September 27, 2006A good clueDuring a recent scouting trip to one of my deer hunting areas I confirmed that a big white oak that's always seemed to be a deer magnet was loaded with acorns. Tuesday evening I headed back there to hang a stand. I hauled along my two "helpers," my 4-year-old twin girls, who really just ran around and mucked the place up with human scent. I didn't really mind because it's a working farm so, a: The deer are used to human scent and, b: It will have some time to cool off. It was dusk by the time I got the stand in the tree and we jumped in the truck to head home. As we were pulling away two small does came running across a field, making a beeline for the tree. The front deer didn't even seem to notice us, running within 20 yards of my by-then stopped truck. The girls may be just 4, but they knew what that meant. "That's a pretty good clue," one of them said. I'll be hunting that stand in less than two weeks. September 26, 2006Good taste. Not.
I guess if you're into the redneck humor thing, some were kind of funny. A few were just gross, and certainly not appropriate for a family event. September 21, 2006Rest in peace, Brandy
My friend Carson Quarles had to put his beloved Boykin spaniel, Brandy, to sleep. Brandy was Carson’s constant companion for 14 years. She was not only a loving pet, she was also an incredible turkey dog for most of her life. I was fortunate enough to get to see her in action quite a few times, and it was really something. Brandy could sniff out a gang of turkeys like it was nothing. Then she would dart into the gang at full speed, barking hysterically and sending the birds scattering. In the blind she would lie still and calm, sometimes for hours. A lot of turkey hunters who use dogs will put them in bags, with only their heads free, to keep them subdued in the blind. Brandy didn’t need anything like that. Even when turkeys were coming in she would just lie there, still as could be. I know plenty of human turkey hunters who don’t have that kind of discipline. September 18, 2006Thanks for the pub, J.R.My buddy J.R. Absher tracks outdoor writing around from the country for his Outdoor Pressroom Web site and his great blog on ESPN.com. I was happy to learn that he picked up my Sunday column for his blog. Killing rock snotScientists in New Zealand have found a way to kill didymo, an invasive algae sometimes called rock snot. Didymo has appeared recently in a couple of Virginia trout streams, including the Smith and Jackson river tailwaters. September 15, 2006Bachelor bucks
September 13, 2006Elk and the MailmanThe sports story of the day comes from Colorado, where a backup college football punter is accused of stabbing his rival -- in the kicking leg. Elk country produced another of the day's strangest stories. Former Utah Jazz great and avid outdoorsman Karl Malone has been accused in a lawsuit of trying to bribe a former business partner to take the blame for an illegal elk trip. Apparently, Malone was on a trip in Idaho in 1998 with Sidney Ray Davis, an Idaho Outfitter. Malone shot at and missed a bull elk. He apparently didn't have proper permits, and later said he thought Davis had them. Although Malone was interviewed by wildlife law enforcement officialas, he was never charged with any violations. Davis's complaint accuses Malone (and his brother-in-law) of offering Davis $25,000 to take the heat for any violations. According to an AP story on the suit, Malone had purchased the business from Davis the year before. The suit seeks $95,000, with Davis claiming that Malone didn't hold up a pledge to buy various equipment for the business. Malone denies bribing or intimidating Davis. The lesson here? Always buy your own licenses. September 8, 2006Hook in the nose
September 6, 2006A climbing 'hog
My co-worker John Jackson told me a while back that he'd been seeing an odd critter in one of his backyard trees. He wanted my help identifying the thing. I figured it was probably a 'possum, and was fairly distressed that John, a fellow product of Northwestern (granted, it was grad school) didn't know what a possum was. John assured me that it wasn't a possum. He was right. This is the picture he got. It's a groundhog. The picture doesn't show it, but John assures me the thing is at least 20 feet up there. Aren't groundhogs supposed to stick to the, um, ground? I think I'm going to have to call a wildlife biologist on this one. |
About this blog
While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures. Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism. After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters. .....Advertisement.....
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