Category Archives: Wildlife

Casts and Blasts about Marion’s Turkey Vultures.

May 20, 201312:28 p.m.

A turkey vulture glides over downtown Marion, getting ready to spend the night on the town’s water tower or nearby trees.

A few items that didn’t make it into Saturday’s front page story about the up to 200 turkey vultures that often roost near downtown Marion. YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL STORY ON KANSAS .COM.

– They’re vultures, not buzzards, and there is a difference though both species of birds mostly eat carrion. Vultures are actually closely related to storks.

– Most of the birds seen around Marion’s water tower these days are probably year-old birds, not yet mature enough to nest. Most adults are probably scattered across the countryside raising vultlets, or whatever the young are called.

– Like all migratory birds, turkey vultures are protected by federal laws and can’t legally be shot or killed. There would also be that little problem with firing a firearm in the city limits of Marion.

– A flock of vultures is called a venue, and a group circling in the air are a kettle…not that I could ever imagine cooking a vulture in a kettle.

– Vultures have been on Earth for an estimated 40 million years, which is about how long grazing animals (a.k.a. vulture food) have also roamed the planet.

– Some Kansas birders jokingly refer to road kills as “TV dinners,” referencing that they’ll probably be eaten by Turkey Vultures.

Biologists think vultures are probably attracted to Marion’s water tower because its height makes it easier for the birds to soar away in the morning.

– Though their beaks are strong and very sharp, turkey vultures often use vomiting as a means of protection. (Had it happen to a relative one time…he assured me it was not pleasant.)

– Adult turkey vultures have few predators, though they are sometimes struck by vehicles when they flush beside roadways or the occasionally hit utility lines. Another problem is if they are eating the remains of an animal killed by a human hunter ,and ingest a lead bullet or shotgun pellet. Either can be fatal because of lead poisoning.

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Birding, Wildlife | Comments

Nebraska turkeys not as friendly as the people

May 13, 201311:15 a.m.

We went, …we called, …we saw…and my 33 seasons of experience, and  $300 worth of decoys and calls, got kicked around by a bunch of birds with penny-sized brains.

Only in the turkey woods.

A rainbow over the South Loup River was the consolation prize after a failed afternoon of turkey hunting. Photo by Ed Schulte.

Last weekend longtime friend Ed Schulte and I headed to his boyhood home amid the cornfields, pastures and meandering South Loup River of central Nebraska.  No stranger to the Merriam’s/Rio Grande hybrid turkeys of the Nebraska and Dakota prairies, I was confident.

We’re talking hit the baseball off the top of the tee with three swings confident.

I was to take care of the calling and equipment, while Ed took care of lodging and hunting grounds. That meant staying with Ed’s relatives, Don and Diana Axmann.

With a feed and seed business, and a lifelong resident of the area, Don had us set to hunt three great properties along the South Loup. When we showed interest in another place, Don’s quick call got access there, too. That’s the way we were treated, both by Ed’s large family, friends of the family and complete strangers.

The people were as refreshing as the weather was blustery on two of our four days.

The first evening we just scouted properties, located several groups of gobbling toms at sunset and I got to know the Axmann’s. Judging by the dominance of red and Husker memorabilia in his basement, it was quickly obvious that Don was addicted to anything Nebraska football. Quiet on the outside, his dry since of humor  is appreciable.

Diana reminded me of her sister, Ed’s wife, Ronda – friendly, talkative, positive, perpetually happy, and very talented in the kitchen.

Goal #1 was to call in a tom for Ed, who’d only ambushed turkeys in the past. With plenty of mouth, slate and box calls along, and a pair of ultra-realistic, decoys, I figured no problems.

Hunters plan, turkeys laugh.

And really, the first day went well enough.

The morning’s hunt never had a chance thanks to a guitar string-tight barbed wire fence that probably dissuaded enthusiastic toms from coming our way. It happens when you’re hunting an area for the first time

No biggie. That afternoon I lured in a nice tom that came in at a bad angle and was probably within the fringe of shotgun range. Figuring he’d come on in and give Ed a shot, I held off the trigger. The tom simply turned and slowly strutted away. Coward.

