Volume 19 Number 12 - December 2012

FEATURES:

	Better late than never The rut is over, but North Carolina hunters still have several weeks of the season left to line up that big buck using these experts’ tips. The last month of the year brings brisk morning air to the hills and valleys of the Tarheel State, and while many deer hunters have put their boots and rifles into semi-retirement, December can be extremely productive in terms of encountering a ... Jeff Burleson

	Crossing over The latest innovations and relaxed hunting regulations are putting more crossbows in the hands of eastern North Carolina deer hunters. Here’s why. Jerry Simmons of Castle Hayne made his rounds, checking out the ground blinds and elevated stands he and his son Jerry Simmons Jr. were planning to hunt later that afternoon. Instead of avoiding the areas, he was spilling corn from the tailgate of ... Mike Marsh

	Cutting up sea ducks Scissors-rig hunting is exciting approach to Pamlico ducks. Learn the details here. Camouflage is a key element of successful hunting, especially for waterfowl. But the art of hiding from wild game has changed over time. Native Americans once concealed themselves inside animal skins or attached leaves and grasses to ... Craig Holt

	Hot Hole Fishing Lakes with warm-water discharges from power plants keep fish feeding actively throughout the winter. Learn from these experts how to find and fish them. North Carolina usually doesn’t get its coldest winter weather until about the third week of January, but some years – 2010 and 2011 being fine examples — the freeze arrives in time for the Christmas holidays. While cold, cold weather ... Dan Kibler

	Last-Chance Grouper Great grouper fishing is available out of Morehead City this month, before the season closes. Learn the details here. Diehard grouper fishermen once headed for the ledges in spring before a January-to-April season closure changed their habits. Now, many fishermen are experiencing their best action in the final month they can these fish. Capt. Mike ... Mike Marsh

	The ‘lines’ of winter Winter striped bass fishing can be action packed at the Pamlico River and its feeder creeks. Read on to learn how to get in on the fishing madness. Most North Carolina anglers know about the striped bass migration in the Roanoke River. The “rockfish run” draws thousands of fishermen each March, April and May. These “linesiders” spawn each spring, moving out of the Pamlico Sound ... Craig Holt

	The ‘New” side of speckled trout Onslow County’s river is top spot for spotted seatrout as fall gives way to winter. Learn the hows and whys here. While Ricky Kellum is an accomplished inshore fisherman for several species, he is considered “The Man” for specks in the New River and in the Intracoastal Waterway around Camp Lejeune and Sneads Ferry. A guide based in Jacksonville, Kellum spends ... Jerry Dilsaver