Launch: Buzbee’s in Spanish Fort, AL
Distance: Approx 14 miles
Route: Paddle up Bay Minette Creek to a log jam and back.
Pace: Moderate going up, easy on the way back.
Average Speed: 2.6 mph.Weather: Sunny, 45-55 degrees, very low tide, winds out of the north 10-15 mph.
Went up to Cliffs Landing and due to the gusting winds and choppy water, decided against launching. Didn't feel like getting wet from spray. Chose to paddle Bay Minette Creek as it is sheltered from the wind.
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| 1) A cold front passed through last night and the cloud cover just opened up leaving cool crisp air and beautiful blue skies for today’s kayaking adventure. |
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| 2) This heron was catching a lot of minnows. |
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| 3) The glistening sparkles from these wet blobs caught my eye from across the creek. |
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| 4) Buckwheat trees along the bank were starting to bloom. |
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| 5) Toward sunset, some trees lining the bank of Bay Minette Basin were teeming with noisy song chatter coming from a mass of Red-wing Blackbirds. |
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6) It isn’t often I see a live deer. Being down wind during the breezy afternoon probably helped me get close without alarming the deer – this one was sure watching me.
Also got to see a wild pig today but it was lying dead on the creek bank. The gunshot wound was quite visible – looked like the hunter hit it too high. As far as I know, not a single bit of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta is set aside as a wildlife sanctuary. Here are two PDFs to show you how extensive the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta hunting coverage is: Lower. Upper. |
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| 7) Saw lots of Osprey Eagles today. I always thought Robins were ground feeders. There were a group of Robins eating up the red berries on this shrub. |
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| 8) As I was paddling out to watch the sunset on Bay Minette Basin, one red maple tree was very red compared to the others and the way the sun was shining on it made it glowing red. |
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| 9) Sunset in Bay Minette Basin – the warm orange ripples along the cool blue sky waters are compliments of the kayak wake. |
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| 10) If trees have eyes, then this moss draped cypress has probably seen some spectacular sunsets. |
Sir, I would not worry about the dead feral pig. It is sad that the hunter in question did not practice good conservation; however, feral swine are a danger to many ecosystems. The way that these animals forage for food damages many root systems of trees and they are a non-native species. Also these animals reproduce offspring rapidly, almost too rapidly.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/articles/hogsferal.cfm
As for hunting restrictions in the delta, the areas that you have linked to outdooralabama.com are Wildlife Management Areas. In the WMAs you have to purcase a special permit to hunt. ($16 anually on top of a $24 hunting license, for waterfowl that's another $15 for a federal duckstamp and $6 for a state stamp) The restrictions for "baglimits" of game are normally more strict in WMAs than on private land. (With the exception of waterfowl)I would not worry about hunting in the delta sir. The state funding to keep up the WMA that you enjoy kayaking in comes from hunting taxes and permits(I paid $46 to hunt ducks in the Tensaw Delta), as well as, money from hunter related conservation agencys. Such as Forever Wild, Alabama Wildlife Federation, and Ducks Unlimited(Of which I made a donation of $24.00 this year.)In short ecological minded fellow, the next time you kayak the delta thank a hunter for helping conserve the wetlands around you. Many hunters may be a kayakers as well, like myself.
Here are some useful links: Forever Wild: http://www.outdooralabama.com/public-lands/stateLands/foreverWild/ Alabama Wildlife Ferderation: www.alabamawildlife.org
Ducks Unlimited: www.ducks.org