Kentuckiana Sportsmen Blog

Turkey season is in full swing and the hunters are bringing in a good amount of birds. Let's hear your success story or even about the one that got away.
Also feel free to submit your photos

Good Huntin
Bill

How many have already been fishing this year? Do you have any special ideas or tips for the rest of us to prepare for the warms days on the water?

The clock is ticking and the weather apears it will hold out for a great opening weekend.Don't forget Brandenburg Huntin & Fishin will open at 4am with a free breakfast for all those hungry hunters!

It's a Saturday morning, the boat is in the water and you are heading to an area that has been producing crappie for weeks. You get there and can't find the fish. You go to other places where you've caught fish before and still...no fish. It seems like they have disappeared into the Twilight Zone. But don't give up looking for them. They're there; they can't get out of the lake. The bank stops them. All you've got to do is find them. Well of course, its easier said than done but there are going to be days when you win and days when they win. Sometimes it baffles even the most experienced fishermen. But its not impossible to find and catch them. It only requires a little extra effort.

DEVELOPING A PATTERN

The most important factors to remember when searching for crappie on any body of water is to find the approximate depth at which they are holding. The depth they prefer is determined by water temperatures, oxygen, pH, light penetration, food and cover availability. The best way in finding the correct depth is with a fish finder. They can show concentrations of crappie that may be suspended at that depth, and they may be around some kind of cover, channel edge, hump or drop-off. Crappie are usually relating to structure, and if they are nowhere near the objects, chances are they are inactive or a different kind of fish. If you're not sure if its crappie on your sonar unit, drop minnows or jigs down to a shade above the fish, and to see if they are aggressively feeding. Once you locate the crappie on one type of structure, crappie can often be found on other structures at the same depth.
If an angler isn't familiar with a lake, it may take more time to search the lake from the surface down to about 40 feet. They probably won't be much deeper because few reservoirs have adequate oxygen levels below those depths.
One mistake many anglers make in using the fish finders is looking for large numbers of fish. Sometimes the unit will display that information, especially around brush piles. Also, anglers overlook certain structures because the unit displayed no fish or may only see one or two, even though dozens are holding in and/or below the structures. With that being said, alot of times we've pulled impressive stringers from the brush piles by dangling a jig through the branches to find them.

BREAK LINES

A break line is any area beneath the surface where you have a sudden, rapid change in depth. It could be the edge of a channel, a point, a secondary bank, and nearly all bodies of water have numerous break line possibilities whether its a foot and half drop or a 20 feet drop.
But a break line itself won't always hold crappie, unless there is some kind of "break". A break is that area on a break line that has cover of some kind, like submerged brush, rocks, weeds, stump(s), or any other type of cover. These objects will hold crappie most of the time, only if the depth is in their "Comfort Zone".
When they move, they travel in close proximity to bottom contours. They are more likely to follow a descending point, side of a creek channel or a bluff. Again, these are places that has a sudden drop with breaks at a certain depth that crappie may relate to. These are also called "migration routes", which they use to follow from deep water in winter to their spawning beds in spring, and back to deep cooler water in the summer.

Another great asset to finding the correct depth on a lake is by asking a local angler who knows and fishes the lake, and is familiar with the behavior of its crappie through the seasons and in specific weather and water conditions. Ask someone who is fishing if they are catching any, and if he is, ask them "HOW DEEP" they are catching them at. That's all you need to ask.

So when you go to your favorite spot and the fish are gone, don't panic. Search for a break line when crappie are on the move. Its finding the right one, as well as the correct depth, is the key to unlocking the day's pattern.

Bowhunters, as a whole, are pretty diligent about practicing with their chosen hunting tool. A good number of them attend either formal or informal 3D shoots each summer in addition to regular backyard practice. However, to be a truly effective stick-and-string hunter, your pre-season game plan needs more than just 3D courses and backyard shooting.

Target Practice While any archery practice is good, realistic archery practice is the best.
The preferred three-dimensional targets to target bags or flat foam-core targets. They not only help get in the mood for hunting but also assist in visualizing arrow placement at the angles necessary to make a clean shot.
These targets are now available in a wide range of animals and styles for a fraction of what they cost only a few years ago. Now it is feasible for single hunters to have an entire mini-3D course in their own backyard.

Noise is a major issue for bowhunters, and yet relatively few give it the attention it deserves, Deadening this noise is necessary to successfully and consistently harvest big-game animals. To effectively quiet their bow, hunters need to address all of the culprits that make noise. This calls for the employment of string silencers, cable slides, arrow rests and creaky limbs. It is also a great idea to soundproof your bow in case of collision with other objects. The biggest noisemaker in this arena is the arrow-to-riser noise that is so common when nocking arrows and when an arrow falls off the rest. These can be avoided by lining the entire shelf and surrounding areas with moleskin or commercial archery fleece.
Position shooting All too often bowhunters practice only from a standing, upright position. While there's something to be said for shooting with a straight back, your head in proper shooting position and slowly squeezing your trigger release in a controlled setting
To be more effective during the hunting season, hunters need to practice every shot that may present itself. This includes sitting, kneeling and crouching as well as shooting from elevated positions, through small openings in brush etc. The list goes on. The positions and situations are limited only by your imagination - and situations you've already encountered.
One thing is sure: The opportunities to shoot deer from an upright position over a perfectly flat, obstruction-free, manicured lawn are extremely limited!

