Southern Traditions Outdoors - November 2016

1 SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS | NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
OPENING
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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 3

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DISCLAIMER - Neither the authors nor Southern Traditions Outdoors
Magazine LLC assume any responsibility or liability for any actions
by readers who utilize any information contained within. Readers
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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.
Garry Mason
Walter Wilkerson
Terry Wilkerson
Steve McCadams
Kelley Powers
Shawn Todd
Eddie Brunswick
Larry Self
John Sloan
Richard Simms
Dana Watford
Buck Gardner
Richard Hines
Ed Lankford
Drew Brooks
John Latham
John Roberts
Richard Hines
Rob Hurt
Mark Buehler
Richard Fagan
Neill McLaurin
Sam Bradshaw
Todd Cotten
Field Staff Editors
Owners - Eddie Anderson
Rob Somerville
Kevin Griffith
Stacey Lemons
Publisher - Eddie Anderson
Editor - Rob Somerville
Magazine Design -Donny Byrd
Advertising Sales
Rob Somerville - Managing
Partner
Distribution
Johnathan Anderson
Mike Robinson
Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PG................... ARTICLE........................................................... AUTHOR
7...........................Cloudy Day Ducks..............................................................Sam Bradshaw
11...........................Is Small Gam Hunting Becoming a Sport of the Past?.......Shawn Todd
16..........................Big Buck Strategy ..............................................................Richard A. Fagan
19..........................Restoring Quail in Tennessee.............................................Richard Hines
24..........................Ag News.............................................................................Hannah Patterson
30..........................TWRA News ......................................................................STO
38..........................Kids Hooked on Fishing ....................................................Kevin Griffith
48..........................Triditions Tips.....................................................................Richard A. Fagan
53..........................Trophy Room......................................................................STO
This majestic buck is on full alert, both for a doe willing to give in to his amorous attentions and for
hunters, looking to interrupt his courtship.
Photo by Rob Somerville

Letter from the Editor
From the Desk of Rob Somerville
By Rob Somerville
One of America’s most cherished holidays will soon be upon us ….. Thanksgiving. To some, this day
means a special dinner of turkey and dressing, with all varieties of special foods and desserts to compliment
it. To others, it means watching football games on TV. Many look forward to this holiday, to spend time with
friends and family, whose busy schedules have kept away for far too long. Many families gather in prayer to
offer thanks to God for all of the bountiful blessings in their lives.
Recently, I spent some time pondering this holiday, as I sat in a deer stand, watching the world of na-
ture evolve around me. I thought about how fortunate I was to live in a country that stood up for the op-
pressed, and that doesn’t tolerate terrorists “coming in to our backyard” and messing with our people. Fur-
ther thoughts brought to mind about how fortunate I was to live in a country that still gave me the right to
bear arms and enjoy the hunting heritage that has become an important symbol of America – the greatest
country in the world!
Those of you who love to hunt should just imagine for a minute, living in a country with no duck blinds or
deer stands, where you couldn’t hear the mystical music of your dog’s voices as they chase rabbits through
the fields, or coons through the swamps.
I decided then and there, as I sat in my deer stand watching a family of squirrels chasing each other up and
down trees, that this year would be different. I would honestly give thanks to the Lord for all that I enjoy in
the woods, for my family and friends, and for all that He has blessed me with. I vowed to quit complaining
Giving Thanks

about the minor problems I face day to day.
You know, we realize that these complaints are actually petty when something major comes about, such
as illness or death in our families. They are really trivial, and I find myself looking at the proverbial glass
as being “half empty” instead of “half full”. I promised, then and there, to be more thankful for what I
have instead of wishing for what I don’t have.
I wrote the following poem in hopes that the next time you are sitting in a deer stand, chasing a rabbit
through the fields, watching the tip of your crappie pole for that “tell-tale” twitch of a bite, or scanning
the sky for mallards, you too will feel the need to give thanks to the Master of all that is wild.
Last but certainly not least, I also wish to thank our entire team at STO Magazine, the readers of this
magazine, as well as our fine family of advertisers, for helping to make our publication a success.
Giving Thanks
By Rob Somerville
For the turkeys that gobble and for the bass which leap high,
for the hoot of an owl in the pre-dawn sky.
For the sight of an antlered, whitetail deer,
for the explosion of a quail covey as it bursts through the air.
For the coyote that howls on full those moon nights,
I thank you my Father, for these sounds and these sights.
For the barking of beagles, running hot rabbit trails,
for the red-tailed hawk, that so gracefully sails.
For the bobcat, so silently stalking its prey,
for the beautiful sunrise on a frost laden day.
For the Black and Tan hound, on a coon as he bays,
for all of this Lord, it is you who I praise.
For a child’s first fish, with their face all aglow,
for the sound of my arrow as it’s leaving my bow.
For the eyes of a Lab as it’s scanning the sky,
ready for mallards, never questioning why.
For the ancient white oak trees, two-hundred years old,
not factory-made Lord, only you have the mold.
I thank you dear God, for all of these things,
and the precious times of enjoyment that each of them brings.
Happy Thanksgiving and God bless you and yours.

Summertime foliage can create an illusion to the amount of brush you may
need. This blind is hidden well, but will need some touch up, after the
vegetation dies off for the winter months. Photo by author
Us or Them?
By Sam Bradshaw
t’s that time of year when ev-
eryone is starting to scratch their
duck hunting itch. Blinds are be-
ing brushed, decoys painted, calls
tuned, and anything else we deem
necessary is being done to prepare
for the upcoming season. This is
a great time of year and one that
I look forward to just as much as
opening day. I get to prepare and
think about the previous hunting
year’s success and failures, to cap-
italize on for this year’s success.
Adapting is a key to success. Just
as important is continuing the
successful actions of years past.
What I see important in a hunt are
the tiny aspects that make it suc-
cessful. Each hunt I go on, I try
to find what went right, and also
what went wrong. By doing so, I
tell myself the truth of my setup.
The only truth you can get from
anyone is from the ducks them-
selves. All your buddies can guess
and suggest all they want, but the
ducks tell the tale.
There is a never ending list of sit-
uations I could try and cover, but
I would like to explain my strategy
for cloudy day “stale” ducks. Have
you ever had a day that nothing
goes right? Every duck that flies
by just won’t work? Then BAM!
The very next day is the best shoot
of the season. There is a lot to be
said for the difference of days, and
primarily that weather is the key.
Sun vs. clouds, wind vs. no wind,
pie facing vs. no pie facing. The list
goes on and on. Year after year, the
windless and cloudy days are my
toughest days afield. Some people
blame it entirely on the ducks, but
I couldn’t disagree more. What I
I

