THEY'RE CALLING THE COYOTES, THEY'RE HOWLING RIGHT NOW.

>> THIS WEEK ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... >> COME UP THROUGH THE TOP HERE LIKE THAT.

>> TO WRAP UP 2020, WE'VE PICKED OUT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SEGMENTS FROM THE PAST YEAR AND WE ARE BRINGING THEM TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

>> OH MINE GOODNESS.

WOULD I SAY THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

>> BEST OF 2020 PART 1 IS COMING UP NEXT ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... >> AND THERE ARE COYOTES EVERYWHERE.

>> WE ARE PUSHING 200 POUNDS ON OUR BEST FISH TODAY.

>> >> THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> THIS POND IS PLUM FLOATED WITH FROGS.

>> THEY'RE EVERYWHERE IN HERE.

(GUNSHOT) >> THIS IS A GOOD FISH RIGHT HERE.

A REALLY GOOD FISH.

>> COME HERE, GIRL.

>> THAT'S A BIG RABBIT.

>> NICE JOB.

>> YES!

MY FIRST MUSKY.

>> LEO!

♪ WE GOT A KEEPER!

>> THERE GOES.

BOOM!

>> WOW, THAT HAPPENED FAST.

>> HELLO, WELCOME TO KENTUCKY AFIELD.

I'M YOUR HOST CHAD MILES.

JOIN US AS WE JOURNEY THE COMMONWEALTH IN SEARCH OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURE.

WE COVERED A VAST ARRAY OF TOPICS HERE IN 2020 ON KENTUCKY AFIELD, ONE WHICH OF WAS PREDATOR HUNTING.

>> WHAT I LIKE ABOUT COYOTE HUNTING, EVERY HUNT IS DIFFERENT, IT'S A CHALLENGE.

HAVE YOU TO REALLY STUDY THE FARM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU THINK THE COYOTES ARE AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO COME FROM AND WHERE YOU NEED TO SET ACCORDINGLY.

I LIKE TO TRY TO SIT SOMEWHERE WITH A GOOD VANTAGE POINT.

YOU WANT TO ALWAYS BE AWARE OF WHERE YOUR WIND IS GOING AND A LOT OF TIMES THE COYOTE WILL COME DOWNWIND OF YOU OR THE CALL AND SMELL WHAT HE IS HEARING BEFORE HE COMES TO THE CALL.

THEY SMELL FOR THEIR FOOD.

THEY SMELL FOR DANGER.

THEY LIVE BY THEIR NOSE.

ANY INKLING OF SMALL FROM YOU AND THEY'RE GONE.

IT'S OVER WITH.

TO ME, THE BETTER TIMES OF THE YEAR TO HUNT ARE DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, THE COLDER MONTHS.

YOU CAN KILL ONE IN THE SUMMERTIME, TOO.

COYOTE HUNTING IS LEGAL YEAR ROUND.

(GUNSHOT) WE ARE AT A CATTLE FARM RIGHT NOW.

IN A COUPLE MONTHS THE COWS WILL BE CALVING, COYOTES ARE KNOWN TO GET IN THE CALFS, IT COSTS THE FARMERS A LOT OF MONEY.

YOU CAN USE PRETTY MUCH ANY WEAPON YOU WANT IN COYOTE HUNTING.

I USE A SMALL QUICK BULLET, 300, 400 YARDS IF YOU CAN SHOOT THAT FAR.

IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PELTS, YOU CAN USE A 7 MAG.

IF YOU ARE HUNTING THICKER WOODS OR THICKER AREA, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER USING A SHOTGUN.

THIS IS A COLD MORNING, A NEW FARM.

I GOT PERMISSION TO COYOTE HUNT.

THE FARMER HAS SOME COWS AND STUFF OUT HERE AND OF COURSE HE WANTS THE COYOTES GONE WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO PULL A COUPLE OUT OF THE THICKET.

ON THE FENCE LINE SOMEWHERE.

SEE THIS WHOLE FIELD HERE, THERE IS QUICK COVERING AT THE VERY END OF IT OH MY GOSH.

WE GOT COYOTES HOWLING RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TO HURRY UP AND SET UP.

THEY'RE CALLING, COYOTES ARE HOWLING RIGHT NOW.

>> TYPICALLY I PUT THE CALL ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 50 YARDS AWAY FROM WHERE I SET BUT TODAY WE WERE IN A RUSH TO GET SET UP SO I PUT PROBABLY 20 YARDS OUT.

