Fields Of Gobbling Gold
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
“Gobbler on the right”, dad said as the huge bird emerged over the rise in the field. He then eased up his gun and clicked off the safety as the bird strutted from one hundred yards down to forty. With a quick cut on my diaphragm to get the gobbler’s head out, dad took the shot and down went to bird. My dad, Mike Lee, cousin, Matthew Story, and I had just completed and amazing hunt together on that muggy April morning. This particular bird had been seen several times strutting in this same harrowed cotton field. The 21 pound, 10 inch bearded gobbler was another result of hard work that finally paid off in the Turner County farm fields. Hunting turkeys in farm fields can be extremely difficult but adrenaline filled throughout the entire spring season. Many times as hunters, we have to deal with many factors when hunting birds in this manner, with most of the factors not in our favor. Having started turkey hunting about seven years ago, the circle of emotions runs from the highest high to the deepest low all in a matter of seconds. This holds true especially when hunting difficult field gobblers. Read more...

Zimbabwe Hunting Safari Adventure - Part Two
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Lions and Leopards – Up Close and Personal By: DJ Part 2 – Lions and Leopards, up-close and personal After delivering my Impala Buck to the skinning shed, it was time to scout out the pan, just beyond where we had setup our Hyena baits. This large flat area of elephant grass and scrub trees was known to hold good Sable. Darren had seen good Sable in this area before. It was about a 10 miles across some local flatlands, a bit of rolling hills and then down to the pan’s main trail. This would be an easier ride than the cross country trek we took the prior day where we were crossing streams, climbing hills and blazing trails. Following the main trail to camp we circled around the back side of the field and exiting the safari truck. The team composed of Darren the PH, our two trackers, the government game scout and myself started to peel off our cold weather layer that insulated us against the cold winter morning. Thirty five degrees is not uncommon during the African winter, but warming up into the 70’s by mid day is just as common. With our vehicle covered in outerwear, the team headed down a well worn game trail that paralleled the grass. This gave us a reasonable opportunity to see anything working the edges. The grasslands can be both safe and extremely dangerous for game. It offers the safety of the cover, but doesn’t prevent game from walking into a deadly close encounter with a predator as we would soon experience. Working the edges of the grassland requires quiet stalking, an eye for movement and the ability to stay low and out of sight. About a city block into our stalk we spotted the black rump of a mature Sable bull. As luck would have it, the business end of the Sable was totally obscured by a rather thick clump of brush. The inability for us to see his horns left us wondering just what we had. After a few brief minutes, the Sable turned to look back. I can only presume he heard us talking. I’m not sure who was more anxious, us or him. Once our eyes met, we both reacted. He ducked into the grass which was twice as tall as he was, while I tried to pull up the rifle to make a shot. He was faster. That left Darren and I looking at each other with wide eyes and eager grins. Darren motioned for the team to follow him at a brisk trot. Down the trail we went while still   paralleling the grassland. Circling in about a 500 yards down, Darren instructed one of our trackers to climb a tree and see if he could identify which way the Sable went. His dark black coat should stand out nicely against the dull yellow of the grass. The dexterity of our tracker was amazing. Up the tree, limb to limb bending slightly under his thinly weighted frame he reached a vantage point. Pointing is hand he looked down at us and motioned the direction of the sable. In only minutes we were headed into the grass on an interception route. It can’t be this easy I thought, as I pushed back the ten foot poles of grass... Read more...

Swamp Ghost Cameras
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
I’m working near Des Allemands Louisiana. I have been watching a pair of mature Eagles. They had landed on this clump of dirt several times. I thought if I put some bait on the clump and set my trail cam up, that I stood a good chance of getting a picture of one. We found the big catfish floating nearby and set the cam up on the clump with the big catfish in front of it. We had to leave the area for a day. When we returned, we checked the cam and BINGO! We had the young eagle trying to fly off with the big catfish. It must have been too heavy for him to lift off with. That night, an alligator must have taken the catfish. So we found a small catfish and reset the cam. This time I decided to set the camera on forced flash to get a better picture. The flash would brighten the scene and show the colors better on the bird. Read more...

