2024 Gamekeepers / Winter - Mallard DNA: Things are Changing

Feature article on Mossy Oak E-newsletter

When is the last time a duck hunter in the Southern states muttered aloud that the ducks had short-stopped their location? Topics as to why the ducks fail to continue on and visit the lower flyway includes that more impoundments with food are available further north and that it doesn’t get as cold anymore. After some research and new technology, it turns out that a genetic marker that wills these birds to migrate could be diluted due to the influx of game farm mallard DNA. When game farm birds are released some survive to breed with wild ducks. In the last several years, an explosion of DNA data is leading researchers and generations of duck hunters to compelling new philosophies about what comes next.

To read the entire feature article on Duck DNA click on Mossy Oak Gamekeepers.

To view past stories from Mossy Oak Gamekeepers click Quail Habitat Philosophy -  2024 Fence It In -  2024 Reforestation -  2024 Predator Control- 2023 Wild Turkey Decline - 2022 Managing Duck Impoundments - 2021 Regional Wood Duck Study -  Fall 2021- Summer 2021 - Winter 2020- Spring 2020 - Fall 2017- Spring 2016 - Winter 2016 - Fall 2015 - Summer 2015 - Spring 2015 - Winter 2015 - Fall 2014 - Summer 2014 - Spring 2014 - Winter 2013 

2024 Birding Journal Observations - November / December

American Kestrel sighting on Dec. 21, 2024

Drier than average weather with mild temperatures prolonged the beginning of any type of cooler Fall weather until after Thanksgiving. Some cold spells in December made things feel more normal, but warm ups at Christmas and New Years showed that winter was not quite here yet. Sightings of wading birds were still very common, but sightings of waterfowl were more scarce than normal, aside from hooded mergansers and a few lesser scaup. Raptors like the Bald Eagle and osprey seems to be in abundance. 

Backyard bird feeders continue to welcome Baltimore orioles to the grape jelly, and ravenous bluebirds looking for dried mealworms too. Suet brings a bevy of woodpeckers and in some areas lots of pine warblers and ruby-crowned kinglets as well. Hermit thrush sightings are up, with some painted buntings mixed in, while goldfinch sightings are then. The double-breasted cormorant seem to be doubling up their presence on the landscape all across the coastal plain.

Male downy woodpecker

To read about the start of the Christmas Bird Count season click on 2024 Palmetto Bluff Count

To view past Birding Journal Observations from November / December click on 2023 - 2022- 2021 - 2020 - 2018-  2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013- 2012 - 2011 - 2010 

New Year's Eve Toast to 2024

Hunting Public Land in ACE Basin 2024

My 16th Annual Toast to following the outdoors trail, and bringing my stories and photos to like-minded followers, continues today. Year-round activities are set by seasons and calendars, but sometimes simply wandering down a new trail or simply scouting ahead of a planned activity, can reveal the most treasure. On Monday December 30 I found a pair of shed antlers from last year, they were covered in green slime from the forest floor, where they had sat undisturbed for one year because no one else had been there. Note to readers, finding one shed antler is fun, but finding both sides together is a treat, and signals the whitetail has healthy when he cast his antlers and thus is still out there on the landscape - and ready to SNORT at anyone getting too close in the future!

I remain grateful to the publications and organizations that chose to work with this veteran writer and photographer in 2024, raising awareness from the field about hunting, fishing and conservation. I hope to keep it going in 2025 with Mossy Oak Gamekeepers magazine, Tideline (online) with the Post and Courier, Trilogy Outdoors and Scuttlebutt SE.

Covering fishing tournaments in 2024

Top Stories from 2024 include Sullivan's Island Bird Banding - Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve - Kiawah Shoreline Restoration - Georgetown Blue Marlin - Beidler Forest 50th - Charleston Race Week - Hammock Coast Birding Festival - Release Over 20

To view past blog entries from my New Year's Eve Toast click on 2023 -
- 2022 - 2021 - 2020- 2019- 2018- 2017- 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

2024 Christmas Wish List - Bajio / Toadfish / Hook & Gaff

Camo Sigs frames by Bajio benefit DU

Dear Santa, I want to spend more time outdoors in 2025! Reducing the glare while soaking up the sunshine is always the right prescription, and the new camo sunglasses from Bajio raises funds for waterfowl conservation. Marine gear by Toadfish outfitters can help anglers get their catch from sea to table, and that process begins with their Elite series spinning rods with distinctive black and blue reels. No matter where anglers may launch their boats from they need to know the tide cycle, and the King Tide watch by Hook and Gaff can keep track of the flood tides that are synonymous with poling the flats in search of tailing redfish.

