Interesting and Fun Alternatives to Conventional Freshwater Fishing

The reasons to go fishing are many. It is a time-honored sport that can be relaxing, fun and contribute to a healthy mind and body. A rod and reel are what most think of as the primary tools, but a few alternatives to conventional methods for catching freshwater fish, namely bow fishing, cane pole and survival fishing can also bring another level of fun and excitement. Catching a fish is challenging enough even with the most sophisticated equipment and years of experience. On the other hand, it is a sport that can be done with success by a young child under adult supervision with equipment that can cost less than $25. To the angler who is experienced and thinks they would like to try an alternative, using more primitive methods can be rewarding to connect the fisherman with traditional methods, ways that were once the only means to provide fare for the table. Additionally, the target species of fish caught by these primitive methods are nongame and non-native fish, which are a threat to native game species.

Bow Fishing is done with archery equipment but using a fiberglass arrow with a barbed point, and the arrow is connected to the bow via a mechanical reel or simple spool. Done from land or by boat, during the day or night, this is an exhilarating challenge. Image left is Gus in 1976 with Gar and bow in hand. Photo description below.

Cane Pole Fishing often referred by Florida statute as the cane-pole exemption, because cane pole fishing does not require a license. The law states, “In Florida you must be a resident who is fishing with live or natural bait, using poles or lines that are not equipped with a fishing line - retrieval mechanism, and you are fishing for noncommercial purposes in your home county. However, you must have a valid fishing license to fish by any method in a fish management area.”

Survival Fishing is simply cane pole fishing, but without the pole. Using natural or artificial bait, natural or synthetic string, this method will strip away most of the technology and just leave the fisherman verses the fish.  If successful, it will bring a sense of confidence to the angler that perhaps they could survive in the wilderness with minimal tools. Exciting!

Although Florida fishing laws are used as an example, other states have similar laws and/or exemptions so checking with the state game commission on a regular basis is important. Fishing regulations change so what may be legal this year may not be the next.

Since not all Florida fish can be taken by all methods, clarification is necessary. Florida freshwater fish are divided into game fish that have specific bag and length limits and may only be taken with pole-and-line or rod-and-reel, and nongame fish, which are all others.

See the chart for types of Florida Game Fish. Non-native fish are those that do not occur in Florida naturally; most should be harvested and never released. Florida Nongame Fish includes all freshwater fish that are NOT defined as game fish. A license is required to take nongame fish, but additional gear types are allowed (as mentioned above).

** See regulations for exemptions other than Cane Pole.
♦ See regulations for special region-specific restrictions.

Resources:
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Freshwater Fishing Regulations, 2016-2017.

Photo description: The photo was taken by my Mom when I was 16 or 17 years old in Fort Worth, TX after a day of fishing on the Trinity River, downtown Fort Worth.  My buddies and I would go there regularly to shoot Carp and Gar. Although some were just thrown away (because they eat game fish), most were harvested and given to resident neighbors to the river who ate them.  We made a lot of friends when we gave away our catch. In the background is my first car, a 1967 Rambler American which I kept until 1982.

This article also appears as a University of Florida / IFAS, Brevard County Extension Fact Sheet Number 6175, by Gus Koerner 4-H Program Assistant.

Convicted Felons and Hunting

I understand how someone who has "paid their debt to society" may feel it's their right to hunt again. Indeed it may be, but be careful. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has posted Florida statute loud and clear in their proclaimation, as follows...  Use of Firearms by Felons - It is illegal in Florida for convicted felons to possess firearms, including muzzleloading guns, unless the convicted felon has had his/her civil rights restored by the state's Clemency Board or the firearm qualifies as an antique firearm under Florida statute 790.001(1). Properly licensed convicted felons may hunt with bows, crossbows or antique firearms per Florida statute 790 during hunting seasons when such devices are legal for taking game.

The 2005 Florida Statutes Title XLVI, Section, 790.001(1) states "Antique firearm means any firearm manufactured in or before 1918 (including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar early type of ignition system) or replica thereof, whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1918, and also any firearm using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1918, for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade." The fact that the firearm is an antique firearm is an affirmative defense that the defendant has the burden of alleging and proving. Williams v. State 482 So.2d 1051 (Fla 1986). Convicted felons should be cautious about being in a location where a firearm is present as they may be in constructive possession of that firearm. Constructive possession occurs when the person knows about the firearm and is in a position to exert dominion and control over that firearm. A felon who is riding in a truck with other hunters who have firearms with them may be in constructive possession of those firearms, depending on the circumstances.

