Backwoods Bound Bullet

ARTICLE: FALL IS PRIMETIME FOR WILDLIFE - VEHICLE COLLISIONS!

 The; fall months see an increase in vehicle collisions with wildlife and especially deer. As we near the deer breeding season or "rut" the risk greatly increases. The "rut" peaks around mid to late November and can run well into December. Deer at this time of the year are less cautious and more unpredictable as their instincts for breeding takes over their behavior.

 Here; are some suggestions to help you avoid colliding with a deer or other wildlife.

  1. Be extra cautious while traveling in the late afternoon through the early evening hours and in the hours just before sunrise. Deer are active throughout the night but seem to be more active during these times.

 2.; Slow down and be prepared to suddenly stop in areas where deer might be present.

 3.; If you see a deer on the side of the road, slow down and be ready to stop suddenly. Deer can be unpredictable! They can jump out in front of your car just as quick as they can jump across the ditch and disappear into the woods. Many a car or truck has be struck in the side from deer jumping into them at the last second. So head-on collisions aren't always the norm.

 4.; And since we brought up head-on collisions, if one is eminent, hit your brakes and go ahead and hit the deer. It is usually better to hit the deer rather than swerve and try to avoid it. You could possibly flip your car in the ditch, hit a utility pole, hit another car head-on or worse yet, hit a pedestrian.

 5.; Always be aware deer may be present throughout wooded areas, crop fields, and areas with dense vegetation.

 6.; If another car is behind you and you see a deer, tap your brakes to help alert the other motorist to the presence of the deer. If the deer is on the road try flashing your lights and/or honking your horn to encourage the animal to move.

 7.; Most states have seatbelt laws in effect so buckle up. Remember that it takes three seconds to buckle up, but dead is forever.

 Although; deer were mentioned in the above suggestions, they can apply to all wildlife; rabbits, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, etc.

 Avoid; harming local wildlife while protecting your vehicle and yourself; slow down, be especially cautious while driving at night, and stay alert.! After all, safety is no accident.

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BACKWOODS HEALTH: PREVENTING SORE FEET

• The crisp October weather makes for pleasant hiking, whether you're enjoying fall colors or hunting for game. A little extra consideration for your feet can help make sure the pleasant walk doesn't turn into an agonizingly painful ordeal.

• A blister occurs when a small area of 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 before you make your purchase. You'll need more room for thick wool hunting socks than you would with thin dress socks. Take time to "break-in" the shoes 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 in the shoes.

- 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, become 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 sweat 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. Another thing that helps keep your feet dry and one that we use all of the time is to wear a pair of sock liners. These are thin socks usually made of polypropylene that are worn under your other socks. They wisk moisture away from your skin helping keep you feet dry. At the end of the hike/hunt, you simply hang them up to dry and you're good to go the next day. Or you may try a dusting of corn starch or foot powder in your socks and shoes to help keep feet dry. Some claim that soaking the feet in epsom salts reduces the amount of sweating. And lastly, the military claims using a heavy-duty antiperspirant on the feet will reduce moisture and the incidence of blisters. Take the time to experiment to find out what works best for you. Prevention is always the least painful and least expensive medicine!

• It is also a good idea to carry an extra pair of socks along in your pack to change into just in case your feet get really wet from crossing a stream or from rain. Some hunters and hikers carry along extra socks and change into them at lunch time. Here's a little trick that we've used a lot of times. If it is cold outside, take your extra socks and place them inside of your coat and even under your shirt to help warm them up. Do this about an hour or so before you want to change them so they will be nice and toasty. There is hardly a better feeling then putting on some warm, dry socks when you're sitting in your treestand on a cold day. Not only is comforting physically but it seems to recharge you mentally.

• 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 also open a path for bacteria to enter!

~ Swab blister area with rubbing alcohol and let air dry.

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

~ Puncture the edge of the blister near the skin. The smaller hole the better.

~ Apply gentle pressure to squeeze out fluid.

~ Do not remove or rub off the skin on top of the blister.

~ Apply antibiotic ointment, but avoid alcohol or iodine.

~ Cover with sterile gauze or bandaid.

