How Crow Hunting Helps

By T.R. Hendrick

Hunting crows eliminates some of waterfowl’s worst predators, while also allowing you tune up your shooting skills.

crow hunting

I lowered the volume and the clamor of fighting crows subsided. Six crows barreled towards our setup and I didn’t want to spook them with too much volume. The black bandits cawed back loudly, anxious to join our party. The lead bird tucked its wings and dove in, focused on the decoys. Mike rose from the hay bale blind and folded it I swung the 20-gauge at the next bird in line. It was already flaring as I fired. Mike fired his second shot at a departing bird. Mike had a double, I had nothing. I blamed the gun, then my shells, but I could tell Mike didn’t buy it. It was early March in upstate New York and we were set up in an apple orchard off the shore of Lake Ontario, in the middle of a crow migration flyway. I reached for my thermos of coffee to drown my sorrows when a distant “caw, caw, caw” caught my ear. I clicked on the caller and scanned the sky. I soon spotted three black dots along the lakeshore. Seeing our decoys, they turned in our direction.

As the trio closed in, I peeked out of my hay-bale blind to get a better look, forgetting I had removed my facemask to drink my coffee. At 100 yards they picked up my sudden movement and flared away, heading back to the lakeshore. I was going to have to get my act together if I expected better results.




Crow Facts

Hunters have a way of underestimating crows. The birds have tremendous eyesight, ranking with waterfowl in their ability to spot movement. They are one of the most intelligent of all birds, often living to 10 years of age. The oldest crow on record was 29 years old, and discovered in a banding study in 1988. Crows are effective predators and omnivorous feeders. They are constantly on the move and because of this hyperactivity require large amounts of food to maintain body metabolism. An adult crow fills its crop eight to ten times a day. They eat anything, from road kill to dumpster scraps, and among their favorite treats are bird eggs. Crows are nest raiders. Besides eating the eggs, they will pluck a young bird or duckling from its nest without hesitation. The Department of Agriculture conducted a survey of crow predation on waterfowl nesting grounds in the U.S. supplemented with data from Canada. The facts revealed that crows destroyed one-third of waterfowl egg production. So for every crow I harvest, I figure I save a dozen ducks, not to mention songbirds.

Migrating Crows

A high percentage of crows migrate, and use specific flyways year after year. Find these flight paths, and you can have some great late-winter wingshooting as the birds push north. Crows rarely fly over large expanses of water. They fly along the south shoreline of the Great Lakes until they reach an area were they can steer north over land to their nesting grounds in Canada. Flock sizes range from 30 birds down to just a few birds.

Since a high percentage of crows migrate, they are regulated by federal game laws. The Fish & Wildlife Service allows a 124-day season, but specifies that hunting is not allowed during the crow-nesting period. In New York, the season runs from September 1 though March 31, but hunting is only permitted on Friday though Monday each week. States set their own seasons, but they must be within federal guidelines. Check your state’s regulations before you go crow hunting.



Winter Roosts

Roost hunting is a good way to bag winter crows. When hunting roost crows it is important to pattern the birds. Get a binocular, jump in your vehicle and follow the crows out of the roost in the morning. Then, check back in the late afternoon and follow them back to the roost. They use the same flyways daily. Flyways are where you should set up; never close to the roost. Crows will move out of the area if you hunt within sight of the roost — you are better off setting up in flyways a mile or so from the roost. Afternoons are far better than morning. When the birds leave in the morning, they move in big flocks. In the afternoon, they trickle back in smaller groups. This spreads out the shooting. The same roosts are used year after year. Find one and you can count on birds being there annually.
Decoy Low Down

Place decoys where distant crows can see them best. In the orchard along the lake, we drag out trees cut in the nearby hardwoods. Then, we wire three or four decoys to each tree, propping them up against a shorter apple tree. Wire is used to secure the tall saplings to the apple tree. This puts the decoys higher than any other trees in the orchard, making them more visible from a distance. Another trick is to tie 30 feet or so of twine to the loop in the back of the decoy, then throw the decoy up over as high a branch as you can. Pull the decoy tight to the branch and tie the end to a lower branch. Owl decoys work great, especially with a dead or wounded crow tied on a branch below it. Owls are a crow’s mortal enemies.

Occasionally, when crows are hunted hard, they become educated to owl decoys. Use a deer hide on the ground surrounded by decoys. Crows usually swoop in for a look. As is true with any decoy spread, movement helps greatly. There are a few flapper crow and owl decoys on the market that really add realism to a set up. Like waterfowl, incoming crows seem to concentrate on that movement and beeline straight for it.

Crow Callers

A hand call works, although it probably doesn’t have the volume needed on windy days. Hand calls complement an electronic caller when birds get within 100 yards or so. Growling into a hand call in conjunction with the electronic caller can help convince crows to make a final commitment. Many times I will use both cassette and digital callers. I hang my remote control digital in the tree close to the decoys, set on a dying crow sound. I then hook the cassette caller in the blind with the speaker outside in a branch or bush, pointed in the direction from which I expect crows.

One mistake crow hunters often make is pointing speakers straight up. Crows usually fly to the source of the sound and if the speaker is pointed straight up it makes their approach much higher. For general calling I like the Crow and Owl Fight sound. When birds are spotted I’ll then turn it on. As they close within 200 yards, I use the digital. With this combination, they can’t resist joining the festivities.

Bonus Shooting

One benefit to hunting winter crows is that most landowners are more than happy to let you hunt , sometimes leading to other hunting opportunities in the fall. Another plus is that there probably is no harvest limit (but check your state regs). It’s a great tune-up for waterfowling.

