Tri-State Outdoors Magazine Spring 2016

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Table

of Contents 4 10

SHOOT STRAIGHT

Local students are learning the ins and outs of archery.

SEASONAL

Salt has long been seen as the king of all other seasonings.

BELONGING

14 18 22 24

Local bike clubs give kids and adults a place to belong.

PREPARATION

Break out the graph paper and begin your spring garden plans.

26 28

WINTER WOES

30 34

SPELUNKING

36

Break the cabin fever with March Wipers.

Local caves offer a change of scenery.

BAGGING GOBBLERS

Turkey hunting is more than a pasttime. It’s a way to bond.

AMERICAN ICON

The American Whitetail is a symbol of America.

SPRING SPRUNG

Spring is the perfect time to start cool weather plants.

SAFETY FIRST

Stance and grip are fundamental in shooting.

TRACKING NATURE

Animal tracks can lead to an adventure.

Warrick Publishing Co. 204 W. Locust Street Boonville, Indiana 47601 (812) 897-2330

A Tri-State Media Publication

PUBLISHER Gary Neal | gwneal@aol.com MANAGING EDITOR Tim Young | tyoung@warricknews.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Amanda Redenbaugh | advertising@warricknews.com MAGAZINE EDITOR Emily May | emay@warricknews.com STAFF WRITER Laura Acchiardo | sports@warricknews.com SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Jhenna Conway Tom Fuller Julie Lockhart Ken McBroom Chelsea Modglin Brad Scales ADVERTISING Karen Hullett | kcraig@warricknews.com Cindy Lewis | cindyl@warricknews.com Debi Neal | business@warricknews.com In Gibson County: Kelli Nidley | kelli@pdclarion.com Michelle Schumacher | michelle@pdclarion.com Courtney Shuttle | courtney@pdclarion.com In Illinois Sandra Higgins | skhpiglet@mtcarmelregister.com Joey Luecke | jluecke@mtcarmelregister.com Ann Foss | afoss@mtcarmelregister.com Phil Summers | psummers@mtcarmelregister.com CIRCULATION Tammy Franz | circulation@warricknews.com ACCOUNTING Kristina Morris | kmorris@warricknews.com

rEaDY

aiM

ďŹ re 4 Tri-State

Outdoors | Spring 2016

A

im small, shoot small. That’s the motto of Boonville archery coach John Patterson. It’s better to shoot close together, even if an arrow doesn’t touch the bullseye.

The sport of archery has taken off since National Archery in the School’s Program — or NASP — came to Indiana 10 years ago.

“They’re trying to encourage kids and to get more kids involved in the sport of archery,” said Mark Zwilling, coach of Castle High School’s archery team. “They have found that it has exploded.”

Popular culture has also contributed to the booming interest, such as the Hunger Games series.

The teams in Indiana are still club sports and are not yet IHSAA sanctioned, but the clubs compete with each other around the state.

In March, Indiana conducts a state competition in archery. Although Henderson and most of Kentucky have large, wide-spread archery programs, Indiana’s is steadily growing in size. Along with Boonville and Castle’s archery team, there are teams from Tell City to Gibson Southern and from Tecumseh High School to Memorial High School.

“Each year the competition just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” said Zwilling. “We have enough competitors in southern Indiana that we don’t have to compete with the Kentucky schools.”

Castle has taught archery since 1990, and has had their archery team since 2007, winning the state championship every year, except 2014 when the team was runner-up. With more than 100 archers turning up for the high school practice, the team continues to grow, not only at the high school level but in the feeder schools as well.

Where Castle has a more developed program, Boonville High School’s team started from humble beginnings. Starting in 2003 through the Department of Natural Resources, the high school team began with just eight people. From then on, BHS’s archery program has only grown and has also started at the middle school level.

“The best part about the program is that we don’t ever have to tell anybody, ‘No.’” John Patterson Boonville Archery Coach

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“It keeps getting bigger and bigger every year,” said Patterson. “We don’t have the program in the elementary level yet, but we’re trying to do that. The whole idea of this program is that it has to be taught in the school.”

DNR offers training for archery programs, so gym teachers who attend the training can offer archery lessons during school. There are 38 archers at the high school, while 85 participate at the middle school level — 39 from the sixth grade alone.

The Boonville archery team is a nonprofit and has been awarded $4,000 in grant money from the Christian Science Society of Boonville Irrevocable Trust, buying a trailer for equipment and new targets.

For archery novices, the work begins with form, such as stance and anchoring. Zwilling begins each practice with a technique called “blank bale,” where archers stand a few feet away from the target and close their eyes when shooting. By closing their eyes, it takes away the visual distraction and helps archers focus on technique and release. When shooting, it’s important to follow through with a smooth fluid motion to isolate any problems and build muscle memory.

“After you take a shot, you want to reflect on your shot,” said Zwilling. “What did I do right? What did I do wrong? Where did my arrow hit? What do I have to do to get my arrow to hit the middle of the target?”

A unique aspect of archery is the range of people who participate and compete. Boys and girls compete

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side by side, whether they be theater performers or football players. Even those who are blind can compete.

“The best part about the program is that we don’t ever have to tell anybody, ‘No,’” said Patterson. “Everybody gets to shoot: boys, girls and kids with disabilities.

They come from all walks of life when they come here.”

Though anyone can participate, some activities give beginning archers more advantage. According to Patterson, students who participate in band are more adept at archery. Surprisingly, out of those participating, only about 15 percent of them are hunters.

“Most of these kids just do it because they enjoy the sport for target shooting,” said Zwilling. “A lot of people might think we have a lot of hunters on the team, but not so much.”

Thanks to the dedication of the coaches and players, archery continues to thrive in Indiana. Both Zwilling and Patterson are excited about the new season with hopes set on a state championship and for the archers to grow in not only skill but appreciation of the sport.