I HAD A DECOY OUT.

A LOT OF TIMES THE DECOY TAKES THE FOCUS OFF OF YOU, THE COYOTES ARE FOCUSED ON THE DECOY SO YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH A LOT MORE MOVEMENT.

I STARTED OUT WITH A LONE FEMALE HOWL.

I WANT WAITED MAYBE TWO MINUTES AND WENT DIRECTLY INTO A RABBIT DISTRESSED.

IT'S 18° OUT HERE AND IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER, SO THE COYOTE CANNOT PASS UP AN EASY MEAL LIKE THAT.

(SOUNDS OF DISTRESSED RABBIT) IT WASN'T FIVE MINUTES INTO THE CALLING SEQUENCE WHEN WE SPOTTED A FEW COYOTES COMING OVER THE HILL TO US.

TWO OF THEM ARE COMING OVER HERE I TRIED.

(GUNSHOT) I GOT ONE.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THE OTHER ONE TO COME BACK.

READY.

(GUNSHOT) I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE.

I GOT ONE DOWN.

THERE'S AT LEAST ONE MORE.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE.

AT THE VERY LEFT, TO THE LEFT.

MY GUN WAS ON SAFETY.

(GUNSHOT) (GUNSHOT) THERE'S TWO DOWN.

MAN, THERE ARE COYOTES EVERYWHERE.

THAT'S A THIRD ONE.

A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COYOTE.

I WAS LOOKING AROUND AND HE WAS BACK THERE.

>> ANY TIME YOU CAN GO OUT AND KILL A COYOTE, IT'S AN AWESOME TIME, A GREAT SET.

BUT IF YOU CAN PULL OUT TWO ON THE SAME STAND, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL.

HERE IT IS.

LIKE A MALE.

HE IS DEFINITELY NOT THIS YEAR'S COYOTE.

>> WE CHECKED OUT THE FIRST COYOTE, A BIG MALE.

I'M ASSUMING THE ONE THAT CAME IN WITH HIM WAS HIS FEMALE.

IT'S CLOSE TO FEBRUARY.

THEIR BREEDING SEASON IS UPON US.

A LOT OF TIMES THIS TIME OF YEAR THEY WILL BE PAIRED.

>> I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A GOOD SHOT ON THIS ONE AND PUT HIM DOWN RIGHT HERE PLEN.

(GUNSHOT) WE DO HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF US WHERE WE WERE SITTING SO LET'S GO CHECK HIM OUT HERE'S THE SECOND COYOTE RIGHT HERE.

LET'S SEE WHATY WITH GOT HERE.

THIS IS A FEMALE IF I HAD TO GUESS I WOULD THINK THIS IS A YEARING YEARLING THE SECOND COYOTE WAS A FEMALE COMING IN FOR A SECOND MEAL.

SHE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE COMMOTION GOING ON.

WE WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS COYOTE.

THIS IS DIRECTLY STRAIGHT BEHIND WHERE WE WERE SITTING AND I JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER AND THERE SHE WAS.

I GOT LUCKY.

>> YOU KNOW, COYOTE HUNTING IS FOR ANYBODY.

ANYBODY CAN DO IT.

YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE.

IT'S A YEAR ROUND THING YOU CAN DO AND IT'S A GREAT PAST TIME BETWEEN DEER SEASON AND TURKEY SEASON.

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM DEER HUNTING OR TURKEY HUNTING.

YOU HAVE TO OUTSMART A PREDATOR.

THEY'RE SUCH A SMART ANIMAL.

THE LAND OWNER SHOULD BE REALLY HAPPY AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK TO THIS FARM.

>> ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE DAYINGS WE HAD FISHING THIS ENTIRE YEAR HAPPENED ON THE OHIO RIVER WITH CAPTAIN BEN GOEBEL.

THIS IS A NEW DAM ON THE OHIO RIVER.

YES, IT IS.

SO THIS IS AN AREA I HAVE NEVER FISHED BEFORE.

AND YOU HAVE BEEN CATCHING SOME REALLY NICE CATFISH DOWN HERE HAVEN'T YOU.

>> WE HAVE.

THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS, FISHING HAS BEEN REALLY GOD DOWN HERE.

-- REALLY GOOD DOWN HERE.

A LOT OF QUALITY FISH, IN THE MID 20-POUND RANGE, LOW 30S.

