It’s that time of year to once again clean out the files and pass along the hunting tips that that didn’t make into an issue of The Bullet this year along with some of those that did. Enjoy.

  * When putting together a survival kit put matches, a bandana, toilet paper, matches and all other things you don’t want getting wet into zip lock bags to keep dry wrap the bags in paper towels to minimize noise and carry them in a back pack or fanny pack. - Patrick Hardiman

  * When hunting for squirrels, you can make them stop moving for the shot by using a squirrel bark call. Just scrape a quarter over the threads on a good-sized bolt to imitate their barks. It takes a bit of practice, but it will pay off with a bag limit! - Joey Pecorino

  * When squirrel hunting, remember that they only see in black and white, if you have camouflage wear it because even if you have red and yellow Mossy Oak Break up it will still seem like leafs and sticks to them. Also try and stand as still as you can, because they see black and white, they usually detect movement rather than human form. – Zach Weikart

  * Use your cone shaped moose call also for hearing moose better. Just turn it around to your ear. Amazing what ya can hear. - E Bear

  * When heading to the woods in the dark always carry an extra flashlight for backup I always carry extra batteries in my backpack also. - Frank Millikin Jr.

  * When turkey hunting, never stalk noises or follow the sound. It could be another hunter. - Gerald Kelley

  * While squirrel hunting I find it best to spot and slowly make your way toward it. As you walk act like you have no interest in him or the tree he's in. If he runs just stop and watch where he goes then repeat this method. - Drew

  * To keep moisture out of your black powder rifle, put one of those moisture bags from a medicine bottle in the barrel then put bore butter in the barrel. You can also put the bags in your gun cabinet. - Steven Harris

  * I am a taxidermist and not taking care of animals in the field is a big problem. Your animal has to be cooled and then stuck into a freezer soon as possible to keep the hair from slipping if you plan on mounting the animal. - Larry Gene Pate

  * To help cover your scent while deer hunting try this out. Cut an apple in half and rub it on your boots prior to entry into the woods. - John Sons

  * Don't buy scent neutralizer make your own. Use baking soda and distilled water. Mix it 50/50 and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before spraying yourself. Baking soda is very good at killing human odor and it’s cheaper than paying for brand name products. - Luke Roberts

  * To keep moisture out of your muzzleloader, place a small balloon over the barrel. If needed wrap tape around it to tighten it onto the barrel. This will keep your gun clean and won't affect your shot. - Dan Nyreen

  * When using a 5 gallon bucket as a seat while hunting, replace the wire handle with a nylon strap or rope. The handle won't bang against the bucket keeping you quiet. Use a strap that is long enough so you can carry your bucket over your shoulder leaving both hands free to safely carry your weapon.” - Bill Seibel.

  * Never stalk a deer near crows. They will alert the deer to your presence by cawing at you. –Duffy

  * When hunting, let someone know where you are going. Block off any trails not used with two branches crossing each other standing up using rocks as a brace at the bottom. It will help the search and rescue teams out if you get lost." - Corey Hite

  * To get rid of the very fine down left on a duck or goose after cleaning it, take a propane torch and go over the bird with it while it is lit (about 20 seconds should work for a duck) this will singe the remnants of down and make it a much cleaner bird for the oven. Pat Hardiman

  Through all my years, now 71, my greatest gifts, memories, are of nature and its creatures.

  As our son was growing up we hunted, fished and enjoyed time spent together watching nature. Even when hunting ducks, geese and deer, the main focus was not the harvest but watching the show as if they were performing just for us. Great times! When Scott got older and college and career came into view, it just wasn't the same. So he suggested that I might want to get into photography. I did so and for the past 30 years I have found much satisfaction and peace of mind being out there, wherever it may be, photographing nature and its creatures.

  I have watched, listened to and photographed nature from our backyard, with the birds, flowers, rabbits, squirrels to the raw wilderness of Alaska. The wilderness of Alaska is probably my passion and in it photographing bears. It is my belief that the human race can learn a lot from bears! Treat them with respect and they will do the same. Don't do anything stupid and they seem to understand and will not become aggressive. Of course, something can always go wrong. However, I believe it is usually caused by someone being stupid! I believe that as human beings, if we treated others with these same efforts, the world would be a better place.

  As I said, I have traveled to many places from the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, arctic ice of Churchill, Manitoba to photograph polar bears, to the raw wilderness of Alaska to photograph mainly the coastal brown bears. Each trip I returned with great memories of an eye-opening experience with nature.

  This year my friend in Alaska could not join me for our annual nature romp and since going into the wilderness by oneself is not a smart idea, I was determined to make a trek somewhere up north. I checked around and because of my love for bears heard of the "Spirit Bear".

  The Spirit bear is neither an albino nor a polar bear. The Spirit Bear, also known as the Kermode bear, is a white variant of the North American black bear. It is exclusively found in the Great Bear Rainforests of Princess Royal Island and Gribbell Island off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Due to their limited numbers, approximately 400 are known to exist, they are a protected species.