~ Discard needle into sturdy plastic or metal container.

~ Wash the area with soap and water at least daily and apply new ointment and bandage.

~ If pus or redness develop and persists, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

• Although blistered feet can turn a leisurely stroll into a limping nightmare, you have the power to avoid or at least minimize this agony. Plan ahead with proper footwear, quality socks, and adequate moisture protection. Until next time...Maggie.

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ARTICLE: SMALLMOUTH BASS ARE NOT LARGEMOUTH BASS - Part 2 by Steven and Kurt vonBrandt

 Time; and time again over the years, we have listened to many anglers and clients express their frustration at trying to catch smallmouth bass. Most anglers don't realize that these fish have their own set of behaviors that sets them apart from largemouth bass. This month Steven and Kurt cover the spring, spawn, post spawn and summertime habits of the smallmouth bass.

 SPRINGTIME

 When; the water temperatures start to reach about forty five degrees, here in the northeast that happens around mid to late March, we start looking for big smallmouth bass. Water temperature is critical this time of year, as just an increase of a few degrees can really turn smallmouth on.

 In; the spring, in Maryland, and especially in New York, our two best baits for small mouth are the hair jig, usually in black or brown, and a Yamamoto grub, in smoke or chartreuse. We fish these baits in about six to twelve feet of water where there are clay or gravel flats. When smallmouth start moving up out of deeper water they are spooky, so stealth is very important. Don't drop anything on the bottom of the boat, and keep the trolling motor on as low as possible.

 The; best method is to cast shallow and retrieve the lure slowly back towards the deeper water. Slowly is the key word here. In cold water, a slow, steady retrieve is deadly for big smallmouth.

 When; the water starts to get above fifty degrees, the smallmouth will start to move around the flats more. Some of the best spots for smallmouth don't really look very good to the average angler that is used to fishing for largemouth. The better areas are just some pea gravel or some clay with maybe a stump or two, but fish these areas slowly now, and you will connect with a big smallmouth. Swimming a Yamamoto grub in these type of areas is absolutely deadly at these water temperatures. Keep working these areas slowly and don't move too quickly, and you will hook one of the better smallmouth in the area.

 Many; times here in the northeast, we get a lot of heavy rains, which really muddies up the water such as the Susquehanna River and flats. This can really ruin a lot of the small mouth fishing, but finding clearer water can produce good fish even under these adverse conditions, as we proved earlier this year out on the flats. By searching out some clear water in the same type of areas, we connected with several big fish while we were hearing nothing but complaints from other anglers. In lakes or reservoirs, as well as the rivers, if you move to the back of creek arms and crank the advancing mudline, you can still connect with good fish. Another thing that works well in these situations is slow rolling a spinnerbait, such as a Terminator T-1, in 3/8 ounce or smaller, along the banks that are windblown that contain some chunk rock. This has always worked well in various parts of the country for many years.

 SPAWN

 Smallmouth; will spawn when the water is about sixty to sixty-five degrees, and they like to do it on gravel flats, clay points, humps, and protected bays. They spawn anywhere from about two to six feet deep here, but most of the time they are too deep to see on their beds.

 When; fishing for bedding largemouth, where it is allowed, such in Delaware and Maryland, the largemouth have to be finessed into striking many times. This is not true for smallmouth, as these fish are very aggressive. It is really very simple to catch large bedding smallmouth by swimming a smoke or chartreuse colored Yamamoto grub across their beds. We always practice catch and release, and if you want to continue to enjoy this type of fishing, releasing them right away after they are caught is crucial.

 POST-SPAWN (Late Spring)

 When; the water temperatures reach sixty-eight to seventy-two degrees, you can really catch quite a few good sized smallmouth in the daytime even in bright sun. The small mouth move into two different patterns at this time and really smash top water baits such as Zara Spooks. They will either hold near the bedding areas or on the outer edges of flooded bushes, and nail Spinnerbaits and floating worms, or they suspend between two points on main lake flats. Either way, these lures and methods will provide some great daytime action.