Continued on page 10
see often times is that we as hunt-
ers blame the ducks more than we
blame ourselves.
Everyone knows how frustrat-
ing it can be when ducks are act-
ing skittish. I find those days to be
very productive, by stepping back
and determining why they are be-
ing skittish that day. With only a
60 day season, I want to make ev-
ery day have the greatest success
it can produce. Cloudy days are
tough, but there are a few things
we have done to make our cloudy
day hunts more successful.
Brushing your blind is the most
important pre-season activity you
can perform, in my opinion. With-
out your blind being well hidden,
you are 100% the reason that
ducks are wary of your spread. But
wait, on sunny and windy days,
they work within feet of the blind.
Hold on a minute though, what
about the cloudy, windless days
they stay wide? The problem is
likely to be the ducks, but I don’t
blame them for landing wide of a
square blind.
Aerial photography has been a
hobby of mine for several years,
even more so with today’s tech-
nology. It fascinates me to see
the exact view a duck has while
approaching a blind. I used to fly
in my grandfather’s Super-Cub
to take pictures from above, but
my drone has since replaced that
technique. You couldn’t get the
still shots or video in the plane
you can with a drone. What I have
found by viewing blinds from the
air is angles. From the ground lev-
el, blinds can appear to be brushed
to the max, when in a ducks eye
they stick out like a neon sign!
In the wild, there are absolutely
zero angles on any natural form
of vegetation, without sunlight.
Therefore, to me, removing these
angles {corners} is the most im-
portant part of brushing a duck
blind or any other setup for that
matter (pits, boats, layouts, etc.)
to prepare for the gloomy days.
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It’s perception at its finest, and
it can only be observed from the
air. Several times I have attached
large limbs to T post then set them
4-6 feet away from the corners to
form a tree to break up the out-
line. The shape of the blind then
dissolves and you create a pile of
brush that has a natural shape to
it with no corners. Cloudy days
are frustrating. They will always
be tough, but by eliminating all
the angles on a blind, I have seen
a dramatic increase in our kill ra-
tio on these days. Sunshine is the
saving grace for a duck hunter,
especially with some wind added.
Sunshine will create angles all over
the place in the form of shadows,
which in return hides the angles
the blind creates. Sunshine also
does something else for you, and
that is it makes your decoys visible
for miles.
Decoys have come a long way
over the years. The realism on
them now is almost that of a
sculpture, rather than something
to throw in the boat to use day
in and out. Seeing birds from
the air has also changed my view
on decoys. Mallard drakes shine
like new money, during sunny or
cloudy conditions, yet the hens do
what nature designed them to do
and that is to hide. Viewing ducks
from afar in the air, the only col-
ors to see are white and black. A
lot of companies have brown hens
and drakes with a lot more grey
to them, which do look real, but I
want them to be visible and an eye
catcher. After all, we have already
eliminated our blind from sight,
so now all that’s left is to get their
attention.
I can remember hunting Reelfoot
Lake a few times as a kid and see-
ing all the black jugs out in spreads
and thinking how dumb it looked.
They were geniuses, and still are,
for using them. Cloudy days pres-
ent a dull background, making
only two points on the color spec-
trum stand out - black and white.
Higdon outdoors is now my “go to”
decoy company when purchasing
decoys, due to their color schemes
available. I have zero ties to the
company on any account, other
than having a better success rate
by using them. The Higdon drake
color scheme is
spot on to show
the white visi-
bility, and when
you mix in black
mallard decoys,
the spread has
both ends of the
spectrum that
are visible in any
condition. Some
people will disagree with me on
this approach to the color scheme
of decoys, but the main thing to
remember is that what we see isn’t
always the view from above.
These are just a couple of things I
have discovered by learning from
others, as well as researching my
own days of failure in the field.
There will never be the perfect set-
up or foolproof plan. If there was,
it wouldn’t be much fun, if you ask
me. The main purpose I wanted to
bring light is how we as hunters
cannot blame the animals for the
days they don’t commit. We are a
predator, and by being a predator
in the wild we must outsmart our
prey, day in and out. So, in refer-
ence to the title of this article, “Is
it US or THEM?” I choose US. Re-
move yourself from the situation
by brushing in your blind to the
best of your ability and follow up
by choosing the right decoy that
will work in all conditions for the
upcoming and short 60 day sea-
son. These two changings alone
have increased our success afield.
If you will step back and apply
these concepts to your own setup,
I believe it will bring new light to
the way your go about setting up
your favorite spot.
You’re hiding below the ducks, so
always consider the angles they
approach from. This blind has few
angles and affords you the advan-
tage. Photo by author

ello to all you great readers
of STO magazine. I hope every-
thing in your world is going great.
The state of Tennessee changed
the hunting season for coon hunt-
ers earlier in the year. It took ef-
fect July 1st, of 2016. This change
in the hunting season for raccoon
is as follows: As of July 1st, 2016
a hunter can hunt on private land
and can bag one raccoon per
night. Regular raccoon season
opens Sept 16th here and hunters
can hunt on refuges and can take
two coons, per person, per party.
I wonder as I type this article, is
it a plan to get more people hunt-
ing or more of a way to protect the
wild turkey and duck eggs?
Small game hunters are becom-
ing as rare as an honest politician.
As a young man I knew several
families that had hounds for coon,
rabbit and squirrel. Now, they are
far and few between. Most hunters
I know now are either duck hunt-
ers or deer hunters. That is where
the prestige is now, with a big ten
pointer or a limit of green heads.
Now, I am not knocking the big
game hunter or the duck hunter, I
used to do it all, but time and age
have caught up with me and I can’t
do it all, like when I was a young
man. I still duck hunt from time
to time. Getting up at 4:30 in the
morning and sitting in a blind all
day is not my cup of tea anymore,
but to each his own.
I know duck hunters love the
swooshing sound of wings and the
call of “get em.” The deer hunter
livesfortherushofadrenalinewith
a Boone and Crocket trophy in his
cross hairs. I have been there, but
the sounds of the hounds draw me
Is Small Game Hunting
Becoming a Sport
of the Past?
By Shawn Todd
H

