Operation Open Season

Supporting local high school building programs while providing hunting and fishing opportunities for America’s wounded heroes.

Scoring Your Buck

Here are a few helpful tips for scoring your next big buck!

Boon and Crocket Scoring:

Measuring whitetail deer antlers determines how significant a hunt was before you mount the rack. In some cases, it can lead to awards for exceptional hunting. The Boone and Crockett scoring system has been the template for most other scoring systems, so you should start by taking these spread, point and circumference measurements.

Steps
Preparing to Score Antlers

Ensure the skull plate is intact and it has not been artificially replaced or repaired. Your antlers can’t receive an official Boone and Crockett score in this condition.
Make sure your whitetail deer hunt follows the fair game laws of your state. Unfair chase makes your antlers ineligible to be officially scored.

Place your antlers, your measuring tape, yardstick and steel cable on a table. The skull plate should be sitting on your table so that you can take horizontal and vertical measurements of the rack. You will need to take all measurements to the nearest one-eighth inch.
Measuring Spread
Measure the tip-to-tip spread with your measuring tape. This is the distance between the tip of the right antler and the tip of the left antler. Take the measurement from the front of the antlers.

Write down all your measurements on your score sheet or using the Boone and Crockett Club online form.
This is usually a small measurement, because the main beams reach toward each other in the middle of the rack.

Find the greatest spread. This is the distance between the widest point of the left antler to the widest point of the right antler. This horizontal measurement can be taken along any point of antlers along the main beam.
Locate the inside spread of the main beams. Measure the horizontal distance between the widest curve of the main beam on each side.
Calculate the length of the main beam. Start at the burr, where the antlers meet the skull. Twist your flexible measuring tape so that it follows the center of the lowest outside edge of the main beam over the outer side to the end of the main beam.
Start with the right antler, and then do a separate measurement for the left antler.
Antlers are not perfectly symmetrical.

Measuring Points
Distinguish the normal points from abnormal points. Typical/normal points are those extending from the top of the main beam. Abnormal points can extend from the main beam near the burr.
Total up the lengths from base to tip of each abnormal point on the right antler and on the left antler. This should be fairly easy and short, unless your deer’s antlers are extremely abnormal.
Measure each normal point on the right antler. The Boone and Crockett Club scoring sheet has places for up to seven points, although few deer will have that many. Repeat with the points on the left antler.

Measuring Circumference and Finishing
Determine the circumference points for your antlers. This is the narrowest point between one location and another. Use a flexible measuring tape to wrap in a circle around that point, or use a flexible steel cable and then lay it out across a yardstick to determine the measurement.
Wrap your flexible measuring tape around the area between the burr and the first point of the right antler. Make sure you are choosing the narrowest point. Repeat on the left.
Measure the circumference of the narrowest portion between the first and second points. Do the right and then the left.
Measure the circumference between the second and third points on both sides.
Determine the circumference between the third and fourth points on both sides.

Things You’ll Need
*Deer antlers
*1/4-inch steel measuring tape
*Flexible steel cable
*Yardstick
*Score sheet
*Pencil

 

Land Opportunities

I was recently asked why I am so passionate about our work with Operation Open Season. I didn’t have to think about my response long because there were two very distinct occurrences early in our efforts that made me realize how important this type of work truly was.  I can remember one of my first guided deer hunts for Operation Open Season, I picked up a young man who had served in Iraq, and like so many from this modern era of warfare, he had sustained injuries from an IED.  He was a wonderful young man, gracious, and very thankful for the opportunity to hunt a private property.  As we drove to the property he told me about his experiences in combat and how he sustained his injury.  I was overwhelmed with his story and thought how lucky most of America is that we have these brave young men and women who have sacrificed the comfort and safety of America to go and fight.  A fight that keeps each and every one of us safe and free.  A fight that exposes them to unthinkable dangers every day.

As we parked and got ready to head out for the mile or so hike to his deer blind, he again thanked me for the opportunity and I could tell that this was a great experience for him. I have hunted private property all my life and had taken for granted that most folks don’t have the kind of access that I was blessed with.  What he said next really touched my soul.  He said, “This is the first hunt I’ve had in over eight years.  I used to hunt with my father when I was growing up, and it was some of the most wonderful memories that I have.  I love to hunt!”  I asked why it had been so long since his last hunt, and his answer was overwhelming.  He said, “I’ve tried to find hunting opportunities for myself and young boy, but things have changed over the years.”  Curious about what had changed, and assuming his injury was in some way playing a role in limiting his opportunities for hunting, I asked what had changed. He said, “All the property has been leased up.  There is only a handful of opportunities and those are usually reserved for the landowner or his close friends.  Unfortunately, hunting has become a “rich man’s sport.”  I hadn’t realized it but he was right.  Hunting and land access has changed dramatically over just the last ten years.  On another occasion, I was helping guide a hunt for a double amputee on some wonderful turkey hunting properties.  Again, I was taken back by his thankfulness and excitement on the opportunity for a great day in the field.  His comments echoed what the previous hunter had said about access to property.  He said there were programs for wounded veterans to access land but there was a two to three year waiting list…  What this young soldier said next sealed to deal for me.  He told me about his injuries and how depressed he was in the hospital after the attack.  He said, “I was trained to be a warrior, I had so much comradery with my guys, I was an elite soldier with access to the best weapons in the world, and now I can’t even get out of this hospital bed without help.”  He said, “I didn’t feel like a man anymore”.  He then went on to say that getting in the field with some good guys on a hunt, having a gun in his hands again, sharing the comradery of the hunt with new friends, it all made him feel for the first time since his injury like a man again!  I decided to start working with other land owners to see if there was any way we could open more opportunities for the great men and women.  I knew if land owners could hear these stories they would be committed to helping provide more opportunities.

