Opening of 2019-20 Hunting Season

Times Outdoors Columnist

The sounds of shooting about 30 minutes before sunrise on Sunday Sept.1, ushered the long awaited start of 2019-20 hunting season. As with all opening days, there was excitement and hopes for a great year in the fields, woods, and on the water. The dove hunts or hopefully shoots, range from a few friends getting together to large elaborately prepared fields of sunflowers and other favorite foods of the gray darters.

Several hunters reported great hunts with limits taken by 8 a.m., while others sang the blues with very few or no birds on the field. The hunt Papa Duck was on was middle of the road with about half limits taken and not good enough to go back to on Labor Day.

Everybody did not have a dove field to enjoy and made the best of other hunting. Noah Brawley and Graham Buck took to the squirrel woods near the foot hills of Crowley Ridge. Their game bags were heavy with16 fox and gray squirrels they found in pecan trees. Noah said there were plenty of squirrels but it just was too hot to stay in the woods and finish off their limits.

Daily limit is 12 per day.

This will be fun when it cools off, especially when the leaves fall and it’s time to use a dog.

Waterfowl season opened Sunday morning with Canada geese becoming legal, The limit is 5 of the big birds and the hunter must have license and state and federal duck stamps.

Local hunters Hayden and Grayson Rash had a successful hunt taking 6 geese. What is unique is that two of them were banded. A band to a duck or goose hunter is a real trophy.

A large number of our resident geese are banded.

Early teal season opens Sept. 15-30 and have a 6 bird limit. Shooting hours start at sunrise rather than 30 minutes before.

Papa Duck turned 81 on the 1st , so please indulge me because that only happens once in a life time. I celebrated dove hunting with Dr. Keith at Battle Axe hunting camp. He gave me a bamboo fly rod that is a treat to fight a big bream on. I had no idea there is so much difference between glass or graphite and bamboo. These rods are hand made and there is about 4 month waiting list. The new rod got a real work out on the big river bream at Midway. Midway continues to be the place to fish for bream, bass, and catfish. The catfish are best on large minnows, small bream, or cut baits.

Miss Joyce owns and operates Ed’s Boat Launch and has a good selection of live bait, tackle, and drinks and snacks. She does not have ice. 870-339-2878 for up to date fishing conditions and what is biting. A few fishermen have started having some good catches at Wapanocca in spite of heavy moss and other aquatic vegetation.

The best reports are fishing off the observation deck. The crappie at Horseshoe are best with trolling. The bass fishing has improved with some nice catches from around the cypress trees. Catfish continues to be the best bet for a fish supper. Tilden Rodgers continues to be heavily fished with few catches and small fish.

It needs a restocking by AGFC.

With hunting and fishing both happening, that young outdoors kid needs to be with you. There is fun for all. Clean out your freezer for the coming seasons.

Lakeside Taxidermy is glad to mount these trophies before they ruin at a reasonable price, quick service, and quality work. Papa Duck needs some pictures and stories to share with our readers. Warden Andy has all the answers to your wild game questions. Just ask him!

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870-732-0455 or 901482-3430 jhcriner@hotmail.com