WE ARE IN BETWEEN FRONTS RIGHT NOW AND THE WATER FLOW IS GOOD TODAY AND WE GOT A BIG COLD FRONT COMING IN TOMORROW AFTERNOON, SO FISHING OUGHT TO BE PRETTY GOOD TODAY I WOULD THINK.

WE ARE SPOTTED HERE, PRETTY GOOD CURRENT.

GET SOME BAIT CUT UP AND GET AFTER IT.

>> SKIP JACK HERRING, ASIAN CARP.

>> WHEN YOU ARE CATFISHING YOU WANT TO USE WHAT BAIT THEY EAT.

THE WAY I HOOK THESE SKIP JACK HEADS, JUST COME UP HERE LIKE THAT AND RUN IT OUT THE NOSE.

AND THESE CUT BAITS LIKE THIS, IF YOU THROW THEM OUT THERE AND THE GUTS ARE THE BEST PART FOR SCENT, I JUST WRAP IT AROUND THE HOOK THERE AND COME UP THROUGH THE TOP HERE LIKE THAT.

SINKER, AND WE GOT MAYBE ABOUT, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A 25-30- INCH LEADER AT THE MOST.

I WANT MY HOOK DROPPER CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT.

WE HAVE A LITTLE SWIVEL UP HERE,A SWIRLING TV SWIVEL.

BOAT IS ANCHORED RIGHT NOW AND YOU SLOWLY DROP THIS DOWN, THE KEY TO THE BUMPING DEAL IS HAVING MULTIPLE SIZE SINKERS, IF YOU DON'T, YOU CAN'T GET IT RIGHT.

YOU DON'T WANT THE BAIT ZIPPING BACK HERE TOO FAST AND YOU DON'T WANT IT JUST SITTING THERE, EITHER.

SO I'M NOT QUITE ON BOTTOM YET.

THERE, I HIT BOTTOM THERE AND THEM THE TRICK TO THIS, YOU JUST FEEL THE SINKER, PUSHING THE BAIT BACK, I'M JUST LETTING IT GO BACK.

I'M JUST SLIPPING A LITTLE BIT OF LINE OUT OF MY.

YOU CAN'T GET THE BAIT FAR ENOUGH BACK FROM THE BOAT.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THAT SINKER HIT BOTTOM.

IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING THE SINKER HIT BOTTOM, YOU ARE NOT IN THE STRIKE ZONE.

YOU GOT TO BE IN THE STRIKE ZONE AND IT JUST TAKES TIME AND PRACTICE ON BEING ABLE DO IT RIGHT THERE.

PROBABLY ABOUT AN EIGHT OR NINE POUNDER THERE.

>> LOOK HOW FAT THAT FISH IS.

>> THINK THEY'RE FEEDING UP FOR THE FALL?

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY, SUN IS COMING UP RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.

GOT 'EM NOW.

>> YOU'RE FINE.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> YEAH, YOU'RE FINE.

I GOT A BITE RIGHT NOW.

DOUBLED UP.

HE'S SWIMMING RIGHT TOWARD US.

GOT A DOUBLE.

HAVEN'T BEEN HERE 20 MINUTES.

>> SWITCH SIDES WITH YOU.

>> WHO GETS THE NET.

>> WHOEVER'S FISHING IS BIGGER.

THEY'RE SUCH STRONG FISH.

>> I AIN'T USED TO REELING FISH IN EITHER.

>> MAN, YOU WERE WAY BACK THERE.

>> IT'S A NICE FISH HERE.

PROBABLY 16, 17-POUNDER HERE.

>> ABOUT THE SAME SIZED FISH.

>> IF YOU WANT THE NET, I GOT IT.

>> WE'LL LIP 'EM LIKE THEY DO BASS FISHING.

>> LOOK AT THE BELLY OF THAT THING.

GOOD LORD, LOOK AT THAT.

I MEAN LOOK AT THAT BELLY.

>> ALMOST 25.

>> WE HAVE HAD A BITE ON EVERY SINGLE BUMP BACKWARDS.

SO THAT TELLS YOU IT'S ON.

>> THAT IS SOME OHIO CATFISH AT ITS FINEST RIGHT THERE.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, SO STRONG.

I MEAN WE JUST LITERALLY, WE JUST CAUGHT 40-POUND CATFISH.

>> JUST-- >> 45-POUND?

>> A GOOD START FOR A TOURNAMENT.