Back To My Hunt

It was almost noon and we hadn’t seen a crow for a half-hour. We had killed 20 crows in a five-hour hunt and decided to quit. I had just lowered our decoy tree when I spotted a large flock. I yelled to Mike to turn on the caller. The sound turned several crows our direction. I dove back into the hay bale blind and grabbed the over/under. Within seconds there were targets everywhere. We rose together and fired; amazingly, we picked the same bird to shoot. The flock flared as we both fired again. I tried to get another shot, but the gang was hightailing it out. Still, it was a sweet end to a morning hunt.

SMST's Hunting Handgun Proposal Makes It To The BOC

January 7, 2011 - La Plata, Maryland

The Hunting Handgun proposal that SMST has put forth in an effort to add the regulations was passed on to the Charles County Commissioners last night at their Preliminary 2011 Legislative Public Hearing meeting last night in La Plata.

Correspondence was submitted to the BOC for consideration to add an allowance of using Modern Handguns of suitable calibers for use as a Hunting specific weapon for Deer hunting in the county. Charles County, as well as, all of those counties in the Maryland DNR specified "Region B" does not currently allow for the use of modern hand guns to be used for Deer hunting, which is greatly outdated regulation, due to the knowledge that modern muzzleloading handguns and rifles are allowed, but modern handguns that meet or exceed the muzzleloading laws has yet to be added as a legal hunting firearm for Deer in this county.

At this time the proposal documents have been passed to the county commissioners and future updates of the BOC decisions on this proposal are forthcoming. All we can do is ask the hunting community in Charles County to contact the BOC and send letters and emails explaining why you feel this proposal is important to you as a hunter.

All we can do now is wait. Hopefully the Charles County Commissioners will lay aside their anti-gun issues and pass this on to the next level of government, so, that Charles Counties hunters will have another firearms resource for their hunting interests.

Enter The 37th Maryland Game Bird Stamp Design Contest

DNR Invites Waterfowl Artists To Enter 37th Maryland Game Bird Stamp Design Contest

Annapolis, Md. (December 16, 2010) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites Maryland waterfowl artists to enter the 37th Annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest.

“Proceeds from the sale of these stamps help fund waterfowl and migratory game bird projects as well as much needed research,” said Patty Allen, Education Specialist DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service.

All entered designs must be the artist's original work, neither copied nor duplicated from any previously published paintings, drawings, prints, or photographs of the contestant, or any other artist. Each contestant may submit up to three entries. The entry fee, signed Agreement to Enter Form, and entries with completed Entry Identification Forms attached to the back, must be received via mail by 4 p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2011 at The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest, Friends of Patuxent, Patuxent Research Refuge/National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop,
Laurel, MD 20708-4027.

Entries will be judged at noon on Saturday, March 26, 2011 in conjunction with the 22nd Annual Patuxent Wildlife Art Show at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel, Md. Contestants and the public are invited to attend the contest judging process. Admission is free.

For a list of species eligible for depiction and full contest rules and forms visit our website at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/StampContests/DuckStamp/ContestBrochure.pdf or contact Patricia Allen, Contest Coordinator, at pallen@dnr.state.md.us or call 410-260-8537.

Venison Meat: Should You Age Your Venison Meat?

Every time I talk to a hunter's spouse, I hear stories about a deer hanging in the garage or the backyard for a week while it ages. But do you always need to age the meat? The answer is that it depends on the deer.

How old the deer was will impact the taste of the meat, and determine whether you need to age it, which improves the tenderness and flavor of the meat. If you've got a yearling, you can eat it immediately; it doesn't need to age at all-think spring lamb or veal. You can do anything you want with this meat! The older animals, like the 10-point trophy buck, are tough-can you imagine eating a 7 year-old cow? These older animals need to go through an aging process in order to make good eating.

There is some debate over how long you need to age your venison. But it really comes down to how big and old the animal was.

Most hunters age their meat by hanging the carcass in the garage or a shed and letting it sit. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture wouldn't approve of this, it works if the temperatures are cold enough. When aging, you must keep the meat between 32F and 40F and keep it dry-bacteria will grow if the meat is warmer than 40F and has any moisture in it.

We don't have any place to age meat at our house, which is fine since we actually rarely do it. However, if my husband gets a buck that needs some aging, he quarters the deer and puts the meat in coolers with dry ice for a few days, which is sufficient for the does. For the bucks, we borrow our friend's aging refrigerator and let the meat sit there for a week or so. Then we process it as usual.

Submitted By: Susan L. Rose

Maryland's Great "Ammo Log" Debate - What Is Your Position On This Issue ?

Click Here To Debate This Issue

ATF to Require Multiple Sales Reports for Long Guns

ATF to Require Multiple Sales Reports for Long Guns
December 17, 2010 By Larry Keane

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is moving to require federally licensed firearms retailers to report multiple sales of modern sporting rifles beginning January 5, 2011. Specifically, the ATF requirement calls for firearms retailers to report multiple sales, or other dispositions, of two or more .22 caliber or larger semi-automatic rifles that are capable of accepting a detachable magazine and are purchased by the same individual within five consecutive business days.

Today’s Washington Post suggests that the reporting mandate would be limited to retailers along the Southwest border; however, the Federal Register Notice does not limit the geographic scope of the reporting requirement.

This ATF “emergency” mandate was originally pushed by the anti-gun Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) coalition, headed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, more than a year and a half ago. And the Post reports that the Department of Justice has “languished” over this plan for several months. Given this timetable, it’s hard to see exactly where the “emergency” is.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation opposes this reporting requirement because it further burdens America’s law-abiding firearms retailers with yet another onerous regulation that will do nothing to curb crime. Multiple sales reporting of long guns will actually make it more difficult for licensed retailers to help law enforcement as traffickers modify their illegal schemes to circumvent the reporting requirement, thereby driving traffickers further underground. This is not unlike how criminals maneuvered around one-gun-a-month laws in states like Virginia – which is still considered an “exporting source state” by anti-gun organizations like the MAIG despite its restrictions on the number of firearms law-abiding residents may purchase.