----Laura Acchiardo is a staff writer at Warrick Publishing. She graduated from the University of Evansville in May 2015. She can be reached at sports@warricknews. com.

Photographer Amanda Redenbaugh is the Production Manager at Warrick Publishing and a freelance photographer. She can be reached at advertising@warricknews.com.

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generation

Teaching a new

S

pring is just around the corner and with cabin fever lingering it is a great time to start thinking about the upcoming turkey season. These tips should get you started in the right direction to harvesting a nice gobbler this spring.

Putting gobblers to bed

Locating the tree where a big tom roosts at night is not just a good way to get a jump on him the next morning, but it’s also just plain fun. Locating a gobbler’s roost will put you within call range come sunrise and help you bag a tom early before he gets henned-up which can make success rates plummet for the turkey hunter unless you have a backup plan.

The best way to find a roosting gobbler is to cover ground where you hunt, listening for turkeys flying up to roost. You will know when you hear a flock of turkeys flying up to roost. If you never have, it is an obvious disruption to the still evening woods. Turkeys have a flyup cackle, and the wings flapping as they settle into tree limbs are unmistakeable even if it is just one turkey but

10

Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

Photos on this page courtesy of Jarrett Manek.

when a flock flies up it is very loud.

Once a gobbler’s roost is located, it is important to get as close as possible the next morning. The gobbler will still be on the same roost if it wasn’t disturbed during the night and getting close is vital. Survey the area around the roost and mark a good spot for your set-up before you leave because you will have to ease back in well before daylight to get into position to call to the gobbler when it flies down.

Once into position the next morning and the sun begins to light the horizon, I like to give a few subtle clucks and yelps just to let the tom know where I am. He should respond with a gobble while still on his roost. This is your sign that the gobbler has acknowledged your location and is interested. When this happens, stop calling. If you call too much the gobbler might think the hen is on the ground and he will stay on roost waiting for her to cruise by. Get the gobbler to acknowledge you, then just wait for the fly down before calling again. When you hear the gobbler fly down and hit the ground, immediately give a cackle call while flopping your hat or a turkey feather to sound like a turkey flying down. More times than not this is more than enough to get the gobbler heading straight for your position where he thinks there is a hen waiting. Get your gun up and ready because a mature tom is looking for a hen and he will see any movement from where you called from and the hunt will be over.

Fooling subordinate toms

With the turkey population at an all-time high across America, you have a pretty good chance of coming across a dominant gobbler traveling with hens, jakes and subordinate gobblers. Even though it is next to impossible to call the dominant gobbler away from the flock, it can be pretty easy to call that flock’s subordinate gobblers into range. Subordinates are usually 2-year-old birds that have gotten beat up by the dominant gobbler a few times. To keep from upsetting the dominant gobbler these subordinate gobblers will rarely gobble but do yelp and cluck to keep track of the flock.

Whenever you hear a young gobbler doing this and it’s off to the side of the flock, slip in as close as you can and try to make the subordinate believe one of the dominant gobbler’s hens is calling to him by using a subtle yelp call. He will usually come in quick and confident with his guard down. Remember he thinks he is finally getting the attention he deserves but whatever you do, don’t risk gobbling at this time because he will think the dominant gobbler is onto him and he will avoid the hen he thinks is just inside the wood line.

Some turkey hunters only hunt mature gobblers and that’s fine, but for those that just want to fill their tag and put some fresh wild turkey on the table, remember this tip and you might find a little more success when those big gobblers refuse to leave their hens. Calling to a subordinate gobbler or a jake takes a slightly different approach when the flock is all together.

Introducing kids to turkey hunting

If you plan to introduce a kid to turkey hunting this season, make sure they have a shotgun that fits and

12

Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

feels comfortable. Buy a youth model or trim the stock on a full-size shotgun to get it to where the youngster can comfortably reach the trigger and look down the barrel. A 20-gauge is best for most younger kids and will take a turkey with a good shot placement. It is vital to practice with the youth so there is no anxiety about pulling the trigger. There will be enough nervousness to go around with a gobbler strutting within shotgun range and you don’t need to add the fear of shooting a big gun to worry your young hunting partner.

Before you take a youngster on an actual turkey hunt, be sure you teach them safe gun handling. The perfect time to do this is at the range where you should take the hunter to shoot and to pattern their gun. Teach them the importance of patterning their gun while teaching the safety. It is crucial to teach every aspect of turkey hunting and the importance of each step before hitting the woods.

During the turkey hunt, place the young hunter tightly by your side or inside your knees to help them align the shotgun on an incoming turkey. Before the hunt even starts discuss a signal for when to shoot. I like to just tell them when it is OK and to fire when ready. This is when the turkey is in range, but I explain before the hunt to wait for a clear shot. You don’t want to be explaining to them to wait because there is another turkey too close or too much brush. Be sure they understand all this before you go to the woods.

If the youngster does get a turkey, they will be thrilled.

Admire the bird with them, smooth its feathers, feel its beard and spurs letting them know it is OK to do this. It is a great accomplishment and take lots of photos. Let them see how proud you are of the job they did, even if they missed. Explain to them that missing is just part of it and get after another bird like it’s no big deal. If you keep the kid up he will remember the hunt forever, but if they get down on themselves for messing up they may never turkey hunt again so keep an upbeat attitude no matter what happens and you might have a hunting partner for life.

----Ken McBroom is a freelance outdoor writer and photographer based in Indiana. For more information, please visit www.ramblingangler.com.

Know before you go...

Turkey hunting seasons: Youth Spring: April 23 and 24. One bearded or male turkey in spring.

Spring: April 27 through May 15.

Fall Archery: Oct. 1 through Oct. 30 and Dec. 3 through Jan. 1. One bird of either sex.

Fall Firearm: Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. Six per hunter each fall.

