Southern Traditions Outdoor - May/June 2020

1 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | MAY - JUNE 2020
MAY/JUNE 2020
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Southern Traditions Outdoors | Rob Somerville
(731) 446-8052 stomag1@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER - Neither the authors or 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 Cover
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.
Field Staff Editors
Owners - Eddie Anderson
Rob Somerville
Kevin Griffith

Publisher - Eddie Anderson
Editor - Rob Somerville
Advertising Sales
Rob Somerville - Managing
Partner
Distribution
Johnathan Anderson
Mike Robinson
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tired of sitting in your home and staring at the walls? Get out and enjoy the world of the great
outdoors - the safest place for you and your family! Photo by Rob Somerville
PG..................... ARTICLE ............................................................AUTHOR
6 ......................... Coyote vs Deer..................................................................Rob Somerville
16 ......................... Alternative Incentives for Farmers.....................................Jonathan Holden
24 ......................... Soybeans the Miracle Crop...............................................Jonathan Holden
32 ........................ Are Outdoors Oriented People Better Prepared?..............Richard Hines
38 ......................... Quarantined Outdoors.......................................................Cody Rodriquez
44 ......................... Return to Reelfoot...It Never Grows Old............................Steve McCadams
50 ......................... Cooking on the Wild Side..................................................Sharon Somerville
51 ......................... Book Review...The Southern Wildlife Watcher..................Rob Somerville
54 ......................... Trophy Room.....................................................................STO
Garry Mason
Walter Wilkerson
Terry Wilkerson
Steve McCadams
Kelley Powers
Shawn Todd
Eddie Brunswick
Larry Self
Cody Rodriquez
John Sloan
Richard Simms
Dana Watford
Buck Gardner
Richard Hines
Ed Lankford
Drew Brooks
John Latham
Will Gregory
John Roberts
Richard Hines
Rob Hurt
Mark Buehler
Richard A. Fagan
Neill McLaurin
Sam Bradshaw
Daryl Ratajczak
Jonathon Holden

From the Desk of Rob S omer v ille
THE RESILIENCY OF BEING AN AMERICAN
Letter from the Editor
The Corona virus pandemic took us all by surprise. I don’t think there is any argument
against that statement. It has been a terrible blow to the world and has taken countless lives.
The virus has created a new awareness of just how careless we have all been in taking for grant-
ed our health and wellbeing. My heart and prayers go out to any individuals and their families
who have fallen victim to this disease.
With that being said, I am fully confident that we as Americans will bounce back stronger
than ever. Our economy will recover and our lives, though forever scarred by this epidemic, will
get back on track. In fact, I believe we will come back as a stronger nation than ever and have
better emergency protocols set in place. I also feel that this situation will make us more appre-
ciative of each other and of everything we have possibly taken for granted.
It will also make us appreciate the great outdoors. My oldest son {Robbie} recently told me
that he now wishes he paid more attention when I took him hunting and fishing, as he has a
family of his own to look out for now. I half-jokingly told him that it would not come down to
that situation for their survival.
Anytime a disastrous occurrence happens to us, as the American people, heroes emerge to
strengthen our resolve. Doctors, nurses and all people in the medial field are standing tall to help
get us through these murky waters. Farmers are in the fields and workers in the food industry
have shown up to work every day. Policemen, firemen and EMT’s can’t work from home either.
I ask that you use common sense with prescribed social distancing. I also ask you to check on
any elderly people in your neighborhood, to make sure they have the necessary items to main-
tain their healthy lifestyle. I suggest that you and your family take this time to get out of your
house and go to a pond or lake to fish, go camping and take walks in the woods. This is much
better for your body and mind’s general health than sitting inside and watching the “boob tube.”
I hope that all of you are well and request your prayers for those that are not. Let’s all do
our part to get through this crisis and I promise you that we will come out at the other end …
stronger than ever!
Be well!
Rob Somerville

The big buck had made it
through another deer season,
eluding hunters again. It was late
winter with more cold weath-
er than most years, which made
it even more difficult on the old
deer. He was very weary from
pursuing does during the rut and
evading predators, both man and
beast, over the last four months.
He lay in the heavy thicket and
rested, unaware there was a pair
of coyotes stalking him. Before he
could react, the pair was on him,
slashing his throat and ripping
at his flesh. In a few moments
the buck was down, and filling
the bellies of the coyote pair and
their yearling pups.
The buck would provide food
for the coyotes, fox, crows and
other predators in the area for
several days. A week later, this
pair would take down a pregnant
doe; consuming her and her un-
born fawns that were starting to
develop.
Predation on deer can be
heavy, especially in the winter
months, when coyotes can take
the sharp hooved animals, due
to lack of cover to conceal them
and their stressed condition from
severe weather and lack of food.
The landowner/deer hunter
was disgusted and angry when he
found the remains of the buck;
and later the doe. He’d been chas-
ing the big buck for several years,
and enjoyed the challenge each
season. The doe probably pro-
duced and successfully raised two
to three fawns each year. The coy-
ote numbers had increased annu-
ally on his property. He knew that
if he was going to reduce his deer
losses, he would have to reduce
the coyote numbers. But what
should he do now?
He had taken a few coyotes
with a gun during deer season,
but it hadn’t reduced the deer
depredation by these predators
very much. The landowner knew
that he would have to do some-
thing different, if he was going
to get rid of the coyote problem.
He contacted a wildlife officer
and was told to contact a local
trapper/animal control special-
ist, who had an excellent track
record in trapping coyotes. The
trapper was called and within one
week he had successfully trapped
17 coyotes off the deer hunter’s
property.
COYOTE VERSUS DEERBy Rob Somerville

This was a real shock to the
hunter, as he thought there were
only three or four coyotes using
his property. Coyotes are very
elusive, and their numbers in an
area will generally surprise most
deer hunters and landowners.
Many times, more than one fam-
ily group’s territory may overlap.
Even on smaller acreages this
can occur. This can be devastat-
ing on the deer, turkey and small
game population. Landowners,
deer hunters and outfitters need
to consider this, when planning
predator control.
The coyote numbers were
reduced, which made the hunt-
er happy. The trapper benefit-
ed from the arrangement too.
He caught the coyotes, as well
as bobcats, fox, raccoons and
muskrats on the property; which
had previously been unavailable
to him. He and the landowner/
hunter became friends, and he re-
ceived an invitation to deer hunt
the next season. Both of these
outdoorsmen benefited from the
trapping arrangement, and were
happy because of it.
Why Predator Control is
Important?
I attended a Quality Deer
Management seminar at the Ken-
tucky Deer Classic late one sum-
mer. The private land biologist
stated that predator control was
essential for good quality deer
management in many areas, due
to the increased coyote numbers
and deer depredation by coyotes.
The biologist surprised many of
us, when he stated that coyotes
took up to 70% of the fawns in
Western Kentucky each year! I
suspect that this would also hold
true for many areas in Tennes-
see as well.
I also learned more of this
from information from private
predator and animal damage con-
trol trappers that I am acquainted
with in the industry.
Coyotes can take rut-weary bucks and does {heavy with developing fawns} during the winter months
easier than other times of the year, as shown here. STO File Photo