Multiple sales reporting for long guns is an ill-considered mandate and one that ATF does not have the legal authority to unilaterally impose. In fact, ATF has not specified under what legal authority it presumes to act. The decision as to whether ATF can move forward with this agenda-driven mandate will be left to Cass Sunstein who heads the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). This is the same Cass Sunstein who in a 2007 speech at Harvard University said, “We ought to ban hunting, if there isn’t a purpose other than sport and fun. That should be against the law. It’s time now.”

NSSF will be submitting comments in opposition to this registration scheme and is encouraging all firearms retailers, sportsmen and enthusiasts to do the same.

Please voice your concern by doing the following:

1. Call the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulation Affairs, Department of Justice, Desk Officer at (202) 395-6466.

2. E-mail Barbara A. Terrell, ATF, Firearms Industry Programs Branch at Barbara.Terrell@atf.gov

3. Call your Senators and Representative: United States Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Points to make:

1. Multiple sales reporting of long guns will actually make it more difficult for licensed retailers to help law enforcement as traffickers modify their illegal schemes to circumvent the reporting requirement. Traffickers will go further underground, hiring more people to buy their firearms. This will make it much harder for retailers to identify and report suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

2. Long guns are rarely used in crime (Bureau of Justice Statistics).

3. Imposing multiple sales-reporting requirements for long guns would further add to the already extensive paperwork and record-keeping requirements burdening America’s retailers – where a single mistake could cost them their license and even land them in jail.

4. Last year, ATF inspected 2,000 retailers in border states and only two licenses were revoked (0.1%). These revocations were for reasons unknown and could have had nothing to do with illicit trafficking of guns; furthermore, no dealers were charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

5. According to ATF, the average age of a firearm recovered in the United States is 11 years old. In Mexico it’s more than 14 years old. This demonstrates that criminals are not using new guns bought from retailers in the states.

6. Congress, when it enacted multiple sales reporting for handguns, could have required multiple sales of long guns – it specifically chose not to.

Clean Your Face, And Your Gun ! SOMDSHOOT's Tip

Instead of using those thin cotton t-shirt cleaning patches that don't really get down into the rifling of a gun barrel, buy a package of "facial cleaning pads" and use them instead. The advantages are, they are a slight bit thicker than standard cotton cleaning patches, they are non abrasive, they will contain more cleaning solution, and they last longer than a standard cleaning pads. The price is a nice advantage as well, you can usually get a 100 of these per package at any dollar store.

Deer Hunters Conclude Challenging Firearm Season

Annapolis, Md. (December 16, 2010) — Maryland deer hunters endured less than favorable weather conditions for the two-week deer firearm season and harvested an estimated 40,694 deer — a 9 percent decrease from last year’s harvest for the same period. The total included 13,605 antlered deer and 27,089 antlerless deer. Included in the totals were 516 antlered and 565 antlerless sika deer.

“Cold temperatures, stiff winds and an abundant acorn crop that altered normal deer movements slowed the harvest across the State for the firearm season,” said Brian Eyler, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Project Leader. “We are pleased to see the Region B antlerless deer harvest remains strong as this is an important aspect of our deer management strategy.”

Region A deer hunters (Garrett, Allegany and western Washington counties) reported 4,422 deer for the two-week season, a decline of 8 percent from last year’s harvest of 4,809 deer. The antlered harvest decreased an estimated 4 percent from 2,620 deer last year to 2,528 deer this year, while the antlerless harvest decreased 14 percent from 2,189 deer to 1,894 deer.

In Region B, harvest decreased 9 percent from 39,995 deer last year to 36,272 deer this year. The antlered harvest decreased 14 percent from 12,827 deer last year to 11,077 deer this year, while the antlerless tally decreased 7 percent from 27,168 to 25,195 deer this year.

Deer hunters harvested 3,852 deer (1,457 antlered, 2,395 antlerless) on the first Sunday of the two-week season in the 19 counties where Sunday hunting is permitted on private land only. In southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties), hunters took advantage of new legislation that permitted Sunday hunting on the second Sunday of the two-week season and harvested an additional 164 deer.

“Sunday hunting is especially important when unfavorable weather reduces the Saturday harvest, as was the case this year,” said Eyler. “Sundays give hunters another chance to get out and put venison in the freezer and contribute to managing Maryland’s deer population.”

Young hunters enjoyed good weather during the Junior Firearm Deer Hunt this year. The mentored junior deer hunters bagged 2,050 deer, a 5 percent increase over a harvest of 1,961 deer last year. Junior hunters are reminded they may obtain an official DNR Junior Hunter Certificate for deer they harvest this year. The certificates are available from participating retail agents. Junior hunters can also have their picture posted on the DNR website by visiting http://www/dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/Junior_Hunters/md_jr_hunter.asp.

Maryland’s two-week late muzzleloader season opens Saturday, December 18 and closes on January 1, 2011.

Trail cameras can help or hurt deer hunters

Motion sensing trail cameras are easily one of the biggest innovations in the world of hunting. More than any other tool, they are responsible for the harvest of deer that would have otherwise never been seen.

But despite the clear advantage they give deer hunters, if used improperly or misread, they can also ruin a hunt or even an entire season.

When they work correctly, even the cheapest trail cameras are like a permanent set of eyes on a hunting spot.

The trouble is, all of them eventually malfunction. And that applies to the cheapest Wildview cameras, the most expensive Reconyx cameras and everything in between.

Sometimes the battery dies. Sometimes the memory card is too big or the wrong brand. Sometimes moisture penetrates the electronics or the lens. Sometimes the trigger speed is too slow or the pixel count is too small, and sometimes they fail for no apparent reason at all.

Most frustrating are the cameras that are too complicated to even turn on. Lots of frustrated hunters have returned to check cameras after two weeks to find out they were not even running.