Turkey hunting hours: half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Last year, the following counties were included in the fall firearm season: Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, DeKalb, Dubois, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, LaGrange, LaPorte, Lawrence, Marshall, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Putnam, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Switzerland, Union, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren, Warrick and Washington. Check the Hunting and Trapping Guide online at in.gov/dnr closer to the opening of the season to see which counties are participating this season.

No more than one bird of either sex may be taken in the fall turkey season, regardless of equipment. A separate turkey license is needed for the spring and fall seasons.

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A seasoning for all seasons

Y

ears ago when my girlfriend and I passed the bar, we applied for the same position teaching business law at a wellrespected community college. The candidates were taken to a fine Italian restaurant for a dinner interview. I judiciously avoided slurpy soups, messy sauces and pastas, along with pricey menu items. Bittersweet, I was offered the job, while my cum laude friend missed the cut. Laurie asked the dean why she wasn’t chosen, and he told her matter-of-factly that she liberally sprinkled salt on every dish before tasting. Not that there was anything wrong with seasoning her food, but this habit was interpreted as a negative and insulting trait that she made assumptions and unfair conclusions.

Throughout history, salt has been used as a punishment (turning Lot’s wife into a pillar of one for glancing at the evil city of Sodom), payment for Roman Legions (giving rise to the word “salary,” which was Latin for “salt,”), worshipped by ancient Greeks, responsible for launching trade routes and global expeditions (Ferdinand and Isabella requested that Columbus bring salt supplies to Spain), as well as superstitions (bad luck to spill salt, good luck to toss it over your left shoulder). Today this ancient mineral is embraced by top chefs across the land to enliven everything from soup to nuts, holistic healers to ease sore throats and achy feet, and party hosts to instantly chill champagne and remove red wine stains from carpets. Here’s a primer on our favorite flavoring to help shake things up in both savory and sweet dishes, especially with grilling season around the corner.

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Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

The Salt of the Earth

Salts have been harvested for thousands of years from lakes and oceans to mountains and dried sea basins for pickling vegetables, curing, koshering and tenderizing meats, sautéing and baking and as a finishing flavor. Here’s an A-list of both popular and gourmet salts: •Table salt is basically sodium chloride stripped of valuable trace minerals, scrubbed, bleached, heated at high temperatures and laced with anti-clumping additives (that typically contain aluminum derivatives) along with synthetic iodine that has been found to be difficult for the body to synthesize. In addition, this refined salt has been linked to water retention and high blood pressure. It’s crystal clear that this salt is the one to limit or avoid.

•Kosher salt, so named because it has been used for centuries in “koshering” meats according to Jewish kashrut laws requiring the removal of blood before cooking. Its flakey, irregular crystal shape makes it easy to pinch and grasp in culinary showmanship, for garnishing or finishing, and as such has become a favorite among celebrated chefs. It also dissolves easily so that the flavor disperses evenly in the dish.

•Sea Salt harvested from distilled sea waters, with a crisp fresh bite is either coarsely or finely ground. The former is ideal for adding a crunch to caramel brownies, pretzels or corn on the cob, the latter is a good finishing salt to add briny notes to seafood and steamed vegetables.

•Unrefined, coral-tinted Himalayan Pink Salt is extracted from high elevations in the Himalayan Mountains, usually sold in small, ragged nuggets that are ground in a mortar and pestle or grinder. Pink salt dials up soups, stews, fowls, fish and vegetables with tangy, sharp notes. It can also be found in slab form used for a striking presentation of fruits, cheeses or sushi, or a savory surface for grilling fish, seafood, chicken or beef.

•Hawaiian Red Salt is formed by blending volcanic clay called alae with sea salt, while Hawaiian Black Salt incorporates activated charcoal into the grains. These impart rich, earthy flavors to rustic sauces and soups, and are ideal for preserving fish and meats.

•Sour Salt is not a true salt, rather a citric acid derived from citrus and acidic fruits, including oranges, lemons and pineapple used to flavor sweet and sour dishes like borscht and cabbage soup with a lip-puckering tartness.

•Fine-grained Pickling Salt is a dilly for making pickles and other marinated vegetables. As it does not contain additives it will not turn the liquid murky.

•Gray-tinged, chunky rock salt extracted from salt beds beneath the earth is typically used to make ice cream or for seafood presentations, like oysters or jumbo shrimp.

•Fleur de sel, which translates from French for “flower of salts,” is delicately harvested by hand, and best used as a finishing or garnishing salt for salads and vegetables.

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Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

In the Pink

Pink Himalayan salt with the greatest store of minerals and other essential elements, particularly copper, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium imparts the most health benefits compared to other salts, including boosting the immune system, alkalizing the body by tempering acid production, regulating heartbeat and fluid levels, along with relieving achy joints, stiff, sore muscles, and itchy, flaky skin from a soothing salt bath. There’s more. This precious pink salt puts the skids on goiters and osteoporosis by replenishing sodium loss from the bones and prevents the depletion of two essential hormones, serotonin and melatonin to help hike mood and regulate sleep patterns so you can catch some much needed zzzz’s. Finally, It has also been linked to ratcheting up libido.

Rock Star

Salt goes far beyond flavoring foods. It removes fish and garlic odors from hands and cutting board surfaces. Crisps wilted vegetables. Keeps milk fresher, and prevents cheeses from forming mold. Freshens musty smells throughout the house. Makes glasses sparkle. Gets rid of rust from kitchen implements and cuts grease from cooking surfaces. And even exfoliates rough skin with a refreshing salt and honey scrub.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Sea salt can be ground with interesting herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables to create exotic seasoning blends and rubs for pastas, risottos, chilled and hot soups, salads, grilled vegetables, stir fries, fish and fowls, burgers and roasts. Divine add-ins include dried porcini mushrooms and rosemary for an Italian theme, smoked paprika and ancho chilies for a taste of southwest, herbs de Provence for a French flavor, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, white pepper, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and black pepper for an Indian garam masala blend, or this allpurpose zesty Moroccan rub to dial up your favorite protein and vegetables for grilling season and beyond. It’ll be worth its salt.

