Southern Traditions Outdoors August - September 2013

Complimentary Copy August-September 2013

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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 32 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013

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2 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013


It has been a relatively mild summer so far and we have enjoyed some unseasonably cool weather. I have always said that you can always put more clothes on when it’s cold outside, but unless you want to get arrested, you can only take so many layers of clothes off when it is steaming hot.

This cooler summer has area duck hunters more anxious than usual for the upcoming waterfowl season to begin. STO Magazine has proudly co-sponsored several pre-season waterfowl events.

2013 DYERSBURG DUCKFEST The 2013 Dyersburg Duckfest {see page 16 of this issue for a pictorial} was held on August 3rd of this year

at the Dyer County Fairgrounds, in conjunction with the TWRA – Tigrett WMA duck blind drawings. We hosted around 1500 attendees for this event, had over two dozen vendors, door prizes, food and fun for the entire family.

THIRD ANNUAL DYERSBURG KIWANIS DUCK BLAST The third annual Dyersburg Kiwanis Foundation Duck Blast will be held

on Jan 9 {silent auction and banquet} and 10 {actual hunt} 2014. This awesome event consists of teams of four hunters, participating in guided hunts at the best duck blinds and pits in our region. The first class banquet and silent auction will be held at the Lannom Center in Dyersburg on Thursday night. Participating hunt teams will then be drawn for the over 50 prime hunting hot spots, for Friday morning. The registration price is $150.00 per individual - $600.00 per team. This is a tremendous bargain, as similar guided hunts can cost a person $300.00 or more. The price includes attending the banquet and festivities the night before. Each member of the winning team last year received a brand a brand new Benelli shotgun and the top two teams won free hunts for this year’s event. You just can’t beat this deal and all the money goes to charity!

For more information call Tommy Allmon at 731-288-3581, or Megan Madden at 731-288-7375.

DUCK’S UNLIMITED GREENWINGS DAY AT ANDERSON FARMS A third event STO Magazine is proud to sponsor is Greenwings Day, held by Ducks Unlimited. This year on

Saturday – October 19th – at 10:00 am, it will be held once again at my partner Eddie Anderson’s farm, at 2946 Upper Finley, Rd.

There will be duck and goose calling contests for all kids participating in this free event, as well as hamburgers, hotdogs and plenty of great prizes. Last year, several youth model shotguns were given away. There will also be seminars on safety, ethics and conservation for the youngsters. For more information call Joe King at 731-676-7776

See ya,

Rob

From the Desk of the Editor

Advertising Information: Southern Traditions Outdoors | Rob Somerville

(731) 446-8052 [email protected]

DISCLAIMER - Neither the authors nor Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine LLC assume any responsibility or liability for any actions by readers who utilize any information contained within. Readers are advised that the use of any and all information contained within Southern Traditions Outdoors is at their own risk.

On the CoverGarry Mason and his black lab, Bo, pick up Blue Wing Teal during an early season wood duck/teal season

hunt on Kentucky Lake. - Photo courtesy of Garry Mason.

Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine Mission Statement:Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine vows to put forth a publication to promote the outdoors lifestyle in a positive manner. We will strive to encourage veteran and novice outdoorsmen, women, kids, and the physically challenged to participate in the outdoors in a safe and ethical manner. Our publication will bring positive attention to the wondrous beauty of the world of Nature in the mid-south.

Garry MasonWalter WilkersonTerry WilkersonSteve McCadamsKelley Powers

Eddie BrunswickLarry Self John SloanRichard SimmsJohn MeachamBuck Gardner

Scott MarcinEd LankfordDrew BrooksJohn LathamJohn Roberts

Field Staff Editors

Owners - Eddie Anderson Rob Somerville Kevin Griffith Stacey LemonsPublisher - Eddie AndersonEditor - Rob Somerville

Magazine Design - Kalli LipkeAdvertising Sales Rob Somerville - Managing PartnerDistribution Johnathan Anderson

Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine, LLC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PG .................. ARTICLE .......................................................... AUTHOR 6...........................Teal & Wood Duck Season, Short but Sweet ....................Steve McCadams 9...........................Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame Event ...................Press Release12..........................The Coon-Dog Days of Summer .......................................Shawn Todd16..........................Duckfest .............................................................................STO18..........................Retriever Training 101: Duck Season Is Approaching .......H. Joe King22..........................Southern Dove Hunts, A Wing Shooter’s Paradise ...........Steve McCadams25..........................STO Business Profile: Lady Luck Casino ..........................STO28..........................Cooking on the Wildside: Persimmon Pudding .................Kevin Griffith32..........................TWRA News ......................................................................TWRA36..........................Pickwick Bass Fever ..........................................................Mike Gurley40..........................You’re Never Too Old to Play With Yo-yo’s ........................Shawn Todd42..........................Gearing Up for Waterfowl ..................................................Garry Mason44..........................Trophy Room .....................................................................45..........................Hot Products for the Outdoors ...........................................STO45..........................STO Business Profile: Stump Jumpers & Magnolia Campground46..........................BBQ Fest ...........................................................................STO


had proposed a six-teal bag limit for ear-ly teal season and a possession limit for all seasons, equivalent to three daily bag limits. Current limits are a four-teal dai-ly bag during the special season and a possession limit of two daily bag limits. “Ducks Unlimited is always pleased to see increased opportunities for water-fowl hunting,” said DU Chief Scientist Dale Humburg. “Harvest regulations are biologically based, and teal population trends have cer-tainly been favorable in re-cent years.” Are area duck hunters be-ing held hostage, because of the wood duck allowed in the bag limit, during our early season? It appears so as US-FWS did not grant Tennessee, Kentucky or Florida the additional days and ducks. Those three states are the only ones who didn’t get additional opportunities when the date clearly supported it! Meanwhile, since 1955, blue-winged teal populations have ranged from 2.8 million to 9.2 million. Gener-ally, numbers have increased in recent years, due to favorable prairie wetland

conditions. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game, but in layman’s terms, blue-wing teal populations are currently 94 percent above their long-term average. Blue-wing teal are the earliest mi-grators of the waterfowl community and they head south in early September each year. In the Volunteer State, we have a very short window of opportunity, as

