Well, if you are part werewolf and part historian like me, you are certainly aware of the fact that we have just experienced a hunter's moon.The native Americans took this full moon in October as a signal that it was time to start hunting and curing meat for the winter months. They didn't have microwaves and grocery stores; so they relied on nature and instinct for survival.They also did not have Washington looking after them, and that was a good thing. I don't know about you folks, but I am mighty glad that the circus in Washington has closed --at least temporarily.
Our forefathers also knew how to live off of the land. Have you ever been asked the question,"why do you hunt"? I have, and I think that this hunter's moon has helped me define my answer. I hunt for the same reason that I eat and breathe. It is in my DNA code, and it is a part of who I am and my heritage. Hunting also gives me a connection to the land, a connection I can't ignore. I feel sorry for people stuck in front of televisions or computers who no longer relish the changing of the seasons and the richness and smell of the earth. We hunters hunt because we love the outdoors,we love the excitement and challenge, and we enjoy eating what we are fortunate enough to bag.
In conclusion, let me just say that this is our first week of the quail hunting season at Riverview. God has blessed us with a crisp fall weather for our opening week. We got just enough rain to make the scenting conditions good for the dogs, and we have had some hunters actually manage to shoot a quail. I am tickled for that because I am real tired of my guides shooting birds under the guise of "dog training". We had better have some of the best handling dogs in years based on the amount of shooting I was hearing last week in our final preseason tune up prior to the real thing.If you have not booked your hunt for this season, i would encourage you to call soon. Open dates on our reservation calendar are disappearing fast!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Fall season
My favorite season of the year is fall. I think that southerners probably appreciate fall more than anyone.After living through repressive,heat,humidity,and bugs for so long,that first hint of cooler,drier air feels like the breath of God promising better times ahead.It was 51 degrees here this morning with almost no humidity in the air. Fall is also the time of the year when Mother Nature shoots for her grand finale. There is an explosion of colors and smells. It reminds me of the end of the big fireworks shows on the Fourth of July.
And,of course, there is the smell of gunpowder in the air as hunters take to the woods again in the timeless tradition of their ancestors.I was disappointed upon renewing my hunting license to see that they had not added a couple of Congressmen to my bag limit. All of our winter grass has come up around the lodge grounds now, and we are running water sprinklers day and night. The soft,damp ground attracts the armadillos. Armadillos,like Congressmen, serve no useful purpose, and only destroy our beautiful grounds.
However, there is no bag limit on these pests,and we have declared open season on them. My only concern is that someone will drive up one night and catch me walking around in my underdrawers in the middle of the night with a miner's lamp on my head and a shotgun in my hand. I'm afraid that they might send someone with a butterfly net to catch me.
We open the 2013-2014 quail hunting season next weekend, and we are all ready to get started!
And,of course, there is the smell of gunpowder in the air as hunters take to the woods again in the timeless tradition of their ancestors.I was disappointed upon renewing my hunting license to see that they had not added a couple of Congressmen to my bag limit. All of our winter grass has come up around the lodge grounds now, and we are running water sprinklers day and night. The soft,damp ground attracts the armadillos. Armadillos,like Congressmen, serve no useful purpose, and only destroy our beautiful grounds.
However, there is no bag limit on these pests,and we have declared open season on them. My only concern is that someone will drive up one night and catch me walking around in my underdrawers in the middle of the night with a miner's lamp on my head and a shotgun in my hand. I'm afraid that they might send someone with a butterfly net to catch me.
We open the 2013-2014 quail hunting season next weekend, and we are all ready to get started!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Lodge Grounds clean-up
The crops are all harvested except for our late season milo that we plant behind our spring sweet corn crops.Most all of our hunting course preparation work is complete with the exception of woods road maintenance and mowing our jeep trails through the woods. While Ronnie was mowing jeep trails yesterday on the Yates place, he bumped into one of the largest hornet nests that I have seen in years. He was a happy camper to be in a tractor with a cab because he took some photos with his IPhone of the swarm of hornets surrounding his tractor. We are making plans to get rid of those bad boys before the Federal government tries to add them to the endangered species list along with the eastern diamondback rattler. Somehow, I do not think that many of our guests could outrun a bunch of angry hornets.
