Wet, cold spring delayed and canceled sunflower planting in some areas

 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is reminding the state’s dove hunters to scout sites before applying for permits as some hunting areas were unable to plant sunflowers due to an unusually cool, wet spring.

  “Unfortunately, this spring’s weather just didn’t cooperate with our typical sunflower planting schedule,” said Ryan Prehn, chief of parks, IDNR. “In fact, only a small percentage of sunflowers were planted on time and, at some hunting areas, park staff were unable to plant sunflowers at all. In many cases, our staff has planted alternative crops instead.”

  While dove sites will still be available, Prehn said there may not be an active crop in the fields and the agency wanted to let hunters know so they could plan accordingly.

  “When it comes to managing natural areas, weather challenges come with the territory,” Prehn said. “When we encounter those challenges, we do the best we can, but it does mean that concessions have to be made. That’s why we’re asking hunters to scout sites before permit drawings so they know the conditions of the fields.”

 The sites affected by delayed or canceled sunflower planting are listed at the link below. https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/IDNR-DoveSeasonUpdate.pdf.

 Go to https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/ for all the information you need on the outdoor adventures in Illinois.

 Though the preceding was released from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources its message is clear, you need to scout your dove hunting areas now. The wet and flooded conditions that plagued most of the middle of the country and still do in many places delayed the planting season or canceled it altogether.

 That means two things: You may not find doves in your usual hunting spot which is a bummer or Two; the doves will be concentrated in a few areas making for some great hunting!

  It’s been awhile since I shared a tale of my great hunting prowess and it’s going to be awhile still. As I sat cooling off the other day from enjoying my favorite summer time hobby, cutting the grass, my thoughts turned to the upcoming hunting season and then to last season’s failures. There were a couple but for this story we’ll focus on just one that occurred during the first weekend of firearm season.

  Opening morning saw me, and nephews Tim and Chris in our stands scattered across my property. Tim in Death Valley, Chris at Sleepy Hollow and me in the Permanent Stand. We were all pumped at the chance to take one of the many bucks that had been photographed on the trail cams that fall.

  After a few hours I heard Chris shoot and immediately went on alert as his stand isn’t far from mine and there was a chance that if there were more than one they might end up in front of me giving me a chance. Confirming via text that he had shot I waited to hear the results.

  After 15 minutes or so he finally texted that he had missed the deer. The doe got away clean to taunt us another time.

  The stand I hunt is at the crossroads of many trails. Deer can come from every direction so you have to be constantly scanning the area. I had been looking left then scanned right then back again and, Bam! there was big 8 pointer standing at the edge of the field twenty yards away about to cross a narrow opening in the field. He wasn’t in a hurry, just strolling along.

  There wasn’t much time. By the time I got my gun up and got into position he had strode across the opening and behind a bush. He was going to cross into a small window that would give me one chance at a clean shot.

 But he had different plans. As he entered the opening I used the tried and true “Mah” on him. He strolled on.

 I grabbed my “Can” call and hit it. No response. I then hit him with the grunt call. Still no reaction. He was on a mission and nothing I did was going to stop him. Personally I think he was so old he was hard of hearing and forgot to change his batteries in his hearing-aid that morning.

 I watched the buck as he circled around me, jumped the fence and disappear into the undergrowth.

  I wasn’t too down. After all it was only opening day and there was a lot of time for another buck to come into range. I settled back into my vigilant watch.

 Sometime later I heard a shot from Tim’s direction.

 Texting him he confirmed that he had shot and just like Chris, missed.

 Of course I started laying it on the boys then.

 “Can’t hit the broadside of a barn”.

  “You guys couldn’t hit water if you fell out of a boat”.

 “Guess it’s up to me to put some meat on the pole. I gotta do everything.”

 I could say all of this because I hadn’t shot and missed and reminded them of it at lunch.

 The afternoon was pretty uneventful until 4:20.

 I spied a deer working its way up the edge of the field to my right. It grazed along at a casual pace as a grabbed my binoculars to look it over to see exactly what I was about to shoot. Was it a doe or button buck?

 Through the limbs that partially blocked my view it finally gave me a good view and determined it was a doe. Good. “Doe, it’s on the pole.” Now I just had to wait for a clear shot.

 Several minutes went by as it got closer and closer.

 I put the crosshairs of the scope on it many times but the view was always partially blocked by limbs.

 She finally turned right and starting crossing the field at about 25 yards. Perfect set-up! I still needed to wait until she cleared the limbs.

 “I’m going to show them boys how it’s done. Yes sireee. Meat on the pole!”

 She kept working her way into the open and I put the gun to my shoulder.

 “Gonna be big man in camp tonight. Only one to get a deer.”

 I placed the crosshairs on the sweet spot, went “mah” and just as I squeezed the trigger with thoughts of “showing the boys how you do it” a sudden “what’s that blurry thing in the scope?” hit my brain.

 The doe jumped straight up at the sound of the shot and took off running across the field, into the trees and out of sight. Her tail was down, then up, then kind of neutral.

 I was sure I had hit her and she was balled up over in the brush.

 I texted the boys, “scratch one slick-head”. I almost hurt my arm patting myself on the back.