 SUMMER

  Here in the northeast, the smallmouth action really slows down during the hot summer months. When we aren't with a client here, or fishing a tournament trail that demands all of our attention, we usually head south towards lakes like Pickwick in Alabama. We have had great success here throughout the years in the summer months. There is a lot of current at Pickwick, and it keeps the water much cooler, and very well oxygenated, and this is key in catching big smallmouth. The best places here are on the channel drops and offshore rock piles. If you don't know this area, it is best to hire a guide unless you are planning on spending more than a few weeks there and enjoy the challenge of trying to locate these areas yourself.

 It; is usually very hot and humid this time of year, and we would rather fish for them at night as we do the largemouth here this time of year. Smallmouth move onto humps and roadbeds looking for crawfish and a Yamamoto spider grub on a jighead is our best lure at this time. Another good bait is the Terminator night bait, a single Colorado blade in black, and it works well in many areas at this time of year at night. At night, we do catch some smallies shallow at times, but you are still better concentrating your efforts in about six to fifteen feet of water.

 A BIG CHALLENGE

 Locating; and then catching big smallmouth bass is a real challenge. That is why it is so much fun. Hopefully by reading some of these methods you have gained a better understanding of where these trophy fish go and what they are looking for, and of course, this will hopefully get you the fish of a lifetime. Remember, get out early and late in the year and brave the elements, hit these prime areas with the baits we described, and remember most of all, you are after a completely different fish! "These are NOT Largemouth's!"

 You; can book a trip or order a videotape from S&K; Guide Service that will help you learn new techniques to catch both largemouth and smallmouth bass by simply dropping them an email at [email protected] or by visiting the website at www.skguideservice.com.

 Steve; and Kurt vonBrandt are tournament anglers as well as guides and video producers, and have their own radio and TV shows on the Internet and Comcast cable in the area. They are also Redman/BFL regional qualifiers, and the 1998, 99, and 2001 Big Bass World Champs/Deleware.

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ARTICLE: CAMEL CRICKET OR MUTANT INVADER?

 Shortly; after marrying my husband and settling into his home, almost eighteen years ago, my attention was yanked from the TV by a large insect that scurried across the living room. I first placed it as a huge house spider and jumped up to kill it. As I got closer I discovered it wasn't a spider, but some sort of mutation between a cricket and a spider. As a child growing up on a small farm in Illinois, I frequently hunted for worms under rocks and logs. I found all sorts of bugs, but never one such as this. I thought this was some sort of hybrid unique to the area, possibly a by-product of industrial "dumping".

 The; insect measured approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and had light brown coloring with dark brown bands. Long, spindly legs and antennae attached to a fat, hump-backed, wingless body. I swatted at it with a shoe, but the insect leaped high into the air. I almost couldn't catch itit jumped so erratically. That was the first of several I killed that year. The house was made of boxcar lumber and sat directly on the ground; pests were a constant problem.

 Into; our second year we moved back to my hometown. I felt free of the dreadful insects! Lo and behold, eleven years later I found one in my garage. Actually, they were all over in there. Eleven years it took, but these creatures managed to migrate the twenty miles to find me! The garage was used mostly for storage, so we rarely went out after dark, but on the rare occasion we did, we armed our self with a broom to squash the crazy jumpers.

 We; temporarily harbored a cat in our garage. She loved to chase and pounce on them, and, due to the lack of dead carcasses, they must have tasted pretty good too! By the time we found her a home, she had eliminated the problem, or so I thought.

 The; next summer they were back. We squashed, sprayed and bombed, but never could totally get rid of them. I even spotted one next to my mom's house on the other side of town. Those little suckers were still migrating!

 In; the meantime, we had a developing water problem in our basement. It had also become common to hear the chirping of a field cricket. I knew we had to do something or I'd have these grotesque insects in our house. We had the basement waterproofed and cleared out a lot of accumulated inessential "stuff". We also rearranged the garage to reduce hiding places.