Why I Carry a Pistol While Bear Hunting!
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Landing in Yakatut is like flying into any of the Alaskan costal village towns. Half the plane is freight and the other half is an odd mix of hunters, business people and a local or two. After exiting the plane and entering the small room size terminal I get a sense that the cargo is more anticipated than the new comers. All sorts of crates, boxes and products are unloaded prior to our gear. So we sit and wait. They must see a fair number of short timers here. Well, I’m only here for 6 days so I grab my gear off the rack and meet up with my outfitter after a good 30 minute wait.   Read more...

Florida Osceola
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Yesterday I went to listen to see where my bird was, he was missing in action so I decided to see if I could roost a bird and I did two of them, I was so torn between two birds deciding which one to go after should I go after the one that I roosted or go after my gobbler that I got on audio, the one I bonded with for weeks now. I called my sister and hunting partner and she convinced me to go with my gut feeling, because it's never wrong saying that with a giggle. Although I really wanted that one gobbler, it was heartbreaking to let him go. I slept in the truck so I was the first one out in my hunting area I finally make my way down the trail and I run into a herd of cows bedded down, well I have to go through them there's no going around them  so I made a noise and flashed them with my flashlight, you would of thought I started world war 3, the whole heard scattered  then I come face to face with this single cow down a ways , I had to stand my ground again, it freaked out and the whole heard that was hiding in silence spooked, I had cows running everywhere It was pretty hillarious  I know the 2 birds I roosted were not going to say a word, and they didn't. I did hear one of the birds finally and I worked him for about 2 hours, then I decided to move to my honey hole, where I should have been first thing that morning. Read more...

Good Boar Down
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
Snooks and I headed up to the lease Monday to try and get some work done on our food plots. We left town at 3pm and drove onto the lease at 5:30pm! We wanted to try and sneak in a hog hunt while there. We geared up and headed to our stands hoping the hogs weren't already there. I was barely settled in my stand when I hear BOOOOOM!!!!! I received a text message from Snooks saying "Big Sow Down!" He said they were already at his feeder when he got there.I settled in hoping I would soon have some action myself. Wasn't long and I heard a branch snap! Then I heard footsteps in some water. Then it was quiet. I waited patiently.Then out of nowhere. There stands a Big Hog in the brush to my right! Read more...

My Biggest Buck
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
The day 10/10/07.It was our first real cool front for the South.I was in my stand a half hour before daylight.As day started to peek through I caught movement from my left.It was a nice young 8 point that was feeding on acorns right under me.I was 30 feet up in a Red Oak full of acorns dropping.As the 8 point fed off,and went into a large bedding area, a couple fawns came out and started feeding where the 8 point was.m look small.A few minutes later another young 8 point came in feeding.I remember thinking to myself that this was pretty cool.About 15 minutes goes by and the young 8 point started going crazy as he was looking past my stand.I was thinking that it was probably a Doe which was fine because we needed some more meat in the freezer.All of a sudden I caught movement from my left directy under me.It was a huge Buck. Read more...

Flats fishing
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
Flats fishing can be an exciting and rewarding experience for fishermen of all ages, whether just beginning or accomplished angler. Flats are long, level, shallow water areas next to deeper water. They are found in bays estuaries and marshes. They are also found atop reefs and atolls, and along shorelines.The bottom of a flat may be made up of grass, sand, rock, mud, gravel, or a combination of these. Flats with grass or other aquatic vegetation offer cover and food for a variety of fish as well as shrimp and crabs. The most sought after fish when flats fishing include redfish, tarpon, seatrout, bonefish, permit and snook. Other popular catches are striped bass, bluefish, barracuda, shark, cobia and mutton snapper. Read more...

Top Water Fishing
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
    Top Water Fishing   It’s right at daybreak. You’ve killed the motor about 200 feet away from the lily pads. Now you are on stealth approach with the trolling motor, and the first cast lands in the pocket between four pads. You let the frog settle a minute, twitch it twice, and SLAM!, the tuning fork goes off in your loins as the 5lbr grabs the frog. You’re still shaking as you boat the first fish of the morning, knowing that there is no other adrenalin rush like this.   Top water fishing has to be the most exciting part of Bass Fishing. Whether you are walking the dog with a spook, pulling a Jitterbug, watching it gurgle as it comes across the water, casting a buzz bait over the grass beds, or dropping that buzz frog over some lily pads, there is nothing like the thrill of a great top water strike. In this article we will explore the various top water lures and the various methods of retrieve for each. Read more...

