Hello and welcome to Kentucky Afield.

I'm your host, Chad Miles.

Join us as we journey the Commonwealth in search of outdoor adventure.

This week, we'll be headed up to Henry County for an early season dove hunt.

Then we're climbing in the tree stand for a whitetail deer hunt using archery equipment.

But first, we're headed out to Nolin River Lake for a mid-summer bass fishing trip.

This morning we█re out here on beautiful Nolin Lake.

Hot summer day.

I'm with my good buddy, Mike Meiners How are you doing, buddy?

I'm doing fantastic.

Looking forward to it.

Mike and I fished together down here.

Quite a bit.

You actually have a house right around the corner here.

Man, this year has been different than any I can remember.

And the fact that it's either the water has been too high or the water been too low.

All summer.

How many days have you been able to.

Just how many weekends?

We had to just walk right out on your dock without any steps or stairs.

Last weekend was the first weekend.

We spent more time messing with our docks than we have fishing.

You know, and that is kind of typical with these Army core of Engineering lakes they're designed for flood control.

I mean, as much as us anglers want it to be 100% about fishing, it's just not.

But when water conditions are constantly changing, you can still catch fish.

You just gotta change your tactics.

And we're going to deal with that today.

The lake has been up and down, up and down.

We're close as our summer pool right now, but it's falling.

We're going to go try to catch some fish.

Sometimes you got to get, creative with them.

We're going to start out doing a little more finesse fishing.

but we're right here at the dam.

We're going to hit a rock or two, and then we're going to get out there and start, hopefully finding some fish.

Let's go get em.

I love it sounds awesome.

Got him.

Mike is on the board with a nice spotted bass.

There You go.

I hit him on the way up.

Oh, really?

So that tells us something.

Yeah, it tells me that with this thermocline, we might be fishing too deep, and these fish might be a little more shallow.

Spotted bass.

There you go.

Mike, you said, you didn't.

get introduced from fishing with your dad who did introduce you to fishing.

Well it's funny.

I went to Kentucky and, I had a bunch of teammates from eastern Kentucky.

Yeah, and they used to call me Mack.

Mack, we're going to take you down there to Middlesboro and show you how to fish.

That's where I learned.

So you've done some eastern Kentucky fishing.

Oh, yeah.

Well, a buddy of mine, a teammate had a place at Norse.

Okay.

Yeah.

And I used to go down there with him every chance we got.

And then we fish a lot of lakes in Lexington.

So you really picked up fishing in college then?

I did.

Okay.

Yeah, I had crappie fish a little bit and maybe some pond fishing as a kid.

Serious bass fishing started in college.

where I learned to hunt and fish all from my eastern KY brothers.

Oh, okay.

Well, good.

Dad didn't really have time for fishing.

He was.

I'm sure he was dealing with kids or working.

Yeah.

We were not a golfing or fishing household.

There he is.

just cast right over that fish right there.

Mike tells me.

What we got here?

Large mouth, a little on the thin, small side.

But you know what?

We're not tournement fishing today.

Otherwise we wouldn't be out here casting at the jumps.

We'd be trying to catch those three and four and five pounders.

But you know what?

We just out here fun fishing.

We want to catch fish.

It's hard to pass by when you see them jumping isn█t it.

Yeah, boy That█s all about.

You know, with these fish at Nolin, it's notorious have fish come up in the jumps white bass.

Black bass, spotted bass.

I like to throw baits that I can make a real, real long casts.

And this big little, small, kind of like a silver body.

It's actually called a steel shad.

It's a very small little bait, but with 10 pound braided line, I can throw this thing literally almost throw the spool dry.

So what that gives you is an opportunity, when they come up jumping, it seems like they're always just out of reach.

Further than you can cast.

Well, this is where I trick them a little bit because I can cast further than they think.

There he is!

Got him?

Little bitty guy.

Oh, yeah.

There you go.

That's how you, I guess, out there.

I mean, that's just that's good friendship, right there.

There you go.

There you go.

There we are.

Another spotted bass.

You're on the spotted bass today.

I'm on the spotted bass train.

Oh he's gone!

Out of here.

a little bitty guy.

Look at that in the nursery.

Well.

its a fish though.

it is a fish.

another spotted bass .

