16 July NestingDove seem to be having a good spring with their spindly nests. One chick's head is exposed and the second is under mama.
Missouri WaterfowlColumbia Missourian, Missouri duck population rises, More ducks this year than usual may make hunters happy. By Liz Langton, July 13, 2007. "...The number of ducks expected for the fall migration is up 14 percent from last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported Thursday. Mallards, the most popular duck for hunters in Missouri, were up 10 percent to 8.03 million..."
LandLand leasing is a 12 month process, but the momentum seems to pick up quite a bit July through September. Ideally, we would like to have the land leasing and map process done much earlier, but planting and wheat harvest are not completed until mid-July. Once the crops are planted and the wheat is harvested, we have a much better idea of what type of habitat and food sources we have to work with.
This photo taken last week of a potential farm to lease for the upcoming season. With the increase in the price of corn and demand for ethanol, we're seeing more corn planted this year than ever.
Up to this point, we have scouted a lot of old and new land over the past 6 months. Many lease proposals, both new and old are on the table, but the process always seems to linger through the month of September. Every season a couple of key leases change hands or we loose a lease for some unforeseen reason, but they are always replaced with land comparable to the same quality or better at times.
Once again, the feedback from the landowners has been very positive about the behavior of the members hunting their land. They pay much closer attention to what is going on than most realize. Over the last two seasons there were several events that took place we would like to pass to the members to help our public/lease relations long term.
Over the past two seasons two landowners were complimented so many times by members of the quality of the hunting on their land that one ran an ad and sold out to the highest bidder and the other increased the price of the lease to the point it's almost out of our hands.
Hunting and hunting land has become so competitive, it's best to keep quiet and move from spot A to spot B without visiting with the neighbors or asking locals questions with your maps in hand. Unfortunately, a lot of the people close to our leases are against the idea of leasing land, because it gives them less places to hunt. Two years ago a member harvested a real trophy buck. He drove into town and asked a gentlemen at a gas station to help load his deer. The member shared his maps with the man to and from picking up the deer. It turned out he knew the man that farmed the land. The next year, the farmer included the hunting rights in his cash rent and the neighbor is selling guided deer hunts on the farm from a tower blind.
Frogs?
After some idle chit-chat with my daughter last week, it came to my attention that I had neglected some critical aspects in her training and outdoor education up to this point...she had never been frog hunting (froggin' gigging or grabbin' depending on where you were raised and your preferred methodology) and I immediately realized that I had to remedy this shortcoming and character flaw at the soonest opportunity.
So...last night we went out to one of our association properties that is probably better known for deer and turkey but also has numerous small stock tanks located throughout the property. With all the recent rains the water levels were way up in the weeds so the hunting was pretty tough; however, we managed to put an adequate number of frogs in the bag to provide us with a very tasty meal and left plenty out there for another trip or two. We also found a large blackberry absolutely loaded with berries, but since they're still several days away from ripe, we will probably have to plan another trip out there for next weekend.
My daughter found out just how much fun it is to hunt frogs...and tonight she will learn just how good they are when battered and fried up just right.
Matthew
This is a first for the Association a documented frog hunt, fish or whatever. Thank you Matthew for one special picture.
FishingThe fishing pressure has been down this year due to a combination of rain, wind and an increased number of out of state members. We have had consistent requests over the years to sell discounted fishing only memberships, but have denied the opportunity to maintain quality fishing to our members.
The weeds and moss are at their peak right now, but the fish are still there if you have the tackle and ability to work your lures through the cover.
Early morning, late evening and night time fishing is definitely the way to beat the heat of the dog days of July and August.
Allen with a nice bass and his son AJ with a lean 15 inch July crappie caught on a recent fishing trip. They caught and released over 50 fish, and kept a dozen 10 plus inch crappies for a meal.
Hummm...In the just for fun category here is one of those kind of offers we refuse. However, if anyone is interested the contact information is provided!!!
Hello, My name is Danielle Gervais. I'm a Casting Producer for ABC's Primetime show, "Wife Swap." I hope you don't mind me contacting you, but we're gearing up for a fourth season at the moment and we're currently looking for unique families with LOTS of personality! Specifically, I’m looking for a family of hunters who could live in the wilderness without a grocery store if they needed to! I’m looking for no-nonsense people who are proud of their way of life and are willing to share it with others. I’m hoping you can forward this on to anyone you think might be interested in this opportunity.
In case you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the moms switch places to experience how another family lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. Then she introduces a "rule change" where she implements rules and activities that her family has. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life. Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Mondays at 8 pm- the family hour!
Requirements: Each family must consist of two parents and at least one child between 7 and 17 and should reside in the continental U.S. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age…as long as one child is in the required age range.)
Participating in the show is a very unique experience that can be life changing for everyone. In addition, each family that tapes an episode of Wife Swap receives $20,000 as compensation for their time. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives $1000 as a 'thank you’ from us.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this email and I hope to hear from you soon. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
Thank you for your time, Danielle Gervais 646-747-7956 Danielle.Gervais@rdfnewyork.com
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