For additional salt recipes, email kitchenshrink@san.rr.com.

-----

Catharine Kaufman is a nationally syndicated food columnist, and devoted chef to critical teenage taste buds, along with the most demanding palate, the big kid, her husband.

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P

erhaps no other game animal is more iconic than the American whitetail deer. With an impressive range spanning from Canada all the way into the Andes of South America, it is no surprise that this deer is both the most popular and, recently, the most numerous.

Long before the first settlers arrived, Native Americans had already found a great resource in the animal. Aside from being an abundant food source, the hide could be used for clothing or shelter, the bones for tools and weapons and even the organs were nutritious or useful. Although settlers didn’t utilize so much of the deer, they certainly found them useful, and by the 1930s the American whitetail was nearing extinction.

Restoration efforts by the Division of Fish and Game began almost immediately. The Division, now known as the Division of Fish and Wildlife, restocked the southern part of Indiana with 400 deer captured in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and let deer migration patterns take care of the rest. It went so well that by 1991, just 57 years later, overpopulation was beginning to cause problems with farmers and drivers. So the Division of Fish and Wildlife decided to go the other way by allowing Hoosiers to harvest anterless deer, and the rest is history.

In the 2014 deer season, running from Oct. 1 to Dec. 21 (even Jan. 4 in some counties), the Indiana Department of Natural Resources reported a total of 120,073 harvested deer, ranking the season as the 12th all-time deer harvest in the Hoosier State.

Warrick County residents were allowed to bag three antlerless deer that year, rather on the lower end of the permitted numbers enjoyed by other counties (which range from one to eight), but in 63 years of deer hunting, Indiana has harvested a total of 3.38 million deer.

With wild cats and coyotes for predators, it’s no surprise that the whitetail can sprint up to 30 miles per hour and jump an impressive 10 feet up and 30 feet over. Their name comes from their habit of warning other deer or confusing predators by displaying the white underside of their tails while they’re on the run. In captivity, a deer can live for up to 14 years, but most in the wild are picked off by hunting, disease or car accidents by age 3 (males) and 6 (females).

Whitetail have three major diseases to contend with. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (also known as EHD or blue tongue) is spread by biting flies. It has a high mortality rate and no known treatment, but so far it hasn’t infected humans. Another is bovine tuberculosis (bTB), which also tends to be fatal and is spread by sneezing and coughing. The last, chronic wasting disease (CWD), is a particular problem, since it is found in bodily fluids, has no treatment and is hard to control.

Since most land in the U. S. is private, much of the responsibility for deer management is necessarily entrusted to the private landowner. While government entities are wary of this, others are comfortable with the arrangement and encourage it. As Dr. Delwin E. Benson of Colorado State University said, “Sixty years after Leopold, we still debate the merits of entrusting responsibility within the private sector. There should be no question about ‘if,’ the question is ‘how?’”

----Chelsea Modglin is a freelance journalist for Tri-State Outdoors, Newburgh Magazine and the Evansville Courier & Press. Contact her at chelmodglin@hotmail.com.

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A place to

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W

hether you are new to cycling or a seasoned veteran, please consider joining a local bike club. There are many benefits to joining a bike club and the tri-state has a great selection of clubs to help personalize your experience. From hosting community events to extended road trips, these clubs offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences sure to please anyone. If you’re looking to improve your skills or just want some company, one of these groups is sure to help you put more time in the saddle.

Local riders who stick to the pavement should look no further than the Evansville Bicycle Club. This great organization is heavily involved in the community and doing excellent work to promote the sport of cycling. They host many bike safety events and promote riding in groups to help increase the safety of riders. Each year, the club hosts a bicycle tour called the “The Great Pumpkin Metric.” Come out to the Vanderburgh 4-H Center this October and enjoy this tour on some of the best country roads in the world.

The Southern Indiana Triathlon Team has a calendar packed full of a variety of great activities where members enjoy training in the water or on the road or trail. The group attends events around the world and hosts three events of their own to give local athletes a chance to test themselves. On Feb. 27, Bound the Mound gave trail runners their choice of competing in a half-marathon, 10K, or 5K race at Angel Mounds. The Hammerfest is a 12-mile road cycling time trial event in the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife area that takes place on the second

22

Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

Monday of each month throughout the summer. The fifth annual Tri-Team 70.3 Triathlon/Duathlon is a free event for team members and will take place on July 30.

Mountain bikers ready to challenge themselves on the trails should consider joining the Evansville Mountain Bike Association. This club meets at 6 p.m. every Thursday of the summer at Scales Lake Park for group rides. Small groups also organize weekend trips for rides and races as well as contribute to trail work in the local parks. Women in the club also host their own group rides and womenspecific skills clinics. Bring the kids out to Angel Mounds on June 11 where they will host the annual Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day. In Boonville, kids and adults can get involved in the cycling community by joining the Boonville Bike Club. With a focus on safety, the group gives student members a wellrounded experience to help them identify what aspect of the sport they enjoy the most. In addition to weekly group rides, which can see as many as 45 students, they perform trail work at Scales Lake Park and host several bike safety events in the community. Their annual mountain bike race, the Red Dome Freecross, will take place at Scales Lake Park on Sept. 25. This kid-friendly event also gives local adults a chance to test their skills in a very unique race.

Stay up to date on each club by joining their group pages on Facebook.

----Brad Scales is the owner Boonville Bike Club Inc. and Trail Boss LLC. He is also a member of the Evansville Mountain Bike Association.

S

Spring has sprung

pring is here in the tri-state, so let the gardening begin! Some of my favorite vegetables for the early spring garden are lettuce, spinach, onions and radishes. I use onion sets, and I grow the rest from seeds by sowing them directly into the garden.

I also like to include parsley (biennial or perennial) and chives (hardy perennial) in the spring garden. They are easy and inexpensive to grow from seeds. Since parsley seeds are a little slow to germinate, try soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing them into the garden. Chives are a must for my garden. They are great to cut and to use for culinary purposes. They can help to season everything from salads to venison. I usually plant several chive plants so I can let a few go to seed. They have beautiful globe like flower heads with striking architecture that enhance any garden. Try adding some chives to a flower bed as well.

Chives flowers are also a good nectar plant for butterflies. Keep in mind that many of our favorite plants in the vegetable garden are host plants for butterflies. Parsley is a host plant for the Black Swallowtail butterfly. Radishes are host plants for the Cabbage White butterfly. Caterpillars can damage foliage on the host plants for a few weeks, but the plants usually come back quickly. Butterflies are some of our most important pollinators; the benefits and beauty of the butterflies are well worth some temporary foliage loss. Native habitat helps to keep nature in balance.

I try to keep the garden as organic as possible by not using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Floating row covers that allow light, water, and air through are available. A fine garden netting draped over the plants offers some protection against unwanted pests.

If garden space is limited or nonexistent, container gardening is a wonderful option. Lettuce is great perfect for containers; it germinates quickly in seven to 21 days, depending on the variety.

This is a great opportunity to get children involved, and they will love to watch it grow! I find that Mesclun mixtures and the looseleaf varieties work best for containers.

For my lettuce bowls, I chose a large shallow container and a smaller hanging basket with good drainage holes.

Start by lining the bottom of the containers with rocks to cover the drainage holes. Then add a good organic potting mix. Fill the container an inch or so from the top rim. Follow the planting instructions on the seed packs that you choose. I spread the seeds liberally and cover them with soil before watering. For the lettuce bowls, I do not go back and thin the seedlings later as many planting instructions recommend in the garden. When the seedlings sprout, be

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Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

careful when watering the lettuce bowls. Be sure not to pour water directly on the tender seedling, because it will certainly flatten them.

In one growing season, I harvested three crops off of just one lettuce bowl by cutting the lettuce back and leaving an inch or so for the plant to start new growth. I have noticed fewer pest problems on the lettuce in the bowls than on the lettuce that has been sown directly into the garden. The hanging baskets completely eliminated any rabbit problems.

Lettuce bowls can also make a nice centerpiece for an outdoor table. Try stacking them. Use a larger bowl as the base on the bottom and place a smaller one on top.

Then plant seeds all around the edge. If you stack them, the top bowl will cast shade. You will need to give the whole container a little turn every once in a while. Putting the containers on a Lazy Susan is another option.

Gardening yields more than good things to eat. It gives us a chance to provide for our beneficial pollinators and to share nature and sustainable practices with children. Whether you plant a garden or use containers, enjoy watching your garden grow this spring. Happy planting!

----Julie Lockhart is a freelance writer and photographer.

She can be reached at julielockhart69.jl@gmail.com.

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plant

Hold me back. I want to

I

know we had some gorgeous days the end of January that could have easily lulled us into the false belief that spring had arrived… almost two full months ahead of time. Hold onto your hats because Old Man Winter still has some cold tricks up his sleeve!

If you’re anything like me (now that’s a scary thought… can the world really handle any more crazy homesteaders?) then you are longingly gazing at your garden plot just itching to run your fingers through the warm loose soil that will surely beckon you when winter releases its clutches. Have faith, gardeners, the time will come. In the meantime, let’s talk about what you can do to prepare!

There are many exciting things you can do now while the soil is still cold and unyielding to help ensure a bountiful crop in the coming seasons.

1. Make a plan. Ooh, graph paper! Who doesn’t love graph paper? I’m one of those old fashioned folks who like my pencil and paper over the high tech fancy programs or applications (“apps” to you youngsters). There are few things I relish more than grabbing a strong cup of coffee and sitting to plan my upcoming garden. I do this several times throughout winter and conveniently lose it or leave it out for the dog to chew up so I have to do it all over again and have just as much fun as before! There are many colder weather crops that actually thrive in the cooler weather of late winter and early spring (collards, cabbage, spinach and kale). Shivers of excitement run through my body as I remember last year’s kale with the frost on its leaves leaving it sweeter than ever!

Your plan should include thought about “companion planting” as some plants grow better around other plants. Some varieties downright stifle others, so do your research all about companion planting and go forth with drafting your plan on paper or your favorite electronic device.

2. Prepare your ground. Now is not the time to be digging up the ground to see what kind of soil you have or whether it is plant ready. Your soil should still be slumbering for a bit yet as it is still very cool

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Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

(possibly still frozen depending on when this goes to print) and moist.

Ummmm… have you seen our rain and snow levels the last couple months? Let’s give this ground some time to drain. To prepare your soil at this point, you want to add stuff to the top. By “stuff” I mean organic matter. This is the time to get buddy-buddy with your animals on the farm or with any farmer that you can latch onto if you have no livestock of your own. Don’t be creepy about it, but do be on the lookout for aged manure of all sorts! Rabbit is the best of the best (known as “cold fertilizer” it can be added directly to soil around plants without aging and worry of “burning” them with nitrogen). Goat manure, known as berries, is also awesome. Sheep poo, yup, about like goat. Horse, cow and chicken… yes, all their poo is wonderful at this stage of the game to add to the top of your garden plot if you mix it with some aged plant matter such as chopped leaves, loose straw, or compost if you are lucky enough to have a bunch. Chicken droppings are especially good for berry stalks/plants and fruit trees but be sure it has aged and composted before adding to soil or around base of any plant. No livestock poo/fertilizer to be had? Mulched leaves, clean (no chemicals) grass clippings (please tell me you saved your grass clippings from the warmer months!), and loose or chopped hay make great cover that can be turned into the soil when it warms up a bit.

3. Order your seeds. If you’re the type to pour through those seed catalogs like me, then go ahead and get that order in so you can get them into your greedy little fingers!

4. Get those seeds started. Get a jumpstart on some of the easiest plants to start from seed like anything in the lettuce family, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower! There are a million and one ways to start seeds indoors for every level of gardener so jump on that fancy internet and find what works best for your situation.

Those four things will help your burning desire to channel your inner gardener until it’s time to get those hands in that beautiful earth. Don’t you dare start digging up that dirt until it has thawed and dried a bit.

Digging in very wet soil can damage its structure and cause long-term harm. It’s also just plain hard to dig in super cold ground! To find out if your soil is ready to be “messed with” and planted in, lightly squeeze a handful of soil. If the soil stays as one hard clump then it is too moist and you must wait. If it crumbles easily through your fingers then you have the green light to get in there and see if it’s ready to support your plants. Prep work is worth it!

----Jhenna Conway is a wife, mother and homesteader. She runs The Shepherd Hobby Farm and TOP (Training Our Pack) Dog. Learn more about Jhenna, her family and her various activities at simplehobbyhomesteading.com. You can also find The Shepherd Hobby Farm on Facebook.

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Breaking

it

down

I

recently presented a broad overview of the six fundamentals of marksmanship in a previous article. When taken into consideration, applying these fundamentals to your range time will increase your accuracy and shooting enjoyment. In this article I will explore two of the fundamentals — position and grip — in greater depth.

Position

Also known as stance, positions for shooting include standing, seated bench rest, kneeling and laying prone on the ground. Among those basic categories are further variations. Each condition of firearm use will dictate your position. The position you employ for one application does not always transfer to another application, i.e. long range rifle shooting vs. pistol shooting around obstacles. The core concept among all positions is that you must be stable and relaxed and not compromising the other fundamentals.

When working on the range with a pistol, many instructors encourage the isosceles stance for shooters as a standard baseline. This stance becomes the go-to position for teaching basic marksmanship, firearm manipulation, malfunction clearing and other skills. I teach the isosceles stance as a variation of the very common “ready” stance found in many sports. Starting with both feet shoulder width or a little more apart and facing forward, place your dominant foot (the same side as your pistol hand, which is the hand used to fire your pistol one-handed) slightly back, about six to eight inches. Put a slight bend in your knees and lean slightly forward. Now, extend your arms straight out in front and clasp your hands together as if you were holding your pistol at the level of your eyes. Your head may have a slight lean forward, but you do not have to exaggerate ducking your head between your arms.

When viewed from above, your shoulders and arms form an isosceles triangle pointing at the target.

Grip

Like the position fundamental, firearm application drives grip and is influenced by the size of the shooter’s hands and the firearm used. Focusing on the pistol, your grip should be strong enough to maintain control of the pistol during the firing sequence, but not so tight that you are tiring quickly or shaking the pistol. Grip as hard as you can then back it off slightly. Two specific pistol grip positions I teach include the semi-automatic thumbs-forward grip and the revolver captive thumb grip. These two grip styles are used by many professional shooters in the industry

28

Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

and have a proven record. Again, these are the go-to grips that are the ideal scenario, but accommodations may be made to deal with situation.

The semi-automatic thumbs forward grip begins with a high grip using the pistol hand (the hand that would use the firearm by itself if necessary). Place the web of the pistol hand as high up the backstrap as possible until you are as tight as can be against the beavertail of the frame. Wrap the three support fingers of the pistol hand around the grip, high and tight to the trigger guard. As always, keep the trigger finger absolutely clear of the trigger area. While keeping the pistol hand’s thumb pointing straight up in the air on the support side of the pistol, place the meat of your support hand’s thumb base on the exposed area of the support side pistol grip surface and wrap the support hand fingers around the grip under the trigger guard, laying on top of your pistol hand’s fingers. The support hand’s thumb will extend forward along the pistol frame, just below the slide. You can now rest the pistol hand’s thumb down on top of the support hand’s thumb. To achieve this grip, you will need to cant the support hand forward at a slight angle. Don’t go too far forward with the cant or you will begin to break contact between the support hand and the grip frame. The result of the grip will be maximum contact of flesh and pistol and increased control and retention.

The revolver grip is different due to the nature of the revolver design. Since the cylinder of the revolver spins, there is a gap between the cylinder and barrel. Hot gases escape through that gap during the firing sequence. To avoid burning our thumbs, we switch from the thumbs forward grip used with semi-automatics to a captive thumb grip. To begin, grasp the revolver as high up the backstrap as possible and wrap the pistol hand’s fingers under the trigger guard, keeping the trigger finger out of the trigger area. The pistol hand’s thumb will curl down along support hand side. Place the support hand along side the revolver grip and wrap the fingers under the trigger guard as high as possible. The support hand’s thumb will rest on top of the pistol hand’s thumb and lock down. This captive thumb grip will keep our thumbs away from the cylinder action during the firing sequence and prevent us from burns.

When learning or practicing these fundamentals either at the range or at home, always remember the National Rifle Association’s three rules of Gun Safety: 1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

2. Always keep the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Safety is your responsibility.

----Tom Fuller is a mechanical designer with PCI Skanska and an NRA certified pistol instructor and range safety officer. He is available for private and class instruction at Uncle Rudy’s Indoor Firing Range.

Cabin fever

cure

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Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

W

ipers are a cross between a striped bass and a white bass and are often stocked in lakes and reservoirs in the tri-state area and are aggressive feeders in March as the water slowly increases in temperature. Wipers are a hybrid and can’t reproduce, but they still go through the motions and will begin their migration into shallow water earlier than other species as they seek a clean gravel bottom. Wipers tend to seek flowing water so you should search upper reaches of lakes and estuaries where creeks dump into the lake.

Wipers are very active even when the water temps are low and can be caught all winter long, but during early spring, when the water temps are inching their way up, wipers begin to feed aggressively to fatten up for their fruitless spawn. It is during this time too that wipers can be more predictable as far as where they might be and March is a great time to be on the water looking for wipers, one of the most active species at this time. Many anglers miss the best wiper fishing because they wait until the really warm days begin to show and by then the fun is almost over.