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now. Now, the baying of Corey
Jeffries pack of beagle hounds on
a rabbit track, turning the rabbit
and bringing it back to us is music
to my ears. The sounds of my new
hound {Voodoo} breaking the si-
lence of the night, running the
ring tail and giving up its location
with a chop for the tree, seeing the
coon and congratulating her all
make my heart swell. That is this
old hunters Utopia.
Now, I understand why the state
focuses on the big game hunter
and bird hunter… green back dol-
lars. I looked up how the economy
is effected by hunters and I found
some things from a study in 2011
(the only study I could find) and it
states as follows. Big game hunt-
ers spent an average of $19.00 per
day, bird hunters spent $35.00 per
day and small game hunters spent
$13.00 per day. (Stats can be found
on the web sight of U.S. Wildlife
Service Southeast Region). Now,
I am not a math genius, but this
adds up. The small game hunter
sees why they can’t hunt as many
areas as they used to due to the in-
crease of leases for deer and duck
hunting. Also, the refuges around
this area cater more to the hunters
of deer and duck. As a business
owner, I understand the reason
behind this, but as a small game
hunter I am lost. In my opinion,
and this only my opinion, this
may be making the small game
hunter think twice about having
hounds and hunting. I hope things
change, but if they don’t, the small
game hunter may become far and
few in between.
Until next time see you at the tree.

ou’ve worked all year to get
things ready for this day. You have
your gun sighted in, your equip-
ment is ready, and your stand is
in position and waiting on your
arrival. On your way to meet up
with your friends for breakfast,
you wonder if you missed any-
thing. What if something hap-
pens you haven’t planned on? Well
what have you planned on? What
is your plan? Do you even have a
strategy?
Developing a Strategy
There is a lot more to developing
a successful plan to hunt white-
tail deer than just going to a stand
you like to hunt. There are a num-
ber of variables involved that can
rain all over the best made plans.
Speaking of the weather, are you
prepared for a sudden change in
the temperature? An unforeseen
rain storm could hit and turn an
easy walk through the woods into
a soaking wet and muddy trudge.
Other factors may include other
hunters moving in, if you are hunt-
ing public land. If you are hunting
with a group, how is everyone go-
ing to get to their stands without
running the deer into the next
county? What if the wind shifts?
Do you have an option ready for
this? What if you oversleep, or for
some reason you arrive at your
hunting spot late and the sun is on
the rise?
Developing a strategy that will al-
low you to react when conditions
change or when they don’t is do-
able. Keep in mind that strategy
is an ongoing mindset and must
constantly be revised. To start
Big Buck
Strategy
By sticking to our plan we had a successful opening morning last year. I
received communication just minutes before my buck came into view.
Photo courtesy of author
By Richard A. Fagan
Y

with, I recommend you keep a
hunting journal. When things oc-
cur that call for a change in plans,
it’s good to be able to refer to past
experiences. I have a stack of maps
and notes that go back years, even
to some places I no longer hunt,
but I felt the information was
worth hanging on to for reference.
In a previous article about scout-
ing for bucks, I highlighted the
importance of extensive and ob-
servant scouting. This is where all
that hard work comes together.
The knowledge you have gained
can now be put to use in formulat-
ing a plan. Whether it is archery,
muzzle loading, or gun season
you’ll be putting that plan into ac-
tion.
A Group Effort
Be sure to include everyone
when discussing the plans for the
hunt. Even the smallest things
overlooked by one person may
be remedied by another. Several
years ago a friend of mine worked
hard cleaning and shining his new
rifle the night before season. The
next morning while sitting in his
stand, he realized he had left the
bolt to his gun at home on the
kitchen table. He went back to the
truck and took a nap. He didn’t
know his partner kept a backup
30-30 behind the seat. He had a
long ride home.
Making sure all members of your
hunting party are included in the
plan is important. Also ensure ev-
eryone is on the same page. Coor-
dinating movements is a key item
to be discussed together.
Communication is Key
Today’s wide variety of commu-
nication equipment has given us
the means to alter our plans quick-
ly. Most often we rely on our cell
phones and at other times we use
two-way communicators. They al-
low us to talk to each other with
the push of a button rather than
typing or fumbling around on a
touch screen. Still, cell phones are
a valuable means of communi-
cation when in the woods and a
crucial piece of equipment when
hunting alone.
I got a text message on open
morning last year that a nice
eight-point buck had just crossed
the field and was heading my way.
That forewarning allowed me to
get set and focus on that direction.
I was glad my partner was able to
send it.
A well made plan includes travel routes, to and from your stand.
Photo courtesy of author