Yeah.

Is that my third spot.

Yeah it is.

That one there may be 15.

I just about gotta a keeper there.

Ol█ swim bait.

Well.

There you go.

Not a bad fish.

Getting a little better.

This is a kind of a mudflat.

And there's a little ditch that comes out right here.

Sometimes those fish will just stack in there.

And let's hope that's what's going on.

Oh.

Small one.

Another spot.

We are on some spots today.

Think it█s a white?

I don't know.

Yep.

Look at that.

Right there we were driving the boat through and a big ball of fish came up right on the boat.

I just shut it down.

I thought I saw them.

They were white bass.

Sure enough.

Cast number one.

Let's see if I don't happen again.

I mean, there was a big school of them.

Oh, here we go.

I bet it█s another white.

What do you wanna bet?

I can tell.

Sure enough.

White bass.

Old Nolin River white bass.

These are a little small schools, a little small, but they're out there and they're feeding, and they're fun to catch.

This is an ultralight rod, so I can really cast this bait long way and makes the fight for these things a lot of fun.

What you got there?

It's a white bass for sure.

He smacked when he smacked the snot out of that thing, didn't he?

Now you're throwing a little 3” swim bait.

Which is also a good option.

You can cast it long way.

It's the perfect size for the bait they're eating.

And the good thing about that is it's a single hook.

You don't have to deal with it.

Those trouble hooks.

Yeah.

Not treble I call them trouble.

You're hitting white bass.

You got to watch out because they'll get you.

And I'll tell you what.

If you know how to clean those, they're pretty daggone good on the table too.

Well, Mike is getting hot.

You know, wasn't a great day for fishing, but we had a lot of fun anyway.

Absolutely.

you know what?

This is like Nolin fishing.

You come out here and just catch fish.

Not that hard to catch fish.

Sometimes hard to locate really quality fish.

But we'll do it again.

Sounds like a plan.

I appreciate it.

I really enjoyed it.

You know, you and I get to fish together quite a bit, we'll be out here again soon.

chasing these fish.

Maybe the big ones that come that day.

You just never know.

I'm sure we'll find them at some point.

Let's go.

The opening day of dove season is always on September the 1st here in Kentucky, and that's the day that most hunters have marked on their calendar.

Well, today is the day that most hunters wait for, and that is September the 1st.

Every year in Kentucky, the opening day of dove season.

I look forward to this day every single year, because I know all the great hunting that is coming for the next 4 or 5 months here in the state of Kentucky.

Dove season is something that you see groups of people, family, friends all come together, spend some time out in the field shooting doves, which, if you've never done it, they're not really easy to hit.

When they're flying good, it's a lot of action and a lot of fun.

And I'll tell you what, they're fantastic on the grill.

So I absolutely love dove season.

And I'm out here in Henry County today on a small family hunt.

I think we've only got about 5 or 6 shooters.

20 acre farm.

Got a few sunflower seeds here behind me and I've already seen quite a few birds, so hopefully the birds fly good and we get a limit.

That would be a perfect day.

Look at there.

We've just got five hunters out in this field.

Little small family shoot.

But I guess there was some shooting going on.

We have a game warden over there that is out doing his job today, on the opening day of dove season and checking license and firearms.

Good to see you today.

Good to see you.

Any luck?

Well, we just got out here.

I don█t even need to check it.

Yeah.

It's hard to put three in there, isn't it?

It█s good to go.

Here's my license.

That just took a few minutes.

Came in, did what normal officers do.

They want to see your license, ask you how many birds you got, and check your gun to make sure you're legal.

He's on his way to check some other hunters, and we're back at hunting.

That bird went down.

Got a little help here.

Hey, thank you so much.

Yep.

Hey, look at that.

That's a collared dove.

See that black band?

And it doesn't have any white dots out on his wing.

You can eat them, and they look the same on the wing when they're flying.

But this is actually not a morning dove, so.

Hey, what do you know?

There we go.

Now, this is a normal morning dove.

Kind of got that light tan color underneath.

No ring on its neck.

That's what we're out here for today.

So you get 15 of these, and, hopefully they keep flying hard and fast, and we get a chance to get a limit.

Better get reloaded.

That bird landed over here in this corner somewhere.

