October 2007 Updates page 3
15 October
Teal
Another good hunt on Mid-America property.
Thanks Danny for sharing you picture. Good luck with the rest of the season.
Our Side
"Wayne Pacelle is correct to rank the NAIA as one of the most prominent critics Patti Strand is the director of the National Animal Interest Alliance...of the HSUS.... believing HSUS is corrupt...three major elements.
First, HSUS allows its financial supporters - ordinary, animal-loving Americans - to believe it spends an enormous annual tax-free budget of $123 million on caring for animals, when its real agenda is passing extremist legislation.
Second, HSUS calls itself a mainstream advocacy group, hiding or downplaying the fact that it has an extremist agenda. HSUS is all about promoting vegan diets - no meat, no dairy - and ending traditional human-animal relationships across the board, from agriculture to biomedical research.
Third, HSUS constantly engages in deceptive propaganda, half-truths and outright lies in well-funded media campaigns to win its political and legislative battles. But they are not held accountable for their tactics because they are a nonprofit group that enjoys political free speech protections."
Press Telegram, Critic speaks against HSUS, Tom Hennessy, 10/13/2007.
The mission of NAIA is to promote the welfare of animals, to strengthen the human-animal bond and safeguard the rights of responsible animal owners.
CRP/WRP
I was recently on the Ducks Unlimited website and they have some interesting information posted regarding the 2007 Farm Bill. They have a link that provides the contact information for U.S. Senators. I contacted Kansas Senator Sam Brownback and I encourage all other members to do the same. We all know how important CRP and WRP are to conservation. If we want our hunting success to continue we need to make our voices heard. Thanks, Jordan
13 October
The Other Side
"Proposals aimed at so-called puppy mills are being offered in several states putting hunting with dogs in jeopardy...proposals have the support of animal rights groups that systematically attempt to whittle away at hunters' rights with subtle attacks on specific hunting interests, including hunting with dogs...proposals will drive law-abiding sporting kennels out of business in the process..."
Puppy Mill Proposals are No Walk in the Park for Sportsmen, Sportsmen's vigilance key to protect your sports, October 12, 2007, US Sportsmen's Alliance.
Our Side
Amongst all the presidential candidates both democratic and republican there is one that clearly makes his positions both current and in past legislative performance publicly known on issues important to sportsmen/women.
"...Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) is the leading advocate for freedom in our nation's capital. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Paul tirelessly works for limited constitutional government [including pro-second amendment], low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. He is known among his congressional colleagues and his constituents for his consistent voting record. Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution..." Noel Gibeson, RNC member, Thursday, October 11, 2007
CRP
Corn growers and the USDA are on opposite sides of the CRP issue. Corn growers want to keep CRP to keep corn prices rising while the USDA is under political pressure to release CRP land as a means to lower costs. Soil conservation while part of the overt discussion is not the true motivation of either group as is the economic value from hunter dollars. One such article describing this situation is highlighted below.
"...Recent discussions coming out of the Department of Agriculture suggesting an administrative action to allow farmers to exit the [CRP] program early...CRP was established in 1985 as a voluntary program that...ensure[s] a secure income during times of low commodity pricing...the CRP program is at risk due to...those in the agribusiness sector who want more corn planted next year in order to suppress corn prices..."
American Corn Growers say stay the course on CRP, The High Plains Journal, October 8, 2007, staff.
12 October
Archery Deer
To every one at MAHA, I don’t know how to say thank you enough for the hard work you put in to locate and lease prime hunting habitat. The first weekend of bow season couldn’t have gone much better. My wife Becca and I were able to hunt some land we had scouted earlier in the season were we took some photos of a small buck and saw a couple of real mice mature bucks. Saturday morning I had a good 8 point 20 yards from my stand just before shooting light. For about an hour I watched a small 5 point work his way across an uncut milo field to within 15 yards of my stand. Later a couple of does showed up in the milo but no more bucks that morning for me. Becca on the other hand saw six different bucks within two hours of shooting light, three of witch were within bow range but only one was a shooter, and he presented no shot.
That afternoon was a whole different ballgame. Becca saw two more bucks just before dark, making their way out into the alfalfa she was hunting by, but not quite close enough for the longbow she shoots. I had three does come by at just before 7:00 pm. Minutes later a big 8 point comes up the same trail the does had, making their way to the milo field. Just before entering the field and with help of a quiet doe bleat, I made the buck stopped at 20 yards for broad side shot. He crashed out through the milo then circled back toward the creek where I lost sight of him. After meeting Becca back at the truck and getting some flashlights and Gatorade, we found the buck buried up in a small thicket between the milo and the creek. The ¾ of a mile back to road was tough with a 200+ lbs buck, but between the deer cart and adrenaline it didn’t take to long.
This is only our second year as members and already I have killed my biggest buck with a rifle and with a bow. The rifle kill was last year in [location deleted] where two of my brothers and I all three killed good bucks opening day season. Spring turkey season was pretty good as well. I killed two and Becca killed her first Rio.
Jon and John, your advice on properties to look at and some pre-season scouting really paid this year, and the season is still very young. My wife and I are meeting up with two of my brothers in [location deleted] for a rifle hunt after that an [location deleted] bow hunt, I hope all goes as well as it has so far.
Thanks again and good hunting, [name deleted]
Wow factor ignited. Thank you for your willingness to share your nicely composed photo and hunting account. Congratulations for your personal best and good luck to your wife. A lucky man that has a wife that hunts!
17 October
Waterfowl
Last weekend we completed covering all of the duck blinds for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, the majority of the big rains that passed through missed Henry and Linn Counties, which need water the most.
Right now, the pump in Holt County is running, so we're assuming all four blinds will be huntable unless any unforeseen problems pop up.
In Linn County on the east marsh blinds #1 and #2 are huntable, but #3 and #4 are not. # 4 has enough water in the bar ditches for wade-in hunting if anyone is interested. On the west marsh, we will be moving water from the holding lake this week which will provide ample water for blinds #6, # 7and # 8 (which has been designated to wade-in hunting). #5 most likely will be huntable, but we're waiting to see water before we take reservations.
In Henry County Unit A Blairstown Lake, blinds #1 and #2 are huntable. Winkler's Lake blind #1 is huntable, but #2 is not.
Henry B, blind #3 is huntable and #2 is close. The north wade-in area is dry but the pond next to the parking area has ample water to hunt, but the vehicles might flare the ducks.
Henry C is dry but the gate is open ready to flood if we get some rain.
Henry D, blind #1 and the wade-in area are huntable, but # 2 is dry.
Cass A, we're waiting for the landowner to combine before we close the gate.
Cass B, all of the irrigation lakes are all huntable. Let' not get lazy and overlook this spot due to the blinds in Henry County vs wade-in hunting.
Vernon A is the same as Cass B. All of the lakes are huntable.
Reservation Reminder : We take a maximum of two daily reservation per hunter. If you want to hunt the same blind or property unit both Saturday and Sunday, you are required to call the office after 5 pm Friday to make your second. Two week day reservations in succession or Friday and Saturday or Sunday and Monday are more than welcome.
Waterfowl guests are not allowed until after opening weekend and not during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. If you would like to take a guest on a weekend you need to wait until after noon the Friday before to request a spot for a guest. Guest passes are the same as last season $50 per day. One guest per member per day.
Camouflage material being hauled to cover the last duck blind for the season.
A bind in process of being camouflaged.
The far side of the same pool on this wetlands. The blind is center on the brush line.
As this update is published it is raining and a second wave of rain that started last night is moving into Missouri from west to east. The radar picture below is from 9:37AM, 17 October 2007.
