JIM'S GEMS - SHOCKING!

OH TASER ME NOT, I AM NOT A TREE
By Jim Foster

If a writer ever feared for the lack of subjects to report, all he or she must do is to take a look at either the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the other “services” within the Department of Interior. Sad huh?

Maybe not as sad as our Border Patrol chasing drug smugglers instead of keeping the millions of illegals out of the country, but sad indeed. The same goes for Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) game wardens. We keep hearing how short handed they are then we learn they have enough personnel to chase druggies.

As an example, on December 13, 2007, five region VII wardens participated in a Brownwood area operation serving 28 sealed indictments for drug trafficking. Maj. Jay Guthrie, Capt. Malcom Wilkes, Lt. Tracy Davis and the game wardens worked with entry and search teams from nine different agencies, such as the West Texas Task Force.

As I recall we do have the Drug Enforcement Administration to chase the druggies let’s spend our enforcement dollars on the fish and game.

But, this is not about game wardens or the Border Patrol; nope, this is about the U.S. Forrest Service (USFS), the guardians of our public wood, the pine police, and all that. Most have heard about our government paying thousands of dollars for toilet seats and hammers but the following will take the prize.

Members of Congress from both parties have complained about the agency's (USFS) declining budgets, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, and four other Democratic senators have lobbied appropriators for an increase in Forest Service accounts to help relieve a $10 billion backlog in road maintenance they say is "harming America's drinking water, watersheds and wildlife”. What?

Let me insert here that a recent proposal is floating around Washington that would put the USFS under the Department of the Interior…oh boy, another “branch”.

Add to this the USFS doesn’t have the funds to make timber sales in areas where even a few “greenies” agree the timber should be sold. Fact, the USFS is broke, so what’s the problem? The answer is stupid spending.

Stupid spending - such as the USFS’ purchase of $600,000.00 dollars worth of TASERS for the USFS law enforcement people. It just proves out what I have been writing for decades, our bureaucrats are mental midgets, and manned mostly by human speed bumps, but this one wins the metal for “boondoggle of the year”.

In a perverted way the purchase does make sense in a world where even the smallest town police force must have a black-clad swat team armed to the teeth complete with their so called snipers. What a joke!

Last years fire season left the USFS a quarter-billion dollars in the red. For uncompleted projects where any additional funding would have been welcome these guys found a place to spend more.

The bottom line is that tasers will be issued by the USFS law enforcement people sometime in 2008 unless a flash of intelligence enters someone’s head and that’s not likely.

It is estimated that 290 civilians have died from police use of Tasers since 2001. How many more will it take? Just recently a woman was killed after a taser assault in a U.S. airport. If a small army of full-grown TSA officers and city police can’t subdue one unruly woman I hate to think what a USFS tree cop might do when he’s alone with someone who disagrees with him.

Chances are we don’t want to know. Things are out of hand in this police arms race. Since USFS rarely is called upon to apply deadly force, the role of these electronic devices on national forest visitors is problematic. Nonetheless, the National Park Service will also have tasers. Disagree with one of these “tree cops” and chances are you will get zapped with a taser bought by your tax dollars, so much for a quiet day in the park on our public lands.

There will be more on this topic as things develop.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - SPRING TURKEY

PREPARING A SPRING HUNT
By Jim Foster

Springtime, for me, means one thing, turkey season is near. The spring turkey hunt is the best hunt of the year according to many hunters. Getting out in the field and calling a mature gobbler to within shotgun range is exciting and a thrilling hunt.

This season my calling skills will be tested first in the Northern woods of Idaho for a Merrium turkey, then I'll make the drive to the Texas Hill Country and the South Texas brush country to try for a Rio Grande sub species, with a limit of four gobblers I could stay busy. Texas has mostly the Rio Grande turkey but a healthy population of the Eastern variety is found in the Piney Woods of east Texas.

Many years ago, deer hunters killed most Texas turkey in the fall using deer rifles. Today that number has reversed with the largest number of gobblers taken is in the spring using calls and scatterguns.

As spring flowers bloom and the wild turkey breeding season draws near, the hens will follow the gobblers and breed with only the most dominant gobblers in the flock. What that means is there are a lot of gobblers that won’t have female companionship, but will keep on looking.

As the season continues the hens that have successfully bred will leave the flocks ready to nest. They will sometimes travel miles until a suitable nesting location is found.

Later gobblers will reverse the process and go to the hens. This is the reason that spring calling works so well. The better you can sound like a lovesick hen the faster the gobblers will come running.

But remember the wild turkey is a very formidable bird. He spends most of his life listening to the sounds of the woods and brush. He gathers, feeds, sleeps and breeds hearing the sound of other turkeys.

The turkey's eyesight has been said to be 10 to 12 times better than ours. Turkeys are very aware of their surroundings and something out of place is a warning to a smart old hen or gobbler.

Get out early and listen for a gobbler to sound off or you may hear them fly down from a roost. An owl or crow call will cause gobbling. Now you have a direction. Mark the location and move quietly as close as you can, sit down, arrange your camo and wait a few minutes then try a few light calls. Be very still, the gobbler may be on his way.

