Curtis Lake, (MN) Ducks Unlimited Enhansement Begins
MARSHALL, Minn., March 31, 2010 – Ducks Unlimited began enhancement of another shallow lake project funded in part by the Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The early warm weather melted snow and allowed crews get started on the Curtis Lake project near Marshall.
“To complete construction of this shallow lake project by summer, our contractor needed to mobilize the required heavy equipment, steel structure materials and rock riprap before the spring roadway load restrictions were posted,” said Brad Karel, DU construction manager.
Karel and contractor Chad Monson Excavating of Willmar began working in early March on Curtis Lake to install a sheet pile water control structure designed by DU.
“After a brief shutdown for the spring runoff, we will be able to resume work as soon as site conditions dry and improve,” Karel said.
Northeast Nebraska Whitetails Unlimited Banquet Held in Wausa By Gary Howey
The 7th annual Northeast Nebraska Whitetails Unlimited banquet was held Friday March 19th at the Wausa Fire Hall.
Whitetails Unlimited (www.whitetailsunlimited.com) is a national conservation organization promoting deer hunting and other outdoor activities, which headquartered out of Sturgeon Bay, WI. established in 1982 with over 100,000 members.
Approximately 425 people attended this year’s event where attendees had the opportunity to win numerous prizes including 40 guns and bows.
WTU banquets are family orientated events aimed at involving the entire family.
Our youth are very important to WTU, as they are the future of deer hunting and all outdoor sports.
Because of this, there are special promotions and contest held at the banquet designed especially for the youth.
WTU offers its members an avenue to raise funds to support common interests such as preserving the hunting tradition and educating the public on the importance of conserving our natural resources
At this years event, $48,000.00 was raised, much of which will remain in the area, being used for conservation and youth programs.
Funds raised from these WTU events, one half of which stays locally, is donated to numerous area activities.
In 2009 the Northeast Nebraska WTU donated $20,906.00 to conservation related activities. Included in these were; donations to area schools, 4-H groups, hunter’s education, handicap hunters programs, archery clubs, area communities, conservation organizations and for state game & park projects.… Continue reading
Pre-Season Scouting By Gary Howey
To be successful at turkey hunting there are several to things that need to come together.
The most important of these is knowing the area the birds are using.
In order to find out this information, it will require pre season scouting as this allows you to have a plan put together ahead of time, so you’ll know the who, what, when and where before opening day.
By doing your pre-season scouting you’ll be able to figure out the bird patterns, where they’re roosting, where they’re coming out of the roost, their travel routes to and from feeding areas and how they get back to their roost just before dark.
Don’t make the mistake that some spring hunters do and use a turkey call while doing your scouting.
Once a bird hears the hen call, he may come running in and catch you out in the open, which is a good way to educate the bird.
When scouting, use a call that makes the Tom gobble, but not come your direction.
You’ll want to use a call that will cause the bird to shock gobble as these loud calls startle or shock the bird causing it to gobble.
Good shock calls can be a predator, owl or crow call as these are sounds that the birds have heard before that won’t make them come running in your direction.
These calls can be used during pre-season scouting and during the regular season.
Locating the tree the birds are using as a roost will be a big help, giving you a place to start on opening morning.
Roost trees are generally some of the tallest trees in the woods. Look for trees with an accumulation of droppings and feathers under them, which is a pretty good indicator that the birds have used the trees as a roost.… Continue reading
Hard Water Fishing On Lake of the Woods By Gary Howey
A couple of times each year, we head north to do some fishing on Lake of the Woods, once during the summer and again during the winter.
If you’ve never been up north, it’s quite a treat as it’s big water where there are hundreds and hundreds of icehouses on the ice, every size, shape and variety.
As a matter of fact, this year, the Zippel Bay Igloo made its appearance on the ice.
Resembling a large igloo, this large icehouse/bar is a big attraction as it has a full bar, big screen TV, tables and benches where you can not only eat a pizza, you have an opportunity to wet a line while enjoying your favorite drink.
The largest fish taken by anglers in the Igloo is a 48” northern that Desire, the young lady that runs the establishment took the first week in February.
Ice fishing is extremely popular on Lake of the Woods, part of the reason being that in the winter you’re allowed to use two rods and the limit for walleye and sauger is raised to eight (4 walleyes and 4 sauger).
Walleyes are the larger cousin of the sauger, reaching over 10 pounds with the average size probably being in the 2 to 4 pound class.
Walleyes are identified by their greenish gold color along with the white tip on their lower tail fin.… Continue reading