HUNTING -WILD TURKEY

SOUTH TEXAS TURKEY
by Jim Foster

During deer season there were flocks of turkey around each bend in the road. Now after hunting for quite a few years, I know it’s not that simple. When turkey season arrives it may take some hunting to get a gobbler. But, with populations good in South Texas, opening weekend was exciting.

Last season just as the sun was coming up, a series of hoots on my owl call produced gobbles from three points of the compass. The closest was off to the east.

Moving quickly toward the rising sun it didn’t take long to close the distance.

Setting up and arranging my calls, shotgun, decoy, and camo was accomplished quickly. My location was next to a tree to help break up my outline. The ground cushion on my hunting vest made the wait for the gobbler much more comfortable.

A light hen call and was rewarded by a gobble, then another. Each sound from the gobbler was closer. Then nothing. The next gobble sounded further away. Calling several more times only produced a single gobble for my efforts.

Just as I was about to call again the gobbler stepped out of the brush 10 yards from my decoy and 25 yards from my location. Not expecting the bird to come in so quickly the Encore 20-gauge shotgun was still across my lap.

The gobbler strutted around the decoy several times. When he turned his back I brought the shotgun up.

The gobbler kept strutting and moving trying to attract my decoy. Giving a quick cluck on my box call, the gobbler extended his neck to look just as I pulled the trigger. He flopped twice and lay still.

The ranch where I was hunting had suffered during the winter with a lack of rain but received a few showers early in February. The rain mostly settled the dust but not the drought. But, any rain is better than none at all.

Spring turkey season is underway and South Texas looks like the place to be. Southern counties have some of the best concentrations in the state, in spite of the dry weather.

Reports from across the state indicate the wild turkey in general had a fair nesting season, the result of poor weather and range conditions. Much of Texas was in a drought last spring and some locations had too much rain. In addition there were quite a few young hens nesting for the first time last season and are not known to do a good job nesting and raising their young.

In spite of the dry conditions there is still an increase in the number of birds and hunters should have a good season. This is a direct result of good hatches and poults survival for the last two years and will keep the hunting good in some areas of the state.

The top counties where hunters will have an excellent chance of bagging a gobbler are Kleburg, Kenedy, Brooks, and Jim Hogg. These four counties have river habitat, which is in most cases, the best turkey habitat.

For more turkey hunting information go to; The National Wildlturkey Federation at http://www.nwtf.org/ or the Texas Parks and Wildlife at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

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

BIRDING - BROWN PELICAN

THE BROWN PELICAN – A TRUE SURVIVOR
By Jim Foster

Traveling brings entertainment as well as education and even a confirmation of Knowledge already acquired. Looking over the water at a small lake near Franklin, Texas it was a pleasure to see a flight of white pelicans sailing a foot over the water in a seemingly effortless kind of flight.

I have seen this flight pattern along the coast but by another species of pelican, the once endangered brown pelican.

Unique among the world's seven species of pelicans, the Brown Pelican is found along the ocean shores and not on inland lakes as is it’s white cousin. It is the only dark pelican, and also the only one that plunges from the air into the water to catch its food.

Pesticide poisoning, especially by DDT, caused severe declines across the range in the late 1950's and the extirpation from Louisiana ("the pelican state"). It was listed as Endangered throughout the range in 1970. The ban on DDT led to a population recovery, and it was removed from the Endangered Species list in Atlantic Coast states in 1985.

In Texas breeding numbers are increasing at a steady rate and the total population in the United States now exceeds historical levels.

Unlike most birds, which warm their eggs with the skin of their breasts, pelicans incubate their eggs with their feet. They hold the eggs under the webs that stretch from the front toes to the hind toe, essentially standing on the eggs to warm them. This peculiar incubation method made them vulnerable to the effects of the pesticide DDT.

The DDT made the eggshells thin, and the incubating parents frequently cracked their eggs. Thin eggshells were also a large reason for the decline of the bald eagle.

A rather interesting fact observed on a recent trip to Port Aransas is when the Brown Pelican is draining water from its bill after a dive; gulls often try to steal the fish right out of its pouch. They sometimes even perch on the pelican's head or back and reach in.

The pelican will also follow fishing boats and will hang around piers for handouts from anglers cleaning their catch.
For bird watchers and those who just enjoy watching nature the brown pelican is an interesting and amazing bird.

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

FISHING - GOING FOR IDAHO STEEL

Spring Steelhead Season Still Open
IF&G

A surefire cure for cabin fever, steelhead season is still open on the Boise, Clearwater, Snake and Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.