Full Gear Workout Many hunters’ wonder why they flub easy shots at animals when they can stack arrows on top of each other, Robin Hood-style, on the practice range. Most times, the answer is simple: It's all of that extra gear you carry into the woods that you don't carry onto the practice range.
There will be a few that will be decked out in a T-shirt, shorts and a hip quiver when shooting 3D ranges or practicing in the backyard. You seldom see a hunter practice with gloves on,face covering and calls or binoculars,
Hanging off their neck. But this is real world practice and getting used to the gear is critical.
When you finally get a shot at a buck - with extra accessories you are not accustomed to carrying while shooting your bow getting in the way - you quickly realize that drawing on an animal feels nothing like summertime practice.

Putting on all of your fall hunting gear in the heat of summer is not an idea of a good time, but neither is missing a chance buck of a lifetime. The only way to feel confident and comfortable on opening day is to have a dress rehearsal. Having a bow string smack your jacket once out in a hunting situation can be avoided by the dress rehearsal.

Broadheads Changing from shooting practice field points to using broadheads for actual hunting is usually the only transition hunters make before hunting season. Unfortunately, most don't do it very well.
It is unbelievable how many people come in the day before season, buy a set of broadheads, screw them on and go hunting. They are shocked when they realize that their hunting arrows didn't group well, or on the rare occasion that they did make contact with an animal their strike point was two feet different than the strike point they had set with field points.
The main causes for the difference in flight are the large surface area of broadheads compared to field points with it being more exaggerated with fixed heads than with mechanicals and the different balance point of the arrow. Of these factors, broadhead wind resistance is by far the largest cause of inaccurate shots.

Field points have minimal surface area to "catch" the wind, and even a poorly tuned bow can appear to shoot well with them, making most people assume their bow is tuned. However, broadheads bring out the worst in out-of-tune bows. Make sure your bow is punching perfect holes through paper before you try to track down poor arrow flight problems. Paper often tells a lot, essentially creating a snapshot of the arrow in flight.
GETTING CALM so you've practiced with all of your gear on in numerous different shooting positions and you know your bow is shooting well. Now how do you defeat your own body's production of adrenaline?
We've all felt it, that fast-pulsed rush and shortness of breath we call "Buck Fever." If you're like most of us, you too have a hard time controlling your excitement as you draw on a buck or bull. While the rush is never something you can completely get over (personally wouldn't want to), there are ways of keeping it at a manageable level so that you can make an accurate shot. Try to get out several times during winter to hunt predators, varmints and small game with a bow, not because it is an effective way to hunt, but because it helps to simulate big-game hunting situations. This type of practice is as real world as it gets.
In the summer, try and get out in the field a bit, but this time it is after carp with a bow and arrow. While carp don't quite get the heart pumping as much as a Pope and Young bull, they will make you concentrate, pick a spot and get a clean release in a short time span (before the fish swims off). These are all desirable skills to hone before the big-game season rolls around.
Another great technique is running a 3D course. This can be done if you live in a rural area and set a course up on your own property, or during off-hours at a local club.
When you reach a shooting station, allow yourself 5 to 10 seconds to catch your breath, nock an arrow and get off a good shot. Retrieve your arrow and set off for the next target.
The combination of physical exertion and time constraints helps simulate actual hunting, especially elk hunting, and will not only get you in shape but will make you much better shot under pressure.
PRE-SEASON DE-SCENTING Really, removing human scent from your clothing and equipment should go without saying, but many bowhunter's are either not aware of their own human scent or choose not to believe it matters.
Believe it: Scent control matters.
Deer, elk and bears have first-rate noses. That fact simply cannot be debated, and their sense of smell is many multiples better than any human's nose is capable of detecting. If hunters fail to do everything possible to prevent detection by smell, their hunt is most likely to turn into yet another A.C.T. tale (Almost Came Together) and little else.
There are two main ways to de-scent. The first involves washes, and the second utilizes activated carbon clothing. Between the two, preference is the latter, for its performance and simplicity, but either gets the job done.
Concerning washes, it is opinion that an entire gamut of products needs to be used to be effective, including those to use on your body and working outward.
Start with scent-eliminator shampoo and body soap before the hunt. Wash clothes in scent-eliminating clothes wash and liberally use scent killer spray while afield. Watching many keen-nosed deer around over the years attests to the effectiveness of this three-part system.
The second method is quite a bit simpler and equally effective. Start with the shampoo/body wash and then wear a full set of activated carbon clothing. The nice thing about activated carbon clothing is it is easy to maintain - simply throw it in the dryer for a half- hour and it is ready to start absorbing odors again. This procedure needs only to be done every couple of weeks.
Regardless of what type of scent elimination strategy you employ, One of the biggest keys is keeping your clothes scent-free. Even if you have de-scented or are wearing carbon, your hunting clothes should not be worn until you are afield. If you wear your clothes on the way to the field, you are more than likely going to pick up a lot of unnatural odors along the way. Gas, exhaust, greasy food odors from a truck stops - all kinds of smelly things surround hunters on the way to the field.
The best method is to treat your clothes (either with wash or in the dryer in the case of carbon), and place them immediately into a scent-proof plastic bag, and only put them on when you have reached your destination and are outside the vehicle.
Cover scents: You may also consider that dryer sheets thrown in the dryer are an effective alternative to the descenting process but if not descented before the cover scents are used, you do just that “cover up” with even more scent to make the deer more cautious. So keep it mind and keep it simple. Use only a single form of cover scent on your descented clothing and equipment, Once you arrive at your hunting destination .The use of multiple cover scents at a time will also put Bullwinkle on alert.
So, be Descent! and Cover Up! So that Bullwinkle shows up and does not blows your cover!

Folks, we are getting alot of feedback from area hunters that the rut is starting to ramp up.Chris Ammons arrowed a record breaking buck on Ft.Knox which he said was in full rut.
Sharpen up your broadheads and get your feeders filled it's time!

Meade County NASP is holding archery practice sessions on every thursday at 6pm at the Meade County Sportsman Club located at the Meade County Fairgrounds.