Saltwater fish we take after are mackerel, flounder, sharks, and red snapper. But fishing for saltwater is not the same as freshwater fishing. Freshwater fishing can take as much skill and sometimes more than that of its natural saltwater neighbor. We all dream of getting the big one and we all have heard the stories of the big one that got away.

Fishing tales can be in all shapes and sizes if you sit and keep your eye on the one telling the tale. There are some very large catfish in public waters and the only way to catch them is to get out of the house and off the couch long enough to stay on the waters of your choice.

Catfish are like what I would call a Texas Chicken, known as a buzzard. A large black bird that will eat anything that may not eat him. A catfish will bite most any kind of baits such as chicken liver, stink baits, and even bacon if you lay it out there for them to get hold on it. When you hang into one of these large fish you might think you have caught a whale.

Let’s take a look at the Average Fisherman and see him give us the tips on how to catch and what to use to catch big cats in our native waters.

Spring time turkey season is some of the best there is. Alabama is home to some of the best turkey hunting locations in the U.S.. For years there were only few turkey hunters around and now the hunting of Alabama turkey have doubled and even tripled. Alabama has been known to have some of the most difficult turkey hunting of anywhere. The swampy bottoms of the rivers will make you think twice sometimes before entering.

Some of the best hunting lodges in the south are located with some of the very best turkey hunting around. Westerveltlodge ha been known to grow some big deer in their time but the turkey hunting here is among some of the best in the south. Westerveltlodge is located in Aliceville, AL. Another great place with true southern hospitality is Southern Sportsmans lodge located in Lowndesboro, AL. Just minuets away from the Alabama River and the Robert F. Henery lock and damn is also very great turkey hunting. Lets take a look at Westervelt on the video and see what Alabama turkey hunting is all about.

Have a plan ready when all of hunting seasons have come to an end. In the South people seem to be tired a lot more in February than they were back in September of the previous year. There was the planting that took place for the fall and winter. Making sure that you had a special food plot to hunt over. Cold months rolled around and we hunted for deer, fall turkey, and even got our tails wet trying to shoot ducks. Which of course th duck thing is nothing that I have ever done but wouldn’t mind giving it a try one of these days. So after my deer season ends in January I get very tired of dragging and cleaning deer. So at this point it’s resting first while sitting on the sofa tuning in one of my favorite box calls getting ready for spring time turkey.

In Alabama I look forward to the spring for a mature gobbler. Then I also look forward to all the spring time planting that will need to be done. I would like to say that I’m a farmer but just not cows and horses but for my turkey and deer. So now I will carry you through a few steps to get yourself into farming shape for you too can be a farmer for wildlife of your choice.

Step 1. Look for land if you don’t already have any for the next season. Not only do I turkey hunt and plant in the spring but always on the lookout for new land to hunt for the next deer season.

Step 2. Plowing for the spring and getting ready is a must in my book. This is the time i will take to turn over old soil and create new. My existing food plots will require fertilizer, and lime if needed. A prescribed burn will also help before the plowing process in order to kill and wipe away dead grasses so the plowing will become more easy. Plus a burning stage will bring forth turkeys to feed on any roasted dead bugs that may be in the area.

Step 3. Building new stands for the new season and placing them out well ahead of time will also help you in more ways than one. I also will build and place in new feeding stations for deer. This will keep the deer around longer in order for you to hopefully find sheds or see new born fawns in the earl summer months. Feeding grains to deer and turkey is against the law in some states but in Alabama you can feed as long as you don’t hunt over it. By me feeding things like corn or deer pellets this will allow me to find and see what bucks have survived the last season.

Step 4. By step 4 it’s spring time and most of the plowing and planting has already been done. This is the scouting process and watching it grow process. With those of you that don’t have tons of land I suggest that you get yourself a game camera and place it out over a feeding station. Also at this point if you have not already put out minerals this would be a great time to do it for the bucks have already lost their antlers. I can also get in some last minute turkey hunting at this time as well.

So the next time all of your seasons come to an end get back out there and start over. The farming for wildlife  trends never end. It is like a cattle ranch and just keep growing. Great rewards will come with time and effort if you the hunter or outdoorsman just keep at it. Good luck this upcoming year with your own wildlife farm no matter how big or small it may be.

