November 2007 page 4 Updates

9 November

Opening day with Zeke

By Mike Sheffer

We started the season with some luck,

Got into some birds not far from the truck.

They were juvenile birds that flew into a tree,

I did not shoot but it was good to see.

But as I rounded a harvested corn field,

My eyes filled with emotional bitter sweet tears,

As this may be one of my friend Zeke's last years.

He is mostly deaf and going blind,

But it's opening day, and he will not be left behind.

Even though we did not harvest a bird,

Hey it's opening day with Zeke and it was superb.

The Other Side

PETA ruffles grocer's feathers, The animal-rights group owns stock in Winn-Dixie and has chicken-kill issues.

The Florida Times Union, Jacksonville, 11/8/2007, by Mark Basch.

"...At the meeting, Lynch said the company is concerned about animal welfare and has been talking to PETA about resolving the issue..."

"...People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been hiding its own dirty little secret. Public records from the State of Virginia show that PETA has killed at least 14,479 dogs, cats, and other "companion animals" at its headquarters...."

CNW Group, CCF: Global Campaign Exposes PETA's Animal-Killing Track Record, 'PETA Kills Animals' website launches in five languages, November 9, 2007.

8 November

Waterfowl

Bob, with his young dog Shadow retrieving a mallard drake during an early season hunt. By the number of bands on Bob's lanyard it appears Shadow is into an outstanding career.

Upland Bird

Region wide through Kansas, Missouri and Iowa the cover habitat is about as good as we have seen. This was simply a good growing year starting off with deep and surface spring soil moisture, continuing with a cool summer followed by a warm late summer weather and rains. The effect is that both dog and hunter will work harder for their birds and most agree thicker habitat makes for tighter holding birds.

Crops also faired well with more than half in most areas harvested and the current weather making for some late night combine activity (remember road safety, lots of farm machinery moving around). At the current harvest rate most of our region will be 90% harvested by the time our better reliably cooler bird dog weather sets in. The good growing season made for high harvest bushel counts that equally corresponds to field waste grain for all wildlife. Between the good cover quality and waste grain our agricultural land bird hunts looks to be good though the end of the season.

Quail hunter reports indicate Iowa and Missouri are as forecasted not any better than and likely worse off than last year. The range of quail hunter reports indicate a variety of bird density across small localities and the entire north Missouri and southern Iowa area. The best reports included 8 coveys in one day, 7 coveys in two days, down to one covey on a half day hunt. Warm temperatures with dry dusty conditions contributed to the lower early season hunt quality.

Kansas pheasant hunters have reported good to great hunts. Kansas bird hunter pressure on Association land was light and once the quail season opens expected to increase. There were entire upland bird units in several locations without a single hunter for opening weekend. This is an effect of the self guided upland bird hunter of their own dogs compared to drive or public land day hunters. Most Association upland bird hunters wait to hunt for the most return in terms of weather conditions and mixed bag hunts.

The Other Side

Eat at Wendy's, support PETA and pay more for meals.

"...PETA filed a shareholder resolution calling on fast-food chain Wendy's to produce a study on the feasibility of purchasing a percentage of its eggs from hens who are not confined to cages..."

PETA Media Center, November 6, 2007, Columbus Ohio.

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