  I did a web search and found a company that offered tours to view and photograph the Spirit Bear. I quickly signed up and started packing my bags.

  I went with a small group of people with the same interest as the sizes of the tours are limited.

  Prince Royal Island is a rain forest, and did truly live up to its name. On one day the natives took us on a long hike to a viewing area where the spirit bears visit to lunch on the salmon in the stream. At first the light rain and fog was not good for photography and no bears were in sight. An hour or so later, the rain stopped, the fog lifted and believe it or not, it turned into a nice day.

  One black bear boar and one sow with cubs came out and started eating salmon in the stream. It was so neat to watch and photograph them. About an hour later, I caught sight of something kind of white to off-white in color coming through the brush. It was a spirit bear! It was so exciting because some people look for them for weeks and never do. I was so excited to see this one-of-a-kind beautiful bear! I had a hard time holding the camera still. After it ate a few fish, it returned to the heavy brush.

  Low and behold, a short time later another spirit bear came out! This experience was truly a super highlight in all my years of photography!

  Now that I have returned home and looked at my photos, I realized how blessed I was for this experience! I say a special thanks to God for nature and its creatures. After all, they are His gifts to us. He created them all!

  As the title says, Nature – God’s Gift! is all around us to watch, learn from and listen to. From our backyards to wilderness areas, it can be found and enjoyed by everyone! I believe the world would be a better place if we took time to watch, listen, learn and appreciate nature and each other. Take a moment from time to time and enjoy God's gifts to us. Say thanks you to Him and I’m pretty sure you will find peace within yourself and your so called “regular” days will be better. – Gary L. Fitzgerald

  From time to time, the Division of Wildlife gets reports of strange fish being caught in Ohio’s public waters. Many times, anglers catch something that they can’t identify or have never seen before. The Division of Wildlife’s fisheries biologists are able to identify many of these “mystery fish” as a native species that are not commonly caught by hook and line. Many anglers mistake the Bowfin (Amia calva) for example, with the dreaded snakehead (Channa spp.), which were prominent in the news a few years ago. Bowfin and snakeheads are somewhat similar in appearance but with a good description, photograph, or careful inspection, can be easily distinguished most of the time.

  Occasionally, anglers report that they have caught a piranha. After investigation, these reports typically end up being the closely related pacu, both tropical fish not suited for Ohio’s environs. Even the Division of Wildlife’s fish management crews capture, through routine sampling, fish that do not belong in the particular lake, like catching trout in a lake that was not stocked or flathead catfish in small impoundments.

  How do these fish get there? Perhaps a fish in a hobbyist’s aquarium got too large or too expensive to take care of. Maybe an angler wants to “help out” and engages in his or her own stocking program. The people doing these sorts of things may have good intentions, but their actions can have serious consequences, not to mention that this practice is illegal.

  This is specifically mentioned in the fishing regulations, “it is unlawful to transport and introduce any aquatic species (fish, invertebrate, plant) from one body of water to another.” Sometimes this regulation raises questions. “Does this mean I can’t take my catch home and release it into my farm pond?” Yes, you can take your catch home and release it into private waters if it was caught legally; however, it is illegal to release your catch into another public body of water.

  Concerns over diseases, invasive species, and consequences to sportfish populations are the most important reasons for this regulation.

  Disease and parasites are a constant concern and could be spread through movement of fish from one water body to another. Some diseases such as Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) have resulted in large fish kills in the Great Lakes and other water areas throughout the United States.

  Invasive species can directly compete with native species, often with negative effects. Probably the most famous example of this in Ohio is the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), which are now found in Lake Erie. Though they were introduced by ballast water from ocean going ships rather than stocking, the results can be the same.

  The Division of Wildlife carefully manages sportfish populations with regulations and stocking. These fisheries management programs are based on careful data collection, study, and science. Introduction of unwanted species can unravel the best management plans, resulting in poor fishing for everyone.

  Though legal to do so, introducing fish you have caught to your own pond can have the same detrimental effects and is not recommended. If you desire to stock your pond, it’s better to acquire your fish from a licensed fish propagator or hatchery. A list of private fish suppliers can be found online. You can also call or write the nearest Division of Wildlife District Office.

  If you have a fish in your aquarium that you can’t care for anymore, try talking with aquarium store owners or network with other aquarists through the many aquarium forums found online. You may find someone to take your fish of your hands. Also, make a practice of draining the livewell of your boat and rinsing the boat hull and trailer to get rid of any unwanted hitch-hikers.

  The message is this: let the Division of Wildlife take care of stocking and managing fish in public waters. This will ensure the best fishing opportunities for everyone and help preserve healthy ecosystems.

  Editor’s Note: This is a problem across the country not just in Ohio. We must, being stewards of our land and waters, to stop the spread of invasive species both on land and in the water. Do your part. Do the right thing!

Source: Leonard Lee Rue III’s Whitetails copyright 1991 by Leonard Lee Rue III.