weather can alter the migration and in times past we’ve missed the peak. Other states within the Mississip-pi Flyway have much longer seasons, which give them a better time frame to catch the early migration of teal, but those states do not have the wood duck allowed in their daily bag. The early season is a time for water-fowlers to knock the rust off. While a lot of preparation lies ahead, before the regular season opens in late November, it’s still an enjoyable trial run. It entails

rising early and tromping through the marsh, tossing out decoys and waiting on a sunrise, and listening to the out-doors wake up as Great blue herons alert the world of your intrusion into their peace and tranquility. The early duck season is a great time to introduce a youngster to the sport, or put a little polish on the pup. Both might be a little anxious, so it’s a les-

son in patience, but it is also an overall learning experience for all involved. If you plan to partake of the early duck season, remember to

obtain your Federal Duck Stamp, if you fall into the 16 years and over category. Also, remember to get all the supple-mental state licenses for waterfowling or hunting on wildlife management ar-eas, unless you already have a Sports-man’s license. Take a moment to rid the buck-et of leftover dove shells, as only steel or non-toxic shot is allowed while waterfowling. In addition to the early wood duck

t’s teal time in Tennessee! Wood duck time too! Frosty mornings and ice around the decoys are several months away,

but that doesn’t diminish the enthusiasm of waterfowlers, when early seasons ap-proach each year in September. In fact, Tennessee’s early teal and wood duck combo helps jump start duck hunters for the winter season ahead.

From Reelfoot Lake in the north-western corner of the state, to the big waters of Kentucky and Barkley Lakes and eastward to the backwater sloughs all across east Tennessee, this early season is popular among the ranks of duck hunters. The season here traditionally opens on the second Saturday in September. This year’s 5-day season runs Septem-

ber 14th through the 18th. The bag lim-it is four ducks, but not more than two can be woodies. Duck hunters in Tennessee are a bit disappointed this year, as hopes were high for a longer season and expand-ed bag limit in the early season. While some states got it, Tennessee duck hunt-ers missed out on a golden opportunity. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Small spreads of decoys work fine, in the early wood duck and teal season for Tennessee sportsmen, which runs from September 14th through the 18th. - Photo by Steve McCadams

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Are area duck hunters being held hostage, be-cause of the wood duck allowed in the bag

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Teal & Wood Duck Season… Short But Sweet!

By Steve McCadams

continued on next page

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and teal season, the early season on resident geese is open too. The early goose season actually runs September 1st through the 15th with a liberal bag limit of five. A small spread of decoys works great during this early season, especially on island points or shorelines, where small openings in aquatic vegetation allow ducks visibility. You can hunt from tem-porary setups and play the wind, or use boat blinds to maneuver to other locales. Scouting, ahead of time, will further your cause. Wood ducks will continue using the same areas on a daily basis, but teal have a reputation of being here today - gone tomorrow. Still, looking over your potential hunt area in early daylight or late afternoon hours is bet-ter than trying to search for a spot un-der the cover of darkness. So, Tennessee waterfowlers can hunt blue-wing teal, wood ducks and geese in September, without the worry of bone chilling winds and stubborn starting outboards influenced by freezing temps. If you’re lucky enough to bag a band-ed bird, remember to report it too. Just take a moment to dial 1-800-327-BAND (2263) and provide the information to help biologists monitor movement and harvest data. Here’s hoping you partake of the ear-ly waterfowling opportunities that await you. Duck and goose hunting doesn’t always have to be cold and miserable you know!

Early duck seasons help put polish on the pup and introduce kids to the great sport of waterfowling, before cold weather arrives. - Photo by Steve McCadams

Blue-wing teal numbers continue to increase and are well above their long term average. Tennessee’s early wood duck and teal combo season last only 5 days, but is quite popular among the ranks of waterfowlers. - Photo courtesy of USFWS

“Legends of the Outdoors” National Hall of Fame 12th Annual Event

ounder of the “Legends of the Out-doors” National Hall of Fame, Garry Mason, has released the 12th Annual “Legends of the Outdoors” National Hall of Fame’s 2013 event date and venue. This year’s inductees and guests will be boarding one of the largest pad-dlewheel showboats in the country - the General Jackson Showboat/Music City Queen in Nashville, TN on Saturday, August 24th dock-side along the Cumberland River. Boarding begins at 9:00 a.m. followed by the induction ceremony and banquet. This year’s guest speaker and recipient of The Guardian Eagle Award is Mr. Will Jimeno. A Port Authority Police Officer who survived the 9/11 attacks and later received the Port Au-thority’s Medal of Honor, Mr. Jimeno is also an avid bow-hunter and inspira-tional speaker.

2013 class of inductees include: Ray Eye – nationally known turkey hunter; Dick Idol – renowned white-tail deer hunter, sculptor and wildlife artist; Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland - Senior Vice-President Mossy Oak, nationally recog-nized outdoorsman and Mossy Oak Pro Staff; and Tom Morgan Crain – award winning wildlife artist; Sam Heaton, na-

tionally known crappie fisherman; Di-anna Clark, professional Bass angler; Don Wirth, nationally known outdoor writer; and Charles Dunkin, Chairman and CFO of the Dunkin-Lewis Inc. Fox Haas, will be receiving The American

Outdoorsman of the Year Award for his work in outdoor conservation. Mike Stockdale, retired Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Supervisor, will be receiving The Davy Crockett Trailblazer Award. The Tennessee Sportsman of the Year will go to Dale Kelley of Hunting-don TN for his efforts in the creation of the new Carroll County One Thousand Acre lake.

“Legends of the Outdoors” National Hall of Fame members scheduled to at-tend and help induct the 2013 class are as follows: Toxey Haas, Byron Fergu-son, Ralph McDonald, Soc Clay, Art Ladehof, Bill Huntley, Charlie Brewer, Jr., Charlie Ingram, Joella Bates, Other

national outdoor celebrities will be forth coming.

