A cold, snowy and sometimes ice filled winter has pushed many thoughts and plans toward the Spring. For those who enjoy the outdoors, getting ready for a change in weather and activity is a productive time. Fishing tackle including rods, reels, inventories of terminal tackle made up of swivels, sinkers, hooks and other hardware, not to mention trays of choice lures, can provide useful activity when cold, wet weather keeps us inside. With Spring Gobbler season coming up in April, getting the turkey hunting gear ready is another welcomed assignment. Searching for and selecting camouflage clothes, and checking over the favored shotgun should always include proper operation of gun safeties. A long time ago, my father taught me to treat all firearms as if they were loaded. Breaking out the favored turkey hunting shotgun after it has been cased or stored for a while, is one of those times when the gun should be carefully examined to ensure, it is unloaded.
Take advantage of any climate friendly days in February to do some outdoor traveling and scouting for the upcoming Spring gobbler season. If your hunting area still has snow on the ground turkey tracks may provide even more signs. When the ground is frozen hard, seeing turkey scratchings may be a little more difficult. Areas with leaves and foliage on the ground may provide more defined paths recently taken by wild turkey flocks as they forage for food. With plenty of snow and precipitation now finding it’s way down the creek beds and watering areas which were drought stricken during the fall season, more predictable flock patterns for wild turkeys may be available for the elusive pre-season scout who gets in some early outdoors homework. Among the other benefits of getting a look at some wintertime wildlife, is being out and about in the woods and enjoying the beauty of it

     “Ducks Unlimited” (DU) had an important announcement to share this winter concerning their attendance and support of the reauthorization by President Bush of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The early December signature ceremony recognizes a landmark program one of which (DU) heartily supports. A DU press release notes that, “NAWCA provides challenge grants for wetland conservation projects across North America. Through the Act, groups like Ducks Unlimited match every dollar of federal money with at least one dollar or more from non-federal sources. The result of this partnering provides twice as many dollars for projects, with some projects generating an additional three to four dollars for every federal dollar.“ During the December, 2002 signing ceremony the President was quoted as saying, “Today, we're taking important action to conserve North America's wetlands, which will help keep our water clean and help provide habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife. Through this legislation, the federal government will continue its partnership with landowners, conservation groups, and states to save and improve millions of acres of wetlands. The North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act shows our concern for the environment and our respect for future generations of Americans.”
 
 

The photo of Zach Stauffer and his friend, Mary

Zach is 1st Mate aboard the charter boat, "Jill-Carrie" with Capn' Jim Brincefield. Here’s 1st Mate Zach Stauffer doing what he does best…Awwww……