W W W. S C WA . O R G
FEATURES:
- WATERFOWL ATERFOWL M ANAGEMENT ANAGEMENT - C ORN ORN/C HUFA HUFA - CYPRESS YPRESS L ODGE ODGE C OMPLETE OMPLETE
Winter/spring issue DEPARTMENTS 5
the DireCtor’s Desk 2013/2014 Waterfowl Season Review
14
WooD DuCk nesting prograM Wood duck Nest Box Project Update
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Chapter neWs New Year - No Down Time For Volunteers
17 Corporate sponsors
WilDlife eDuCation Center neWs:
20 CaMp WooDie: NEW & EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS 24 CaMp leopolD: A HUGE SUCCESS
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WaterfoWl ManageMent CORN VERSUS CHUFA LATE WINTER DUCK POND MANAGEMENT
by Doug Gardner.com
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32 Dog training - TO E-COLLAR OR NOT TO E-COLLAR
34 the sporting Chef - MIXED BAG in the neWs
30 Drought Monitors - North America & Canada 30 President Signs Farm Bill
features 12
proDuCt & outfitter revieWs Living Skies - Duck Creek Outfitters
on the Cover:
W ilDlife
photographer B en C leWis , Was Definitely “ DialeD in ” on this Morning When he founD hiMself in the MiDDle of 5,000 ringneCks at the W ilDlife e DuCation C enter .
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SOUTH CAROLINA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION Board of Directors President James H. Walker Senior Vice President Philip L. Horn, Jr. Secretary/Treasurer John W. Williamson, III
Gary W. Dietrich Delbert E. Eggert Marshall J. Collins, Jr Stan Luthi Lou Tocci Buford S. Mabry, Jr.
Charles C. Rountree III Allen Bell John Stroud John N. McCarter E. Guy Hendrix
Executive Director / Head Biologist David J. Wielicki Chapter Development Mac Bagnal Data Entry Thomasyne Hipp
Office Manager Jennifer McNeely Camp Director Ed Paul
Waterfowl & Wetlands Magazine is the official quarterly publication of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association. SCWA is a state-wide, non-profit, waterfowl and wetland conservation organization based in Rimini, SC. All money raised by SCWA is spent within South Carolina on waterfowl and wetland education, management and research programs, and legislative education. All donations to SCWA beyond the retail value of the merchandise acquired are fully tax deductible under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Direct all SCWA and magazine inquiries to: 9833 Old River Road Pinewood, S.C. 29125 (803) 452-6001 Fax: (803) 452-6032 www.scwa.org
by DougGardner.com
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Queries for story and photo submissions should be sent directly to the editor. Photos must be released by the photographer prior to publication. SCWA assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material.
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2013/2014 Waterfowl Season Review
THE DIRECTOR’S DESK
BY DAVID J. WIELICKI, SCWA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ell another waterfowl season has come and gone in South Carolina. As usual the season was awesome in some areas and not so good in other areas. However, after surveying SCWA members across the Palmetto state it is very apparent the past season was a very good one for most waterfowl hunters. The improvement in hunting across the state was primarily due to three factors. First, the waterfowl hatch was excellent across most of North America which resulted in a higher than average fall flight of waterfowl. Second, a colder than normal winter forced waterfowl to migrate earlier than normal and to winter farther south. Finally, ample rainfall in South Carolina over the past year resulted in an abundance of flooded wetlands which provided quality habitat for wintering waterfowl across the state. Of course as is always the case, there were areas of the state that held lower than normal numbers of wintering waterfowl due to varying local habitat conditions. The waterfowl season around Lake Marion and the SCWA Wildlife Education Center was very good. Within ten miles of the SCWA Wildlife Education Center there are numerous duck hunting clubs that manage over 2,000 acres of plant and flood waterfowl impoundments. SCWA field biologists have been instrumental in working with landowners in the area to help design and develop these impoundments to provide critical wintering waterfowl habitat along with hunting opportunity for thousands of waterfowl hunters on an annual basis. The number of impoundments increases each year along with the amount of corn, chufa, rice and jap millet that is flooded to attract wintering waterfowl. In addition many landowners flood hundreds of acres of oak timber and natural moist soil wetland vegetation. Over the past ten years it has been amazing to watch the increase in wintering waterfowl numbers on an annual basis. By November 1 of this year the SCWA Wildlife Education Center and neighboring duck ponds were holding over 10,000 ducks mostly ring-necked ducks, green-winged teal, gadwall, lesser scaup and wood ducks along with a mixture of other ducks. Saturday,
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November 16 was the full moon and that morning I decided to see if more ducks had arrived. Many duck species prefer to migrate during the full moon so I was expecting to see an increase in our duck numbers. As I walked up the SCWA observation tower I could not believe my eyes, on just over 90 acres of flooded corn, chufa and jap millet there were 25,000 to 30,000 ducks feeding. The duck ponds were literally covered in ducks. Over the next couple of weeks these ducks kept building in the area. Ducks would feed in the private impoundments and roost on the Santee Refuge and Lake Marion. On club hunting days duck clubs in the area had excellent hunting while public hunters on Lake Marin reported good success. Although the Santee Refuge does not provide an abundance of flooded grain for waterfowl, the refuge does provide hundreds of acres of flooded timber and flooded moist soil waterfowl food plants. The Refuge also provides sanctuary for wintering waterfowl. As always the highlight of waterfowl season was seeing all of the kids enjoy a day in the duck blind with family and friends. SCWA hosted over 160 youth duck hunters this season and surrounding duck clubs in the area hosted a similar number. All of the hard work to prepare for the season is well worth it when you see the smile on a young duck hunters face when they harvest their first duck. I am looking forward to starting the cycle all over again in the coming months. After the ducks head North on the March full moon we will drain the duck ponds and prepare for Spring planting. Over the Spring and Summer months, SCWA looks forward to working with public and private landowners across South Carolina to create and enhance waterfowl habitat and to increase wood duck production through our wood duck nest box program. These habitat programs combined with our youth education programs will help ensure a bright future for our waterfowl and wetland resources and an even better 2014/2015 waterfowl season. Your support of SCWA waterfowl and wetland conservation and education programs is greatly appreciated. WETLANDS
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Now Recruiting!
SCWA would like to start a few new chapters around the state. If you would like to start a chapter in your area please call me. We currently have 27 active chapters and we could use a few more to help with our conservation efforts. We are currently recruiting new volunteers for our local chapter committees to serve in various positions including the following: Chapter Chairman Banquet Chairman Sponsor Chairman Ticket/Membership Chairman Wood Duck Chairman Youth Chairman If you are interested in participating on your local SCWA committee please contact the local chairman or me. If you would like to start a new chapter, please feel free to contact me as well. Mac Bagnal 803-452-6001 803-938-3145 mbagnal@scwa.org
You are a member of SCWA, but how about some of your buddies? You know SCWA is a quality organization, your recommendation is the best advertising we have. So, pass this membership application to a buddy and help grow SCWA along with perpetuating our waterfowl heritage. Just fill out the membership form below and mail it to: SCWA, 9833 Old River Rd. Pinewood, SC 29125
it’s easy to join!
