The main event for hunters is coming soon

outdoors

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

I've never been a real big fan of boxing, but I do understand what the main event means.

Well, tens of thousands of Maryland hunters are currently looking forward to our own big day or main event on Nov. 28.

Just a short week from tomorrow, the two-week modern firearm season for deer finally opens statewide and you can be sure this is the most important happening of the entire year for so many Maryland hunters.

This is probably the best chance for many who head out before daybreak into our forests, marshes and fields to put some nutritious and delicious venison on our tables and a little more into the family freezers.

Hunting is also the very best tool we have to control Maryland's burgeoning deer herd.

In the last few years, we've actually had a fairly stable balance in our state's deer numbers and that's only because hunters are effectively controlling the herd.

Other than out in extreme western parts of our state, Maryland deer hunters may shoot up to a dozen deer during this modern firearms season, and this year, nearly 70,000 Marylanders are expected to take an active part trying for at least one.

So far this year, during muzzleloader and early bow seasons, 24,384 deer were killed during September and October according to preliminary reports from Maryland's Department of Natural Resources.

Bowhunters had a 2-percent increase over last season's numbers and crossbow hunters took 18-percent more deer than in the previous September/October.

The muzzleloaders didn't fare quite so well, for those numbers actually dropped a bit this fall from last year, but the struggle to succeed was mainly with poor weather conditions and not the overall deer population.

Our herd is healthy, indeed.

Maryland's Atlantic Population Canada goose season kicks off Nov. 21. This first split will run through Nov. 27 and then goose season opens again Dec. 17 to Jan. 30.

The daily limit is two Canadas per day.

On Nov. 29, deer hunting will be allowed throughout Southern Maryland, and some other areas of the state, but on private lands only.

If you do hunt on private land, please remember to show respect to the property and landowner.

Pack out what you bring in. Those careless slobs who leave soda cans, candy wrappers or spent brass behind them only give all hunters a bad reputation and you'll probably also be closing yet one more now open area to future hunting.

Any gate you open, make sure you close behind you, and don't ever drive across crop fields.

Also, when you're setting up your tree stand or planning for a ground hunt, don't be doing it right along the property line. If you have to retrieve a deer from neighboring property, you may find the experience unpleasant to say the least.

Lastly, be considerate when disposing of internal organs left over from field dressing. Be discreet and stay far away from any trails or roads.

All is well

A few weeks ago, I reported on a lawsuit brought by FLW tournament officials against Evinrude's parent company for not paying their main sponsor fees and certain other agreed upon expenses during several of this past season's bass tournaments.

Just a few days ago, FLW Outdoors announced they have signed a new multi-year agreement with Evinrude and the big motor company will remain an official FLW sponsor.

Both parties also announced they settled that lawsuit out of court but terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

FLW Outdoors is named for Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats.

License sales up

The American Sportfishing Association recently announced that fishing license sales were up 7.7 percent nationwide in 2009 for the period January to July compared to 2008 numbers.

Their press release cited national campaigns such as the "Take Me Fishing" drive as having positive effects and gaining increased popularity for the sport.

That very well may be true, but back in the 1970s, fishing license sales also saw a big increase and that's when our nation was fighting economic problems much like today.

I'm guessing the expanded license sale numbers again may also be tied a bit to our current lousy national finances for a fishing license is truly a wonderful value.

For a relatively meager investment, you can get such great recreational pleasure but the really big plus is that you can bring home food for your table.

Fishing update

High Point Marina at Lake Anna is reporting the lake back at full pool, although water temps have dropped and the water is generally stained.

The largemouth bass are cruising the shallows while the best striper fishing has been above Dillards and Holiday bridges. The crappie fishing is said to be decent, but not great.

Andy Andrzejewski of Reel Bass Adventures (301-932-1509) tells me the bass fishing in the tidal Potomac remains good.

These fish can be found around grass beds in creeks and main lake bays and are hitting spinnerbaits, chatter baits, chrome lipless crankbaits, plastic worms and a few even will attack a topwater. Creek ledges and main river ledges are also productive.

As for the Chesapeake Bay, Christy Henderson, of Buzz's Marina, is reporting some truly awesome action with some really big striped bass. Daisy chains and tandems were working well for the trollers on our side of the bay.

Henderson also said jiggers were getting in on some nice fish and one guy in a kayak last weekend, during that horrible blow, fished between the Point No Point Lighthouse and St. Jerome's Creek and did so well he posted a video about it on YouTube.

zbasser@aol.com