In the May 2009 story, Can a Felon Possess a Firearm in Florida?, the author David M. Goldman relates a decision made by Florida's 5th District Court of Appeals (DCA) that the court agreed that he (the defendant) was able to own an antique firearm but disagreed that his firearm was an antique.  The court stated that Florida case law defines replica as a reasonably exact reproduction of the object involved that, when viewed causes the person to see substantially the same object as the original. The DCA found that (the defendant's) gun was not a replica because the original did not have a fiber optic sight that was present on his gun.  The court also stated that merely having an ignition system similar to that found on an antique firearm is not sufficient to render a firearm a "replica..."

If this story relates to you or someone you know, my advice is to check the laws again before you touch or get in the same proximity as a firearm, and (more than likely) plan on learning the great sport of archery.  If you take the Florida Hunter Safety class, be sure to advise your instructor of your situation before you begin the class.

From One Kid to Another, "My First Deer Hunt"

My First Deer Hunt
By Harley P., age 12, Titusville, FL

  October 11th:  840 miles and 36 hours before the start of the 2012 Kentucky Youth season and with my license and two youth deer tags in hand my dad and I are finally on the road. The butterflies in my stomach feel like a swarm. Dad said if I passed the Hunter Safety Course we would go to Kentucky and could hunt on a couple of farms owned by family and friends.
     We arrived at my uncle’s house Friday morning and after a quick breakfast I got to practice shooting an inline 50 caliber, a percussion cap 50 cal black powder, a lever action .22, and a scoped single shot .243. My uncle said that I had great shooting skills and that made me very happy to hear that because I have not gotten to shoot a lot. The first time I shot the inline, I shot 100 grains instead of 80 because my dad tricked me. But 100 grains was still very fun to shoot. The Rossi .243 single shot had no kick but it was loud and we decided that was the gun I would use since we were going to be hunting open fields and shots over 100 yards were possible. After shooting, my uncle gave me some hunting clothes that my cousins had outgrown.  I packed the inline 50 caliber, the .243, the hunting clothes my uncle let me borrow, and my dad’s first bb gun into the car and then we had to leave and go to my dad’s friend, Mr. Frank’s house.
       When we got to Mr. Frank’s, we took a ride down to his hunting stand and saw several deer out feeding. After a dinner of pork roast and baked beans cooked by Mr. Frank, I finally went to sleep thinking about tomorrow and my first deer hunt.
        I woke up early the next morning and immediately got my hunting clothes on and got all the things I needed for the hunt. When dad and I were ready, we headed to the deer stand at about 6:00 A.M.  The trail getting there was very steep and it was really dark at the time so we had to watch our step. It was still dark when we got to the deer stand and we had to wait for legal shooting hours to start hunting but we still had to be very quiet. At about 7:00 I saw two deer, a doe and a little button buck. I waited a while thinking if I wanted to shoot the doe because I wanted my first deer to be a buck. While I was trying to decide, she walked 50 yards from us and stood broadside, offering a perfect shot. After watching her for several minutes I said “Dad I’m going to shoot this one.” When I was about to shoot she started to get nervous, blew, and ran.  I got really frustrated because my finger was on the trigger before she started to run. I never had butterflies in my stomach like that before.
         About twenty minutes later, a small eight pointer showed up but I had to pass on him. Mr. Frank’s rule was “the antlers had to wider than the ears”. We watched him feed for awhile and I wanted to shoot it so badly but I couldn’t. After the 8 pointer left, a small spike came into the field that I could not shoot.
           After the morning hunt I went to my cousin Levi’s house because he wanted us to hunt with him and his dad at his dad’s friend, Mr. John’s farm. It was early afternoon when we got to the farm and we headed straight to the stand. It was very hard to stay quiet because my dad and I both had a very bad cough. But I waited and waited, watching the soybean field, trying to be quiet.  Finally we saw a deer and it was a big doe. I was ready to shoot that deer even though it was not a buck. I got my gun up, focused my cross hairs on the spot where I wanted to hit the deer, put my finger on the trigger and “CLICK!”- I forgot to take the safety off! She left the field very fast. About 20 or 30 minutes later we see a really good sized doe so I picked up the .243, cocked it, took the safety off, aimed, and pulled the trigger. The deer fell right in her tracks and that made me the happiest person ever.  I went to get my cousin so he could help me load her up but we couldn’t put it on the 4-wheeler by ourselves so I got my uncle to help and we still couldn’t pick her up so we ended up pulling her with the ATV.
     We put her on the trailer and took it to my cousin’s house to skin and butcher her. We put her on the scales and she weighed 170 pounds live weight and after taking pictures and I had to eat part of its heart raw and I did because of tradition. After we cut the deer up and packaged her, I had to go to bed because the next day I was going to try to get another deer.