While Ronnie was lucky to be in a cab tractor, the same cannot be said for Jarvis. Most of our crew have moved to the lodge grounds for our fall clean up. Jarvis was weed eating along the edge of the lodge lake when he ran his weed eater over a ground nest of yellow jackets. I had no idea that Jarvis was that fast. I happened to be watching him as he broke the world record for the 100 yard dash. I have never seen yellow jackets give up so quickly. The only small problem has been convincing Jarvis to retrieve his weed eater. At my last check,it was still right there on the ground by the nest. However, we will take care of those insects also.
We have pruned,mowed, and planted all of our winter grass around the cottages. In another week, it will really look like quail hunting season here. that's a good thing because it is just around the corner with our first guests arriving on Oct.17th.
While I realize that the NSA will read my blog, I just have to close by expressing my disgust with our dysfunctional government in Washington. Whatever happened to compromise and statesmanship? Wouldn't Mark Twain and Will Rogers have a good time lampooning these clowns we have in Washington today! I would like to criticize them more vocally myself,but I am not overly anxious to incur an IRS audit.
While Ronnie was lucky to be in a cab tractor, the same cannot be said for Jarvis. Most of our crew have moved to the lodge grounds for our fall clean up. Jarvis was weed eating along the edge of the lodge lake when he ran his weed eater over a ground nest of yellow jackets. I had no idea that Jarvis was that fast. I happened to be watching him as he broke the world record for the 100 yard dash. I have never seen yellow jackets give up so quickly. The only small problem has been convincing Jarvis to retrieve his weed eater. At my last check,it was still right there on the ground by the nest. However, we will take care of those insects also.
We have pruned,mowed, and planted all of our winter grass around the cottages. In another week, it will really look like quail hunting season here. that's a good thing because it is just around the corner with our first guests arriving on Oct.17th.
While I realize that the NSA will read my blog, I just have to close by expressing my disgust with our dysfunctional government in Washington. Whatever happened to compromise and statesmanship? Wouldn't Mark Twain and Will Rogers have a good time lampooning these clowns we have in Washington today! I would like to criticize them more vocally myself,but I am not overly anxious to incur an IRS audit.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Dog running
Well,today is the day that all of the guides begin working their dogs and running them into playing shape.Hunting dogs are just like human athletes.Conditioning is almost as important as training. During the hot summer months,our hunting dogs mostly just lay around in the kennel barking and eating free meals. They remind me a lot of our politicians in Washington. There is another interesting aspect of dog training at this time of the year.
Moss assigns each guide 10 dogs. Those dogs are then placed together in adjacent kennel runs so that each guide can load his dogs on his jeep from five adjoining runs. Many of these dogs have not been living together during the summer, and we have to carefully monitor their behavior as some of them just flat decide that they do not like their new room mates.Our vet bill normally runs about $1200 per month,but it always jumps up in September due to dog fights at the kennels. Before the week is out, we will have shifted dogs around like a chess match, and the "top dog" in each run will have established his dominance.Another thing that we have to watch closely with our dogs at this time of the year is "sexual assaults". Again this reminds me a lot of some of the other athletes I read about. However, there is one big difference at Riverview with this problem. We simply take the offender to the vet and relieve him of his family jewels. Society could learn a lot by following this practice.If male dogs could talk to one another, I bet that we would not have to do this but once or twice before they all straightened up. I have often said that if I were a male dog, i would beg my owner not to sell me to Riverview.
For the next two weeks, we will run all of the dogs for about two hours each morning, and will move up to a half day of work in the third week.We will also be shooting some birds over them with the guides acting as hunters. All of our guides love this time of the year, and there is always a lot of kidding at the guide shack over how poorly some "professional hunting guides" can actually shoot.
Speaking of dogs, I just have to close this blog by saying that I sure was proud of my Georgia Bulldogs in their victory Saturday over a very good LSU football team. As we would say in Athens," that Dawg will bite you"!
