We finally received some needed rain. Food plots for deer will have a good spurt of growth that will help attract and sustain the deer population. The extremely low levels in trout streams will improve and fishing will begin to pick up. We need much more, but are thankful for what we received.

The lakes are still very low and dangerous to navigate in some areas, but the rain and cooler temperatures will encourage fish to become more active and responsive.

Captain Dave Willard is seeing action improve on Lake Thurmond for stripers. Now is the time to book a fall trip. Contact him at (803) 637-6379 or email him at crockettrocket@bellsouth.net.

Check out his “Hall of Fame” photos at www.crockettrocketstriperfishing.com.

South Carolina Wildlife will be airing an episode on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. on SCETV that will cover some items of great interest to local hunters and nature lovers. They will discuss hunting of deer, doves and the recent opening of the alligator season with 1,000 permits issued. Hunters harvested several gators over 12 feet long already this season and one exceeded 13 feet.

The show will feature several nature trails and the Whitewater Falls chain (six different waterfalls). The lower Whitewater Falls has a 200-foot drop and the chain is the highest series of falls in Eastern North America.

Numerous tools on the internet are helpful to the informed sportsman. If you need detailed map views of your hunting property, you can access maps and satellite imagery on www.googlemaps.com or www.topousa.com. You can zoom in and see details that will prove valuable in planning your hunt and even for managing the property. It might even influence your placement of food plots.

An interesting site with many articles on the various facets of hunting and fishing is www.carolinasoutdoor.com. You will find it entertaining and informative.

One of the links from this site led me to www.best-venison.com. This site features a systematic guide for the hunter that wishes to process his own venison. There are charts showing the skinning process, various cuts of meat and clear photographs detailing the process. There are recipes and many other details for the deer hunter.

This week, I received a review copy of Ted Nugent’s new book, “Ted, White and Blue” the Nugent Manifesto. Ted is a rock musician who has sold over 35 million albums. He hosts a weekly TV show, “Spirit of the Wild”, rated No. 1 on the Outdoor Channel. He is an avid bowhunter and supporter of the right to bear arms.

Ted is a “pedal to the metal”, “no holds barred”, patriotic, wild man. He is a great supporter of our military forces and supports several charities. He has written several books and writes for more than forty publications.

The book is interesting reading, and whether you agree with all of his ideas; I guarantee it will make you think about the condition of our country. In addition, it will make you more aware of our individual responsibility as citizens to make our country a better place to live.

Contact me at lross3871@charter.net or (864) 238-1944 with questions or comments. Check out www.lwoodrowross.com for outdoor photos and details about my novel “Return to Oak Hill” and forthcoming book of outdoor topics (“Fly Rods, Good Dogs and Straight-Shooting Guns”).