I was astounded by these rev-
elations, even though I’d heard
of similar information about coy-
otes in other areas of the country.
I did not realize the impact coy-
otes had on the deer herd in my
region. Deer numbers are high
in Western Kentucky and Ten-
nessee, but extraordinarily large
numbers of fawns are taken by
coyotes each year. Deer hunters
and landowners need to take heed
of this information. They need to
ask themselves how many trophy
bucks are lost each year to coy-
otes and bobcats. Landowners
need to plan for some extensive
predator control on their proper-
ty to reduce this coyote and bob-
cat depredation.
Coyotes can take rut-weary
bucks, and does heavy with de-
veloping fawns during the winter
months easier than other times of
the year. This is true, especially
when these animals are most vul-
nerable due to lack of food and
vegetation cover.
Make no mistake about it;
coyotes can take deer any time
of the year! The winter months
can result in more deer losses,
because deer represent several
days of food supply, with each
kill. Coyotes need more food and
energy during the winter months.
Female coyotes are often preg-
nant this time of year too, and
need more nutrition for the pups
growing inside her. Deer repre-
sent a tremendous food source,
so coyotes will focus on attack-
ing deer more often during the
winter and early spring months
for these reasons.
Food supplies, time of the
year, and seasonally preferred
diet, have an impact on when
and how many deer are taken by
coyotes each year. Coyotes are
opportunistic and will focus on
whatever food source that’s easi-
ly available at the time each sea-
son, for the least expenditure of
energy. If a deer fawn (or adult
deer) presents itself, the coyotes
will still take them, even in the
Coyote aggression will stress the deer herd on your land and in many cases and if not controlled, will
cause the deer on your property to relocate. STO File Photo

summer months.
A deer herd can also become
very stressed when they are ha-
rassed by coyotes continually and
will even relocate to other prop-
erty. Regular stress from harass-
ment by coyotes can potentially
cause does to abort fawns, bucks
and does to lose body weight, and
could even cause a reduction of
antler mass for the bucks, if this
occurs over a period of time.
Hunters and landowners should
take this into consideration…and
become acquainted with, and de-
velop a predator control program
for their land.
Why Trapping is an Effective
Method of Predator Control?
Hunters and landowners can
benefit from trappers who can
successfully trap coyotes (and
bobcats, where legal). Aggres-
sively removing coyotes, espe-
cially from December through
February or March, will greatly
help the deer herd in your hunt-
ing area. When you (or a trap-
per) do intensive predator con-
trol, you may save several some
real trophy bucks {especially the
oldest bucks} from ending up in
the stomachs of coyotes this year.
Trappers can successfully remove
coyotes that are adversely impact-
ing your deer herd.
Trapping is the most effec-
tive methods of removing coy-
otes from most areas. Calling may
take some coyotes, but coyotes
can become call shy, especial-
ly older adult coyotes. You may
get the pups, but if the big adults
have been called in and missed;
or a coyote hunter hasn’t used
good scent control methods and
messed up; these animals become
tough to take. It will be difficult
to get these animals back into a
call and gun set-up again, unless
good scent control precautions
Aggressively removing coyotes by trapping, especially from December through February or March, will
greatly help the deer herd in your hunting area. STO File Photo

and good camouflage are used,
along with a totally different ani-
mal distress call, or coyote sound
such as coyote pups in distress.
Traps are on guard 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, waiting to
take coyotes. An intensive trap-
ping campaign can quickly re-
duce the coyote population in
an area, when this effort is per-
formed by a successful, experi-
enced trapper.
Coyotes travel large areas, so
don’t expect miracles in a couple
of days from traps. What is criti-
cal for effective predator control
is an intensive effort, with traps in
place during the critical months
of December through February
or March.
Fur trappers can be very help-
ful in the predator control effort,
but it has to be profitable for the
trapper also. Fur trappers have to
adhere to trapping seasons and
regulations, so this may not al-
ways be the best time of the year
that will help with an effective
predator control program. Preda-
tor control has to be done so that
it will benefit the deer herd and
small game population. Coyote
pelts aren’t worth a lot of money
in many areas of the country, so
these fur trappers have to pur-
sue other animals, along with the
coyotes.
Trappers have to make the cost
of running a trapline cost-effec-
tive, if possible. Fur trappers usu-
ally have to pursue a mixed bag
of furbearers to make a trapline
pay, or even make gas money at
the price of gas and fur, with to-
day’s fur market. Deer hunters
may need to learn trapping them-
selves, to protect the deer herd
on their land, or in their hunting
area. Trapping is fun and exciting
too. After the deer season is fin-
ished for the year, deer hunters
may want to give trapping a try.
Effective trapping can be a big
help in protecting your deer herd,
small game and turkey flock. If
you are not a trapper, you may
want to get acquainted with a
predator trapper in your region,
to remove coyotes from your
hunting area. Most trappers are
great people and experienced
outdoorsmen (and women) who
share the same passion for the
outdoors; hunting, fishing and
wildlife as you do. So take some
time and get to know a trapper
in your area and help your deer
herd this year.

AlBradshaw
1960-1999
421 W. COURT ST.
DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE
731-285-5767
sam@bradshaw4insurance.com
Sam Bradshaw
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Farmers may be looking at
some hard times to come and
they might have to rely on some
alternative farming income. For
years there have been some farm-
ers who have benefited and paid
for land by using these methods.
These methods include Conser-
vation Reserve Program (CRP),
Farmable Wetlands Program
(FWP), Conservation Steward-
ship Program (CSP), Environ-
mental Quality Incentives Pro-
gram (EQIP), Farm Wildlife
Habitat Program (FWHP), Part-
ners for Fish and Wildlife pro-
gram (PFWP), Forest Steward-
ship Program (FSP), and Hunting
Leases to name a few. In this issue
of STO Magazine, we will exam-
ine a few of these programs.
Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP)
CRP protects more than 20
millions of acres of American
topsoil from erosion and is de-
signed to safeguard the nation’s
natural resources. By reducing
water runoff and sedimentation,
CRP protects groundwater; helps
improve the condition of lakes,
rivers, ponds and streams; and is
a major contributor to increased
wildlife populations in many
parts of the country. CRP is a
land conservation program ad-
ministered by FSA. Signed into
law by President Ronald Reagan
in 1985, CRP is one of the larg-
est private-lands conservation
program in the United States.
Thanks to voluntary participa-
tion by farmers and land owners,
CRP has improved water quali-
ty, reduced soil erosion, and in-
creased habitat for endangered
and threatened species.
USDA Farm Service Agency’s
(FSA) Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) is a voluntary
program that contracts with
agricultural producers so that
environmentally sensitive agri-
cultural land is not farmed or
ranched, but instead devoted to
conservation benefits.
CRP participants establish
long-term, resource conserving
plant species, such as approved
grasses or trees (known as “cov-
ers”) to control soil erosion, im-
prove water quality and devel-
op wildlife habitat. In return,
FSA provides participants with
rental payments and cost-share
assistance. FSA provides CRP
participants with annual rental
payments, as well as certain in-
centive payments and cost share
assistance. Contracts for land en-
rolled in CRP are 10-15 years in
length. FSA bases rental rates on
the relative productivity of the
soils within each county and the
average cash rent using data pro-
vided by the National Agricultur-
al Statistics Service (NASS).
Under general enrollment, pro-
ducers have the opportunity to
offer land for CRP general enroll-
ment annually during announced
By Jon Holden
HARD TIMES CALL
FOR ALTERNATIVE
FARMING INCENTIVES