Ed Schulte and the prairie tom that played by the rules, and came to calls and decoys.

Towards evening, Ed got to see a nice tom come to calls and decoys. He made the shot, which left us a day-and-a-half to get me at least one  bird.

We had two hunts at some of the prettiest prairie turkey habitat I’ve ever seen. Amid the mile-long stretch of timber along the South Loup was a 20 acre or so plot of alfalfa totally hidden from any roads. About 20 turkeys, including at least five longbeards, were in the field when we checked it. Farm trails seemed perfect travel routes to and from the field for turkeys in the area.

The first afternoon at the spot we set-up along the edge of one of those trails and had a hen in our decoys within 10 minutes, but the toms in the area showed up late and didn’t want to play. We moved our blind to where they’d been that evening.

The next morning, our last of the hunt, the air was filled with gobbles when the birds were scattered amid three roosting places. When they hit the ground, though, – silence.

We had two henlesss longbeards pass along the field oblivious to the decoys and calls. A mixed flock of about two dozen hens and toms showed no reaction, not even  yelp, gobble or strut to my calls, an hour later. Even four lone jakes, probably the most gullible creatures in hunting, totally ignored calls and decoys that had fooled so many birds, through so many seasons.

I did a made move-and-call dash through the woodlands during the final minutes of the hunt. Nada, but tt least I went down swinging.

We wondered if it was the weather, or hunting pressure we didn’t know about, or just turkeys being turkeys that day and flipping me the feather.

No problem, really. The beards and spurs will be a bit longer next spring, Ed and I know two properties better and still have at least two more to explore.

Hopefully next year the turkeys of central Nebraska won’t again be so  rude.

The people and the country won’t let us down.

Go Huskers!

 

 

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Hunting, Michael's World, Outdoors photography, Wildlife | Comments

Casts and Blasts, Quivira’s management plans

May 6, 201310:08 p.m.

YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO READ SUNDAY’S UPDATE ON PROPOSED MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS AT THE QUIVIRA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

You read below for a few more details.

Mike Oldham, the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge manager.

- Mike Oldham, refuge manager, said a total of 45-50 people attended their three public meetings in Stafford, Wichita and Great Bend last week.

-Ron Klataske, Audubon of Kansas director, commented in Wichita that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife  staff  promoting the meetings didn’t do an adequate job of notifying the public. I also expressed concern that The Wichita Eagle didn’t appear to have been notified. Fish and Wildlife personel at Wichita’s gathering said they followed normal procedures.

- After the three meetings, Oldham indicated he’d heard only from hunters more interested in keeping the North Lake region open to  public hunting, than keeping other portions of the refuge open for hunting when whooping cranes are present. Under a current proposal, the refuge could remove the North Lake area from places open to public hunting.

As a trade, some areas previously closed to public hunting could be opened, thus allowing hunting when whoopers are present because they’re seldom in the proposed new areas. Oldham said the wetlands habitat within those units has been improved recently.

Several years ago, sportsmen at early planning meetings expressed a desire to keep the refuge open to hunting when whooping cranes are present. Since, U.S. Fish and Wildlife planners have been working to  implement a plan for such desires.

- Oldham said federal regulations limit how much of Quivira can be opened to public hunting at about 40 percent.

My personal perspective -

- It appears that Oldham and other Fish and Wildlife staff members are indeed trying to include public desires into the 15 year management plan, though the good of the wildlife on the 22,000 acre refuge will come first…as it should be.

- Because of the small turnout at the meetings, it appears that a vocal minority may have the opportunity to help set the refuge’s future.

- It’s good to see consideration be given to the wildlife viewing quality at Quivira. In my opinion, it’s the top viewing/wildlife photography destination in Kansas, by far. On a good November afternoon I can shoot 300-700 frames of deer, wild turkeys, ducks, geese, sandhill cranes and, if I’m fortunate, whooping cranes.

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Birding, Hunting, Outdoors photography, Wildlife | Comments

Possible changes to Quivira’s management plans to be discussed

April 29, 20139:33 p.m.

