It was September 1st and some friends and I where off for our annual dove hunt in Jefferson county. We have been returning to this area for 15 years with great success.
Many years ago, about ten of us started going up and working for the farmer on a Saturday. Usually hauling tobacco from the field and hanging it in the five tier barn. We had also painted the dairy barn in the past. This was hard work, but the fellowship and meal that was prepared for us made it seem like a fair trade for the privilege to hunt. However, as several of the hunters became older, the idea of paying for the permission sounded better and better.
This year we headed up around ten o’clock. We got there in time for my good friend Dennis Keeling to grill some of his famous elk and antelope back strips from the previous years Wyoming hunt. A grill was set up on the truck’s tailgate. After trading stories and eating as much meat as one could hold, we headed to the field for opening of the season which is high noon. As usual we did not expect the birds to fly well until about 4:30 when the temperature starts to cool down.
While tailgating, I had seen several birds flying into the corner of the field and landing on a power line. I took a couple decoys and my fishing rods and headed that way. Several hunters where curiously watching as I threw the decoys over the power line. I pulled them up to the power line and laid the rods down keeping the fishing line tight holding the decoys against the power line. As I was going to get my gun, shells and seat, a bird landed near the decoys and I knew I would get some early shooting. I returned with Dennis’ son Austin. Austin got off to an early start. Before long we had a good start towards our limits with Austin leading me by three birds, while others were waiting for their first shoot.
After getting my limit of 15 birds, I went to help a friend find some birds he had lost in tall grass. While walking close to the woods I could smell something sweet and I knew it was none of us, considering we had been tromping around in a dusty field in the sun for 5 hours. Then I found it. It was over ripe pawpaw’s which the deer and hornets had been eating. I gathered up as many as I could find on the ground and left the others in the trees alone.
As my hunting partners limited out and returned to the vehicle, I offered them some pawpaws. Most had heard of them but never seen one. Everyone was egger to try one of the banana/pineapple tasting fruit.
The following week I returned to collect the rest of the fruit that would be ripe. I drove around and found a few more patches. I collected about two gallons and plan to plant the seeds closer to the house. It takes about ten years for the trees to produce fruit.
Now, as for fishing…..fishing this late summer has been excellent on schooling fish like white bass, small rock fish, largemouth, and small mouth bass. The best bet is late afternoon. Areas like confluence of the Clinch and Emory River. Humps on Watts Barr Lake around Thief Neck Island, in front of Half-moon Island, upstream of Long Island to the Paint Rock Refuge on the Tennessee River, and below Ft. Loudon Dam have all been productive.
Take someone fishing, Greg
