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Don McDowell Outdoor Radio
FISHING & HUNTING
The 7 All-Around Best Saltwater Flies
1. Lefty’s Deceiver.
Invented by angling legend “Lefty” Kreh, the Deceiver is a streamer designed to imitate baitfish and is undoubtedly the most prolific pattern in saltwater fly fishing.
2. Clouser Deep Minnow.
Originally invented by Bob Clouser as a freshwater fly, the clouser minnow is a versatile fly that is simple, yet effective. Characterized by dumbbell eyes and a bucktail body, color selection is often influenced by target species or angler’s intuition.
3. Woolly Bugger.
The Woolly Bugger is tied to imitate baits such as immature insects, crayfish, minnows, and leeches. It’s a wet fly fished under the water and arguably a go-to among both freshwater and saltwater pursuits.
4. Crab Fly.
Crab patterns come in all sizes, colors, and funky names and are easily identified by their crab-like resemblance. Many saltwater species can’t resist a tasty crab, making this a highly effective choice.
5. Gurgler.
A foam body with a long tail, this fly generates a “gurgling” sound when stripped along the surface.
6. Seaducer.
With a name coined by the legendary Chico Fernandez, you know it must be good. The oversized head is intended to mock a crustacean or baitfish, but can be tied in a variety of colors and patterns to imitate a crab or shrimp.
7. Marabou Muddler.
The perfect deepwater fly for saltwater fishing. It’s large profile absorbs water and slowly sinks, while the shape of its head cuts through the water with finesse.
Monthly Update – December 1 to 31, 2019
CURRENT POPULATION STATUS
The end of year census for 2018 was a minimum of 131 Mexican wolves in the wild (64 in AZ and 67 in NM). This was about a 12% increase in the population from a minimum of 117 wolves counted at the end of 2017. Population counts for 2019 are currently underway.
MORTALITIES
One uncollared wolf (assigned studbook number 1849) was found dead in New Mexico in December. Genetic results indicated it was from the Luna Pack. That mortality is under investigation. Two radio-collared wolves, Hoodoo fp1843 and San Mateo f1822, were both located dead in New Mexico at the end of December; both incidents are under investigation. From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 there were 14 documented wolf mortalities in Arizona and New Mexico.
INCIDENTS
During the month of December, there were eight confirmed wolf depredation incidents on livestock and four confirmed wolf caused injuries. There were no nuisance incidents investigated in December. From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 there have been a total of 126 confirmed wolf depredation incidents and 10 probable wolf depredations in New Mexico; and a total of 58 confirmed wolf depredation incidents and one probable wolf depredation in Arizona.
POLITICAL / LEGISLATION
What’s Don McDowell Thinking Now?
Reading the Poop!
No question we can learn stuff about deer by the stuff that they leave behind. Pellets, poop, scat, sign, whatever you wanna call it — Outdoor Life’s Jace Bauserman has a few “nuggets” (lol) on it:
> One of my best CO whitetail stands is a spot where deer pellets traditionally abound. When I discovered it, I did a hang-and-hunt in the area and saw 14 different deer. The area is a major staging zone used by the deer just before heading out to the big fields for the evening.
> Many hunters believe that they can tell the sex of a deer by the size or shape of their pellets. I’m one of them. Many top researchers do suggest that the length of a formed pile can suggest buck or doe, especially when dealing with a mature buck.
> Top researchers suggest that bucks drop more pellets than does. On average, bucks drop around 75 per excretion. Take notice when you see lots and lots of pellets on the ground. Chances are they belong to a buck.
> Round individual droppings indicate a diet of browse such as leaves and twigs. A diet of acorns can also produce roundish-sized droppings. Long, tubular-like piles suggest softer foods like grasses, alfalfa and clover.
> If the droppings you’re finding are dark in color and hard, they are days and sometimes weeks old. Slip around the woods and look for piles of dung with a greasy greenish tint. Soft brown pellets that hold moisture also suggest poop that hasn’t aged much.
Deer Disease (CWD) Update
1. TN: 148 deer test CWD-poz so far this season.
2. MS: CWD may be growing. 12 pending cases, all near the TN state line.
3. WI: First CWD deer found in Sheboygan County.
4. AR: One CWD deer found in Independence County.
5. WY: More deets on the CWD plan.
6. MA: Young bucks suffering from weird paralysis. Affected 6 button bucks — can’t link it but it’s at vineyardgazette.com:
7. NC: Wildlife Research Center opposed to urine scent ban. Ban is just proposed so far. WRC wants hunters to weigh in.
