O
UTDOOR CONNECTION
OCTOBER 2015 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under 驶Sections始
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
Pheasant numbers
UP!
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Weather helps
Hunters excited about improved pheasant numbers
Mother Nature definitely has a profound impact on our pheasant populations. If you look back at the winters from 2007‐2011, the state experienced five consecu‐ tive severe winters that included over 30 inches of snow across the state. According to DNR data, in the 50 years of roadside counts, Iowa had never had a stretch of severe winters like this before. We all know the results: the bottom dropped out. Then things began to turn for the better and the pheasant numbers stabilized and slowly began to increase each year. Last winter was pretty mild with well below average snowfall. Here in northwest Iowa, our snowfall total was 21 inches. That put little stress on the pheasants, which reflected a strong overwinter survival, especially for the more fragile hen pheasants. The spring of 2015 was free of any late season blizzards with normal April rainfall. Although rainfall spiked across STEVE WEISMAN other areas of the state and hurt nest‐ OUTDOOR EDITOR ing success, here in northwest Iowa, nesting success was excellent. If there were any drowned out nests, this year’s survey suggests several renesting efforts. So, Mother Nature did her part in helping pheasant numbers rebound. Of course, another mild winter and spring would bring numbers back even more in 2016.
I
t’s been several years since pheasant hunters have been this excited. The results of the 2015 annual August Roadside Count brought forth the data that many of us were hoping for. The results showed a 37 percent increase statewide from the 2014 count, which is the highest count seen since 2007! Here in northwest Iowa, the survey showed a 46 percent increase over the 2014 count. The aver‐ age was slightly over 43 birds per 30‐mile route. Of course, this is an average, and the counts were significantly higher where good pheas‐ ant habit occurred. Looking at the 10‐year average, this year’s index is 52 percent above the 10‐year average, but it is still 40 percent below the long‐term average. In addition, gray par‐ tridge numbers also showed a dramatic increase. The Iowa DNR esti‐ mates that pheasant hunters could bag up to 500,000 roosters this fall.
Habitat needs Although we know weather plays a huge role in the success of our upland game birds, the other part of the equation is habitat. Information from the USDA shows that over the past 23 years (since 1990), Iowa has lost 1,850,076 acres of habitat, which equates to 2,891 square miles. Of course, much of that has come as CRP acres have gone back into production. That trend seems to be changing somewhat as more landowners are looking at a general CRP signup in December. Plus, Iowa landowners have the chance to enroll land into two continuous CRP practices: Iowa Pheasant Recovery and Gaining Ground, SAFE (CP38) practices. That means over 75,000 acres can be enrolled in these two practices on a first come first serve basis. The Iowa DNR also received another $3,000,000 from the USDA to expand the state’s walk in hunting pro‐ gram, Iowa Habitat and Access Program.
A Little at a Time
Photo by Rachel Bush
The old adage, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” fits in here. Yes, we have a lost a lot of habitat, but with these programs, I think we will see more landowners looking at these practices. Plus, as we continue to work toward protecting our air, soil and water quality, I also think we will see more conservation buffers. These come in all forms includ‐ ing riparian buffers, filter strips, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, windbreaks, living snow fences, contour grass strips, cross‐wind trap strips, shallow water areas for wildlife, field borders, alley cropping, herbaceous wind barriers and vegetative barriers. These buffer strips can also enhance wildlife habitat, which is good news for our upland game birds. Plus, here in northwest Iowa, we have excellent tracts of public hunting areas that hold good pheasant populations.
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is considered a pest by many, mainly for their role in transporting diseases to different groups of livestock. This might be the first thought that Though their speckled, iridescent‐ comes to your mind as you see what black bodies may not be the prettiest looks to be a black speckled cloud, pulsing as it moves so uniformly across of all the birds, they are still able to attract attention from humans for the sky. Then you realize that what you are seeing is a group of birds fly‐ what they do as a group. This wave of birds rolling through the ing as a unit with great fluidity. The sky is called a murmuration. A murmu‐ birds that are dancing in the sky are ration can take many shapes, as it is European Starlings. constantly changing form. The European Starling was intro‐ Why do these birds do this? Most duced to the United States in the late 1800’s. It has done very well here, and often when you see a murmuration of
starlings, it is caused by a predatory bird. Here in Northwest Iowa, that bird is often a Red‐tailed Hawk. The starlings may look like they are just having some fun dancing in the sky, when in reality they are just trying to not be another bird’s supper. The mystery of the murmurations still eludes many scientists; how the birds are able to communicate their movements and carry them out with such synchronization. It may only be able to be described as just another form of nature’s boundless beauty.
