Conservation Corner: September 20, 1999

Records Key To Successful Outing
by James L. Cummins

During the past several weeks we have witnessed the warmer temperatures of summer change to fall-like temperatures. When fall is in full swing, wildlife enthusiasts throughout Mississippi will be engaged in new activities...hiking, fall fishing and squirrel and deer hunting!

Mississippi's hikers, anglers and hunters are spending many hours in the woods and on the water this time of year. If you are one of them, you may want to consider keeping a log-book of your time spent outdoors. Some of the most successful anglers and hunters I know keep accurate and detailed log-books. I firmly believe that these log-books are a big part of what makes them so successful.

Log-books can be extremely helpful to you in the coming years. You will be able to look back through your log-book to examine successful trips to find out what made them so successful.

When beginning your log-book, enter as much data as possible about each outing. Many years from now you may not be able to remember a certain hike or a certain hunting or fishing trip, but if you have taken the time to record detailed information about that trip as it took place, you will have everything you need in black and white.

When compiling data from an outing, record all pertinent information about that outing. Things such as date, time, weather conditions, river stages, areas where you saw wildlife and/or caught fish, areas where you did not see wildlife and/or catch fish, depths which were productive, baits and lures that were productive (including sizes, types and colors), species of fish which were caught and who you were fishing or hunting with. All of this information will be valuable in the future.

You should develop your own system of recording this data. A system that is personal will serve you best. After all, if you can not interpret what you have written, your log-book will be virtually useless to you.

Keep in mind that log-books can be used for all sorts of outdoor activities. Squirrel and deer hunters would be well served by keeping a log-book. We have all hunted certain areas, that during certain times of the season, are more productive than others. Some of these areas you may have hunted for the first time and you want to make sure you will be able to find the area again in the future. Keep a record of it and you will!

Keeping a log-book of all your outdoor activities will enable you to be a more successful hunter, angler or wildlife viewer whether you are in the field or on the water.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.