enrollment periods.
Offers for CRP contracts are
ranked according to the Environ-
mental Benefits Index (EBI). FSA
uses the following EBI factors to
assess the environmental benefits
for the land offered:
• Wildlife habitat benefits result-
ing from covers on contract acres
• Water quality benefits from
reduced erosion, runoff and
leaching
• On-farm benefits from reduced
erosion
• Benefits that will likely endure
beyond the contract period
• Air quality benefits from re-
duced wind erosion
• Cost.
Further information on CRP
general signup is available in the
FSA fact sheet “Conservation Re-
serve Program General Signup.”
Farmable Wetlands Program
(FWP)
The next Government as-
sisted program is the Farmable
Wetlands Program (FWP) which
is designed to restore previous-
ly farmed wetlands and wetland
buffer to improve both vegeta-
tion and water flow. By restor-
ing farmable wetlands, FWP im-
proves groundwater quality, helps
trap and break down pollutants,
prevents soil erosion, reduces
downstream flood damage, and
provides habitat for water birds
and other wildlife. Wetlands can
also be used to treat sewage and
are found to be as effective as
“high tech” methods. FWP is a
voluntary program to restore up
to one million acres of farmable
wetlands and associated buffers.
Participants must agree to restore
the wetlands, establish plant cov-
er, and to not use enrolled land
for commercial purposes. Plant
cover may include plants that are
partially submerged or specific
types of trees.
The Farm Services Agency
(FSA) runs the program through
A field that has had some flood water standing and has drowned out the plants.

the Conservation Reserve Pro-
gram (CRP) with assistance
from other government agencies
and local conservation groups.
Offers for FWP are accepted
throughout the year. FWP con-
tracts last between 10 and 15
years. All enrollment offers are
processed through your local
FSA Office. Farmers and ranch-
ers in any state can take part in
the program. However, there
are restrictions on the land and
amount of acreage that can be
enrolled. Land generally must
have been used for agricultur-
al purposes for 3 of the past 10
crop years, can include a man-
made wetland used to process
water flow for crop drainage,
can have been used for aqua
farming purposes, or has been
used for prairie wetland over-
flow purposes. Wetlands and
wetland buffer areas are critical
to maintaining a healthy envi-
ronment. Landowners who take
part in the FWP receive an an-
nual rental payment for their
enrolled acres. FSA also pro-
vides cost-sharing and other in-
centives to help offset the costs
associated with putting these
practices in place. For further
information about the program,
including rental payment in-
formation, other eligibility and
maintenance criteria, and land
requirements, visit your local
FSA office.
Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP)
USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service offers vol-
untary Farm Bill programs that
benefit both agricultural produc-
ers and the environment. The
Conservation Stewardship Pro-
gram (CSP) helps agricultural
producers maintain and improve
their existing conservation sys-
tems and adopt additional con-
servation activities to address
priority resource concerns. CSP
pays participants for conserva-
tion performance - the higher
the performance, the higher the
payment. CSP addresses vari-
ous resource concerns includ-
ing soil quality, soil erosion,
This field was put into the CRP program and flowers grow wild in it, which attracts new and old wildlife,
as proven by this turkey poult feeding on insects.

water quality, water quantity,
air quality, plant resources, and
animal resources as well as en-
ergy. CSP provides two possible
types of payments through five-
year contracts: annual payments
for installing new conservation
activities and maintaining exist-
ing practices; and supplemen-
tal payments for adopting a re-
source-conserving crop rotation.
Applicants may include indi-
viduals, legal entities, joint op-
erations, or Indian tribes that
meet the stewardship threshold
for at least two priority resource
concerns when they apply. They
must also agree to meet or ex-
ceed the stewardship threshold
for at least one additional prior-
ity resource concern by the end
of the contract. Producers must
have effective control of the land
for the term of the proposed con-
tract. Payments are made soon as
practical after October 1 of each
fiscal year for contract activities
installed and maintained in the
previous year.
Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP)
USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service offers vol-
untary Farm Bill programs that
benefit both agricultural produc-
ers and the environment. The En-
vironmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) provides tech-
nical and financial assistance to
producers to address natural re-
source concerns and deliver en-
vironmental benefits such as im-
proved water and air quality,
conserved ground and surface
water, reduced soil erosion, and
improved or created wildlife hab-
itat. Through EQIP, NRCS pro-
vides agricultural producers with
one-on-one help and financial as-
sistance to plan and implement
improvements, or what NRCS
calls conservation practices. To-
gether, NRCS and producers in-
vest in solutions that conserve
natural resources for the future
while improving agricultural op-
erations. NRCS will help you de-
velop a conservation plan that
meets your goals and vision. This
plan becomes your roadmap for
selecting the right conservation
practices for your land. NRCS
offers about 200 unique practic-
CRP protects more than 20 millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion and is designed to safe-
guard the nation’s natural resources.

es designed for working farms,
ranches, and forests. NRCS fi-
nancial assistance can cover part
of the costs of implementing con-
servation practices.
Farmers, ranchers, and forest
landowners who own or rent ag-
ricultural land are eligible. EQIP
assistance can be used on all types
of agricultural operations, includ-
ing: Conventional and organic,
specialty crops and commodity
crops, forestry and wildlife, his-
torically underserved farmers,
livestock operations, increased
and advance payments available
for historically underserved pro-
ducers (beginning, limited re-
source, socially disadvantaged,
and military veterans.) Apply at
your local USDA Service Center,
which you can find at farmers.
gov/servicelocator. Applications
for EQIP financial assistance are
accepted throughout the year.
Farm Wildlife Habitat Program
(FWHP)
TWRA’s Farm Wildlife Hab-
itat Program is a modestly fund-
ed cost-share program intend-
ed to complement and “fill in
the gaps” in major conservation
programs available through the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The program is used for quali-
fied projects on lands not eligible
for USDA funding, practices that
complement existing habitat con-
versions already under a USDA
contract, or to assist a landown-
er to begin implementing habitat
projects in a timely manner when
USDA funds are not available.
Under an approved plan writ-
ten by a TWRA Wildlife Habitat
Biologist, the program provides
75% cost-share reimbursement
at a maximum of $2,000 in any
state fiscal year to implement pre-
scribed habitat practices intend-
ed to restore and manage native
habitats. Habitat improvements
are targeted to assist grassland,
shrub land and early succession-
al forest species in decline in-
cluding bobwhite quail, cottontail
rabbits, ruffed grouse, woodcock,
and many songbirds. Habitat
practices include restoration of
native grassland and “old field”
habitats, hedgerow and shrub
thicket development, forest edge
thinning, eradication of invasive
plants, and management practices
such as prescribed burning, strip
disking and herbicide application,
and interseeding of native forbs
and wildflowers. Upon approval
of a FWHP plan that includes at
TWRA’s Farm Wildlife Habitat Program will increase the quantity and quality of wild game in the state.