Please sign me up as a member!
$10 Woodie Membership (up to 16 years of age) Pin & decal
________________________________________________________________ Name
________________________________________________________________ Address
$25 Regular Membership SCWA magazine & decal
________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip
$50 Contributing Membership SCWA magazine, decal & hat pin.
$100 Donor Membership SCWA magazine, donor decal, hat & hat pin $250 Sponsor Membership SCWA sponsor gift, hat, hat pin, magazine, sponsor decal, local chapter banquets couples ticket, & invitation to local sponsor events.
________________________________________________________________ County Telephone (Home) (Work)
for more information call us at (803)
$10 Woodie Membership $100 Donor Membership $25 Regular Membership $250 Sponsor Membership $50 Contributing Membership Amount Enclosed: $__________________ __Visa __ MasterCard __American Express__Discover
452-6001 or check out our website at www.scwa.org.
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(#____________________________________) Expiration Date____
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SCWA Chapter News CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT
T
BY DIRECTOR MAC BAGNAL
New Year – No Down Time for Our Volunteers!
he South Carolina Waterfowl Association banquet season has come to a close. Our fiscal year ended on February 28th, 2014. During the past twelve months, our chapter volunteers have worked so hard to rebound from some of the worst economic times in years. As most of you know, fundraising has been tough everywhere. SCWA and our volunteers have worked hard to weather the storm. We’ve had to watch our expenses, recruit new volunteers, start new chapters, and ask for more donations and sponsors. It is amazing what we can accomplish with our sponsors, donors, and committee members. We have such success because of what our organization represents and what it means to our members and our state. The 2014 Sportsman’s Ball and Duck Shuck was a success, and I want to thank all who helped to make it successful, especially the Four Holes chapter for the great job they did with catering the Duck Shuck. I cannot say enough about our staff, donors and members that made it the best ever. Without their strong support we could not accomplish the things we have over the past 27years. In the coming year thanks to your support SCWA will enhance thousands of acres of waterfowl habitat, distribute and install over 400 wood duck nest boxes and provide wildlife conservation education to 700 youth during our Camp Woodie summer camp and over 3,000 youth during our Camp Leopold school year camp. I am personally asking every reader of this magazine to step up and be a committee member. We find that the more people we have on these committees, the easier the task is for everyone. We need everyone’s help. We are currently rebuilding several chapters and need help from our members for this process. We are looking for new places to have a presence so if you are interested in getting a chapter started, please get in touch with me or a local chairman to get involved. We must make these conservation dinners better so we can support Camp Woodie, Camp Leopold, and our conservation programs. They need the funding to educate our future generations. Many of our chapters are having sponsor events and recruiting committee members during the spring and summer months. These events are a way for us to say “Thank You” to our supporters and to gain new
sponsors, members, and committee members. If it weren’t for the past supporters and new supporters, we would not have been able to make this year a success! As always we are looking for new areas to start a chapter and gain stronger committees. Some areas are Hilton Head, Spartanburg, and any colleges or universities that want to help out. If you or someone you know would like to join or start a new committee, please contact me at 803-452-6001 or a local chairman in your area. If we are serious about our mission of “conserving, enhancing, and perpetuating our waterfowl and wildlife heritage” we must get serious about raising money for our organization! Mac Bagnal SCWA Industry Sponsors Agridrain Cypress Knee Chufa Proline Remington Shady Grove Kennels Sportsman’s Warehouse Hevi-Shot Columbia Sportswear Federal Premium
www.agridrain.com www.cypruskneechufa.com www.prolineboots.com www.remington.com www.shadygrovekennels.com www.sportmanswarehouse.com www.hevishot.com www.columbia.com www.federalpremium.com
800-232-4742 252-539-4434 800-334-4612 336-548-8560 803-892-5797 803-731-3000 541- 367-3522
Chapter Chair List 2014-2015
Chapter (Area) Name Phone Anderson Chad Myers Barnwell Carlton Wall Berkeley Chay Cannington Black Creek (Hartsville) Call Headquarters Charleston Will Freeman Clarendon Pete Surette CSRA Austin Taylor Four Holes Kevin Weatherford Four Holes Tripp Mitchum Francis Marion Brad Marlowe Georgetown Patrick Sports Greater Piedmont (Rock Hill) Byron Hill Greater Wateree (Camden) Jason Hackworth Greenville Jenny Woods Greenwood John Alewine Horry Phillip Richardson Kingstree Kevin Mouzon Lancaster Kevin Stillwell Laurens Jim Watson Lowcountry (Beaufort) Clay Stanley Midlands (Columbia) David Harrelson Newberry Blair Long Orangeburg George Wells PeeDee/Marlboro (Bennetsville) Jimmy Jones Spartanburg James Owens Sumter Call Headquarters TriCounty (Goose Creek) Robbie Wright Walterboro Allen Bell Walterboro Jim Minor
Number 864-226-7355 803-259-6351 843-830-4059 803-452-6001 843-270-5454 803-518-1405 803-556-9626 803-492-8280 803-664-4768 843-566-3622 843-543-4497 803-371-0141 803-427-3771 864-275-6342 864-554-1475 843-241-3851 843-319-1937 704-254-2062 864-543-3717 843-258-4198 803-600-4267 803-321-6276 843-810-2453 843-454-4005 864-809-7911 803-452-6001 843-729-0630 843-893-2230 843-846-6346
For further information, please call Mac Bagnal, Chapter Developement Director at (803) 452-6001 ext.108 or Jennifer McNeely, Coordina tor ex t.109 o r visit our web site at www.scwa.org WATERFOWL 1 8
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CHAPTER EVENTS
Lowcountry Chapter Banquet
Orangeburg Chapter Committee
Walterboro Chapter Banquet
Sportsman’s Ball Weekend
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Sportsman’s Ball $1000 Cash Raffle Winner WETLANDS
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Living Skies
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Outfitter Review
Duck Creek Outfitters hasing down the last snow goose hunt was bittersweet. Snow was falling and it was icy down my neck and fogging and spotting up my glasses in my layout blind. The sky was really pretty but with the almost full moon and cold front the geese and ducks were no longer flying. The last snow goose had tried to hide in a depression several hundred yards away and though snow was beginning to fall it was not sticking. The bird’s coloring of blue and white stood out in a pretty contrast to the golden brown harvested barley fields as the horizon boiled blackly at us. We had just finished decoying the third tornado of snow geese, a tornado defined as several thousand snow geese circling around us right overhead.. Each of the three tornadoes had many birds walking in the decoys and hundreds flying 10 feet overhead. We deliberately did not call the shots until we were covered up in geese, to see how close they’d come …. And boy did they come in on top of us. I made very sure my mouth was closed. . Thus, one myth busted, Snow Geese actually do decoy. The evening before Sykes Mitchell, owner of the outfit busted another myth: Snow Geese (sky carp to some) taste good. (Hint, like all waterfowl they are best cooked medium rare at the most, there is little fat and overcooking turns them into shoe leather, regardless of marinade.) I caught the last goose and walked back to break down the setup, several hundred decoys, full body, flags, and motion. A fine and fitting end to four days in Saskatchewan of hunting ducks, Canada Geese and Snow Geese. Two pairs of us from SCWA flew into SK, rented vehicles and drove about two hours to Sykes’ lodge. It’s called Duck Creek outfitters in Canada and his Oregon operation is called Living Skies. David Kennedy and I got there Oct 15 and hunted four days, having bought an additional day having bought the hunt itself at the Duck Shuck. Dean Holler and his friend Dan Plowden, arrived about the 19th and were there for three days. David and I got it good, real good. We hunted ducks and geese about 7 times and limited on either ducks, primarily mallards (surprisingly in
