Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1498971
Thursday, May 11-May 17, 2023 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 9 Email: Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail or Drop-Off: Mail or Drop-Off: 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 *Publisher has fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. We Want Your Kids Sports Photos! •Basketball •Baseball •Softball •Soccer •Archery •Equestrian •Etc! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Sportsman's Corner Sportsman's Corner Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail: 157 W Main St., Forest City, NC 28043 Phone: 828-248-1408 *Publisher has the fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. One of the obstacles most hunters and fi shermen dread is the wind. A light wind is not a factor – it's even helpful, but a windy day is burdensome to the fi shermen and causes most game to stay out of sight. Most of the time, I complain about the wind like everyone else, but there are a few circumstances where the wind actually adds excitement to the hunt and gives me the edge. One of those circumstances is when I'm turkey hunting. As you turkey hunters know, this bird has excellent sight and can distinguish colors as well. The least movement will turn an otherwise successful hunt into a what-if story. When the wind is still, I'm still, but when the wind blows, I use the opportunity to do a little stalking. I can remember one time being able to crawl within fi fteen yards of nine jakes without ever calling. And after they recognized something was not right, they came closer for some investigation. I could almost touch them with the end of my gun. Now that was exciting! Many times, we assume the worst when the wind is involved. We use clichés like the "winds of change," or we offer encouragement by saying "keep the wind to your back," as if a headwind is a negative thing. The truth is most of our growth happens when the winds are against us. These gusts challenge our normal and comfortable way of doing things. They make us decide whether we will curse our circumstances or use them to fi nd another way. They reveal to us our fears and our ability to adapt and overcome. They show us who or what is controlling our life. Perhaps the winds of diffi culty are blowing against you right now. Perhaps it seems they are so strong your boat is standing still. It may be that God is simply causing you to move in another direction. Or it maybe He is using these gusts to reveal to you a fear you need to relinquish. The wind can be your friend if you will always remember God is at its helm. He will determine its length and strength. He will use it to bring you new successes in different ways. And in doing this, He will cause you to have a greater trust in Him. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 20 years. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org GARY MILLER The Rutherford County Carolina Bass Club fi shed Lake James Saturday, May 6. 31 anglers fi shed. The weather conditions were excellent, the water was 63-67 degrees and clear. The boat traffi c however was pretty heavy. Fishing was good, everyone caught fi sh. Here are the tournament results: 1st place- The team of Keith McClure and Jr. Self with a 5 fi sh limit weighing 10.97 pounds. 2nd place- The team of Brian Branch and Doyle Hudson with a 5 fi sh limit weighing 9.80 pounds. 3rd place- The team of Stan Brackett and Chris Cross with a 5 fi sh limit weighing 9.69 pounds. 4th place- Richard Young with a 5 fi sh limit weighing 9.58 pounds. Jr. Self won the big fi sh of the day award with a 3.49 pound largemouth. Tyler Painter won the 2nd big fi sh of the day award with a 3.37 pound largemouth. The Carolina Bass Club fi shes Lake Wiley 20 May 2023. Article Provided By: Rutherford County Carolina Bass Club Fishing Report 2400 Oakland Rd, Forest City 828-429-3129 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm NON CLIMATE CONTROL AVAILABLE WELL WELL LIGHTED LIGHTED with with 24/7 24/7 SECURITY SECURITY OFFERING OFFERING BOAT BOAT & CAMPER CAMPER Storage Storage The warm weather means more snakes will start to show up along trails, in the woods, crossing roads and in our yards. Wildlife Diversity biologists at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission request that if you see a snake, do not be alarmed, do not kill it, give it plenty of room, and if you see a pine snake or rattlesnake, report it. "Snakes play crucial roles within ecoystems and help control the rodent, slug and insect populations," said Jeff Hall, reptile conservation biologist with the Wildlife Commission. "There are many ways to coexist with snakes, which is important because of 38 of North Carolina's native snake species, ten are listed endangered, threatened or of special concern." Of the six native venomous snake species, three are rattlesnakes – the timber, the pigmy and the Eastern diamondback. Each one is in decline, due mainly to persecution by humans and habitat destruction, and protected by the North Carolina Endangered Species Act. One example of a native threatened, nonvenomous snake species is the Northern pine snake. Agency biologists want to know more about the distribution of the pine snake and request the public report any sightings. It ranges between 4 and 5 feet long but can get as large as 7 ½ feet and has a white or tan background color with dark brown or black markings that begin as solid coloring or messy blotches near the head before gradually becoming distinct saddle- like blotches toward the tail. They prefer open areas within pine-oak forests with well-drained, sandy soil and are mostly found in the Sandhills and the southern Coastal Plain, although there are confi rmed reports of pine snakes in Cherokee and Swain counties. "Public assistance in recording and documenting the pine snake will be a huge help, because it's diffi cult to conserve a species when we don't know all the places it occurs," stated Mike Martin, wildlife technician with the Wildlife Commission. "We are partnering with several organizations and agencies to conduct surveys in the areas where pine snakes have either been seen or areas with potentially good habitat." Sightings of these snakes in the wild can be reported in one of two ways, via a mobile app or by email. The agency partners with the HerpMapper mobile app to track amphibian and reptile species. Download the app to your mobile device or tablet and enter information about your sighting. If reporting by email send a photo (required), the date and time the snake was observed and location (GPS coordinates preferred) to pinesnake@ncwildlife.org for Northern pine snakes and to rattlesnake@ncwildlife.org for rattlesnakes. Most snakes will leave people alone if they aren't bothered and are provided an escape route. Effective habits for safely co-existing with snakes include watching for snakes and giving them a wide berth. If you see a snake in your yard and would prefer it to reside elsewhere, you can safely encourage it to leave by gently spraying it with a garden hose. To make your yard less hospitable for snakes clean up clutter such as stick and rock piles, keep your lawn mowed, close gaps and holes in your siding and foundation, and seal openings under doors, windows and around waterpipes. Some species have similar patterns to Northern pine snakes, especially juvenile rat snakes and racers. For help with identifying snake species visit HerpsofNC.org. Questions about human-wildlife interactions can be directed to the agency's NC Wildlife Helpline, at 866-318-2401 or ncwildlife.org. Expect to See Snakes as the Weather Warms Report pine snake or rattlesnake sightings to Commission Article by: ncwildlife.org. small town friendly BIG time results