least 5 acres of habitat practices,
the landowner signs the contract
agreeing to protect the improved
habitat for 5 years. After the prac-
tices are implemented, the land-
owner is reimbursed at the speci-
fied practice rates based on 75% of
established state average practice
costs. Applicants are considered
on a first-come, first-served basis,
and a contract must be approved
before cost-shared practices can
be done.
Forest Stewardship Program
(FSP)
The Forest Stewardship program
makes forestry assistance available
to private forest landowners and
increases public awareness about
wise forest use and management.
The program focuses on devel-
oping detailed plans for privately
owned forestland based on specific
objectives of the owner. Free, on-
the-ground planning assistance is
provided by natural resource spe-
cialists under the leadership of the
Tennessee Department of Agricul-
ture, Forestry Division. Depend-
ing upon landowners’ objectives,
stewardship plans may contain
detailed recommendations for im-
provement of wildlife habitat and
development of recreational op-
portunities, as well as for timber
establishment, stand improvement
and harvesting.
Guidelines for prevention of
soil erosion, protection of water
quality, and preservation of visual
values are included in all steward-
ship plans. To qualify, landown-
ers must have 10 acres or more of
forestland, obtain and implement
a forest stewardship plan, have at
least one secondary management
objective in addition to their pri-
mary objective, protect the land
from erosion and prevent pol-
lution of streams and lakes, and
carry out the plan according to
standards which maintain the pro-
ductivity of forest resources and
protect the environment.
Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Program (PFWP)
The Partners for Fish and Wild-
life program seeks to restore, im-
prove, and protect fish and wildlife
habitat on private lands through
alliances between the USFWS,
other organizations and individu-
als, while leaving the land in pri-
vate ownership. Eligible projects
are those that benefit state or fed-
eral threatened and endangered
species, forested riparian habitat,
fragmented aquatic habitat, wet-
lands and their adjacent uplands
and other important migratory
bird habitat, such as native grass-
land restoration. Contract length
is a minimum of 10 years. Appli-
cants work with the USFWS biol-
ogists to discuss potential projects.
Contact the Tennessee Ecological
Services Field Office in Cookev-
ille, TN.
Hunting Leases for Farmland
One of the biggest alternative
farming incomes is the leasing of
the land for hunting rights. Over
the past ten years people interest-
ed in hunting has increased so that
means more demand for hunting
land. Since the demand of hunt-
ing leases has risen, so has the cost
per acre of hunting land. There
A no trespassing sign is placed on a tree to keep people from hunting an
already leased property. Hunters can help a property owner by keeping
vandalism and trespassing down on their land. Photo by Jon Holden

Farm Credit Mid-America offers loans, leases and crop insurance designed
to help rural residents build, farms grow and businesses expand.
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are many factors that is taken into
consideration when looking at the
hunting lease price per acre. The
population of wildlife on the land,
sources of food, water and shelter,
location of land, land size, hunting
amenities, food plots, leaving food
standing crops} for wildlife, and
ease of access. The prices of deer
and turkey leases are on average 2
to 10 dollars per acre according to
the wildlife potential.
With waterfowl the leases can
range from 500 to 30,000 dollars
for a flooded field or timber. This
is according to acres, flooding,
food left for the waterfowl, hunt-
ing cabins, blinds/pits, location
near a refuge or a flyway, and
ease of hunting. There are many
farmers along the Mississippi riv-
er, Obion river, Forked Deer river,
Tennessee river, around the wild-
life refuges and the lakes in Ten-
nessee and surrounding states that
have been cashing in on this alter-
native farming practices. There are
many groups on social media that
a landowner can post the details
of their land on and get respons-
es from hunters who would love
to lease some land. Also you can
post your land for lease in your
local stores and hunter gathering
spots, or advertise it in this mag-
azine by calling Rob Somerville at
731-446-8052.
Summary
These are just a few of the pro-
grams and methods that farmers
can use to supplement their in-
come. In these troubling times
there are farmers that will need
help and maybe after these times
are over they can still use these
programs as a source for extra
income. With all these programs
and methods out there to help
with income that has been lost,
hopefully farmers can find enough
help to keep them in business.
Editor’s Note: Jonathan Holden is
an Agriculture Education Teacher
at Dresden High School. His back-
ground is in Agriculture and Ani-
mal Science

YOUR
HOMETOWN
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731-787-6618
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NORTH AMERICA
THE
SHORTEST
DISTANCE
BETWEEN
HARVEST
&
MARKET!
(731) 285 3640
4344 Everett Lake Rd.
Finley, TN
“Call for your
marketing and
financing needs.”
Yellow Corn-Soybean
Wheat-White Corn

Soybeans have been used for
many centuries and have a wide
range of uses. The soybean be-
longs to the legume family and it
is native to East Asia. They have
been an important protein source
in Asia for over five thousand
years. Soybeans grow on a vari-
ety of soils and in a wide range
of climates, ranging from tropical
Brazil, to the snowy islands in the
north of Japan. Chinese records
state that soybeans can be dated
back to the 11th century. Soy-
beans were introduced to North
America in 1765 by Samuel Bow-
en. He received a patent for mak-
ing a sauce from Chinese vetches,
which were in fact soybean.
Soybeans are used for many
important things around the
world. Farmers grow soybeans
throughout the United States.
Around sixty percent of U.S. soy-
beans are exported around the
world, while the rest are pro-
cessed here. Regardless of where
they are used, the vast majority
are crushed to separate the pro-
tein and oil in the bean. Products
made from soybeans have a part
in everyday life in countless ways.
One way is through animal nu-
trition. Animal agriculture usu-
ally produces protein in the way
of fish, eggs, poultry, meat and
dairy. Animal agriculture is ac-
tually the number one customer
for soybeans. Turkey, chickens,
pigs and cattle rely on nutrient
rich soybean meal to thrive. Also,
other countries that buy soybeans
from the United States use them
for animal nutrition. Because soy-
beans are high in protein, they
are a major ingredient in live-
stock feed.
Soybeans are also used for
human nutrition. A smaller per-
centage is processed for human
consumption than animal con-
sumption and made into prod-
ucts including soy milk, soy flour,
soy protein, tofu and many re-
tail food products. Soybeans give
people a vegetable protein op-
tion such as, tofu, tempeh, and
edamame. They are also used in
a number of protein bars, soy
milk, and meat alternatives. Soy-
beans are used for vegetable oil
and are used by food companies
and restaurants to fry foods. Al-
though soybeans are a high-qual-
SOYBEANS
THE MIRACLE CROP
By Jon Holden
Soybeans are used in many different food products. They are also used
for health benefits, animal nutrition, human nutrition and petroleum.
Photo by Kansas Soybean Commission