Despite some great innovations, the new Bushnell Trophy Cam is a classic example of a camera that is too complicated for it’s own good. Many hunters have given up on trying to decipher the novel sent with the camera Bushnell calls instructions.

Assuming the plastic latches don’t break, which has been a problem with Leaf River and Wildview cameras, and the cameras actually take pictures, there are other potential problems.

Though countless deer have been captured on both standard flash and infrared illuminated cameras at night, sometimes they spook deer.

Unfortunately, does, fawns and small bucks don’t seem to mind flash, but mature bucks do.

Infrared was supposed to fix the problem. It did not.

Infrared cameras use a burst of red lights instead of white ones. Deer can see red lights as well as white, and mature bucks don’t like either.

Pay close attention to trail camera pictures and it becomes apparent that even infrared flashes may be ruining your hunting spot.

Point your infrared trail camera at a scrape and set it for three bursts. Watch how many bucks appear in the first photo but not in the second or third. Then note if that same buck returns any time soon.

What will become clear is that a lot of bucks either back out of the frame or run away after the first photo. And once a buck is spooked from a spot for any reason, he will avoid that spot for quite some time.

Reconyx claims to have a new type of night lighting that solves the problem, but most hunters will never know if it works. Despite having the best trigger speed, Reconyx are unexplainably expensive.

Add the cost to the fact that they only are 3.1 megapixels, and they aren’t worth the price tag. Reconyx claims the rest of their camera is so great, the pixels don’t matter, but they are wrong. Pixels are important when zooming in on deer at a distance to determine finer points.

The best solution to cameras spooking deer is to turn off the flash and only take daytime shots. It is also a good idea to never place a trail camera next to a stand site.

Use them before and after season or place them on the opposite end of a food plot if night shots are important.

None of this is meant to imply motion sensor cameras are all bad. They solve puzzles that would have otherwise been eternal mysteries.

The only thing better that catching a trail camera glimpse of a monster buck on your property is catching a glimpse of a trespasser. Thieves have been arrested in almost every state based on trail camera photos.

Other trespassers exposed by trail cameras include dogs or in some places, hogs. Both can ruin a hunting area without ever showing themselves to the landowner or hunter.

Criminals and lazy dog owners can’t argue ignorance when confronted with a big color photo of them or their dog on your food plot.

Beware when buying and using trail cameras, and always make sure they can be returned if they don’t work. This might sound obvious, but sadly it is an issue with some.

Though every major retailer in the country still sells Wildview and Stealth cameras, for example, neither camera has a working customer service phone number or address for returns.

Consider buying cameras from retailers with solid in-store return policies, and don’t expect any of them to work all the time.

Written By: Don Mulligan

SMST PRIZE CONTESTS COMING BACK !

That's right. Starting January 1, 2011 SMST is going to bring back the Monthly prize contests. Stayed tuned to SMST at www.somdshoot.net for updates and information on how to enter the contests. The information will be posted in just a few days !

Also, if you have products, or products, that you would like to donate to SMST for our contests, please contact us for details on how to send your products to us. Every dealer who offers a product will get full sponsorship advertisement on the front page of the SMST website, SMST forums, and SMST blog. It's simple, you donate, we advertise for you !

Palin Draws Fire From Hunters?

In what was quite possibly the most watched single "hunting show" in national history, last week's edition of "Sarah Palin's Alaska" on TLC featured Alaska's former half-term governor on a hunting trip. During the trip she shot a caribou, but it took her five shots to knock down her quarry. Unsurprisingly the show immediately drew fire from anti-hunting critics with the HuffingtonPost.com comparing Palin's hunt to Michael Vick's dogfighting.

The Wall Street Journal has a "Speakeasy" piece up lauding Sarah for showing her hunt unedited. The author, Pete Bodo, makes the mistake of calling Sarah's father "Chuck Palin", actually Chuck Heath, but Mr. Bodo seems to put the hunt in perspective and notes that most of the critics of her shooting are no friends of Sarah anyway.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but the big takeaway from the controversy over the recent caribou hunting episode on “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” (the series running on The Learning Channel) is that people are going to react to anything that the former vice-presidential candidate and populist icon does or says based almost solely on how they feel about her going in. The other and more interesting discovery, at least for me, is how little most people who criticized the episode know about Alaska, guns, wildlife, and hunting.

If you missed the episode, there are several clips on YouTube.

Bullet Ricochets Off Moose and Kills Man

Some strange news coming out of Sweden, according to The Telegraph, a man was killed by a bullet that ricocheted off a moose. The Telegraph article says "elk," but presumably the actual game animal was a moose. North Europeans tend to call a moose an elk and the picture on the Telegraph is of a red stag; confused yet?

A female hunter accidentally shot dead 70-year-old cross-country skier when a bullet she fired ricocheted off an elk and struck the victim, according to reports. Police were investigating the incident and the account given by the female hunter and her companion about the bullet first striking the elk and then bouncing off to hit the skier, killing the man instantly.

Without knowing the exact details of the shot, the location of the moose, and the unfortunate skier its difficult to know exactly what happened. This article about the incident seems to suggest that the bullet passed through the moose rather than ricocheting.

Maryland - Late Muzzleloader Deer Season

Maryland’s late muzzleloader season for deer opens on Saturday, December 18 and continues through January 1, 2011. The early winter season is popular with deer hunters and affords them the opportunity to pursue their favorite game with a different type of firearm.

“Muzzleloader hunting is a great opportunity for hunters to enjoy more time in the woods with friends and family,” said DNR’s Deer Project Leader Brian Eyler. “Last year approximately 35 percent of our muzzleloader hunters were successful in harvesting at least one deer.”