full colors with bright green heads for the males) or geese, either Snows or Canadas or both. We limited on one or the other each day until day four when the weather blew out the birds around 9:30. We arrived after dark on the 15th to unload our stuff into a large gear/mud/gun room and then adjourned to the living room with a huge warm fireplace and very comfortable chairs and sofas. Dinner was very good and plentiful as were all meals and snacks remained throughout the night and in the morning. Depending on how far the drive and how complex the set up we had coffee and snacks and left early. Lunch or brunch was after the morning hunt. Sykes has a sausage recipe that beats Jimmy Dean as well as summer sausage sticks from goose. After the morning hunt and lunch we could nap or try for upland shooting nearby depending on the weather and the wind. Afternoon hunts had us generally shooting for the opposite of what we shot that morning and filling out limits as appropriate. But, if we limited on ducks, Canadas or Snows in the morning we absolutely did not shoot at that specie in the PM. We filled only one limit each and Sykes and crew were very diligent about chasing wounded birds. Nothing was lost, limits were not filled until fliers were found and all birds were taken to the lodge and cleaned for subsequent cooking. Twice we called the hunt to gather wounded birds and both times filled out our limits doing so. We either set up- in layout blinds covered in local flora or we hunted out of a trailer extremely well brushed with local plants. We limited out from both set ups several times with four to six of us each time. But Sykes was very flexible. One afternoon we were preparing to set up a big spread but saw ducks, many ducks, dropping into a pot hole. So we switched gears and threw out only a few dekes and a mojo then sat on buckets in the cattails to shoot a minimalist kind of spread. David was on the outside edge and had tons of action with the greenheads really wanting his side of the slough. I had the opposite, north side and when I walked around the corner of a bend in the slough I saw huge and very fresh moose tracks leading back into the woods nearby. I chose not to follow the tracks back but I think the Moose flared a number of birds before they got to my corner. David and the guides fared much better around the corner on the other side. In the past, on other Canada trips, I have had moose get very irritated with
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shooting nearby and move around considerably, generally being a pain in the butt. I think that happened that afternoon but I never saw the moose. The logistics of the hunting could not have been better. Sykes has great relations with the locals for many, many miles around so we had all kinds of options for where we hunted and never hit the same place twice. He would scout and get landowner permission to hunt while we, the clients, were hunting with the guides. Only once did we have a hike of over 20 yards and that was to get to the above mentioned slough. You fly into either Regina or Saskatoon and there is a Cabelas at each location, easily accessed. You are allowed to fly with about 75 to 100 rounds with you packed in original packaging according to TSA, depending on weight and you can buy from any Cabelas on arrival or pre-purchase and pick it up when you get there. Arrival and Customs at Regina went quickly and the rental car logistics with GPS worked well, which was good because we arrived after dark due to flight problems. One logistics problem to anticipate is that it will probably snow or ice up somewhere along your route depending on when you fly in. Some Minnesota folks drove in but got caught in the snow en route. Next time we’ll go in mid to late September as we got burned in Minneapolis going both ways. But it was relatively easy taking birds out of Canada. However, guns and ammo need careful planning. I had given away all my unused ammo but David had mistakenly left some in a boot and the Xray machine found it. That held him up, but not long enough to cause any real problems. He just lost the ammo to Canada. I packed all my stuff including a duffle bag in a hard cooler with wheels going up so I could bring birds back. I also packed multiple rolls of duct tape which came in really handy. Sykes has ammo on site but I’d recommend buying it ahead of time for pick up at one of the Cabelas so you can shoot your favorite load. Most of the time it wouldn’t really matter as the birds pretty much all decoyed well and close; but for longer, chasing shots it was nice to shoot a favorite load, knowing what it would do in my Berettas. We needed only hightop boots and did no wading beyond ankle depth. Hippers would have been better for me but the weight and space while flying had me choose Bogs/Muck boots, insulated and waterproof which worked well enough. Sykes operation was professional, ethical and fun. Logistics worked, we played by Canada’s rules in all ways and shot a lot. I understand Dean and Dan had less shooting than us but the weather had come in and the moon was full. We had wanted to shoot Cranes but they had migrated south to Texas literally overnight while we were there. Attached is a picture Dean took of geese flying south past the moon one night. Thus, scheduling of mid to Late October ought to be modified to mid to late Sep to minimize freeze up potential. Consideration of a full moon would also be useful. The down side of September is that the mallards may not be fully plumed and still in transition plumage. The rooms in the lodge were quiet with full size beds for each hunter, warm and with plenty of hot water for post hunt showers. There is a fridge for clients to keep stuff and where snacks and leftovers were put for us to hit whenever we wanted. The only down side, if in fact it really is, was that the lodge itself had not been completed on the exterior. Sykes explained that there are few construction laborers in the area with most people working the natural gas fields making tons more money than doing construction. The initial impression of the outside of the lodge was misleading as inside everything was very, very good. Sykes also had a very good camera and took some absolutely awesome action pictures. He also had some software which could manipulate the imagery to generate some really nice shots. Oh, by the way, we did see the Northern Lights on our way in to the lodge the first night … gorgeous. Once again I truly enjoyed a Canada experience and absolutely got my fill shooting duck and geese. I am still enjoying the birds I brought home to eat. I never like the logistics of getting from South Carolina to Canada but the hunting reward was worth it. I have hunted and fished in Canada many times and this one exceeded both previous trips and my expectations. It was, for us, truly world class duck and good hunting. Sykes also has Oregon hunting after the Canada season closes and I’m hoping to make that work next November while I am in Oregon on my 25th wedding anniversary. Feel free to email me with questions. tmstritchjr@gmail.com Contact Sykes at www.duckcreekoutfitters.com/ livingsky.htm Duck Creek Outfitters Living Sky Outfitters World Class Waterfowl Hunting Phone Number: Phone: 541-771-4976 Owner: Sykes Mitchell info@duckcreekoutfitters.com WATERFOWL 13 WETLANDS
Wood Duck Nesting Program
A
Wood Duck Nest Box Project Update Joe Gonzalez & Adam Bedard - Wildlife Biologists
s the end of winter draws near and duck season comes to a close, waterfowl enthusiasts begin counting down the days until next season. Time is passed more easily by investing those days in the creation of new waterfowl habitat. One of the best ways to increase local waterfowl numbers is to install and maintain wood duck nest boxes. Here at the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, biologists, Matthew Wales, Daniel Hancock, and myself, have spent the last few months preparing wood duck boxes throughout the state for the upcoming nesting season. In the past few months we’ve checked over 730 nest boxes that have
by DougGardner.com
hatched an estimated 3,375 wood duck ducklings. Last season’s high amount of precipitation, coupled with the support and enthusiasm from landowners across South Carolina helped pave the way for an excellent nesting season. Over the past year SCWA has distributed and installed 450 wood duck nest boxes across South Carolina. We plan to match this number of nest boxes in 2014. The 2014 nesting season is already well underway. Thanks to abundant rainfall South Carolina wood duck breeding habitat is in excellent condition. If you have yet to prepare your nest boxes for this upcoming year, now is the time to do so. Be sure to keep in mind that most mature wood ducks have already established their pair bonds and many hens have already began laying their eggs. If you encounter an active nest, be sure to disturb the area as little as possible because hens will abandon their nest if disturbed too often. Proper nest box maintenance includes cleaning out the nest box and installing 3 to 4 inches of fresh cedar shavings. You should also clear any vegetation away from the nest boxes to keep rat snakes and raccoons from gaining access to the nest box. If you have any questions about your wood duck boxes or if you would like to have some installed in your area, please give us a call at the SCWA office 803-452-6001.
