Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The First Annual Great Southern Tailgate Cookoff

Amelia Island, Florida is featuring a brand new event on the 27th & 28th of August, 2010. The First Annual Great Southern Tailgate Cookoff will be held at the Main Beach with BBQ and entertainment for the whole family.

Championship BBQ
Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, the Great Southern Tailgate Cookoff will have more than 50 teams  competing for up to $20,000 in prizes, and will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, the 27th. A special award will be given to the team with the best decorated booth. Convert some cash into Piggy Bucks that can be used to purchase BBQ and other southern delicacies, and then place your vote for the People's Choice. Please support the event by leaving your refreshments outside and enjoying the award winning cuisine prepared by the participants.




Entertainment
The Jacksonville Jaguar's Jaxon Deville and the Jaguar Cheerleaders will be on hand for the opening events, and several local bands will provide free entertainment on both days. Scheduled performers will The Swingin' Medallions, Karl W. Davis, Touch of Grey, and more. Be sure to bring a blanket or some chairs and enjoy the Florida outdoors - Dixie style. Remember that no food or drinks from outside are allowed, and leave your coolers at home!

Fernandina & Amelia Island
Located at Florida's northeastern most tip, Fernandina Beach has a rich history which dates back to the Spanish rule of of the state. Just outside of downtown Fernandina is Fort Clinch, a Civil War fort and award-winning state park. Amelia Island lies between Fernandina to north and Big Talbot Island State park to the south, and is world famous for it's golf, tennis, and superior resorts. If you are traveling in from out of town, there's plenty to keep you occupied for as long as you wish to stay.



Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Backwoods Escapes to State Forests

Florida protected forest areas include highland oak, pine meadows, and lowland swamps, among many other terrains. Many thousands of acres of land have been set aside through the state for preservation and to make sure that future generations will be able to experience what the real Florida was once like.


Things to Do
Activities include biking, horseback riding, ATV riding, camping, fishing, and hunting. The Department of Forestry can help you find a state forest that interests you. No matter what you want to do in the great outdoors, Florida state forests are a resource to be considered. Even an evening joyride through locations such as Jennings Forest reveal a wealth of wildlife living in a protected zone.

Camping
Campers at all state forest must register at the main entry or as instructed. Some campsites may have electricity or water, but is a good idea to reserve the site if you plan to require full accommodations.  Additionally, many state forests are located in or near national forests or designated wildlife sanctuaries.

Fishing
Many state forest have natural pondS or streams that may be fished. Ocean Pond is one of the largest in North Florida, but other parks allow access to the headwaters of the St, Marys river, Black Creek, and other major Florida waterways. Bass, bream and catfish are on the menu, along with mudfish biting in the spring and fall, and turtles could pose a challenge at any time.



Hunting
State forest adhere to special regulations from one season to the next, regulating the length of the hunting period and what is considered an allowed kill quota. Most state forest and wildlife management areas, including the property around Camp Blanding,  provide special bow-only locations and seasons, as do other locations.


Exploring Nature
The many different Florida ecosystems offer an abundance of outdoor discovery. Highland sand oaks are a common refuge for wild turkey, and the most common habitat of the ancient gopher tortoise. By contrast Pine and hardwood forest attract deer, rabbits, owls, and other woodland creatures. In the cypress swamps, you may see snakes, bears, otter, raccoons, deer, or alligator. Take a digital camera with a large memory bank, or numerous rolls of film.


Friday, July 30, 2010

5 Ideas for Campsite Simplicity

Little things can make the camping trip more comfortable, or completely ruin the day. Here are a set of useful tips that can save money, make the trip more comfortable, and eliminate some of the hassles of camping outdoors, Dixie style.


Eye hooks have many uses.

Hook it Up
Pick up a set of eye hooks at the local hardware store. Around the campsite, these hooks can be screwed into wooden poles or a healthy tree to provide hooks and hangers for a wide variety of things. Hanging a lantern is one obvious example, and providing a place to hang a bucket of water for hand-rinsing is another. Eye hooks are easy to install by inserting a screwdriver or sturdy stick through the hole and turning clockwise as you push in.