Discussion and public comments on long-term habitat and wildlife management plans at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are planned for Tuesday evening at the Great Plains Nature Center.

Mike Oldham, refuge manager, said topics will include proposed tree control plans, changes in public use of wetlands when whooping cranes are present and allowing deer and turkey hunting for the first time at the refuge.

Oldham said the refuge is holding the 5 to 7 p.m. meeting as part of its 15-year conservation plan. The process began about four years ago and has resulted in a 300-plus-page plan for how the refuge should proceed in the future.

“Everything we could think about doing has been put in there,” Oldham said of the detailed plan. “We need to justify everything we do.”

Oldham stressed that even though the plan shows preferred options, plan details can still change.

He said he knows tree removal plans could draw a lot of public interest. For several years, refuge management has been working to restore the area to its native prairie state.

Many visitors have expressed frustration that thousands of trees and bushes have been removed from the area to make room for prairie grasses.

Oldham said the conservation plan will probably see continued tree control but maybe not at current levels.

A long history of closing the entire 20,000-plus-acre refuge to all hunting when endangered whooping cranes are present could end. A current proposal would close areas where the birds are present to all hunting, while leaving other areas open to hunting.

Another possible change could be the opening of areas previously closed to hunting, making up for wide areas closed when whooping cranes are present.

Oldham said any area known to hold a whooping crane would probably be shut down immediately, according to the preferred plan.

The plan is similar to one at the state-owned Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, where only units holding whooping cranes are closed to hunting.

Oldham said the refuge staff would also like the chance to hold limited hunts for deer and turkeys in the area. He said such hunts would probably take more planning and public comment before implementation.

“As for now, we just want to be on the table to allow deer hunting,” said Oldham, noting that population control could eventually help reduce the spread of disease. “Right now we don’t even have any details; those would have to be worked out down the road.”

Such considerations could include refuge deer and turkey population densities, public safety and having a minimal impact on wildlife watching within the refuge. He predicted any limited deer hunting could be several seasons away.

Oldham said other parts of the long-term plan could be implemented later this year, pending federal approval.

Other topics within the long-term plan, and possibly up for discussion on Tuesday, include water quality and quantity for the refuge’s wetlands, prohibiting the collection of shed deer antlers and ways to increase public use and wildlife compatibility.

A similar public meeting will be held Wednesday at the Front Door Community Center in Great Bend.

Comments can also be submitted at www.fws.gov/refuge/quivira.

 

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Birding, Hunting, Outdoors photography, Wildlife | Comments

A New Breed of Prairie Chicken…

April 9, 201310:14 p.m.

GOVE COUNTY – Tuesday morning had all the makings of a complete disappointment.

Researcher Erica Skorlinski holds a probable hybrid lesser/greater prairie chicken, just fitted with identifying leg bands.

The temperature was 42 degrees when we left Scott City at 5:30 a.m. and dropping into the 20s, with wind gusts more than 40 m.p.h. by the time we met Reid Plumb and Erica Skorlinski along a desolate gravel road half-way between the Middle of Nowhere and We’d Better Pack a Lunch and Bring Another Spare.

Plumb and Skorlinski are part of several teams of researchers spread across three parts of Kansas, mainly studying about everything possible about lesser prairie chickens. The rolling Smoky Hills the K-State based researchers are monitoring are known to be THE best lesser prairie chicken range in the world. Plumb said birds in that region are either holding their own in numbers or still increasing.  Such generally isn’t the case for the species the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is carefully considering for their endangered or threatened species list.

Plumb and others have had no difficulties finding healthy leks in the region. He said another biologist figures Gove County has more lessers than Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas combined. New Mexico is the only other state, besides Kansas, with the grassland grouse.

Still, my hosts weren’t optimistic when they set their wire cage traps in the dark long before daylight.

One reason Plumb had picked Tuesday’s two leks was because I’d expressed a curiosity about birds that are hybrid mixture of lesser and greater prairie chickens. With the wind and cold rain, Plumb thought it would be good to just see some birds. Having even one walk into a trap was almost an impossible desire amid the conditions.