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by DougGardner.com
Duke Energy Funds Lake Robinson Project
Beautiful Lake Robinson is located just outside the town of Hartsville, South Carolina. Thanks to a grant from Duke Energy, the lake now houses 69 new wood duck boxes that were installed just in time for the 2014 nesting season. These new boxes will make a great contribution to the local wood duck population and they will provide critical habitat for many other cavity nesting species like Eastern Bluebirds and Eastern Screech Owls, to name a few. The South Carolina Waterfowl Association is truly thankful to be a part of the conservation efforts spearheaded by the staff at Duke Energy and we look forward to fostering their conservation efforts for years to come. If you have questions about starting your own wood duck project in your area, please give us a call at 803-452-6001 or visit our website, www.scwa.org, for more information regarding the wood duck program. WATERFOWL 15 WETLANDS
Carolina WaterFowler Guide Service
Duck Hunt Central North Carolina
Ronoake Rapids Lake Morning and Afternoon Hunts Mon., -Wed., -Thurs. Sharon Harris Lake Morning and Afternoon Hunts Tues.,-Fri.,-Sat.
$150 Per Person –
( Min. Four People, Max. Ten People) Breakfast served in the Blind
Call Darrell McAuly Office-910-423-8853 Home-910-486-0241 Mobile-910-263-3499
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION! Where The Central & Mississippi Flyways End, and the Gulf of Mexico Begins! $300
Experience the Best Duck Hunting in Louisiana, ”Private Marsh Hunting, No Pressure, 2 per Blind”. Fees include Lodging, 3 Meals a day (You Know how Good That Cajun Food is), Guided Boat Transportation to and from the Blinds, Decoys, Pirogues. Caring of Game, Gun Cleaning Equipment, Rods and Reels for PM Fishing and fully Equipped Dog Kennels!
per Person, per Day! 3 Day Hunt
Milton “Pete” J. Pitre, Jr. 4349 Bayouside Drive, Houma,LA 70363
Cell: 985.637.2404, Eves: 985.594.7476, Day: 985.594.9936, Lodge: 985.594.2681 WATERFOWL 16
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$20,999 - $10,000 Defender Services, Inc. Super Sod Ferguson Enterprises Frost Waterfowl Trust O'Dell Corporation RoHoHo Inc. SC Electric & Gas Company
$9,999 - $5,000 Duke Energy Waste Management
$4,999 - $2,500 Enterprise Holdings Nucor Steel - Darlington Anglers Sporting Goods AAA Well Drilling, Inc. C. F. Evans & Company Robert M. Stuck CMA Financial Services
$2,499 - $1,000 George O. Brittle Kent Porth Nature Photography Luthi's Outfitters Shooter Auctions TD Bank Sportsman's Warehouse Blanchard Machinery Co. Carolina Paint & Body Coastal Sprinkler Company, Inc. D & S Heating & Cooling Dorchester Logistics, Inc. First Citizens of Summerton Geico General Shale Brick Greg Myers Jeffrey R. Smalley John Snow John Winthrop Martin Marietta Principal Financial Group Raceway Automotive Group Real Art Rhodia, Inc. Sunbelt Rentals Thomas Jordan Todd Muckenfuss Trash Gurl
WM Powell Co./Starflo Corp.
$999 - $500 A & S Auto Sales Absolute Home Services Ace Golf Carts Action Abatement Adam Jackson ADSI Moving Ag South of Walterboro & Summerville AgSouth Aim Right Guns Alex Johnston Allen & Susan Bell Allen Ray AMCO Electric Anderson Brothers Bank Anderson Oil Andrews Fabricators of Kingstree Argos Cement, LLC B W Mitchum Traveling Co. BBI Landscaping Beaufort Surveying, Inc. Beth Marlowe Billy's Lawn and Garden Brian White Calvert Huffines Carlton Wall Carolina Air, Inc Carolina Arms & Ammo Carolina Contracting Solutions Carolina Eastern-Aiken Carolina Orthopedic Specialists Charleston Rubber & Gasket Circle M Farms City of Fountain Inn Clarendon Auto Parts Coastal Electric Cooperative Coastal Electric Cooperative Cooper Motor Company Craig S. Heath Crosby Enterprises, Inc. Curtis English Darrell J. McAuly David Harrelson David Stanley Dilmar Oil Co., Inc. Dwight Stewart & Associates Eastern Electric Eddie Yarborough Evergreen Clearing, Inc. Farmers & Merchants Bank of S.C. First Care Medical Transport First National Bank of S.C. Flowers Farm Fripp & Folly WATERFOWL 17
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Grayco Building Center Gulfstream Construction Hemingway Wood forest Products Hill Tire Co. Holcim, Inc. Jason Britt Jason Stapleton Jeff Barnes Jeremy Wall Jim Hudson Lexus Jordan Scrap Metal Judy's Electric LLC Justin Wall Kevin Wall Kirk Parker L & S Farms L & S Farms Land, Parker & Welch Law Consulting Services Mace Brown McCutchen's Welding Mid Carolina Pipe & Maintenance Milwaukie Tools Mitch Johnson Construction Co., Inc. Nicanor M. Aguilar Norman Wilcox Palmetto Putt A Round Palmetto Rural Telephone Company Pure Gold Chokes, Inc. Rex Thompson Homes of Charleston Rick Merrithew Robert Rodelsperger Robertson Kibler Ross & Witmer Rusty Jackson Ryan Martin Seamon, Whiteside, & Associates Surveying, LLC Shaun Lather Shawn Newsome Silver Lakes Plantation Southern Utility State Farm Companies Foundation Steven C. Gamble Steven Seruya Truck Toyz Tyler Brothers Vaden of Beaufort Wade and Vicki Marlowe Walter Woodard Wimberly Cleaners Corporate Sponsors as of
W W W. D o u g g a r D n e r . C o M
$50,000 - $21,000 Parkdale Mills Crop Production Services Wells Fargo CN Brown Plastics & Chemicals, Inc. Orton Foundation
Corporate Sponsors
2/27/14
South Carolina Waterfowl Association Would Like to Thank Our Official Truck Sponsor Clarendon Chapter Prothro Chevrolet Co., Inc. 452 North Brooks Street Manning, SC 29102 803-433-2535 www.prothrochevy.com
Please See These Dealers For All of Your Truck Needs! WATERFOWL 18 2 WETLANDS
For over 30 years, Doug and Mary Sonnier have been helping hunters enjoy some of the nation’s finest waterfowling. From this experience has grown Doug’s Hunting Lodge, a full-service camp that’s sure to satisfy even the most seasoned hunter. Spanning thousands of acres of prime habitat, Doug’s prairies and marshflats are strategically spread throughout the heart of America’s greatest wintering grounds. When the birds move, Doug’s hunters move with them, led by the best guide staff in the State of Louisiana. Whether it’s a fun hunt with family and friends or a corporate excursion with big business on the line, Doug’s Hunting Lodge can make your next outing your most exciting and memorable. Hundreds of serious wingshooters throughout the nation make their annual pilgrimages here to experience some of the world’s best hunting and hospitality. We hope you’ll join us.
