November 2007 page 5 Updates

11 November

Because they did what they did, we can do what we do. It is Veterans Day.

Waterfowl

A flock of green winged teal making one of several passes before they decided to move on.

Early season duck hunting typically provides a mixed bag of small ducks such as teal, gadwall, wigeon and wood duck. Some hunters aren't interested in getting out until the mallards arrive, but to the dog it doesn't matter, a retrieve is a retrieve.

Below, Riley's dog Jazz with three gadwall and six green winged teal. All nine retrieved one at a time. Jazz's favorite memory of the hunt was watching the green winged teal sizzle past the blind with the wind to their backs.

The set.

Thank you Riley for the thoughtful considerations of taking pictures and sharing with all.

Gun Rights

"...The high court's nine justices will consider taking a case that challenges the District of Columbia's stringent handgun ban. Their decision will shape how far other cities and states can go with their own gun restrictions. "If the court decides to take this up, it's very likely it will end up being the most important Second Amendment case in history," said Dennis Henigan, legal director for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence..."

Supreme Court gun-control case could be landmark, by Michael Doyle, McClatchy Newspapers, The Seattle Times, November 9, 2007.

Interesting to note the organization the newspaper chose to seek for a quote. The Supreme Court is scheduled to announce on Tuesday, November 13, if/when they will hear the case.

Our Side

Anti-Hunters Ousted on Election Day, New Jersey Sportsmen Send Lawmakers Packing.
"...New Jersey sportsmen demonstrated their political clout on Election Day by throwing out two incumbent lawmakers who have repeatedly attacked the state's hunting traditions..."

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, November 9, 2007.

Agriculture and Hunting

Little surprise in that grain prices are strong and with farmers deciding/ordering now what and how much to plant next spring. It does not appear they will hold back available acreage.

"...USDA increased the marketing year average farm price for corn about 30 cents per bushel on both ends of a range from $3.20 to $3.80...[increased] grain sorghum farm price by 30 cents per bushel to a range of $3.00 to $3.60...Soybean oil price has risen about 60 percent since the start of the year...global wheat...world supply is still at a thirty year low...if the dollar continues to weaken...That could set off a nasty inflationary cycle that would not only hurt U.S. agricultural producers, but the U.S. general public as well..."

Cattle Network, Grain Outlook: Fall Harvest And Beyond, 11/9/2007, Mike Woolverton, Extension Grain Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University.

To put some of these figures into perspective the national average bushels of corn per acre was 153. That at a $0.30 increase is $45.90 per acre more for a total inflow of $581.40 per acre. With local [NE Kansas actual on farm expense, not national average] planting, fertilizer and weed/pest control costs per corn acre around $120 that leaves $461.40 to cover harvest, transportation, storage costs plus profit margin. At this point the range of farm capabilities and efficiencies are wide enough that an average post planting to sale cost/profit/acre would be readily disputed. However, for the sake of this analysis assume a conservative 50% positive inflow at sale margin leaves the farmer with $230.70/acre. Take away an inflation adjusted programmed planting/fertilizer/chemical costs for the next spring of $124.80/acre leaves the farmer a $105.90/acre positive inflow.

That $105.90/acre inflow is greater than CRP payments and as expectations for value per farm acre increases so does expectations for hunting lease cost per acre.

CRP

"...Landowners in Eddy County in east-central North Dakota are using an aerator roller to prepare land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for crop production. The Eddy County Soil Conservation District purchased the aerator roller this summer, anticipating decisions by landowners to take land out of the CRP program at the end of contract periods and returning the land to crop production or grazing land..."

Prepare CRP For Crop Production Without Tillage, Cattle Network, 11/9/2007, John Nowatzki, NDSU Agriculture Communication.

Dogs

Thanks to Mike Sheffer for his bitter sweet reminder of the future for all of us who roam the fields and marshes with our close furred friends. His poem reminded me of one of my favorites by Rudyard Kipling: The Power of the Dog.

Charles

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But . . . you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve.
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Poems from macho outdoors men?

A further quote from one more thoughtful is: "...that with each deer and turkey harvest it is just one more deer or turkey. What adorns my wall are pictures after pictures of current and past dogs each bringing a smile and memories of special hunts, days, points, tricks and off season trips shared and enjoyed. A far grater satisfaction than any deer or turkey did bring me..."

Contrast all that with the hunter inquiring of the Association while bragging of the pheasants he and his party "...pounded..." in South Dakota. We declined further conversation with that hunter.

Thanks to Mike and Charles and every one of the Association bird hunters who agree it is about the dog and not the birds.

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