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FARM COUNTRY WHITETAILS missing when it comes to trying to kill a particular deer. One painful lesson I have learned is that I can never assume anything with deer in regards to where they are bedding or the route they are taking from point a to point b. I guess wrong 90 per‐ BY JASON MITCHELL cent of the time. Now I have got‐ What makes whitetails such ten into the habit of using cam‐ remarkable animals is their adapt‐ eras to scout and finding a specif‐ ability. Trail cameras are an invalu‐ ic deer and I also use a camera to able scouting tool but in some monitor a specific spot when I get ways all a camera tells you is that ready to hunt but the information the deer is alive and you might be I can gather from scouting with able to figure out what direction optics is really how I can put a the deer is coming from at what solid plan together. time. There are still a lot of clues I don’t move in on a deer until I Editor’s note: Jason Mitchell has earned a reputation as a top wall‐ eye guide on Devils Lake, North Dakota and as a top notch upland and big game hunter. He hosts the popular outdoor program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors (www.jason‐ mitchelloutdoors.com).
know enough details, and I bide my time until the wind is right and I can get in without any detec‐ tion. A gamble I sometimes strug‐ gle with is whether I can get out or get winded by deer after they pass my location, so there are times when there are high risk high reward situations where you have one good chance to kill a particular deer but if you don’t kill that deer that night, you compro‐ mise the spot. When I am in doubt, I sit on a hill and scout. What is fascinating especially during the early half of the season Turn to WHITETAILS, Page 5
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WHITETAILES, Continued from Page 4 is how much these bedding areas get influenced by bugs like gnats and mosquitoes. Much of the heavier cover is around water or is wet. An example would be a slough bottom or drainage. The cover can be really thick and look good but if the bugs are bad, deer will often bed up high‐ er where the wind can blow through. Fascinating how deer have different personalities and preferences. Some specific bucks will prefer to bed in standing corn for example when it is really hot. Other bucks seem to be more sensitive when their antlers are in velvet and seem to stay away from anything that touches their antlers. These pre‐ ferred bedding areas can change or shift through the season. Food sources can also change, but you really can’t go wrong focusing on soybean fields if they are available at least until the leaves yellow. Small grains and crops that flower like canola can also get hit. Corn is some‐ times used as a bedding area early in the season but what becomes really interesting is the travel routes deer choose. How deer move from point “a” to point “b” can be somewhat predictable in that they always take the path of least resistance and they like to feel hidden. Ravines or dips that hide deer in the terrain or edges that create easy walking are often the preferred route. One thing I have found when check‐ ing trail cameras is that if I check the cameras too often and create a trail to my camera, I can actually disrupt the route I want the deer to travel because they begin to follow my route to the camera. If you make a trail, remember that deer will also begin to follow that trail. In my area, we do get our share of wind so the best thing I have found for getting into location is to go in during the middle of the day and use the wind to cover my noise and stay away from the easiest route. Picking through heavier cover or taller vege‐ tation without breaking or beating down the vegetation to form a trail has been my most effective strategy. The age‐old challenge of harvesting
a mature buck is catching a deer on its feet during daylight or shooting time. The further you are away from where a buck beds, the later the pics are going to be. When I first started bow hunting, I would get pictures of impressive bucks on camera at night and hope that if I hunted that loca‐ tion long enough I would get a chance during the day. Far shot and the more you hunt a spot, the worse it gets. What also happened was that I would get daytime shots of a buck during the summer scouting and than as the summer progressed, the deer would become “nocturnal.” I don’t believe that anymore. These deer that tease you in the summer and become nocturnal aren’t chang‐ ing their time line, they changed their bedding locations and one of the rea‐ sons deer often shift where they bed is human activity. If you want to make that deer