Weather it be golfing, fishing, and even camping you can do it all at Sherling Lake park and campground. Located 5 miles from interstate 65 between Montgomery, AL and Mobile,AL. One of the most beautiful scenes of the great outdoors here in Greenville,AL. Greenville is your largest stop between Montgomery and Mobile. Sherling lake has a little for all ages.

The camping is wonderful with bathhouse and playground for the kids. There is RV camp sites with electric and water hookups. You also have tent sites if camping the old style is your way of doing it. There are two lakes where great fishing can be made fun for the old and the young. The cart path leading from the tee off box of hole number 5 on the Sherling course separates the two lakes. With most of the fishing in the bottom lake is done by boat. The larger bass are caught from the bottom lake. Even though the upper lake has produced great bass and catfish fishing also. The upper lake can be fished from boat or the bank.

There is a walking trail that leads around through the woods of the park. The lake house and the pavilions are great for family gatherings. These can be rented from the main office in the park. In park staff is very friendly and helpful at all times. The city of Greenville is grateful for such a place.

If walking and hiking or even fishing is not you thing then try one of Alabama’s most beautiful golf courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf trail. The course of Cambrian Ridge which joins the park has excellent golfing. There are 36 championship holes at Cambrian Ridge. The Sherling course and the Canyon course could be two of the hardest on the trail. There is also a beautiful Loblolly course of 9 holes that help make up this 36 hole course. If 18 or even 36 holes is too much golfing in one day the you may want to try the short course. The short course is a par 3, 9 hole course that also boarders the lower lake. The Canyon course hold its own beauty with deep hills and hollows and even the site of old fixed ladder stands from deer hunting well before the course was ever built.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail of Alabama has some of the most beautiful scenes that a golf trail could have. Sherling lake is owned by the city of Greenville which has grown very nicely over the years. As I have said before the park is beautiful, peaceful, and quite for any age. Wildlife such as deer, turkey, geese, and even the parks own peacock can be seen here. During the spring beautiful sounds of mature long beard gobblers can be heard at day break around the other lands that join the park. With tall Alabama pines and white oak trees the scene at Sherling lake is like none other. The dark blue and green shaded waters of the lake are like a glass mirror on a cool spring windless morning just begging you to take a pole and throw in a cork and hook.

So the next time you want to go out for a little camping trip head down to Greenville,AL to Sherling Lake park where camping, hiking, golfing, fishing, and even fun is allowed all in one place. A place for the entire family can come and enjoy the great outdoors. For more info on camping at Sherling Lake call Matt, La Don, Paul, or Bill at 334-382-3638. Remember that at Sherling Lake park all outdoor dreams may come true.

It was a cool morning for someone to be high tailing it through a swamp two hours before sun up. If ma and Chelle wanted to make my perfect set up before daybreak we had to head out early. Getting into the woods well before daylight was our plan. This would be her first ever turkey hunt and I was going to make it one she would never forget. Her first words was I’m cold when we stopped the truck at the fields edge. I told her that things would warm up soon to just be patient with a little time.

As we walked through the wet grass across the field to the tree line she asked me if anything was going to get us. Just as soon as I told her No she swore up and down that something was following us. I told her if something did get after us the only thing she had to worry about was to out run me and we all know that wasn’t about to happen. I wasn’t worried too much do to the fact that if something got after her it would soon let her go do to all the noise she would make.

Chelle could get kidnapped and before the napper would drive 100 yards he would make a U-turn and bring her back. God could she talk up a storm. We finally got to the swamp and had to head east about 200 yards more to a small dry spot under a tall pine. By the time we had the chance to sit down she heard something roughing up in the bushes about ten yards out. She asked whats that? I said you have to be quite if you plan on killing that there turkey.

What turkey?

The one that I roosted yesterday evening for you. He’s 23 pounds with a 15 inch beard and at least 1 1/2 inch spurs on both feet. So just be quite OK.

I’m cold.

Get over it  and be still. There’s the first Owl just listen to that beautiful sound. God’s creation make all that noise and she was right there beside me making noise too. She would never kill this here turkey. As I looked through the tree tops you could see daybreak and what a beautiful sight it was.

There he  go’s his first gobble and boy was it deep. Didn’t seem like he’s that far away either.

Chelle asked what in the hell was that? I told her that it was the gobbler she was going to shoot if she would just be quite. I yelled out an owl sound of my own and that bird just cut me off like there was no tomorrow. 1,2,3 gobbles in a row. What a show he was displaying for us. As I looked at Chelle she had a grin on her face I would never forget. One of them kind that just melts ya heart and makes you smile.

