As
I write this article there is a little less than a week left to the
regular deer season in North Carolina. I hope you were given some
wonderful gifts to start your new year. This is the time we look back
and take stock on the last year and perhaps make note of some things
we would like to change. For many of us this calls for some
resolutions, promises we make to ourselves that we fully intend to do
for the upcoming year. Let us take stock of what we might do for this
year 2017.
Maybe
you got a new bow for this year.. resolve to practice more with it,
to learn its special nuances, make sure you have the right equipment
on your bow, and get the appropriate arrows that are spined and
weighted for your bow. Perhaps you got some new camo-clothing, shoot
in that clothing to make sure there is nothing to impede your arrow's
release, walk in those new boots and break them in. Resolve to go out
and scout more this year, there is nothing like shed-hunting to
further your knowledge of your hunting land. Resolve to go to some of
the myriad of 3-D shoots that take place within or near your area,
it's the closest practice to hunting you will get until next season.
Plan to go to at least one of the game-lands in North Carolina, some
are archery only areas and are great to hunt within. Resolve to
introduce at least one new person to archery. Resolution is simple,
it simply means you are going to try and get better at what you do.
The
opportunity to continue bowhunting still abounds in our state. We
have the “urban archery “ season in various counties, just check
your regulations. Small game opportunities abound throughout the
state until February. Have you tried rabbit or squirrel with the bow
and arrow? Fun would be an understatement. If you haven't tried
traditional archery tackle this would be the prime time to do so.
Please
do not forget our local landowners. Its is one thing to gain access
to someone else's property but you want to insure a great
relationship. Offer to help around the land. Make yourself available.
After
the season is great time to go back and widen those trails and cut
some of the shooting lanes you thought you would have liked earlier
in the season. Cutting and trimming now will help save a lot of time
in the summer months when all the ticks, “skeeters,” and
no-see-ums are active and looking to munch on you.
Consider becoming a member of
the NCBA this year. Our organization is growing and we do lobby for
bowhunting and game legislation in our great state. See our website
for information on many of the activities the organization does and
provides. I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year!
Schedule
of upcoming events:
January
21, 2017 -NCBA rabbit hunt. January 28 is the rain date. Location
to be determined.
March
3 – 5, 2017 – Dixie Deer Classic and the NCBA 3D shoot.
March
25, 2017 - NCBA Annual Awards Banquet at the McCleansville
Wildlife Club.
Respectfully
submitted.
Talmage
Dunn
252-267-5437
District
1 Wildlife Rep for NCBA