There have been circumstances
where we co-ordinate how and
when we leave our stands in order
to maybe push a deer in the direc-
tion of someone waiting. This is
where the knowledge of the land
and a means of communication in
the field can work together to pro-
duce positive results.
A One Man Plan
If you hunt alone, having a plan
is easier in some ways and hard-
er in others. Of course you can
change your mind at any time to
adjust to any conditions. Where
things get more difficult is some-
times you end up second guess-
ing your moves. Often stories tell
of a hunter who decided to hunt
the opposite end of the field at the
last minute, only to see a monster
buck walk under the stand that
was his first choice. Of course, the
hunter changed locations and the
deer appeared under the stand he
had abandoned. Hunting alone
may require a less complicated
plan, but you should still have one.
Face the Facts
Sometimes things go wrong.
Even with the best plans, occur-
rences happen that cause us to
adjust without giving things full
considerations.
Some years back I was to meet
up with one of my hunting bud-
dies. Our plan was to cover both
ends of a large thicket that was
used as a bedding area. I waited at
my truck until I saw the rose color
of the morning peaking over the
treetops. My phone beeped and
my buddy then explained how he
forgot to set his clock. I had to ad-
just my plan and go to the closest
stand, which was his. It was 7:15
in the morning when my 270 took
down a wide racked, 12-point
buck. That adjustment turned out
pretty good for me.
One thing you’ll always har-
vest, when you have gone through
the phases of a well thought out
plan, is experience. As my story
above pointed out I have learned
that when I am hunting with my
friend I always remind him to set
his clock or I’ll have to hunt his
stand again.
Evaluate things both during and
after the hunt and consider what
changes, if any, need to be made.
Most of us have our sights set on
getting a big mature buck this sea-
son, but in order to accomplish
that we have to trust our instincts.
We need to include with our in-
stincts a well thought out plan.
Just give it some thought and have
a great hunting season.
Here is a map showing how wind travels through an area. This is useful
information when making a plan. Remember to always hunt with the wind
in your face. Photo courtesy of author

Restoring Quail
in
TennesseeBy Richard Hines
ot too long ago it wasn’t un-
usual to see an old brown canvas
hunting jacket hanging on a nail
or peg on someone’s back porch.
Those brown jackets seemed to
always absorb oil from shotguns
which left a dark patch on the pre-
ferred carrying shoulder of the
owner. The black spot, where the
barrel of a double barrel had been
carried year after year, was the
trademark of a quail hunter. To-
day, both the old canvas coat, the
double barrel bird gun and quail
hunters themselves seem to be in
short supply. That’s because quail
numbers began making pretty
dramatic declines. Unfortunately,
this is a decline that could contin-
ue. So, if you are a quail hunter,
where do you go?
Right now, the situation in Ten-
nessee is not great for hunting
quail. True, you still find a covey
or two tucked away on isolated
farms and these areas may actu-
ally provide huntable numbers on
a limited basis. However, provid-
ing sufficient numbers for public
land hunters is another matter. If
Tennessee has one place that can
provide good quail numbers, it is
Fort Campbell. With thousands of
acres open for hunting you should
stand a pretty good chance of
finding a bird. That’s the good
news, but the bad news is that it’s
not always available to hunt.
Because Fort Campbell is a U.S.
Army base, training takes prece-
dence over all other activities, so
you just can’t just walk in and go
hunting. With daily and ongoing
training there are protocols to
go through in order to hunt. Ac-
cording to Wildlife Biologist Brad
Wheat, hunters should check the
MWR website every Wednesday
after 4:00 PM to find out which
areas are scheduled to be open
the following Saturday through
Friday, which allows you to find
out what areas are available. Addi-
tionally, active duty personnel get
first choice; retired military have
second choice and finally, the gen-
eral public. A small game permit
is required, which costs $50.00/
year. As it turns out the best plac-
es to quail hunt are also preferred
training areas, which is why the
birds have prospered on these
sites. Hunting on the fort is not as
simple as one of the state WMAs,
but it can be done. Wheat suggest-
ed taking time to get online and
start learning about the process.
Tennessee was once covered with
thousands of acres of native grass,
such as little bluestem, and held a
healthy quail population.
Photo by Richard Hines
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With Volunteer State quail num-
bers declining, TWRA has com-
mitted personnel and resources to
improve the states quail numbers
by setting aside “Anchor Areas”
for quail. Mark Gudlin; Chief of
the TWRA Wildlife and Forestry
Division said, “The overall goal is
to maximize the habitat as much
as possible for bobwhites” Since
the WMA land belongs to TWRA,
biologists can control manage-
ment on the WMA, which in the
long run will improve surround-
ing private lands. The adjoining
private lands are being referred to
as “Quail Focus Areas” and efforts
are also underway to increase bob-
whites on these lands as well. To
concentrate these efforts TWRA
has developed four “quail anchor
areas” which range in size from
5,000 to 14,000 acres each. One of
these is Wolf River WMA.
Gudlin said, “It’s not just TWRA
biologists, but also the Natural
Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS) and Quail Forever who
will help drive interest among
landowners in these identified fo-
calareas.TWRAWildlifeBiologist
- Chad Harden added, “The focal
area concept is a national model
intended to impact an area much
greater than just WMAs”. Because
of this, NRCS biologists are focus-
ing bobwhite friendly cost shares
for private lands within these fo-
cal areas. Simply put, the WMA is
the Anchor that provides quality
habitat, allowing
bobwhite popu-
lations to grow
and expand onto
adjacent private
lands.
Harden told
me that TWRA
is making an ef-
fort to get birds
back by improv-
ing habitat that
has been lost. It
is a slow process,
because many
areas are wet,
which makes a
perfect place for
the invasion and
rapid growth of
sweet gum trees.
As the gum trees
cover a site, grass
and forbs are shaded out; totally
eliminating the preferred habitat
for quail. To improve the habitat
as rapidly as possible, numerous
habitat management techniques
are being employed on the An-
chor Areas. Unlike some game
species, quail have very narrow
requirements in that they use only
early successional habitat; grasses
and forbs. As an example, if you
disk a field, vegetation quickly
grows on the bare dirt. Within a
few years you begin seeing shrubs,
blackberry vines and within 10-15
years, trees and later the begin-
ning of a young forest. Succession
is predictable.
Quail require a majority of their
habitat in grasses and forbs for
nesting and brooding cover, while
briars and some shrubs are need-
ed for winter cover. Once the grass
As most of our quail hunters age, this Tennessee tradition is quickly being
lost. Photo by Richard Hines