The Sigs sunglass frames by Bajio now come in a limited edition camo color thanks to a unique partnership with Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Mossy Oak camouflage. DU works to restore wetland habitat that ducks utilize and each sale of the Bajio camo glasses will generate a $30 donation to those conservation efforts. The frames come with a limited edition hat and drawstring storage bag that are both embossed with a mallard duck in flight. “Duck hunters and anglers both share a love of swamps, marshes and mangroves, so it makes sense that we partner up to protect these important habitats,” said Bajio CEO Al Perkinson. Whether on the hunt for migratory birds or stalking fish that swim up and down the coast, a pair of Bajio sunglasses will help to spot your quarry.

Toadfish Rod and Reel with Zman Lures

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view past Christmas Wish List blog entries click on 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2009

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on December Saltwater Forecast - Fall Hunting Seasons -  2024 Red Trout tourney -  Sullivan's Island Bird Banding Station -  Beidler BioBlitz -  October Conservation Calendar -  October Saltwater Forecast -  Birds of a Feather Toast-  Photography Tips - Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots 

2024 Palmetto Bluff - Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Blue-winged teal

Golden-crowned Kinglet

The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) at Palmetto Bluff took place on Monday, December 16. Dense fog obscured viewing during dawn at the impoundments, but that also worked against the ducks with many of them pitching in to land on the water right in front of our count team. Wood ducks, green-winged teal and blue-winged teal were all in very close proximity. Birding by ear revealed the presence of a Wilson' Snipe and a host of wading birds were roosted nearby and as the fog lifted just a bit, we were able to tally their numbers.

CBC team in early morning Fog

We went on to spot 1,638-individual birds, encompassing 71 different species of birds. This data is included in the Hilton Head Audubon count circle. Birds of note include the blue-headed vireo and the golden-crowned kinglet, both spotted after lunch. The afternoon birding session took place under sunny skies and unseasonably mild temperatures. To view the results from the 124th CBC in SC click Audubon. 

To read my feature article in the Post and Courier about the 125th Christmas Bird Count click on Tideline.

To view past CBC counts at Palmetto Bluff click on 2023 - 2022 - 2021

To view past birding trips from 2024 click on Stono Preserve - Beidler Forest - Carolina Bird Club -  Earth Day / Kiawah - Spring Island - Southeast Shorebird Festival - Hammock Coast Birding Festival - Huntington Beach State Park - Yawkey Center - Yemassee CBC - Edisto CBC 

2024 December Saltwater Fishing Forecast

Freezing temperatures arrived on the coast the first week of December, signaling changes ahead for inshore anglers. Clearer and cooler waters will be the hallmark of local estuaries and any three-day warming trend will tend to make the gamefish bite. Making the switch from fishing in t-shirts and flip flops to fishing in winter coats, will be as automatic as switching from live bait to fishing with plastic baits. 

Thor Rhodin with Toadfish and skinny water redfish

Ian Rubin with Toadfish shares that while the biggest bull reds have moved offshore now, the creeks are alive with slot-limit reds for winter, and those fish can sometimes be found in massive schools. “These smaller redfish tend to seek out warmer waters such as sun-soaked mud flats and trips during low tide can offer regular sight fishing opportunities,” said Rubin. “Thanks to the water clarity, December is one of the best months for throwing artificial lures and some excellent options are the Zman Minnowz, Scented Padlerz and Swimmin’ Trout Trickz. When it comes to color selection, aim for natural hues like silver to mimic a fish and gold or brown to mimic a shrimp.”

To view the entire fishing report for December in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view past fishing reports for 2024 in Tideline click on October -  July - June - May - April

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Fall Hunting Seasons -  2024 Red Trout tourney -  Sullivan's Island Bird Banding Station -  Beidler BioBlitz -  October Conservation Calendar -  October Saltwater Forecast -  Birds of a Feather Toast-  Photography Tips - Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots 

2024 Fall Hunting Seasons and Thanksgiving Traditions

The promise of a Fall season that brings cooler weather has been fleeting and elusive in the Lowcountry this year, but the sporting calendar remains on schedule with seasons now open for quail, ducks, doves and small game. Quail season opens in S.C. on Nov. 25, allowing bird dog enthusiasts to hit the woods with their favorite hunting buddy. Dove season and duck season opened on Nov. 16 and Nov. 23 respectively, due to migratory bird regulations coming under federal regulations. No matter your preference of gamebird, the Thanksgiving holiday marks a return of wingshooting to the landscape.

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline. 

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on  2024 Red Trout tourney -  Sullivan's Island Bird Banding Station -  Beidler BioBlitz -  October Conservation Calendar -  October Saltwater Forecast -  Birds of a Feather Toast-  Photography Tips - Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots