L&H Outdoors Magazine Fall '18

Aging Whitetails on the Hoof | Aquatic Plants: Good or Bad | Chronic Wasting Disease

Contents

In This Issue

12

David Grotberg Memorial 30 24/7 Central Lakes Cycle Duathlon and 5k- “ish” Run

32 First Ducks of Autumn

by Garhart Stephenson

American Federal Expert 41 American Federal Aquatic Plants...

42 Good or Bad?

by Moriya Rufer, RMB Laboratories

32

42 6 From the Office

by Erin Hintz

8 A Bicycle Built for You

by Patrice Peterson

12

Taking Life’s Milestones into the Field

Deadshot Custom Call Company

by Alicia Underlee Nelson

22

Hitting the Trail

Biking in the Lakes Area

by Patrice Peterson

4

Lake & Home Outdoors FALL 2018

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Volume 2, Issue 1 • FALL 2018

BUSINESS OFFICE 118 South Vine Fergus Falls, MN

52

44

Aging Whitetails on the Hoof

PUBLISHED BY Compass Media

Publisher Kip Johnson

EDITOR Brent Rogness

by Kip Adams, QDMA

Sales manager

52

The Popularity of Kayak Fishing is Exploding

John Burns

by Ron Strauss, President of the Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association

ART DIRECTOR

Business Spotlight 60 E. Arthur Brown Company

Kip Johnson

by Angela Garvin

44

64

Big Stone Lake State Park 63

by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Hunting 63 Statistics

Sales staff Jerry Shea jerry@lakeandhomemagazine.com 218.205.7454 Erin Hintz erin@lakeandhomemagazine.com 218.205.2120

by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

64

Chronic Wasting Disease in Minnesota

by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

66 Service Directory

by Tina Shaw, US FWS

60

For advertising rates and information, contact artwork@lakeandhomemagazine.com.

Subscriptions available upon request.

MAILING ADDRESS Lake and Home Outdoors 118 South Vine Fergus Falls, MN 56537 artwork@lakeandhomemagazine.com

In my most recent column in Lake and Home Magazine, I sheepishly admitted that I’m really looking forward to fall. I know that doesn’t sit well with a lot of the lake crowd. I myself am shocked that I feel that way. But, I expect that if you’re reading this magazine, you likely have been looking forward to fall in the same way I am.

We’re probably eagerly anticipating this season for fairly different reasons. As I’ve stated before, I stay pretty far from the hunting and fishing world, outside of my job with this magazine. With that being said, it may only be a couple of days out of the year, but I excitedly await those days with my family at our hunting land.

We’ll be introducing our daughter to the woods this fall and I’m certain that she’ll love it the same way that I did throughout my childhood. I look forward to many 6

Lake & Home Outdoors FALL 2018

fall seasons spent in the woods, riding stick horses, going on scavenger hunts, and building teepees. That’s what your childhood is supposed to be about, right?

My dad and brother (and probably my husband even though he won’t antagonize me with it, because he has to live with me) will be reading this smirking.

Then I’ll hear about how my daughter will be wanting to wear camo and carry guns more than she’ll want to ride stick horses and build teepees. (Good joke guys!) To which my response will be, judging by the lack of venison in our freezer this year, someone’s going to have to start hunting.

My mom and I get all kinds of Snapchats from the deer stand throughout bow season, and hear about how they’ve sat on the stand and watched deer walk under them for hours, and yet we’ve been rationing our venison sausage this year.

They call it selective harvest, or Quality Deer Management, and that, I can get behind, but I think as the last week of muzzleloader approached last year and they still hadn’t gotten a deer, they were wishing they had been just slightly less selective.

All joking aside, it really is wonderful to see the hunting shack becoming a means of collecting generations together. And if, like me, hunting isn’t your thing, it’s still a wonderful place to be.

We hope you enjoy this season in the woods, and want to thank you for picking up this issue of Lake and Home Outdoors to join you.

Erin Hintz

Marketing Consultant Lake & Home Outdoors

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors

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Bikes

B Y

P A T R I C E

P E T E R S O N

Choosing a bike can be difficult. Sizing and fitting a bike can be even harder.

If you find the right bike and get the right fit, the best thing about bicycling can be that you won’t feel like you’re exercising at all.

biking expert,

Grady Milesko, has spent his entire career in the biking industry, and he provided information on just a few of the full line of Trek bicycles offered at

.

Multiple quality levels can be selected within each model, and there are numerous options and accessories to choose from. Riding a bike should be fun, and it can change your life. Make sure you find the right bike.

Photos provided by Trek, courtesy of SCHEELS

When you talk about simplicity and comfort in a hybrid bike, that’s what you will get from the Trek Verve, along with the classic elegance of a “cruiser.”

The slightly wider tire can help reduce fatigue and increase endurance, and the upright seating position gives you a comfortable and stable ride. You can go “mild” or “wild” with your color choices within the Verve series. The Verve 3 also boasts modern trend technology, and can be upgraded with an electric assist motor that boosts your own biking power to get twice the distance with the same effort.

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Lake & Home Outdoors FALL 2018

If you love to ride the paved trails, but you want more versatility and possibly more speed, the Trek Dual Sport 2 is the workhorse of recreational bikes. Built much like a flat bar road bike, it is also versatile enough for light, off-road use on crushed limestone or gravel trails. The somewhat wider tire has a slight amount of tread, with a suspension fork that can absorb some of the bounce – and can be turned on and off. It’s a sturdy, robust bike that features disc brakes, and it comes in a variety of colors with a modern paint scheme. You can choose within the Dual Sport series for the model that fits your quality level and budget.

Somewhere in between a hybrid and a road bike is the flat bar road bike, and the Trek FX 1 has the speed, efficiency and comfort desired. Plus, it’s fun to ride! It’s a versatile bike meant for pavement riding, whether you’re commuting, heading to the grocery store or simply enjoying a fast-paced ride without the dropped handlebar position of a road bike. If you don’t know what bike to buy, consider the FX 1. You won’t regret it.

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors

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PHEASANTS

A road bike isn’t a first bike purchase for most riders. They are usually people who already spend time on a bike, but choose a road bike because they want to go faster and farther. You’re not going to ride any faster, however, if you aren’t comfortable. The Trek Domane SL 5 Disc is a great value for a road bike that puts the rider in a comfortable position.

With the bike’s endurance fit, you sit somewhat more upright than on many road bikes. You can look around a lot easier, you don’t have to bend down as far, and the ride is very forgiving, with Trek technology that allows part of the frame to flex and soak up the vibration before it gets to the rider. It’s a great bike for someone getting into a road bike for the first time.

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For more advanced road bikers, Trek makes some of the most technologically advanced bikes in the industry. You can check out the Trek website at: https://www. trekbikes.com/us/en _ US/ Then come into SCHEELS for a specialized fitting and special order any bike in the Trek line.

The sport of mountain biking is growing at a rapid rate, especially at the high school level, and new mountain bike trails are being developed all over the country. If you are looking to choose a mountain bike, the Trek Roscoe 7 is an incredible bike that will give you an enjoyable experience on the trails at Cuyuna – or anywhere else around the state. It has mid fat-tire size, a little bit wider than most mountain bikes, with more traction, control and stability. On this bike, which has a great blend of trail features, you can develop all kinds of confidence and get over things you never thought possible. The Roscoe gets you into a great bike with modern mountain bike technology at a cost that most people can afford.

The Yakima Hold Up Evo is a popular car bike tray rack that’s easy to use. Different from typical car racks, it holds each bike in a tray system and makes it easier to haul them to the trails or anywhere else you want to ride. $499

Safety is a major concern for cyclists, and recent innovations in light technology helps keep riders safe on the road by making it easier for vehicles to see them.

The Bontrager Flair RT Tail Light is very intense and incredibly bright. With a random sequence, it has a focused beam that projects a mile down the road and will grab the attention of other bikers or distracted drivers. $59.99 Comfort during your ride is a critical consideration to enjoying your journey.

Everyone who rides should have shorts designed specifically for biking. Grady says SCHEELS carries a wide variety of styles and colors, which is a personal decision, but he definitely recommends wearing bike shorts. The bike saddle/ seat is there to support your skeletal structure, but a padded short will support the soft tissue and will make for a more comfortable experience, no matter what kind of bike you’re riding.

OUTDOORS

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors 11

DUCKS PHEASANTS

PHEASANTS ajor milestones, life changes, health challenges and loss can have unexpected consequences.

These forces inspired Brian Rubenstein to create a new business, prompting customers from all over the United States and Canada to contact him for custom duck and goose calls. Rubenstein’s creations are unique, serving as both useful hunting tools and portable tributes, commemorating key moments in life or memorials to lost loved ones.

M

Rubenstein started his Detroit Lakes business when he searched – and failed – to find a way to memorialize his beloved

hunting dog, Haley, in a way that seemed appropriate to him. “I lost my lab about four years ago and she was just an awesome hunting dog,” he said. “And I always knew about these products out there where you could put ashes in a little pill bottle or something. But that’s just not for me.”

Haley had been such an active part of his life that it just didn’t seem right to leave her cremated remains tucked away on a shelf or in a closet. The pair had spent many happy hours hunting together and he really wanted a way to take her memory with him in the field. So the avid waterfowl hunter headed out to his shop to see if he could create a way to do exactly that.

“In 2016, I experimented with Haley’s ashes and some acrylic resin,” he explains. The final result was a blank that he could shape with a lathe into a variety of configurations – including a duck call.

“I brought it to production for individual people to custom order this memorial, heirloom-quality duck or goose call where they can bring their best friend with them back into the field,” Rubenstein says.

He named it the “Man’s Best Friend” call. The media got wind of the story and Rubenstein soon realized there was definitely a market for the product. Now a patent is pending and the concept remains a cornerstone of the business, Deadshot Custom Call Company, named after Deadshot Bay on Big Detroit Lake.

That doesn’t mean the business launched instantly, however. There was some trial and error, during which Haley’s remains stayed safely indoors.

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“The first time I walked up to my lathe and tried to cut my acrylic barrels, I literally had about three or four blanks blow up on me,” Rubenstein says a little sheepishly. “Taking each step slowly has always been my design, so I can have a perfect product. The fine art of it is using your tools, your hands, your mind, all together. There’s a science behind learning how to combine your resins.”

“Just having the courage to take the leap,” was the hardest part, Rubenstein says.

After he refined his skills, his next goal was to “create something truly from scratch

that a customer would completely appreciate, rather than just offering them the choice of a colored barrel or a different type of wood,” he explains.

Instead of just offering a handful of color choices, Deadshot Custom Call Company gives customers the ability to completely design their own calls, expertly walking them through the entire process, from the initial idea phase through creation of the finished product. Rubenstein offers custom color combinations to pay tribute to favorite sports teams or flags from a particular state or country or just cater to a customer’s preferences. Deadshot Custom Call Company also offers custom engraving options.

The business continues to produce many “Man’s Best Friend” calls, but that call has become only one series in their line of custom calls. Now customers order calls to memorialize grandparents, commemorate military deployments, honor veterans, cement bonds between hunting parties and families and help raise funds for worthy causes. Business is booming.

Deadshot Custom Call Company uses a graphic designer to create the imagery and format the personal photos displayed on the call. Rubenstein physically creates the calls himself, he says that the customers call the shots.

“We can do whatever they want! It’s the customers that design the calls,” Rubenstein insists. “We’re just taking their design, their thoughts and bringing it to reality in the best looking duck or goose call they’ve ever seen.”

The Deadshot Custom Call Company guides them through the design process every step of the way. The actual creation of the call can take many hours to complete, but the collaborative design

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors 15

to ruin it. It won’t get dirty, it won’t get lost and it won’t disintegrate.”

process and shipping can take up to three weeks, depending on the level of involvement from customers. (Rubenstein says that sometimes they’re just given a basic concept and instructed to “run with it,” in which case, the entire process moves faster.

“I create their calls from a liquid state,” Rubenstein explains. “I pour all of our resins, we use all of our own pigments and dyes and we have our inclusions that 16 Lake & Home Outdoors FALL 2018

we offer, whether it’s marsh grass, logo pins, or anything else that has meaning for the customer’s call.”

As with the cremated remains, all inclusions are tucked into the collar of the barrel, away from the mouthpiece, secured and showcased in the body of the call. “That will be in there for life,” Rubenstein explains. “Water won’t be able

The remains of beloved hunting dogs were the very first inclusion that Deadshot Custom Call Company offered to waterfowl enthusiasts. But since the barrel can either be solid or translucent in color, customers soon came up with their own ideas about what they wanted to see featured in the barrel of the call.

A young boy in treatment for leukemia in Georgia loves fishing as much as he loves duck hunting. So when Rubenstein was contacted by the organizers of

his benefit to create a unique duck call for the young man’s fundraiser, he put a lure, hook, fishing line and a little glitter into the barrel of the call to create a special tribute to the young hunter and fisherman.

Those who have served in the military and their family members are especially good at including items that are meaningful to them. “We’ve done military dog tags for the guys that are in the military when they come back home or after they have retired from serving our country,” says

Rubenstein. “We’ve done Air Force calls where we’ve put the chain that the dog tags hang on in the barrel. A guy lost his dad who was a Vietnam vet to cancer. He taught him everything about hunting. We put his dad’s dog tag in a call. Those are things that are just so meaningful to people.”

One military service member took it a step further.

“One member from the Air Force contacted us and said he was able to bring back some desert sand from his last deployment. He now wants us to put the sand on top of the call with an image of the equipment he was driving to commemorate his deployment overseas,” says Rubenstein. “And that gives me chills when I think of that.

That is a totally custom call. How cool is that?”

If a client doesn’t have a particular inclusion in mind, Deadshot Custom Call Company will create custom

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors 17

PHEASANTS graphics to reflect the customer’s diverse interests. They are as unique as the individuals themselves.

“Here’s a good one for you,” said Rubenstein as he shows off a photo of a recent commission. “A customer gave us four themes to work with. He wants a theme of the outdoors, he wants a theme of hunting, he likes fast cars and he likes rock and roll,” says Rubenstein.

“So my graphic artist combined all the themes.” The result is a colorful duck call that features outdoor scenes, music references and a little Dukes of Hazzard imagery, just for fun.

Deadshot Custom Call Company has also created matching calls for hunting groups, providing friends a truly unique way to remember their hunting trips. Each call features their last name on the barrel.

Rubenstein just finished two wedding call packages where the groom purchased custom matching calls for each of his groomsmen. Each call featured custom

graphics and the attendant’s initials in the barrel. It’s easy to imagine this kind of gift being popular for bachelor parties, anniversaries, Father’s Day and holiday gifts as well.

The company has even created calls to commemorate the arrival of new family members. After launching a business after an experience of grief, Rubenstein is now helping customers celebrate new life.

“This family loves duck hunting and they just had a newborn baby — that’s the mother, the baby and then the dad’s trucking group that he trucks for,” he explains as he points to the design elements in one of his newest creations, a call that features family photos, including an image of a peacefully sleeping infant.

“Each one of them (the calls) is just so different.”

A custom call by Deadshot Custom Call Company is priced similarly or even lower than other off-theshelf calls, but Rubenstein thinks his calls are in a class of their own. “I don’t consider other call companies my competitors, we are just so unique and custom,” he says. “The other companies offer excellent products that fit their customers’ needs but we just offer a totally different type of product that is specific to each customer and has a direct connection to their lives.”

And that direct connection makes all the difference. “An off-the-shelf call can be great, however, the personal, direct connection to you is missing,” Rubenstein says. “We do something that is totally different. We’re just in a different market for customization. And it’s working very well.”

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Rubenstein has a passion for supporting other local small businesses as well as veterans and law enforcement personnel.

His business also partners with outdoor groups like Ducks Unlimited, Wildlife Forever and Minnesota Waterfowl Association.

He’s enjoyed learning his craft and refining his skills in order to master the call creation process and offer his clientele the highest quality products available.

But Rubenstein says the interactions with customers in 39 states (so far!) and Canada are what make his craft truly rewarding.

“It’s a really good feeling to be able to give back to these folks,” he says. “There’s such an emotional attachment for the customers. Not only is it a high quality, custom-made call, it provides memories of the past and the opportunity to create future memories.”

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That personal connection makes a duck or goose call from Deadshot Custom Call Company much more than a simple, useful object. “The calls I create for people have family involvement in them — they have their passions, they have their lives,” says Rubenstein. “We know these calls will never come off their lanyards. And if it does come off their lanyard, it’s going to be on a display shelf.

It’s not going to go in a drawer. This is how meaningful this duck or goose call has become for my customers.”

OUTDOORS

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PHEASANTS BIKING

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As far as cities go, Minneapolis is listed as one of the most bikefriendly urban areas in the country on several different rankings. But the “big city” isn’t the only place to ride a bicycle in this Land of 10,000 Lakes. The popularity of biking has spread throughout numerous areas of Minnesota for variety of reasons.

The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) claims that “more than two million Minnesotans ride a bike each year for fitness, recreation, or transportation,” and that organization works all across the state to improve the quality time people spend on two wheels.

“We’ve run the bike shop here in Fergus Falls since 2009, and every year we’ve seen a growth in the biking world,” says Clark Grotberg, store manager of Central Lakes Cycle, which offers bike sales, rental and service. “Cycling is very big here, and we’re located right off the bike trail.”

With 55 paved miles, the Central Lakes Trail is part of the vast Minnesota State Trail System, managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Kent Skaar, senior project Manager for the Division of Parks and Trails, says there are more than 600 miles of paved state trails throughout Minnesota – and that system could be considered the “backbone” of an overall combination of state, national, regional and local trails that provide several thousands of paved miles available for bikers.

“The state began authorizing state trails back in the 1960s, and those trails are defined by statute through local initiatives, authorized by the legislature, and managed by the DNR,” Skaar explains.

“They range from smooth, railroad-grade bike trails to natural terrain for riding on

horseback, and a world-class mountain biking system.”

About 90 miles away, the Heartland State Trail runs through an area near Park Rapids.

Todd Williams, who owns the Northern Cycle Bike Shop, says they always ask customers, especially those from out of state, what brings them up there.

“We get people coming up from Kansas, Missouri, or Illinois, and many of them tell us they come up to use our bike trails,” he says. “They love the lakes, but they’re choosing our lakes because they also want to bike on the Heartland Trail.”

The mostly flat trail winds through small towns like Dorset, Nevis and Akeley as it heads toward Walker, where it hooks up with the Paul Bunyan Trail.

Shawn Donais, DNR Parks and Trails Area supervisor in the Fergus Falls office, agrees that the state trails are a “backbone,” and the regional, local and community connections round out the entire trail system.

“Particularly in these seasonal destination areas, the trend in recreation is to have multiple activities available, including biking,” he says. “The Central Lakes Trail from Fergus Falls to Osakis is a state trail that joins up with the Lake Wobegon Trail, and at 100 miles distance, it has the distinction of being one of the longest paved rail trails in the nation.”

Although the Lake Wobegon Trail is not managed by the DNR, it is one of the many links between all the paved road systems in the state. Another new regional trail is under development between Pelican Rapids and Perham.

Otter Tail County engineer Charles Grotte says it will be built in phases beginning next year, with the development of a section along County 34 as part of the highway reconstruction project – and some longrange planning that would eventually tie in with other state multi-purpose trails.

“It’s a huge undertaking,” he says, “but it has become clear that these types of projects are good economic and recreational efforts in encouraging people to both vacation and live in the area.”

photo provided by Schwinn

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photo provided by Schwinn

Organized bike clubs have been popping up across the state for the past 20 years as the popularity of biking has been on the rise. Members of the Big Ole Bike Club begin most of their rides in Alexandria at the base of the giant statue they’re named after. Formerly known as the Central Lakes Bike Club, they’ve been active in “some form or another” since the early 1980s.

They currently have 50 members, but you don’t have to be a member to ride with the group.

“We have different rides several nights a week for all different types of riders, whether they’re on road bikes, fat tire bikes, gravel bikes or mountain bikes, and a schedule on our website (https://www. bigolebikeclub.com/) lists all the rides, including a 40-50-mile ride on Saturday mornings,” says club president Jeff Brand,

photo provided by Schwinn

Skaar emphasizes that participation of local communities is critical for funding and development for all these types of trails, including an extension of the state’s Heartland Trail from Detroit Lakes into Frazee, which will see completion two to four years down the road.

Bike Clubs

Another example of coordination between the state and the communities is in Douglas County. “The Central Lakes Trail is a state trail, but the county maintains it,” says Brad Bonk, parks superintendent.

“It’s our responsibility to clean up after storms, trim back the trees, mow the edges, patch the surfaces and provide signage for the 37-mile section that runs through Alexandria and out to Nelson. It’s so incredibly busy in the summer that we have to wait until September to go in and do some of the maintenance.”

“We get people coming up from Kansas, Missouri, or Illinois, and many of them tell us they come up to use our bike trails. They love the lakes, but they’re choosing our lakes because they also want to bike on the Heartland Trail.”

Todd Williams, Northern Cycle Bike Shop

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PHEASANTS

photo provided by Trek, courtesy of SCHEELS

who came to the Alexandria area as an orthopedic surgeon in 1989. “I just like to ride a bike, but I ended up getting involved primarily with the mountain bike aspect, and we’ve worked together with the Douglas County Parks Department to develop mountain bike trails in the area.”

(See sidebar) The Lakes Area Bike Club is another group started in 2002 by interested bikers from Perham, Wadena and Staples. Members enjoy the trails, but they also explore the roads around a number of small towns in West Central Minnesota, riding every Tuesday from May through October, weather permitting.

“We ride our bikes in a different location each week, staying on low-traffic paved roads or bike trails, and there’s always

“We ride our bikes in a different location each week, staying on photo provided by Trek, courtesy of SCHEELS

low-traffic paved roads or bike trails, and there’s always food and drink involved afterwards.”

Pat Puetz, Lakes Area Bike Club

food and drink involved afterwards,” says Pat Puetz, one of the original organizers.

“A volunteer ‘ridemaster’ provides a map for at least three different routes of varying distances, and the group accommodates all levels. If you can ride eight miles, you can ride with our club.”

Puetz feels the trend for biking is still huge in this area. The Lakes Area Bike Club has anywhere from 15-40 riders each Tuesday, and part of the reason for their longevity is keeping it simple – just a website to list the weekly rides (http://www.lakesareabikeclub. com/).

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Another club that has endured over the years is the Hubbard Bike Group, with membership dating back to 1994. Now consisting almost entirely of retirees, they ride on Monday afternoons and Friday mornings. They’ve also tried to keep it simple, with a monthly schedule emailed with the ride locations from the area around Park Rapids, Dorset, Nevis, Walker, Hackensack, Bemidji and LaPorte.

“I began riding with the group in 2001, and we have quite a diverse group of riders,” says Curt McCabe. “Our oldest rider will turn 90 this fall, and three years ago, one of our riders rode 80 miles on her 80th birthday!”

Cycling Events The Itascatur Outdoor Activity Club is a larger group that promotes weekly social bike rides as part of their non-motorized recreational activities in the Hubbard County Area. In addition, they sponsor the Headwaters 100 bike ride, where at least 600 bicyclists choose a 45-, 75- or 100-mile route in and around Lake Itasca State Park.

Summer bicycling events can be found all over the state, from the Loop the Lake Festival in Bemidji to the Great River Energy Tour on the Mesabi Trail. Many of these events raise funds for communities or individuals. Other events held during the summer include triathlons and duathlons, which combine biking with swimming and/or running.

“We host a charity duathlon in September out of Central Lakes Cycle, and we use the trail for the biking part,” Grotberg says.

“Most duathlons are a run-bike-run, but we’re a bike shop and we like biking, so we set it up as a 20-mile bike, 4-mile run, then 7-mile bike.” (See details on page 30-31.)

photo provided by Trek, courtesy of SCHEELS

PHEASANTS Types of Bikes Not all bikers use bike trails, and not all bikes are meant to be ridden strictly on paved surfaces. The choices can be overwhelming, but whether it’s a road bike, a fitness bike, a hybrid bike, or a mountain bike, choosing the right bike for the type of riding can make all the difference in the world to a cyclist.

The definitions of the different types of bikes can also be overwhelming. A road bike usually refers to a bike built for speed, with dropped handlebars and narrow tires, and is meant to be ridden on paved surfaces. “A person who rides a road bike is someone who wants to put on more miles,” Northern Cycle’s Williams explains. “Besides the narrow tires with higher pressure, the gearing is different, and the aerodynamics are designed for a faster ride.”

Currently, the most popular bike overall is referred to as a hybrid. Designed more for comfort than speed, they are most often used on pavement but can also perform on some unpaved paths or trails. “They’re what we call ‘bike path bikes,’” says

A Partnership Made in Bike Heaven: Soon after Brad Bonk started his position as the parks superintendent for Douglas County in February of 2015, Jeff Brand, president of the Big Ole Bike Club, walked into his office.

“He asked me about the possibility of incorporating mountain bike trails into the county parks in Douglas County,” says Bonk. “There were no mountain bike trails in the area, and as a biker, I was an easy sell. It’s a neat partnership that we’ve built between the county and this bike club, resulting in 5 to 7 miles of single track trails in the Runestone County Park in Kensington.”

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Grotberg. “You are sitting more upright than forward, and it’s the kind of bike you ride around town, hit the bike trail with, or just be out there to enjoy the day.”

Grotberg says a newer style of bike is available that is a cross between a hybrid and a road bike – called a fitness bike or a flat bar road bike. “It’s lighter weight than a hybrid and has a narrow tire, but it’s not as much of a tuck-down and lean-over bike,” he explains. “You can go faster with less effort than a hybrid, and it’s a great alternative for people who don’t like the positioning of a road bike.”

Another type of bike becoming popular is the electric assist bike. According to Williams, they aren’t fully electric, because you still have to be pedaling, too. They’re great bikes for someone who still has the interest and ability to bike, but not the strength or stamina. “You start off pedaling, and however hard you’re working, the electric motor will kick in and boost that power,” he says. “Last year an 85-year-old-woman bought one from our shop, because she felt bad that all

Brand explains that members of the Big Ole Bike Club in Alexandria have logged 500 volunteer hours to design and develop these trails. As bike club members build the trails, Douglas County takes responsibility for moving large trees or rocks or dealing with “anything else that’s going on in the forest,” according to Bonk.

They also search continuously for funds or grants to assist in further expansion.

The county recently received legacy funds to purchase and develop a new county park, Lake Brophy Park, and the efforts of this partnership led to a $90,000 grant from Alomere Health and Sanford Health to add single-track mountain bike trails to the already planned hiking trails.

“Once we received those funds, we were able to acquire a $90,000 Federal Recreation Matching Funds Grant,” adds

photo provided

by Schwinn

Bonk. “With that $180,000, the trail will be constructed in the spring of 2019.”

Bonk and Brand agree that the popularity of mountain biking is increasing at a high rate all over the state, particularly in the Alexandria area, and particularly with high-school students. The Alexandria Area Youth Cycling Mountaineers Mountain Bike Team was started in 2016.

“It began with 10 members, and now we have about 33,” says Brand. “Many members of the Big Ole Bike Club are active not only in the work to develop these trails, but many are also spending time coaching these young mountain bikers. We all just love to bike.”

photo provided by Schwinn

SAFETY: Of utmost importance for every biker is safety. While helmets are not required by law, they are encouraged by most bike shops and bike groups. Todd Williams of Northern Cycle in Park Rapids says that he has seen an increase in helmet usage over the past 20 years. “We’ve always offered free helmets with our bike rentals,” he says. “Back then maybe 15 percent took helmets, and now it’s more like 90 percent.”

Another important safety accessory Williams mentions is a bright, blinking light for the back of a bike: “A light to be seen, not to see.”

There are also numerous rules to follow to stay safe, especially when riding on a road. Listed below are just a few biking tips condensed from the Central Lakes Cycle website. For a more complete list, see: http://www.centrallakescycle.com/

of her biking friends were always waiting up for her. Now her friends ‘hate’ her, she said, because when they get to the hills, she turns the ‘boost’ on and goes right up the hill ahead of all of them.”

For Cyclists: Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the roads as cars and motorcycles, meaning they also have to obey all traffic laws.

Going off-road cycling usually means riding a mountain bike, which is designed with wider, specialized tires and other features for enhancing performance and comfort on rough terrain. “Some bikers ride the rough terrain in the country out here, and they can go from pavement to gravel to grass without skipping a beat on a good mountain bike,” says Grotberg. “You’ll also see a lot of mountain bike riders on single-track trails like Cuyuna in the Crosby-Ironton area, where they have more than 30 routes to ride.”

In many jurisdictions, bicyclists are NOT legally allowed to ride on the sidewalk.

Other specific types of bikes are out there, too, like recumbent bikes that are lower to the ground, along with fat tire bikes and bikes designed for gravel riding. Williams says they also see many children’s tagalong bikes and trailers to haul toddlers on the trails.

“Bikes have such a wide range of styles and sizes,” says Grady Milesko, assistant store leader at SCHEELS in St. Cloud. “If you’re not sure what kind of bike would be best for you, you need to go into a shop and have a conversation with knowledgeable staff who can help guide you and fit you to the right bike. You will have so much more fun riding a bike if it’s comfortable and fits you well.”

OUTDOORS

Making eye contact with a driver is an effective way to ensure your safety.

Cyclists have an ethical responsibility to be goodwill ambassadors for the sport.

For Drivers: Bicycles have a right to the road.

When passing a cyclist, slow to a safe speed and give at least 3 feet (or more) of room to their side when overtaking them.

Do not speed past a cyclist in an effort to make an upcoming turn. It is easy to misjudge how fast cyclists are traveling and you may violate their right of way and injure them.

When making a turn or entering the roadway from a driveway or parking spot, use your turn signals.

Don’t harass cyclists; it’s illegal and unsafe.

And please, don’t text while driving.

It’s not safe for anybody.

PHEASANTS

Bike-Run-Bike for a Cause The Central Lakes Cycle Dave Grotberg Memorial 24/7 Duathlon, the “only race of its kind,” is scheduled for Saturday, September 22, 2018. It starts at 8 a.m. with a 20-mile bike ride, followed by a 4-mile run, and finishing with a 7-mile bike sprint.

A duathlon is usually run-bike-run, but at this bike shop, they emphasize the biking!

It all takes place on paved roads and

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portions of the Central Lakes State Trail, beginning and ending at Central Lakes Cycle, located at 2010 State Highway 210 East in Fergus Falls.

The proceeds go to a nonprofit organization chosen each year by the owner of the shop, Eric Ewan, and the shop’s manager, Clark Grotberg. This popular race, which usually draws at least 100 participants, was renamed two years

ago in honor of Clark’s 19-year-old son, David, who was tragically killed in a hitand-run bike incident in Texas.

For more information about registration and packet pick-up, go to: http://www. centrallakescycle.com/clc-247-duathlon. html

DUCKS

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Ducks can be few and far between during the first weeks of hunting season.

Local birds seem to know the score and aren’t easy to trick after opening day.

Waiting for the migrators is an option that requires the patience of Job. So what’s a hunter to do?

Driving back roads and hiking into secluded waters helps to learn where the residents hang out, what they are doing, and when they are doing it. Later, when millions of ducks pass down the flyways, finding a hot spot comes easier. But until then, we deal with other local birds, such as mallard, teal, and gadwall.

Local ducks tend to get locked into daily routines and scouting is the key that opens the lock. The tricky part is that these routines change once the opening weekend barrage notifies the local duck contingent of our intentions.

Preseason scouting can reveal honey holes. Other hunters will often notice these too, so pay close attention to other locations that draw just a few ducks.

When pressure moves birds around, these locations may turn golden, especially well-hidden spots that are away from roads.

Local ducks tend to get locked into daily rout ines and scout ing is t he key t hat opens t he lock.

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As the noise of opening weekend soon quiets down, ducks may explore two options: return to previous haunts or stay put on the peaceful waters they currently occupy. Depending on forage, shelter and hunting pressure, they may do either. But remember, those quiet waters drew ducks for a reason, and if they find grub, they may just stay until persuaded otherwise.

Early-morning gunning rousts ducks and displaced fowl will search such backwaters for other ducks peacefully floating about. I prefer for them to find my decoys peacefully bobbing around.

But if the ducks are already there when I arrive for a late morning/mid-day hunt for “traffic ducks,” setting out decoys is a big gamble. They might go to bigger water and not return depending on the weather. Jump shooting can be more dependable, even if a tad brief.

Back in my younger years when impatience and a tight schedule dictated a quick-strike game plan, I jumped a lot of ducks. Sometimes the ducks just flew away to a nearby destination where they could be jumped again.

Another option that works well at times is to roust them and wait for their return, without using decoys. As long as no shots are fired during the initial disturbance, many tend to come back. In fact, many circle back quickly, so there isn’t time to set a typical decoy spread. Truth is, during midday the ducks that swing right back in short order are usually the only action.

The only problem comes when the ducks just hop over to the next spot full of ducks.

The buddy system comes into play here.

Back in my college days, I teamed up with Mike and Kirk Duncan for an afternoon blitz on mallards and gadwalls. We jumped a big group and watched most of the birds settle out on the main lake or one of two backwater areas to the east.

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The wind was relentless and we knew the ducks on the big lake weren’t going to rock on the waves for long, so we split up and covered all three sheltered areas.

Slam dunk!

We bounced those ducks back and forth, filling our limits. Kirk even bagged a big Canada. We had a great time, and our unprotected legs (no waders!) didn’t have to spend a lot of time in the chilly water before we took home our prized ducks.

Those hunts are fun, but I really do love to play with decoys—as long as I get to disturb the peace occasionally. Adding decoys to the run-and-gun scenario can be a real winner. The secret is to only take a few decoys (six or less) to set quickly, like before the ripples from launching ducks are off the water. Use any more, and U-turning ducks are already making their only pass before the decoys are set.

Even though these birds return without any decoys at all, it helps steer them into a specific flight lane or landing zone.

When ducks are scarce I still can bag more birds using this essential tactic from my old college days. Back then I had a “milk run” of little backwaters and streams around a 6,000-acre lake. Those streams are still dynamite during winter, but the sloughs kept my gun barrel warm during October and still do.

The basic plan of attack is to sneak in and evict resting ducks without firing a shot. A few decoys are set out posthaste and then I settle into the cattails on the downwind side. Ducks typically start to trickle back immediately and life is good for 15 minutes or so.

But it’s a one-shot deal so to speak, so off I go to the next honey hole. Think of it like tournament bass fishing: cherry pick the willing and keep on moving. The real beauty of this system is its effectiveness anytime of day, since there is no need to wait for a regular flight.

Remember, t hose quiet waters drew ducks for a reason, and if t hey find grub, t hey may just stay unt il persuaded ot herwise.

However, as mentioned earlier, it doesn’t work as well when the birds simply settle on the next patch of water. This is a problem when other live birds are already there in plain sight. It’s a mighty tall order to compete with live ducks.

Once again, the buddy system is the solution. My friends and I will split up and bounce the quackers back and forth. The result is a satisfying game of give and take with hunters coming out on the better end of the deal.

October duck hunting like that leaves little to complain about. There is however, another option that can be a sight to behold: field hunting.

While it may be true that local ducks are often scattered and know the lay of the land, the flip side of that coin is that mallards and pintails in particular often gather from miles around to feed in a freshly cut grain. They may gather into a swarm. The ground is often dry with no

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors 37

When flocks arrive fast and furious, too many opportunit ies can be lost while you are hust ling around moving decoys.

I switched to wearing a ghillie suit years ago and never regretted it.

boot-sucking mud to deal with either and a mixed bag of ducks and geese is possible.

When geese are present, behavior differences are worth noting. Ducks are rude creatures that like to jump to the head of the chow line. Canada geese don’t mind exhibiting a little caution and will get in at the end of the line, often landing short. Keep this in mind when figuring out where to set decoys and where to hide. Ducks can sometimes be pulled off the “X” in favor of good blind cover, honkers usually not.

On high wind days, settling down off the downwind edge of a spread to catch birds as they swing around is hard to beat. Notice that I mention hiding off to the side. Incoming waterfowl focus their primary scrutiny on the approach lane and intended landing site. Concealment is easier when all those beady little eyes aren’t staring right at you.

Layout blinds are comfy, but I am not a fan of them. The linear shadows created by the frames are mighty easy to spot when the sun is low early or late in the day, especially when viewed from the air.

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Brushing them in helps, as does digging them in. But it’s a lot of effort, and when the wind shifts, the entire decoy may need to be moved to avoid taking long shots.

When flocks arrive fast and furious, too many opportunities can be lost while you are hustling around moving decoys.

I switched to wearing a ghillie suit years ago and never regretted it. Sometimes just using tumbleweeds to break up my outline is enough. Combining the two methods seems to work best.

Think of the ghillie as the world’s best oneman portable blind, allowing the hunter to move in seconds and be ready when the next flock wings in. This can be very important when the main event only lasts 20 minutes, especially if the wind keeps shifting. There is a reason snipers use these things, they work.

When setting field decoys, remember that the birds are there to feed and that’s about all. Manufacturers sell “everything you need” decoy sets with a variety of poses and head positions. But after decades of watching ducks and geese nibble their way around fields, I will say that when all is well, their heads are down gobbling grain. Once I settled on a minimum ratio of 4:1 in favor of feeder style dekes, the number of fowl committing to the spreads skyrocketed.

Most days, I use 90 percent feeders. It works.

The other decoys are useful, but only to a point. Sentries are just that, and indicate caution. If very many are used, it creates the look of nervous birds. Nervous is bad. “Active head” decoys represent birds on the move and these tell incomers “no food right here, we’re headed to the chow line.” Not many of these are needed either. Feeders? Well that one is fairly self-explanatory.

When working grain stubble, I prefer dry afternoons to the tattletale frosted decoys of morning, but this comes with a high risk of birds arriving too late. However, when strong winds prompt early departure flights, I jump at the opportunity.

Morning flights are remarkably reliable though. The action may be over quickly, but that’s a plus when you need or just want to be elsewhere later.

A hunt that always comes to mind unfolded on a delightful morning only a few miles from home with DVM Eric Heitman, a hunting buddy who was visiting from Michigan. His goal was to hunt about everything with wings, and his arrival was timed for overlapping bird seasons. We made the most of it.

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors 39

The unseasonably mild morning found us greeting the dawn in a cut oat field where we set out a sizable spread of decoys (mostly geese). This helped ensure that geese returning to feed would feel at ease and also provided much visibility for ducks winging overhead. Ducks are usually eager to join geese on the ground and both were observed marauding this stubble the previous day.

In short order early birds arrived, small groups of ducks ready to vanquish the pangs of hunger. Muzzle flashes lit the morning twilight, and all too soon the ducks were done with us. Then the first honkers arrived and behaved quite agreeably. The numbers were not that impressive, but the quality of the hunt was unrivaled. They were accommodating enough to show up one family group at a time. I will take that over a swarming horde any day.

Once things settled into a noticeable lull and all was quiet, some of the ducks came back. Ducks often do that early in fall when so few fields have been cut and waste grain is scarce. These ducks served as the cherry on top of our morning

sundae. We then leisurely gathered up decoys, geese, and ducks, in short sleeves no less, basking in the early morning sunshine. A perfect morning indeed.

That evening we stood with grouse in hand, watching the autumn sun sink over the horizon.

Ah, the joy of October.

The first split of waterfowl season frequently means dispersed fowl, yet the weather is pleasant and there are birds to be had.

Hunters willing to adapt to the ways of local ducks and explore the options will stay in the game until a big push comes winging out of the north. Come to think of it‌ not dealing with ice is kind of nice too.

OUTDOORS

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EXPERT

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN

Purchasing or Refinancing a Home?

Chris Marvel

American Federal Bank

Once you decide to purchase or refinance, the first step is to meet with a lender to determine if it makes financial sense to refinance, or the loan you may qualify for, if purchasing. Many realtors require clients to obtain a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter prior to making an offer.

The documentation you will typically need to provide is as follows: • Last two years of tax returns • Paystubs for the last 30 days • Last two months of bank statements • Last two years of W-2 forms • Most recent retirement account statements • Driver’s license

It is important to include all pages of the above documents.

I encourage the borrower(s) to bring everything in, and I will make copies and determine what pages I need. The purpose of providing the documentation is to verify income and asset information provided by the borrower(s) on their loan application.

After this information is reviewed, the lender may have follow-up questions such as explaining any large deposits and/or recent credit inquiries. Once all the information has been gathered, it will be reviewed by an underwriter to determine if the borrowers have the ability

to repay the loan, sufficient cash reserves, and the funds needed for their down payment, if purchasing. It is important to remember that once the loan application process begins, the borrower(s) should not apply for any new credit as a credit report is usually run just prior to the closing date and any new debt or inquiries could jeopardize the final loan approval.

It may seem like a daunting task, but an experienced lender can guide you through the process of securing a loan for a new home, or help save you money by refinancing an existing mortgage.

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The presence of plants and the depth at which one finds them is related to the water clarity. In areas where the sunlight does not reach the lake’s bottom (usually deep areas), there won’t be plants present.

Minnesota is home to about 150 species of aquatic plants, most of which are native species. Certain native plants can be water quality indicators. Muskgrass (Chara) is found more often in lakes with good water clarity. Though it gives off a ‘musky’ odor when brought to the surface, it is a great bottom stabilizer and slows the suspension of sediments; therefore, large communities of it can greatly benefit water quality and clarity. This plant is also wonderful habitat for fish and is a favorite food for waterfowl.

Bladderwort (Native)

If you’ve spent any length of time at your favorite Minnesota lake, chances are you’re no stranger to aquatic plants.

Maybe you’ve cast into lily pads looking for bass, watched minnows dart to safety in plant beds, pulled in an anchor covered with green vegetation, or waded through a few plants while swimming.

Unfortunately, most people see aquatic plants as problems. They perceive lakes or lakeshores with lots of so-called “weeds” as messy and in need of cleaning. But what a cabin owner sees as a weedy mess is an essential part of a lake’s or river’s ecosystem (MN DNR).

Robbins Pondweed (Native)

Emergent Vegetation (Native)

Aquatic plant communities are important to a body of water because of their ability to maintain water clarity and good fish habitat. Plants in all lakes lock up nutrients in their tissues which limit algae growth, keeping lakes clear and healthy. Aquatic plants produce oxygen throughout the water column as a byproduct of photosynthesis, which oxygenates the water column. Plants also help to keep the sediments stable at the bottom of the lake and prevent it from mixing into the water column. Tiny invertebrates (zooplankton and aquatic insects) eat algae and use plants as a hiding place from predators such as perch, sunfish and crappies.

Bladderwort is a very interesting native aquatic plant. It is carnivorous and captures small invertebrates with its bladder-like traps. Despite their small size, the traps are extremely sophisticated. The prey brush against trigger hairs connected to the trapdoor. The bladder, when “set,” is under negative pressure in relation to its environment so that when the trapdoor is mechanically triggered, the prey, along with the water surrounding it, is sucked into the bladder. Once the bladder is full of water, the door closes again, the whole process taking only 10 to 15 milliseconds.

Bulrush is very important to a lake for many reasons. It provides spawning habitat for crappies, filters the water, and helps to prevent shoreline erosion by acting as a wave break. It is imperative to protect bulrush beds in lakes for these reasons. Larger leaf plants, such as the pondweeds, are important spawning and hiding areas for panfish.

Curly-Leaf Pondweed (Invasive) only a small area of plants. Clearing a whole 100 foot frontage is not necessary and can contribute to additional algae blooms. The natural, healthy state of shallow lakes and bays is to have clear water and abundant native plant growth.

Chara Clearwater Homeowners should be careful not to cut or remove large areas of native plants in the lake. When aquatic plants are uprooted, the lake bottom is disturbed, and the phosphorus in the water column gets used by algae instead of plants. This contributes to “greener” water and more algae blooms. Protecting native aquatic plant beds will ensure a healthy lake and healthy fishery. If a swimming area is necessary in front of people’s docks, clear

Some aquatic plants in Minnesota are not native and they may cause problems.

Control of these species may be done to reduce interference with boating or swimming, to reduce the risk of spreading invasive species to un-infested waterbodies, or in some situations to attempt to produce ecological benefits such as increases in native plant communities.

A DNR permit is needed for removal of aquatic plants including aquatic invasive species, and also for plant control devices such as weed rollers.

OUTDOORS

Northern Milfoil (Native) Curly-Leaf Pondweed (Invasive)

Resources DNR Guide to Aquatic Plants: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ shorelandmgmt/apg/index.html Permits to control aquatic plants: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ shorelandmgmt/apg/permits.html DNR AIS Specialists: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/ contacts.html AIS permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ training _ permits.html

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PHEASANTS DEER

H

arvesting white-tailed bucks based on age is becoming an increasingly common management strategy.

To implement this practice, hunters must have the ability to accurately age bucks on the hoof based on their body characteristics, an ability that most hunters considered impossible a decade ago.

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Today however, hunters across the whitetail’s range are estimating the age of bucks in the field as a means for selective harvest within Quality Deer Management programs or merely for the fun of it.

Like humans, whitetails possess distinct body characteristics by age class, and with a little practice hunters and nonhunters alike can become proficient at estimating the age of bucks on the hoof.

There are many good reference books, videos and DVDs available for in-depth

• Small Body

• Short Face

• Square Body • “Big” Ears • Small Head • Flat Head

staining. You can estimate their age at other times of the year, but many characteristics are viewed relative to what they will (or did) look like during the rut.

FAWNS Fawns are easily distinguished from other age classes of bucks but are commonly misidentified as female deer. Buck fawns have small square bodies, small short heads and relatively large ears. Their heads are flatter between the ears rather than rounded like that of a doe.

instruction and practice on aging bucks, and this article serves to introduce the topic and highlight the differences for each age class from fawns to post-mature animals. These body characteristics are subject to differing interpretation by different viewers, but the characteristics are relative to others in your area or region.

Body characteristics also change by season. The breeding season is the best time of year to age bucks because of pronounced neck swelling and tarsal

The distance from their ear to eye is also approximately the same as the distance from their eye to nose. In contrast, the distance from an adult doe’s ear to eye is much shorter than from its eye to nose. Fawns also have short necks, flatter bellies and backs, and less muscle definition than adult does. The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has produced an educational poster, “Identifying Antlerless Deer,” that uses close-up photography of live deer to help you learn to sort fawns from adult does and buck fawns from doe fawns using these characteristics. This makes a great visual tool for teaching huntingclub members or guests how to avoid harvesting buck fawns.

FALL 2018 Lake & Home Outdoors 45

• Torso Long and Gangly

• Small Tarsal Area

• Long Slender Legs

• Antlers can be as Wide as Ear Width

• Slim Neck and Shoulders

• Slim Neck

• Thin Neck

• Small Antlers • Antlers Narrower than Ear Width • Small Tarsal Area • “Doe with Antlers”

1½ YEARS For most QDM programs, especially those in beginning stages, learning to identify yearling bucks is the most important aging skill. Yearling bucks have long legs, a thin neck, a slim body and an overall lanky appearance. Their legs appear too long for their bodies because their torsos (stomach, chest and neck) are not fully developed. Their antler spread is nearly always less than the width of their ears when their ears are in an alert position.

They have a distinct line of separation

between their neck and shoulders and little muscle definition. They have a thin waist, and they may have slight staining in their tarsal glands during the rut.

Overall, a yearling buck can be said to look like a doe with antlers. In wellmanaged populations on high-qualityhabitat, yearling bucks can have large bodies and even 10 or more antler points, but the above characteristics will be present and can be used to separate them from 2½-year-olds. This is why it is important to study body characteristics before considering antler size when attempting to age a buck in the field.

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2½ YEARS Typically, 2½ -year-olds have legs that still appear too long for their bodies, and they still have an overall sleek appearance.

They have developed some muscling in their shoulders and slight swelling in their neck during the rut, but their waist is still thin. Given adequate nutrition, their antler spread can be equal to or wider than their ears. Finally, they can have moderate staining in their tarsal glands during the rut, especially if few mature bucks are in the population.

3½ YEARS Showing characteristics of more complete development, 3½ -year-olds have legs that appear to be the right length for their bodies because their torsos are now more filled out. They have muscled shoulders and a highly-swollen neck during the rut, but their waist is still lean. I liken 3½ -yearolds to middle linebackers as they are big and strong but they’re also lean and fast.

A deep chest and lean waist give them a “racehorse” appearance. Their antler spread can be even with or wider than their ears. Research shows that at this age, most bucks have achieved 50 to 75 percent of their antler-growth potential.

They also have a lot of tarsal staining during the rut.

Beyond 3½ years of age, determining the exact age of a buck becomes more difficult because of increased variation among individual bucks. However, for most QDM programs, harvest goals can be achieved if hunters are able to confidently separate bucks into one of three groups: A) Yearlings, B) 2½-yearolds, and C) 3½ or older. Hunters who want to sort and select bucks based on

• Taut Back and Stomach

• Fuller Neck

• Antlers as Wide or Wider than Ears

• Deeper Chest

• Chest Larger than Rump • Slightly Larger Tarsal Area

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• Attained Skeletal Maturity • Antlers Wider than Ears • Legs Proportionate to Body • Muscled Neck and Chest • Increased Tarsal Staining ages older than 3½ can still do so, but more time spent studying each buck may be required. In addition to viewing in the field, use trail-camera photos and home-video footage to refine your estimates.

Also, once a buck has been harvested, check your own field estimates against age estimates based on tooth wear and/or cementum annuli ages from a reputable lab. This will help you hone your skills at aging the deer in your region or habitat type.

4½ YEARS Because their stomachs, chests and necks are now fully developed, most 4½ -year-olds have legs that appear too short for their body. They have fully-muscled shoulders, heavy swelling in their neck during the rut, and their waist has dropped down to become even with their chest.

Given adequate nutrition, they’ll become structurally mature and can reach 75 to 90 percent of their antler growth potential. They also have a lot of tarsal staining and during the rut the stain may extend below the tarsal gland. These bucks have an entirely different appearance than 1½ - to 3½ -year-old bucks.

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5½ TO 7½ YEARS Other than in select places, few freeranging bucks exceed five years of age, so I’ll combine 5½ - to 7½ -year-olds. Bucks in this category have legs that appear too short for their body. They also have several other characteristics of 4½ -yearolds including fully-muscled shoulders, heavy swelling in their neck during the rut, and a waist that’s even with their chest.

However, they also may have a pot belly and a sagging back.

Their increased body mass gives them a more rounded appearance, and they may look like a small cow. They will have achieved 90 to 100 percent of their antler growth potential, and they can have highly stained tarsal glands during the rut, with the stain extending well below the tarsal gland.

• Large, Rippled Chest and Neck • Jaw Line Skin Ripples and Sags • Neck and Brisket Appear One • Stomach and Back Sag • Increased Tarsal Area

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• Loose Skin on Face and Neck • “Wavy” Antlers • “Boney” Appearance • Pot Belly • Sway Back • Reduced Antler Growth “Weathered” Look

8½ AND OLDER A few free-ranging bucks make it to the post-mature age category. These bucks have passed their prime and regress in both body and antler size. They generally have loose skin on their face, neck and shoulders – usually visible as a “chin flap” – and they may have pointed shoulder and hip bones. Their antlers can show agerelated abnormalities such as abnormal points or wavy or curvey tines, and they have an overall “weathered” appearance.

As you study age-specific body characteristics, you’ll notice there aren’t age-specific antler characteristics (other than the range of antler potential that may be reached at each age class, and this percentage can’t be accurately estimated by viewing the antlers).

Therefore, I suggest you don’t rely solely on antler size when aging bucks.

Large antlers on a younger deer and small antlers on an older deer can negatively influence your estimated age. I prefer to estimate age based solely on body characteristics with respect to location and time of year and then use antler size to “check” my estimate or to break a tie if I can’t decide between two ages.

For more assistance, I recommend the DVD “Aging and Scoring Bucks on the Hoof.” Also, QDMA has produced an educational poster, “Estimating Buck Age,” that uses photos of live bucks of known ages to illustrate variations in body characteristics by age class. Again, this makes a great visual aid for educating hunters. Both of these items are available at www.QDMA.com.

Aging bucks on the hoof is a lot of fun so whether you hunt them with a bow, sporting arm or camera, this information can make you a more knowledgeable whitetail enthusiast.

Kip’s Korner is written by Kip Adams, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Director of Conservation for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). The QDMA is an international nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage.

The QDMA can be reached at 1-800-209DEER or www.QDMA.com.

OUTDOORS

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PHEASANTS Kayak Fishing

52 Lake & Home Outdoors FALL 2018

PHEASANTS

When you think of fishing boats, most people in the upper Midwest think of aluminum or fiberglass vessels fueled by gasoline engines. However, in the last five years, a plastic armada of fishing kayaks has been growing and going to prime fishing spots power boats can’t get to.

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The kayak fishing craze started on the coasts of the United States. Over time, the sport has gained awareness in the middle of the country as well. Today, kayak fishing is one of the fastest growing segments in the fishing industry. Top kayak manufacturers are now designing them specifically for fishing. These kayaks are wider, more stable, feature open decks and include places to mount accessories. Additionally, they can carry all your gear and are made to withstand rough conditions. Five years ago, we started the Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association. Our club’s mission is to grow the sport of kayak fishing in the upper Midwest. We’ve seen phenomenal growth in membership and support from fishing product manufacturers.

Yo u Fi s h Fro m That?

It’s quite the contrast to see a $60,000 power boat next to a fishing kayak at a public access ramp. The pace of innovation and change in fishing kayaks has been in overdrive over the last few years, yet many traditional anglers have never seen a top-of-the-line fullyequipped fishing kayak.

At boat ramps and on the water, kayak anglers experience curious looks and chat with interested onlookers who are amazed at all the sophisticated engineering and gear that is available. Kayak anglers enjoy all the things available on a power boat; electronics, anchor systems, big comfortable seats, livewells, rod holders, tackle organizers and more, all in a compact, well-designed, easily to maneuver watercraft.

Kayak anglers enjoy access to prime spots the big boats can’t fish. Kayaks can float in only a few inches of water. Small rivers, streams and shallow channels that connect bodies of water are attainable.

You can get to honeyholes that hold big fish that seldom see a lure and that’s music to any angler’s ears!

No public or concrete launch? No problem! Kayaks are more portable than power boats. Wheel carts allow users to easily roll their kayak down small paths, across semi-level surfaces and traverse up and down hills. Most kayaks also have built-in handles on the front and back allowing two people to carry them to spots not available to big boats.

Fishing kayaks provide access to new waters. “Can I get in there? It looks fishy, I wonder if there’s any fish in there?” Kayak anglers view these waters with a unique, can-do perspective.

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A U n i q u e Fi s h i n g Expe r i e n c e Everything is up close and personal from a kayak. You’re closer to the water and you get a better view of weeds, pads, reeds, structure and baitfish. When you hook a fish, it’s literally at arm’s length or closer when you land it. Wrestling with and landing very large fish from a kayak is an absolute THRILL!

Kayaks are very stealthy. You can sneak up on bedded or resting fish; they don’t spook as easily as when a large power boat enters their waters. Even loons, ducks, and other aquatic animals appear more comfortable in the presence of a kayaker.

Nature photographers appreciate that they can get closer to wildlife and have more opportunities to snap special shots from their kayaks.

Th e Kayak An g li n g Co m m u n ity I s We lco m i n g , Fr i e n d ly An d H e lpfu l Kayak anglers get into the sport for various reasons. Some are shore anglers who want to expand their options for more waters to fish. Some are power boat anglers who want to expand their fishing experiences.

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Kayak fishing is a small subset in the world of fishing, but the people who participate represent a diverse demographic. I’ve met more anglers in the last five years since forming this club than I have in the rest of my life. I’ve learned more about fishing from these fellow kayak anglers than from anyone else. I’ve fished more productive water than at any other time in my life.

What M i n n esota Kayak Fi s h i n g Associati o n M e m b e rs Say Abo ut Kayak Fi s h i n g Thomas Elliott Chaska, Minnesota “What I never realized before I bought my kayak is that I would be able to get where no motorboat can. I can get in front of fish that aren’t used to seeing lures or jigs flying past their face every hour. My most memorable fishing has come while sitting in a kayak.”

“A few years ago, on my way to work I’d pass a small, non-accessible, 150-acre lake. I knew there were fish in it. I would spot fish feeding on topwater bugs. I knew I could access this lake with my kayak, so I did. The lake is lined with trees that hang over the water – the perfect hiding spot

for the 4- to 5-pound largemouth bass that are in there. The numbers and quality of large bass I caught was off the charts! The experience I had on this lake is one of the most memorable times I’ve had fishing in a kayak. This is one of many untouched lakes I’ve found and fished since owning a kayak. Kayak fishing has opened a new world of adventure for me and I’ve met an entire network of great people I’m proud to call friends and fishing partners.”

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Mitch Heil and Sheri Heil, Lexington, Minnesota

Elisio Conde Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sheri: “Our favorite thing to do together is to go fishing. When Mitch was looking at kayaks, we decided a tandem was the best option so we could fish together. Fishing out of a kayak is a bit more challenging, which makes it more exciting. I also like that I’m able to exercise while fishing.”

“I was a shore angler and wanted to get to better fishing spots. I learned about kayak fishing watching YouTube videos. I love to be out on the water, explore new lakes, enjoy the outdoors and what Minnesota offers during summer.”

Mitch: “We did a two-lake portage fishing for lake trout. We portaged to one lake, crossed it, then portaged again to another lake deeper in the woods. It’s a lake that only a handful of people get to fish every year so the fish are not hit hard. We ended up fishing the morning for pike, had shore lunch, and then spent the afternoon trolling for lake trout. To have an entire lake to yourself and to also catch fish is just a whole new experience to enjoy.”

“My most memorable catch was fishing a topwater frog. I made a cast towards a tree that was hanging over the water. My cast crossed over a branch and the frog was dangling above the water, two bass jumped out of the water for it! They both missed the first time, the second time only one jumped and got the frog, I set the hook and landed the fish... a kayak fishing memory I’ll never forget.”

We bs ite: https://mnkayakfishingassociation.org/

E mai l: ron@mnkayakfishingassociation.org 58 Lake & Home Outdoors FALL 2018

H ow Yo u Can G et Starte d Kayak Fi s h i n g There are a lot of great fishing kayaks on the market today. Different models are best suited for certain types of fishing. If you like to fish small, shallow streams and rivers, there are models for that. If you like bigger water and lakes, there are models for that style of fishing too. Getting the wrong type or an uncomfortable kayak are mistakes that can drive people away from the sport. Our club has members who are loyal to various brands. But collectively, we know which models, from which manufacturers, perform best in the

conditions you intend to fish. Ask questions in our group, then demo potential kayaks on the water to experience what you like best. All the major dealers have on the water demos, so try before you buy!

OUTDOORS

PHEASANTSSpotlight Business

E. Arthur Brown Company Inc., founded

by Eben and Jill Brown, has earned its outstanding accuracy reputation in the hunting and shooting world as a manufacturer of premium firearms and barrels. Eben and Jill, along with their employees, have been dedicated to giving each customer the best experience possible; providing them with first-rate products and guiding them through the purchase process to find what items would specifically fit their shooting needs.

How did E. Arthur Brown Company Inc. get started?

Eben and I did start EABCO in 1983, in our home. We began as a computer business, selling Timex computers. The volatility of the computer business made us realize that we needed a product line that was a little more stable, and would not change as quickly.

One of Eben’s hobbies was shooting in single-shot International Metallic Silhouette (IHMSA) steel target competitions.

After researching possibilities, we decided to purchase the company that manufactured the pistol Eben used in competition. We converted

our basement into a manufacturing shop, and worked out of our home for several years. Eventually, we moved to another building in Alexandria, and about 10 years ago, our current location in Garfield.

One of the biggest challenges as we got started was learning the production end.

