Ready for opening day

For those of you who follow my Delaware deer hunts on Facebook and/or Twitter, you didn’t miss much today.

I braved the 93-degree heat and headed to one of my suburban hunting spot after work today. Seriously, I have seen deer at this spot every time I went to check over the past month. Today, I saw nothing.

Because of the extreme heat, I honestly didn’t expect to see much. I am sure the deer were bedded down in the shade and were waiting for the sun to go down before they moved to feed. I will try again later this week.

On another note, I leave for a Maine black bear hunt this Sunday. I will try to post updates on this blog, as well as my Facebook and Twitter accounts.

There is no time like the present.

Now is the best time to buy your copy of Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting.

First, if you order Hunting The First State through my web site (www.huntingthefirststate.com) by August 23, 2010 you can save on shipping costs. Coupon FREESHIP will automatically appear in your cart if you qualify.

Second, time is running out to get a copy of the first edition of Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting. The second edition will be hitting the bookstores this fall, so be sure to get a first edition before it’s too late.

This offer is only good through www.huntingthefirststate.com and www.lulu.com, and the offer expires August 23, 2010.

Delaware Archery Deer Season Opens September 1

Here is my article that appeared in The News Journal on 8/5/2010.

When the Delaware deer hunting season ends each January, I try to keep my mind somewhat focused on hunting by creating a list of hunting-related chores that I promise to complete before the next season begins.

Somehow — year after year — many of those promises go unfulfilled.

This year is no different. Sept. 1 marks the opening of mourning dove, resident Canada geese and archery deer seasons. Rather than counting the days to opening day like a school kid counts down to summer vacation, I find myself trying to add days to the calendar.

I want to shoot my bow more, because after all, practice makes perfect. Sounds hokey, but it’s true. I put on an old pair of eyeglasses this week (since my everyday pair was lost when I was buying salt licks for my deer hunting spots) and began practicing with my bow. Something about the glasses was causing me to shoot high. To make sure my bow sights weren’t off, I switched to a newer pair of prescription sunglasses. I shot perfectly with them. I am now scrambling to get a new pair of glasses and practice with them before archery seasons opens.

There’s nothing like waiting ’til the last minute.

Likewise, I really need to scout some more deer hunting spots and hang some more tree stands. I joined a new hunting club in June. I am embarrassed to say, I have spent less than an hour familiarizing myself with the property, and I have placed a whopping total of zero deer stands. I really don’t want to get lost walking through unfamiliar woods at 5 a.m., and I would rather hunt from a tree somewhere above the early season vegetation and bugs. However, with only several weeks to go before opening day, I am asking myself where the summer went. As one who frequently discusses the benefits of scouting and choosing hunting locations wisely, I have been lax in my preparation.

It gets worse.

In my June column, I talked about the importance of realistic-looking decoys, and I went so far as to write, “Upgrading my decoy stock is now on my summer agenda.”

After my experience with the bald eagle attacking my turkey decoy, I vowed to get new goose decoys before Sept. 1, and I am considering purchasing new duck decoys and maybe even a deer decoy. Well, guess what? Not only have I not even purchased a single decoy, I haven’t even started researching decoys yet.

I really need to get on the ball.

While many of you are snickering and asking how I procrastinated on completing my list of offseason chores, I know some of you are thanking me for reminding you of the uncompleted items on your list. It’s OK. We still have nearly four weeks to get our acts together.

If there is no way to finish up before opening day, there is a fallback plan. We can complete our chores on Sundays during the hunting season (unless Delaware finally drops one of its last blue laws and joins the other 40-plus states that allow Sunday hunting).

What are your thoughts on allowing expanded use of crossbows for deer hunting in Delaware? Share your comments here.

Pasted below is my article that appeared in yesterday’s issue of The News Journal.

To some hunters, expanded crossbow use crosses the line

Delaware may soon have one of the longest crossbow hunting seasons in the nation and some believe that idea misses the mark.

According to the proposed regulatory changes listed in the “2010-11 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Seasons” document posted on the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife website, archery and crossbow deer-hunting seasons may be in effect concurrently from Sept. 1, 2010, through Jan. 31, 2011.

The proposed regulations stipulate that crossbows may be equipped with a scope and must be manufactured after 1980, have a minimum pull weight of 125 pounds, and have a mechanical safety.

Some hunters welcome expanded use of crossbows for hunting deer, but the proposed regulations are not without controversy.

Traditionally, Delaware allowed the use of crossbows only by special permits issued to individuals who met specific disability criteria. In recent years, Delaware allowed crossbows to be substituted for firearms during specified deer-hunting seasons or season segments.