Deer hunting regulations vary between the two Deer Management Regions in Maryland. Region A consists of Garrett and Allegany counties and, new this season, the western half of Washington County. Region B includes eastern Washington County and the remaining 20 counties. Bag limits, season dates and other deer hunting information can be found on the DNR website at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide and in the 2010-2011 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping issued with each hunting license.

Hunters are reminded to carefully inspect all permanent and portable tree stands before each use. Harness style safety belts should always be used while climbing into or out of a tree stand and while in the stand. The DNR website has tips and a video on tree stand safety that all hunters are encouraged to become familiar with at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ts.asp. Hunters are reminded to always exercise the fundamental commandments of firearms safety while afield.

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Young Hunters Most Likely to Be Injured Using Tree Stands

ScienceDaily — Young hunters between the ages of 15 and 34 are the most likely to suffer serious injuries in tree stand-related incidents, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Injury Sciences (CIS). The same researchers' findings, though, suggest that such injuries are preventable.

The study, presented online this week in the Journal of Trauma® Injury, Infection and Critical Care, reports that men were twice as likely as women to be injured, and younger hunters more likely than older ones. Hunters aged between 15-24 had injury rates of 55.7 per 100,000, and those aged 25-34 averaged 61 injuries per 100,000. Hunters over 65 had injury rates of only 22.4 per 100,000.

"The elevated injury rate among younger hunters is significant, because debilitating injuries in younger people are far more devastating than for older individuals because of the potential long-term effects that create both physical and financial hardships for patients and their families," said Gerald McGwin, Jr., MS, Ph.D., associate director for research at the CIS and senior investigator for the study.

Using data drawn from the 2000-07 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the UAB researchers report that the number of Americans hunting has remained stable over the past decade, with 12.5 million people engaging in hunting in 2006. There were an estimated 46,860 injuries related to tree stand use between 2000 and 2007.

The study found that the most common injuries were fractures, mostly likely to occur in the hip or lower extremities, followed by injuries to the trunk, shoulder and upper extremities. Head and spinal cord injuries were less common, but still significant. McGwin said such injuries are consistent with other studies that demonstrate a similar injury pattern, explained by hunters trying to land on their feet, leading to injury of the lower extremities.

McGwin said younger hunters may have higher injury rates due to a willingness to take risks, less exposure to safety information and more time spent hunting than older hunters. He said the study reveals certain target areas for preventing tree stand-related injuries, including safety education campaigns that recommend the use of safety harnesses and regular maintenance of stands.

"In addition to a broad safety education campaign regarding the use of tree stands, the vulnerable young hunter population should be specifically targeted to decrease the number of preventable injuries," he said. "Manufacturers of tree stands can aid in prevention by providing more support for the hunters, particularly for the minimalistic stands such as climbing or ladder stands. Although tree stand-related injuries are a major cause of injury among the hunting population, they are preventable."

McGwin, along with study colleagues Loring W. Rue, III, M.D., Joshua Terry, BS, and Russell Griffin, MPH, said the study was not able to determine from the data what types of tree stands were in use when injury occurred, nor the exact mechanism of injury, be it a hunter falling from a stand, a stand improperly erected or a structural failure of a stand. Further research in these areas would be valuable in reducing the number of injuries related to hunting from tree stands, the authors said.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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2011 Maryland Big Bucks Calender Get It !

2011 Calendar - Ever wonder what Maryland’s record book bucks look like? This full color, glossy, 17”x11” (opened) calendar will show you these monsters in all their glory. Maryland’s Record Book Whitetails Calendar features 12 of Maryland’s top scoring whitetails in their respective classes (Typical, Non-Typical) and weapon (Bow, Firearm, Muzzleloader, Crossbow). Each month a record book deer is featured along with the hunter, official Boone & Crocket/Pope & Young score, county in which it was harvested, date harvested and a brief story of how the animal came to be a record. The 2011 calendar features 9 of Maryland’s counties from where these monster whitetails once roamed. Order yours today! And don’t forget these make great gifts for any hunter!

2011 Calendar Ever wonder what Maryland’s record book bucks look like? This full color, glossy, 17”x11” (opened) calendar will show you these monsters in all their glory. Maryland’s Record Book Whitetails Calendar features 12 of Maryland’s top scoring whitetails in their respective classes (Typical, Non-Typical) and weapon (Bow, Firearm, Muzzleloader, Crossbow). Each month a record book deer is featured along with the hunter, official Boone & Crocket/Pope & Young score, county in which it was harvested, date harvested and a brief story of how the animal came to be a record. The 2011 calendar features 9 of Maryland’s counties from where these monster whitetails once roamed. Order yours today! And don’t forget these make great gifts for any hunter!"

Maryland Big Bucks Calender 2010 - Click Here To Order

Model 870 SPS Shurshot Synthetic Super Slug

Fully Rifled and Tapered 25-1/2" BBL - 47" OA Length - 12Ga. 3" only.

The most dependable slide action of all time in three advanced designs that will go the distance with deadly precision, whether your target is the crease behind a buck’s shoulder or a big red head. We’ve built the industry’s finest rifled slug guns for years, but our new 12-gauge Model 870™ SPS™ ShurShot™ Synthetic Super Slug advances deer-leveling technology to farther reaches and smaller group sizes than ever before possible. Even more so when paired with high-performance ammunition like our Premier AccuTip sabot slugs.