With no formal training in engineering and production, Eben used his knowledge as a shooter, as well as reading many books, and talking to others in the industry to learn. It was slow going, with a steep learning curve. We struggled for quite a few years. Along the way, when we weren’t sure if we should continue, God answered our prayers with, “be patient” – so we continued.

What inspired you to open the business?

What products do you offer?

Eben had always had a desire to have a mail order business since he was very young. He has a very inventive and creative mind. Both of us have a love of business, to work and build something.

Raising a family with the ability to work from home was great.

E. Arthur Brown Company Inc. is a manufacturer of single-shot custom rifles and pistols. We also manufacture premium barrels for several models of firearms. Our rifles and pistols can be used for deer hunting, prairie dogs or target shooting. Our signature is ACCURACY, in our rifles, pistols, barrels and everything else. Our premium Accuracy BarrelsÂŽ began for the Thompson Center Encore and Contender rifles and pistols. We now make Accuracy Barrels ÂŽ for the Savage, Ruger 1022, AR10 and AR15. We also manufacture scope bases and premium parts.

At one point in 1998, we realized we could not grow the company the way we wanted by ourselves. Eben researched the best way to incorporate a business and applied for MN SCORE stock offering. We promoted stock in our company, and currently have more than 170 stockholders. We’ve been able to expand our business with their help, for which we are extremely grateful.

We also sell products from other manufacturers including barrels, stocks, triggers, scopes, reloading supplies and so much more for several different firearm models.

How has the business changed over the years?

The internet has changed our business tremendously.

Eben realized the importance of a website very early on. Since then, we have evolved into a very sophisticated website and email marketing system that uses digital marketing, artificial intelligence and

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predictive analytics. We send out different automated and promotional emails daily to our 78,000 subscribers and customers.

Almost 90 percent of our sales come from our website, www.eabco.net.

Along that line, another big change has been the addition of big buying sites like eBay and Amazon. These create different challenges which increase competition and a new learning curve for ways we can sell our products. It also creates new opportunities to reach new customers.

For example, we recently upgraded our

What is most rewarding about your business?

What are some of your popular products?

order processing software to automate live inventory updates to any buying sites that we sell on, and our sales in that area are growing steadily.

On the production end, we’ve seen shifts in the market and what people are interested in. We have a very adaptive mentality, and have been able to move with the changes easily. It’s an ongoing challenge, to keep up with new products and what our customers want – as well as staying competitive on pricing and availability.

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We add new products to our inventory almost daily. One of our most popular items is our PeepRib® Sight System for muzzleloaders. We have models for TC Encore, Omega, CVA Accura, Kodiak, Optima and Wolf. These are so popular because they combine a precision aperture sight with a scope mounting base. Our Accuracy Barrels ® are also very popular. Recently, we’ve added more parts for the AR15 rifle, Ruger 1022, Ruger Mark I-IV and TC Arms Encore Pro Hunter and Contender.

We love living in the United States, where we have the opportunity to start a business and work hard. We can create products and support our employees. We have such an amazing team of people who work for us, and are blessed to have wonderful customers, vendors and shareholders. We are truly thankful to God for his blessings on our company.

OUTDOORS

Information provided by the MN DNR

F E AT U R E D S TAT E PA R K

Big Stone Lake State Park Since 1961, Big Stone Lake State Park has introduced campers and visitors to its namesake lake. At 26 miles long, Big Stone Lake separates Minnesota and South Dakota. Anglers there enjoy the walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, and bluegills.

Big Stone Lake State Park consists of two areas. The northern section of the park, called the Bonanza Area, provides a picnic area and boat launch for guests.

The area also includes the Bonanza

Education Center which provides a place to discover the past and ways to preserve it. The southern section of the park, called the Meadowbrook Area, contains a campground, swimming beach, hiking trails, and of course, abundant wildlife.

The area near Ortonville was the south end of glacial Lake Agassiz. Torrents of water cut the valley when glacial river Warren drained Lake Agassiz. The area around Big Stone Lake State Park consists of granite and gneiss quarries. The top three inches of stone is exposed and contains the fossil remains of sharks’ teeth.

Big Stone Lake State Park is part of the Minnesota River Country Landscape Region, a large area which extends almost 200 miles from Ortonville to Mankato. At one time, the landscape consisted of tall and mid-grass prairie, interspersed with marshes, lakes and streams. The Bonanza Scientific and Natural Area located within the park protects more than 80 acres of native oak savanna and glacial till prairie habitat. Bonanza also includes 50 acres of oak basswood forest and spring-fed ephemeral streams.

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PHEASANTS DEER

What to know before you hunt

• Review new information in the hunting regulations handbook to determine if CWD surveillance is occurring where you hunt. If you harvest a deer during mandatory sampling efforts, register your deer then bring it to a sampling station.

• CWD test results will be posted online. If your deer tests positive you will be notified immediately by phone.

• If you are hunting deer, elk, moose, or caribou out-of-state, be aware that these whole carcasses are prohibited from entering Minnesota. Details about carcass import restrictions can be found in the regulations handbook.

• Your compliance with CWD surveillance efforts is critical. Keeping our deer herd healthy guarantees this valuable resource for future generations.

Testing Locations Check the backside of the pull-out map included with your regulations book or at www.mndnr.gov/cwd.

In Minnesota, chronic wasting disease (CWD) was first discovered on an elk farm in 2002 and the first wild deer was discovered in 2010.

CWD is a challenge to manage because: • This always fatal neurologic disease develops slowly. By the time a deer looks sick – over many months to several years – it may have infected others.

• Prions, the abnormal proteins that cause the disease, are highly resistant to disinfectants, heat, or freezing - cooking will not kill this disease.

• There is currently no vaccine or treatment for this disease.

• Healthy deer can get CWD through direct contact with an infected deer’s saliva, urine, blood, feces, antler velvet or carcass. Even soil can become contaminated and be a source of infection.

What can I do to help?

The DNR routinely conducts surveillance when there is a risk of • Report sick deer to your local conservation officer or the disease spreading by known positive deer in an area – in area wildlife office. wild or farmed deer. We need your help to succeed. So, please: • Be aware of carcass-import restrictions. Whole • Participate in surveillance efforts during hunting seasons carcasses of deer, elk, moose, or caribou cannot be brought into Minnesota. when they occur in your area.

• Learn more about CWD in the Minnesota hunting • Comply with bans on recreational deer feeding and regulations handbook or online at mndnr.gov/cwd use of attractants (this includes salt and mineral licks) where they exist.

The Minnesota DNR prohibits discrimination in its programs and services based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital or familial status, disability, public assistance status, age, sexual orientation, and local human rights commission activity. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to access or participate in DNR programs and services please contact the DNR ADA Title II Coordinator at info.dnr@state.mn.us, 651-296-6157. For TTY/TDD communication contact us through the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 or 800-627-3529. Discrimination inquiries should be sent to Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4049; or Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C. Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by contacting info.dnr@state.mn.us, 651-296-6157. For TTY/TDD communication contact us through the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 or 800-627-3529. ©2018, State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources

Learn more about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) • Minnesota Department of Natural Resources mndnr.gov/cwd • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cdc.gov/prions/cwd • U.S. Geological Survey nwhc.usgs.gov/disease _ information/chronic _ wasting _ disease • CWD Alliance cwd-info.org

Long-term impacts for Minnesota Once established on the landscape, CWD has the potential to significantly reduce deer numbers. This could negatively impact hunting, wildlife watching and those who benefit economically from a healthy deer population.

Minnesota deer hunting generates nearly $500 million of economic activity each year. It is in Minnesota’s best interest to keep deer healthy for future generations.

Is venison safe to eat?

While there is no evidence that humans can contract CWD, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends testing your deer for CWD. CDC recommends not eating meat from a known positive animal. For more information, please visit the CDC website: cdc.gov/prions/cwd

Be vigilant for signs of sickness Though diseased deer can appear healthy, the clinical signs of a CWD-positive deer include: • Weight loss; emaciation • Excessive drooling and salivation • Loss of fear of humans; confusion • Loss of body control, tremors, or staggering • Drooping head or ears Report sick deer to your local conservation officer or DNR Area Wildlife Office.

The DNR will again conduct mandatory precautionary CWD sampling during the first two days of both the Statewide (A) and Late Southeast (3B) firearms seasons in parts of southeastern, central and north-central Minnesota. It is very important for hunters to bring their deer to these sampling stations so the DNR can detect as early as possible, if any new CWD-positive deer are on the landscape.

Test results last year found no CWD-positive deer in north-central, central and southeastern Minnesota. This is good news. DNR will continue doing early detection efforts and encourage participation from hunters since high numbers of deer tested yield high-integrity results.

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ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

FLOORING

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

TREE SERVICES

LUMBERYARD

INSULATION

RADON TESTING & MITIGATION

CABINETS

CABINETS

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