Say Anything Blog

I love these stories…and pictures…

Four-year-old Caden Smith, who weighs 40 pounds, hauled in a 45-pound flathead catfish Saturday while fishing from the banks of the Trinity River near downtown.

“He battled for his life,” his uncle Dan Smith of Hurst said Wednesday.

Caden missed the record for a flathead catfish caught in the Trinity. For a junior angler, it is a 56-pounder caught in July 2004. For all ages, it is a 58-pounder caught July 21, 1977, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

full story from Ft. Worth here

Here’s a link this Friday podcast from News and Views with, Joel Heitkamp, Doug Leier, Korey Kirschenmann and Bea Fischer talking North Dakota hunting and fishing.

You can click this link to listen at Outdoors Live . But don’t forget to listen each Friday at 10:35
550 KFYR,AM 790 KFGO,and AM 910 KCJB
http://www.gcast.com/u/OutdoorsLive/main
http://twitter.com/dougleier
http://facebook.com/dougleier

North Dakota hunters are reminded that recent moisture throughout much of the state has made travel in some areas extremely difficult.

Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the state Game and Fish Department, said it is important for hunters to maintain positive landowner/hunter relations. “We ask hunters to be cognizant of these conditions,” Kreil said. “Driving on soft, muddy roads and trails is strongly discouraged until they dry out or freeze up.”

Hunters are advised to seek permission before attempting any off-road travel.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is cautioning hunters this fall to be on the lookout for a bull moose with a large white “X” on each front shoulder. The moose was released at the Erie Dam Wildlife Management Area in Cass County on Oct. 14, after it was immobilized and removed from a south Fargo business area.

Hunters need to be aware of this and not shoot the moose, says Greg Link, Game and Fish assistant wildlife division chief, because the drugs used to immobilize the 1,000-pound animal will remain in its muscle tissue for several months. Moose hunting season in unit M6, which encompasses the Fargo area, opens Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 13.

The moose was first reported at 5:43 a.m. north of Interstate 94, near the interchange with 45th Street in southwest Fargo. Fargo Police Department officers responded and along with other agencies and individuals, created a barrier to keep the moose from moving out into traffic or threatening people until a local veterinarian arrived to immobilize the animal.

That process went fairly smooth, Link said, and the moose was released at Brewer Lake, about 25 miles northwest of Fargo, later in the morning. “This was a good outcome,” Link added, “but it doesn’t always turn out that way. Immobilizing wildlife is risky for both the animal and people involved. In this instance, we are fortunate that everything worked out.”

Game and Fish officials expect the paint on the moose to wear off over time, and by next fall hunters will not need to worry about residual drugs in the muscle tissue.

Motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways, especially this time of year, because juvenile animals are dispersing from their home ranges.
Late October through early December is when deer are most active, resulting in the peak period for deer-vehicle accidents. Bill Jensen, big game biologist, said motorists are advised to slow down and exercise caution after dark to reduce the likelihood of encounters with deer along roadways. “Most deer-vehicle accidents occur primarily at dawn and dusk when deer are most often moving around,” Jensen said.
Deer-vehicle accidents are at times unavoidable. However, motorists should be aware of warning signs signaling deer are in the area. When you see one deer cross the road, look for a second or third deer to follow. Also, motorists are urged to pay attention on roadways posted with Deer Crossing Area caution signs.
If an accident does happen, a local law enforcement agency should be contacted. Also, a permit is required to take parts or the whole carcass of a road-killed deer. Permits are free and available from game wardens and local law enforcement offices.
A few precautions can minimize chances of injury or property damage in a deer-vehicle crash.
·      Always wear your seat belt.

·      Don’t swerve or take the ditch to avoid hitting a deer. Try to brake as much as possible and stay on the roadway. Don’t lose control of your vehicle or slam into something else to miss the deer. You risk less injury by hitting the deer.

·      If you spot deer ahead, slow down immediately and honk your horn.

·      No published research supports the effectiveness of deer whistles on vehicles. Deer can’t hear ultrasonic frequencies.

12 miles west of Mandaree on Monday the 3rd quota zone mountain lion was taken, a 98 pound male

Reproduction Survey Shows Excellent Numbers of Young Fish

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall survey shows exceptional numbers statewide of young-of-the-year walleye, perch and northern pike, according to Scott Gangl, fisheries management section leader.

“The end result is a combination of our stocking efforts and excellent natural reproduction,” Gangl said, noting that a record number of lakes were stocked this year.

The Missouri River from Garrison Dam to Lake Oahe led the way with outstanding natural walleye reproduction. “This stretch was phenomenal, and this is noteworthy because it is all natural,” Gangl said. “Nothing is stocked in the Missouri River.”

Lake Oahe and Devils Lake also showed excellent numbers of young fish during the survey. “This was one of the best years ever for Lake Oahe, definitely a top five year,” Gangl said. “Devils Lake was off the charts, with numbers six times greater than the long term average.”

Game and Fish did not stock walleye in Lake Oahe or Devils Lake in 2009.