Searching your wiper lake in the winter, when the water is low, can really help you pinpoint places that wipers will be during early spring. Look for creek channels that course through shallow flats. Wipers follow these channels as they go through the motions of spawning and the shallow flats provide great ambush areas to feed on shad and other baitfish that congregate as water temps and levels climb.

Sometimes the wipers will be hugging the bottom of the channel as they wait for food to wash by with the current while other times they will move up on the shallow flats and patrol in large schools ripping through balls of bait fish and feeding aggressively. When the wipers are feeding this way, almost any lure that resembles a shad will trigger a strike without much effort. It gets a little tougher when the wipers hug the bottom and are less active but they can still be enticed into biting with a little patience.

The best way to find wipers, when on the water, is with your electronics. Wipers that are inactive will show up as several arches near the bottom. If the wipers are active at all, you will see some streaks shooting out of the arches on your sonar; these are fish shooting up from the school to eat something drifting by. Many anglers use spoons and a vertical presentation with a sudden ripping action to trigger strikes from these fish, but oftentimes deep diving crankbaits and plastics can also stir up the school and like a school of summertime largemouth you can catch fish after fish once you get them fired up. When the wipers are feeding aggressively on the shallow flats, you will see activity on the surface as they use the surface of the water as an ambush point in the shallows. Wipers will drive the balls of shad into shallow water where they have no place to go except back into the school of hungry wipers.

This is when you see the feeding frenzies that wipers are so famous for and when you see such activity, quickly cast your lure into the middle of the action and hold on as your lure will be hammered. I have had big wipers jerk the rod right out of my hand.

There are times in early spring when small bands of wipers will separate from the larger schools and cruise the shoreline looking for shad and bluegill to devour.

This is when I love to throw a shad rap or husky jerk working sharp drops along the shoreline. Black and silver are a great colors to start with, but wipers often prefer some of the off-the-wall colors like clown or all gold colored lures. It seems that when the water is murky the clown colored baits work best, but when the water is clear then the more natural colors are better. Trolling for wipers is a very popular tactic and can be productive in March but is really used

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more in the summer when the wipers have moved out to deep and open water suspended with the baitfish.

Tackle used for wiper fishing consist of a good medium to heavy rod. I like a seven foot rod since accuracy is usually not an issue as wipers usually cruise in open water. I prefer a spinning reel, it allows me more control and wipers can take some very surprising runs as they near the boat. I like to be able to maneuver around the boat and keep the line away from outboard props and trolling motors. There are several lines out there to choose from, but for wipers, I like the good old monofilament line. I like monofilament because of its castability and its stretch which makes it more forgiving on those vigorous runs. I do keep one baitcaster rigged with a heavy topwater bait like a Zara Spook, so when I see an explosion of wipers out of reach of the spinning gear I can grab the heavy weight and sling it into the fray and work it quickly back to make another cast.

There are many presentations that will work but nothing can replace time on the water. With this time you will learn not only what to use and how to use it, but also where the wipers reside in your lake. I target wipers when I know they are active and I can catch a few but many anglers love the aggressive nature and the fighting abilities of these great game fish so much that wipers are all they fish for. The tri-state area has many lakes and rivers full of wipers and enough fish to allow for full time wiper fishing, and March can be a great time to start the fishing season off and cure those cabin fever blues.

----Ken McBroom is a freelance writer and photographer based in Indiana. For more information visit www.ramblingangler.com.

Fishing License Information

With a few exceptions (see License Exemptions at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2347.htm), a valid fishing license issued by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is required to fish in public lakes, streams, rivers or tributaries in Indiana or its boundary waters.

You must carry the license with you when fishing and present it to an Indiana Conservation Officer (or any authorized law enforcement official) upon request. There are fines and penalties for fishing without a license.

To legally fish for or take trout and salmon from public waters, you must also have a valid trout and salmon privilege and a valid fishing license (signed in ink).

How to Buy a License

Online: www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/dnr-license/ index.html In person: Visit one of more than 800 retailers statewide (see www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5334. htm for an interactive map) or visit the DNR Customer Service Center in Indianapolis, IN 46204. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Mail and phone options are also available.

For more information, including a list of all the applicable documentation needed to buy a license, visit www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2347.htm.

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walk around a backyard or a hike on a designated trail can offer great opportunities to observe many aspects Johny Rayof different wildlife species; every trek taken (even on the same path) Auction & Realty produces new sights. Sometimes finding evidence of wildlife is just as exciting as spotting the wildlife itself.

Looking for animal tracks when the ground is covered with Auctioneer/ Owner Lic.# AU10800006 snow is usually a great option, but as the ground begins to thaw the soft soil can make for some wonderful tracks as well. In spring with many wildlife species on the move, conditions for tracking should be about perfect.

Finding tracks and traces of wildlife can make an everlasting impression on children ensuring a lifelong love of nature.

Some of my fondest memories from childhood are those that were spent exploring the outdoors with grandma and grandpa. With them (no matter what the weather) there was 4144 Hwy 61 N • Boonville, IN 47601 always time spent outside, and there was always something 812-897-3643 • Fax 812-897-4543 fascinating to find. I remember on- Saturday the simplest of walks Hours: Openthat Tuesday feeling excited and surprised every time we would come HUNTING FOR Aout to me across animal tracks. One day grandma pointed GREAT DEAL? that even the tiniest snail leaves a trail of slime behind just Stop by R & J’s for the tiniest tot to find.

Shooting Supply Nowadays it seems that only hunters and trappers are keeping this important skill alive. Tracking uses all the senses; it is both a physical and a mental activity that gets us outdoors. Looking for signs of wildlife can turn an everyday walk or a weekend hike into an adventure.

Different mammals leave their own distinctive set of prints.