Moss assigns each guide 10 dogs. Those dogs are then placed together in adjacent kennel runs so that each guide can load his dogs on his jeep from five adjoining runs. Many of these dogs have not been living together during the summer, and we have to carefully monitor their behavior as some of them just flat decide that they do not like their new room mates.Our vet bill normally runs about $1200 per month,but it always jumps up in September due to dog fights at the kennels. Before the week is out, we will have shifted dogs around like a chess match, and the "top dog" in each run will have established his dominance.Another thing that we have to watch closely with our dogs at this time of the year is "sexual assaults". Again this reminds me a lot of some of the other athletes I read about. However, there is one big difference at Riverview with this problem. We simply take the offender to the vet and relieve him of his family jewels. Society could learn a lot by following this practice.If male dogs could talk to one another, I bet that we would not have to do this but once or twice before they all straightened up. I have often said that if I were a male dog, i would beg my owner not to sell me to Riverview.
For the next two weeks, we will run all of the dogs for about two hours each morning, and will move up to a half day of work in the third week.We will also be shooting some birds over them with the guides acting as hunters. All of our guides love this time of the year, and there is always a lot of kidding at the guide shack over how poorly some "professional hunting guides" can actually shoot.
Speaking of dogs, I just have to close this blog by saying that I sure was proud of my Georgia Bulldogs in their victory Saturday over a very good LSU football team. As we would say in Athens," that Dawg will bite you"!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Fall is in the air
In my last post, I mentioned that I could smell fall in the air. I couldn't put my finger on it,but there is just a sixth sense that country folks get when one lives close to the land. Well, I can FEEL fall today!My old Lab,Sugar,feels it also. She is still pouting with me over the fact that I left her in the kennel on our first dove hunt a few weeks ago.I was only doing what was best for her on that hot day,but she is a female and does not need a very valid reason to pout. If this weather holds, I may have a chance to make it up to her.
All of God's creatures feel the change in the air,especially the deer. Bow season opened here this past Saturday, and deer definitely are aware of that fact. I think that they get the publication of the seasons before us humans do. I read the other day that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that car/deer collisions total about one million per year.About 200 persons are killed and some 10,000 are injured in mishaps.Damage per vehicle averages $3000.West Virginia leads all states in car/deer collisions.I wonder if that means that West Virginia has more deer or if West Virginians are just poorer shots than the rest of us.
Thank goodness quail are not a menace to society unless you count the times a man has to change his underwear after an explosion of wings from beneath his feet.
All of God's creatures feel the change in the air,especially the deer. Bow season opened here this past Saturday, and deer definitely are aware of that fact. I think that they get the publication of the seasons before us humans do. I read the other day that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that car/deer collisions total about one million per year.About 200 persons are killed and some 10,000 are injured in mishaps.Damage per vehicle averages $3000.West Virginia leads all states in car/deer collisions.I wonder if that means that West Virginia has more deer or if West Virginians are just poorer shots than the rest of us.
Thank goodness quail are not a menace to society unless you count the times a man has to change his underwear after an explosion of wings from beneath his feet.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Rambling
Yesterday evening around sunset, Martha and I were sitting outside watching the sun go down on our beautiful Flint River. I had my beloved Lab curled up at my feet,and was letting what little mind I have left just drift along. I had just detected the first scent of autumn in the air even though it is still hot in south Georgia. This was more of a smell than a temperature thing, but I know that fall is right around the corner. As I sat staring at the river, I noticed an old lady fishing on the bank on the opposite side of the river. She was casting her line just as far out in the river as she could throw it. At about the same time,a bass boat eased along the same bank with two men in it running a little trolling motor. Those two guys were throwing their plugs just as close to the bank as possible without getting their lures hung on the stumps and rocks. I thought to myself,"if that isn't a classic definition of the grass always being greener on the other side,I don't know what is".
At any rate,neither party was catching any fish which made me feel better because I was feeling pretty guilty about being too lazy to put my boat in the water yesterday. It is so pretty down here in South Georgia right now that it almost doesn't seem fair to be allowed to live here and still get to heaven.
As I was writing this blog, I just received word that we have finally managed to receive another 200 cases of shotgun shells.Y'all can keep your gold bullion. I think that shotgun shells may be a more precious commodity to hoard. I still believe that shotgun shells are short because the ammunition makers refuse to stop making rifle and pistol bullets due to fear and demand for bullets from the buying public.