 The; inevitable happened. My son told me he spotted one downstairs and wasn't able to kill it. It was time to end this. After a brief search on the Internet, I found the insect wasn't a hybrid mutation, but a type of cricket. The camel (because of its hump-back) or cave cricket (because its commonly found in caves and damp places) is found throughout most of the United States. They prefer dark and moist areas, but can be found in basements with moisture problems and feed on mold, fungus, and decaying organic matter. They will also eat paper, but not usually clothing. They move inside to escape from summer heat and are active at night. They are very secretive and quiet (without wings they can't chirp), and may go unnoticed a long time. They range from .5 to 1.5 inches in diameter. They are known to jump randomly, possibly due to their vision, and may inadvertently jump towards you, rather than away. However, they don't bite or sting, they're just big and ugly.

 To; eradicate them, eliminate moist, damp areas in and around the home that attract them and provide a place for them to feed and breed. Woodpiles, mulched areas, and overgrown vegetation provide nesting ground. Seal and caulk any possible cracks or crevices where they enter. Use glue boards inside in problem areas to catch the existing population and any stragglers that still manage to get in the house. If you've cleaned up outside nesting areas and reduced the dampness in your house and are still catching more than one per week on the glue boards, you may want to consider a pesticide.

 Just; a cricket! I'm not scared of crickets; I can even put them on the hook myself! But this camel cricket...I'd have to be really hungry to try to fish with this one. And I definitely don't want to cohabitate! I wonder what other common insects our little pet chickens protected us from with their daily rounds of the house and their constant scratching? I sure do miss them. But, you know what? Christmas is coming....

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In this issue:

BACKWOODS TRIVIA: • See if you know this one.

What U.S. president said "speak softly and carry a big stick"?

Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

Send your trivia questions to [email protected] .

** BACKWOODS BOUND CHILI SEASONING MIX **

As hunting season hits, so does that urge for a great pot of chili. Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix can fulfill that urge! Our unique blend of spices makes a perfect pot of chili everytime. Besides making a hearty pot of chili, give it a try for delicious tasting fajitas, enchiladas, jambalaya and more! Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix. It's simple to use and great tasting too! What else could you want? Use our secure on-line ordering system at www.backwoodsbound.com/chili.html. Or pick some up today at Columbia Mini Mart in Columbia, Illinois, Evansville Food Mart in Evansville, Illinois.

• Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix - "Not To Mild... Not To Hot. Treat Yourself And Make A Pot!"

RECIPE: Mexican Lasagne

* In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Saute for a couple of minutes.

* Add the meat and half of the Chili Seasoning Mix. Mix well to break up the meat.

* Cook until the meat is done. Drain off fat.

* Add the beans, tomatoes and the rest of the seasoning. Mix well and heat through.

* Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream.

* Spray a 10 inch round or 8 inch square baking dish with cooking spray.

* Place a layer of tortillas on the bottom. Cut them to fit if necessary.

* Cover with a layer of the meat mixture. Sprinkle on a layer of cheese.

* Repeat the layers ending with a tortilla on top. Save some cheese to sprinkle on the top later.

* Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes.

* Remove the foil and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

* Remove from the oven and let stand a few minutes.

For more of recipes using Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix, go to www.backwoodsbound.com/zchili.html and to order a supply of Chili Seasoning Mix go to www.backwoodsbound.com/chili.html.

RECOMMEND THE BACKWOODS BOUND BULLET TO A FRIEND!

Know a friend who enjoys the outdoors as much as you do? Recommend The Bullet to them. It's easy to do, just follow this link or copy and paste the url into your browser! http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/backwo.ezine Thank you!

HUNTIN' TIPS: While hunting for deer, listen for the high pitched screams and barks of squirrels. They will often give away an approaching deer by barking and calling. Thanks to Joe Rogers for this great tip!

Bow hunting for turkey this fall? Wondering where you should aim your arrow? From the rear, aim for the center of the back. From the front, aim for the top of the beard and if you have a broadside shot, aim right behind the spot where the wing attaches to the body. Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their tips. For more tips visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/tipshunting.html.

** BACKWOODS BOUND STATE SHAPED TROPHY PLAQUES **

 Deer; season is upon us and now is the time to get your order in for a Backwoods Bound State Shaped Trophy Plaque. You know you're going to get the big one this year, so why not order your plaque in now! Don't waste your money buying one of those plaques from the discount stores. Not only are they made from imitation wood, but they all look the same. Mount your trophy on something unique this year and have it stand out from the rest. Beat the rush and order yours now!

