December 2006 Updates page 6
30 Dec
First Upland Bird Hunt
Attached are a couple of photos from our first upland bird hunting trip as MAHA members.
My wife, Donna, killed the three roosters in [location deleted] and my first eastern wild turkey was taken in [location deleted].
We hunted and viewed a number of properties last week on our trip and were impressed by their diversity and quality, although disappointingly, several CRP fields had been mowed by the landowners, I assume under emergency drought measures.
Bill
Thank you Bill and Donna for sharing your hunt account. New member's first hunting trip always brings a bit of pressure on us. This year being a tougher than average pheasant year didn't slow you two down much.
New Member Info
The phrase "[location deleted]" is used to prevent the seemingly natural inclination of some to hunt where others have sent in pictures from as an indication of superior hunting quality. The mere fact of pictures being sent in from any one locality as an indicator of better hunting is false. Those that send in pictures enjoy that level of courtesy and are also the ones that enjoy reading about others' success. Those that send in pictures are also the more seasoned hunters that are the most enjoyable to work with at exchanging information.
For upland bird hunters, the best indication of better hunting quality is to compare forecasts and trust Shaun not to allow too many hunters or too many consecutive hunting days within any one unit. Taking Shaun's input of where to and not to hunt is a valid decision criteria intended to give all as good of a hunt as possible by spreading hunter pressure. Her information is impartial as it is based simply on hunter numbers on a sheet of reservation paper.
For deer hunters we have also recently included "[name deleted]" to further protect those that have had good success from being followed by others. Singular to deer hunters are those that have had the most long term success and those that are at the rack level of being years between harvests, simply scout the most. As such it is always amazing the many first hunt success pictures sent in by many each season to include many non-residents. This second factor seems to add to the mix that deer hunting skill is also as much required as scouting. These two facets preclude following another's success as deer hunting has been and always will be a single hunters' pursuit over a wide range of acreage.
Turkey hunter success is not part of this discussion even though we keep the same "[location deleted]" approach. Turkeys being as populated as they are over a wide region combined with a long season and stiff hunter skill requirement all adds up to much success for those with the appropriate skills.
Waterfowl is similar to turkey hunting success with the exception that waterfowl hunting is dependent on migration levels. And, as like turkey hunting, the right habitat within the right region to enhance success. Few that hunt our wetlands are disappointed (save water levels this year in some areas) with the quality of the habitat. If the migration is good that makes the difference between an average and a better year.
Guests
No guests for deer or turkey hunting. Guests for upland and waterfowl prohibited after January 15. Upland bird guests do not increase the dog limitations.
End of Seasons
Surge
Most past their first season in the Association will agree encountering another hunter while on a hunt on a MAHA lease does not happen much at all. Anytime that it does happen it should be considered rare and each should card the other and tell the results to us by telephone or email. The most effective carding is early in the season and to some extend at the end of the upland bird season. Further, groups of hunters more than a family of four is rare. In the case of a group always card all members of that group.
Upland bird hunters will find that the last two weekends of the Kansas season along with the last two weeks in general will see an increase of hunters scheduling the last hunt of the season. Motel rooms should be booked prior to departure for the trip. This season may be a little different with Kansas' split pheasant and quail closing dates.
The Iowa quail option is frequently forgotten about. After the January 10 Iowa pheasant season closing quail season continues until January 31. A new license is required after January 10 that extends through the next fall's season as well. This time period and acreage receives the least amount of hunter pressure and motel rooms are easier to come by on short notice.
Reminder that Missouri upland bird season closes end of day January 15.
27 Dec
Sage
John,
Now that I'm in my forty seventh year, limits of birds are not as important as they once were. Give me a full day afield, with a brace of half decent birds dogs, and I'm good. Nevertheless, its a fine day when the walk back to the truck is accompanied by a hefty game bag.
Didn't move a bird out of first farm I hunted Saturday morning, just as well as dogs thought they were in an all age stake. Second farm dogs had settled down some, Ginger nailed a covey in a brushy draw in middle of bean field, Chaps backed from about 40 yds, picture perfect, took two bird out of covey, didn't hunt the singles. Worked hedge row back to truck, lost Chaps and found him pointing down into ditch, thought it might be one of the singles, no a big rooster actually held, on a 50 degree day, until I flushed it.
By then it was noon, almost 60 degrees and I had a 2 1/2 hour drive home. I was thinking of calling it a day, but decided to hunt one more farm in this unit that I'd never hunted. Cover was awesome, bean/corn fields intersected by grassy draws and hedge rows, feed was everywhere. Two roosters pushed out ahead of the dogs on the initial hedge row, we marked their destination for later consideration, Ginger pointed another covey in the middle of a bean field, harvested two birds, made mental note not to miss church the next day. Turned back towards the truck and worked some thick cover bordering a bean field, Chaps wouldn't come out of it, a hen flushed, we were coming to the end of the cover, I knew what was imminent, put my track shoes on and double timed to the end of the hedge row, just in time to have that little piece of cover erupt in ringnecks. Walked back to the truck with dogs still pointing birds, me flushing them, and the dogs not understanding why I just laughed, watched the birds fly, and told them, good dog!
Thank you, and Jon, and Shawn, for all the hard work you do for all of us.
Best regards, Pedro
Always a gentleman, thanks Pedro for the great story, the compliments and the picture. Also, thanks for the bit of humor as well.
26 Dec
Traveling Whitetail Hunter
Dear
Maha Staff,
Just sending a short note and photo of how my third year of whitetail hunting as a member of mid-America went. Once again I would like to thank the staff at MAHA for providing wonderful habitat to hunt and their patience and professionalism with the numerous phone calls you receive. This year as with previous years we archery hunted for one week prior to the start of the firearms season. The archery hunting was slow and the weather was a little warm up to the Thursday before the firearms season. That Thursday morning the rut kicked in full bore. There was bucks chasing doe all over that morning, and at one point if I was to get down out of my tree stand I would probably have been ran over, I had seven different bucks under my stand in a span of 15 minutes. Every hunter should be blessed to experience the rut in action like I did that morning. I didn't harvest a buck during the archery season but I surely won't forget this year's hunt. With the rut on I was very excited about the start of the firearms season that Saturday. After a slow morning I harvested a nice 9pt buck chasing a doe at 11:30 am. I purchased an anterless tag so I could hunt with my uncle the rest of the week. The rut slowed down for three days and picked back up on Wednesday with a lot of chasing again. I saw numerous bucks and had a wonderful hunt.
Until next year.
Thank you for sharing this year's account and picture. For as far as you two travel we certainly can feel for your hunt. Good luck.
22 Dec
Waterfowl
What was once dry is now wet.
This weeks rain brought some water for our wetlands, but a little less than anticipated.
We havent scouted the north zone, but assume the rain brought more water in Linn County around blinds one and two.
In the middle zone Blairstown Lake is still not huntable. Winkler's Lake blind one and two are both huntable. The slough is not completely full, but it is definitely huntable.
Henry B all of the blinds and wade-in area are huntable.
Henry C is about half full. The north and south half of the lake are huntable. The wade-in area is not huntable. There is a large concentration of ducks using some of the surrounding duck clubs, but the competition level is high.
Henry D also picked up some water. There is water close to the west blind, but wade-in hunting is recommended for the west side of the lake.
Cass A did not pick up enough water to hunt, so it is closed for the season, even for scouting.
The ponds in Cass B picked up some water, but nothing drastic. The conditions are close to the week before.