The expanded use of crossbows to any interested hunter during the entire deer season strikes at the hearts of some vertical bowhunters (those who hunt with compound, recurve, or long bows).

Long-time bowhunter Curt Barkus of New Castle believes vertical bows and crossbows should not be treated as equal.

“Crossbows are similar to guns,” says Barkus. “It is almost as easy to shoot a crossbow as it is to shoot a shotgun. You have to put your time in to be a good archery hunter, plain and simple, but the same is just not true with a crossbow.”

Barkus said he is not against the use of crossbows.

“I am not one-hundred percent anti-crossbow,” says Barkus. “In fact, I think crossbow hunters should have their own hunting seasons, just as bow, shotgun, muzzleloader and pistol hunters do.”

Frank Gillen of Newark favors expanded crossbow use.

“I believe I should be allowed crossbow use during any and all seasons. Medical permits already are in place, but aging hunters with other physical limitations also need access,” says Gillen. “With burgeoning deer populations in built-up suburban areas, the crossbow should be viewed as an additional vital tool, along with the long bow, the recurve, and the compound for controlling the herds. Other states are already leading the way on this issue.”

Although many states allow crossbows to be used only by disabled hunters during archery only deer seasons, more states are allowing crossbow use by all hunters during gun seasons. Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia are among those that have adopted more liberal crossbow regulations.

As someone who chooses to hunt deer primarily with a vertical bow, I understand some of the arguments against expanded crossbow use.

I think bowhunters are somewhat angered because they are accustomed to having the woods to themselves for much of the deer-hunting season and soon may have some competition from crossbow hunters.

We bowhunters can accept the increase in the number of hunters in the woods, but I am not sure if all hunters will accept a decrease in the number of deer in the woods that could result from the expanded use of crossbows.

The Division of Fish & Wildlife has shown its dedication to properly managing the Delaware deer herd by issuing the Delaware Deer Management Plan. If the proposed crossbow hunting regulations are put into effect, Delaware hunters will be closely monitoring the Division’s response to any drastic declines in the deer population.

The proposed crossbow regulations will be published in the Delaware Register of Regulations on July 1 but would not become effective until July 11.

Steven Kendus’ Hunter’s Journal appears monthly in The News Journal. Kendus is the author of “Hunting The First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting.” Follow his blog and podcast at www.HuntingTheFirstState.com. Contact him at skendus@HuntingTheFirstState.com.

To celebrate National Fishing Week, June 5-13, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife is  holding free fishing, crabbing, and clamming days on Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13. On these two days, anyone may fish in Delaware waters without a fishing license.

National Fishing Week festivities will also include the Division’s 24^th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 12 at Ingrams Pond in Millsboro, Wyoming Pond in Wyoming’s Town Park and the dog training area at Lums Pond State Park in Bear.

Except for this free weekend, resident and non-resident anglers between the ages of 16 and 64 fishing in any Delaware waters – including ponds, impoundments, streams, rivers, bays and ocean – are required to purchase a fishing license and display it while fishing. Clammers and crabbers are also required to have fishing licenses. Delaware residents older than 65 and both residents and non-residents under age 16 do not have to purchase a license. Licenses are required for non-residents age 65 and older.

Fishing licenses for Delaware residents cost $8.50, while non-residents pay $20 a year or $12.50 for a seven-day license. Licenses may be purchased at DNREC’s Richardson and Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, or at any of more than 60 license agents located in sporting goods stores, hardware stores, bait and tackle shops and other businesses throughout the state.

You can also purchase a Delaware fishing license at www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/Pages/Fisheries.aspx.

Here is my column from yesterday’s issue of The News Journal.

Call me paranoid, but I truly think every tick in the woods is singling me out to infect me with Lyme disease or some other hideous illness like Rocky Mountain spotted fever or tularemia.

As if the ticks I encounter while hunting aren’t enough, the mosquitoes, horse flies and chiggers only add to my torment.

With West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and who knows what else potentially lurking in the grotesque mouth parts of some of these blood- and skin-eating bugs, proper bug bite prevention is a crucial component of both warm-weather and cold-weather hunting.

To protect myself from these vampires of the woods, fields, and swamps, I first coat my hunting clothing (pants, shirt, jacket, hat, and socks) with a powerful Permethrin-based bug repellent, like Duranon.

Permethrin is a synthetic chemical that is widely used as a long-lasting insecticide, acaricide (tick and mite killer), and insect repellent. Unlike common bug repellents that are meant to be applied directly to the skin, permethrin-based repellent does not stick to skin. It is instead applied to exterior clothing where it dries and bonds to the clothing fibers. I spray my clothes outdoors and let the clothes dry overnight.