The event is open to the public with an individual

ticket price of $85 each. Sponsorship information and individual ticket reservations may be ob-tained through the “Leg-

ends of the Outdoors” website at www.legend-

softheoutdoors.com, or by calling 731-593-0171 or 731-

693-7770. Ticket and/or sponsor-ship reservations must be made and purchased before August 10, 2013. The Nashville Bass Pro Shops store will host a meet and greet for the public at the store on Friday evening August 23, 2013 from 5 pm until 7pm. The public is in-vited to come out and meet the Legends in person free of charge for the Bass Pro Meet and Greet. Two tickets will be giv-en away at this event Friday evening.

F

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 1110 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 201310 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013

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ello, to all you fine readers of STO Magazine. I hope the 4th of July was a great holiday for

everyone. The dog days of summer are upon us and in the south that means high temps, high humidity, snakes and skee-ters. This summer has not been as bad as some in the past, but it still has been hot. The heat must make us dog owners more cautious than normal. Wheth-er you pleasure or competition hunt, you must know the signs of your dog getting heat exhaustion. All dogs pant to cool themselves down, because they can not sweat like humans. Some signs of heat exhaustion are as follows: rapid panting, tongue and mucus mem-brane are bright pink or red, stag-gering or unsteady gait, and vom-iting. Also, pay attention to their fidgeting and whining, watching to see if their tongue is out longer than normal. The smallest amount of exercise can get your dog’s tem-perature up too high, so be sure to be vigilant and watch your dogs for these unusual behaviors. Some of the things that need to be done if you notice these symp-toms are to calm him or her down, move them to the shade, give them wa-ter but do not let them guzzle it, and immerse them in cool water. Do not submerge them in ice water, as it can cause shock. If you apply water, make sure it’s to the parts of the body with the least amount of hair (belly, arm pits). If you can not immerse them, use a wet rag or towel to apply cool water to the areas mentioned above. Then, if condi-tions persist or worsen, take your dog to a veterinarian. Coon hunters that hunt in the summer

months must really pay close attention due to the heavy activity that their dogs go through in the heat, because of the miles of running and the time the dogs tree. When you get to the tree and if they are slobbering more than normal, check and see if the slobber is thicker than usual (you can tell the difference). If the dog is, then heat exhaustion is al-

most or already there. Apply water to the areas mentioned above and go to a vet. Also, when hunting in the summer, be sure you keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of fluids. Most experienced cooners hunt near water during this time of year. If you do, watch for the snakes. If your dog is bitten by a snake, here is what to do. If you can identify the snake this will help, but most time you may not be able to, so act as if it is a venomous snake bite. Most bites to coon hounds in this region

are from copperheads, water moccasins, (cottonmouths) and a few by timber rattlesnakes. If it’s a rattlesnake, most dogs will not survive. If they do, they might lose a limb. If treatment is admin-istered quickly, he may have a chance. The first 24 hours are crucial in your dog’s survival. The dangers in a copperhead and wa-

ter moccasin (cottonmouth) bite are different than the rattlesnake, be-cause their venom is not as strong. If the dog has been bitten, he may act shy and not let you touch the area. You can tell if he has been bitten within thirty minutes to an hour, when the swelling starts. Treatment for this is to calm the dog, get him to the vet and let him rest for a few days. The vet will probably give your dog anti-inflam-matory and pain medicine. For any and all snake bites, get your dogs to the vet ASAP. Remember to keep your dog in shape and watch for it to show any of these symptoms. Hunting seasons are just around the corner. Do not to forget to get yourself in shape prior to season either. Just like a trained athlete, you and your

dog need to get in shape for those long walks and hot nights. The Great Wall of China was not built in a day and you cannot expect great-ness unless you put effort in to it. Squirrel season is almost upon us. There is no better way to introduce a young kid to hunting then on open-ing day of squirrel season. Let’s not them them get lost in the world of vid-eo games, with no appreciation of the great outdoors. Until next time, see you at the tree.

The Coon-Dog Days of Summer

By Shawn Todd

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The 2013 Dyersburg Duckfest, held in conjunction with the TWRA - Tigrett WMA duck blind drawings was once again, a huge success. Held on August 3rd at the Dyer County Fairgrounds, rainy weather didn’t dampen the attendance or enthusiasm of the 1100 drawing applicants, or the estimated 1500 people in attendance. Around two dozen TWRA staff members, under the direction of Chad Harden, worked together with the Duckfest volunteer staff at the event. There were over twenty vendors selling and displaying their goods and services, as well as food and fun for the entire family. STO Magazine is proud to co-chair the event with the Dyer County Chamber of Commerce.

2013



I hope that all of you dog trainers and hunters who are working your dogs for the up-coming duck season have had a successful training summer. Our past issues about obedi-ence and mark training are going well, I hope. The mark training we have talked about will get your dog ready for both dove, then waterfowl season. We touched on initial blind retrieves in earlier issues; I hope your dog has start-ed learning the confidence needed. Established dummy piles, lining to a white buck-et, and repetition will get your there in time. Working in ar-eas across ponds and different terrain fields with these aids will get you in time lining the dog as you desire. The estab-lished piles, or white bucket, instill in the dog there is al-ways something there. With time take away these aids and go with the non-established pile, or cold blind, and send him. He will learn in time that where you point, it is there. Along with the blind and mark training, handling drills need to be practiced also. With your dog’s maturity he should be taking the one whistle blast command to stop, then the handling cast directing him over to the right and left, back, and come. Commands should

be practiced regularly. All this obedience with mark training, line training, and handling training is differ-ent. Field and water scenarios will get you the most second year experience needed for the blind, pit, or flood timber stand. Remember, go simple then proceed to the advanced retrieves. Stay with small and repetitive training steps to the finished duck dog. Make sure your dog also has suf-ficient exposure to gun fire, decoys, riding in boats or on ATV’s. With you doing all this, your dog should be ready, with comfort and confidence.

