October 2007 Updates page 7
29 October
Rut
For those that have not yet traveled our way the rut is well underway with scrapes easily found. We have also had the first of the fall frosts.
Missouri Deer Ground
As of noon 10-26-07 the following Missouri farms have not been reserved for opening weekend of the Missouri Firearms deer season. This list does not include all open farms, just some we thought we would take time to pass on to those that have not scouted or made reservations. These are not backup spots for those that have maxed their current open reservations.
Andrew A 1 and most of 16.
Atchison B (all), C 13,14 and 23, most all of D, E 25,31,1 a, b and d, 3 a, b and 17.
Bates B 21
Buchanan most of A, which is over 2,000 acres.
Callaway A 29
Carroll A 31, B 10
Clinton A (all)
Daviess A 6, B 35, C 2,6,7,8, 34, and 16, D 7, 24, and 25
DeKalb A
Gentry A 18, 21, 20, 26, 3, 25, 36, and 12, C (all)
Grundy B 7, C (all) 1250 acres
Harrison A 8, 4 and 6
Holt most of F which is 1300 acres of prime NW Mo land
Linn C 9, 23 and 3, E 3, 7 and 11 all good deer land in prime deer country
Livingston C 13, E 20 a, b and c
Mercer B 29, 16, 8 and 31, D 10
Nodaway A 12, C 4 good N Mo deer country
Pettis A 29 a and b
Polk A 15 and 22.
Putnam A 8 a and b
Ray B 24 and 3, C 35
Saline B 1,5,6,7 and 21
Vernon A 15 and 24, B 8 a, b, and c
What we like to see
Responsible hunters.
Hi John, [location deleted] has been good to me this year. I have sat stand for a total of two days and have two deer in the freezer. Everyone needs to do there part to keep the does in check.
The Midwest is heating up fast with rut activity. There were scrapes under every tree of every tree line and rubs too numerous to count. I saw a 2 year old working a scrape and another smaller buck chasing does in the middle of a winter wheat field. Unfortunately, no big buck sightings this weekend. Good hunting and good luck. [name deleted]
Thank you for the doe pic, it is added to our on-road collection. Yes, we do collect doe pictures for several reasons.
30 October
We have heard this one before
"Hunter shot in leg as dogs step on gun...[name deleted] was hunting with a group...[he] put his gun on the ground and crossed a fence to retrieve a pheasant...Hunting dogs stepped on his gun, causing it to fire. [name deleted] was shot in the lower left leg..."
Dateline Iowa, Des Monies Register, by register staff and news service, October 29, 2007.
Read how the incident above was reported in the Washington Post, Off/beat, by Emil Steiner, October 30, 2007:
"...a pheasant hunt ended in tragedy...a pack of hunting dogs...shot an Iowa man at close range...he apparently caught a bullet in his left calf..."
We were further reminded of a waterfowl hunter a couple of years ago that while moving to a pond to set up a goose spread along with his dog lost that dog by it running off to chase geese over thin ice. It went under and never came back up.
However for dog safety, it is far more necessary to carry water for dogs as most of our better upland bird areas this year are in dry parts of the country.
Waterfowl
Now that waterfowl season is on we would like to pass on that we have more water than we’ve ever had for at least 15 years, for our members to duck and goose hunt this fall and winter.
The last two summers were extremely dry and We took advantage of this opportunity to improve and expand our wetlands. The only obstacle we faced this year was an early July nine inch rain that flooded out several wetlands that were planted to milo and millet.
We were able to replant several wetlands in the Middle Zone with millet, but once the marshes dried out, it was too late to replant milo. In Holt County we faced the opposite power by Mother Nature as it did not rain and our crop was taken over by weeds, which had to be sprayed.
South side of the new wade-in waterfowl area Henry B.
A photo of a wetland project that started the summer 06 in 100 plus degree weather that recently came together successfully this summer. Smooth flat bottom, cleared brush, restored levees and water flow control.
A combination of flood water and beaver dams are obstacles we will never be able to overcome. Yearly maintenance occurs behind the scenes each summer on top of lease renewals and maps. If you question a small increase in dues or a $50 guest pass fee, guess how many guest passes it cost to finance the waterfowl improvement job below.
We've pretty much leveled out the number of blinds the last couple of years and increased the amount of wade-in acreage since layout boats, portable and layout blinds have become so popular. If you would like to avoid sharing blinds and want to get away from other hunters, you need to focus on the wade-in areas, watershed and irrigation lakes, especially on weekends.
Henry B north waterfowl wade-in area.
One of our wetlands that the blind was removed to convert to a wade-in area. The water source on this wade-in area is one of our most dependable, due to a low positioned pipe structure.
Over the years, many long term friendship and business relationships have been developed by meeting fellow members in our duck blinds.
Waterfowl area Henry B blind 2.
One of our blinds (left of center) that has been around a long time. Many stories and good Hunts have been shared on this wetland over the years.
Reminder to all waterfowl hunters! Floodwater is extremely dangerous. When in doubt, do not enter a wetland if there is any question the river is coming out. Safety always comes first!