I placed her between my legs and straddled behind her to help her as she made the shot. She had leaned back so the gun would not kick the hell out of her so bad. By then the gobbler had done pitched down and was looking for us. I laid a three note soft yelp out there and shure enough he answered back so sweet.

Chelle said…I see him…he’s coming in slow.

Ok just wait til I say shoot….OK. He’s strutting now get your gun ready and place the bead on his head..When he clears the tree pop him one.

OK…Now on the count of three shoot…OK…1,2 bang she shot before three but rolled that turkey a flip into the next county. The turkey had started flopping and I said get up and go get him. Don’t grab him by the feet Chelle he will spur you and just as soon as that come out of my mouth she had sure enough grabbed him by the feet of course. She let out a yell as she was trying to stand on his head.

Good the turkey was down for good now as we took some photos. Boy she was as beautiful holding that bird as she was on any given Sunday. Beautiful blue eyes just blended in with the scenery of the woods that surrounded her. She was so happy that all she could do was just shake nervously. As I have said on any other occasion thank you God for allowing me to see a bird that look so beautiful.

As we walked back toward the truck Chelle never quit yapping. Gosh he’s heavy, Gosh I’m getting hot.

Hope you enjoyed another Tall Tales story for Hellohunting. Hope you will continue to click back for more soon.

Alabama is a state that allows two deer a day to be taken during its entire hunting season. It’s rut can sometimes only last one week or even three or four weeks based on the weather. Alabama is a liberal state that has its game laws set up for the true sportsman. It can be a honey hole one year and then a total collapse the next. The weather here can be in the 90’s early and in the low 20’s late.

You have to know when to be in the wood’s and when that time comes you have to be there or else. Season starts mid October with bow and ends the last day of January. The rut usually here around the last two weeks of the season but has been known to come in around the first week of January and last until the first or second week of February. You may or may not see a lot of rubbing or making of scrapes until it’s too late. But when you do, get set up as soon as possible and stay there all day even.

Being ready for the rut in Alabama in advance can produce you with an excellent trophy to take home to place on your wall. I have taken some very respectable deer ranging from the 120’s to the mid 150’s during Alabama’s rut season. The one thing you have to be able to do is to set as long as possible. Stay warm, dry, and as scent free as possible. These can be your key elements to harvesting a trophy buck here in the southeast.

Over the years Alabama has become one of America’s most deer hunted places. With hunters coming in from Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, and even Arkansas. The hunting here can be a strain on a hunter’s body at times based on the weather. You never know what kind of weather you will have here so be ready for anything.

Land here can be hard to find unless you know someone or can lease it from a timber company. There is also some very good public hunting here in such places as the Wildlife management Areas (WMA). Areas such as Lowndes wma, Barbour wma, and also the Black Warrior River around the Birmingham area in the north central part of the state. There has been some Boone & Crockett bucks taken off of these areas in the past.

The Black Belt region of Alabama is mainly a favorite for hunter’s that are allowed to hunt in these places. These are places such a Demoplis wma and the range of this area is mainly from parts of the Black warrior being in north to, Monroe county in the south Dallas and Sumter counties in the west. Not a lot of the Black Belt region in the eastern side. There is little of it in Crenshaw and Pike counties. The Black Belt region has produced most likely some of the states biggest deer mainly due to the farming that use to be done in these parts. There is very little big time farming left here like it use to be. You will still see some but you will also see a lot of pine plantations also now. So when you want to have your next challenge at whitetail deer hunting then plan a trip to Alabama and hope and pray for the best.

You can also visit Outdoor Alabama for more info  on the laws and regulations here. Alabama has it all for everyone to see. From its parks and lakes to its famous Alabama Quail Trail. Hope to see you soon in the great state of Alabama.

As  I  sit here on my back porch, looking out at the pond, beautiful sky, and just nature itself, i can’t help but wonder do other people see the earth the way I see it?  Do they appreciate it the way I do?

When I look out at the world, I see nothing other than an amazing creation. Creation so perfect so unique in its’ on way. If we see it why do we abuse it? Why do harm our earth with trash and/or pollution?  Nature is such an amazing thing. If you think about it, it holds so many memories, precious memories.