The spring harvest season opened January 1, and it continues until April 30 on many river segments, except on a portion of the Salmon, on the Little Salmon, the Snake above Hells Canyon Dam and on the Boise rivers.

The statewide steelhead limit is three per day, nine in possession and 20 for the spring season. Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch-and-release.

Anglers must have a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit.

Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin. All other steelhead must be released unharmed immediately.

Steelhead fishing on the:
Clearwater River mainstem and Middle Fork from its mouth upstream to Clear Creek is open until April 30.

North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam is open until April 30.

South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red Rivers is open until April 30.

Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the Lake Creek Bridge about six miles upstream from the mouth of the Little Salmon River, and from Long Tom Creek (about a quarter mile upstream from the Middle Fork Salmon River) to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream from the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery weir, near the town of Stanley, is open until April 30.

Salmon River from the Lake Creek Bridge to Long Tom Creek closes March 31.

Little Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road remains open until May 15.

Snake River from the Washington state line at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers upstream to Hells Canyon Dam is open until April 30.

Snake River upstream of Hells Canyon Dam to Oxbow Dam is open until May 31.

Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam is open until May 31.

In the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit may fish where the river forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, but may not fish from the shoreline, including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An angler may have only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses the angler holds.

Consult 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure for exceptions and special restrictions. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

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

TRAVEL - THE CRANES OF PORT ARANSAS

A WHOOPING GOOD TIME
By Jim Foster

There is bad news and good news.

The bad news was quite obvious driving through the South Texas ranch country. Seeing mile after mile of brown scenery where there should have been green buds and wildflowers shouting their welcome to spring days. A hard drought once again had a grip on the land.

The good news is a record number of the whooping cranes, an endangered species, made their southern migration to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Port Aransas this year. Now in the beginning days of March they are preparing to depart for their northern nesting grounds.

These large birds were the main reason I loaded the full regiment of cameras and lenses in the Jeep and hit the road for Port Aransas. And, more good news the 13th Whooping Crane Festival was underway.

Port Aransas, Texas is located on the Gulf of Mexico, a short distance from Corpus Christi, and has been a top birding and wildlife-viewing destination for many years and is well know for nature seekers. Now with an expanded numbers of the whooping crane populations more people have become interested in seeing these large white birds.

Based on counts done last year at Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park, his estimate of what the peak flock size was remained unchanged; 232 adults and 38 juveniles for a total of 270 Whooping cranes. The current estimates put the flock size to be just 253 - 228 adults and 25 juveniles, as the result of estimated mortalities prior to and during migration, as well as those that occurred after arrival at Aransas. The drought has taken and is taking its toll.

Tom Stehn, Whooping crane coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, reported good viewing conditions for this year. Some of this is due to the birds searching more areas for their favorite food, the blue crab.

The all-time worst winter on record was 1990 when 7.5% (11 out of 146) Whooping cranes died at Aransas. With one month yet to go, the current winter ranks as the second worst in the last 20 years in terms of mortality. The 3rd worst winter, 1993, showed a 4.9% loss at Aransas (7 out of 143).

The biggest threat—loss of wetlands—still persists. Though out the areas the birds frequent are protected, they are isolated and make the entire population vulnerable to any disastrous ecological event.

Port Aransas has developed a partnership with the large birds by adding their support though the annual crane festival. The 2009 festival that just concluded was the 13th annual event with number 14 already in the planning stages.

Boarding the Wharf Cat for the trip up the Intracoastal to the refuge border I met people from all over the United States and Canada. All were hoping to see cranes in the wild. We were not disappointed. In all the times I have taken this trip this was the best. We saw over 12 cranes with many of these very close resulting in good viewing and photography.

I was a part of the festival from the time I checked into the Mariner Inn and Suites and welcomed by the smiling manager Linda Ayers. She gives the lodge a homey feeling and assures you a comfy room and amenities. Later at the festival I was introduced to some of the biggest names in the world of crane study and management from around the world. For example, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, George Archibald and Tom Stehn who is the crane expert on the Aransas Refuge.

George also leads crane-viewing trips to India and other countries.

Of course the lady who more than deserves the credit for a smooth running festival as well as assuring a friendly welcome for all visitors is Ann Vaughan leader of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce.

FOR MORE AREA INFORMATION CONTACT:Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau, 403 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, Texas 78373 or call (361) 749-5919
or 800-45-COAST / On the Web at; http://www.portaransas.org/


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