Team Fur News
On Becoming a Bird Dog
By FUR-FISH-GAME Editor, John D. Taylor
Theo is growing up and becoming a fine young bird dog.
On the top shelf of my three-tier desk front sits a Kent Upland FastSteel No. 6 shotshell hull. Inside it are the tympane feathers of a male greater prairie chicken. The bird was my 6-month-old English setter’s second bird on a special early January Sunday afternoon. This “trophy” – more like a remembrance of a special day, because the trophy should go to Theo, not me – marks the coming of age of a young bird dog.
Bringing a bird dog to fruition requires birds. During the 2023 – 2024 season, sharptail numbers seemed to be on substantial uptick in northwestern South Dakota. Last fall and into 2025’s late season, sharptails were quite abundant. Traveling up gravel roads on my way to hunt my coverts, I’d see flocks of 100-plus sharptails flying over the truck to get into sunflower or cornfield feeding grounds. And in my coverts, both setters – almost 13-year-old Ellen, and 3-year-old Willa – were encountering birds in numbers I’d not seen before. A bonus was increasing numbers of Hungarian partridges, too. One day, driving into my coverts, I flushed eight different coveys of Huns along a 10-mile stretch of roadway. Huns were popping up in small coveys where I’d never seen them before.
I figured the several-year drought and a bumper crop of grasshoppers in 2024 had something to do with this. Native prairie grouse, like sharptails and prairie chickens, do better in droughts than pheasants. And the number of grasshoppers was astounding, plague-like. They took four 10-foot rows of 2-1/2-foot-high pole bean plants in my garden down to inch-high stubs in a day and a half, and that’s no exaggeration. They swarmed everywhere. We lost most of the garden, except for chard and some varieties of winter squash that summer. Still, the grasshoppers were an enormous and abundant high protein bounty for prairie grouse chicks growing into adulthood.
I figured, going into the spring and summer of 2025, that grouse numbers would skyrocket. Spring and summer were wet, wetter than usual. The grasshoppers were gone, almost nonexistent. And, running true to course, what prairie took away one year, she returned the next, because the garden produced like never before.
Still, things changed, the wind shifted and what seemed like a cloud of horribly bad luck hovered overhead, topping with the tragedy of losing Willa in late June.
Theo came home with me a month later, a gangly 9-week-old puppy, precocious and full of energy. I knew that a puppy whelped in mid-May would only be four months old by the time mid-September’s sharptail season rolled around. Yet I believed I could introduce him to the things he’d need to know as a gun-dog prospect. We worked on not being scared of loud sounds – banging pots and pans together while he was feeding – and eventually a cap gun, then blank pistol gunfire. Obedience training was begun, especially recall (get your rump in here, now), heel, sit, wait for release to eat, etc.
I also introduced him to birds.
A few days after he came home, I took him to our backyard chicken and chukar pens. The big, white, egg-laying leghorns held his interest as he stalked them and threw some beautiful puppy points, points that were lavished with praise. The chukars, too, got some of his attention. We repeated these visits occasionally.
By August, I saw he was ready to encounter a bird or two on his own. So, I planted a couple of chukars and let him try to work them. It was windy that day, so I led him into a spot downwind of the bird, planted in tall grass, and let him figure it out. Amazingly, this little guy caught wind of the chukars, worked into the scent and locked up tight on the first, then the second bird.
Yowza! This boy might just make a good bird dog, I thought.
September arrived and I figured the best I could do with him was to let him run with 13-year-old Ellen and encounter what he would. I wasn’t looking for performance from Theo, just introductions and exposure to his future world.
Summer’s bad luck continued to hover, however.
September, even late into the month, when there’s typically a light frost or two, was more like a continuation of July and August, with hot, 85 to 90 degree days, weather not conducive to hunting dogs at the beginning and end of the setter life spectrum. The heat barely subsided, lasting well into October.
There were a couple of days when it was fit to hunt, and we went. But the sharptail and Hun bounty of previous years vaporized. We moved only a couple sharptails, no Huns, where there were 25 or more grouse and two Hun coveys in those coverts the previous fall. And pheasant numbers, always far less on the West River side of South Dakota than on the East River side, were largely gone, too.
No grasshoppers, avian influenza, West Nile... what was destroying the bird numbers?
