Some happy cold hunting is over

James Morgan of Davie County caught this monster blue catfish on Badin Lake the first week of January. It weighed 72 pounds.

By Anthony Sharum

Special to the Salisbury Post

As the coldest blast of winter arrived across the area just after the last day of deer season, local hunters whispered a prayer of thanks.

Some were thankful the season was over; others were just glad they would not feel obligated to be hunkered in a stand or blind shivering, with the hopes of seeing that last glimpse of a trophy buck.

Deer season in Rowan, Cabarrus and Davidson counties ended with no reports of serious hunting accidents. Although there were fatal accidents in other parts of the state, local hunters had a safe, productive season.

Several check-in stations reported slightly lower deer harvest numbers this season. Speculation was that more hunters were looking for trophy class deer and letting does and small bucks pass. Many hunters also were calling their big game harvest in by telephone or registering it online at the N.C. Wildlife Web site. It will be several months before the deer harvest numbers are compiled and available.

Small game, ducks

Small game hunters have been active across Rowan and Davidson counties since the close of deer season. Most enjoyed having the deer season end on a Friday, leaving the woods clear for their pack of beagles on Saturday, Jan. 2. Windy conditions made hearing distant dogs chasing a long-winded cottontail tough, but hunters had reasonable success.

Most reported jumping plenty of rabbits, with several getting their limit. The daily bag limit on rabbits is five per hunter per day. Rabbit, quail, raccoon and grouse season ends, Feb. 28. Squirrel season ends Feb. 13, with fox and squirrel season already closed in counties that have a season.

Duck hunters have been braving ice, wind and chilling cold on High Rock Lake and the Yadkin River. With water levels near full, most all back-water areas, pot-holes, beaver swamps or other connected creeks/ponds to the Yadkin River are filled to capacity. This can make duck hunting difficult by causing waterfowl to disperse into many different places. But, with the major freeze, most all of these locations turned icy, pushing birds to open water or sites opened by a hunter.

Waterfowl hunters should have safety as the No. 1 consideration. Most would think safety in regard to handling and firing guns, but in this case, being on and often in near freezing water is a major hazard.

Hypothermia is one of the most significant threats to sportsmen on or around water in the winter. Having a life jacket is important and can make a major difference, but survival time in freezing water can be reduced to mere minutes even when using a PFD. When packing your gear for a cold weather hunting or fishing trip, consider a few extra items that could make a big difference in case the unexpected occurs.

- Carry dry clothing in a waterproof bag or container.

- Have matches, a lighter or some other fire starter in a waterproof bag.

- Keep your cell phone in a waterproof bag. (An old cell phone that does not have a service plan will still allow you to call 911)

- Have a float plan with a starting point and a return time and place listed.

- Leave a detailed description, such as a Google earth map or county GIS map, of the area you plan to hunt.

Duck season ends at sunset on Jan. 30.

Cold fishing

Fishing on High Rock Lake has been slow, with ice covering most coves and extending into main channel areas on the coldest days.

Water conditions generally are stained, with some main creeks clear. Overall, lake levels are just under 4 feet below full. One bright spot for the hard-core dedicated fishermen has been at Badin Lake, where catches of striped bass and giant blue catfish have been reported weekly. Blue catfish from 20 pounds up to one monster weighing 72 pounds have been seen.

Boaters should use caution when navigating craft through areas of ice. Thick ice can cause damage to fiberglass and to some lighter metal boats. Water can also freeze in the water pump line when the motor is turned off for an extended period of time. Also, bilge pumps most often will not work because of the same problem, and batteries on board should be checked before leaving home.

When accessing a boat ramp, look for ice building up on the ramp. Several boaters reported almost losing their trucks into the lake as a result of ice covering the boat ramps. When entering and exiting your boat, be sure your trailer, the dock or ground is not covered in a layer of ice. Gravity is a constant, and it works quickly and without regard for who may be watching or how careful you're trying to be.

E-mail Sgt. Anthony Sharum of the N.C. Wildlife Resources at huntfishguy66 @aol.com.