337-536-7902 or 1-800-888-0960 email: dougs@net-connect.net website: www.dougshuntinglodge.com
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E
N EW & E xCItING D EvELOPMENtS FOR C AMP W OODIE
SCWA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTER
veryone’s favorite summer camp has just undergone a top to bottom makeover, and in 2014, Camp Woodie will be better than ever before. But before we spill the beans about all of our new improvements, we just want to thank all of you for the success of 2013. We had a record setting year, with 596 campers signing up. Our Advanced Level dove and duck hunts were excellent, and it was great to see our campers put into practice what they had learned at Camp Woodie. A few memorable trophies from our youth hunt in December included a bull canvasback, a drake redhead, and a banded ringneck. The ducks were here, and our campers could shoot! We know that you’re anxious to hear about what’s new at Camp Woodie, so we won’t make you wait any longer! Construction on our new lodging facility, the Cypress Lodge, is now complete and can accommodate an additional 60 campers. In addition, our camp curriculum has undergone a complete revision, and we have added a ton of new activities! Some of these include a new Incoming/Away Skeet Range for beginner shooters, compass reading and navigation, BB gun and pellet gun ranges, blind building and decoy placement, and corn hole and CanJam tournaments. We have also added a new level of camp. Level 3 camp weeks will be reserved for our most experienced campers. While similar to our Level 2
camps from previous years, Level 3 campers will enjoy more challenging shooting activities such as layout blind shooting and dove flurry. These campers will be invited back to our facility in the fall or winter on a dove or duck hunt, Level 1 and 2 camps will be reserved for younger campers wishing to expand their knowledge of conservation, firearm safety, and the outdoors. These levels will still enjoy hours of shooting, but in more traditional, beginner-friendly settings such as our Skeet Range or 5 Stand. With all the excitement and recent changes, our slots are filling up fast, and it appears we are on our way to another record setting year. With that in mind, we encourage you to sign up for camp as soon as possible, and be one of the first to experience the new and improved Camp Woodie! Thank you again for your support, we can’t wait to see you at camp! --Joe Gonzalez Camp Woodie Assistant Manager Camp Leopold Environmental Instructor joe@scwa.org (803)452-6001
For more information on Camp Woodie call the office at (803) 452-6001 or visit our website at www.scwa.org.
South Carolina Waterfowl Association please reserve space at Camp Woodie for:
Camper’s name __________________________________male_____female_____ age Week of Choice ___________________________________ Parent’s Name Address
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expiration date Name on Card________________________________credit card # Mail this form to: SCWA Camp Woodie, 9833 Old River Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 Fax: (803) 452-6032 PH: (803) 452-6001 web site: www.scwa.org WATERFOWL 20 WETLANDS
Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week
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CAMP DAtES 2014 June 1 - June 5 June 8 - June 12 June 15 - June 19 June 22 - June 26 June 29 - July 3 July 6 - July 10 July 13 - July 17 July 20 - July 24 July 27 - July 31 August 3 -August 7
Level Level Level Level Level Level Level Level Level Level
Camp Level Discriptions
1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1
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Coed Coed Coed Coed Coed Coed Coed Coed Coed Coed
Level 1 Camp (Ages 8-9) This entry level program is intended as an introduction for those interested in the wildlife and conservation heritage. Level 1 campers will learn about firearm safety and usage, waterfowl and wildlife conservation, and archery. Additionally, duck calling seminars, boating, sports, swimming, and a variety of other wildlife programs and activities will be offered. Top off your week at camp by using the skills you’ve learned to try your hand at wing shooting.
Level 2 Camp (Ages 10-11) Camp Woodie’s Level 2 program is designed for young men and women who have some experience using firearms. These campers can expect a fun filled week of fishing, archery, duck calling, boating, swimming, and much more. In addition, practice your wing shooting and rifle skills throughout the week at our 5 Stand, High/Low House Skeet Range, and Rifle Range. Put your skills to the test at the end of the week as you strive for the prestigious title of “Top Gun.”