As I look out across the water it brings back many memories. I love nature. I find it very interesting and special.  I wonder how God could create such a masterpiece, but who am I to say he is amazing, unique, and awesome himself.

I challenge you all to look around you, around your neighborhood,  small town, or big city and see what God has blessed you with through nature. Appreciate it. It is truly amazing.

I can still remember my first fishing trip with my dad. Oh boy was it fun to be around water and be fishing. Kids today would much rather sit inside playing a xbox or a playstation. So get them up and way from the TV and place a fishing pole in their hands. You want be making a mistake by doing it.

You may even make yourself a new fishing buddy. What are you afraid of ? I think you may be afraid that they may out fish you. You will never know until you take that first trip with them to a pond or a river.

Start off with something easy for them to really get them into it. Crappie fishing is a way to do it and trust me they will have the time of their life doing it. This is a way to keep your kids enjoying the outdoors and off the streets. Let’s take a trip with Darian Brown from 5  Degrees of Fishing ” The Hunt for Trophy Fish” as he takes his kids out for a day of fishing for crappie. Remember that when you take a kid fishing it’s your way of giving back to a new generation. Our kids are our future.

Let’s take a look at the video now. “Crappie 101″

This is no old scent here. Rex Holmes and his staff at VTS has come up with a scent that could almost be bad for a deer if he shows up. This new scent is made from all natural ingredients and no off the wall stuff.

This scent is the best thing since the grunt call. When a deer comes from down wind of you it may be too late. A scent that can stop a deer in his tracks will do the job every time. You can count on me taking this scent to the woods this season with me because my game camera doesn’t lie.

I sprayed some of the scent around and on the corn that I had placed in front of a feeder.There had not been any deer seen on this tract of land all summer long. There are no summer plantings such as beans or corn. The only thing that has been placed out all summer was a Trophy Rock which the deer had almost consumed and some corn for about a week sprayed down with the vapor trail scent.

After going in and spraying this scent there were no pictures on the game camera. Three days had passed and I went back to check the camera and there were 123 pictures in three days. All of the corn that I had sprayed was gone and the Trophy Rock was licked clean and they were starting to paw into the bare ground around it.

Lets take a look at a few photos that were taken with my trail camera. These photos were taken using the vapor trail scent.

So remember a trail camera doesn’t lie. All the corn and the rock were sprayed down with this amazing scent from VTS.

When you have love for the Outdoors as much as I do there can be many things go on in a day-to-day life. I have said this on may occasions that mother nature has given so much to us. We may never be able to repay her but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least try. There are the little things we do in the outdoors that we repay her back.

Planting a flower or a tree is a way of doing so. We live on a day-to-day basis of life and we enjoy what we have to enjoy. The days grow long and then they grow short. Life is something that has been given to us by the Lord up above.

If you don’t enjoy life in the outdoors then you will never make it out alive. It’s the family and friends that we may enjoy a cookout with. Maybe even a camping trip to a lake,river,or even state park. Falling for the outdoors is like falling for someone so special in our lives.

The words that I write all come from the heart and not someone else. I was on the phone earlier with a friend and the things that were said meant a lot to me in many ways. This friend told me that she was at work and she was so tired and sleepy. Even for her and her son they have their own ways of enjoying the outdoors. I know we all have to work cause it’s what we do to make our living in life in order to survive.

Without the outdoors you would have nothing. Yes I hate to say the word nothing but it is true. There are so many people who stay cooped up in an office or a home all day that would give anything in the world to have better. If they say they wouldn’t they would have told a lie deep down inside. There is no better place than the outdoors. We should except that for that’s the way it is.

When you get dirt under your finger nails don’t hate it just fall in love with it. It takes years to wash out the love we have for the outdoors so savor it and take care of it. It is our obsession for the outdoors that keep us going. If you like to hunt and fish then you love the outdoors. With a fistful of dirt we can do many things. We are obsessed with the notion of getting closer to deer,turkey,elk,and all kinds of critters that we take care of the outdoors in many ways.

Technology today has placed the outdoors on many things. Camo patterns that match our surroundings from Bill Jordan’s Realtree in Georgia across the farm lands of Alabama to the Mississippi bottoms of Toxey Haas’s Mossy Oak pattern. These camo patterns all started in one place and that was the Outdoors. So the next time you step even into your own yard thank God for all that has been to us in the great outdoors. Take your kids in the outdoors cause once you, do you will never regret it.