Youth Hunts

We can all play a significant role in the lives of many kids by taking time and investing in the youth of our communities.  Taking a youngster on a hunt with your family can play a significant role in the overall health of a child.  I recently read some alarming statistics about the youth in America today, and the role a father figure plays in the lives of children.  Investing time in the lives of these kids can positively impact many aspects of their lives.  There is nothing like the outdoors to uplift the hearts of kids.  Educating the next generation of sportsman is key to assuring hunting opportunities for generations to come. We have partnered with several organizations who would truly appreciate your investment in their kids.  We also encourage our local land owners to consider opening their property to youth hunt opportunities.  We have several qualified guides who we can connect with kids in our community. 

Scotty’s Tips For the Field

                When turkey hunting on public ground or hunting birds that have been pressured heavily here are a few hints that might make your trip more successful. Limited calling will be key to success when hunting birds that have been called and educated earlier in the season and before season. One mistake many hunters make is calling to birds before season to get gobbles and locate birds. If a bird responds, he will come check your position. Many of these birds see hunters or hear people talking when they come to investigate. This education makes it tough to get that bird to respond when the time comes to hunt. Over calling is a major mistake. When you are in the woods, do you hear hens cutting and yelping all the time? Neither do the gobblers you are pursuing. Let the gobbler dictate how much calling you need and always error on the side of under calling. Many times when you do get a gobbler going, he is CUT Off by another hen. This is the way nature works. When a turkey gobbles, the hens run to them, so keep the turkey gobbling enough to ensure his location but not so much he excites all the other hens in the area! Try these tips next season and hopefully they will help you have a successful hunt.

Post By:  Scotty Edmonson

 

 

Arkansas Game & Fish

Native Warm Season Grass/Forb Program

The AGFC has initiated new component to the program which offers specific emphasis on bobwhite quail and other grassland songbirds. Through the program, cooperators may receive packets of native warm season grasses and forbs. Native warm season grasses and forbs are excellent nesting, brood-rearing and escape cover for bobwhite quail and associated grassland birds, but benefit many other species of wildlife, including deer and turkeys. The number of seed packets provided will depend upon the number of acres enrolled by cooperators and annual budgets.

Program Guidelines and Requirements of the NWSG component:

  • The application deadline for consideration in the NWSG component is Jan. 31 each year.
  • A minimum of 5 contiguous acres is required to participate.
  • Must own or have at least a 5-year lease on the property.
  • Must have access to planting equipment (tractor, ATV, disc, etc.)
  • Can’t use Acres for Wildlife as part of another government program.
  • If cattle are present, they must be excluded from the NWSG land. Cattle may be grazed on these acres after 2-4 growing seasons with proper fencing if determined beneficial to improving the habitat for wildlife. However, cattle can only be grazed on these acres according to an approved prescribed grazing plan approved by an AGFC private lands biologist. Any grazing allowed will normally be for very short periods and once per year in most years.
  • If cattle are not present, but are acquired after the contract, the landowner must exclude those cattle from their NWSG land and follow the same grazing rules. If cattle are not excluded and landowner or land manager does not follow an approved prescribed grazing plan, the landowner must reimburse the AGFC the cost of the seed.
  • This is a competitive program, and applicants will receive seed based on their ranking done by an AGFC private lands biologist.
  • Participant agrees to plant within prescribed planting dates in their contract.
  • The seed must be planted in the first year and maintained for 5 years to establish and maintain early successional/open land quail habitat.
  • If for any reason, the landowner or land manager does not maintain the contracted acres funded by the program for the 5-year contract period, he/she must reimburse AGFC for the seed.
  • Participants installing practices that require federal, state, or local permits are responsible for obtaining those permits.
  • The participant receiving seed shall hold the state government harmless for either of the following actions by the participant:
    • Infringement on the rights of others.
    • Failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations.
  • All landowners wishing to receive NWSG seed are entitled to technical assistance and/or sign-off on their wildlife habitat plan from an AGFC private lands biologist.
  • Any modifications to the wildlife habitat plan that received NWSG Program ranking points should be approved by an AGFC private lands biologist before the modification.

Contact Information

Contact any of the following AGFC offices for additional information regarding Acres for Wildlife and other private lands programs:

  • Brinkley –  877-734-4581
  • Calico Rock –  877297-4331
  • Camden –  877-836-4612
  • Fort Smith –  877-478-1043
  • Hope –  877-777-5580
  • Hot Springs –  877-525-8606
  • Jonesboro –  877-972-5438
  • Little Rock –  877-470-3650
  • Monticello –  877-367-3559
  • Russellville –  877-967-7577