Hunters should find good to average populations of gobblers in most areas of Texas. Drought conditions still exist in parts of Texas. Spring rains could improve nesting and provide more feed. In spite of the drought there should be plenty of gobblers.

All in all turkey hunters this spring should see enough turkey to keep their interest. Don't forget that in addition to your Texas hunting license you must have purchased a Texas turkey stamp.

The one rule of turkey hunting that always applies is that the unexpected can and will happen at any time. It has happened to me again and again.

The 2008 Spring Turkey Season opens in the South Zone (54 counties) March 15 through April 27 and in the North Zone (101 counties) March 29 through May 11.

The Eastern Gobbler season (43 Counties) will be April 1 through 30 and has a limit of one Eastern Gobbler
Check The Texas Hunting Directory for the county where you plan to hunt for the seasons and bag limits.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - TEXAS LARGE GAME

SPRING NILGAI – THE BLUE BULL
By Jim Foster

The Kleberg family of the King Ranch introduced the nilgai, originally from India, to South Texas in the early 1930’s. The animals were sold to the King Ranch by a circus that had fallen on hard times during the depression.

The ranch bought several breeding pairs. It was later learned. much to the chagrin of those who tended the fences, that a nilgai has no regards for any fence. Soon the animals were spreading all over adjoining pastures and then South Texas.

Since that time, nilgai have expanded their range and numbers. South Texas is an excellent habitat for the nilgai.

The nilgai is both a grazer and a browser competing with both domestic cattle and native wildlife.

The bulls are gray or blue in color and blend in well with the south Texas brush. Bulls grow to 800 pounds or more. The horns are not really impressive at 9 to 10 inches however they will use them in breeding and territory battles that may lead to the death of one or both combatants.

Females are about two-thirds the size of the bull and are light tan in color. The bulls have a small white patch on their neck just under their chin and sometimes this will be what a hunter will see first.

Nilgai are hunted safari style using the spot and stalk method. Time is spent glassing large open areas in order to spot game. Then the hunter and guide will stalk to within shooting range. The nilgai bull is a very hard animal to bring down except with a well-placed shot from a large caliber rifle. On many ranches the smallest caliber allowed is a 300 Winchester magnum.

When a good bull is spotted the hunt begins. Checking the wind, the hunters will stalk through the brush to a position close enough for a shot. Many times the guide and hunter will make a long drive around an open pasture to make sure the wind will not give them away or to better position themselves for the stalk.

Stalking a nilgai is a challenging, exciting and at times frustrating experience. There will be times when after a long stalk you discover the nilgai has vanished - it just wandered into the brush.

Considering the animal's sharp senses, moving quietly and staying well hidden in the brush is very important. At times nilgai bulls will group together in herds of twenty or more. Stalking these groups is extremely difficult - twenty plus pairs of eyes, ears and noses testing the surrounding area for danger.

Nilgai meat is some of the finest wild game meat you can find. It's lean like venison but does not have the strong game flavor of venison if it is handled properly. Nilgai must be field dressed quickly and allowed to cool. Hunters should take their photographs and get busy with the knife work.

Getting your nilgai into a processing plant or cooler is just as important. Figure on getting about half the animals weight in processed meat, so a 750 pound nilgai bull should give you over 300 pounds of meat. A nilgai is not an animal you should try to butcher at home unless you have all the right equipment.

Hunting a nilgai bull is a great spring hunt - just watch out for the ticks.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

FISHING - TEXAS RAINBOW TROUT

THE RAINBOW TROUT IN TEXAS
By Jim Foster

When anyone speaks of trout along the Texas coast it is mostly assumed they are referring to the spotted saltwater variety. However in this case the trout is the freshwater variety - the rainbow trout.

Fifty years ago, Texas anglers had to travel out of state to find this colorful fish. Today, thanks to an active stocking program, trout provide a winter fishery for anglers of all ages.

Rainbow trout are not native to Texas. Evidence suggests West Texas streams once supported indigenous populations of cutthroat trout, but they haven’t been found in modern times.

McKittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park has a self-sustaining population of rainbow trout, but the area is closed to fishing.

In 1966, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) began stocking rainbow trout in the tailrace below Canyon Dam on the Guadalupe River This was the beginning of one of the state’s most popular programs.

Trout don’t do well in water warmer than 70°F and sadly there are few places in the state offering year-round habitat. The good news is there are many areas where trout can thrive during the winter months.

By 1984 the program had expanded to include several state park lakes. These stockings were a tremendous success, increasing park visitation and providing angling opportunity at a time when warm water species are less active.
Trout numbers increased from 10,000 in 1966 to more than 260,000 in 2004. Today, TPW stocks catchable-sized trout in approximately 100 locations each year. Stockings take place from December through March. Most fish are harvested before warmer weather arrives and water temperatures increase.

Trout stocked in Texas are purchased from commercial hatcheries and will not move far from the stocking site. This provides tremendous fishing success for two to three weeks after stocking. After that time, the remaining fish become crafty and better adapted to the waters, thus providing a real challenge for anglers.