go “nocturnal,” check the trail camera often and make your presence known. The deer still moves before dark but now instead of bedding one hundred yards away, he is now three hundred yards away or a mile away. This is why the spotting scope is so invaluable when scouting. Mature bucks are self aware enough to know and detect human intrusion so the key to killing a deer in my mind is to hide your presence. With that being said, disguise your presence with farming and ranching activity. The worst thing to do in my mind is to try sneaking in and out on foot. If you do, spray down and wear rubber boots. What works best however is a loud obvious vehi‐ cle. Don’t try to hide or be sneaky if you have to mow a shooting lane or check a trail camera. Drive up if you can and drive out. The less your feet touch the ground the better. The reality is that there are people spray‐ ing crops all summer. There are peo‐ ple driving ATVs checking fence, there is a certain amount of human activity that deer get used to. Remember that the landscape goes through changes. Don’t over think the deer about clearing a shooting
lane or trimming branches. Somebody could drive right by your stand with round bale hayer and deer will be walking by the bales the next day. Deer know what tractors are. If you try to sneak around too much, you smell different and offer an intrusion that the deer aren’t used to. Become more obvious and use a vehicle whenever possible. With that being said, I like to drive as slowly and as quietly as possible in areas that are really secluded and I always like to do my work in regard to set‐ ting up blinds or checking cameras in the middle of the day. Wind or rain makes the intrusion even more hid‐ den. I hunt out of a tree stand whenever I can because there are many advan‐ tages. Good field of view, great for watching around you so that if you are in the wrong spot, you gather additional Intel as you sit and watch. Good for blowing your scent away
from the area. Movement is out of the line of sight. With that being said, good luck finding the right tree in the right spot. So often, I have to rely on ground blinds. The versatility of ground blinds makes them a valuable tool for farm country whitetails. Don’t worry about hiding it or trying to make it blend in, just put it exactly where it needs to be to kill a deer. The deer see it and after passing the smell test, they determine that it is just another bale or anhydrous tank. I often leave ground blinds out for long periods of time so for that reason I like to use the heavier duty Clam Elite Hunter Blind. This terrain creates some chal‐ lenges but also offers advantages. There are great deer available in these habitats and while whitetails will always offer ample doses of humility, these deer can also be fig‐ ured out with the right strategies.
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INCREASE IN ZEBRA MUSSELS EVIDENT IN IOWA GREAT LAKES SPIRIT LAKE – As docks and hoists are being removed from most of Iowa’s Great Lakes, a most unwel‐ come visitor is being discovered in greater numbers. Zebra mussels, first discovered in East Okoboji Lake and Upper Gar Lake in the fall of 2012, have been increasing in numbers and distribu‐ tion the past few years throughout most of the Iowa Great Lakes. Spirit Lake is the only lake where adult zebra mussels have not been found. This fall, the number of zebra mus‐ sels on docks and hoists removed from East Okoboji has noticeably increased. Residents who observe zebra mussels on docks and hoists removed from Spirit Lake are requested to report the location to the DNR Fisheries office in Spirit Lake. Zebra mussels look like small, D‐ shaped clams that have alternating light and dark bands. Most are less than one‐inch long. Young zebra mussels are microscopic and can be unintentionally transported with water in bilges, live wells or bait buckets. Adult zebra mussels can attach to boats, trailers and aquatic vegetation. It is illegal to possess or transport zebra mussels and other prohibited
aquatic invasive species in Iowa. It is also illegal to transport any aquatic plants on water‐related equipment. Boaters must drain all water from boats and equipment before leaving a water access and must keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport. The DNR is working with Iowa Great Lakes service providers to help pre‐ vent the introduction of zebra mus‐ sels or other aquatic invasive species to additional waters. Providers will be provided a permit to transport water‐ related equipment that is or may be infested with zebra mussels and aquatic plants to an approved stor‐ age location via an approved route. All equipment removed must be allowed to dry a minimum of 10 days and all mussels and plant materials must be removed before being moved outside of the approved area. The impact to the Iowa Great Lakes is unclear as zebra mussels become established. Zebra mussels are filter feeders and directly compete with native species, including mussels and small fish, for food. Zebra mussels also adhere to hard objects. If densi‐ ties are high enough, they can smother native mussels by attaching to their shells. Drinking water utilities and the State Fish Hatchery are also