Here it is right here.

There we go.

Almost made it to the water on me.

That would not have been any good.

Look.

Every time we leave, they fly right over my seat.

Look at that.

That's dove hunting for you.

I walked out to pick birds up, and both times I've had birds fly 15 ft over the top of my chair.

Let's go back and see if we can't get some action.

We had us a little twister.

It's been pretty calm.

Man, that thing picked up right here and shot right down this fence line.

That was pretty intense.

I'm glad I had my sunglasses on because I would have had dust and leaves in the eyes.

Felt great, though.

That thing need to come back every 20 minutes.

Coming to you, K.C.

Hunter is going to retrieve a bird, and we have a bird on a fence.

We'll see if he takes off here in a second.

Got him.

Good shot.

It's so nice having a bird dog like that to go retrieve your birds.

That is such a luxury.

Good shot.

Coming to you.

Right here.

Here we go.

Man.

I was on a dry spell there.

Seems like the birds been coming in either really, really high or too low to shoot at.

And, finally got another bird down.

Good shot.

Tell you what, let's go check in on this family.

We're hunting on the Adams farm.

Let's go check in with them and see how they're doing.

Good shot.

Good shot, Buddy.

I got one.

Good shot.

Pretty good day today.

Got 6 or 7 of them, I think.

Well K.C., you told me you're going to have a small little family shoot today.

And I appreciate you having me out.

How cool is it to get out here and hunt on your dad's property with your son and your wife?

So Hunter is just kind of getting in to...Hunter, behind you.

Coming right here, buddy.

There we go.

Took three of us on that.

Yeah there you go.

I'll tell you what.

What a cool experience.

Yeah.

We do this every year.

You know, we have one or two shoots up here and it's always a good time.

You know, a lot of people think you got to have a massive track of property.

You guys got a little ridgeline here with some sunflowers planted in, and they just fly right through here don█t they?

It's always been a good fly zone here.

And like, say, sunflowers brings them right in.

It's so cool.

Well Hunter, you're getting pretty good with that shotgun.

I've seen you hit quite a few birds today too.

That's a lot of fun.

Yeah it is.

What do you like about dove hunting?

I guess just doing it with family.

And how exciting it is to actually hit one and kill one.

Yeah, well, I tell you what, you get to shoot a lot too.

If you're on a good dove field and your family puts a pretty good dove field together here.

Yeah they do.

I'll tell you what.

You've done a great job today.

You got a pile of birds around you.

So congratulations.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Well, now I'm up here with the real hunter in the field.

And this is why all the birds have not made it down there to me because Ashley here keeps smoking them.

You got quite a few collared birds.

Yeah, yeah.

So how cool is it to be out here with your 13 year old son and your husband shooting birds?

Been doing this for six years with them.

Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

And I know you're a pretty good shot, too so you enjoy... I█ve gotten better.

You've done pretty well so far.

Yeah.

Good job.

Thank you.

There's nothing better than getting invited to participate in a family dove hunt.

I didn't get a limit, but I had a lot of fun.

And I can't wait to get out and do it again.

As a deer hunter.

There are very few things more exciting than seeing a buck respond to a grunt call or rattling antlers.

Today, we're hunting this farm we've been at all year.

And the beans have now been cut, so they've been removed.

It's time for us to make our way into the woods.

We'll go into a stand.

The last time I hunted this stand in the evening I had a pretty good buck chase a doe right by me.

I made a couple of “mer mer” noises trying to get that deer to stop.

Paid no attention.

It kept on running.

And that's pretty typical when they're starting that rut phase.

Hopefully tonight I can get in a stand and have some deer come through.

Chasing.

We're going to do some rattling.

Going to do a little grunting.

And hopefully that buck that I seen or a couple other deer that I've seen out here will show up and get in bow range.

We'll see how it goes.

You won't get a deer if you don't get out in the stand.

Bad conditions.

Rain can't stop us.

We're going to try to get out there and make this happen.

Got in really quiet.

Felt really good about that.

The interesting thing is, is that when I was down the field.

It's really windy, and the wind was supposed to be coming directly this way, blowing my scent right across the creek, the way I came in, which would be perfect.

Unfortunately, when I got in here and got set up, you can't always trust the wind that you see on your weather apps.