In the Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam, the water tends to stay cool. Trout in this river have been known to survive the summer and grow to impressive sizes. This is still the best spot for trout anglers who seek a true river fishing experience.
In addition to providing a unique winter fishery in public water, trout are utilized to create accessible fishing opportunities for physically challenged and young anglers who may never have had a fishing experience due to limited access at traditional sites. Trout are stocked in accessible areas such as city swimming pools, and anglers with disabilities are invited to experience the thrill of catching a trout.

Trout anglers will get an extra bonus this year as the TPW will stock trout at an additional seven sites from February 22 to March 7. TPW has stocked nearly 275,000 trout at 115 sites so far this season.

Trout anglers must have a valid fishing license with a freshwater stamp endorsement, except for those persons exempt from sport fishing license requirements. Licenses and stamps are not required if fishing within the boundaries of a Texas State Park. The statewide daily bag limit is five trout, with no minimum length.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

TRAVEL - FISHING THE ANCHOR

SILVER SALMON OF THE ANCHOR RIVER, ALASKA
By Jim Foster

The Anchor is one of Alaska’s shortest rivers but one with the charm and quality deserving split bamboo rodss and hand tied salmon flies.

This is where the locals go to unfurl their fly line across a clear swift river. And, in September this is where the silver salmon and steelhead trout go to find their way back to the places of their births four or five years past.

Located 60 miles south of Soldotna and just north of Homer, the Anchor River is usually the least-fished of any river by visitors to the Kenai Peninsula.

The Anchor has many crossing points only calf deep making it easy to wade. This river is best known for the strong runs of steelhead trout returning to its clear waters in the fall. Many entering the river after most of the salmon have passed.

The September salmon fishing is excellent with the Anchor also having runs of king, pink and silver salmon on an grand scale.

The Anchor offers king salmon anglers the longest season of the three southern Kenai Peninsula streams ... with the season open Memorial Day weekend and the following four weekends. King fishing is usually the best on the last two weekends of the season. There is also a king salmon derby on the Anchor sponsored by the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce.

Dolly Vardens, pink, and silver salmon all return later in the season with the best silver fishing in August and early September leading into the steelhead fishery that is a fly angler’s dream. After the first of September, the Anchor like most other rivers and streams, become purely artificial and single hook water. Fly fishermen abound here.

Most steelhead fishing is done using a fly rod although an ultra-light spinning or casting rig can make for some very exciting rock dancing. Returning steelhead love flashy spinners or Mepp’s type lures.

Oh yes, one other thing about the Anchor River, The Anchor Angler Tackle Shop.

It’s not only one of the best fly shops in many miles but it’s the best people shops in Alaska. The coffee pot is usually full and the owner is never too busy to give good information on just what has been happening on the river. He should know; you can hit the river with a rock from his shop door.

My visits to the Anchor River have been numerous with varying results. On one trip I never uncased a rod. Run off from a hard rain in the mountains the night before had still not found its way into Cook’s Inlet. The river was muddy and swift so it was coffee and conversation at the fly shop.

Several days later the river ran clear and with the sound of the river urging me on fly gear was assembled on rivers edge. It was not clear then but it was wished my quest for an Anchor River silver salmon would be accomplished.

A slight wind from the south awarded the air with a slight chill. A light misty rain fell off and on most of the morning. Making the short hike down stream to near the mouth of the river was uneventful. Several other anglers were already on the river. The river was quiet and lightly pock marked by the small raindrops.

My first cast looped into the current - the purple fly was swept along and into a cut along the opposite bank - then drifted into a small pool and across another shallow ripple. This cast was repeated several times before a flash of silver straightened the line and the rod went up raised setting the hook.

Before the salmon could make its first jump it became clear the fish was already into the backing. The 7-weight rod was bending nearly double. Easing off the drag and following the fish down river was the only remedy. Wearing hip boots today instead of chest waders made remembering where the deeper holes were more important.

Just when it was becoming clear the angler was to be the runner-up in this battle, the silver turned into a calmer pool and line was added to the reel. The steady pressure of rod, line, drag, and her jumps had taken their toll. A few minutes later the fish was led into a nearby shallow and to net.

The damp weather caused a mild chill as the bright female reflected the diffused light. She was a pre-spawn female and had just entered the Anchor River less than a mile away from Cook’s Inlet.

Removing the fly from the corner of her mouth she slipped gently back into the cold clear current and eased away. Stopping for a brief moment in a small eddy she rested, then with one move of her tail entered the faster water and was gone. Once again she was on her way to the place where she was spawned many years before to lay her eggs - then slowly die.

Considering the light fishing pressure upstream, the weather, and the time of year there is a good chance she finished her trip and deposited her many thousand eggs in the river.

It is a pleasant thought to think in a few years perhaps my grandson, and I will have the thrill of casting a fly to her returning off-spring in the clear and bubbling water of the Anchor River.

A river does run through the town of Anchor Point, Alaska.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com