BY BEN R. LEAL
bird watching, hiking, wildlife observation, rock climbing, and, of course, Wednesday, September fishing. With so many 23 marked the first day of activities drawing so many people, our parks fall. Dropping temperareceive tremendous prestures are a sign to sure. If you visit a park, Mother Nature that the remember to follow and time is coming to shed stay on the designated her summer foliage in trails. preparation for winter. For many, fall is a Why it is important favorite time of year to to the fish: visit state and local parks Mountain meadows are to enjoy some incredible great reservoirs. Runoff colors. in the spring causes Our parks offer us creeks to overflow their tremendous opportunities banks and flood the for recreation such as neighboring meadows. Recycled Fish Program Director
STEWARDSHIP TIP:
KEEP TO THE TRAIL
Close-up of a typical shell of a zebra mussel
impacted since zebra mussels could attach and grow on the inside of intake pipes, potentially clogging them. The Iowa Great Lakes community has provided important leadership to the state of Iowa in fighting aquatic
Mountain meadows often sit on top of hundreds of feet of permeable soil which, in turn, sits on top of an impervious base of rock. This forms an ideal layer that will store water throughout the spring, summer and fall. As the seasons progress, water leaks from meadows back into the streams and on downriver. Blazing a trail through a mountain meadow compacts and inhibits the ability of water to permeate the soil. Trails create gutters that will widen, through erosion, and
invasive species. “This strong partnership and the continuation of these efforts remains our best weapon against these invaders,” said Mike Hawkins, Spirit Lake District fisheries management biologist.
drain water from the meadow. When water is taken away from mountain meadows, plants that are suited to rapidly drying soils invade and take over. This destroys the meadowʼs sponge-like characteristics increasing the erosive properties of the meadow and the neighboring stream. Ultimately, the desiccation of a mountain meadow reduces the amount of habitat available to fish. As you take time this fall to enjoy many of the great sites and wonders
that our parks offer, remember to take out what you pack in. Iowa has an abundant resource for everyone that enjoys the out of doors. Be a steward; remember to stay on the trail! Stray steps can upset fragile ecosystems; the effects can be felt downstream. Editorʼs note: Each month the outdoor page will feature a column by Recycled Fish, a nonprofit organization founded by Teeg Stouffer in 2003.
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Fall colors beginning to show across Iowa DES MOINES – This year may be a good one for leaf viewers, accord‐ ing to Jeff Goerndt, the State Forest section supervisor at the Iowa DNR. “I think we’re going to have a decent fall color year because of the weather we’re currently hav‐ ing,” Goerndt says. “You get the best and brightest colors when you’ve got the kind of fall weather we are currently having with sunny days and crisp, cool nights. Typically, the best fall colors are in northeast Iowa, says Goerndt. Leaves will change across north‐ ern Iowa between the last week of September to the second week of October. Central Iowa will see leaves changing from the first to third weeks of October. Southern Iowa will see leaves change from the second week to the end of October.
What changes where is subject to weather. How vivid and how long leaves remain is also determined by weather, and the leaf‐watching sea‐ son can be cut short by strong wind events. As days get shorter, trees release a chemical called phytochrome. This chemical slows down chlorophyll production and allows the tree go dormant. The loss of chlorophyll (which is green) allows the other col‐ ors of the leaves to show. Leaf pigment is also influenced by the amount and acidity of sap in the trees. More acidic sap gives trees more reds and brighter colors. Less acidic saps gives trees duller and more yellow colors. You can reach the DNR fall color hotline at 515‐233‐4110, and other fall color information can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/fallcolor.