Rinse your feet to reduce sand in the tent.


Avoid the Sand Trap
Getting sand in the tent can become an uncomfortable situation, but it is easy to avoid. Set up your tent so that it opens on the side away from the wind. This will reduce most wind blowing directly into the tent. Next, place a large towel or absorbent run immediately inside the tent, and a cheap rubber welcome mat outside it. Fill a bucket 1/4 full of water, or keep a gallon jug filled right outside the tent flap. Remove your shoes and rinse your feet and lower legs before entering the tent.






Resealable bags keep things organized.

Keep it Fresh
Every camp kit should contain quart and gallon size "zip" style plastic bags. When a bag of chips or other package is opened, store them in a bag. Do the same for hotdogs, leftovers, and fish that have been cleaned. Keep your tableware in a bag. Group similar items in containers for easy access. Plastic bags keep your camp site organized, helps to keep foods fresh, and prevents problems with scavengers and insects. Check out these other uses for Ziploc bags.




PVC stakes are useful around a campsite.

Portable Hand Wash Station
Cut a piece of PVC pipe about 4 feet long. Screw an eye hook into one end, and cut the other end at pointed angle. Push the stake into the ground with a downward twisting motion. Hang a small bucket of water from the hook, and you have an instant hand washing station. Use it to rinse your hands after baiting hooks or handling fish bare-handed. Washing stations are handy near the food preparation area. Another use is to place a plastic grocery bag inside the empty bucket and use it for a trash container.






Take your trash with you when you leave.



Reduce the Rubbish
Avoid carrying store-bought packages. Package your supplies in reusable containers before you set out on the trip and you'll save time and energy, along having less trash to pack up when the trip is done. Instead of carrying dozens of containers, take a few gallon container of water, a bag of sugar, and tea or Kool-aid. Put a few tea bags in a clear glass or plastic container filled with water in the morning and you'll have sun tea ready for drinking in the afternoon.





Thursday, July 29, 2010

Black Water Catfishing

Many people are familiar with the Hank Williams Jr. Song, A Country Boy Can Survive and the line which says "I can catch fish from dusk till dawn." Because catfish are more active at night there is a common misconception that they feed all night long. Here are some helpful tips for catching catfish the lazy, old-fashioned way. A good rule of thumb in survivalist fishing is that you should catch 3 fish per day, per person.

When to Fish
In truth, catfish bite the best according to the phase of the moon, and will actually take the bait all night long when a full moon rises just after full dark. If there is a moon in the sky, day or night, you are likely to nab a catfish in dark pools, especially near springs or around the base of cypress trees. The fish activity will drop off severely after the moon has set, so plan your nocturnal fishing for when the moon is bright and long in the sky.

Catfish Bait
Catfish will eat anything, or so they say. For the best results, though, it might be a good idea to use bait that has been tested for centuries. Earthworms are always a winner for fish, and catfish also have a liking for bloody flesh. Chicken livers are an excellent choice, and often provide more bait for your buck than purchasing ordinary worms. In a pinch, use a net to catch minnows, or cut a small bream up and use small fillets as catfish bait. Save your money when it comes to commercial catfish baits. They won't improve your odds of catching a decent cat, tend to be many times more expensive than worms or livers, and is often smells like something the dog drug up.

Where They Hide
Catfish are nocturnal bottom feeders. Large fish can be found in deep pools with an immediate sandbar or other shallow zone immediately upstream. The reason for this is because the fish will lurk at the edge of a drop and prey on smaller fish and other food that comes blundering in from shallower --and safer-- locations. In rivers such as the Suwanee or St. Marys, you can often pick out the best spots by observing the water surface. Smooth areas tend to indicate deep water and a light rolling motion on the surface of a dark pool indicates that a spring is beneath it. Older cypress trees are commonly found near springs in these rivers, and their hollow trunks provide a source of food and shelter to many creatures including catfish. These are not the only place to catch catfish, but using this type of location will increase the size  and number of your catch.