     Sunday morning we woke up and it was raining very hard. After the rain stopped we went back to Mr. John’s farm. It was still cloudy and looked like it was going to rain again. We went to the same stand and about 30 minutes later it started to rain so I put the rifle under a rain jacket and then I put a rain jacket on. It stopped raining about an hour before dark.  Thirty minutes later, I see a 4 pointer standing near the same spot were the doe had stood. I took the .243, cocked it, took the safety off, and shot.  When I shot him, he fell, got back up and RAN.  Then it really got hard because I had to track it through some very thick bushes in the dark. Levi brought flashlights and I had to find the blood spots and Levi stood at the last place I found blood. After 60 yards I found my first buck and that buck made me even happier than the doe that I got. Levi got his dad and Mr. John to help us and we finally got it to the 4-wheeler. It was hard work to cut it up and get the meat but it was fun and I got to fill out 2 tags in 2 days which made me happy.
     Deer hunting in Kentucky was amazing and I want to thank God for the 2 deer that I got during that weekend. Deer hunting in Kentucky made me so happy I will never forget everything I did there.  Deer hunting in Kentucky was really fun and I hope to hunt there again someday.

End Note by Mr. Gus...
I'm really proud of Harley, not only for this story he submitted and his successful deer harvest, but also for his completion of his Hunter Safety course where we met.  He and his Dad are also strong supporters in our 4-H club, the Mosquito Lagoon Muzzleloaders.  Stories submitted by guest writers are not edited for content, punctuation or length, because it is their story!  If you have a story you would like to have us share with the world, please let us know.

Are you a Safe Hunter for life?

Last weekend I helped teach Florida Hunter Safety at the Titusville Rifle and Pistol Club in Mims, FL, my local gun club.  It was a great class as usual, with about 38 students.  We spend time in the classroom reviewing the different parts of the course such as Safe Gun Handling, Ammunition Types and Wildlife Conservation.  We also get to hear about the Florida Hunting Regulations from a real-live Game Officer.  That part is pretty cool. Finally before the students get their card, they have to show their safety skills with a firearm.  Last weekend we shot .22 rifles and shotguns.  Sometimes we shoot muzzle loaders and bows.  If the students can shoot safely and score 80 out of 100 on the exam, they pass.

It dawned on me a little while back that the Florida Hunter Safety Certification cards have no expiration date!  That means that if I certify a young person, the youngest I've had is age 8, that certification will be good FOREVER.  All my other certifications including those I possess as an instructor, and even a Drivers License all expire within three to five years.  When that time rolls around, I have to take a written or practical exam and sometimes both!

After I calmed down from the shock of a person never having to show their hunting safety skills ever again, I felt a very heavy burden as an instructor.  I realized that every word out of my mouth should be carefully chosen, and I should pay close attention as an educator to make sure the students realize the great responsibility they have.  I also have started to encourage the students to participate in other courses and programs to sharpen their skills, and reinforce the safety knowledge they possess.  I urge parents to take their kids out regularly and practice safe skills.

In my last class, I called up a 12 year old young man and told him, "Bud in 50 years you'll be 62 and still have the same hunter safety certification that you get today, and I'll be long gone.  Make a decision now to be a safe hunter for the rest of your life."  He gulped and said okay.

If you're an instructor, keep this all in mind next time you teach.  If you're a parent, always always always be an example of a safe, ethical hunter to your children and fellow hunters.  If you're a kid or a teen, make a commitment while you're young to be safe forever, and encourage others to do the same.  Be safe, and take the time to enjoy the incredible privilege of hunting we've been given.

FL Hunter Safety is a lifetime certification.

 Photo credit: NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife 2007

Last weekend I taught Hunter Safety class for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and I realized something that blew me away!  When someone receives their Florida Hunter Safety certification, there is no renewal or retesting - ever.  Florida is not unique to this rule.  So everyone, including the 11 year old I passed will be potentially hunting in the woods, FIFTY years from now, with the same certification and approval I gave to him back in 2012.  That's kind of scary.