The Passing of a Mentor I would like to end this col-umn to recognize and honor the loss of a very good friend and mentor in the retriever world. Dr. Phillip Winkler passed away on April, 25th, 2013. The retriever community last a major advocate in Phillip’s passing. Dr. Phillip Winkler moved to Dyersburg, Tennessee in the late 1960’s, with the opening of Dyersburg State Commu-nity College, as a history pro-fessor. His true love was the retrievers. You could tell that as soon as you entered his of-fice or residence and saw the décor. Phillip helped several

dog trainers in the area, get to where they are in the dog world today, including my-self. He always had time for retriever talk and assisting in solving training problems. He helped establish the Old White Coat Field Trial Club in the early 1970’s and the West Tennessee Amateur Re-triever Club. When his AKC Field Cham-pion {Ruff} left the bed of his pickup truck, when going to the retrieving line at a major field trial or duck blind, you just knew a true retrieving team was there. Philip wasn’t only an ac-complished trainer and men-tor. He was also an accom-plished hunter and caller. In fact, the natural resonance of his voice gave him the ability to mouth call ducks, perfectly imitating the sounds of a lone-some gander. I can’t tell you the number of times this abil-ity brought ducks, wings out and feet down, into the decoy spreads. I will never forget the miles driven to competitions or the duck blind and the knowledge gained from Philip’s wisdom.I wish you success in your continued retriever training and a successful and safe hunt-ing season!H. Joe King, Jr. - Thunder Ridge Retrievers - 731-676-7776

Retriever Training 101

Duck Season is Approaching By Joe H. King Jr.

18 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 19

The retriever training community lost a friend and mentor, in the passing of Dr. Phillip Winkler of Dyersburg, Tennessee this past April.

Dr. Winkler’s AKC Field Champion retriever, Ruff.


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t high noon on September 1st of each year a camo-clad legion of sports-men take to the sunflower, wheat, silage and millet fields of our region. This is where a southern tradition kicks in. It’s the opening of dove season, a time when hunters of all ages share the grain fields, for fun and fellowship.

Most hunters consider dove hunt-ing to be wing shooting’s finest hour and opening day, along with the entire Labor Day holiday period, is known for barbecues beneath the shade trees be-fore the hunt begins. This sport is the introductory level for many youngsters into the outdoors too, as participating in a good dove shoot is exciting, especial-ly when shared by family and friends.

My first dove hunt still lingers clearly in a folder full of pleasant mem-ories, although it was over 50 years ago. The smell of those paper shells and smokeless powder from the blue Peters 410 gauge were like perfume to me. My little double-barrel wasn’t too accurate and had limited range, but boy did we have fun together.

I was fortunate to have a patient

dad who took the time to introduce me to dove hunting one opening day where a silage field near my Carroll County home of McKenzie, Tennes-see was swarming with the gray dart-ers. In those days, silage fields were the norm for concentrating large numbers of birds that fed daily on the spilled grain of farmers.

It sounded like popcorn popping, as the group of hunters blasted away

like gunners on a Navy ship, under at-tack from enemy planes. Dove fields offer great fellowship too, as it takes several hunters to keep the birds mov-ing and a buddy nearby can keep you posted on incoming bandits.

Shots taken and shots missed; that’s all part of it and I might have only taken one or two dove out of my first box of shells on that Maiden Voy-age, but boy was it fun. From that day on I was hooked!

It was the challenge and excite-

ment bundled together, but it was also a learning experience among friends and mentors who helped guide me with a steady hand of experience on my shoul-der, now and then.

There are do’s and don’ts in the dove field, as there are with any sport. I watched others pass up shots that were either too low, out of range, or yielded out of respect for fellow hunters when the bird was headed his way.

Today’s dove hunts are still pre-cious and I love watching a youngster enter the sport. When dad’s buying the shells, all the birds seem in range!

There’s no time like the present to do your part and help introduce a young boy or girl to this great sport. Find a field with a shady spot and guide the future outdoorsman down the path of fun and fellowship, as you teach safety and responsibility.

Before the season begins, it’s a good idea to visit your local shoot-ing range and polish up on a few clay targets. A few rounds of trap or skeet equals time well spent. Taking that

continued on next page

It was the challenge and excitement bundled together...

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Southern Dove Hunts… Wing Shooter's Paradise

By Steve McCadams

Big smiles originate in dove fields when youngsters bag their first bird while sharing time in the outdoors with dad. Brian Ray of Puryear, Tennessee grins as his dad Keith looks on after bagging a dove in a sunflower field on opening day. - Photo by Steve McCadams

A



Southern Dove Hunts Continued

Dove decoys and spinning wing units, such as Mojo Doves, help lure illusive birds into gunning range. Pictured in John Waddle of Clarksville, Tennessee

showing how decoys pay dividends.- Photo by Steve McCadams

youngster to the range is a good idea too, as it’s best to teach the fundamen-tals there, before entering the actual hunting scenario.

Did you know that doves are the most hunted and the most harvested mi-gratory game bird in North America? There are about 450 million birds in the continental population. The overall har-vest in the U. S. is 45 million birds. In Tennessee, some 100,000 dove hunters harvest an estimated 2 million or more doves annually.

Not only are they fun to shoot, but they are great to eat, as well. When marinated and grilled with a strip of ba-con, the breasts will tip your taste buds with delight.

Dove season in some states be-gins at first light, but Tennessee has its traditional noon opener. After that, shooting time goes to one half hour be-fore sunrise, until sunset. The morning hunts can be good too, especially when hot weather is a factor.

Early morning hunts help beat the heat and it’s also a good time to work a retriever. The hot and humid after-noon hunts are tough on dogs, so re-member they have limitations and can easily overheat.

Tennessee’s 2013 season will again be divided into three segments: September 1st through September 26th, October 12th through October 27th, and December 19th through January 15th, 2014.

Need a place to hunt? If so, log onto TWRA’s website at www.tnwild-life.org, as the agency has both leased fields open to the public and wildlife management areas to hunt on.

TWRA’s website lists all the dove fields open to the public and also gives driving directions. Fields are listed in all four regions of the agency’s geographic breakdown. All of West Tennessee is in Region One, but hunters all across the Volunteer State will find opportunities in their respective areas.

It’s a long season with a liberal bag limit, but the lion’s share of hunt-ing probably takes place during the first ten days of season. After that, the doves seem to scatter and a lot of other oppor-tunities compete for sportsmen’s free time, ranging from fall fishing to days spent in the deer stand.

The daily bag limit is 15. There is no limit on collared dove. Doves not readily identifiable as collared doves will be considered mourning doves and

will count toward the mourning dove, daily bag limit. No person shall take migratory game birds by the aid of bait-ing, or on or over any baited area. Any auto-loading or repeating shotgun must be incapable of holding more than three shells while dove hunting.

