Volume 17 Number 2 - February 2010

FEATURES:

	2009-10 Deer of the Year Hunter selectivity and the two-buck rule created more opportunities for trophy whitetails. Trophy deer hunting seems to get better in North Carolina every year. The 2009 season was no exception. ... Craig Holt

	Deer Dynamics: Post-Rut The rut is winding down as bucks come out of overdrive and gradually return to familiar ground. Yet, with shades of testosterone remaining and an occasional female cycling into estrus, a handful of deer are still engaged to procreate. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part two of a 12-part series in which renowned wildlife photographer Tommy Kirkland gives readers an inside look into the private world of whitetail deer. ... Tommy Kirkland

	Ridin’ Up Rabbits The Horsemen Hunting Club has expanded to 15 members, proving rabbit hunting is still popular in the Tar Heel State. A covey of pickup trucks nestled in the back of a Duplin County farm field, the beds sporting dog boxes empty but for the musty remaining scent of beagles. But the howls, yips and yelps from the thick piney woods surrounding the field revealed ... Mike Marsh

	Snap, Crackle, Pop The February red drum bite in the Cape Fear area can ignite like a string of firecrackers if you know how to light the fuse. The dead of winter. It’s a term that perfectly describes February. ... Craig Holt

	Stripping for Reds Clear water and schooling, winter redfish in the Little River area are the perfect match for anglers who love to fly-fish. The chilly breezes and frigid waters of winter often fail to deter fishermen targeting redfish that prowl the pristine, remote mud flats around the North Carolina-South Carolina border. ... Jeff Burleson

	Winter Walleye Wonderland Fontana Lake offers great cold-weather fishing for tasty northern transplants. Winter in the North Carolina mountains. ... Tim Mead

	‘Person-al’ Secrets Squirrel hunting on Person County’s Hyco and Mayo game lands is usually top drawer this time of year. Squirrel hunting has fallen down on the list of popular hunting pursuits, but it wasn’t always so. ... Mike Marsh