I worry when every five or so years and I have to get my driver's license renewed, that I'll l still be able to remember the rules and my eyes will work like their supposed to!  Here we are giving an average citizen who is able to pass a fifty question test, and shoot a gun down range, permission to do so for the rest of their lives!  That is a lot of responsibility.


Is that student still going to remember when Mr. Gus taught them?  I doubt it.  Will they remember to be safe, ethical and responsible hunters?  I hope so, but there are no guarantees.  Note to fellow instructors - take your job seriously, knowing you MAY be the only one to instruct this person for the rest of their lives.  Have you adequately driven in the points they need to know and remember?  Note to parents - folks, please reinforce safety and wildlife conservation with your children.  Someone's life WILL DEPEND ON IT.

A disturbing article about declining Moose population in MN.

Photo courtesy of MN DNR

Decline in Moose Population Could End Hunt in Minnesota
    
by Sarah Smith Barnum
February 24, 2012


The crashing moose population in Minnesota has DNR officials considering whether or not to hold a hunting season next year. They will make their decision over the next few weeks.


The population dropped from 8,840 in 2006 to 4,230 this winter. Biologists said that while hunting pressure and wolf predation were contributing factors, they were not the main cause.  DNR researcher Mark Lenarz told the Star Tribune that there are multiple factors affecting the mortality of Minnesota’s moose population, and it seems that climate change could play the largest role.  Lenarz believes that the immune systems of the moose are impaired over time due to the warmer weather, which leaves them vulnerable to illness and parasites.


"If we stopped hunting tomorrow, it wouldn't stop the decline in the population," read the whole article

New UF article on catching that pesky Armadillo.

You know the scientists at the University of Florida / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) do the best job at studying and reporting on issues that concern us all.  When I was a young man we used to trap and BBQ these critters, and now as a Florida home owner they're continually digging in my yard, driving the dog into a barking frenzy!  Here is a good article I'd like to share that was just announced.

Baiting the Nine-banded Armadillo - What is the tastiest treat to tempt an armadillo? Armadillos are one of the most significant nuisance pests in Florida and much of the Southeast. There are no repellents, toxicants, or fumigants registered for use with them. They are good at both burrowing beneath and climbing over fences. There are also no effective methods for baiting them into traps. So the authors of this 3-page fact sheet set up a test to determine which materials have the greatest potential to serve as bait. Written by Holly K. Ober, Lucas W. DeGroote, and Russell F. Mizell III, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, December 2011.


An excerpt, Armadillo feeding activity causes damage in a wide range of locations such as lawns, flower and vegetable gardens, golf courses, sports fields, cemeteries, nurseries, and orange groves. Armadillos have been blamed for reducing bobwhite quail and sea turtle numbers because of their fondness for quail and turtle eggs. Armadillos are also blamed for causing structural instabilities when they dig burrows around and under buildings. In sum, they are one of the most significant nuisance pests in Florida and much of the Southeast.  For the entire article click here.


Soon I'll post some recipes for your enjoyment.

Brevard County Extension Partners With FWC for Advanced Archery Instruction

Seventeen states in the US now require a certification in bow hunting in order to participate in their archery hunts. Florida and others are considering the same requirement. This certification is in addition to the conventional Hunter Safety course now offered. What that means is that when Florida bow hunters go to anyone of the participating states such as Alaska, Vermont or Maine, they will not be able to hunt without showing certification in advanced archery. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) now offers this certification, and several University of Florida Extension Offices offer (or will) this in partnership with FWC, including Brevard.

The reason this training is so important, even though not at this point required in Florida, is that it reinforces basic safety guidelines specific to archery that will help prevent accidents, reinforce ethical decision making, fundamental skills, techniques and tackle. According to the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) almost 90% of bowhunters hunt from elevated stands. Of those 10-37% report having accidents, with 25% of those being seriously injured. Using the teaching materials developed by the NBEF, students learn in hands-on approach topics including tree stand safety as well as equipment preparation and survival techniques.

Initially this class in Brevard will be offered to young archers through the 4-H Youth Development Shooting Sports Program, but will open up to the general public in the spring of 2012. For more information, contact Gus Koerner at 633-1702, ext. 229 or email gkoerner@ufl.edu.