component is gone it is no longer
usable for reproduction. Making
matters worse, most grasslands
across Tennessee are comprised of
exotic grasses, such as fescue. To
combat this situation, WMA staff
areusingprescribedfiretosetback
plant growth, sometimes with fol-
low-up applications of herbicide
to eliminate exotic grasses or in-
vading hardwood trees. Harden
said their staff was also knocking
back woody encroachment, using
mechanical manipulations such
as disking ground, bulldozers and
timber harvesting. All of these
techniques work in unison to re-
turn the site to early successional
habitat that includes native warm
season grasses or small clumps of
scattered shrubs. Over time this
work will begin connecting the
early succession patches together,
which will increase bird numbers.
Ask any bird hunter and you will
hear their solution, but in reality
it’s not just one thing. Throughout
nation, decline in quail numbers
actually started over 50 years ago.
Today the eastern U.S. only has 1%
of its native grassland remaining.
A majority of native grasses were
either converted to row crops or
non-native grass pastures. As a
result, numerous grassland birds
{including the northern bob-
white} have seen serious declines.
It has taken us 50 years to get to
this point and it will not be re-
solved overnight. Many quail ex-
perts agree that they may not see
bobwhite populations reach his-
toric levels, such as those we had
in the 1950’s, even within their ca-
reers. But, all do agree it is possible
with the cooperation of Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency, Natu-
ral Resources Conservation Ser-
vice, Quail Forever, hunters and
dedicated landowners. One thing
for sure is that we can’t give-up on
this great gamebird.
Quail or Northern Bobwhite?
What we call quail in Tennessee,
and for that matter throughout
the south, are technically called
Northern Bobwhite {Colinus vir-
ginianus}. The bobwhite’s original
range covered 25 states, with the
bird’s historical range extending
from Michigan and New Jersey,
to northern Mexico. A Quail or
Northern Bobwhite is one in the
same, with only minor variations
across the species range. So the
name bobwhite, northern bob-
white and quail are interchange-
able. In some locations, where a
high percentage of native vegeta-
tion remains, quail numbers re-
main stable, but as a whole num-
bers in the historical range of 25
states remain low.
Pictured here is a Northern Bob-
white hen, quickly searching for
cover. Photo by Richard Hines
A rather worn, but nice, over and under shotgun and two northern bob-
whites harvested on Fort Campbell. Photo by Richard Hines

AG NEWS
Top 10 Tennessee Agriculture Commodities
By Hannah Patterson – www.farmflavor.com
1. Oil crop – Oil crops, such as
cottonseed and especially soy-
beans are extremely valuable to
Tennessee’s economy. This com-
modity earned $815.82 million in
cash receipts in 2013.
2. Cattle and calves – Approxi-
mately 1.8 million head of cattle
and calves are raised on Tennessee
farms. Generating $690.78 million
in cash receipts in 2013, cattle and
calves are among the state’s most
lucrative livestock commodities.
3. Corn – Field corn raked in
$583.2 million in cash receipts in
2013. This vital crop is grown to
feed livestock throughout the state
and nation.
4. Broilers – An impressive 172.8
million broilers, or chickens
grown for meat, are raised annual-
ly in the state of Tennessee. Broil-
ers brought in $544.55 million in
cash receipts in 2013.
5. Cotton – Tennessee farmers
produced 430,000 bales of cotton,
or enough to make 50.52 million
pairs of jeans. This natural fiber
Pictured here is lifelong and 2nd generation Dyer County farmer, Eddie Anderson with his son and 3rd generation
farmer, Johnathan. Eddie, who learned farming from his father {J.W. Anderson} says that hard work, long hours and
willingness to adapt are all major keys to being a successful farmer. Photo by Rob Somerville

earned $301.8 million in 2013.
6. Wheat – Tennessee’s most im-
portant food grain generated
$259.5 million in cash receipts in
2013. Wheat is also the primary
food grain in the U.S., grown in 42
states.
7. Milk – Tennessee is home to
numerous dairies producing 15.98
pounds of milk daily per head,
for a total of 767 million pounds
of milk in 2013. Milk brought in
$163.83 million in cash receipts.
8. Tobacco – Tennessee tobac-
co farmers produced 44.57 mil-
lion pounds of tobacco in 2013.
The average price of $2.37 per
pound contributed a grand total
of $105.38 million to the state’s
economy.
9. Vegetables and melons – Grown
in greenhouses, gardens and
fields, Tennessee vegetables and
melons earned $90.98 million in
2013. This produce is sold at farm-
ers markets and retailers or sold
for processing.
10. Hogs – Hogs brought home
the bacon, $60.32 million in cash
receipts, to be precise. As of De-
cember 2013, the state of Tennes-
see was home to a total of 180,000
hogs.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --- The Ten-
nessee Fish and Wildlife Commis-
sion established the state’s 2017-18
sport fish regulations at its Octo-
ber meeting, which concluded
Friday (Oct. 28) at the Holiday
Inn Fair Park.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resourc-
es Agency Fisheries Division pre-
sented its original proposals for
2017-18 at its September meet-
ing. The TFWC had requested
the TWRA consider lowering the
creel limit for crappie from 30 to
20 fish per day on Kentucky Lake.
After the amendment to the proc-
lamation passed in the fisheries
committee on Thursday, the full
commission passed the regulation
Friday.
Among the other changes in-
clude harvest regulations to a 15-
fish creel limit, in combination,
for striped bass, hybrid striped
bass, and white bass on Douglas
Reservoir.
The boundary for wild trout on
Laurel Creek in Carter County has
been defined. The new boundary
willnowbefromthecablecrossing
located one-half mile upstream of
the USFS Dennis Cove Recreation
Area extending upstream to the
SPORT FISH REGULATIONS SET AT
OCTOBER TFWC MEETING
TWRA NEWS