I’ve found that permethrin-based repellent is the most effective bug safeguard available, and it actually remains effective on unwashed clothing for several weeks. In case my word is not convincing enough, consider that the Department of Defense uses permethrin-based bug repellents and that several companies offer bug-repellent clothing that is manufactured with permethrin-treated fabrics.

While the permethrin treatment is effective, I take further precautions against bugs. I usually wear tall rubber boots and tuck my pants legs into them. If I anticipate long walks that necessitate wearing shorter leather hunting boots, I will tuck my pants legs into my socks and “blouse” my pants over the boots to make it that much more difficult for ticks and chiggers to crawl up my legs.

It’s improbable that ticks will be able to traverse my permethrin-coated clothes, but it is only a matter of time before mosquitoes and biting flies find unprotected skin.

As an added means of protection, I apply a DEET-based bug repellent to any exposed areas, which are typically my hands, face, ears, and neck. Rather than applying the repellent directly to my face, I spray it on my hands and manually rub it in so that I avoid contact with my eyes.

I am also careful about allowing hunting gear to touch any bug repellent until it is dry. On more than one occasion, bug repellents have eaten away finishes from eyeglasses and from binoculars and range finders that I wore around my neck.

Although bugs are more prevalent in the late spring, summer and early fall, precautions must also be taken during the winter.

Some species of ticks, for example, can be active on mild winter days, especially when temperatures exceed 40 degrees.

As I was in my kitchen eating lunch, I saw my vizsla Gus acting strange in the woods in my backyard. I have seen him act that way before, but only while woodcock hunting when deer were around.

Wouldn’t you know it? As I watched him trailing the scent of something, up jumps a deer. Gus started barking, the deer bounded away about 10 feet and stopped. Seeing a potential photo opp, I gabbed my iPhone and headed outside. I sloshed across the yard (through mud with only my socks on) hoping to get a better angle to photo the deer.

As soon as I stepped into the woods, the deer took off. He went through my neighbor’s yard and kept going. Camera — gun — bow — what’s the difference? As has happened way too many times in my hunting career, I got no shot.

This may not sound like a big deal to many, but let me explain where I live. I am in the middle of suburbia, with only a little patch of woods behind my house. I have seen tracks through the yard before, but today was the first time I actually saw a deer.

Like the true hunter I am, I went back and checked the tracks. I only saw one set. It looks like the deer I saw was the only one.

I only caught a quick glimpse, but the deer didn’t look pregnant. It was not really small either, so my guess is that it was a yearling buck.

Maybe it’s time to put one of my trail cameras in the yard.

Here is my most recent article from The News Journal.

I am occasionally asked what I do with the deer I harvest during a hunting season. Assuming that I had a productive season and actually harvested game that produced venison for my freezer, it’s easy enough to just say, “I eat it.”

However, after fielding the question again this week, I realized that it demands a more detailed response. Many people truly don’t know what hunters do with the meat they harvest, so allow me to explain.

An adult Delaware deer typically weighs anywhere from 110 to 210 pounds, but most tend to fall somewhere in the middle. For a 160-pound deer, less than 40 percent of the animal’s weight is edible meat because much of the weight comes from organs, bones and hide. Using this example, a hunter would get about 60 pounds of venison for his or her freezer.

Just like beef, a butcher can cut venison into various steaks, chops, tenderloins and roasts, and can grind the meat like hamburger. Offering more variety and making the meat of a single deer last even longer, some deer processors and specialty butcher shops mix the venison with beef or pork and produce Italian sausage, kielbasa, Slim Jim-like deer sticks, bologna, jerky and other types of fresh and smoked items.

I make a concerted effort to ensure the game I harvest is eaten, but my family can eat only so much deer. Therefore, rather than letting any meat spoil, I readily give venison away to friends and neighbors. On more than one occasion, people have offered to pay me for the venison I give them, but I politely decline and inform that it is illegal to sell or buy any meat from a deer harvested in Delaware.

Another way of ensuring my deer harvest is eaten is by preparing various venison dishes and sharing them at the game dinners I attend each year. Many hunt clubs and other sporting organizations hold annual dinners where hunters celebrate the end of the hunting season by sharing their harvests, recipes and hunting tales.

The game dinners are frequently potluck events, where venison is represented on the menu in the form of traditional dishes — like grilled steaks, bacon-wrapped tenderloin and southwest chili — and in some non-traditional dishes — like orange-glazed venison medallions, venison fajitas and sesame-crusted venison skewers.

As an ethical hunter, I am aware of “all that meat” I have in my freezers. I take frequent inventories and adjust my hunting accordingly.

Most importantly, I follow a rule that one of my hunting mentors taught me: Limit your kill, don’t kill your limit. It just doesn’t make sense to harvest more deer than you can use.