Full-Draw Archery, Jack’s Tackle Center and Simpson’s Deer Processing.

Brown County: Greg Duke, 145-pound, eight-point buck.

Carroll County: Mike Bell, 185-pound, 12-point buck; Dave Kelly, 225-pound, 11-point buck; Jamie Wells, 95-pound doe; Mark Perry, 75-pound, button-buck; Greg Kuns, 205-pound, eight-point buck; Mark Gaylor, 100-pound doe.

Cass County: Randall Roark, 163-pound, 12-point buck; Eric Teeter, 105-pound doe; Mike Lay, 165-pound, 18-point buck; Raymond Keller, 105-pound doe; Raymond Brankle, 105-pound doe.

Fulton County: Ralph Harvey, 138-pound doe; Ed Glassburn, 95-pound doe.

Howard County: Ray Williams, 200-pound, 10-point buck; Jim Ade, 202-pound, eight-point buck; Mike Cody, 165-pound, eight-point buck; Dwayne Miller, 115-pound, six-point buck; Kyle Brownlee, 140-pound, eight-point buck; Aaron Workman, 80-pound doe; Ryan Shavey, 115-pound doe; Max Ralston, 165-pound, 10-point buck; Dennis Riggs, 115-pound doe; Dylan Green, 100-pound doe; Bart Alexander, 70-pound, button-buck; Clint Vannatter, 180-pound, 12-point buck; John DeGrow, 185-pound, eight-point buck; Millie Steele, 160-pound, eight-point buck.

Marshall County: Chris Shoffner, 125-pound, eight-point buck.

Miami County: Craig Hulsey II, 103-pound doe; Lonnie Chapin, 155-pound, 12-point buck; Craig Hulsey, 100-pound doe; Steve Griffey, 170-pound, nine-point buck; Jan Burke, 150-pound, eight-point buck; Dale Daniels, 215-pound, nine-point buck; Alex Burke, 75-pound doe.

Pulaski County: Joe Martino, 235-pound, 12-point buck.

Tippecanoe County: Stacy Rogers, 185-pound, eight-point buck.

Tipton County: Dan Musgrave, 100-pound doe; Shane Kuefner, 114-pound, eight-point buck; Bruce Jacobs, 80-pound, button-buck.

Tribune catches of the week

Bryant’s Outdoor Store: Jarred Phifer and Mark Tomlinson hauled in 47 crappies, keeping 29 averaging 10 inches for the table. The fish were taken from Mississinewa Reservoir on minnows.

Jack’s Tackle Center: Doug Pence caught and released a trophy largemouth bass that stretched 22 inches in length. The avid Kokomo angler hooked the fish from a Kosciusko County lake on an artificial lure.

Peoria Bait and Tackle: Eli Galvin reeled in a mixed bag of channels, blue and flathead catfish from the Mississinewa River. Galvin’s largest fish, a flathead, tipped the scales at over 21 pounds. The fish were taken on live bait.

John Martiono is the Kokomo Tribune’s outdoors columnist. He may be reached through the sports department at (765) 454-8574.

        

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