USFS boundary.
A change in the reciprocal agree-
ment on Calderwood Reservoir
will allow North Carolina bank
anglers to have the same privileg-
es as boat anglers. Similar changes
are being considered by the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Com-
mission for Tennesseans.
Boat and bank anglers on Dale
Hollow Lake can use four fishing
rods at one time. This is a change
from the current regulation of
three fishing rods for boat anglers
and a change from six for bank
anglers. The 4-rod limit also ap-
plies to the seasonal walleye run
restrictions.
Changes to the live bait procla-
mation keeps existing creel limits
for Class A and Class B baitfish,
and established a possession lim-
it of twice the daily creel limit for
these classes. The change estab-
lished a 50 fish per day limit for
Class C bait fish, all species com-
bined, with a possession limit of
100 fish. The new proclamation
regulates possession of both live
and dead baitfish.
Gerry Dinkins, of the University
of Tennessee, made
a presentation
which focused on
Tennessee’s fresh-
water mussel fau-
na. There are 137
freshwater mussel
species in Tennes-
see, about half of
the continent’s ap-
proximately 300
species.
The commission
also heard a pre-
sentation from
Brandt Informa-
tion Services, on the TWRA’s new
licensing systems. The new license
system will begin next week, re-
placing the current system which
has been in place since 1999.
Other presentations included an
annual review of the Tennessee
Scholastic Clay
Target Program,
the “Recovering
America’s Wild-
life Act” resolu-
tion, an update
on Appalachian
Bear Rescue, and
an update on the
recently-com-
pleted elk hunt-
ing season, and
a computer aided
dispatch system
for TWRA wild-
life officers.
TWRA present-
ed three annual
statewide divi-
sional awards.
Perry Massengill
was named Fish-
eries Technician
of the Year and John Hammonds is
the Fisheries Biologist of the Year.
David Whitehead was named the
Wildlife Biologist of the Year while
Tony Duncan received the Wild-
life Technician of the Year award.
Melvin McLerran was named the
part-time Boating Officer of the
Year and Brad Bagwell was named
the Boating Officer of the Year.
In addition, the National Bob-
white Conservation Initiative
“Firebird” awards were presented
to Wes Winton, TWRA AEDC/
Bark Camp Barrens WMA Man-
ager, and Brittney Viers-Scott,
Quail Forever Farm Bill Biologist.
The TFWC has one more sched-
uled meeting this calendar year. It
will be held in Nashville on Friday,
Dec. 9 at the TWRA Region II Ray
Bell Building.

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KIDSBy Kevin Griffith
love fishing with kids, espe-
cially when I can give them a great
experience… like actually catch-
ing one! Nothing hooks a kid on
fishing more than having a fish
strike their bait, pull against their
line and then successfully land the
finned creature. The smile on the
child’s face tells the tale. They are
ready to come back for more! That
usually excites the adult fisher-
man involved as well. They’ve just
gained a new fishing buddy; most
likely for the rest of their lives!
Do you love fishing? Do you
want to share this love with your
child, grandchild or family mem-
ber? Do you want to create a new
fishing buddy? Maybe I can help.
I’ve had the privilege to host many
groups of kids at Fyrne Lake and
that has blessed me with years of
experience in getting children
hooked on fishing. Perhaps some
I
Boy Scouts are shown here beginning their day, fishing off the pavilion dock at Fyrne Lake. Photo by Kevin Griffith

of what I’ve learned along the way
will help with your fishing bud-
dies.
Even before you put a pole in
their hand it’s important to make
sure they are comfortably dressed
and you have sunscreen and bug
spray available if needed. It also
wouldn’t hurt to have a bag of
snacks and a cooler of drinks
nearby. There’s nothing that will
end a fishing trip with kids quick-
er than a swarm of mosquitos or
a growling stomach. Also, you’ve
got to go into this experience with
your long-term goal in mind… to
create a fishing buddy. That means
you’re their expert guide and fish-
ing tackle slave. Be ready to keep
their hook baited, line untangled,
snags unsnagged and catch un-
hooked. You may not even get
to wet your own line! You’ve got
to be OK with that or you’ll find
yourself getting frustrated and
distracted from your mission at
hand.
Even though I own Fyrne Lake,
I would still recommend taking
your child for their first experi-
ence to a small private pond where
the fish are fed or a pay catfish
pond. That will insure their suc-
cess. However, I know they’re not
always nearby or available. It’s still
very possible to have a good 1st
time fishing experience in larger,
natural lakes like Fyrne Lake. It
will just be more of a challenge for
you to guide the fish to their pole.
The fish in Fyrne Lake are to-
tally wild and prefer striking live
or naturally appearing and prop-
erly presented artificial bait. My
recommendation is to start out
At 7 years-old - Andrew, my youngest son, just caught this bass using a tad-
pole as bait. He did everything on his own, from baiting the pole to reeling it
in… except, I still ended up unhooking the fish. Photo by Kevin Griffith

with live bait. Making fishing lures
move naturally in the water takes
more finesse than most beginning
fisherman can master. Live bait
is also more interesting to kids.
Holding a squiggling worm, chas-
ing an escaped cricket or play-
ing with minnows in the bucket
can maintain the child’s interest
between fish bites. However, us-
ing live bait is not a guarantee of
success. Presenting live bait in a
productive way can be challeng-
ing. Luckily, my father {Kenneth
Griffith} taught me several basic
angling principles that still guide
my personal fishing today and my
efforts in helping visiting children
catch fish.
While I was growing up, my dad
drilled into me the need to min-
imize hardware, place the bait on
the hook with purpose and cast
the line in the water where there
are fish. Let’s start by discussing
fishing hardware and by that I
mean everything going into the
water that’s not living. When fish-
ing with live bait, the lighter the
line and the smaller the hook, the
more quickly a fish will bite. Ob-
viously, lighter lines require less
tension on your drag and the hook
used needs to be an appropriate
size for your bait. It’s also import-
ant to use just enough weight to
get your bait to where you want it
and just enough float to keep your
bait suspended from the surface.
Too much hardware discourages
bites and may cause a fish to let
go once they feel the resistance of
excessive weight or an oversized
float.
Properly placing your bait on theHere’s Andrew at 5 years-old, extremely excited about our joint catch off the
dock at Fyrne Lake. Photo by Kevin Griffith