I am sure that you are all aware of another mass shooting at the Naval Shipyard near the Capitol yesterday. Once again we will hear the hue and cry for gun control,but you will hear nothing about a cry for reform to the mental health or the judicial systems that enables these tragic events to occur.A good friend of mine sent me another example of our country's wrong headed philosophy on guns when he said," Participating in a gun buy back program because you think that the criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors are having too may kids".
Oh well, I am glad that I live in a part of the world where the seasons change. The change rejuvenates and excites me. I'm ready for the fall and quail hunting season!
At any rate,neither party was catching any fish which made me feel better because I was feeling pretty guilty about being too lazy to put my boat in the water yesterday. It is so pretty down here in South Georgia right now that it almost doesn't seem fair to be allowed to live here and still get to heaven.
As I was writing this blog, I just received word that we have finally managed to receive another 200 cases of shotgun shells.Y'all can keep your gold bullion. I think that shotgun shells may be a more precious commodity to hoard. I still believe that shotgun shells are short because the ammunition makers refuse to stop making rifle and pistol bullets due to fear and demand for bullets from the buying public.
I am sure that you are all aware of another mass shooting at the Naval Shipyard near the Capitol yesterday. Once again we will hear the hue and cry for gun control,but you will hear nothing about a cry for reform to the mental health or the judicial systems that enables these tragic events to occur.A good friend of mine sent me another example of our country's wrong headed philosophy on guns when he said," Participating in a gun buy back program because you think that the criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors are having too may kids".
Oh well, I am glad that I live in a part of the world where the seasons change. The change rejuvenates and excites me. I'm ready for the fall and quail hunting season!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
First dove hunt of the fall
We have a tradition here at Riverview of having a dove hunt for all of our guides during Georgia's first of three doves seasons. The first season always is a short one,opening on Labor Day weekend and only lasting a couple of weeks. As you might imagine, it is generally hot in south Georgia at that time.Well, I participated in that hunt yesterday, and I fear that I am becoming my father.
I can remember being amazed to hear my Dad tell me that he wasn't sure that he wanted to hunt badly enough to suffer a heat stroke, and he would often pass on the first season. This is another one of those cases where I should have listened to my father. I had enough sense to leave my sweet,old Lab in her pen because I figured the heat would be too much for her. I conveniently forgot that I am almost 64, and had to run around in the 92 degree heat and high humidity picking up my own birds.Phew, I'm glad that I did not take but two boxes of shells with me,or I might have been stupid enough to stay out there !
Speaking of shotgun shells, I have never seen shotgun shells as difficult to purchase as they have been this summer and fall. I have heard a lot of rumors as to why, but the fact of the matter is we can't get a definite commitment from any of the major ammunition companies as to when they are going to cease making bullets and start producing shotgun shells. We are scurrying around buying 40- 50 cases here and there at retail just to make certain that we have a decent supply on hand for the start of the quail hunting season. We placed our wholesale order in late March, but the delivery date keeps getting postponed for one unbelievable tale or another.
I have about decided to retire and live off of my life savings. What I will do on the second day, I haven't got a clue yet!
I can remember being amazed to hear my Dad tell me that he wasn't sure that he wanted to hunt badly enough to suffer a heat stroke, and he would often pass on the first season. This is another one of those cases where I should have listened to my father. I had enough sense to leave my sweet,old Lab in her pen because I figured the heat would be too much for her. I conveniently forgot that I am almost 64, and had to run around in the 92 degree heat and high humidity picking up my own birds.Phew, I'm glad that I did not take but two boxes of shells with me,or I might have been stupid enough to stay out there !
Speaking of shotgun shells, I have never seen shotgun shells as difficult to purchase as they have been this summer and fall. I have heard a lot of rumors as to why, but the fact of the matter is we can't get a definite commitment from any of the major ammunition companies as to when they are going to cease making bullets and start producing shotgun shells. We are scurrying around buying 40- 50 cases here and there at retail just to make certain that we have a decent supply on hand for the start of the quail hunting season. We placed our wholesale order in late March, but the delivery date keeps getting postponed for one unbelievable tale or another.
I have about decided to retire and live off of my life savings. What I will do on the second day, I haven't got a clue yet!
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