Meanwhile, the tourist promotion geniuses (despite being called wildlife biologists) at South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Department were pumping up 2024-2025’s big sharptail harvest as evidence that prairie grouse numbers were great. They encouraged out-of-state hunters to shoot them up when they came for the state’s vaunted pheasant hunt.
That might have worked, East River. But in my region, it was a recipe for disaster. If you shoot up seed birds, you’ll have nothing in the coverts for years to come. Finding spent shells and other hunter “residue” (slobs left garbage everywhere) in my typically hunter-empty coverts made me furious.
All fall, we tried to get into sharptails. October, still warm, bled into a November that felt more like September weather-wise. Frustrating hunt after frustrating hunt produced nothing. Even the 7-11 covert, a national grassland sharptail haven in the worst of years, proved empty. We moved a single covey of eight sharptails that blew out at 75 yards in a high wind.
I pushed further East and found a few more birds in familiar places. Evidently whatever impacted birds in the northwestern region hadn’t hit the center of the state, and I finally blooded Theo to sharptails when he fetched his first bird.
Mid-November’s big game season came. My focus shifted from getting the dogs into birds to filling the freezer with venison. I had three deer tags (one buck, two antlerless) and a December cow elk tag. The elk tag went unfilled despite five days of hard hunting, but by mid-December, after filling my East River antlerless tag, that mission that was accomplished.
South Dakota’s bird season concludes at the end of January. So, there was still time to get the dogs back out and try some more. The weather had modified some during elk season yet remained unseasonably warm. We were having 50- and 60-degree days with little or no snow when the year before it was 30 below and 4-foot drifts covered parts of the garden.
I figured to try some coverts further east. This would require full weekends away, motel stays, not going home after hunts. Nancy was okay with that, and Theo, now a lanky 6-month-old seemed more up to the task.
The weekend after Christmas, we hunted east of the Missouri River, in coverts northwest of Mitchell. We got into pheasants, and there was this big change in Theo. He was animated by all the bird scent the big ringnecks threw down. It was like a switch turned on in him. He recognized and came to fulfill his purpose in life. Three productive points on tough, running late-season roosters showed me the little guy had what it took. Ellen, for being an old lady, was also doing well. I blooded Theo to rooster when he fetched a bird Ellen pointed.
The weekend after New Years, with Ellen on the injured and reserved list, I took Theo alone towards state capital Pierre. We’d hunt the Ft. Pierre National Grasslands and some Walk-Ins I’d discovered nearby in the 20-plus years I’ve been roaming my state, focusing mainly on pheasants.
Passing Murdo, on I-90, it was 25 degrees and had started to snow. With half the day already consumed by travel, I took the first road running past some Walk-Ins at the southern end of the grasslands. I wanted to get Theo hunting, not drive. I parked at the northeastern edge of the Walk-In, put Theo’s e-collar on and began our hunt.
The Walk-In’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) mixed grass was flanked by a huge harvested sunflower field, perfect for late season birds. They’d feed in the sunflowers then move into the CRP cover. I hoped we’d catch them before they flushed wild.
The snow continued to fall, big flakes, and covered the CRP’s grass clumps mashed down by a previous snowfall. Pheasant and prairie chicken tracks marked the snow between clumps. There were definitely birds here.
We worked the CRP edge, 50 yards into the grass, first. About 150 yards out, a flight of 20 prairie chickens headed towards their feeding area sailed overhead, way too high for a shot. Theo, meanwhile, 40 yards ahead, acted birdy the whole way out, his long, feathered tail wagging, his nose hard at work deciphering the vagaries of bird scent.
We descended into a small ravine covered with a denser tallgrass bottom. I expected the pheasants to start flushing, but none did. Theo dashed through the grass, a tri-colored blur still working bird scent. We continued on, past where the half-mile long sunflower field edge ended and a harvested wheat field replaced it, then swung around, moving 120 yards into the grass and against the wind.
Theo looped out and began working the wind in 75-yard dashes back and forth in front of me. I recognized this as an effective pheasant tactic that would pin birds between us and make for good points.
It wasn’t long before exactly that happened. Theo spun around, worked scent towards me, then locked up in front of a bent clump of grass. I hurried forward. Five steps in, a hen pheasant flushed from under the clump.