Because barrel stability is key to extended-range accuracy, this shotgun’s barrel is of extra-heavy, 1" diameter configuration and measures a full 25 1/2". It’s also pinned to the receiver to control vibration for rifle-like, shot-to-shot consistency. Five longitudinal flutes keep weight and heat buildup to a minimum while bolstering barrel rigidity. Six Parabolic Ultragon™ rifling grooves with a 1-in-35" twist optimize slug flight. But much more than just the ultimate accuracy-enhancing barrel design, this shotgun provides the rock-steady aim and outstanding pointability of our ambidextrous ShurShot pistol-grip synthetic stock. Rubberized overmolding at the pistol grip and extended fore-end offer a sure hold in adverse conditions. For unmatched shooting comfort, we added the SuperCell™ recoil pad. The receiver is drilled and tapped, and the included Weaver rail makes adding optics a cinch. Sling swivel studs are built in.
Key Features:

* 25 1/2" extra-heavy, 1"-diameter barrel with longitudinal flutes for reduced
weight
* Barrel is pinned to the receiver for the utmost in shot-to-shot stability
* Parabolic Ultragon™ rifling with a 1:35" twist
* Built on the famous Model 870 action
* Accepts 2 3/4" and 3" 12-gauge slugs
* ShurShot pistol-grip stock and fore-end with rubberized overmolding at grip
areas
* SuperCell recoil pad
* Drilled and tapped for scope mounts with Weaver rail included

We Want Your Stories ! Youth and Women Hunters

SMST is looking for personal hunting stories from youth and women hunters and we would love to post your stories, articles, and photos on the SMST website for everyone to read and see. SMST is a huge supporter of youth and women in the hunting world and our main goal is to promote these groups. Stop by and submit your info at www.somdshoot.net

FREE DOE IN HEAT SCENT PACK GIVEAWAY !

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 9, 2010
DEER FARM RUNS CONTEST NOW THRU JANUARY 31ST, 2011

To promote their new product, Bag-n-Tag Scents, Apple Creek Whitetails in partnership with The Trophy Hunting Channel is sponsoring a contest now through January 31, 2011. To qualify simply go to www.thetrophyhuntingchannel.com and be one of the first 25,000 visitors to receive a free Bag-N-Tag Scents - Doe In Heat scent pack, no purchase required. Contestants will use the new scent product and share experiences, photos or videos on The Trophy Hunting Channel web-site. One winner will be chosen for the biggest and best looking buck harvested using the Bag-N-Tag - Doe-In Heat scent pack, another winner for best hunting story experience in conjunction with the Bag-N-Tag - Doe In Heat scent pack. Two Grand Prize winners will receive a guided hunt of a 200" Class Trophy Whitetail at Apple Creek Whitetails, a value over $15,000.

"The freshness of the scents and the ability to ship right before the hunt is the key difference. At our farm we have access to both their urine and Doe Estrous at all phases of the pre-rut, rut and post rut. Hunters will pre-order the product while we collect the natural scents days before shipment to be packaged in our specially designed scent bags. From our farm to your doorstep - it doesn't get much fresher than that." Said Scott Follet owner of Apple Creek.

The uniquely designed Bag-N-Tag scent pouch, can easily be hung on a tree or deer stand that once opened will release the doe's days old natural scents that will attract whitetail bucks. Both Apple Creek Whitetails, and The Trophy Hunting Channel are excited to hear and see results and encourage everyone to visit web-site for their free Bag-N-Tag - Doe In Heat scent pack.

Contact: Customer Service
Apple Creek Whitetails
920-855-6713
fax 920-855-1773
http://www.applecreekranch.com
http://www.thetrophyhuntingchannel.com

Apple Creek Whitetails is one of the largest breeders of whitetails in the nation, operating a farm and 1,500 acre hunting preserve, which employs 25 people. The Trophy Hunting Channel is a subsidiary of Apple Creek Whitetails.

Youth Hunter From Charles County Takes Trohy Buck

Congratulations From SMST ! Nice Trophy !

Chad Koenig took a 292 pound, 9 point white-tailed buck with a shotgun on the 16th day of October, 2010 in Charles County.

Youth hunt shows next generation the way

WALDORF — Hannah O'Neil's heart fell when the buck of a lifetime walked in front of her ground blind early Saturday morning and kept on going. But less than five minutes later, a slightly smaller buck took the same right-to-left route and stopped.

"Do you want me to shoot now?" the 15-year-old girl whispered to her mentor, voice trembling.

"If you're on him, shoot," Eric Crutchfield replied.

With that, O'Neil brought down the eight-point buck with a single shot from a borrowed shotgun, ensuring a winter's worth of venison burgers and sausage — and maybe a roast or two — for her family.

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"I was shaking. I was excited. I was nervous," she said afterward, a huge smile decorating her face.

Crutchfield wore a matching facial expression. "The goal for the first-time hunter is to get a deer," he said. "We happened to luck out this morning."

All over Maryland, sportsmen's groups, parents and family and friends took to the field yesterday to teach the next generation of hunters as part of the state's one-day Youth Deer Hunt.

"You can debate the idea of killing game, but it's hard for me to find a reasonable argument against spending quality time in the woods, watching nature wake up," said Paul Peditto, head of the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service who hunted yesterday with his 15-year-old son. "It is the perfect opportunity for adults and young people to connect and appreciate the outdoors and quiet conversation."

At the Southern Maryland chapter of the Izaak Walton League, Bill Crutchfield, Eric's brother, paired 25 first-time hunters, ages 8 to 16, with trusted friends.

The Young Guns Hunt Club was formed in September without much fanfare — on purpose.

"We wanted to keep it small and under the radar to test the waters and work out the bugs," said Bill Crutchfield. "We didn't want to overwhelm the kids, we just wanted to get them outdoors and not have a bunch of drama."

Bill Crutchfield knows a little bit about white-tailed drama. Four years ago, he obliterated a state record almost two decades old with a buck that had 13 points on each 25-inch antler. The entire rack spanned slightly more than 21 inches tip to tip. The Crutchfield buck was certified by the Boone and Crockett Club as the largest atypical buck ever killed on the East Coast.

For the youth hunt, the mentors and kids got together last weekend on the shooting range and then went out to inspect their hunting sites. The kids each got a hunting DVD to study and a grunt call to practice on. At 5 a.m. yesterday, the adults gathered at Crutchfield's house for a pre-hunt breakfast.