 With it starting to get late and not wanting to track and dress her in the dark I grabbed my cleaning bag containing my knife, gloves and accessories and got down out the stand.

 I crossed the spot in the field where she had been standing on my way to the other side and saw no blood.

 Getting to the spot where she had entered the brush I still saw no blood.

 After a 15 minute search no blood or deer had been found. It had been a clean miss.

 Getting back into my stand as there was still a little shooting time left I started replaying the chain of events in my head.

 “She had jumped straight up when I shot. That means I shot under her. That means the blurry thing in the scope was a limb obstructing the view."

  My “for sure, meat on the pole, big man in camp” shot had hit a limb and deflected under the doe causing her subsequent exit out of my life and with it my bragging rights.

 I had to eat a little crow that evening for giving the fellows so much “business” for missing. It was all in good fun. That’s one of the great things about deer camp, all of the b-s.

 Chris got to be “big man in camp” as he redeemed himself by taking a doe at the same time I was searching for my deer. The shot had really startled me as they all do when everything is quiet and you’re not expecting it.

 I came through the next afternoon by taking a button buck. (don’t judge me.) Tim got on the score board with a doe and Chris took a small buck with a messed up rack. Brother-in-law Tommy scored a doe over on his place so at least we all had some meat for the freezer.

 I’m starting to get excited about the upcoming season. My friend Steve invited me come down and bow hunt his property in Missouri this fall giving me a new place for another chapter in my ongoing saga I call, “My Series of Unfortunate Hunts”. I’ll let you know how it goes. Until then, Jim Bob.

  The summer season means more time spent outdoors camping, fishing, exercising and hiking. A little extra consideration for your feet can help make sure your outside doesn’t turn into an agonizingly painful ordeal.

  A blister occurs when a small area of the skin is repeatedly rubbed with enough force to injure underlying cells. These injured cells secrete clear fluid or blood under the skin creating a tender vesicle. If the force and friction continues the vesicle will often break to form a painful erosion. Blisters can be prevented. The main points to consider in blister prevention include: reduce pressure points, minimize friction, and keep skin dry.

 One of the easiest ways to reduce pressure points is to wear properly fitting shoes. The right size and the right width is essential. Consider the thickness of sock you plan to wear with the shoes/boots before you make your purchase. You’ll need more room for thick wool hunting socks than you would with thin dress socks. Take some time to “break-in” your shoes or boots by wearing them around the house. This will give you a chance to discover any pressure points on your feet that you may need to pad when you actually hike or walk in the shoes or boots.

  There are several ways to minimize friction and the resulting damage to tissue. Coating feet with petroleum jelly or A & D before applying socks lubricates the skin and helps to reduce friction and the chance of blister formation. Although cotton socks were long thought the best footwear, it’s been found that cotton fibers swell from sweat, becoming more binding, and in fact contribute to friction blisters. Synthetic socks like acrylic and polypropylene and wool socks are more resilient than cotton. The extra bounce these fibers have help to diminish friction. Placing moleskin, a bandage, or sports tape on popular blister spots can help reduce friction and pressure to tissues. Double layer socks, with the inner layer of a wicking fabric, can also help to prevent friction on the foot itself.

 Prolonged moisture against skin softens the outer layer and reduces the ability to protect against injury. Thus, wet feet injure more quickly. Once again, cotton socks are not the best choice since they absorb foot seat and result in constant moisture exposure. Synthetic socks made of acrylic, polypropylene, or wool actually wick moisture away from the skin. If your feet sweat heavily, plan on a complete sock change. The wet socks can be hung from your pack to dry while finishing your hike.

 You might try a dusting of corn starch in your socks and shoes to help keep feet dry. Some claim that soaking the feet in Epsom salts reduces the amount of sweating. There are also numerous products, powders and sprays, available over the counter to help with foot care. Some just help to keep feet dry while others are anti-fungal in addition to help keeping your feet dry. Take the time to experiment to find out what works best for you. Prevention is always the least painful and least expensive medicine.

  If you do happen to get a blister, treatment depends on its size and location. Small blisters usually heal with minor treatment. Stop the forceful friction and/or cushion the site and do not open the blister. The epidermal (skin) roof acts as a natural barrier to infection. Larger blisters, more than 1 cm in diameter, may create additional pressure and skin injury, so consider draining them.

 The following guidelines should help you safely drain a blister while minimizing the risk of infection. Keep in mind that any time you puncture or open the skin you open a path for bacteria to enter.

  * Swab the blister area rubbing alcohol and let it air dry.

  * Sterilize a needle (sewing needle works) for 10 seconds in a flame.

 * Puncture the edge not the middle of the blister near the skin. The smaller the hole the better.

 * Apply gentle pressure to squeeze out the fluid.

 * Do not remove or rub off the top of the blister.

 * Apply antibiotic ointment to the area. Avoid alcohol or iodine.

 * Cover with sterile gauze or bandage.

 * Discard the needle into a sturdy plastic or metal container.

 * Wash the area with soap and water at least once a day and apply new ointment and bandage.

  * If pus or redness develops, seek medical attention.

 Although blistered feet can turn a leisurely stroll into a limping nightmare, you have the power to avoid or at least minimize this agony. Planning ahead with proper footwear, quality socks, and adequate moisture protection can all the difference.