Level 3 Camp (Ages 12-16) This newly implemented level of camp is intended for more experienced campers. Level 3 campers will learn in depth about the history and heritage of wildlife and waterfowl conservation. Other programs will hone their skills as outdoorsmen and women. These campers will learn to locate and identify animal sign and construct effective decoy spreads, as well as duck blind construction and placement. Level 3 campers will be able to fine tune their shooting skills throughout the week using our various shooting venues, including practicing shooting in different situations, such as in a duck blind or pop-up blind. As a Level 3 camper, you will also enjoy activities offered to all camp levels including swimming, fishing, canoeing, sports, and much more. Cap off your stay at Camp Woodie with an intense Top Gun Competition. All Level 3 campers will return to the SCWA Wildlife Education Center for a duck or dove hunt during the fall and winter seasons. WATERFOWL 21 WETLANDS
2013-2014 Duck Season Ends with a Bang for Camp Woodie Youth
SCWA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTER
The end of duck season is bittersweet for most hunters. The long forgotten days of sleeping in are welcomed back with open arms, and the toll on our wallets is decreased until next hunting season rolls around. At Camp Woodie, our youth day hunts at the end of the season were characterized by smiles, trophies, and memories from the blind that will never be forgotten. The youth hunts this year produced an unprecedented amount of ducks (over 300), with many kids harvesting trophies such as canvasbacks, redheads, gadwall, and even a whitewinged scoter. Camp Woodie’s youth hunts allowed over 120 campers to partake in the joy that is waterfowl hunting, with many campers harvesting their first duck. But more important than filled bag limits is the time these young men and women were able to spend with their family in the outdoors. With the rapid pace of life, sometimes it is a blessing to just be able to sit back and soak up the outdoors. The ducks are just a bonus! The youth hunts also granted an opportunity for experienced guides to teach the next generation of waterfowl hunters the tricks of the trade. Campers learned about calling, decoy placement, and safe hunting
practices to supplement what they learned at Camp Woodie. The South Carolina Waterfowl Association prides itself in allowing campers this wonderful opportunity to hunt waterfowl. A big thank you goes out to Mr. Charlie Rountree and Joe Blanchard for allowing these young hunters to hunt their impoundments. We at SCWA appreciate your continued support of our youth conservation education programs which allow us to offer these opportunities to the next generation. See y’all next season! Joe Gonzalez & Adam Bedard SCWA Environmental Educators
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Camp Woodie Honors Larry Shountere
Camp Woodie has had much success since its founding in 1995, and it is a known fact that our program was built on solid foundations by passionate leaders in the outdoors! In this issue we would like to honor Larry Shontere for his many years of service to Camp Woodie and SCWA. Larry is one of the most experienced hunter safety instructors in the United States. For the past 9 years he has shared his passion for the outdoors and for hunter safety with thousands of Camp Woodie campers who have been fortunate enough to take the South Carolina Hunter Safety course under his instruction. Larry has been a DNR volunteer since 1975 and a professional shooting instructor all across the United States. He arrives every Monday morning during Camp and takes all of the campers through a thorough gun safety program before they continue their day shooting in a safe environment. He then teaches the course. In South Carolina and most other states and Canadian provinces, each child must complete the hunter safety course in order to purchase a hunting license when they turn 16 years of age. He is a true asset to Camp Woodie and really makes the experience a very pleasant one for the campers because of his experience and teaching tactics that are extremely effective with all of our campers. Mr. Larry not only teaches Camp Woodie campers, but heightens the self-confidence and enthusiasm of all those that are fortunate enough to spend time with him. I personally can say that I learn something new from him each time we meet and that he has had a tremendous positive impact on me as well as my family. His calm yet open hearted demeanor welcomes all who have an open ear for shooting safety, the ethical pursuit of wild game, and walking in the brotherhood of Christ! We as an organization understand and stick to the fact that we are only as good as those we surround ourselves with. Larry Shontere has set a high standard at Camp Woodie for hunter safety instruction and raises it each year he returns. Mr. Larry, we cannot thank you enough for your many years of service at Camp Woodie and we look forward to many more. Sincerely, Ed Paul and the Camp Woodie Team
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SCWA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTER
Exciting New Developments
The New Year is bringing in exciting developments at the SCWA Wildlife Education Center and Camp Leopold. As teachers have gone back to work after the holiday break, sign-ups for Camp Leopold are on the rise. In its second school year of operation, Camp Leopold has hosted several new schools from across the state in addition to returning visitors such as the Seagull program and Covenant Classical Christian Academy. As our program matures, we are constantly improving the quality of our curriculum and working to make sign-ups more teacher friendly. We understand the pressure teachers are under to do more with less as budgets get tighter and education standards become more strenuous. So in order to ease teachers and principals minds we have developed a system that allows us to do most of the work while accomplishing educational goals approved by each teacher. The first step in signing your class up for this awesome natural resource conservation education field trip is to pick a date you want to come! The calendar is posted online with all the available dates on the wildlifeedcenter.org website under the Camp Leopold tab. This sounds easy enough but dates are filling up fast. To secure your spot all you need to do is pick an open date and pay a one hundred dollar deposit. The next step is to print out the educator packet you will find under the Camp Leopold tab on the website. This packet walks teachers through each part of the day and allows them to pick from a menu of meals and classes for their field trip. After they fax or mail that packet to the staff at Camp Leopold they can sit back and relax because we take it from there. The Camp Leopold staff takes the educator packet and develops a detailed schedule which is emailed to each teacher. Our staff then contacts each teacher to discuss scheduling and curriculum details that will help each teacher to achieve their classroom education goals. We then develop a curriculum for each class to meet each teachers’ unique needs. A week before the field trip the Camp Leopold staff will contact the teacher one last time to make sure all questions are answered, directions to the SCWA Wildlife Education Center are in hand, and their students are prepared for the natural resource conservation education field trip of a life time. Camp staff work extremely hard to make this field trip one students will remember for the rest of their lives and to allow teachers to take a deep breath while enjoying the learning experience along with their students. Because of our unique program and our commitment to constantly improving knowledge and environmental awareness Boeing has recently donated a sponsorship to Camp Leopold. Six hundred middle school students along the I-95 corridor attending title one schools will be given the opportunity to attend Camp Leopold thanks to a generous sponsorship from Boeing. In order to give this opportunity to as many schools as possible, a maximum of 50 student scholarships will be provided under the Boeing sponsorship for each participating school. This truly is a blessing for these students to have such a great opportunity to learn about the wise use of our natural resources. SCWA and Camp Leopold would like to express our sincere gratitude to Boeing for their generosity. Have a happy and blessed new year from SCWA and Camp Leopold. See you soon! Adam Bedard Camp Leopold Environmental Instructor a.bedard@scwa.org (803)452-6001
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New Cypress Lodge Completed
The South Carolina Waterfowl Association would like to thank the following individuals and corporations who made financial and in-kind service contributions to fund the construction of the new 3,222 square foot Cypress Lodge at the South Carolina Waterfowl Association Wildlife Education Center. This new lodging facility will provide additional lodging for 56 campers and 8 camp counselors and chaperones. The new facility will allow Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold to reach thousands of additional youth with wildlife and natural resource conservation education programs.