>> IT SURE WOULD.

>> RELEASE THESE JOKERS AND LET 'EM GROW, ESPECIALLY THE ONES CHAD'S GOT.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

BIG OLD FAT JOKER HEALTHY FISH >> 12 POUNDS.

YEAH, RIGHT AT IT.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY WANTED TO GIVE A TRY?

BEFORE YOU BUY ALL THE GEAR, HIRE A GUIDE AND LEARN IT.

YOU MIGHT END UP BUYING A BUNCH OF STUFF YOU REALIZE THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEEDED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

2 CATCHING 25-POUNDERS WONDERING WHERE THE BIG ONES ARE AT.

>> YEAH THAT'S SPOILED IS WHAT THAT IS.

YOU NOTICE CHAD IS GETTING INTO THIS.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, HE WAS WILLING TO NET MY FISH.

HE HASN'T BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN.

OH YEAH.

>> ANOTHER 20.

>> OH YEAH, YOU GOT A NICE FISH.

>> OH YEAH.

>> THAT'S A NICE FISH.

MAN, HE'S MID 20s.

LOOK HOW LONG THAT FISH IS.

>> THAT'S A LONG FISH RIGHT THERE.

WE ARE GOING TO BREAK 30 POUNDS IF WE KEEP MESSING AROUND HERE.

>> 22.

>> 22.

>> THAT'S A GOOD FISH MAN.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

GO AHEAD AND EAT YOU SOME OF THAT.

IT'S WELL WORTH IT.

>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE IN SOME FASTER CURRENT HERE AND WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DRIFT BACK AS WE ARE WALKING THESE BAITS BEHIND US.

>> WE ARE GOING HUNTING FOR THE BIG FISH.

>> WE ARE GOING AFTER SOME BIGGER BLUES.

>> OH YOU GOT MORE THAN A BITE.

YOU'RE HOOKED UP.

LOOK AT THIS.

ANOTHER DOUBLE.

IT'S DRIP SOMETHING LINE HERE.

>> GO AHEAD AND GET SOME REELS ON HIM IF YOU CAN.

YEAH, GET THAT ROD UP.

I GOT MINE WERE HERE IN THE BOAT.

SOMEONE PULL THE HOOK OUT, LET HIM WEAR HIMSELF OUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> HERE'S MINE.

WE'LL CHUCK HIM BACK.

>> THERE HE IS.

>> THIS COULD BE BIG FISH OF THE DAY RIGHT THERE.

>> GOT 'EM.

THAT'S OUR 30-POUNDER!

>> WOULD BE NICE TO GET AT LEAST A 30 ON FILM.

MOVED OVER HERE, FIRST SPOT.

>> DOUBLED.

DOUBLED ON OUR VERY FIRST CAST.

>> IT'S AIN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS YOU KNOW.

IT'S GOOD FISHING BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS SPECTACULAR FISHING.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT FISH IS GOING TO HIT 30 ISN'T HE?

>> THAT'S A NICE FISH.

>> THAT IS A NICE FISH.

ABOUT 37.

>> 37 POUNDS.

THAT MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST CATFISH I'VE EVER CAUGHT.

>> HE IS ALMOST PUSHING 38.

>> WOW!

WHAT A FISH!

WHAT A FISH!

>> THAT IS WHY WE GET UP AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING RIGHT THERE.

TO CHASE THAT BIG SUCKER RIGHT THERE.

IT NEVER GETS OLD.

BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME.

THERE HE IS.

>> IT'S A FEEDING FRENZY TODAY.

>> HAVE YOU TO EXPERIENCE IT TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING FOR HOW STRONG THESE FISH ARE.

>> THIS IS HIM.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

YEAH, WOULD I SAY THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

THERE WE GO.

LORD!

UPPER 40S.

BIG OLD... WOW.

WHAT A FISH!

>> BUMPING ON THE OHIO RIVER.

>> THERE YOU GO!

WHAT A FISH!

HE'S' 43.

>> 43 POUNDS.

A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FISH.

>> THIS IS WHY YOU RELEASE THEM RIGHT HERE.

THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT HERE.

YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT THE TIME ON THE WATER OR HIRE A GUIDE THAT HAS PUT THEIR TIME ON THE WATER.

>> WE ARE PUSHING 200 POUNDS ON OUR BEST FIVE FISH TODAY.

WE ARE CLOSING IN.