“We’d like to remind hunters that no alcohol is permitted on TWRA leased fields and wildlife management areas and that they need to collect all trash before leaving the property,” said Hen-ry County Wildlife Officer Clay Riley.

If hunters have any questions, they can log onto the TWRA website previ-ously mentioned or obtain a copy of the Hunting and Trapping Guide, which is free and available from local sporting goods stores.

Remember to refrain from shoot-ing low birds and respect your shooting partners in the field. Dove shoots are sometimes fast and furious, but always keep your cool even when the shoot-ing heats up, especially if you have a youngster or novice hunter nearby watching your every move and follow-ing your example of ethics, safety and overall sportsmanship.

Dove hunts are a great way to introduce kids to the wonderful sport of wing shooting. Most of today’s hunters got their start in a dove field, just like these two youngsters

sharing a day with dad. - Photo by Steve McCadams

BUSINESS PROFILE

Don’t Miss Uncle KrackerSaturday, September 28th

at the Outdoor Arena

If you are hunting or fishing anywhere along the Southern Traditions Outdoor Magazine readership range and need a little “you” time, we highly recommend Lady Luck Casino, in Caruthersville, Missouri. Just a half hour away from our home offices in Dyersburg, Tennes-see, Lady Luck Casino is a great place to unwind. Whether you want to take in one of their awesome concert shows, have a nice meal, drop a few coins in the slots, or just get away for the week-end on a fun filled mini-vacation, this is the place to do so. At Lady Luck Casino Caruthersville, there’s something for everyone! Wheth-er you’re looking for action-packed gaming, delicious dining options or the best entertainment in the area, Lady Luck has it all. Lady Luck is not just a casino, it’s an experience! You can start by taking a spin on the hottest slots around. With

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Snackbar located on the casino floor of-fers quick dining options such as burg-ers, fries, pizza and grab-and-go items. Otis & Henry’s Bar and Grill, located in the casino pavilion, features steaks, pastas and delicious plate specials full of down-home southern flavor. On the way out, stop by O&H Express and pick up a dessert or sandwich to go. The Lone Wolf Bar is open Fridays featuring the popular DJ Dance Party and on Saturdays featuring the best live bands from St. Louis to Memphis. Lady Luck also brings some of the hottest acts of yesterday and today to the Outdoor Amphitheater and Expo Center stages. For more information on the latest concerts, promotions, tournaments and specials, visit Lady Luck online at www.ladyluckcaruthersville.com, or you can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


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between a recently fallen persimmon and one removed from a tree. They may appear very similar. However the fruit has a terribly bitter taste until it is completely ripe and that does not occur until it falls to the ground. The woods in our area of Tennessee have many persimmon trees. Persimmon trees are dioecious, which means there are separate male and female trees. In the wild most of the trees seem to be male (non-fruiting). However, I have identi-fied quite a few female (fruiting) trees around the farm. I’ve focused most of our gathering under one tree that’s on level ground and is easily accessible by vehicle. Once the fruit starts dropping, I rake the ground clean under its branches

and spread a layer of straw. The straw accomplishes three things: it softens their fall to the ground, keeps the fruit much cleaner and makes the persim-mons quick and easy to find and gather.

Little cleaning will be necessary if you’ve layered the ground with straw. However, if you do need to wash your persimmons, do it gently. Ripe persim-mon skin is paper thin and will easily tear if handled roughly. Also, remove the stem caps from each fruit before pulping.

The next step is to process the pulp. There are several methods. We recently upgraded to a screw type fruit pulper. However a metal colander works fine. Place your colander over a bowl, add a

handful of persimmons into your col-ander and press the fruit against the bottom. As you do the fruit will break apart and the pulp will move through the holes of the colander into the bowl while leaving the seeds and skin behind. This process will take a few minutes and don’t worry if you don’t get all of the pulp through the colander. There will always be some that will stick to the seeds and coat the pieces of skin. Once you’ve processed your persimmons, separate out what you plan to use im-mediately and freeze what is left into freezer bags in two cup portions.

Now you are ready to bake your first pudding!

As I explored the wooded hills of our farm in Tennessee, I was struck by how similar they were to my grand-mother Fyrne’s farm in Indiana. The trees were almost exact-ly the same mix includ-ing oak, hickory, black walnut, sycamore, beech, sassafras, pawpaw and persimmon. I was most excited about the fruit bearing persimmon trees! They made me wonder if the Tennessee vari-ety would make a good pudding. You see, from where my family origi-nates in southern Indiana, it is a tradition to make pudding out of the pulp from persimmon fruit … AND IT IS DELICIOUS! My grandmother Fyrne would have a pudding on the counter every time we visited her farm and I couldn’t resist taking a piece. Just thinking about it brings back the smell and distinctive taste of persimmon pudding. It had the texture of pump-kin pie without the crust. It is at its best when eaten warm or at room tempera-ture with a scoop of cold whipped cream on top … my mouth is watering!

I couldn’t believe that I couldn’t find a soul in west Tennessee that used persimmons for anything more than a snack in the woods. They are so big in southern Indiana that there’s been a Persimmon Festival in Mitchell, Indiana

since 1946. This festival has grown into a week of celebration cumulating in a parade and an award for the best per-simmon pudding! Each year the win-

ning recipe is honored and then made public for everyone to enjoy!

Pudding was not the first or the only use for persimmons. Native Ameri-

cans used the fruit for centuries as a dried snack, in soups and in a unique bread. This bread earned such a repu-tation among early settlers that it be-

came a sought after item of trade. Settlers quick-ly found additional uses for persimmons includ-ing pies, cakes, of course puddings and even alco-holic drinks!

The website, www.persimmonpudding.com, was established to record and promote the histo-ry, cultivation and use of the American persimmon. On this site you can find an ever growing record of the native fruit’s im-pact on the people of this nation, how to grow, har-vest and process persim-mons and a list of deli-cious recipes for a variety of foods.