Because I got in here and got set up.

The wind on this hillside is going this way.

Now, that doesn't necessarily ruin my hunt, but it does let me know that if a mature Buck comes in and it's moving toward the way my wind is blowing.

I want to do my best to try to get a good shot before it gets downwind.

You got a mature deer, unless he's got the doe on his mind, and they're going to probably wind you If you're downwind.

So hopefully any deer that crosses this creek.

I█ll have the wind in my favor.

Right now, It's not moving in the same direction that I was anticipating.

Honestly, I would have chose a different stand.

Had I known it was doing this.

But now I'm here.

I got to make the best of it.

Here comes a deer.

Oh, there█s a buck, there█s a buck right there.

I can't see him now, but I just saw a buck.

It█s a nine or a ten pointer and it's walking down away from me.

Toward the creek.

It█s either going to cross that creek or turn and either come our way the other way.

There he comes.

Here he comes.

Here he comes.

This deer is going to walk right under us.

Merp!

So we█re watching his doe out here in this field.

And this deer is out there messing around and I look back.

And this buck is making its way away from us.

I know it's going to get to the river.

It's going to have a barrier.

So I start grunting, and I grunt 3 or 4 times thinking maybe I can bring that deer this way.

It's dark running down here toward us.

Well, the way this is set up, I get it full draw it.

When the deer stops, it's setting down here.

I can't get a shot because of the angle with my camera guy here.

So the deer█s standing there.

Perfect range.

I can't get a shot.

Can't get a shot, can't get a shot.

Finally, I was able to get a shot off.

Hopefully this will all pull together.

I think that█s- there it is.

There it is.

Right there.

Oh, sweet.

That deer didn't go 130 yards.

Oh, sweet.

Oh, my goodness.

Oh my goodness.

This is not a huge deer.

But I'll tell you what.

Considering how much time I spent on the stand.

And to get this buck with my bow literally the night before gun season, I could not be more excited.

I don't think I put a great shot on this deer.

It literally is on the other side, but the deer was slightly quartering away.

And what?

Whatever happened, it didn't go over 100, 100 and 2030 yards.

And here it is, very wide deer, not very long tines, but I couldn't be.

I could not be more excited, tickled to have this deer buck tag is punched.

What a great season.

I'm so excited.

What a year.

Now let's check in and see who else has been out having fun in this week's ones that didn't get away.

Kathy Williams hit the Cumberland River to do a little trout fishing and landed this beautiful 19 inch rainbow trout.

Nice job.

Here we have Hudson McClain, who's holding a nice largemouth bass that he caught while fishing in Richmond, Kentucky.

Congratulations.

Here we have Jim Holeman with a nice crappie that he caught while fishing out at Freeman Lake.

Congratulations.

Here we have four year old Boone with his very first bass that he caught with his dad, Brandon Cotton, at his Pappy's farm pond in Spencer County.

Nice job.

Here we have Penelope, who I met at the Kentucky State Fair, holding a nice large mouth bass that she caught in Madison County.

Nice job.

Here we have Laura Murray, who hit the Ohio River in search of catfish.

And she caught this beautiful flathead.

Nice job.

Check out nine year old Finley Goforth from Martin County.

Here he is with a squirrel that he got on the opening day with his 410 shotgun.

Congratulations.

Check out Michael Carpenter and the beautiful crappie that he caught while fishing on Green River Lake.

Just a friendly reminder.

Dove season comes in this week.

Make sure you fill out your HIP survey before hitting the field.

And remember, hunting and fishing on private property is a privilege.

Always ask permission and thank the landowner.

Until next week, I'm your host, Chad Miles and I hope to see you in the woods or on the water.

Kentucky's fall hunting seasons have a lot to offer.

From early mornings chasing whitetail deer to the fast paced action of duck hunting and the camaraderie of small game and rabbit hunts.

Kentucky has something for everyone.

Give waterfowl a shot on one of the state's scenic lakes or rivers, or venture out for a wild turkey or upland hunt.

There's no shortage of outdoor adventure in the Bluegrass State.

Fall is the season for unforgettable hunts, breathtaking landscapes and traditions that bring us together.

Make this fall in Kentucky your best one yet.