But shortly after the dull grayness known as “daylight,” Plumb spotted a bird in a wire box on one lek. Plumb and Skorlinski ran into the brutal wind to get to the bird, wanting to get to it before it injured itself against the sides of the trap or caught hypothermia from the cold and wet.

Jogging up late behind them, I heard Plumb’s words of, “It’s a hybrid,” come through the wind. It was the only bird in a trap, and one of no more than two hybrid males he’d seen displaying amid a dozen or so lesser males at the lekthe past few days.

The air sack of a male hybrid prairie chicken carries the colors of both lesser and greater birds.

Back inside the truck, where the bird was weighed, measured in several places and had blood and feathers taken for testing, Plumb showed me what others had already said – hybrids carry characteristics of both lesser and greater birds. The male bird weighed about 1,000 grams, certainly between the averages of about 1,150 grams for greaters and about 920 grams for lessers. The coloring and the bird’s barring was a light brown, a shade between the two species.

The coolest part to me, was when Plumb lifted the long pinnae feathers and showed a deflated air sack that was mottled with yellow and reddish-orange, the colors of greaters and lessers, respectably. Plumb said inflated the color mixture is very obvious. The sound the birds make while displaying, which was inaudible over the gusty winds, is also said to be a neat mixture, too.

After the bird was fitted with some identifying leg bands, Skorlinski  released it and we watched it fly away. Interestingly at the other lesser prairie chicken lek, the researchers also found just one male in a trap. It appeared to be  pure greater prairie chicken.

Plumb said other researchers are trying to put tracking devices on some hybrid prairie chicken females, to learn more about their actions and see if they’re fertile and will raise young.

Chances are I’ll head to that remote part of Kansas again this summer. Seeing one of the few hybrids was a birding highlight. The chance, though slight, of seeing a hen with a brood of hybrid chicks would be even better…but I do hope it’s much warmer upon that return.

Researchers Erica Skorlinsk, left, and Reid Plumb run to remove a prairie chicken from a trap in Gove County Tuesday morning.

 

 

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Birding, Hunting, Michael's World, Wildlife | Comments

A Woman and her Dog…and their growing pile of antlers

April 4, 201312:53 p.m.

Amber Stimatze and Winnie with some of the antlers they found Tuesday afternoon.

Amber Stimatze is a self-described “rodeo brat” from St. John, who has always enjoyed working with animals.

It’s hard, though, to call what she’s doing with Winnie, a young Labrador retriever, “work.”

Whenever they get the chance, the pair are out walking the central Kansas countryside looking for antlers that have fallen from whitetail or mule deer bucks earlier this year. With keen, experienced eyes and binoculars, Stimatze is pretty skilled at finding them. Winnie is the real pro, though, because she uses her sight, scenting ability and some unique training to help her find and fetch antlers.

Winnie comes from Roger Sigler’s Antler Ridge Antler Dogs kennel in western Missouri. An accomplished animal trainer for several decades, Sigler and his family have nearly perfected the ability to produce pups with the natural ability to search for antlers. Their unique training techniques helps those pups reach their antler finding potential.

Winnie, a specially-trained antler dog, fetches a shed mule deer antler she found Tuesday in Edwards County.

Sigler said he’s placed antler dogs in about 40 states, and that their dogs are continually improving because of a selective breeding program.

Tuesday afternoon Winnie and Stimatze teamed up to find 17 antlers in a few hours.

You’ll be able to read a lot more about their hunt, and what it takes to make a good antler dog, on the Outdoors page of Sunday’s Wichita Eagle, or at www.kansas.com/outdoors.

By Michael Pearce | Filed under A Dog's Life, Hunting, Wildlife | Comments

Turkey seasons begin Monday…check out these spurs

March 29, 20139:30 a.m.

A lot of hunters judge a tom’s trophy quality by the length of its beard, but most longtime, well-travel sportsmen, know it’s a bird’s spurs that best bespeak its age and dominance.

Any turkey hunter worth his best box call has been counting the days until Monday for several months. April 1 is the traditional opener for youth, disabled and archery turkey hunters. Shotgun season begins April 10, always the second Wednesday of the month, and both seasons end May 31.