Today I want to share my mother’s and grand-mother’s favorite pud-ding recipe. But first you need to obtain ripe per-simmons. I would not recommend using persim-mons from the grocery store. They are the Asian variety and do not make a good pudding (trust me, we’ve tried them). You will want the native American persimmons. Harvesting native per-

simmons can be a tricky business. The fruit ripens in the fall. However, DO NOT pick them from a tree! There is a HUGE difference in quality and taste

Persimmon Pudding

2 cups persimmon pulp1 ½ cups flour 1½ cups buttermilk 1½ cups sugar½ cup brown sugar ¼ cup cream ¼ cup butter

1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 large beaten eggs

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

Add beaten eggs and sugars to the persimmon pulp and stir well. Mix baking soda into buttermilk and stir until the foaming stops. Blend the buttermilk into the pulp mixture well. Mix the flour, salt and baking pow-der together in a separate bowl then sift them into the pulp mixture and beat well. Add the vanilla, cinnamon and cream. Place the butter in your baking pan and melt the butter. Leave enough butter in your pan to grease it and pour the rest into your mixture. Mix well. Pour mixture into a baking pan and slow bake at between 325 and 350 degrees for 45 min-utes or until done. You can tell it is done when it rises in the center like a pumpkin pie.Now you are ready to enjoy a pudding! Remember the whipped cream!

with Kevin Griffith with Kevin Griffith

Pictured here is the author’s mom, Mildred Griffith, with a freshly baked persimmon pudding. - Photo by Kevin Griffith


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“SHOOT FOR THE SOLDIERS” - SPORTING

CLAY EVENT SCHEDULED

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will serve as one of the spon-sors for “Shoot for the Soldiers,” a sporting clay target shoot scheduled for Aug. 24th at the Nashville Gun Club.

The event will raise funds, with all the proceeds going to Tennessee soldiers and their families. A portion will go to-ward scholarships for soldiers’ children with the remainder going to providing outdoors recreational opportunities for Wounded Warriors and their families.

“Shoot for the Soldiers” will use a five-person format team format. Teams can be made up of male, female, youth, pro-class shooters or a combination. A sporting clay professional will han-dle the scoring. Ammunition will be provided.

Cost for the event is divided into different levels. A $5,000 Platinum Sponsorship pays for a 5-person team, a company logo on all event printed ma-terials and a sign at a shooting station. A $1,200 Gold Sponsorship is the cost for a corporate team or will provide entry for a Wounded War-rior team. A Bronze Sponsorship is $300 and provides signage at a shooting station. The cost for an indi-vidual shooter is $250.

Shooters may choose range times of 8:30 or 11:30 a.m. on

a first come, first serve basis. Break-fast and lunch will be provided.

Along with the TWRA, oth-er sponsors are the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Founda-tion, the National Wild Turkey Fed-eration Wheelin’ Spor t smen , the Tennessee Valley Authority Veterans Association, and ORCA.

More informa-tion on the event can be obtained by calling (615) 308-8115. Registrations can be mailed to the TWRF at 5000 Linbar Dr., Suite 275, Nashville, TN or faxed to (615) 831-8031.

TWRA BIG GAME CHECK-IN

When purchasing the appropriate big game license, a Harvest Log will print instead of a temporary kill tag. By the end of the calendar day of harvest, all big game animals (turkey, deer and bear) must be checked in.

The hunter must check the animals in one of three ways:

• At a traditional check station • On the internet site • On a smart phone or tablet at

www.gotwra.org Evidence of the big game animal’s

species and sex must be available for inspection by TWRA personnel until the animal is checked in. All big game animals taken to taxidermists or to meat processors must be accompanied

by documentation on approved TWRA forms or TWRA mobile application.

In addition to reporting harvests, when you use the TWRA’s mobile web application, you can also use the harvest diary to log your special moments and experiences while hunting, as well. It’s a great way to record your memories about your experiences all in one place!

More Information:• All harvested bears must be

checked out at any official checking sta-tion (excluding internet and mobile ap-plication). Bears may be whole or field dressed, but must weigh 75 pounds or greater when checked in.

• Elk shall be checked in as in-structed in the hunter’s informational packet.

TWRA NEWSFrom the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency

GOTWRA.ORG

southern_traditions_outdoors_aug2013.indd 1 8/7/2013 2:35:26 PM

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t’s just a wonderful fishing day, back again at Pickwick Lake; a place I can’t resist. Today, it’s just me and my son on another great angling adventure. It was a day on which I caught a trophy largemouth, weighing in at a whopping 9 ½ lbs, around 10:30 in the morning. The bass hit a Strike King Spinner bait. We had excellent results catching many nice largemouth bass that day. I like to get into the big bass and have had some pretty good luck doing just that. This was just one more awesome day I have had this year. I was pre-fish-ing for a tournament that Friday. It was easily my best day, but Saturday was the tournament day and that’s just how it goes sometimes. That’s why they call it fishing, instead of catching, I guess. You have to love it, because it’s hard to predict exactly what the bass want, where they want it, and what time of day they will be there. Sometimes it’s hard to factor in these unknown elements, when planning a fishing trip, as me and my son have learned over time. For example, on many picture-perfect weather days, the fish just wouldn’t bite. Then, on some windy, rainy days we have done real-ly well. So again, if you have any free time and want to wet a hook, don’t al-ways let the weather ruin your trip. A bad weather day could be your best fish-ing day. That’s one thing I have learned over the years that has helped me be a successful fisherman. My sons and I have fished for many different kinds of fish under varied weather conditions, and I’ve usually had good results in deep water for bass,

