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).

First State Hunters and Shooters – I received this notification in my inbox today. This sounds pretty cool! We need some Delaware representation! Good luck! — SMK

History Channel is now casting for season 2 of its hit new show “Top Shot”!  We are looking for excellent marksmen of any skill level ready to take on the best in a multitude of historical, physical, and unusual challenges.  Contestants have the chance to win $100,000 in prizes as well as test their skills agains the best marksmen in world.

If you are skilled with a pistol, rifle or any other firearm, you could win $100,000 in prizes on season 2 of History Channel’s hit competition show TOP SHOT. Producers are looking for anyone with mind-blowing shooting skills and a big personality to take on exciting physical challenges with multiple guns and mystery projectile weapons.

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.

New Jersey’s wild turkey hunting season just wrapped up May 28. I achieved moderate success, harvesting a 21-lb gobbler on the second day of the season back in April. After that, things went downhill – literally.

Turkey hunting success on the second day of the season

During the second (or third?) week of the New Jersey turkey hunting season, I saw some great turkey sign, and I set up in a good spot. Right after first light, a bald eagle attacked my turkey decoy, thinking it was a live bird!

New Jersey bald eagle attacked my turkey decoy

As I continued hunting during the third week of the New Jersey turkey season, I hunted the morning after strong thunderstorms. I tried to drive over a land bridge, but the storms weakened the bridge! I almost slid into the creek! I backed out just in time!

This is when my turkey hunting season started going downhill!

Turkey hunting close call

During the fourth week of the New Jersey wild turkey season, turkeys were pretty hard to come by. When you can’t shoot things with your gun, use your camera. Here’s what I encountered while traversing the countryside one Saturday.

Snapper Turtle walking across a field

Box turtle walking across a field

Turkey egg, probably raided by crows

Nice scenic shot of old farm equipment

Toad at my feet

Wild Turkey Hen decoy "killed" by a Bald Eagle in New Jersey

I was turkey hunting New Jersey Friday morning and used a photo-imprinted hen decoy. I set the lone decoy about 15 yards into a plowed field, and I set up on the tree line of the field’s edge. Around 5:45 AM, I saw a bald eagle flying toward me. The eagle passed over me, and I lost site of it. About 30 seconds later, the eagle swooped down and blasted my hen decoy!

I heard the sound of wings, the sound of the bird crashing into the decoy, and the sound of the inflatable decoy popping! I at first thought someone shot the decoy, until I saw the bird standing next to the deflated decoy dumbfounded. After collecting my wits, I tried to photograph the eagle with my iPhone, but all the only photo I managed to get was one of the eagle flying away.

The eagle stood next to the decoy for about 30 seconds, then flew to a nearby tree and screeched for 30 minutes.

I attached some images that show the talon marks (holes) in the decoy.

I am truly impressed with new technology used in decoy manufacturing. If that decoy fooled an eagle’s eyes, it should work very well on wild turkeys!

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.

20-lb 14-oz New Jersey Gobbler taken by Steven M. Kendus.

Thanks to my friend Rob who invited me on a New Jersey turkey hunt, I harvested this nice gobbler at 6:50 AM on Tuesday, April 27 (week A of New Jersey’s wild turkey season). The tom weighed nearly 21 pounds (20 pounds, 14 ounces) and had a 10-inch beard. One spur was an 1 1/4 inch; the other was 7/8-inch.

Rob and I actually saw this same longbeard strutting in a pasture field at the edge of a woods on Monday morning. We tried to call him in Monday, but he was already with two hens. He had no interest in our calls.

On Tuesday, we set up in the corner of the same pasture before dawn. Just before 6:00 AM, we heard some tree yelps close and some gobbles farther back in the woods. Within a few minutes, we heard some birds fly down, and we had a hen walk in front of us into the field. She pecked around for about 20 minutes, and walked away.

While Rob and I fought the urge to fall asleep, the first hen came back in front of us. We heard some other hens in the woods, and we heard a couple gobbles coming closer. Around 6:45, one hen came out of the woods to the field. Rob said that it should be only a matter of minutes before the big boy shows up. The hen was followed by another, and then a jake or bearded hen stepped out. With my attention focused on the woods in anticipation of the gobbler walking out, I didn’t have time to really focus on that third bird. It’s a good thing. Within about 30 seconds, I saw a red and blue head pop over the hill in the woods that led to the field.

I was thinking the gobbler would follow the same path as the hens and step right into the field, but he hesitated for a few seconds. I had the sites of my Remington 1187 on him, and I heard Rob say, “Shoot!” Not waiting for him to step into the field, I hammered him at about 30-35 yards at 6:50 AM. Only his head was visible over the hill and through the trees, but I knew he dropped instantly.

Rob and I sprinted from the blind, and Rob snatched the big fella up. The Remington 3-inch magnum turkey load hit true, placing a good concentration of pellets in his head and neck. He was done.

After taking some photos, I thanked Rob for the opportunity to hunt with him. He knowledge of the New Jersey eastern wild turkeys and the hunting areas was phenomenal.

Thinking I may get a full mount of this bird, a taxidermist friend helped me skin the gobbler out last night. The full skin is in my freezer, while I plan my next hunts.

I plan to hunt each week of the New Jersey season, so I will post updates.

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 11:59 PM on May 1, 2010 you can save on shipping costs. That’s right. Enter code FREEMAIL305 at checkout and receive $3.99 (the cost of shipping a single book) towards your final shipping cost.

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.

Remember, if ordering through www.huntingthefirststate.com, enter code FREEMAIL305 at checkout to receive $3.99 (the cost of shipping a single book) towards your final shipping cost. This offer is only good through www.huntingthefirststate.com and www.lulu.com, and the offer expires 11:59 PM on May 1, 2010.