We continued on. Theo made point after point. Some were the result of a 15-yard scent trail. Some happened very fast, a dog coming quickly upon scent and twisting into a “pretzel logic” point. The one that had my heart thumping harder was a 20-yard stalk that resulted in Theo stretched out, head and tail high, an Osthaus English setter painting-like point. Three hens burst simultaneously from under a grass clump. Oh, the glory that boy earned that afternoon.
Finally, at the end of the CRP field, Theo locked up on a clump of grass and a rooster roared out. I missed him with both barrels, but Theo got the message. He was a wonderful boy, and I saw what might be my best English setter yet developing into a solid bird hunter. He reminded me of Evan, another tri-colored setter, who had a great knack for setting himself, me and birds up for shots. I saw this happen time and time again, far too often to be coincidence.
Theo repeated his great work in our final covert, heading back home to Box Elder, and was blooded to prairie chickens. Looking back, I must say that despite the troubles we had finally getting into birds, Theo is developing nicely. He’s been blooded to all of my state’s best gamebirds – sharptails, prairie chickens and pheasants. Perhaps the Huns will come in his second season.
Wisconsin Elk Season Lucky For 13 Hunters
WDNR's Elk Management Program is driven by revenue received from hunter application fees.
Wisconsin completed its eighth managed elk hunt in 2025, and the hunt proved lucky for 13 state hunters, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). These hunters were drawn from a pool of more than 26,000 applicants. WDNR received 17,737 applications to hunt in the Clam Lake (Northern) Elk Range and 8,452 applications for the Black River (Central) Elk Range. An eight-bull quota was established for Clam Lake, with four licenses awarded to state hunters, and, per treaty rights, the four bull elk going to the Ojibwe Tribes. In the Black River Elk Range, five antlerless and four bull licenses were issued to state hunters, up from a four-bull quota in 2024. State-licensed hunters found success in both elk ranges. Seven bulls and five antlerless elk were harvested statewide. Hunters filled all five antlerless tags and three of four bull tags in the Black River Elk Range, and all four state-licensed hunters harvested bulls in Clam Lake. Hunters can apply for the 2026 elk season beginning March 1 through May 31. The 2026 elk season opens Saturday, October 17. Visit WDNR’s elk webpage, https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/elk to apply or for more information. WDNR's Elk Management Program is driven by revenue received from hunter application fees. For each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat restoration and research.
Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp Features Killdeer
Jennifer Beck’s photo of a killdeer is on the 2026 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp.
An extraordinary photograph of a killdeer and its chick will be featured on the 2026 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The winning photo was taken in Cuyahoga County by Jennifer Beck of Lyndhurst, Ohio. Beck’s photo was chosen as the winner of the 17th annual legacy stamp photo contest based on originality, composition, technical excellence and overall beauty. This year’s contest had 57 entries, and submissions were required to feature a shorebird. Beck is a two-time winner of the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp photo competition. Kildeer are one of Ohio’s most abundant shorebirds, found on beaches and in wetlands, bare fields, grassy lawns, even parking lots. Killdeer lay well-camouflaged eggs in gravel and successfully nest along driveways, on rooftops, or in parking lots as well as more natural habitats. A $15 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp is a way for people to directly contribute to future management of Ohio’s wildlife. The stamp comes with a commemorative card and a sticker and is available in March through any location that sells hunting or fishing licenses. All stamp proceeds go to wildlife conservation.
Deer News: Some Good, Some Not So Good
Devon Cota of East Montpelier, Vermont with the 171-pound buck he took
in Washington County Vermont in 2025.
Vermont’s hunters took more than 17,000 deer last fall. Hunters took nearly 9,700 bucks, up slightly from 2024 (9,356), but very close to the previous 3-year average of 9,608. The antlerless deer harvest topped 8,000, up from the previous 3-year average of 7,598. A final season report will be available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website this month.
In Ohio, hunters tagged 13,055 whitetails during Ohio’s four-day muzzleloader season says the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Last year, hunters checked 13,495 deer during the muzzleloader season. Over the last three years, hunters bagged an average of 13,269 deer. Hunters checked 3,473 bucks (27% of deer tagged) and 9,582 antlerless deer (73%). Top counties were Coshocton (557), Tuscarawas (491), Carroll (451), Muskingum (437) and Knox (393). Altogether last fall, Ohio hunters tagged nearly 100,000 archery deer, 9,800 Youth gun, and 124,000 gun deer. For details visit wildohio.gov.