Most people think bird numbers are up over much of the state, though some regions are still rebuilding after several bad hatches beginning about six years ago. Around the Wichita area a lot of outdoors folks have reported seeing a lot of yearling jakes. Though many hunters prefer to reserve their tags for an older longbeard, the mobs of jakes this spring gives added promise for next season when the birds are hard-gobbling, call-charging two-year-olds.

There are certainly some trophy-class birds waiting to be called or decoyed. I photographed a great tom with spurs as long as golf tees but as wicked as shark’s teeth, Wednesday morning in Butler County. To the hardcore gobaholic such birds are called limbhangers, meaning the spurs are good enough to suspend the bird upside-down from a tree limb.

On and off winter weather of the past few weeks seems to have confused the birds a bit but only a few days of warm weather will get toms and hens moving out and about. Kansas annually produces some of the best turkey hunting in the nation, and the annual success rate usually above 50 percent is almost always  near the top for all 49 states with spring seasons.

A flock of young jake turkeys strut in a snowy field in Chase County Wednesday morning. Biologists think recent cold and snow may have the birds still lingering in winter patterns.

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Birding, Hunting, Wildlife | Comments

Casts and Blasts from March 21 KDWPT Commission meeting

March 25, 20131:57 p.m.

As at most, too much happened at last week’s Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission meeting in Topeka to be included in one article. Well, technically even within two articles.

YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO READ A BLOG THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED THE MEETING.

YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO READ AN ARTICLE ON SUNAY’S OUTDOORS PAGE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Also at the meeting -

- Commissioners Debra Bolton and Randy Doll were absent.

– Matt Peek, Wildlife and Parks furbearer biologist, began discussions to make it illegal for coyote hunters to hunt from vehicles or use two-way radios for hunting coyotes during Kansas’s 12 day general firearms deer season. Peek said the department regularly gets complaints about possibly illegal deer hunters hunting from vehicles and using radios, then claiming they’re hunting coyotes if checked by game wardens. If voted into law at an upcoming meeting, the regulation would allow other kinds of coyote hunting during the firearms deer season.

–Peek also recommend a modest reduction in pronghorn permits for the 2013 seasons because the population has suffered because of drought.

– Tim Donges, El Dorado Quality Deer Management Association, asked if the department might want to consider making shotguns with slugs the only legal weapons during the firearms deer season. He also suggested discussion on minimum antler restrictions to help insure people don’t shoot young bucks. Donges noted that several states implement both regulations.

– Wildlife and Park’s was awarded the “Outstanding Sportfishing Restoration Award” from the American Fisheries Society for the fishing opportunities opened up by their Fishing Impoundments and Stream Habitats program, which opens hundreds of private land fishing areas to the public.

– Shawn Stratton, Fort Riley wildlife biologist, said last season’s kill of about 440 deer was a new record for the military base. He estimated the population to be about 1,500 deer on the fort’s about 101,000 acres.

– Commissioners in attendance spoke of their decision to pass regulations that now allow the widespread use of crossbows during archery deer seasons, and making it legal for any centerfire rifle or handgun to be legal for hunting big game in Kansas.

– “If we make a mistake, we can correct it,” Gerald Lauber, commission chairman said of revisiting the regulations, if needed, “but if the legislature makes a mistake I’m not sure they’re going to correct it. Well, they don’t make mistakes.”

–”I think the economic benefits are great, and that we could get more youth involved is great,” Commissioner Don Budd said. “I think this is a good thing.”

– Becky Blake, state tourism director, said studies show that for every $1 Kansas invests in marketing tourism, there’s a return of $80.

– Rex, an 11-year-old Labrador Retriever in the department’s K-9 program was honored upon his retirement from law enforcement work.

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife | Comments

Crossbows, all centerfires legalized for deer hunting in Kansas

March 21, 201310:00 p.m.

Kansas hunters now have a lot more choices for what equipment they can use during deer and turkey seasons.

Thursday evening the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission approved the use of crossbows during all archery deer seasons for all hunters. They also removed caliber restrictions for deer rifles.