ity protein used for many differ-
ent nutritional options, they have
uses beyond food sources. Soy is
also taken by mouth and applied
to the skin as a medicine. Soy is
used for high cholesterol, high
blood pressure, heart disease,
diabetes, symptoms of meno-
pause, premenstrual syndrome,
and many other conditions. Soy-
beans are also said to reduce to
risk of heart disease if one con-
sumes 25 grams per day in addi-
tion to a healthy diet.
Soybeans are also a renew-
able resource. Soybean oil and
meal can be a replacement for
petroleum. Biodiesel is an exam-
ple. It burns cleaner and reduces
gas emissions. Soybeans can be
used in countless different ways
as mentioned above as well as in
tires, roofing, flooring and even
household items such as candles.
Soybeans were expected to
be the most planted crop in the
United States, just ahead of corn.
Although, they normally come in
second to corn, the decision came
down to profit. Soybeans are less
expensive and less maintenance
than corn, therefore are expect-
ed to turn a larger profit. Also,
amid the recent collapse of the
ethanol industry because of less
fuel usage, it has made corn less
attractive. A few key practices to
achieve a viable soybean crop is
to improve drainage and water
holding capacity, managing or-
ganic matter, managing nutrients,
minimizing compaction, and
managing pests. Managing the
water on a field is a basic practice
in farming that all farmers should
focus on. It is not realistic to rely
on Mother Nature, because she
rarely provides the perfect sce-
nario for crop production.
Reducing tillage could be
an option in order to manage
organic matter for your crop.
Cover crops or double cropping
could also be beneficial. The key
to managing nutrients for a sus-
tainable crop is to devise a plan
to test your crops regularly. Mini-
mizing compaction can be avoid-
ed by paying attention to weath-
er and keeping heavy equipment
out of the fields when the ground
is saturated. Monitoring your
fields regularly for pests is cru-
cial. Pests can be devastating to
a crop and it is important to stay
aware. All of these practices are
used by farmers to produce a sus-
tainable crop.
Farmers in Iowa have been
Soybeans and their hulls are added to animal feeds for their nutritional value. Here the chicks that are
fed the soybeans are literally eating it up. Photo by Jon Holden

experimenting with earlier plant-
ing times. There has been no con-
sistent yield with planting later.
Planting earlier may increase the
crop yield. Have you heard of
the expression that cleanliness is
next to godliness? Shaun Casteel
tweaks that by saying: “Timeli-
ness is next to godliness.” This
saying applies to soybean plant-
ing, says the Purdue University
Extension agronomist. Provided
a field is properly tiled, soybean
planting may occur even earlier
than you would think. In Indiana,
late April or early May is a good
time to plant soybeans. Properly
tiled fields help make this possi-
ble, he says. “If a producer’s been
able to plant corn for three to
four days (around this time pe-
riod), then beans should also be
going in,” he says.
That’s because soybeans re-
spond to photoperiods. The more
sunlight they can get, the more
photosynthesis they can churn,
which creates more yield poten-
tial, says Casteel. Early devel-
opment also sets the stage for
root development. “Last year,
corn was still maturing, so pro-
ducers could harvest soybeans
earlier than they normally do,”
says Casteel. This presented a
great opportunity to harvest at
the preferred 13% to 14% mois-
ture rather than 10%. Harvesting
soybeans at levels around 13%
to 14% moisture creates fewer
splits and other damage, he states.
That’s because early planting is a
key factor a soybean farmer can
use to boost soybean yields. “By
pushing planting dates earlier,
we can influence when the first
flowers appear, prior to the sum-
mer solstice (June 21),” says Josh
Miller, BASF technical marketing
manager for plant health. “That
enables soybeans to capture the
most sunlight possible during the
critical reproductive stages.”
Strong gains are in the out-
look. Global soybean yields are
projected trend higher with gains
between the extremes of the past
two decades to 3.0 metric tons
per hectare in 2028. Look for U.S.
farmers to plant a large soybean
Kris Holden is off loading his soybeans from the combine on to the grain buggy, and Hunter Holden (his
son) is driving the tractor, pulling the grain buggy during last year’s harvesting season.
Photo by Jon Holden

crop this year. In fact, USDA
pegs the 2020 crop at 84 mil-
lion acres, which would make it
the fourth-largest soybean crop
on record. Todd Hubbs says the
number of soybean acres planted
could total even more. His fore-
cast is based on current market
prices for soybeans, the outlook
for other crops, including corn,
cotton, wheat and small grains,
rotational practices and various
economic models. “Guys plant-
ed a lot of corn this year, so the
rotation itself is set up to come
back into soybeans,” says Hubbs,
University of Illinois agricultural
economist. “Looking at fall prices
here in central Illinois, I see no
incentive to plant corn more than
beans other than the fact farmers
like to plant corn, and they might,
but the fall 2020 cash price struc-
ture doesn’t currently favor that.
There are some new planters
and advancements that have been
made in the soybean farming In-
dustry. When it comes to new
planters, bigger isn’t always bet-
ter or required. For today’s corn
and soybean customers who re-
quire planter-applied fertilizer, a
split-row configuration and nar-
row transport, John Deere intro-
duces the new 1745 MaxEmerge™
5 Planter. The planter is compati-
ble with older tractors (95 draw-
bar horsepower) and up. The new
planter was successfully tested
this past year with cooperators
using a John Deere 4440 Tractor.
The planter can be quickly fold-
ed for transport, right from the
cab. Once folded, it’s compact
size tracks within the duals of the
tractor for stable, narrow trans-
port under 13-foot (3.9 m) high.
Depending on the options cho-
sen, customers can add as much
or as little technology as they
want to best fit their operation.
This year farmers, like the ones at Holden farms have had to plant when the weather will let them, which
causes planting into the night on most days. Photo by Jon Holden

The 1745 is an economical
planter in a split-row configu-
ration that’s capable of plant-
ing soybeans on 15-inch (38
cm) rows and corn on 30-inch
(76.2 cm) rows. Customers can
choose from an
8-row, 30-inch;
or a 15-row, 15-
inch configura-
tion for the 1745
Planter. Three
commodity stor-
age options are
available and
include 1.6- and
3-bushel row
hoppers, or mini
hoppers with the
50-bushel John
Deere CCS cen-
tral fill seed de-
livery system.
With CCS cus-
tomers can con-
veniently and ef-
ficiently fill the
planter from one
spot. The 1745
Planter can also be fitted with the
optional John Deere SeedStar™
XP monitoring system. This tech-
nology provides operators with
detailed planter performance in-
formation and lets them easily
make machine adjustments as
needed for optimal efficiency.
There are a couple of things
to keep in mind for 2020 and
beyond. Will there be a big de-
mand for soybeans, are we go-
ing to work out trade deals with
China, are people wanting the soy
made products over other addi-
tives, and will the prices hold so
you can make a profit? These are
all good questions to ask before
the planting season. Select variet-
ies wisely and plant early if you
can. Precision agriculture is a
must in these uncertain times to
minimize the cost and also max-
imize the crop yield. God bless
our farmers!!!!!
John Deere is making new planters with new technology. Here is the new John Deere 1745 MaxEmerge™
5 Planterplanter that is being used to plant soybeans this year. Photo by Jon Holden

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1295 HWY 51 S BYPASS - DYERSBURG, TN - 38024
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FARM WATCH!

