Otus the Head Cat
Dear Otus,
Me and my buddies are all set for skeeter camp for this year’s mosquito hunting season. I went to the Game and Fish website and it was unclear for those of us not too savvy about such things on how long we have to hunt here in Zone 9. — Harold McHaney,
Hazen
Dear Harold,
Since this column is being printed in the paper and online early Saturday morning, I assume you guys are already in camp and anxiously awaiting sunrise to start your hunt. I know many hunters who were up all night in order to get to their favorite spots.
Today is the opening of modern shotgun mosquito season in Arkansas and a quick check on agfc.com reveals that Zone 9 — which stretches from just southeast of Newport south and southeast to Snow Lake — will have hunting from sunrise today (that will be exactly 5:57:14 a.m.) to sunset (8:22:55 p.m.).
The hours will be strictly enforced due to the number of hunters expected. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials estimate more than 325,000 will be slogging through the swamps today in search of the savory culicidae.
Hunting will be allowed in Zone 9 over seven consecutive weekends and will end at sunset on Aug. 12. That will be exactly at 7:56:40.
Before the season is over, an estimated 12.3 million mosquitoes will have been harvested. Most will wind up in stew pots, but a few trophysize skeeters will head to the taxidermist and be proudly displayed on den walls.
A quick bit of housekeeping: Double check the online state map carefully. Mosquito season ends a week earlier in some zones. A commission spokesman warned that wildlife officers will follow the new “no tolerance” regulation this year and the fines for skeeter poaching are steep.
A spot check Thursday afternoon of several traditional gathering points found the usual number of early birds primed and ready for first light today.
A hand-lettered sign out front of Bubba’s Skeeter Emporium and Cafe in Clarendon advertised a “Larrupin’ Good Skeeter Contest” and promised “$100 and all the tots you can eat” to the customer who bagged the biggest mosquito to be fried up.
One fellow predicted the world record would be broken this season. That mark was set in 2006 by Harlin Evans, 59, of Holly Grove. He bagged an extremely rare 28-inch (proboscis to cercus), 14 pointer with a wingspan of 4.1 feet. The critter’s mounted head is on display at Bubba’s on the wall behind the cash register (see photo).
And a reminder that shot larger than No. 2 is illegal for mosquitoes. The most successful hunters carry a standard 12-gauge pump action shotgun (the Remington Model 870 Wingmaster is popular) with a No. 3 steel load (e.g. Winchester Super-X XPERT). That gives an adequate shot pattern at 20 yards, especially if the area has a thick canopy of branches and heavy undergrowth.
In addition, chest waders are considerably better than hip boots for getting around. And a definite plus are those handy hats with mosquito netting.
Many prefer the Rothco Boonie Hat with 100 percent polyester mesh netting. It not only protects your head from the sun, but the added netting will provide a barrier between your face and neck and all insects, including midges, deer flies and even chiggers (Trombicula alfreddugesi).
And don’t forget your snake boots. While your eyes may be on the skies, nothing will ruin your day like your toes poking around some nasty water moccasins or copperheads.
As usual, there is no bag limit for mosquitoes since they are far from being an endangered species. In fact, the more the better. A typical day’s hunt can produce several dozen if the humidity is high.
What to do with your catch? Well, AETN’s Cooking on the Wild Side with Phyllis Speer and John Philpot will have three episodes devoted to skeeter recipes in July — one new and two “classics.” I’m told Phyllis cooks them up so mouth-watering they’ll “make you want to slap your pappy.”
The first episode airs at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and will feature Dutch-oven baked mosquito grillades and grits.
Grillades (gree-YAHDS) are mosquito medallions often served with gravy at breakfast or with grits at brunch. They are a traditional Creole dish and a favorite of mosquito hunters in Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin.
Until next time, Kalaka reminds you to always carry your up-to-date Mosquito Stamp on your hunting license. It costs $7 and may be purchased online.