Meanwhile, chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance in southwestern Nebraska during the fall deer seasons detected 197 positive CWD cases in the Buffalo, Republican, Platte and Frenchman management units, says Nebraska Game and Parks (NGP). Some 785 samples were tested, with CWD appearing for the first time in Logan, Kearney and Nuckolls counties. CWD surveillance in Nebraska is implemented in four to seven units each year, rotating to a different part of the state. Since 1997, NGP has tested more than 58,000 deer and 400 elk for CWD. More than 1,500 deer and 30 elk tested positive. CWD has been detected in free-ranging deer or elk in 71 Nebraska counties. The fatal disease was first discovered in Colorado in 1967 and in Nebraska in 2000 in Kimball County. To date, it has been detected in 36 states. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov for more information.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Expected to Increase During Winter
Avian influenza has struck New York birds. Photo: Rhonda Sciorilli/NY DEC
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to infect birds and mammals across the U.S. and Canada, including in New York state. During November and December of 2025, DEC received 69 reports of suspect mortalities, and presumptive positive cases were detected in wild birds in 10 counties. HPAI may remain high through spring when large numbers of ducks and geese migrate through the state. There is no treatment for HPAI, and transporting suspected HPAI-infected birds to wildlife rehabilitation facilities is discouraged to prevent the spread of the disease. HPAI is carried by free-flying waterfowl and other waterbirds, such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds, but can also infect domestic poultry, raptors, corvids and mammals. DEC’s Wildlife Health Program is monitoring the spread and impact of HPAI throughout the state. To report suspected HPAI mortalities, visit https://survey123.arcgis.com Updates on HPAI can be found on Cornell Wildlife Health Lab website, https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/article/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza.
2026 Nebraska Fishing Forecast, Guide Available
Nebraska Game and Parks wants to help anglers enjoy the variety
of fishing available in Nebraska. Photo: Clark Young/Unsplash
Nebraska Game and Parks’ 2026 Fishing Forecast and 2026 Fishing Guide can help plan your next fishing trip — no matter the season – and is now available to download at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Print copies can be found at retailers where fishing permits are sold. The now-larger Fishing Guide is a summary of regulations and orders and includes a section detailing the state’s public fishing areas. The Fishing Forecast provides a look at where some of the best fishing, maybe some of the biggest fish, might be found based on 2025 lake samplings. Find additional planning tools, such as the fish stocking database, lake contour maps, and other fishing publications — or buy your annual fishing permit at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search for “Fishing guides and reports.”
Boaters Should Prepare For Safe Boating Season
Prepare for a safe boating season by taking an Ohio the Ohio Boating Education Course.
While many of Ohio’s waterways may still be frozen over, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reminds boaters that safety starts long before a boat ever returns to the water. Winter is the perfect time to complete the Ohio Boating Education Course (OBEC) and be fully prepared when boating season arrives. Whether you’re new to boating or a seasoned operator, the OBEC provides essential knowledge to help boaters navigate Ohio’s lakes and rivers safely, legally and confidently. The OBEC is typically a one-day, in-person course that covers critical topics including boating laws and responsibilities, navigation rules, emergency procedures and water sports safety. The course fulfills Ohio’s boater education requirement for anyone born on or after January 1, 1982, who operates a boat powered by more than 10 horsepower. OBEC is approved nationwide, making it a valuable resource for boaters who plan to operate vessels in other states. Each course concludes with a test to ensure participants understand the material and are prepared for real-world boating situations. OBEC courses are offered free, although advance registration is required. Visit ohiodnr.gov/boating to find an upcoming OBECs.
Add Conifers To Help Wildlife
Minnesota’s DNR urges woodland owners to consider adding
conifers to help wildlife survive harsh winters.
During winter, conifers such as pine, spruce and fir provide critical cover that helps wildlife survive cold, wind and deep snow. That’s why the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is encouraging the nearly 200,000 woodland owners across the state to consider how conifers might fit into their woodland management plans. By including conifers as an aspect of a broader woodland stewardship plan, woodland owners are supporting wildlife. For example, whitetail deer use conifer cover to conserve energy during deep-snow periods. Turkey, grouse and songbirds rely on conifers for shelter, nesting and food as well. Of the more than 17 million acres of forested land in the state, nearly half is private woodlands. How woodlands connect with surrounding forests can help or hinder wildlife movement and access to winter cover.