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors Defender Services Noel Brown SCE&G J. Michael and Jennifer Smith John Stroud Andy Warlick Wells Fargo
Gold Sponsors J. Marshall Collins Lee Cory Ferguson Enterprises Bobby Glover Clay Johnston Orton Foundation Don and Haden Quattlebaum Charlie and Debra Rountree James and Jenny Walker
Silver Sponsors Thomas Durant Rocky Knowlton Goose Creek Heating and Air Hill Plumbing and Electrical Redrock Development Jason Ross Quality Electric Super Sod Bronze Sponsors A & K Mulch Darnell W. Boyd Foundation Coastal Sprinkler Company Glasscock Company Sanford H. Daniel Jeff and Tracy Smalley David and Joette Wielicki
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Adam Bedard - Waterfowl Biologist
Waterfowl Management - Corn verses Chufa
Waterfowl
Management
As a waterfowl biologist one of the most common questions I am asked is what are the best crops to plant for waterfowl. Most people assume before they ask this question that my answer will be corn. They are surprised when I tell them my favorite crop to plant and flood for wintering waterfowl is Chufa (Cyperus esculentis) which is also commonly known in other parts of the world as Tigernut. I am always quick to point out that corn is also an awesome crop to plant for wintering waterfowl and should be an integral part of a crop production plan for most duck ponds in South Carolina. Depending on the quality of the soil, fertilization rates, rainfall rates and the ability to irrigate the crop chufa can yield from 4 to 7.69 tons of chufa tubers per acre. A 4.2 ton per acre chufa crop would be equivalent in weight to a 150 bushel per acre crop of corn. The nutritional value of chufa is superior to that of corn for wintering waterfowl. Chufa contains 10% more energy than corn per gram. Chufa tubers also contain 30% fat compared to corn's 5% fat. Numerous studies have shown that animals will select foods with higher fat content which gives chufa an edge over corn for wintering waterfowl. Corn does have 9% protein compared to 5% protein in chufa but wintering waterfowl that are able to extract chufa tubers from the flooded soil prefer chufa over corn. On the negative side, Chufa is more difficult to grow than corn. It requires irrigation in order to ensure a good yield and chufa requires more tractor passes over the field to ensure adequate weed and pest control. Chufa requires less fertilizer than corn and is more tolerant of wet soil conditions. Corn also suffers more crop depredation prior to and during the flooding of duck ponds from deer and blackbirds. If wild hogs are located in the area, chufa fields must be protected by a hog proof fence but this is also true of corn crops. Over the past 15 waterfowl seasons SCWA has planted and flooded corn and chufa plots next to each other in duck ponds at the SCWA Wildlife Education Center. Through years of observation we have observed that ring-necked ducks, redheads, canvasbacks, mallards, black ducks and Canada Geese prefer the chufa over the corn. On the other hand green-winged teal, wood ducks, gadwall, wigeon and coots prefer to feed on corn over chufa. Diving ducks prefer to feed in flooded chufa areas that are 18 inches to 5 feet deep while puddle ducks prefer to feed in chufa that is flooded from 1 to 12 inches deep. To maximize wintering waterfowl num-
bers in waterfowl impoundments in South Carolina we have learned to plant our duck ponds in approximately 60% chufa, 35% corn and 5% Jap millet. The jap millet provides small seeds that ducks prefer early in the season and the corn and chufa provide the high energy food needed to winter thousands of migratory diving and puddle ducks. SCWA has also learned the importance of having at least 35% of large duck ponds planted in corn in order to provide food and cover for ducks when bald eagles begin to feed on concentrations of wintering ducks. When eagles begin feeding, ducks will swim into the flooded corn for cover. If no corn or other cover is available bald eagles can harass ducks to the extent of causing them to leave a waterfowl impoundment. Waterfowl need an abundance of high energy foods to thrive during the winter months and chufa is one of the best foods you can plant to meet this need. It is also important to note that an abundance of natural foods and aquatic insects are also needed to provide a balanced diet for wintering waterfowl.
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Late Winter Duck Pond Management - Critical to Healthy Waterfowl Populations
Wintering waterfowl throughout North America utilize flooded grain fields and plant and flood impoundments to secure much of the nutrients they need to remain healthy over the wintering period. On the day after duck season many landowners will drain their duck ponds in order to get a jump on the next planting season. SCWA biologists recommend that landowners keep at least 1/2 of their waterfowl impoundments flooded until the first week of March. Especially duck ponds that still have an abundance of grain that could be consumed by ducks and geese as they migrate north. Keeping some of your ponds flooded will provide critical nutrition for waterfowl as they prepare their bodies for the upcoming nesting season. In addition, keeping your duck pond flooded until most ducks leave on the late February or early March full moon will help to imprint ducks to your impoundment. We all need to do our part to send healthy waterfowl north in order to help ensure a successful nesting season.
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by DougGardner.com
NEWS
Drought Monitors Accumulated Precipitation (National) September 1, 2013 to March 3, 2014
< 25 mm 25 - 50 mm 50 - 75 mm 75 - 100 mm 100 - 150 mm 150 - 200 mm 200 - 300 mm 300 - 400 mm 400 - 500 mm 500 - 600 mm 600 - 700 mm 700 - 800 mm 800 - 900 mm 900 - 1000 mm 1000 - 1250 mm 1250 - 1500 mm 1500 - 2000 mm > 2000 mm Extent of Agricultural Land
President Signs Farm Bill Into Law A victory for Waterfowl Conservation Copyright Š 2014 Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Prepared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Agroclimate Information Service (NAIS). Data provided through partnership with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and many Provincial agencies.
After years of frustration and political wrangling the Agricultural Act of 2014 more commonly known as the U.S. Farm Bill was signed into law by President Obama. The bill is a major victory for waterfowl conservation thanks to strong conservation provisions. From a duck or duck hunters perspective, the most important conservation provision of the bill is the attachment of conservation compliance provisions to improved crop insurance programs created in the Bill. This will ensure the protection of 70 percent of small wetlands on the U.S. prairie pothole region. According to John Devney at Delta Waterfowl, "These are the same wetlands that have provided high duck populations and strong fall flights in recent years, and supported long duck seasons and high bag limits. The loss of conservation compliance for these wetlands would have resulted in a loss of onethird of our breeding pairs, meaning smaller fall flights, shorter duck seasons and reduced bag limits." The bottom line is if a farmer drains one of these wetlands he or she will no longer qualify for farm subsidy programs like the new crop insurance program. This is a very strong deterrent and will serve to protect these wetlands over the life of the 5 year farm bill. Another important conservation provision in the bill is the passage of Sodsaver.
Produced using near real-time data that has undergone initial quality control. The map may not be accurate for all regions due to data availability and data errors. Created: 03/04/14 www.agr.gc.ca/drought
Sodsaver will protect important native grassland duck and upland bird nesting areas in the Prairie Pothole region by taking away any incentive for farmers to break native prairie for row crop production. Farmers who put these lands into row crop production will not qualify for federally subsidized crop insurance. This will make farming this marginal farmland not worth the risk. There is no question that the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been the most important wildlife enhancing conservation program in the history of the farm bill. The CRP program pays farmers not to farm marginal farmland and to reestablish native grasses on these areas in the Prairie Pothole region. These areas provide valuable nesting cover for ducks and upland birds. Over the past several years, high commodity prices have resulted in farmers not renewing CRP contracts in order to bring land back into crop production. Unfortunately the farm bill drastically reduced the CRP acreage allowed from 32 million to 24 million acres in 2017. The program is still viable and will provide millions of acres of nesting habitat for ducks and upland birds. We should all celebrate the conservation victories in the current Farm Bill and get to work on making the next Farm Bill event stronger for soil, water and wildlife conservation.