The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission, Thursday evening, unanimously approved all of the department’s requests for liberalizing weapon and other equipment restrictions.

– Crossbows will now be legal for all hunters during archery deer seasons in Kansas.  Previously they were only legal for those with approved physical limitations, those 15 and under and 55 and older, in four deer management units  involved in a two year study.
 — Any centerfire rifle or handgun cartridge can now be used for big game hunting during the appropriate firearm season. Previously, rifle cartridges had to be at least .22 caliber and handgun cartridges had to be at least  1.28-inches long.

— Slugs can now be used in any gauge shotgun for deer hunting in Kansas, rather than 20 gauge or larger.

 — The restriction saying all crossbows had to have at least 120 pounds of pull was also removed.

—  Most electronic devices attached to bows are now legal, including such things as attached cameras, and rangefinders. Also, radio frequency devices attached to arrows, that stick to an arrowed deer to ease in retrieval, are also legal.

 —  Any shotgun, regardless of gauge, can now be used for turkey hunting. Before, it was only shotguns 20 gauge or larger.

  Chris Tymeson, Wildlife and Parks attorney, said the new regulations will be in effect when deer seasons open in September. He estimated it will take about four weeks before the turkey regulations become law, because of the legal process. Tymeson said Wildlife and Parks will post a news release when those regulations become official, to inform hunters afield for the upcoming spring turkey seasons that basically run April 1-May 31.

    Robin Jennison, Wildlife and Parks secretary, said he favored the changes to allow hunters more freedom of choice, and to possibly make it easier for more children and small-framed adults to enjoy time deer hunting. He’s not concerned the changes will lead to an over-harvest of deer, or decline in the state’s trophy quality.

   ”It’s always been a societal issue, and never been a biological issue,” Jennison said of the crossbow and caliber changes that drew lengthy debate for several years at commission meetings. “The crossbow(becoming legal) doesn’t take away from the experience of anybody who wants to use a (vertical) bow.”

 Brent Gardner, a National Rifle Association representative from Fairfax, Virginia, said his group supported all of the weapon changes, and said the NRA has studied the topics at length and never found where any of them have a negative impact on wildlife.

  Several commissioners said they had gotten several e-mails and phone calls opposing the equipment changes, but found widespread support when they started talking to local sportsmen. “If I was up here representing bowhunters I would be against it,” Commissioner  Roger Marshall, Great Bend, said of crossbows. “But I have to represent the people (of Kansas.) I don’t think passing this is going to hurt the deer herd.”

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Breaking news, Hunting, Wildlife | Comments

African wildlife official says American hunters important for survival of lions

March 20, 20137:58 a.m.

A recent opinion editorial in the New York Times, “Saving Lions by Killing Them,”  was forwarded to me recently.

It’s by the Tanzanian Natural Resources director of wildlife, and addresses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s considering putting lions on the endangered species list. Such a move would make it illegal to import any parts of African lions, like hides for mounting. Such a ruling would basically stop many American hunters from traveling to the African nation, which, according to the official, could actually harm the species and damage the country’s economy.

Here’s a bit of the director’s published writing -

“In Tanzania, lions are hunted under a 21-day safari package. Hunters pay $9,800 in government fees for the opportunity. An average of about 200 lions are shot a year, generating about $1,960,000 in revenue. Money is also spent on camp fees, wages, local goods and transportation. And hunters almost always come to hunt more than one species, though the lion is often the most coveted trophy sought. All told, trophy hunting generated roughly $75 million for Tanzania’s economy from 2008 to 2011.

The money helps support 26 game reserves and a growing number of wildlife management areas owned and operated by local communities as well as the building of roads, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure — all of which are important as Tanzania continues to develop as a peaceful and thriving democracy.”

YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE OPINION PIECE.

Similarly, about 20 years ago famed Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey, said hunting should be allowed again in Kenya as a way to raise funds to help fund wildlife and anti-poaching programs. While heading the Leakey wildlife department, he issued a law that all elephant poachers should be shot on sight.

 

By Michael Pearce | Filed under Hunting, Michael's World, Wildlife | Comments