Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1506747
Thursday, August 31-September 6, 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. The 2023-24 hunting season for mourning and white-winged doves opens on Saturday, Sept. 2, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reminds seasoned and novice hunters the importance of being properly licensed, to observe state and federal regulations, and to follow safe hunting practices. Dove hunting season will be separated into three segments: Sept. 2 - Oct. 7, Nov. 11 - Nov. 25, and Dec. 9 - Jan. 31, 2024. The daily bag limit is 15 mourning or white-winged doves, either as single species or combined, and shooting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Hunting of migratory game birds, including doves, by any method is not allowed on Sundays. It is illegal to dove hunt with a shotgun that can hold more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece fi ller incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells. Migratory game bird hunters, including lifetime license holders, are required to register in the federal Harvest Information Program (HIP). HIP is a survey method developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to collect more reliable estimates of migratory game bird harvests throughout the country. HIP certifi cation is available July 1 – April 1 and expires June 30 each year. Hunters can purchase or renew their license and obtain their HIP certifi cation online for immediate use in the fi eld. Hunters can also purchase and renew their license at a Wildlife Service Agent offi ce or call 833-950-0575 , 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. It is a violation of state and federal law to take migratory game birds with the use or aid of salt, grain, fruit or any other bait. Additionally, hunters need to be aware that an area is considered baited for 10 days following the removal of all salt, grain, or other feed. Migratory game birds may be hunted in agricultural areas where grain has been distributed as the result of normal agricultural operations. Information regarding agriculture and planting techniques may be obtained from a local N.C. State Extension Center. Visit the agency's website to view an interactive map of game land dove fi elds. Hunting safety is priority when in the fi eld. Free hunter safety courses are available through the Wildlife Commission. Wildlife Law Enforcement Offi cers advise dove hunters to follow these safety tips: • Adhere to established safe zones of fi re. • Ensure you have the correct ammunition for your fi rearm. • Keep the muzzle of your fi rearm pointed in a safe direction. • Keep your fi nger off the trigger until ready to shoot. • Do not shoot at low-fl ying birds. • Do not place decoys on utility lines. View more information about doves and download the 2023- 24 North Carolina Regulations Digest (PDF/fl ipbook) at https:// w w w. n c w i l d l i fe . o r g / L i c e n s i n g / Regulations. Dove Season Opens September 2 Article by: ncwildlife.org. I can remember the fi rst time I was exposed to those refl ective tree tacks. I was hunting in Ohio and my fi rst hunt was the next morning. Since we didn't have time that evening to view my hunting location, I was simply told to follow the refl ective tacks. I was taken to my starting place early the next morning, grabbed my fl ashlight and was pointed to the fi rst tack. Sure enough, one tack led to another, and then to another, and so on. There were times when there were tacks on both sides of the path. On occasions, it looked like an airplane runway. There was no way I could get lost as long as stayed between those beacons. I remember after a few twists and turns, I fi nally showed up to my destination tree. I had never seen it. I didn't know how to get there. I could only see a few feet down my path. But I arrived at the destination my guide had planned for me. I thought about that trip the other morning while running in the dark. I had my headlamp on to brighten my path, but I could only see a few feet ahead. While I knew where I was going, I could only see as far as my circumstances allowed. So, I kept running with the light I was given, until the sun began to peek out, and I could see farther down the trail. Both instances illustrate how God asks us to follow him. Both illustrate the walk of faith. Sometimes, actually most of the time, our destination is unknown to us. Our Guide, however, knows exactly where He's sending us, and He points us only to the starting point. He doesn't leave us there but gives us another tack to make sure we are heading in the right direction. Sometimes the way is still vague and other times it's lit up like that runway. Both will only take us so far until another directional tack is seen. There are also times God has shown us the destination he has for us. He has given us a glimmer of the ultimate plan for us, but he is blocking our immediate arrival. He does so by placing unexpected and unwanted circumstances in our path. At those times, there is only enough light to move us a few steps forward. During those times, there may not be enough light to make it to the end of our present situation, much less our destiny. But we keep taking one step after another until daylight breaks and shows us how close we really are to the place God planned for us all along. It's then we fi nd out that God's destiny for us was never a place. It was the walk. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ GARY MILLER Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 20 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/ son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org Once again, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the N.C. State Highway Patrol (SHP) are coordinating with state and local agencies, and participating n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in the annual "On the Road, On the Water, Don't Drink and Drive" safety campaign. The multi-agency initiative aims to reduce alcohol and drug-related incidents on the state's waterways and roads, with events and safety check points throughout North Carolina. "We experience a higher number of boats on the water during the summer holiday weekends. Factor in impaired boat operators or passengers and it greatly increases the risk of a serious or tragic incident," said Lt. Nathan Green of the Wildlife Commission. "Additionally, we will see an increase in vehicle traffi c especially on those roads around our lakes and waterways. This is why we continue to combine our effort with SHP and others to bring an increased awareness of the negative effects of impaired operation of boats and vehicles. Our goal is for everyone to be able to enjoy a safe holiday weekend." In North Carolina, a driver or vessel operator with a blood-alcohol concentration that meets or exceeds .08 or is appreciably impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, is subject to arrest. For more information on boating safety and regulations, visit ncwildlife. org/boating or call 919- 707-0031. State Enforcement Agencies Increase Presence this Labor Day Weekend Article by: ncwildlife.org. National Campaign includes efforts to prevent impaired driving on roads and water. 157 West Main St., Forest City, NC 28043 828.248.1408 Fax: 828-245-7013 Wake Up Wake Up Advertise in Advertise in Your Potential Your Potential Customers! Customers!