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T
to E-Collar or Not to E-Collar
DOG TRAINING
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY PAMELA O. KADLEC
hat is the question. I was talking to a business associate about training a dog (he was interested in a Labrador retriever) without using an electronic collar. He is considering shipping a dog over from England to get what he perceives as a calmer, more controllable dog, without using an e-collar. Part of the reason he feels he can’t get what he wants here in the States is valid since dogs trained across the pond are drilled more on control. Most of the American dogs are trained for drive; the faster and bolder the better, and work on control once you have instilled hard charging retrieves. And, pretty much, the best way to get control is through use of a training collar and a strong enough person to stop a sixty-pound plus dog with a check cord. Positive reinforcement, as in clicker training with treats, is a wonderful method of training puppies and obedience. I feel the key to staying with positive training is starting young, setting standards emphasizing being steady and having infinite pateince. Some dogs can be trained completely through gun dog training without any negative reinforcement but those dogs are few and far between. They are natural retrievers, they live to retrieve and are only used as gun dogs and are not running in retriever competition. The problem with only positive training is that there are no consequenses if the dog misbehaves. If they go out and blink the duck (get to the bird and not pick it up) the owner will have to go out and pick up the bird himself. If they break (take off when the shotgun is fired before being sent) the owner may shrug it off or scream at the dog to come back in. Training a dog without any negative reinforcement takes more time, patience, and an experienced handler who can anticipate potential problems and only set the dog up for success. All trainers should do this but if you are going to try this, will you be able to refrain from using any negative training? No losing patience, no yelling, no hitting with a hand or heeling stick, no ear pulling or any other form of physical corrections. You see, the electronic training collar is a tool, and used properly, is a more humane method than hitting, kicking or oth- erwise beating a dog into submission. Because, no matter how much you want to stay positive, most dogs need some negative reinforcement to get positive results. What do you do if the
dog is not hungry or finds something else more interesting than you and your lessons? Some dogs are just smarter than their owners and figure out how to get out of working by avoiding or simply ignoring you and doing what they want rather than what you want. Those in the camp that think electronic training collars are cruel have not used the latest models or have seen trainers abuse dogs with the collars. Or, perhaps they have thought the dog was being abused since the dog was being vocal, even though the stimulation might have been at low levels on the collar. Some dogs would rather complain about doing the work over just doing what they are being trained to do. I have dogs in training who will scream like they are being killed on a low level two on a training collar, yet when I test the collar on my hand I can barely feel the stimulation. The training collars on the market today have such low levels of stim- ulation (some even have a half point to start) that you can ‘bend’ the dog to exhibit a behavior. A good trainer knows not to ‘burn’ a dog with high levels since that only
G UN D OG P HOTOGRAPHY PAMELA O. K ADLEC
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Just Ducky Kennel & Spaniel Training Academy Edgefield, SC 29824 803- 637-2007 • cell 803-341-0541 www.boykinspaniel.com • www.justducky.photoreflect.com
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distresses the animal and a freaked out dog canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think about learning, only about getting the heck out of dodge. A dog that needs high levels of stimulation on a daily basis is most likely from field trial bloodlines where they have actually been genetically altered to require hot collars to even start to affect their way of thinking. So, if you want to train or hunt with a dog that does not need an electronic training collar first of all, do your homework and take your time researching kennels and bloodlines. If you want a Labrador Retriever for your duck dog and do not want a high powered dog, do not buy one from field trial bloodlines. Check with local retriever hunt clubs for breeder and trainer recommendations, emphasizing that you want a good, solid gun dog. This dog will be biddable and only wants to fetch and to please his owner. Those dogs are out there, be patient, and wait for the right dog. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the time or resources to train a pup, there are started dogs available occasionally, which can be found on gun dog and hunting forums online. Best afield, Pam WATERFOWL 33 6 WETLANDS
Mixed Bag
THE SPORTING CHEF
BY SCOTT LEYSATH
We get an adrenaline buzz when the first hint of cool, fall weather passes through. It signals the start of the new season and the end of the hunting doldrums between January and the dove opener in September . Oh sure, there are turkeys and feral swine in between, but nothing beats opening day of duck season, at least for me. By now, freezer inventories should be low on last season’s game. It’s the ideal time to turn the remaining inventory into dinner. Most freezers hold small packages of random meat that are moved around each year as new game is harvested. By fall, all that’s left might be a wigeon, a couple of honker breast fillets and an unmarked package of what you think is probably a venison steak. It’s difficult to make any of them into a meal, but put them into a pile and there’s probably plenty of protein to feed a family. This recipe comes with a few options. If making homemade stock from animal bones and trim isn’t your thing, store-bought chicken or beef broth can be substituted as a time-saver. The roasted squash, accompanying vegetables and a few cups of stock can also be puréed with a food processor or immersion blender for a smooth, creamy base upon which the shredded game meats can be mounded. The choice of game and vari-
ety of cold weather squash used for the soup is wide-open. The flesh from a just-ripe pumpkin or any “winter” squash will do. Deciding how much meat to add to the mix is a guessing game, but there are no wrong answers. The meat may be on or off the bone, skinned or skinless, it doesn’t matter. Once the meat is browned and shredded, add as much as you would like to the stew. The cooked meat that doesn’t make it in to the stew can be used for tacos or barbecue-style sandwiches. Fall Freezer Stew Clean out the freezer to make room for the new season’s harvest. 8 servings 3 to 4 pounds uncooked game meat – split ducks, waterfowl legs and thighs, antlered and upland game olive oil salt and pepper 2 acorn, butternut or other winter squash, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks 1 large onion, quartered 4 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 3 quarts game stock (or substitute chicken or beef broth) 4 - 5 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, minced salt and pepper 2 firm ripe avocados, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch chunks 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Have 2 large, lightly greased roasting pans ready. Coat meat with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place in a single layer on the first roasting pan. Place in the oven. In a large bowl, combine squash, onion, celery, carrot and sweet potato and toss with a thin coating of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and arrange on the second roasting pan. Place pan in oven. 2. Turn contents of both roasting pans every 15 minutes until all is evenly browned. Vegetables should be well-browned in 20 – 25 minutes and removed from the oven to cool. As meats are browned, remove from pan and transfer to a large stock pot. 3. Once all meat is browned and transferred to the stockpot, add stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 – 3 hours or until all meat is tender. Place a colander over a second large stockpot and ladle or pour contents of first pot through the colander. Allow contents of the colander to cool. 4. Bring liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and add roasted vegetables, garlic, red pepper flakes and rosemary. While simmering, pick through the meat in the cooled colander and discard any bones, skin or gristle. 5. Add reserved cooked meat to the stew and simmer until hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle stew into bowls and garnish with avocado.
Scott Leysath is The Sporting Chef America’s Premier Wild Game Chef
Scott's tv show, HuntFishCook can be seen on Comcast Sports Southeast(CSS) every Sunday AM and nationwide on the Sportsman Channel. He also appears each week on Ducks Unlimited tv on OLN. Check out his website, SportingChef.com, for more information and great fish and game recipes.
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