 Don;'t forget about that trophy fish you caught this summer or that trophy trout you'll catch this fall. Tell your taxidermist that you'll supply your own plaque and order a Backwoods Bound State Shaped Trophy Plaque. ALL states and Canadian provinces are available. ORDER TODAY!! You'll be glad you did! For more information and photos or to place your order go to www.backwoodsbound.com/antlrplaq01.html .

 Order; all of our products on-line and pay with your Visa or MasterCard through PayPal or use your PayPal account. Visit http://www.backwoodsbound.com today to place your orders!

WHAT'S NEW

We're starting a new feature this month in The Bullet called Interesting Quotes. Each month we'll try and find an interesting quote that is thought provoking or humorous. As always, we need your help so if you have a quote that you think is appropiate, send it in. We only ask that the quote is accurate and credited to the right person. It doesn't have to always be someone famous, it could be your mom, dad, friend, whoever. Oh yeah, try and keep them clean. Send your quotes to [email protected]. Look for this month's quote further in the newsletter.

With all of the new subscribers we have added this month, we now have over 1300 subscribers to The Bullet! Thank you all and welcome aboard. We truly appreciate you all. Keep sending in your recipes, tips, photos, stories, quetions and comments. Send your stuff to: [email protected] .

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** SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA GUIDE SERVICE **

We offer a premium guide service specializing in striper fishing, duck hunting and catfishing on Lake Texoma and the Red and Washita Rivers. We offer over fifty-years combined experience guiding on Lake Texoma. Our fishing boats are all modern off-shore style boats, 23-26 feet in length, that easily accommodate 2 to 7 people. Lake Texoma is the premier striped bass fishery in the United States. In addition, our lake is a major migration transition area for waterfowl on the Central Flyway.

Our goal is for you have a rewarding and memorable experience fishing or hunting on our beautiful lake. We are located at Soldier Creek Resort, a full service resort and marina south of Kingston, Oklahoma. Check us out on the web at WWW.SOUTHERNOKLAGUIDES.COM, or contact Doc Walker at 877-664-2208 or [email protected].

See this month's Crazy Captions photo at: www.backwoodsbound.com/funphotos.html and send us your Crazy Caption. Have a photo that would make a great Crazy Caption? Send it to [email protected].

INTERESTING QUOTES: • On a billboard northbound on Interstate 55 at Perryville, Missouri. "Evil flourishs when good men do nothing." Edmund Burke

Seen or heard an interesting or humorous quote? Send it in and we'll post them next month. Send them to: [email protected].

RECIPE:ITALIAN STYLE VENISON STEAKS

* Slice your venison steaks thin like steaks commonly labeled as "breakfast steaks" at your grocery store.

* Marinate them overnight in milk. Remove from the milk and pound them on both sides with a meat mallet to tenderize.

* Season them to taste with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

* In a bowl, beat the eggs. Add a little milk and mix together.

* In a skillet, heat a little oil over medium heat.

* Dip the steaks into the egg/milk mixture and then roll them in the bread crumbs. Repeat if you want.

* Fry in the hot oil for about 10 minutes or until done. Flip them over half way through. Don't overcook!

* Drain on paper towels.

* Serve on hoagie rolls and top with sliced tomatoes, lettuce, onion, pickles, mayo, etc..

A big thanks to John Cascone for sending in his recipe just in time for deer season. Look for more of recipes on our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/recipe.html.

FISHIN' TIP: • When the fishing gets tough, try using a lure that best resembles the primary forage of the lake or stream you are fishing.

Send your tips to [email protected] and we will post them on the site or use them in an upcoming issue of The Bullet.

FUN FACTS: • The Indian mongoose, which is about the size of a cat, can survive a dose of venom from a King cobra that can kill eight rabbits. The King cobra's name means 'snake killer' which it earns by preying on other snakes. It subdues them with its potent venom then swallows them whole.

** ADVERTISE HERE **

Place your ad here for only $5.00 an issue. Reduced rates for multiple issues. Contact us at [email protected] for details.