HAWKINS TAKES NATURAL RESOURCES BIOLOGIST POSITION BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
Kim Hawkins, who has been with the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery (SLFH) for the past 14 years, recently accepted the position of the Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist position at the hatchery. According to Jay Rudacille, Warm & Coolwater Fish Culture Hawkins Supervisor with the Iowa DNR, says, “Kim brings a diverse multi‐ tude of fisheries experiences to this Team Leader role at SLFH. I am excited for Kim and for the future of the SLFH under her leadership.” Hawkins attended Iowa State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Ecology (emphasis in Fisheries) in December 2001. During that same year, Kim began her career in fisheries and spent nine years as an integral member
of the hatchery team and was involved in every aspect of fish production. In 2010, Hawkins had the chance to join the Natural Lakes Research team at the SLFH. Rudacille says, “Working as part of this team not only allowed Kim to more fully develop her technical skills, it also afforded her the opportunity to expand her computer, writing and leadership skills.” Hawkins shared her excitement about the new position. “I am excited to be rejoining the hatchery crew as the team leader. I look forward to being part of a great team that has a passion not only for producing walleye, muskie, and northern pike for the people of Iowa, but also in assisting in the DNR’s mission; to conserve and enhance our natural resources to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future gen‐ erations.” Additionally, Kim is an active member of the American Fisheries Society and has served as the editor of Lateral Lines for six years.
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NOW’S THE TIME FOR NORTHERN Pike follow the baitfish BY BOB JENSEN FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
I
’m going fishing next week. Late September and October are won‐ derful times to be on the water almost anywhere in the Midwest chasing walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish. On the fishing trip I have in mind however, those species will all be safe: We’re going after northern pike. Pike are very susceptible under certain conditions in the spring, but in some bodies of water, they’re even more susceptible now. I’ve chased pike in October from Devil’s Lake in North Dakota to Little Bay de Noc in Michigan with other memorable stops on outstanding pike waters like Lake Winnibigoshish in north central Minnesota. When we hit it right, the action is world‐class. Here’s how you can get in on the pike catching in October. First thing: You need to be on good pike water. Just like with any lake or river or reservoir, some lakes produce good pike fishing, some don’t. Some lakes have lots of small, skinny pike, others produce the big guys. Typically, the lakes with the smaller pike won’t produce the big ones. Big pike come from lakes that are home to oily baitfish like tullibee. Pike that eat tullibee get big because these baitfish provide the protein or whatever it takes to grow big fish. Pike fishing is so good in the fall because of the movements of these bait fish. They’re fall spawners. During the summer months they’re out in the deep water, often suspended and not relating to anything other than water temperatures. The northern are running with them. Because of their wandering tendencies, it’s tough to find them and catch them. This time of the year, the tullibee move into their spawning areas, and the pike are right there with them. They are much more accessible to anglers because of this. During the summer they could be almost any‐ where: Now they’re hanging out in certain areas and they’re looking for something to eat, which makes them easier to catch. In some lakes, deeper weedbeds will hold lots of pike. In other lakes they like rocks. A little breeze is better than no breeze. With a little wind they’ll be shallower, with a lot of wind they’ll often slide a tad deeper. We’re after big fish, so we’re going to be using big baits. We can fish fairly fast in late September and into mid‐October, but when the water gets really cool in late October, you’ll want to slow down a bit. It’s a good idea to have one angler throwing a spinnerbait like a Bionic Bucktail or the new in‐line Bird‐Shot Bucktail. Someone else in the boat should throw a crankbait like the largest Salmo Perch or Sting. Sometimes the fish like the flashier spinnerbait better, sometimes they prefer the crankbait: Much of the time they don’t care. The best fishing comes when they don’t care. I use a Cabela’s Tournament ZX Flippin’ rod to throw these baits. I team this with Sunline SX1 Braid in forty pound test. This combination seems to do a very good job. If you live near good pike water, you should take advantage of this fishing opportunity. If you don’t, you should hook the boat up and go somewhere where this opportunity does exist. If you hit it right, you’ll be glad you did. A good pike bite is truly a memorable thing.
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Get on the right body of water, and youʼll have the chance to take a big pike like this one that John Peterson caught. Photo by Bob Jensen