O'Neil, the oldest of five children, took the state hunter education course and got her license with her mother and 7-year-old sister, Nora. The LaPlata High School sophomore said she began the day, "positive, but I didn't want to jinx it."

Eric Crutchfield said he hunts the same piece of private property every year, but was amazed when the buck showed up.

"I knew deer were around, but this was the first time I saw this one," he said.

Hannah wasn't the only successful O'Neil yesterday. At a separate hunt, Nora bagged a seven-point buck.

They may have to get a bigger freezer.

November 13, 2010|By Candus Thomson, The Baltimore

Suncandy.thomson@baltsun.com

1st deer of state youth hunt at Izaak Walton League

Hannah O'Neil, 15, poses with the eight-point buck she shot Saturday morning at Cherry Walk Farm in Charles County. With her, left to right, are guide Eric Crutchfield and his children, Billy and Caitlin. The Southern Maryland chapter of the Izaak Walton League played host to two dozen youngsters, age 8 to 18, for the state's one-day Youth Deer Hunt. - November 13, 2010

Trail Markers For Better Vision - SOMDSHOOT's Tip

Hunting Tip From SOMDSHOOT: Why buy small little thumbtacks that you can't see from a distance, or can't be seen with a leaf or branch in the path of vision. Use driveway markers instead. You can stick these markers in the ground directly on your trail and see them from many yards away. They are also reflective at 360 degrees and they only cost about $2.00 each. The saving adds up since you don't have to place them so close together like tacks. Driveway markers can be found at every hardware store and they come in a large variety of designs, colors, and shapes. These days, they even come in solar power !

New Hunting iPhone App - Deer Tactics & Calls

Aug 24, 2010 – RedSnake Enterprises, LLC unveiled their latest hunting iphone app, Deer Tactics & Calls, which provides deer hunters with a comprehensive collection of deer sounds and vocalizations. Deer Tactics & Calls is unique in that it provides both deer calls and a description of what each call means and tips for how and when to use each call. The app also includes a description of the different phases of the whitetail deer rut and general dates for each phase.

"We are very excited about Deer Tactics," says Red Cochran, CEO and Co-Founder of RedSnake Enterprises. "This app literally puts the full range of deer calls at the users fingertips. But, more importantly, it provides users with the tips and tactics on how to effectively use the calls."

"Our goal with creating Deer Tactics was to put practical deer hunting information and calling know-how into a portable medium for hunters to be able to access on the go," says RedSnake's President, Jake 'Snake' Porter. "I am looking forward to using it myself this deer season."

Additional features of the Deer Tactics & Calls include:
✓ 12 Deer Calls
✓ Deer Rut Phase Descriptions & Dates
✓ Solunar Day Ratings Through 2014
✓ Tips and Tactics for Deer Hunting

Deer Tactics' release comes on the heels of RedSnake's overwhelming success with their debut iPhone app for outdoorsmen, iSolunar Hunting & Fishing Times (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/isolunar-hunting-fishing- ...) which provides users with solunar tables for the best hunting and best fishing times for any date or location.

New Hunting iPhone App - Deer Tactics & Calls

Hunters Should Appreciate The Energy Policy Act Of 2005

Daylight Saving Time is four weeks longer since 2007 due to the passage of the Energy Policy Act in 2005. The Act extended Daylight Saving Time by four weeks from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. Longer days mean more hunting hours !

"Petition To Allow Modern Handgun Hunting In Region B Of Maryland - 2012 Proposal"

"Petition To Allow Modern Handgun Hunting In Region B Of Maryland - 2012 Proposal"

This petition is now available to the public for reviewing and signing.
All of the details can be found by visiting the petitions page below.
Closing date for SMST Petition / Public Comment is October 1, 2011

Review & Sign Petition Here

UPDATE: Myrtle Grove "Roof Over The Range" Project

Email Update from February 27, 2010

DNR Engineering and Construction has informed me that the Myrtle Grove Shooting Range Project is on their master list for the 2012 fiscal year. Assuming the funding is in place then, the money would be available in July of 2011 (which is the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year) and we could possibly complete construction that fall (2011). Once the project is started and the architecture and engineering is completed the construction should go fairly quickly. Please remember that this timeline is dependent on adequate budget and there is no guarantee the funding will be available. Unfortunately, as you know this project (as well as many other projects) has been postponed before. Please give me a call (410-535-XXXX) if you have any further questions.

Thank You,

David Heilmeier
Southern Region Manager
MD DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service

A Much Appreciated Forum Post...

Posted by a forum Member: "When this site was first put on line I thought this would be a great way to meet fellow shooters and sportsmen from the Southern Maryland area. But, its pretty obvious that folks around here either don't understand how a forum like this works or, they are just downright unsociable. In order for sites like this to work, folks need to post their ideas, opinions and questions, then others should join in the conversation. :roll:
To be honest, I am quite disappointed. :| The site administrator has put in a lot of time to create a great forum and source of information yet, nobody will participate or, post even in the few topics already started. What gives guys?????? :?"

The SMST staff is trying hard to gain speed with the site and the forum, and I'm glad someone else feels the same way we do. Thanks for that input and interest.

Things To Do After Deer Season Has Gone

By: The SMST Staff

Crow Hunting runs until March 15, 2010 and is available Wednesday though Saturday Only with no limits in all counties. Crow hunting can be a fun activity and it will help tune your skills as a water fowl hunter.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit is open until February 27, 2010 in all Maryland counties and has a daily limit of 4 with a total possession limit of 8.

Squirrel season is open until February 27, 2010 in all counties and has a limit of 6 per day with a total possession limit of 12. Hunting Tree Rats is just a lot of fun, especially for the youth hunters. Squirrel offers some really good eating as well and it's a good time to practice your shooting.

