Outdoors: Heads-up, because hunting is on the endangered list

I know we are about a month-and-a-half before hunting season arrives. Squirrel season starts on August 15. As usual, I will be in the woods on opening day to chase bushy tails. While this may be a trivial paragraph, I am dead serious about the future of hunting.

Hunting is on the endangered list.

I found out just how serious this is over the last few months. I did some nuisance trapping last week at the request of a land owner. I caught the critter the first night and took it and the trap to an area so I could dispose of the animal and place it in a garbage truck. The land owner asked me why I had to kill the animal, and I explained to him that was the law.

It clearly states on my nuisance permit in big, bold letters that any trapped animal cannot be retained alive. I explained this to the farmer, but I don’t think he agreed with me. He agreed that the critter was causing damage to his place, but he didn’t want it killed.

I have run into this on other occasions, where animals were causing a considerable amount of damage to property but the person didn’t want them disposed of. My point is, many folks feel the same way about hunting. Even though hunting is regulated by trained biologists so that no species can become endangered, many people don’t understand.

I want to appeal to all hunters to do it ethically – not only that they should project the same politeness they use when applying for a job when asking for permission to hunt. Hunting is necessary, it’s regulated, and most hunters use it ethically. To create a vision of good taste is very important now. To ignore this is placing another nail in the coffin. The anti-gun folks can use this as a weapon to not only cause a problem with hunters, but to advance gun control legislation. We don’t need anyone adding fuel to the fire on either front.

I certainly hope that hunters, trappers, and even fishermen heed this advise. These outdoor events are enjoyed by a lot of people. We know from research that most non-hunters support legal, regulated hunting, but it is up to us to continue to reinforce the right messages.

Fishing report

Last Saturday, I conducted a fishing tournament at Heritage Harbor. They provided a very nice, sheltered dock for the kids to fish from, as it rained the whole time we were out. The age group was from 3 years old up to 17. Many thanks to Ronnie Baudino of B and B Bait for providing the worms for the kids. Despite the foul weather and high water, everyone caught a fish, and they had a very good time. Thanks to Heritage Harbor as well. It was well-managed.

Rivers are almost at flood stage, and there is much debris coming down and piling the banks with snags. Catfish can be caught right up in flooded timber if one can avoid the snags. Live bait is a must, as the waters are so stained fish need to be attracted by scent. Commercial dip baits are working, as well as gizzard shad if you can get them. River herring is also a good bait if you caught them earlier and froze them. Their oily scent travels downstream, and the fish come out and grab it.

• Fred Krause is a Shaw Media correspondent.

Fred Krause

Fred Krause

Fred is an avid outdoorsman who has been writing about his passion for decades.