MIKE BRAUN A tail that anglers like

Time was, squirrel hunting season was a much anticipated and participated-in season.
As one of the first of the year's hunting seasons, it got the stalking juices flowing and gave hunters a chance to improve their aim for the seasons to follow as well as put meat on the table.
Bushytails nowadays don't draw the same number of hunters. The areas where they can be found are dwindling as cities expand, subdivisions spring up and other development chews away at unspoiled expanses.
Squirrel seasons
But the season endures nonetheless. This year, Ohio squirrel hunters can go after their quarry from Sept. 1 through Jan. 31. In Pennsylvania, there is a special youth squirrel season Oct. 11 and 13 and then the regular season runs Oct. 18- Nov. 29 with split late seasons Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7.
While the popularity and participation in squirrel hunting has declined, one company's connection to the squirrel, or more significantly, the squirrel's tail, remains the same.
Sheldon's Inc., makers of Mepps lures, has for more than 30 years sought to acquire what many hunters consider a wasted part of their harvest. This year is no exception.
The company uses the hair off the animal's tail to dress the hooks of Mepps lures.
The company purchases the tails of red, black, grey and fox squirrels from hunters and pays 26 cents per tail in cash or 52 cents if the hunter opts to take the recompense in lures rather than in money.
Jim Martinsen, a spokesman for the company, said Mepps seeks only tails from squirrels harvested during regular hunting seasons. He stressed the company does not encourage hunting specifically for the tail.
"Mepps is only interested in recycling tails taken from squirrels that have been harvested for the table," he said.
Ohio tails are better
He said that Mepps gets quite a few tails from the southern United States but that the tails from Midwestern squirrels are considered the best. "Midwest squirrels are better -- like those from Ohio -- because it is colder there and the fur is thicker."
Martinsen said that it was not uncommon for around 300,000 tails to come in each year. "We can't get that anymore," he said. "Now we get about half that amount."
He said a number of factors are involved, from animal rights activists' successfully getting legislation in some states to ban the selling of animal parts (as in California, Idaho, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas) to the rise of the video-game system.
"On the surface, the ban on selling parts sounds good," he said. "But it hurts the legitimate hunter." He said that some clubs would band together, collect the tails from their members and send them in as a way to raise funds for the club.
Martinsen added that another factor is the dropping of hunting by the Boy Scouts. "We used to be a big fund-raiser for them," he said.
To help hunters prepare the tails, Mepps offers the following suggestions:
UTails are best on squirrels taken after Oct. 1.
UDo NOT remove the bone from the tail; it reduces the value. Split tails have no value.
USalt the butt end of the tail generously. Use either dry salt or dip in a strong saltwater solution.
UBe sure the tail is straight before drying. Tails that dry curled are useless.
UKeep tails away from flies. Best storage is in a freezer. Do not send tails that have been exposed to flies.
UDo not put tails in a plastic bag for storage or shipment. They could heat up and spoil.
UThe best time to ship is during cold months (January, February, March and April). Dried squirrel tails may be shipped anytime.
UPut your name, address and tail count inside each package.
USend your tails to: Sheldons', Inc., 626 Center St., Antigo, Wis. 54409-2496
For more information on the company's program and related recommendations, check www.mepps.com or call the company at (800) 713-3474.
braun@vindy.com