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Here are two simple ways of telling us what you need and
we will take care of the rest.
1. Call us at 285-0844.
2. Come by and see us at our new location
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PHARMACIST/OWNER
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PHARMACIST/OWNER
“We don’t cut corners .... we clean them”

That is a good question, and
as of this writing the jury is still
out about the situation with the
Covid-19 Pandemic. Watching
the news gives one a feeling of
uneasiness to say the least but
here in the hills of Kentucky,
where I am tucked away, things
seem to be doing well.
Matter of fact, most of our
friends have not been in any type
of panic mode like has being por-
trayed in some locations around
the country. The one common de-
nominator that stands out about
many of our friends is that most
of them are outdoors oriented.
They hunt, fish, camp, hike and
generally spend a great deal of
time outdoors. Among this group
who hunt and fish, you will also
find avid gardeners, beekeepers
and even mushroom foragers.
After years in the outdoors, they
understand what it takes to put
food on the table or at least in
the freezer.
Covid-19 has shocked the
population as to the importance
of being prepared. I do not mean
digging a hole in the ground and
waiting for it to pass, but appre-
ciating the outdoors and more
importantly what it can provide
for you and your family.
The outdoors not only pro-
vides fresh fish and game for the
table, but relaxation for the soul.
If you have children, I hope this
experience has taught you one
thing; that nothing is guaran-
teed. My parents and grandpar-
ents lived through the Great De-
pression and although I did not
know it at the time, I learned a
Are Outdoors Oriented
People Better Prepared?
By Richard Hines
Range work-take time to teach your kids and yourself how to properly
and accurately use a firearm. Photo by author

great deal from them. My grand-
mother not only taught me how
to plant a garden, but how to
catch, clean, and cook fish and
she was good at the stove with
recipes. I remember to this day,
she also knew how to clean and
cook a squirrel. All this knowl-
edge was passed on to us.
Folks that live the outdoor
style have faired very well during
the past several weeks. I asked a
friend if they needed anything and
they replied, “Nope, still got plen-
ty of fish and deer in the freezer.”
Everyone has been inventorying
the freezer and making plans to
add more. One apparent bene-
fit of being an outdoors person
is maintaining a good supply of
meat, not to mention, you know
what to do in your spare time.
While you are getting old-
er, have you thought about tak-
ing this time to pass on some of
your knowledge and skills to your
children?
With spring squirrel season
just around the corner, you can
take them squirrel hunting. If you
are one of those people who say,
“I have not squirrel hunted since
I was a kid”. Did you ever think,
maybe that early experience is
why you are a good deer hunt-
er today? Squirrel hunting is one
of the best ways to teach top end
hunting skills. Take your kids,
because hunting squirrels will
help them learn how to stalk and
more importantly wait, watch,
and listen.
Walking around in the woods
is not walking on concrete side-
walks either. Up and down hills,
over logs and across creeks is
a great way to keep the kids in
shape. This is also the perfect
time to teach them about nature.
I would use this current situation
to teach them what you know
about the woods and for sure do
not be afraid to say you do not
know the name of a plant or bird!
You have an encyclopedia in
your pocket called a cell phone.
Keep it handy and let the kids
help look it up. You will find they
will remember it and you will
too! Knowing the correct name
of plants and animals will allow
you to research them. Many of
our native plants have both food
value and medicinal value, but
you must identify them correctly!
My grandmother had a large
book on wildflowers and one on
birds. If I saw a bird, she would
have me describe it. Many peo-
ple would just say, “Oh, that is
a redbird or a bluebird,” but my
grandmother had me look up and
identify both birds and plants I
observed. It stuck with me and
there is little doubt that is why
two of her grandsons became
You don’t have to go camping to learn how to cook on a camp fire. You
can try it in your own backyard. Photo by author

A first fish is the most memorable one. Teach kids how to enjoy fishing, as well as how to clean and cook fish.
Photo by author

wildlife biologists.
If you are primarily a deer
hunter, take time to walk though
the woods with the kids, showing
them where deer live in the sum-
mer, maybe you will see a doe
and fawn, but walking and learn-
ing will help hone their wood
skills. Locate a turkey nest, keep
your distance and observe her.
No matter what you hunt, take
some time to walk in the woods
and see how these species spend
their time during the summer
months.
Another idea is teaching them
not only how to build a campfire,
but how to cook on one. If you
have never used a Dutch Oven,
it’s a good time for you to prac-
tice in the back yard. If you have
kids that don’t like eating game,
make the cooking lesson on how
to make deer stew or chili. Let
them add the spices and give
them an active part in the pro-
cess. By the way, do not forget
to have a side of Peach cobbler
going in a second Dutch Oven
with those peaches you froze last
summer.
People who live and play out-
doors tend to be a little more in-
dependent and rightly so. They
know how to harvest meat and
catch fish, not to mention find-
ing edible mushrooms and ber-
ries. The list is virtually endless.
If your kids have not fished
much take time to introduce them
to this lifelong activity. They do
not have to catch a 5-pound bass
and putting them in the seat of a
bass boat pounding the shoreline
all day with crankbaits may not
strike up a lot of interest.
Start them out on bluegill. I
started with bluegill on a cane
pole and enjoyed every minute
of it. After they get started, al-
low them to learn how to not
just catch the fish, but also how
to safely take fish off the hook. Sit
back and let them learn the pro-
cess. Although my grandparents
had only fished small ponds and
the local river their entire life, I
doubt they ever pictured me fish-
ing in places like the Gulf of Alas-
ka for salmon, or tarpon in Puer-
to Rico. The simple instructions
and skills you provide today will
last a lifetime.
Overall, the outdoor lifestyle
provides good health, fresh air,
exercise, and even education.
Right now, is the perfect time to
introduce your kids to hunting,
fishing and target shooting, not to
mention learning how to prepare
cook and eat wild game and fish.
Just getting the kids outdoors will give them a desire to keep going back. Photo by author

IF YOU LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS,
BUT SOMETIMES YOUR BACK JUST DOESN’T
WANT TO COOPERATE, DO WHAT I DID AND SEE
MY GOOD FRIEND DOC COLE.
HE WILL GET YOU STRAIGHTENED OUT!
- ROB SOMERVILLE
COLE CHIROPRACTIC
BARRY L. COLE D.C., FADP
731-285-2696 1-800-558-2696
417 TROY AVE. - DYERSBURG, TN - 38024
chirotn@colechiro.com
www.colechiro.com
COLE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC
Sportsman’s Resort North & South
Our two Campgrounds have full hookup with water, electricity and
sewer. They are located at the lake’s edge. We offer yearly, nightly or
weekly campsites. The south campground has a boat ramp. Our yearly
rates start January 1 and run through December 31st. We also offer 3
day camping packages that include the R.V. spot, boat, motor, gas and
bait. Please check out our web site for more information.
North Campground has in-ground pool for guests of either location!
SOUTH CAMPGROUND
NORTH CAMPGROUND
Sportsman’s Resort
100 Sportsman’s Resort Lane
Tiptonville, Tn. 38079
731-253-6581 or 731-334-2309
www.reelfootlake.com

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ADDRESS: 56 PIERCE ST. - TRIMBLE, TN - 38259
OPEN THURS, FRI, SAT: 9AM TO 5PM - SUN: 1PM TO 5PM
OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE HURT FAMILY!
CALL OR TEXT ROB HURT AT 731-445-8516
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QUARANTINED
OUTDOORS
Quarantine 2020, a time like
no one has ever seen before. Was
it time to panic, time to worry,
time to just social distance or a
time to stay away from every-
one. That’s a question I can’t
answer for you, but for me and
my family it was a time to be in
the great outdoors. My family’s
quarantine was filled with crap-
pie, bow fishing, yardwork and
lots of hand sanitizer and Ly-
sol spray! This article is going
to give the great readers of STO
magazine a quick look into the
Rodriquez quarantine.
Our quarantine was prob-
ably different than most oth-
er families. We crappie fished
every time the chance arose.
My kids are turning into some
real crappie anglers. It must
have something to do with them
having a really good teacher!
Luke and LynnLee don’t care if
we are single pole jigging with
Garmin LiveScope, spider rig-
ging or longlining; just as long
as they are on the water. We
spent several days on our home
lake of Reelfoot Lake and then
we went to our home away from
home for a few trips on Ken-
tucky Lake. While on Reelfoot,
we mostly single pole fished
with LiveScope and would spi-
der rig if the wind picked up.
LiveScope is Luke’s favorite way
to fish. He gets rather excited
when he gets to watch the crap-
pie come off the stump and hit
his bait. During our few outings
on Reelfoot, the kids managed
to catch nine crappie over two
pounds in two trips. They ham-
By Cody Rodriquez
Austin and Allison Hopper with a massive grass carp, taken by
bow and arrow, on Reelfoot Lake. Photo by Author