2008 Halibut Adventure by DJ
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Well all, I’m back in the blue waters of the KANO inlet nestled among the wooded rain forests of the Charlotte Islands. The skies today are steel gray with low clouds that swirl and hang over the islands trees like the smoke from a smoldering forest fire. The wind is low and the ocean is at peace. The waves remind me of a pond more so than the fierceness the north pacific in this area is so known for.As our float plane arrives and water skies along the surface to the side of the HS Salmon Seeker, we all breath a sign of relief as we exit the small craft. The crossing over the Charlotte’s well timbered peaks is always an exciting ride. This time, we did it in heavy clouds and fog. Flying too low out here could mean an unplanned meeting with disaster. Once upon the Seeker, which was an old Government Exploration ship converted into quaint yet compact state rooms and an equally compact galley, we quickly stowed our gear and collected our Mustang survival suits. Well worn by countless prior guests, these yellow waterproof outfits are a two piece setup with bibs under a hooded storm jacket. Made to protect you from the cold, wind and water, they really do their job. Once dressed for success we’re out to the boats. Read more...

Bass Fishing in the Everglades
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
Most anglers agree that bass fishing in the Everglades is a unique and captivating experience. Many people visit this unique environment expecting the stereotypical swamplands of old black and white movies; what they find is one of the country’s most extraordinary natural formations. Thousands of kinds of fish, dozens of endangered species and land forms unlike anywhere else in the United States can all be found in the Everglades. These surroundings also provide some of the best largemouth bass waters in the country; however, anyone who spends time bass fishing in the Everglades will discover more than just an angling adventure. Read more...

The Thrill of the Airboat Ride
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
An old-fashioned airboat ride is one of the best ways to see the rivers and marshes of areas like the Florida Everglades – as scenic a place as you could ever hope to visit. Airboats are a long-established part of the scenery, and there’s nothing quite like hopping on to one to get a tour round the wildlife and scenery of these beautiful waterways. An airboat ride is a thrill for visitors of all ages. There’s no reason to sit on a boring barge when you can see the rivers and marshes from a genuine old-fashioned airboat. The distinctive shape of the big rear propeller is about as close as you get to a symbol of the Florida Everglades, short of the alligators themselves – and you don’t want to get too close to them! Visitors consistently say that taking a ride in an airboat was the most exciting and memorable part of their whole trip. The thrill of the airboat ride is how close you get to nature and the great outdoors, with the wind in your hair and the spray from the water adding to the experience. Read more...

South Indian River - Nov 22,2007
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
Fantastic weekend weather found many anglers hitting the water to enjoy both the sun and fishing. Monday bought some rainy and windier days to the Treasure Coast. It's still great to live and fish in Florida! Looks like some nice weather for the holiday weekend ahead of us. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! We found ourselves in some great weather this week. Sunday I had Vincent Serio and David Brasher on the boat for the Teen Anglers Tournament. They both caught a good number of fish, but David ended up with the better day. Read more...

Tarpon Fishing
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
I was able to do some fishing for a little while this evening with a friend Capt Danny Brown, His Dad is Capt Gregg Brown who both are guides in the Florida Keys and friends with Captain Tw. I went down this weekend to originally work on the house in Key Largo and figured I had a little time this evening to try my luck tarpon fishing. I have had plenty of success fishing with my friends Capt. t.w., country 6068 and keys angler on several game fish like snook,redfish and trout but never have I landed a tarpon yet and that all changed this evening. We got out to the fishing spot at about 6:00pm and drifted along side the bridge using small crabs and mullet for bait, we must of fished for at least an hour or two with no hits. The tarpon i am told are more active very early morning and late evening i guess you would say like a whitetail there similar in there feeding times. The sun was hitting the horizon and you couldn't have asked for a better sunset, it was a beginning to a beautiful evening. About 8:30 pm the sun had gone down and I could hardly see my bober but the moon was full and lighting up the water it was very quiet and we were just sitting there enjoying the view, about this time i heard a fish explode like someone just threw a bolder off the bridge in the water Danny yelled out fish on i grabbed the rod set the hook as hard as i could and watched this monster come out of the water completely it was amazing to say the least. Read more...