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hook is just as important. This is
especially true when using min-
nows. Rigged properly, minnows
will do all the work for you as they
desperately swim against your
line, appearing to be in distress
and an easy meal to any nearby
game fish. There are many ways
to hook a minnow. For me, when
fishing from shore or an anchored
boat (not trolling), the best place
to hook the minnow is under the
dorsal fin, trying to just get under
(not through) the bone. It takes a
little experience with each type of
minnow to identify just how far
below the fin to go. Too far and you
weaken the fish, not far enough
Jeremy, my oldest son, is shown at the {age of 6} holding a nice bream he baited, hooked and landed on his own in
Florida’s Lake Tarpon. Photo by Kevin Griffith

and you’ll quickly lose your bait.
It’s also important to match the
hook to your fish. I choose a hook
{1-1/2 to 2 times as wide as the
back of the minnow is thick} and
enough loop to the hook to allow
the barb to be fully extend above
the bait’s back.
Crickets and worms are much
simpler to successfully hook and
present. Most any method will
pique the interest of a panfish. The
challenge here is to hook them be-
fore your bait disappears! I hook
crickets under their chin and out
through the belly. I prefer to use
a thin wire hook with a shank just
long enough to extend above their
head and barb loop wide enough
to slightly extend out of the in-
sect’s body. This method keeps the
This picture shows my father, Kenneth Griffith, who taught me everything I know about fishing, my son, Andrew {at
the age of 9} and my mom, Mildred, who is the best cook and mother in the world! Photo by Kevin Griffith

cricket active and on a hook that
will easily fit into the small mouth
of a bream. Worms are even eas-
ier to successfully hook. As long
as some of the worm is near the
hook’s barb, you’ll have a good
chance of hooking a fish. Howev-
er, bream are expert worm thieves!
They seem to know exactly where
your barb is and will yank it off
from the worms dangling end. If
this happens to you, use a small-
er hook and less worm! I hard-
ly ever use a whole worm when
fishing with kids. I’ll typically cut
off about one inch of worm and
thread it over the barb leaving
only a quarter to one half inch of
worm dangling. If the fish are still
winning the battle I’ll reduce the
size of the hook even further and
leave even less, or no worm dan-
gling at all. I’ve been known to go
all the way down to a size 12 hook
before landing my thief!
Having a perfectly baited hook
and a minuscule amount of hard-
ware alone will not guarantee suc-
cess. You have to fish where the
fish are! Casting your line out to-
ward the middle isn’t going to ac-
complish anything unless there is
structure present or obvious fish
action on the surface. The best
place to cast may only be 3 feet in
front of you! It all depends on the
location of the structure. Because,
where there’s structure, there are
usually fish! At Fyrne Lake we’ve
purposely placed structure around
our docks and shoreline fishing
spots to attract fish. There’s a com-
bination of natural tree branches,
porcupine fish attractors, pallet
stacks and Christmas trees. These
structures attract and hold bait-
fish, bream and larger gamefish.
That helps me insure there is fish
around when kids visit. Wherev-
er you fish, simply fish near any
structure you can identify; fall-
en trees, water plants, stumps,
docks… anything from vegetable
to mineral items in the water may
hold fish. If there’s nothing visible,
treat the bottom as your structure.
Fish will graze along the bottom
looking for anything that looks
alive and/or edible. The key here
is to suspend your bait just above
the bottom, not on it. Too high
and your bait will be missed, too
low and it will be lost in the muck
on the bottom. The depth you sus-
pend is also important if you see
obvious structure. The most pro-
ductive depth placement of your
bait is suspended just above, be-
side or slightly under structure.
Once you’ve set the depth of your
bait below the float you’ll need
to cast your line as close as you
can get to your targeted structure
without snagging. The reality is
you’ll snag it often. Not only be-
cause you or your young one is
working on casting accuracy, but
because you’re learning how deep
and how much of the structure ex-
tends beyond what’s visible. Don’t
fret about it, losing tackle is just
a part of the ad-
venture!
Now you know
all you need to
know to help
kids catch fish
except… how
to set the hook.
Kids get excited
when their floats
go under and
will frantically reel the line in of-
ten pulling the bait right out of the
fish’s mouth. The following sim-
ple instructions my father shared
with me 50 years ago have helped
countless young children success-
fully hook and land fish.
1) Point the tip of the pole toward
the float.
2) Wait until the float is fully sub-
merged.
3) Reel in until the slack in the line
is gone.
4) Without jerking, firmly raise
your pole tip up.
5) Without rushing, steadily reel
in keeping the line tight.
6) Get the fish securely on shore,
on the dock or in the boat as soon
as it reaches you!
My dad’s favorite pastime is
fishing and he passed it on to his
kids, including me. Thankful-
ly, he taught me what it takes to
teach children how to fish and in
the process creating future fishing
buddies. Now you can create your
own and pass on your love of this
awesome sport!

7

REELFOOT LAKE HOUSE
LAKEFRONT RENTALS
CALL: ALBERT NOE: 731-695-2524
HOUSES LOCATED AT:
1035 & 1041 LAKE DRIVE
HORNBEAK, TN - 38232
www.ReelfootLakeHouse.com
THE UPS STORE
Your one-stop office shop
710 HWY 51 BYPASS
DYERSBURG, TN 38024
GREEN VILLAGE SHOPPING
CENTER IN THE
FIRST CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK
Phone: (731)285-7474
Email: store5973@theupsstore.com
www.theupsstorelocal.com/5973
• SHIPPING SERVICES
• PACKAGING SERVICES
• MAILBOX SERVICES
• POSTAL SERVICES
• BLACK & WHITE COPIES
• COLOR COPIES
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If it can be shipped, mailed or copied ...
We can get the job dome!
If it can be shipped, mailed, or copied...
we can get the job done!
SEE US
FOR ALL YOUR
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SHIPPING
NEEDS!
We also offer Soil Sampling (Grid/Spot)
and of course ... all your seed, fertilizer and Ag chemicals needs!
CONSOLIDATED AGRI PRODUCTS
35 Harrington Rd - Ridgely, TN 38080
(731) 264-5440
RIO Shotgun Shells
Val6 Heaters
G&H Decoys
Dakota Decoys
Louisana Grills
YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THE FARM, HOME
& THE GREAT OUTDOORS!
WE HAVE A GOOD THING GROWING LIKE
THE DYER COUNTY FAIR!
RIO SHOTGUN SHELLS
VAL6 HEATERS
HIGDON DECOYS
ORCA COLLERS
LOUISIANA GRILLS