Pickwick Bass Fever

By Mike Gurley

I

The author is pictured here with a nice, summertime largemouth bass, caught at Pickwick Lake. - Photo provided by Mike Gurley

when it is hot throughout the day. We have caught some big bass during these conditions using crankbaits. We generally enjoy our best bass fish-ing, this time of year, during the early morning and the late afternoon hours. Strike King Spinner baits and soft plas-tic worms do well during these cooler times of day, when the fish are more active. Sometimes when the day has been long and I am getting a little worn down, I will suddenly feel a big hit on my line. That is when bass fever hits again. It runs through you, energiz-ing your body and mind, and suddenly you’re not tired at all any more. There’s no going home then. I am hanging in there all the way! We make a full day of it for sure. Got to get it! Got to catch it! Gotta, Gotta, Gotta! We can’t go home now! I guess I am just an extreme fisher-man, but it is hard not to be when you enjoy fishing at beautiful Pickwick Lake as much as I do. The life of a true fish-

erman can be a little extreme. It is just something ingrained in you. It also forms a tremendous bond be-tween family and friends, seeing and enjoying the great outdoor tapestry that the Master Artist has weaved for our enjoyment. His goodness allows us to teach and show our kids his wonderful works, while fishing. During my lifelong fishing journey, I have learned much. Some lessons were learned from the veteran old timers, whose experience you can always trust. Other lessons came from using new fish-ing trends that come and go, but most fishing lessons were learned through my own trials and errors. One of the things that I’ve learned that has proven itself with consistent results is to study the color of the wa-ter you are fishing, and to take notice if it’s clear, stained or muddy in color-ation, and what baits and color to use for each condition. When the water is stained or muddy, I may change to a little brighter or re-

flective color. I try to use all varieties of baits and colors to do what it takes to research a good fish pattern. I always thought I had to use big line every time I went fishing, but it has helped me a lot with my casting and performance of my bait, to just go with a little smaller line. If you have the right set-up and the right drag adjustments you should still be able to bring in that big old hawg. So, if you’re not that experienced of a fisherman, or just don’t have a lot of extra time on your hands to learn, just try some proven methods and some-where to fish that is comfortable for you. Who knows? You might just have the time of your life. You may even start finding time to fish that you didn’t even know you had. I encourage everyone to take part in this wonderful sport, whether by your-self, or with family and friends. There are many great lakes and ponds to fish in our region. My favorite, of course is Pickwick Lake.

Mike Gurley is pictured here with a 9 ½ lb bass, caught while pre-fishing on the day before a tournament, at Pickwick Lake. - Photo provided by Mike Gurley

The author’s eleven year-old son, Marc, is pictured here with a nice Pickwick bass. - Photo provided by Mike Gurley


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usually write articles in STO Maga-zine about coon hunting, but this time we are switching gears. In this issue, I will write about using yo-yo’s at Reel-foot Lake. Most all of you, STO read-ers, are avid outdoors enthusiasts who fish or hunt every chance you get. You have probably done just about every-thing around here when it comes to fish-ing or hunting. If you haven’t done everything, using yo-yo’s to catch catfish, may be the thing for you. What yo-yoing entails is you hanging a metal contraption that is spring loaded from a tree or jug, with a baited hook on it. When a fish hits it, the yo-yo triggers and it sets the hook automatically. A tension drag on the yo-

yo then wears the catfish down. I had never tried it, but wanted something different to do. I have heard it was fun, but never knew how fun it was. I had no idea what to expect or do, but a friend of mine named Jimmi Hendrix (not the famous, deceased gui-tar player) explained what to do. So, off I went. First, I bought yo-yo’s from Griz-zly Jigs - the only place that has them around here (if it comes to fishing gear they have it all. Louie or Wade Mans-field will set you up and if they don’t have it, they can get it for you). After getting two dozen yo-yo’s, it was off to the local bait shop (KC’s one stop) for worms, ice and beverages.

Second, I called some friends to go with me. After much begging, plead-ing and sounding like I was a master of yoyo’s (see, they have never been ei-ther) they reluctantly said yes. Third, Reelfoot Lake here we come - geared for the night. After string-ing the yoyo’s from overhanging cy-press tree branches along the shore line and baiting them, we were ready for a big harvest of catfish. It was peaceful that night, sitting around, shooting the breeze and relaxing. Suddenly we heard the spring of the first yo-yo sing to us and had about a 4 lb channel catfish thrashing the inky black water of the lake. It was both relaxing and exciting on that first night. We caught about ten

catfish, weighing anywhere from 2 lbs to 7lbs. We decided to go again on a Saturday night. I called the same friends from the first trip - Tommy Crawford, Stew-art Perkins and Lloyd Stewart. We thought we were profession-als now. Well … we were not. My mother has always said that to put up with me, my friends had to have a few bricks shy of a load. Well she was right (they are not okay in the head). Why you ask? Well, that Sat-urday night a veritable monsoon hit the area and Stewart, being from Louisiana and who thinks he knows everything, has no sense whatsoever. He talked Crawford into staying out in the pour-ing rain, thunder, lightning and 30 mph winds out on the lake to finish tying out the yo-yo’s. Whereas Lloyd and I, being the smart ones, went back to the truck to ride the storm out. Fortunately, we all survived that night with a catch of twenty seven catfish.

One more thing, if you think every-one from Louisiana or Friendship, Ten-nessee can catch and clean fish, you need to meet Stewart and Crawford. They hooked themselves more than they hooked fish and they need fillet knives in their hands like I need another hole in my head. So, all you hunters and fishermen/fisherladies - if you get a chance to yoyo for catfish go to Reelfoot Lake and give it a try.

Just remember to be careful, have le-gal boat running lights, bring a couple of spotlights and mosquito repellant, and do not get hooked like Crawford did. It really looked painful, but funny. Until next time see you at the tree … oops wrong article. So, just see you.

You’re Never Too Old To Play With Yo-yos

By Shawn Todd

Pictured here is Lloyd Stewart, removing a channel catfish from a yo-yo at Reelfoot Lake. - Photo by Shawn Todd.

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A yo-yo is a spring loaded, aluminum reel that is attached to a lake’s overhanging branches, with a baited hook at the business end of the line. When a catfish takes the bait, the trigger sets the hook and allows the spring loaded line to tire down the fish. - Photo by Shawn Todd.


ome may think that it is a bit early to think about waterfowl season.

