Zebra Mussels

First found in the Mississippi River in the early 1990's these fingernail sized, black and white striped zebra mussels have spread  through the Great Lakes and their connecting tributaries.   Although native to some Asian waters, they are thought to have made their way to the U.S. by hitchhiking on international shipping vessels.     

Zebra mussels are an invasive species that can affect everyone wether they are a sportsman or not.  These nuisance shellfish are capable of clogging power plant and public water source inlets as well as destroying native mussels and can even reek havoc on our marine ecosystems.

Zebra Mussels

Anyone who enjoys water sports can and should do their part to prevent the spread of zebra mussels.  Zebra mussels can clog the water intake on boat and personal watercraft motors causing them to overheat and rendering them useless.

Some of the things that can be done to stop their spread include:

• Be sure to drain all water from your boat or personal watercraft as prior to leaving the parking lot.
• Do not use bait that has had contact with infested water in any other body of water.
• Wash your boat or personal watercraft at a carwash with hot water to ensure there are no mussels attached.
• Wash any other items that made contact with the water such as skis, tubes, ropes, anchors, etc.
• After washing, allow your boat or personal watercraft to dry in full sunlight for five days or longer before launching it into any uncontaminated body of water.
• Get rid of your leftover bait on the shore a good distance from the water (it is illegal to dump unused bait into the water as this can introduce more invasive species).

As sportsmen it is important that we all work to prevent the spread of these unwanted pests in order to ensure the continued ability to enjoy the activities we love.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Squirrel Calls & How They Work

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Have you ever wondered about using a squirrel call but didn't know where to start?  Using a squirrel call can go a long way towards putting more meat in the freezer.  Barking, cutting and squealers are the three types of squirrel calls that really get their attention.  Each of these calls serves a different purpose.

As the name implies, using a barking call allows the hunter to imitate the bark of a squirrel.  A mild sounding drawn out barking sound typically represents a squirrel that is happy with its current situation while a more loud and aggressive bark tends to correspond to a signal warning other squirrels  that danger is looming.  This call will also come in handy to make the sound of a squirrel's chatter letting them know that the coast is clear and others should feel free to come out of hiding.

Knight & Hale 4-in-1 Squirrel Call

Squirrels are noisy eaters and by using a cutting call the sound of a feasting squirrel can be reproduced.  In a pinch, rubbing the edges of two quarters together will suffice.  The sound heard while they are eating is actually that of the squirrel "cutting" or breaking through the nutshell with their teeth.

Squealers are used to replicate the sound of a young squirrel that is in danger.  Using this call in combination with shaking a nearby branch full of leaves will allow the hunter to mimic the commotion of a youngster being attacked by a hawk.  This action can cause squirrels in the area to go into panic mode and start barking making it easier to locate them.

The Knight & Hale 4-in-1 Squirrel Call is an excellent call that enables you to mimic the bark of the grey squirrel, the bark of the fox squirrel, the grey squirrel's alarm/chatter and the panicked squeal of a young squirrel.

To become proficient at using a squirrel call pay attention to the different sounds they make while you're enjoying the outdoors.  Watch what they are doing while making the different sounds and practice with your call until it resembles the sounds you hear.  Be sure to adjust your calling volume to fit the circumstances.  Use a bit more volume on soggy and windier days and use less volume while hunting in more calm environments.  After calling try producing the sound of a content squirrel to convince the other squirrels that everything is ok.  As with calling any game animal be sure to find a balance as calling too much can do more harm than good.  Pick a spot and have a seat for about half an hour.  If there is no activity in that location, try moving fifty yards or so and give it another go. 

If you like this post, you may enjoy Squirrel Hunting Tips & Tricks.

-Any day in the outdoors is a good day