Pay attention to recent weather events and to the type of soil in the area. The ground conditions and how fast the animal was traveling have an impact on how the track will appear. It is also helpful to know if a particular animal is active during the day or at night. Once youbusiness become familiar Your card with identifying tracks, eventually you cancould begin be to tell approximately how here! long the print has been there.

Keep the food chain in mind when a track has been loCall 812-897-2330 cated. Many times in the predator and prey system, one to toreserve this space. set of tracks will lead another set from a different species and sometimes to a kill site. Evidence of a kill can also help determine a time line. In addition to tracks, there are many other indicators to be aware of, including scratch and scrape

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NATURE marks on surrounding trees or deadfall, half eaten vegetation, ground holes, and scat.

Coyotes, squirrels, rabbits and foxes all leave distinctive tracks behind. One of the most interesting tracks are from beavers; their hind feet are webbed. Tracks left by mammals are not the only ones to find. Birds, reptiles and amphibians leave behind some interesting tracks and traces, too. Wild turkeys (with their heavy bodies) leave somewhat deep impressions on wet soils. When a female snapping turtle slips out of the water to deposit eggs, she leaves behind a trail of mud on the ground cover. Even snakes leave drag marks on the bare ground and on the grass.

Familiarizing yourself with the type of habitat that an animal requires is a big help when locating tracks. Where a particular species breeds, finds food and water and seeks shelter can determine where to look. I have found a variety John & Kristi Horton of tracks (deer, squirrel, raccoon) underneath oak trees Broker Associates even with leaves on the ground. Bodies of water, brush info@hortonteam.com piles, snags, deadfall and rocks are all good places to look (800) 317-9879 Fax around to locate tracks and traces.

Whether experienced or a beginner, a field guide is (812) 518-0411 always handy as well as a small ruler to measure the width www.HortonTeam.com and length of various tracks. A good guide will contain 4004 E Morgan Avenue, Suitetracks 200 • Evansville, IN 47715 examples of front and hind along with patterns of the tracks that allow you to tell if the animal was walking, running, or pouncing. I would recommend the Peterson Field Guide to Animal Tracks by Olaus J. Murie. The National Wildlife Federation is one of the sponsors of this book.

As always when heading out on the trail, stay in designated areas and be respectful of others. If a child accompanies you, consider having them make some prints of their STOP KNOCKING hands and feet when you get home. You can find nontoxic washable ink and ON body paint at most craft stores. Make a WOOD great memory, a love• Annuities of nature in your child.

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Bus: 897-0590 Cell: 431-4396 ----Julie Lockhart is a freelance writer and photographer.

She can be reached at julielockhart69.jl@gmail.com.

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Into the

darkness

36

Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

E

ver since Edouard-Alfred Martel made the first expedition into the Padirac Cave, France, in 1889, spelunking (potholing or caving) has become both a serious pursuit and an extreme pasttime for people far and wide. The U.S. itself is home to several of the world’s best caves and southern Indiana is no slacker.

Marengo Cave, located just 75 miles east of Boonville, boasts one of the best opportunities for exploring in this area. For the trouble of driving an hour and a half, individuals and families can tour the crystal palace or dripstone trail, with canoeing on Blue River, camping and cabins just a few minutes away. Kids can mine for gemstones or practice spelunking in “The Crawl” maze. For the more extreme visitor, Marengo Cave offers a number of unlit caves to explore and will even provide the gear and knowhow to first-timers. Just be prepared to shower the mud off later.

The cave is 5 miles long, with dry upper passages and two underground rivers. It was first discoverd in 1883 by two siblings — 15 and 11, armed with no more than candles — who had decided to investigate a sinkhole on their neighbor’s property. Soon after the discovery, the neighbor opened the cave to the public with a 25-cent general admission price.

Since then, it has become Indiana’s most visited cave.

Indiana’s newest cave is also its longest, and seventh longest in America. Indiana Caverns, which is also just an hour and a half from Newburgh, is part of the Binkley Cave System, which is now more than 40 miles long. The connection between the two cave systems was discovered in 2012, and finally provided a public entrance to the cave. Indiana Caverns provides guided tours and open explorations as well as underground canoeing and bones dating back to the Ice Age. While researchers have excavated other caves for years with limited results, paleontologist have already discoverd 11 complete skulls so far at Indiana Caverns.

There are four ways a cave comes to be. Rain creates a limestone cave, the most common type, by forming carbonic acid with carbon dioxide in the air and soil, which eats away at the watertable and forms channels. A sea cave is made, as you might expect, by waves, but lava can also form caves as the slower, outermost lava in the molten stream cools to form a crust. When the stream finally stops, a long cavern is left behind. Perhaps the strangest way is through bacteria in oil deposits. As the bacteria feed off the deposits, they create hydrogen sulfide gas that mixes with oxgen to form sulfuric acid, which eats away at the walls.

----Chelsea Modglin is a freelance journalist for TriState Outdoors, Newburgh Magazine and the Evansville Courier & Press. Contact her at chelmodglin@ hotmail.com.

Going spelunking?

Bluespring Caverns Park •1 hour, 45 minutes from Boonville •Underground boat tour •Indiana’s largest sinkhole •Gemstone mining •Adult admission: $16 •Child: $8 Squire Boone Caverns •1 hour, 28 minutes from Boonville •Cave tours •Village with grist mill •Zipline •Adult admission: $16 •Child: $8.50 •Cave-in-Rock, Ill. — 1 hour, 57 minutes from Boonville.

•Hidden River Cave, Ky. — 2 hours, 22 minutes from Boonville.

•Mammoth Cave, Ky. — 2 hours, 15 minutes from Boonville.

•Illinois Caverns — 3 hours, 15 minutes from Boonville.

•Ohio Caverns — 4 hours, 51 minutes from Boonville.

Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

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Tri-State Outdoors | Spring 2016

e t a t S Tri-

OUTDOORS Magazine

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