Deer season continues, with Humphreys Co. now having taken over 1,000 deer so far. The gun hunt started Saturday, November 20th. And as of Sunday, Humphreys Co has taken just under 500 deer. The total for the state so far is 88,000 deer. Waterfowl season opened this past weekend, and it looks like we had a good hunt. Many duck hunters are posting some limits on social media. A cold front passed through Sunday, and many ducks were flying just ahead of the front. Waterfowl season closed Sunday at sunset, and will re-open this next Saturday, and will continue until the end of January. Most all hunting seasons are now open, including trapping. Trapping once was a staple of our area in the past, but fur prices seem to have fallen off over the last few years, as the demand for wild fur has wained. I would encourage all hunters to consult with the latest hunting/trapping guide for all information on openings and rules and regulations.
Fishing has been improving for crappie fishermen, with some limits showing up this past week, as the crappie start to school up and become more predictable. Best depths are in 15-25 ft of water while fishing stake beds and stumps. Minnows seem to be working better than jigs on cool mornings. Bass have become somewhat hard to find this past week, more in part due to the strong winds keeping fishermen away from where they need to fish. Catfish action has improved, with the best bites still coming from depths of around 30-40 ft. Lake levels seemed to remain stable, with levels around the New Johnsonville area still at 355 ft. Water temps have fallen off to the upper 50’s now, but a warm spell this week could cause surface temps to rise. Flow rates have been a consistent 35,000 cfs, with water color remaining clear.