TRADITIONS TIPS - with Richard A. Fagan
1. Expand the length on your deer hauling cart to add leverage
and more capacity. Here I have used a piece of ladder and inserted a
handle through the steps.
This eases the strain on your lower back and legs.
2. To keep fixed-blade knives from causing unwanted damage,
make knife holders out of PVC pipe and label them with non-erase
marker. They will also float if dropped into a lake.
4. Store deer urine in the refrigerator. Keep it in a dark bottle or
in its original container. This slows the process of it breaking down
into ammonia, making it ineffective as a deer lure.
3. Homemade scent bombs, like this film canister filled with
cotton, work great to bring in big bucks. To make it more effective,
wrap a hand warmer around it and secure it with a zip-tie.
5. Most often, when you find a large antler rub like the one
pictured, it was made by a large buck. There is an exception to the
rule. A broke horn buck will often rub a larger tree. ld still
recommend hunting that area
Editor’s note: all photos and graphics are provided by the author.
If you wish to submit a “TIP” send emails to rafagan59@hotmail.com.

SERVICES TO LOOK FORWARD TO!!
Have you been wondering how to join the C&C family?
Ginger
CPhT
Chasity
CPhT
Katie
Sales Associate
Crystal - Pharmacy
Tech / DME
LISA
CPhT
RaiAnn
Pharm Tech/
Sales Assoc
Kalli-Rae
Sales Associate
Brandy
Pharmacy Tech
Tyrenia
CPhT
Dana - Pharm Tech/
Sales Assoc
Carolyn
Sales Associate
Hillary
CPhT
Krissie
CPhT
• FAST FRIENDLY ONE-ON-ONE SERVICE
FROM LOCAL PHARMACISTS
(being locally owned means we support Dyer County not a BIG pharmacy chain)
• ACCEPTANCE OF OVER 3,000 PRESCRIPTION
PLANS
(including the new State Employee Prescription Plan-Caremark)
(your co-payment will stay the same)
• LOW PRICES ON ALL PHARMACY NEEDS
(we will match all competitors generic plans or programs)
• MOST CONVENIENT LOCATION IN TOWN
(with drive-thru and handicap accessibility)
• FREE DELIVERY ANYWHERE IN
CITY LIMITS
(delivery also available countywide for small fee)
• MEDICARE BILLING
(for all your diabetic & durable medical equipment needs)
• IMMUNIZATIONS
(flu, shingles, school, job & travel vaccinations)
• PROFESSIONAL COMPOUNDING
PRESCRIPTION SERVICES
(for more information, visit dyersburgfyi.com/candc)
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
at 2490 Parr Ave., Lewis Creek Place.
2490 Parr Ave.
LEWIS CREEK PLACE
Curtis Colbert
PHARMACIST/OWNER
Kevin Cook
PHARMACIST/OWNER
Mark Davis
Pharmacist
ALL MAJOR TIRE BRANDS
ALIGNMENT - EXHAUST - BRAKES - SUSPENSION
OIL CHANGE - MUFFLERS - CUSTOM EXHAUSTS
AIR CONDITIONING ... AND MUCH MORE!
OWNERS - RANDY MORRIS & FAMILY
FAMILY OWNED
&
OPERATED SINCE
1986!
THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS!
DYERSBURG, TN: 1960 ST. JOHN AVE. 731-285-9010
GLEASON, TN: 3747 HIGHWAY 22 731-352-2255
PARIS, TN: 210 MEMORIAL DR. 731-642-8745

ACRED’S SHOES
“In Business Since 1955”
OWNER: BILL ACRED
OPEN TUES - SAT: 9AM TO 5PM
100 COMMUNITY PARK RD - DYERSBURG, TN
731-285-3624
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Reach over 45,000 middle to
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Contact Rob Somerville for more information.
731-446-8052
stomag1@gmail.com

Kylian Connell is pretty proud of his first redear
sunfish ever, and he should be, because it’s a nice one!
Kylian’s with Boy Scout Troop 380 of Ross United
Methodist Church in Dyersburg, Tennessee.
Photo by Kevin Griffith
Mason Mullens is holding his prize crappie,
landed during a father and son fishing trip with
his dad - Gene Mullens, on Fyrne Lake in 2014.
Allie, Alex and Briley had a fun fishing weekend at Gam And Papaw Wilkerson’s this summer.
Photo courtesy of Wilkerson’s Taxidermy

Mr. Smallmouth {Robert “Doc” Jackson} is at it again
with another cool weather smallie.
Hunter Burge (age 7) killed his first deer, a but-
ton, buck during Missouri's early youth season!
Hunter and his dad have a memory that will last
a life time! We'd like to give a big thanks to Wilk-
erson's Taxidermy in Dyersburg, we will have a
perfect trophy to go along with those memories!
Brandon Scheland just caught his first fish of the
day. He’s with Boy Scout Troop 380 of Ross United
Methodist Church in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 55NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 | SOUTHERN TRADITIONS OUTDOORS 55
STO Magazine field staff editor - Todd Cotton, is
pictured with one of a couple of dozen “eating size”
bass, which he caught at one of his honey-holes.
Jonathan Thomas bagged this nice gobbler in
Huntingdon, Tennessee on April 9th of this year.
It weighed 23 lbs., had 1 ¾” spurs and a 12 ½” in
beard.

UNBELIEVABLY
GOOD
Good advice. Good service. Good people.
At FIRST CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK,
we mirror the good things that make up this community. We are
passionate about providing you with a unique and fantastic
experience. We’re consistently ranked among the top community
banks in the country. And you’re the reason why. Come see for
yourself, in person or online.
www.FirstCNB.comMember FDIC

Southern Traditions Outdoors - November 2016

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