WHEN THE WEATHER IS RIGHT, CATFISHING IS ALL ABOUT RIVER CONDITIONS, RIVER LEVEL AND YOU GET-- YOU PUT FRESH BAIT ON THERE AND LEARN THAT TECHNIQUE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.

WE ARE GOING TO GET HIM BACK IN THE WATER HERE.

>> WE ARE VERY LUCK NECESSITY KENTUCKY, WE-- VERY LUCK NECESSITY KENTUCKY, WE HAVE ALL THE MILES OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND THE OHIO GET BELOW THE DAM AND GIVE BUMPING A TRY.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A BITE LIKE THIS, THERE AIN'T ANYTHING LIKE IT AND IT PUTS CATFISHING ON THE MAP ON WHAT IT CAN BE AND WHAT CAN IT PRODUCE.

THAT'S WHY WE DO IT.

>> MANY KENTUCKIANS HAVE SPENT A LIFETIME OUTDOORS AND ON THE WATER HAVE NEVER SEEN A HELL BENDER.

BUT WITH SOME HARD WORK FROM OUR BIOLOGISTS AND GREAT PARTNERS, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE.

HELL BENDERS ARE OUR LARGEST NATIVE SPECIES OF SALAMANDER WE HAVE IN KENTUCKY.

THEY'LL GET TO BE PROBABLY TWO FOOT LONG, SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIGGER THAN TWO FEET LONG.

THEY LIVE ENTIRELY IN STREAMS BUT NOT ONLY IN STREAMS.

THEY HAVE TO BE IN HIGH QUALITY STREAMS THAT HAVE REALLY LARGE SLAB ROCKS, BIG PIECES OF BOULDER THAT ARE PRETTY FLAT AND THAT'S WHERE THEY LIVE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

IN THE FALL TIME OF YEAR WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, THEY'LL ACTUALLY START BREEDING AND THE MALES WILL GUARD LARGE EGG MASSES THAT ARE UNDER NEEDS THE ROCKS.

UNDER UNDERNEATH THE ROCKS.

THIS IS A PROJECT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS IN COLLABORATION WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

SOME OF THE RESEARCHERRERS FROM PURDUE WILL COME DOWN AND ASSIST US IN LOCATING HELL BENDERS.

EVERYBODY PUTS ON WETSUITS, SNORKELS AND MASKS AND THEN YOU GET IN THE STREAM AND SNORKEL AROUND LOOKING FOR THE LARGE SLAB ROCKS THAT A HELL BENDER WOULD LIKE TO LIVE UNDER.

ONCE YOU FIND THIS BIG ROCK OR ONE OF THESE BIG ROCKS, YOU ESSENTIALLY HOLD YOUR BREATH, SWIM UNDER THE WATER AND USE A FLASHLIGHT AND STICK YOUR FACE UP UNDERNEATH THE ROCK TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE IF THERE IS A HELL BENDER STARING YOU BACK IN THE FACE.

MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU DON'T SEE A HELL BENDER.

MOSTLY DARTERS OR FISH LIVING UNDERNEATH THE ROCKS.

>> I SEE A COUPLE FISH THAT ARE WEDGED UNDER THE ROCKS.

THAT GOT ME EXCITED.

>> OCCASIONALLY WE'LL FIND A BIG SNAPPING TURTLE LIVING UNDERNEATH THERE.

>> THAT'S A BIG ONE.

>> YOU GOT ONE?

>> NO, A BIG SNAPPING TURTLE OVER HERE.

>> WE GOT SWIM AGO LONG, WE FOUND THE FIRST ONE.

EVERYBODY CHECKED IT AND BEFORE WE STARTED TRYING TO PULL THE LEGS OUT, WE WANTED A GOOD SURVEY OF THE SITE.

WITHIN FIVE MINUTES WE FOUND A SECOND ONE.

>> WE GOT ANOTHER ONE OVER HERE.

WE FOUND TWO HELL BENDERS SO FAR.

WE'LL MOVE UPSTREAM AND SEE HOW MANY GUARDING MALES WE CAN FIND AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE KNOWN SITES OR KNOWN ROCKS AND USE THE PROBE TO HOPEFULLY PULL SOME EPGS OUT.

WITHIN MAYBE AN HOUR AND A HALF, WE HAD FOUR HELL BENDERS WE LOCATED IN A 100-METER SECTION OF STREAM.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF USING PROBES TO GET THE MALES THAT ARE GUARDING THE NESTS TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY ENOUGH WHERE WE CAN RUN THE PROBE IN THERE AND START PULLING EGGS OUT.

