TIDE magazine - Sheepshead article

Cover photo for the Jan. / Feb. 2012 issue

The January / February 2012 edition of CCA's TIDE magazine contains several stories about fisheries conservation. On page 28 you will find my feature entitled "Chief Thief"which is regarding the S.C. fishery for sheepshead. The article addresses how sheepshead are being managed differently from now on, since it no longer will fall in the snapper / grouper complex. Another feature in TIDE is the Coastal Conservation Association Cook 'N' Tell archives and this edition features a Texas style Lowcounty Boil from the Redfish Lodge.

For past blog entries about TIDE magazine click here.

2012 Grand American and Coon Fest

4th/3rd Nite Champion/High Scoring English Female: NITE CH ‘PR’ Swamp Bottom Star, owned by Greg Ervin, right, of Watkinsville, Georgia, 550+. Also shown is Blake Ervin and Alan Short. Photo by UKC.

Great independent logo for the event 

An array of lights were available for sale

Choose a hat with your favorite coon dog breed on it

The 47th Annual Grand American Hunt and Coon Fest was held in Orangeburg on January 6 -8 at the fairgrounds. Known as the Super Bowl of coon hunt competitions, it draws dog lovers from states all across the Southeast. The gates for Coon Fest opened at 7 a.m. on Friday, followed by opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. and a treeing contest after lunch. A Bench Show, or dog show, is also a part of coon fest and entrants registered for the Saturday show competitions which included a kids division. Two nights of hunting for UKC-registered dogs were held on Friday and Saturday nights with the presentation of trophies and results taking place at 3 a.m. on Sunday morning after competitors come out of the woods of Orangeburg County. Racoons are hunted, tracked and trees but none are injured or killed during the Grand American. Coon fest is a two-day celebration of all things involved in the coon hunting lifestyle, including vendors selling clothes and night-lites, and breeders selling coon dogs. A community spirit graced the 2012 coon fest and the hunt competition between dog breeds like Reedbone, BlueTick, Plott's, English and Walker. Congrats to Greg Kennedy of New Zion, S.C. for his coon dog named McGhee's Sailorman taking first place on Saturday night. For all the Grand American results view the UKC site.

For past blog entries on the Grand American click here.

Canada Geese, the Wrecking Crew and bird bands

Father and Son enjoy a goose hunt together 

Another goose band for Drake Field Expert, Daryl Hodge

Blake Hodge and Jeff Dennis after the first volley

When booking a hunt with The Wrecking Crew Guide Service there is often a degree of flexibility that is required, since migratory waterfowl like ducks and geese tend to travel on their own schedule. When the conditions are right, such as last week when a flock of Canada geese pushed into Lancaster County with the freezing temperatures, I decised to travel outside of the Lowcountry for a hunt. Hunt guide Daryl Hodge and lead caller Blake Hodge set out 30 goose decoys alongside an ag field pond that had ben hosting up to 100 geese just days before. Using six layout blinds for the guides and their happy customers, we did not have to wait long for the first flight of 'early birds' to show up right at shooting time. They circled the pond only once and then Blake hit then with his trademark realistic calling and they dropped over the heads of the phalanx of guns. Two geese were peeled out of the flock and the group of hunters held high hopes that more flocks were on the way. For one father and son hunting team, the excitement level was about to go nuclear, as a flock of 40 Canada geese flew overhead, circled three times and dropped into the pond. Our guns opened fire and three more geese were harvested, including a goose with a federal bird band!! Elation and electricity ran throughout the entire hunt party as the guide Daryl Hodge called in the band number and found out that the goose had migrated to S.C. from Ontario, Canada after having been banded there in 2011. The trophy bird and band were awarded to the youth hunter who was on his first ever goose hunt!!

To view past blog entries about federal leg bands on migratory birds click here.
To view past blog entries about the Wrecking Crew Guide Service click here.

9-point buck is FIRST buck for 7-year old

David Peeples Jr. on 12/28

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The big bucks showed up right at the end of deer season for those who had food plots ready to go. When the cold snap kicked in between Christmas and New Year's many hunters were in place to capitalize on any increase in deer movement, which had been at a record low level prior. David Peeples works at WiseBatten in Estill and took his 7-year old son David Jr. hunting for deer on December 27, and while they saw two nice bucks - they presented no broadside shot. Back in their 16-foot tower stand on a Robertville hunting lease the very next day, the father and son team waited from 4:30 until 5:25 before they saw any activity and then SIX bucks rambled into the food plot! Experienced hunters know that sometimes late in the deer season the bucks can reform their bachelor groups since the does have been bred. "Five rack bucks and a spike came into the food plot that is planted in oats, crimson clover and alfalfa," said Peeples. "The 9-point fed in the direction of our stand and towards the middle of the plot, and my son picked him out as a good target. He put his Savage .243 into position, it was 5:35, and I asked him if he was ready to shoot." The gun went off in reply to the father's question and the 130-pound buck dropped in his tracks after a long 200-yard shot, setting off a celebration in the blind. "I don't know who was more excited," said Peeples. The Peeples process their own venison and its a good thing because just three days later 13-year old daughter Emily shot her first ever buck. Her 5-pointer makes Dad just as proud.

The hunt took place in the Savannah River Preserve area and for past blog entries about the SRP click here.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 1/4/12

To see that latest fishing report in the Charleston Mercury click here.

RAIN OR SHINE, SCOTT HAMMOND CATCHES FISH!!

The Local Palate - January 2012 Seafood Issue

Located at 479 King Street

My photo as it appears in The Local Palate magazine

The food culture of Charleston, and particularly seafood, is in focus in the January issue of The Local Palate magazine. My feature story assignment was to accompany Chef Jeremiah Bacon on the water and to visit him at The MacIntosh in order to share his career journey. A local from John's Island, the Chef's story of success takes readers from tidal creeks of the Lowcountry, to the city streets of New York, and back again. Thanks to Chef Bacon for his time, and to The Local Palate for allowing me to join a distinguished group of contributing writers.

The contributing writer's section states - "Jeff writes a blog at www.LowcountryOutdoors.com in order to share worthy stories from the sporting lifestyle, which includes the harvest and preparation of wild game for the table, and a focus on sustainable seafood."

Birding Journal Observations / Nov. - Dec. 2011

Great Blue Heron photo by Dr. Patrick Dennis Sr.

Drought conditions and a lack of rain continue to make any bird bath a powerful attractant for songbirds. On the subject of waterfowl however, the lack of rain and unusually warm temperatures has left waterfowl sightings a bit thin. The November waterfowl season was fruitful with a number of gadwall in the Atlantic Flyway along with green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, northern shovelers and pintails. The same areas that waterfowl utilize are home to plenty of other birds and I also witnessed bald eagles, great blue herons, wood storks and ibis. At the backyard bird feeder I recorded a Carolina chickadee, hairy woodpecker, cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, white-throated sparrow, chipping sparrow, yellow-bellied sapsucker, white-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, downy woodpecker and pileated woodpecker.

To view past birding journal blog entries click here.