Luke Smith and the author are all smiles while showing off some nice Reelfoot crappie while caught single
pole fishing, with LiveScope. Photo by Author

mered some huge white crappie
and put a pretty good whooping
on me too. It is amazing how
when they go with me I just get
to run the trolling motor and
they catch all the crappie! While
in the meantime, my wife Jen-
ny soaks up some sun rays and
reads a book.
When we moved to Ken-
tucky Lake, we changed tactics
to LynnLee’s favorite method of
catching crappie, longlining. We
pulled eight B’n’M - Pro Staff
Trolling rods out the back of
the boat with 1/8th ounce Road
Runner heads with an assort-
ment of different color plastic
jigs. Once again I got to run the
trolling motor while Jenny read
her book and the kids caught
all the slabs! It was a beautiful
day on the water and the tem-
perature was around 75 degrees.
It was an unusual day, because
the water temperature was 68
degrees and we caught crappie
everywhere we fished from four
feet of water all the way out to
sixteen feet of water. We ended
the day with fifty three keep-
ers. They landed five over two
pounds, with one of them be-
ing over two and a half pounds.
While quarantined we also
managed to work in a few nights
Coach Puckett holding a nice gar he
shot with bow and arrow on Reel-
foot Lake. Photo by Author
LynnLee smith proudly displays a Reelfoot slab she caught on a small
hair jig. Photo by Author

of bow fishing on Reelfoot Lake
with Austin and Allison Hopper
of Hopper Outfitting and 2019
Tennessee High School Class 1A
State Champion head coach of
the Lake County Falcons, Josh
Puckett. We had a few very cool,
but beautiful nights. We had the
opportunity to take gar, drum,
grass carp, and catfish. Most of
our fish were found in three feet
of water or less. If you have nev-
er been bow fishing I encour-
age you to give it a try. It tru-
ly is a very unique experience,
especially on beautiful Reelfoot
Lake. It will test your hand and
eye coordination to the max.
You would never believe the
things you see in the water at
night. Everything from fish, tur-
tles, nutria rats, and we even had
a cormorant swim under our
boat! There is something about
being on Reelfoot Lake at night
that seems to take you back in
time. It sometimes almost feels
like you have taken a step back
in history.
With the Covid-19 pandem-
ic closing down schools, our
children still had school, ho-
meschooling 101! Our learn-
ing curriculum covered every-
thing from backhoe driving
lessons {spreading sand with
a little John Deere tractor and
box blade} to running the gar-
den tiller. Luke and LynnLee are
pretty adamant about planting
a garden and learning to grow
their own food. They are already
self-sufficient when it comes
to eggs. They have a fenced in
area with a chicken coop and
four laying hens. The kids take
care of everything to do with the
chickens from collecting eggs to
feeding and watering them, and
keeping the coop clean. We have
started a small garden with to-
matoes, cucumbers, squash, po-
tatoes, watermelons and canta-
loupes. They enjoy taking care
of their chickens and garden.
Maybe that’s an idea for a fu-
ture article!
Even though we have had
to change the way we do things
during the quarantine, I feel
like we have made it through it
successfully. This truly is some-
thing like we have never seen be-
fore. Lots of hand washing and
prayers have helped us through
the situation. I hope everyone
continues to remain diligent in
the fight against the Corona vi-
rus but also takes some time and
spend it with your families in
the great outdoors!
Jerry Rodriquez, the author’s father, giving Luke some backhoe driving
lessons. Photo by Author

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On a cold dark morning, late
in the duck season, a camo clad
crew boarded a huge jon boat
and blasted away from Reelfoot
Lake’s eastern shore at Sam-
burg. A long and winding ride
must have had the wind chill
dipping down into the teens as
the 20-minute or so journey at
high speed began to penetrate
even our heavy clothing.
A thin skim of ice dotted
grasslines and pockets around
endless, bald cypress groves. Lil-
ly pad stems emerged from shal-
low areas, a far cry from what it
would look like on a mid-sum-
mer day when acres would later
infest this earthquake spawned
wildlife Mecca.
Darkness robbed what I
knew was a spectacular view of
this wildlife wonderland. My
thoughts fell back to summer
days of yesteryear when turtles
lined logs, white herons bal-
anced on giant lily pads and the
unmistakable sight and sounds
of Reelfoot Lake boats chugging
slowly over stumps pushed by
a little Briggs and Stratton air
cooled engine was all part of
the venture.
Cane poles and feisty blue-
gill, darting figure 8’s around
bonnets once a porcupine quill
disappeared, was nothing short
of heaven when summer trips
were taken here.
Visions of days gone by was
quickly interrupted when our
big jon boat full of waterfowl-
ers reached a small opening and
idled down a path full of decoys,
where a hotel doubling as a duck
blind awaited our arrival.
For me it was a rare busman’s
holiday. I was visiting my friend
and fellow guide - Jackie Van
Cleave. His “Hilton Hotel” look-
ing blind was camouflaged with
a mixture of cane and cypress
limbs, blending in nicely to the
Everglades looking background.
Out front was a huge decoy
spread, where some 400-plus
plastic Judas ducks waited on
daylight, so they could lure sky
high mallards, teal, gadwall or
rambling ringnecks toward our
backwater locale.
Mixed in the spread were
flapping MoJo ducks on poles,
surrounded by an occasional
feeder butt that vibrated rip-
ples in the placid waters, giving
off the appearance of a feeding
duck. On the end of the spread a
Vortex pair of winging mallards
dipped and swirled, pushed in
a rapid flying motion by a sub-
merged battery.
By Steve McCadams
RETURN TO REELFOOT…
IT NEVER GROWS OLD!