After all, dove season is just around the corner, and then comes early teal and wood duck season and early goose season, then deer hunting with a bow, muzzle loader and rifle all looming on the horizon. With all of these seasons coming up why in the world would you want to think about waterfowl hunting? Well, stick with me for a few minutes, and I will explain, First of all, most die in the wool wa-terfowl hunters never really stop think-ing about duck and goose hunting. We just hunt for other critters, or go fishing, until ole man winter sends flock after flock down the migration flyway. Get-ting ready early can help you be more successful once the waterfowl gets to your area of the country and hopefully to your favorite hunting location. Simple things can help get you start-ed in the right direction. Here are a few ideas. Take evening walks with your fa-vorite hunting dog. Both you and Fido could probably stand to drop a few pounds prior to hunting season. I know that I surely can. You may laugh, but just a few pounds from the ole waist

Gearing Up for Waterfowl

By Garry Mason

line can help to make that camo cloth-ing fit better that you bought last year, and the more exercise that Fido can get this time of year, the better his per-formance will be during season. When you think about it, we are all going to gain a few pounds during the season anyway, thanks to those amazing duck blind meals. Get out to the shooting range as much as possible. The old saying, “practice makes perfect” really applies in the wa-terfowl world. Try to practice shots that will be similar to the ones that you may see while in a hunting situation. Incom-ing or crossing shots are some of the ones that I like to work on, as well as shots that are going up and away. Try doubles and report pairs if you’re on a sporting clays course, or if you can, get a few hunting buddies over with a couple of target throwers for some great practice fun. Use the same gun that you plan on taking to the blind. Get your waterfowl shot shells now. Why wait on the rush, you know you got to have them to shoot and with all of the online stores from which to choose, you can go online and order and have them shipped right to your door. Many local stores are running early fall specials this time of the year as well. Clean up and repaint your decoys. This is warm weather now, but how many of us wait until the colder days before season, to get the decoys out of the barn and wash or repaint them. Trust me when I say that taking care of the decoys right now, during the warm months will make this chore a lot easier. Don’t forget about getting out your duck and goose calls. We can all use some practice here for sure. In the hands of someone who knows how to prop-erly use them, the duck or goose call becomes the greatest conservation tool known to waterfowl hunting. Remem-ber, these are musical instruments and in order to be really good, one must prac-tice year round. Just ask any young per-son who plays a woodwind instrument in the high school band, what happens if they stop practicing during the sum-mer months.

Tune up that boat motor now. Don’t wait till cold weather to get this done. Grease all the fittings on your boat, mo-tor and trailer. With all of the trash and moisture that gets in the gasoline that we use now a days, if you haven’t had problems with your duck boat motor, your time may be at hand. I like to keep a small amount of Seafoam in each tank of gas that I run. This helps take care of moisture problems, as well as keeping everything clean inside.

By now most of you a starting to get my drift so to speak and I know that you can figure out some more things that will help you to become a better waterfowl hunter on your own from this point. However, if you feel that you may need some more advice and need me to help refresh your memory just give me a call during season. I make regular house calls, as long as your house is a duck blind. Good shooting and take a kid waterfowl hunting.

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Brad Gardner, Jason Brewer and Guide Garry Mason examine a blue winged teal taken on Kentucky Lake during wood duck and teal season. - Photo by Garry Mason.

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Hevi-Shot Shells. I have been shooting the new Heavy Metal shot shells by Hevi-Shot for the past two seasons. I am using number three shot, three inch, ounce and a quarter loads. The performance of this shell has out done every other shot shell that I have used to date and my kill rate has increased while my shell usage has gone way down, as I no longer have to follow up with water shots to finish off the job. In my opinion, this offsets the cost of this shot shell, as compared to regular Stella shot loads.

Avery layout blinds. Most of us, in Northwest Tennessee, hunt fixed or floating blinds. However if you want to take a couple of buddies and get away from the crowds, get one of these great layout blinds and some decoys, then head to a mud flat or island or a field that has been flooded by rain fall. This is a great way to hunt places that are otherwise under utilized by hunters in your area.

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STUMP JUMPERS BAR & GRILL& MAGNOLIA CAMPGROUND

ON REELFOOT LAKE! The husband and wife team of Mike & Vickie Alford had a dream. They wanted to build a high class, neighborhood bar and restaurant, with an ad-joining campground on Reelfoot Lake, with Vicky being the boss lady. After months of hard work and thousands of dollars in construction their dream came true in what is now called Stump Jumpers, which is appropriate-ly named for the thousands of stumps that fishermen and hunters must avoid, when boating on the Quake Lake. Stump Jumpers has a unique maritime theme, and the rustic log walls and bar transport customers back to the days of the high seas, up to and including an eight foot tall Captain Morgan that greets you at the door. A state of the art lighting and music system, compliments Dee Jay Mike as he spins everything from country ballads to popular dance music, to custom-ers belting out their favorite karaoke songs. They serve delicious and unique sandwich plates and have the coldest and most affordable beers in the area. Soon, they will have liquor by the drink, as well. Until early duck season starts in September, they will be open on Fridays 5:00 pm to 1:00 am and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 1:00 am and have carry out food until 12:30 am. I have visited Stump Jumpers many times and highly recommend it to both locals and visitors to the Reelfoot Lake area. They are located at 3060 Hwy 21 East, in Tiptonville, Tennessee. For more information, call Vickie Alford at 731-676-2951.- Rob Somerville

Stacy and Michelle Moody were fishing at Fyrne Lake on Friday, June 28th and caught 10 bass. Two

of them were lunkers! One of the two biggest bass caught is being held by Stacy in this picture.

- Photo courtesy of Fyrne Lake

Michael Gauldin of Dyersburg, Tennessee bagged this long beard in the hills above Lenox, Tennessee on April

8th, 2013. - photo courtesy of Michael GauldinChuck Richardson of Dyersburg, Tennessee caught and released this nice 5 pound, 4 ounce bass in Fyrne Lake

on July 27th, 2013. - Photo courtesy of Fyrne Lake


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BUSINESS PROFILERon Gurley, of Dyersburg, Tennessee caught this nice 6

lb. bass in Dyer County, Tennessee.

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 4746 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2013 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 47

The 2013 BBQ Fest Cooking Contest in Dyersburg,

Tennessee, was once again a huge success. Held at the Dyer County Fairgrounds, this past July, teams from all over the states came to compete. There was live music, a deluxe car show and a weekend of fun

for the entire family as you can tell from these photos! Below is a pictorial from this year’s event, which was brought to you by Burk’s Broadcasting and Burk’s Beverage and was sponsored by many area businesses.


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