The DNR offers resources, seedlings and forestry services to help landowners plan for how a woodland will change over time. Woodland owners can learn more about trees, forests, and what species would grow well on their land through MDNR’s “Woodland Landowner Handbook” (mndnr.gov/woodlands) or by working with a professional forester to develop a woodland stewardship plan (mndnr.gov/foreststewardship/plan-writers.html). The DNR also offers native conifer seedlings through the Minnesota State Forest Nursery (mndnr.gov/forestry/nursery).
Wisconsin Looking For Black Bear Dens
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources wants to locate bear dens and needs the public’s help.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) encourages the public to report any black bear den locations to help an ongoing statewide black bear reproduction and population study. WDNR's bear den team has begun surveying dens for the season but welcomes additional den reports. The “Black Bear Litter and Diet Survey” will generate new data within each bear management zone, which will improve the accuracy of population models. Additionally, researchers are investigating a connection between consumption of human food sources and bear reproduction, since diet can affect cub survival rates and litter sizes. Bear cubs are typically born in late January or early February, and dens are often found during this time because people can hear the cubs squeaking, grunting or humming, usually while nursing. The research team will take den reports statewide and is particularly interested in dens found in bear south of state Highway 64. The public is encouraged to report dens without approaching or disturbing them. Helpful information includes: GPS coordinates, a photo of the den showing it in relation to its surroundings from a safe 30-yard distance, a description of the site and the surrounding area, and any information on bear activity, like fresh tracks. To report a black bear den, visit the DNR's black bear den submission form, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7DSMFZS.
Continuous, General CRP Signups Announced
The Conservation Reserve Program provides cover for pheasants, quail, and other
grassland species. Photo: Hans Veth/Unsplash
Agricultural producers and private landowners can sign up for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through March 20, or general CRP from March 9 through April 17. This conservation opportunity gives producers tools to conserve wildlife habitat while achieving other conservation benefits, including sequestering carbon and improving water quality and soil health. The program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes. CRP offers a range of conservation options to farmers, ranchers, and landowners. It has been an especially strong opportunity for farmers with less productive or marginal cropland, helping them re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. Under Continuous CRP, environmentally sensitive land devoted to certain conservation practices may be enrolled at any time. Offers are accepted automatically if the land and producer meet eligibility requirements and enrollment levels are not met. Unlike CRP enrollments under general CRP signups or Grassland CRP, offers for Continuous CRP are not subject to competitive bidding during specific periods. General CRP helps producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Nebraska’s Game and Parks Commission recognizes the importance of CRP for wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities. When managed appropriately, CRP provides cover for pheasants, quail, and other grassland species. Additional incentives through the Berggren Pheasant Plan or Open Fields and Waters Program may be available to CRP participants who are interested in going above and beyond minimum CRP requirements or providing public hunting access. For more information, contact your local US Department of Agriculture Service Center.
North Dakota Youth Waterfowl Summer Camp
North Dakota is offering a waterfowl camp for kids
ages 13-17 this summer. Photo: Sam Keckeisen/Shutterstock
The 2nd Battalion of North Dakota Waterfowl Brigade will be held July 7 to 11 at the 4-H Center in Washburn, North Dakota. NDWTFL is a five-day hands-on immersive learning experience for youth ages 13-17. The camp is designed to educate participants about the importance of wetland ecosystems, waterfowl biology, flock dynamics, shooting skills and safety, stewardship, public speaking, leadership development and more. The North Dakota Waterfowl Brigade motivates youth to become conservation ambassadors by learning the necessary skills to become the leaders of tomorrow. The deadline to apply is March 15. NDWTFL is a program of Texas Brigades, a Texas-based 501(c)(3) focused on educating and empowering adolescents to become conservation ambassadors. Visit https://www.texasbrigades.org/waterfowl-brigade-nd.
UPCOMING EVENTS
New Mexico Trapper’s Association - The New Mexico Trappers’ Association will hold a fur auction and rendezvous March 5 – 8 at Mountain View Christian Camp, in Alto, New Mexico. For more information, contact Shelly (575) 649-1684 or email gypsytrapper@yahoo.com.