Reelfoot Lake guide - Jackie Vancleave calls to some wary mallards from his Reelfoot Lake blind, which
is complete with a full kitchen, heated area and satellite television. Photo by Steve McCadams

What was a stagnant de-
coy spread on a calm morning
quickly came to life once Jackie
spent a few minutes out there
turning things on and getting
the show going. Duck hunt-
ers anywhere pray for wind but
there are all sorts of motion de-
coys on the market nowadays
that will add realistic motion,
even on stagnant days.
Sharing Jackie’s magnificent
blind, complete with a separate
kitchen area and boat shed ad-
jacent to the shooting area, was
my old friend Tommy Akin of
Greenfield, Tony Thompson of
Scott’s Hill and his son Drake,
John Maness, Jackie’s broth-
er Larry and David Ransom,
who doubled as our cook and
whipped up some mean bis-
cuits, eggs and country ham!
The days of packing sardines,
potted meat, Vienna sausages
and soda crackers are gone for
good!
Shooting time creeped in as
an eastern sky signaled a clear,
sunny day was about to wake
up the marsh. A hush fell over
the blind. Time to talk less and
listen more.
From nowhere descended a
hen mallard who succumbed to
shots from Larry’s end of the
blind. The appearance of the
refuge like setting of the decoy
spread fooled the mallard as she
hovered about 30 yards out.
It wasn’t long after the de-
gree of camaraderie increased
that three mallards from the
high heavens responded to Jack-
ie’s call, cupping and swinging
Adjusting his massive decoy spread, where several different motion decoys bring movement and life to
stagnant mornings, Vancleave said the overall season had been a tough one across the Reelfoot Lake region
last year. Photo by Steve McCadams

around the downwind side for a
rapid return. “Take ‘em” barked
Jackie as the ducks ventured out
over the back end of the hole
but close enough for clean shots.
Any duck hunter knows the
first few ducks to bag are the
hardest. It’s getting the skunk
off the blind that lowers the bar
for a successful day.
For me it was already a suc-
cess before a single shot was
fired. The chores of guiding
are quite demanding in more
ways than one. Today, my friend
Jackie was doing all the work. I
felt helpless to some degree as I
wasn’t accustomed to being on
the other end in this scenario
after 43 years!
Watching a sunrise over
Reelfoot Lake was worth the
price of admission. Making new
friends and scanning the skies
where large flocks of barking
snow geese passed overhead
was a pretty good way to start
the day.
Blinds in the distance were
shooting at times, indicating
Seeing old friends and shooting new ducks made for the perfect day at Reelfoot Lake.
Photo by Steve McCadams

some duck movement was tak-
ing place. “Not much moving
today,” said Jackie, as we all
stared a hole in the sky trying
to find weary ducks. “We need
some wind. Ain’t gonna get it
this morning.”
Leary gadwalls pitched and
sailed overhead at times, paus-
ing to cup their wings and tease
us into thinking they were head-
ed our way. Call shy and fin-
icky, they slide on by our blind
as they did several others.
In between stories of duck
hunts here and across the re-
gion, we managed to bag
some 13 ducks consisting of
both mallards and gadwalls by
mid-morning. Based on recent
activity we all agreed it wasn’t
bad. Ducks had not been kind
to hunters this past season here
at Reelfoot Lake, nor anywhere
Jackie holds up a pair of big, slab crappie from the Quake Lake.

else across the region.
Massive flooding along the
Mississippi River to our north
had really scattered ducks this
year. Added to that had been a
warm fall and winter, diminish-
ing the migration. Duck num-
bers down South this season
were below average, even for
popular locations like Reelfoot.
Despite not seeing a massive
movement of working ducks, we
managed to bag a nice number.
We got to see some ducks work
and respond well, which makes
time stand still as they unload
air and fall out of the sky like
meteors.
We traded stories of fellow
hunters and places, because one
thing waterfowlers have is a net-
work of communication once
the season starts and feathers
fall. From northeastern Arkan-
sas to the Bootheel of Missouri
and the upper marshes of Mis-
sissippi, hunters were struggling
this season at times with a few
success stories always rising
among the ranks.
After decades of guiding both
fishermen and hunters, Jackie
told me he was getting old too
and the years were taking a toll.
I could relate well to what he
was saying and feeling.
Soon duck season would
end and he would turn to crap-
pie fishing in the open waters
of Reelfoot Lake when the wind
allowed.
I was thankful for the day and
hoped to return again someday
before we both got too old to
fight it. With a laugh or two we
promised to rendezvous again
soon.
Days on Reelfoot Lake are
never wasted. Nature’s paint-
brush worked overtime at this
wonderful place where fish and
fowl lure sportsmen from all
over the world, just to partake of
the atmosphere that never goes
out of style.
Until my return, the memory
bank of fishing and fowling has
ample pictures and fond times
stored to carry me over. Return-
ing to Reelfoot always makes me
ask myself why I waited so long.
Editor’s Note: To reach pro-
fessional fishing and hunting
guide Jackie Van Cleave call
731-431-9700.
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HUNTING
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BIRDINGOUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

By Rob Somerville
The Southern Wildlife Watcher - Notes of a Naturalist
By Rob Simbeck
With foreword by Jim Casada
Rob Simbeck has been my mentor and friend for a couple
of decades now. He is one of the most accomplished photogra-
phers and journalists in the country and has a deep passion for
the study of all wildlife. His passion for viewing the creatures of
nature is contagious and has even encouraged this cantankerous
old curmudgeon to build birdhouses and put feeders out in my
yard. Because of this, I now cannot walk by a window in my
house without looking out to see what new species of colorful
bird I have attracted to my property.
The Southern Wildlife Watcher is a colorful look at thirty-
six common and not-so-common animals found in the southeast-
ern United States—from the hummingbird to the bald eagle, and
from the bullfrog to the bobcat. Rob Simbeck, one of the South-
east’s most widely read naturalists, combines a poet’s voice with
a journalist’s rigor in offering readers an intimate introduction to
the creatures around us.
Through delightful storytelling each vignette offers acces-
sible information supported by quotes from noted naturalists and
biologists. Simbeck covers habitat, diet, mating and reproduction,
environmental challenges, and even folklore in outlining the lives
of insects and other invertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles, am-
phibians, crustaceans, and fish. The Southern Wildlife Watcher
is a refresher course and handbook for veteran nature lovers, an
introduction for young readers, and fireplace or bedtime reading
for those wanting to reflect on nature’s bounty.
A foreword is provided by Jim Casada, the author or editor of
more than forty books and some five thousand magazine articles.
He serves as editor at large for Sporting Classics magazine.
Rob Simbeck has written for the Washington Post, Guideposts,
Field & Stream, Birder’s World, Wildbird, and wildlife/conserva-
tion magazines in twenty states. He is the author, ghostwriter, or
editor of more than twenty books and is former president and
chairman of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association.
You can order this wonderful book by going to the following link
- http://www.sc.edu/uscpress/books/2020/6092.html
I highly recommend The Southern Wildlife Watcher for the entire
family!
Rob Somerville – editor – STO Magazine

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Shown here is my good buddy – Randy Morris – owner
of Master Tire & Auto in Dyersburg, Tennessee, with
a huge Kentucky Lake largemouth bass.
Photo courtesy of Master Tire & Auto in Dyersburg,
Tennessee
Mark Sanford is shown here with a huge, blackcrappie that he caught on Reelfoot Lake inearly Spring.
Photo submitted by Danielle Osborne
Robert “DOC” Jackson, holding
up a huge smallmouth bass he
caught at Pickwick Lake.
Pictured here is one of my favorite ladies in the
world – Miss Judy Capps of Boyette’s Resort –
shown here with a huge crappie she caught on
Reelfoot Lake during a rare fishing trip with
her son – pro crappie angler, Ronnie Capps.
Photo courtesy of Boyette’s Resort
Mason Sanders of Huntingdon, Tennes-see is pictured here having a great timecatching big bluegill while fishing with hisdad, John Sanders.

Southern Traditions Outdoor - May/June 2020

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