A Tip for Using Chicken Liver
Chicken livers are very fragile and often fragment due to the force of the cast, leaving an empty hook to fall into the water and free food distributed in the area. A few casts of this sort might help to draw more fish into the area, but too many and you are only wasting bait. If you cut small squares out of old stockings, you can create miniature bait bags that fit any size hook. Using this method for fishing with chicken livers means less bait lost during casts, and often the ability to reuse the same bait multiple times before it is lost or becomes "bleached out."

Don't Frighten the Fish
Catfish are nocturnal, and are aware of even minor changes in the lighting, such as shadows moving across the water. Do not build a fire in a direct line between yourself and your fishing zone. Build your fire as far away from the water as is realistically feasible, and avoid the temptation to build a large fire. If possible, dig a hole to build the fire in and provide a low wall of stone or sand around the pit. Hang your lantern from a low limb or set it directly on the ground and turn the flame down low.

Nibbles and Bites
One very important rule of cat fishing is not to "set" the hook at the first sign of a nibble. If the line bounces and stops, the most likely scenario is that a fish is testing the food. Wait on the line to jump in a similar fashion two or three times, and then you can try to set the hook if you wish. Backwoods fishermen will tell you that you are wasting a lot of effort for nothing, but sometimes it works. Wait until you have a fish on the line, and then play it in to the bank.

Lazy Fishing
Cast out, and place the end of the pole or rod in a fixed rod holder. Wrap a small piece of aluminum foil around the tip of the rod without wrapping the line up as well. Now you can go over to sit by the fire and watch your line from well-lit comfort. When a fish is on the line, you will know. If the line is idle for more than 10 minutes and the moon is still visible in the sky, check your bait and cast into a different location.

Shop for Keepers
Use some sort of live well for your catch. A 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled around the bottom can be anchored by the handle in shallow water and sealed with a bungee cord and an old pillow case. At the end of the night, choose the fish you want to keep and return the others to the water for another chance.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

A Fun Way to Plan Road Trips

Going camping is a lot of fun, but even the best places become less interesting when they are the only ones you visit. Instead of always going to the same place every time you go on a road trip, why not explore your little slice of the world, and make choosing your destinations part of the fun of going there?

By the Map
You will need a map of your regional area that displays state and national parks. Get a map large enough to extend several hundred miles from your location. An atlas with both large and small scales works best but is not a requirement. Place a dot at your home on the map. Set a compass (the kind used for drawing circles) point on the dot and adjust the radius of the pencil tip to 50 miles by the scale of the map. Draw the circle. Set the radius to the 100 mile mark by the map scale and make another circle. Keep making circles every 50 miles out from your home to a distance of 600 miles.

Why Circles?
Each circle on the map represents approximately one hour of travel time from your home. You may be able to shorten the travel time somewhat, but estimating at 50mph gives you plenty of time for fuel and other stops. By drawing circles in pencil, you are able to look at your map and see at a glance what features are available within your available area.

Spinning Directions
Cut a 2 inch arrow out of construction paper or thin cardboard. Measure 1/2 inch from one end, and place a needle through the arrow. Wiggle the arrow around on the needle until it turns freely. Spread the map out on the floor and place the needle tip firmly in the dot which marks your home. Spin the arrow to find out what direction you are going to travel.

Time and Distance
Each day that you can allot for your trip adds 4 circles to the travel distance on your map. Day trips should be confined to the first or second circles to insure you have a chance to enjoy yourself. Look for interesting spots to visit along the direction of travel and within your maximum circle for the trip. If the arrow is not pointing towards anything of interest, spin it again. If there are a lot of choices along the path, roll dice and count outward from your home position to the winning numbered location.

Rating Your Experience
As you visit location on the map, give each one a rating between 1 and 10, and write that number on the map in ink. Since the idea of the game is to visit new places, only choose places you have been to before if there is nothing else available in the direction your traveling. If you are traveling for multiple days, look for a series of interesting spots to stop along each leg of the journey. rating your travel stops gives you an easy reference for future trips, or just give travel advice to friends and family.