Getting Birdy

Very soon pheasant season will be open in Iowa.  I hope to make a trip up to northwest Iowa within the first few weeks of opening weekend.  Bird numbers are down, by and large, according to the DNR's roadside counts.  However, in northwest Iowa there are still plenty of birds.  I have a newbie hunting dog that didn't get much experience last year as I was unable to hunt as much as I would have liked.  Our one trip up north with her was disappointing because there was so much corn still in the fields that Sadie didn't get to show much of her nose.  She did follow commands quite well and stayed close working.

Sadie Hawkins is a looker! When we began searching for a new dog, we decided on a GSP because of their natural ability (hopefully to make up for an inexperienced trainer).  My wife came along on a hunt with my brother-in-law's dog and got to see what a well-trained pointer can do.  Needless to say, she was sold.

This is Jinny, the dog that can smell birds, even in freeze-dried air!  I recently hit up a trap range with Wife's Dad and Brother with my new shotgun.  Now that the recreation season is officially finished for the year, the plan is to get out on...a WEEKEND! 

First River Run in Kayak

Last week Monday, my Dad and I took our kayaks for our first run down a section of the Des Moines River.  We both had taken trips in canoes on rivers before, this was an entirely different experience.  We put in at Howell Station Landing just below the Red Rock Dam.  The river was moving along at a pretty good clip: approximately 14,000 cfs.  I am used to leisurely paddling down rivers, but when placed in a kayak in fast moving water, something flips the slow switch inside over to something like "how fast can I get this thing to go?"  The river, though somewhat populated by bankside cabins gave us a somewhat of that "explorer" feeling that every boy experiences.  I know this would not be replicated in a motorboat.  We paddled 20 miles down to Eveland Access in just over 3 hours.  This included a few stops as I was overly hydrated to be hearing the constant sound of running water.  Several times I wondered what a kayaking Hun would do... maybe when I feel more comfortable sitting on the back deck.  We spied several eagles, pelicans, great egrets and herons, as well as a possible osprey (though more likely another eagle as they tend to be much farther south this time of year).  We were thankful to steal another paddle from the iowa winter and hope to get a few more in before our indian summer runs dry. 

Bow season has started in Iowa!

I've been looking forward to getting into the bow stand since spring.  Typically, my archery fervor is refueled by attending the Iowa Whitetail Classic.  Drooling over gear, guns, and fine mounted specimens of Iowa's corn fed antlers.  I always shake my head at all of the activated carbon based "scent-killing" apparel that claims to be "re-activated" in the dryer (thermal regeneration of activated carbon requires a three step process and temperatures of 800-900 degrees Celsius).  I'm glad I knew this before I could ever afford to buy that junk.  I digress...(pet peeve). 
I actually have more recently spent more of my hunts on the ground in a cheapo blind.  I find that it's easier to move to where the deer are traveling through especially since I have neither the time nor the dough to set up numerous tree stands.  My first blind was a nice 5-hub blind with shoot through screens and graphite rods.  After a morning of hiding behind a tangled mess of graphite and camo fabric because it broke during set up in the dark, I was about to disavow blinds all together.  Then I bought a cheap, spring-steel pop up type with big, zippered windows and found that blinds are all right.  Once again, thrift appealing to my Dutch heritage.  I find that I am tempted to hunt in areas that I've not hunted before because of unsuitble trees or cover.  I no longer worry about waking up hanging from my harness because I fell out of the stand dreaming of antlers.
Another benefit for me is to be able to stow any one of my four tagalongs (children) to hunt along with me. 

This is Bear last year in the blind with me at the age of 2.  He sat quietly for over two hours, a feat that is rare in church, and got to see several does up close.  This is a great chance for a little one-on-one time with one of the kids and a good way to pass on the passion for the outdoors. 

Monarda fistulosa

This is one of my favorite blooms that occurs mid-late summer.  Wild Bergamot is a lavender, mint family wildflower.  This one was blooming near the Howell Station Prairie trail below the dam of Lake Red Rock.  They attract bees and butterflys and grow in prairies and woodland margins that are fairly well drained. 

Last of the Summer Wine

Fitting for the last week of Summer, I thouroghly enjoyed an episode of "Last of the Summer Wine" on PBS tonight.  How a situational comedy about three geriatric males is so completely entertaining is beyond me.  I've enjoyed this show since high school.  It made me think of the seasonal change that is afoot. A quirky quote from the show (Foggy was in his 70's):

Walter "Foggy" Dewhurst: Every time I come up here, the spirit soars! You can't help
thinking what a wonderful place it would be to set up a machine gun! Give me a
small squad of hand-picked men and I could defend this place indefinitely!
NormanClegg: How long have you been a nature lover, Foggy?  



I spent two of the last three evenings on Lake Red Rock paddling in my new kayak with my Dad.  The first evening was intermittently pouring rain, but we went out anyway because of typical free-time shortage.  We hid under the "mile-long" bridge at one point because of the downpour.  The next night was quite the opposite; beautiful, cool, insectless, with just a little chop.  We shared the 15,000 acres the lake offers with only a couple of fishing boats.  Fall begins the transition of the activity at the lake from the campgrounds and rec areas to the resource areas.  Youth hunters and waterfowlers are out in search for early season game.  The old men begin driving through the campgrounds as sunset approaches to spy on the ever increasing numbers of whitetails.  The kids have gotten into their "groove" at school, and now we are attempting to get into our own routine as work schedules change with the seasons.  I've begun dreaming about napping in my treestands and looking forward to the camradarie of Shotgun I.  It's nearly time for wearing fleeces with shorts, the fall "uniform."  With the sun setting on the summer and look toward a busy fall, I hope I will be able to get out and enjoy the lake this season.