Don't put your hunting instincts to rest just yet, there is still plenty of fun to be had out there in the great outdoors.

Donate Deer To Your Southern Maryland FHFH Chapter

If you would like to help those in need by donating your overstock of deer from this years hunting seasons, you can donate that deer to your Southern Maryland FHFH Chapter at these participating locations in the Southern Maryland area.

Farmer & Hunters Feeding The Hungry - Southern Maryland Chapter


Participating Processors:

Charles County, MD

Chuck's Butcher Shop
6942 Indian Head Highway
P.O. Box 346
Bryans Road, MD 20616
301-283-0743
Alt: 301-375-8371

Rick's Place
13800 Petzold Drive
Waldorf, MD 20601
Contact: Richard Turner
301-396-4888

Calvert County, MD

Baker's Meat House
2735 Garrity Road
St. Leonard, MD 20685
410-586-2378

Rowell's Butcher Shop
995 German Chapel Road
P.O. Box 254
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
443-295-7449

St. Mary County, MD

Mike McWilliams
Wild Game Processor
22399 Indian Bridge Rd.
California, MD 20619
240-925-6994 (cell)
301-475-9667 (home)

Sarah Palin Rocks PETA

Sarah Palin’s newly released autobiography, “Going Rogue”, is causing quite a stir inside and outside of the political arena. The former vice presidential candidate has also been targeted by anti’s as the book pokes fun at vegans and discusses the merits of being a meat eater. Most recently, the former Alaska governor took several shots from Ingrid Newkirk in an “open letter‘ posted on the PETA founder’s blog November 17.

Newkirk is unhappy with quotes from Palin’s book such as, “If any vegans came over for dinner, I could whip them up a salad, then explain my philosophy on being a carnivore: If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come he made them out of meat?”

Not surprisingly, Newkirk sharpens her own knives and questions whether “there is an original line” in the book and suggests Palin should “keep an eye on the New York Times Bestseller List“ to see that vegan cookbooks are all the rage. She then proceeds to criticize Palin for her pro-meat stance and concludes by saying, “Ms. Palin reportedly finds evolution a bit hard to swallow. Judging from her book, that applies to the evolution of ideas and attitudes as well.”

“It’s no surprise PETA and Ingrid Newkirk do not like Sarah Palin,” said Doug Jeanneret, USSA vice president of marketing. “Maybe Ms. Newkirk should follow her own advice and evolve her ideas and attitudes to fit the majority of Americans who eat meat, think it’s fine to use animals to protect human life, and who support hunting.”

NBC Refused PETA Thanksgiving Day Ad

Last year, PETA tried to raise the heat during the Super Bowl with an ad that was deemed too racy to air by NBC. Just in time for Thanksgiving, PETA is at it again. This time, instead of using sex to sell its vegan, animal rights message, it decided to use verbal "shock and awe". However, the intelligent leadership of NBC nixed the ad after deciding that it did not meet its content standards.

The “Grace” ad produced by PETA starts off innocently with a cute, young girl sitting at the dinner table with her family. She is asked to give a Thanksgiving blessing and goes into a long winded, and very graphic dissertation about the “cruelty” of turkey farming. According to PETA’s blog, it submitted the ad to NBC so that it could run during coverage of the annual Macy’s Day Parade on Thanksgiving Day. NBC responded that it required more information before it would run the ad. PETA responded with some of its outrageous propaganda but was disappointed when NBC still came firmly down against allowing the ad to air.

“It is highly inappropriate, but not unexpected for PETA to attempt to hijack a family tradition in order to push its radical message,” said Bud Pidgeon, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance president and CEO. “Just like with the Super Bowl commercial, NBC made the right call.”

Maryland Hunter Education Programs

The goals of Maryland's Hunter Education Programs include the reduction of
hunting accidents and violations; promotion of safe, responsible and
knowledgeable hunting activities and to continue the traditions of the hunting
experience.

In 1966 Maryland started with a voluntary program of hunter education.
In 1977, the Maryland legislature made it mandatory for all first time
hunters to complete a hunter education course .  We now have more than
600 volunteer instructors teaching over 235 hunter education courses each
year.  Over 7,200 people take the Maryland Hunter Education Course every
year.

It's no accident that hunting is a safe activity. That's because today's
hunters are better educated than ever before. They're going into the
field knowing how to hunt safely and responsibly, a knowledge provided
by hunter education courses.

Visit the Maryland DNR Hunting Safety Courses

Maryland Hunter Education Courses

The Maryland Hunter Education Course is a minimum of 10 hours in length. Most classes run 12-14 hours. Students must attend all sessions of the class to pass. Most courses require that youngsters under the age of 14 attend with a participating adult.

The course includes instruction in: hunter responsibility, firearms and ammunition, firearm handling and safety, marksmanship and shooting fundamentals, principles of wildlife management, bowhunting, muzzleloader hunting, safety and first aid, water safety, and Maryland legal requirements.

In order to pass the course, students must pass a 50 question multiple choice test with a grade of 80%, demonstrate to the instructor that he or she can safely handle a firearm through practical exercises and participate in live firing. Students must also be recommended by the instructor to obtain certification by demonstrating responsibility and the maturity to be a safe, responsible and ethical hunter.

Check for a class near your home.

Local Hunting & Sport Shooting Content Wanted

Please help us to provide new local content by submitting your hunting and shooting pictures, stories, or upcoming events via email to us at : SMST@somd.net

Hunting & Shooting Sports Writers wanted in the Southern Maryland area.

SMST is looking for writers to submit hunting and shooting articles from the Southern Maryland area for a new section in the works. We want to spotlight local stories only, so, if you have the interest to write an outdoor story or article with content from the Charles, St. Marys, or Calvert County areas, please submit your articles or stories to us via email at SMST@somd.net