West Virginia Trappers’ Association - The West Virginia Trappers’ Association will hold their annual Spring Fur Auction March 6 - 8, 2026 at the Gilmer County Recreation Center, 1365 Sycamore Run Road, in Glenville, West Virginia. Vendors will be present throughout the weekend. Consignment for finished fur, roots, deer horns etc., begins at 9 a.m., Friday, March 6, and on Saturday, March 7. The fur auction will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. Ginseng will be sold to individuals outside, and not through the WVTA auction. Admission is free, all are welcome. Contact Jeremiah Whitlatch (304) 916-3329 or visit www.wvtrappers.com
Virginia Trappers’ Association - The Virginia Trappers’ Association (VTA) will hold its Eastern fur sale on March 14, at 12400 Herndon Rd, in Spotsylvania, from 7 a.m. until finished. Inspections begin at 8 a.m., the auction starts at 9 a.m. Same day registration is available. Also, on June 5 and 6, 2026, VTA will hold its annual Rendezvous at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, 4808 S. Valley Pike Rd., in Harrisonburg. Call or text Craig Kunkel at (540) 539-1409 for more information.
Connecticut Trappers’ Association - The Connecticut Trappers’ Association will hold a spring fur sale April 4, at the Tolland County Agricultural Center, located at 24 Hyde Avenue, in Vernon, Connecticut. Fur drop off is 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. CTA membership is not required to sell fur, and there is no commission. Buyers are welcome. Contact Cameron Kelsey (619) 997-2345 or Scott Kneeland (860) 234-3192.
Texas Trappers’ and Fur Harvesters’ Association - Texas Trappers’ and Fur Harvesters’ Association will hold their Spring Rendezvous April 24 and 25 at the Mashburn Event Center, located at 1100 7th NW, in Childers, Texas. Visit www.ttfha.com for more information.
Maine Trappers’ Association - The Central Maine Chapter of the Maine Trappers’ Association will hold its annual Spring Fur Auction April 26, at the Palmyra Community Center, 768 Main St., in Palmyra, Maine. Doors open at 7 a.m., the auction begins at 8 a.m. Maine wardens will be on site to tag furs. A 3% commission is charged. Contact Ted Perkins at (207) 570-6243.
New England Trappers’ Weekend will be held August 13 – 15 in Bethel, Maine. Contact Neil Olson cell - (207) 749-1179, home (207) 875-5765
Coming in our April 2026 Issue
Features
• Spinning Rod Muskies - Phil Goes and his sons discover you don’t need baitcasting gear to catch muskies on spinners.
• No. 160 Bodygrip Traps - Cameron Kelsey shares how No. 160 bodygrips have more uses than most trappers appreciate. They are a versatile workhorse trap.
• Turkeys With A .410? - David Zeug explores going light for spring gobblers with his .410 loaded with No. 9 TSS shot. It works.
• Small River Walleyes - Rob Dankowsky shares three fishing patterns that produce
walleyes in small flowing waters.
• Of Hounds And Houndsmen - Conner Geelhoed tells how hunting black bears over Plott hounds bred specifically for this sparks generations of traditions.
• Redemption Ram - T. Kelly shares his journey on a second quest for a Dall sheep ram in wild Alaska.
Other Stories
• The Art Of Invisibility – Joe Blake tells how to blend in.
• Catching The Last Steelhead –Geoff Coleman looks at catching late season steelhead.
• Trap With Those Who Taught You – Nile Anderson shares his experiences trapping with his mentors.
• Kokanee Fishing Saved My Life – Sharon Trammel recalls how good times kokanee fishing inspired her.
• Let’s Go: A Maine Bear Hunt – Drew Haupt tells how his friend Keith Woodruff is always willing to join him on a hunting adventure
• What Brings You Back? – Pat Donnelly looks at what keeps him trapping.
• Partnerships In Wildlife Restoration – Doug Olson tells how working with state and local wildlifers improved his property for hunting.
• Big Game And Gun Dogs – Chad Incorvia says bring your bird dog along big game hunting.
• Upcoming Events
• My First Limit Of Trout – Garett Boop shares a funny tale about his first limit of trout.
End of the Line Photo of the Month
Thomas Dube, Saco, Maine
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