>> HE IS JUST BLOCKING THE HOLE.

WE MIGHT COME BACK TO HIM LATER IF WE DON'T GET SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THEY'RE GUARDING THEM FOR A REASON.

THEY WANT TO PROTECT THE EGGS SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A FIGHT TO GET THE PROBE PAST THE MALE.

LUCKILY WE'VE GOT THREE MORE DOWN HERE.

WE ARE GOING TO TRY THOSE.

THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND HIT THOSE GUYS AGAIN.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO GO TO THE SECOND HELL BENDER.

THE ROCK THERE WASN'T AS LARGE.

WE ARE ABLE TO GET BACK IN WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OR SO OF PROBING, STARTED PULLING EGGS OUT.

TIP TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GET IN THERE AND PULLING OUT ONE OR TWO EGGS TO START WITH BUT AS YOU CONTINUE TO GET FURTHER BACK INTO THE ROCK, FURTHER BACK IN PAST AT DULTD MALE, YOU CAN START PULLING OUT LARGE MASSES OF THESE EGGS OUT WE'LL PUT THEM IN A COOLER AND FOLKS FROM PURDUE WILL TAKE THEM BACK AND RAISE THEM INTO ADULT HELL BENDERS.

THE REASON WHY WE DO THAT, IN THE WILD IF A CLUTCH OF EGGS HAS 500 IN IT, YOU ARE LUCKILY TO GET FIVE TO 10 ADULT HELL BENDERS TO SURVIVE OUT OF THE CLUTCH OF 500.

THAT'S 1 TO 2%.

IF WE TAKE THE EGGS BACK TO THE LAB, THEY CAN GET A 60 TO 70% SURVIVALSHIP WHICH GIVES US MORE HELL BENDERS THAT WE CAN BRING BACK TO OUR KENTUCKY STREAMS AND HOPEFULLY REPOPULATE SOME OF THE STREAMS THAT HAD GOOD POPULATIONS THAT DON'T ANYMORE.

HAVEN'T HAD GOOD LUCK ON GETTING THE ACTUAL ADULT MALE OUT OF THE NEST.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND ANOTHER ONE.

>> PUT YOUR GOGGLES BACK ON.

I THINK THE HELL BENDER MIGHT COME OUT THE SIDE HE HAD A SECOND CHAMBER HE COULD USE TO EXIT THE ROCK FROM SO AT THAT POINT, WE HAD AGITATED HIM TO THE POINT WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO ABAND ONSHIP AND LEAVE WHATEVER EGGS HE HAD THERE AND TRY TO GET AWAY FROM US.

I WAS ABLE TO GRAB HIM AND PUT HIM INTO A NET SO WE COULD TAKE HIM BACK, PROCESS HIM, SEE HOW MUCH HE WEIGHED, IF HE HAD ANY SORT OF HEALTH PROBLEMS AND REALLY CHECK HIM OVER TO SEE WHAT SORT OF HEALTH HE WAS IN IN STUDYING THE LIFE CYCLE A LITTLE BIT FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR, MOST OF WHAT WE ARE ENCOUNTERING, THEY'RE OLD HELL BENDERS.

THIS IS A SPECIES THAT CAN LIVE FOR MULTIPLE DECADES.

>> 51 CENTIMETERS.

>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A MIX NOT ONLY OF FEDERAL FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BUT PUNNING THROUGH THE KENTUCKY WILD PROGRAM, A PROGRAM WHERE CITIZENS NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT AROUND THE U.S. OR THE WORLD CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT AT 100% OF THAT FUNDING IS USED FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS LIKE THIS WE ARE DONE WITH THE ADULTS AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE ALL THE MESS YOU UNDERSTAND ITS, CHECKED HIM OVER.

WE'LL TAKE THEM BACK AND PUT I AM UNDERNEATH THE ROCK WE GOT HIM OUT OF.

>> FOR MOST OF US, 2020 HAS BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR BUT PRODUCTIVE YEAR IN THE OUTDOORS.

WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING NEW ADVENTURES FOR 2021.

AND REMEMBER HUNTING AND FISHING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IS A PRIVILEGE.

ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION AND THANK THE LAND OWNER.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, I'M YOUR HOST CHAD MILES AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE WOODS OR ON THE WATER.