Lake Sakakawea wasn’t nearly as good as the other larger systems, but it was better than the last few years. “There was some natural reproduction, and numbers were similar to the end of the last drought in the early 1990s,” Gangl said.

Many of the smaller lakes had good numbers of young fish as well. “Whether it was because of stocking efforts or on lakes with natural reproduction, it was pretty standard across the state with a really good take of fish this year,” Gangl said. “Flooding across much of the state provided excellent fish habitat conditions.”

In general, fisheries crews saw good numbers of early spawning species, such as walleye, pike and perch, Gangl said. “Pike and perch take advantage of flooded vegetation and with the large amount of water this year we saw good natural reproduction,” he said.

Statewide, Gangl said forage species did really well. “Fathead minnows in smaller lakes were very abundant,” he added. “On some of the bigger systems, there was really good reproduction of white bass, crappies, and other minnow and sucker species.”

Gangl said a disappointment from this fall’s sampling was the lack of gizzard shad in the Missouri River and Lake Oahe. “Shad can’t tolerate cold water for long periods, and the severity of last winter appears to have depleted much of the adult population, as few young-of-the-year shad were collected this year,” he said.

Fall reproduction sampling provides biologists with an index that measures natural reproduction and stocking success. It allows biologists to see if fish did spawn, and how fingerlings survived the summer. All large and mid-sized reservoirs are sampled every year, and many small lakes are targeted as well. Survey nets are designed for small, young fish, which allows biologists to assess reproduction and status of both game and forage fish species.

“Good reproduction or stocking success is certainly the first step to good fishing, but those little fish have to survive their first couple of winters before they get to a size that anglers can catch,” Gangl said.

October 10 the weekend edition of Outdoors Live Saturday at 5PM We welcome Pheasants Forever Regional Biologist Jesse Beckers with a look at CRP issues this opening pheasant season and biologist from NDGFStan Kohn looks at our rooster situation. We also take a peak into South Dakota pheasant hunting with Chris Hull from SD Game Fish and Parks.  All that and our central dakota outdoors report with Pat Stockdill. Catch it again Sunday morning at 7AM.

Listen live on AM 790 http://www.kfgo.com
podcast at http://www.gcast.com/u/OutdoorsLive/main
http://twitter.com/dougleier
http://www.facebook.com/doug.leier

biologist Doug Leier joins Joel Heitkamp from     on AM 790 KFGO Fargo, AM 550 KFYR Bismarck, AM 910 KCJB Minot podcast right here Outdoors Live

Here’s a link this past Friday podcast from the Joel Heitkamp show. You can click this link to listen at Outdoors Live
But don’t forget to listen each Friday at 10:35
550 KFYR,AM 790 KFGO,and AM 910 KCJB
http://www.gcast.com/u/OutdoorsLive/main
http://twitter.com/dougleier
http://facebook.com/dougleier

I’m not sure I really understand the need to have jaguar’s and tigers and bears captive.

Walz, who has been licensed since 1994, reported to authorities in 2007 that he kept a lion, cougar, jaguar, tiger, black bear, leopard and two servals on the property in Ross Township, a rural area in the Pocono Mountains, about 20 miles northeast of Allentown.
Kelly Ann Walz went into the bear’s 15-by-15-foot steel and concrete cage about 5 p.m. Sunday, throwing a shovelful of dog food to one side to distract the bear while she cleaned the other side, Conway said. At some point the bear turned on her and attacked.

So the fact she was killed by her captive bear doesnt shock me.

full story here

Winter mortality due to unusually harsh weather and lower production this summer because of a cool, wet spring kept the number of young birds down and made for lower recruitment of young into the fall population, according to Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the state Game and Fish Department.
Total pheasants were down 50 percent statewide from last year, brood observations were down 46 percent, and average brood size was down 13 percent. The final summary is the result of 265 runs made along 95 brood routes across North Dakota.
Kohn said this summer’s brood data indicates that the high pheasant numbers of 2004-2008 won’t be seen this fall. “Hunters will observe fair pheasant numbers in areas with better habitat but will notice fewer birds overall,” Kohn said. “This season is going to require more walking and extra effort to fill a bag.”
Total pheasants counted in the four districts of the state were down between 43-60 percent. Brood observations – the lowest since 2000 – closely resemble the number of pheasants seen per 100 miles. While the average brood size is down in all four districts, several are comparable to 2008.
“Our poor production the last two years may have been the result of hatching of partial clutches, but certainly indicates a good amount of renesting attempts by hens,” Kohn said. “Renests have fewer eggs, and this makes for fewer chicks in the brood.”
Statistics from southeastern North Dakota indicate 6.7 broods and 56 birds per 100 miles were observed. The average brood size was 4.96. “The southeast took a pretty good hit in pheasant mortality last winter, as both broods and number of pheasants observed this summer were down 60 percent from last year,” Kohn said. “Combine this with late-maturing row crops that most likely will be standing in October, and hunters will have their work cut out for any early season success.”
Results from the northwest indicate 6.4 broods and 48 birds per 100 miles. Average brood size was 5.3. “Pheasant numbers in this district are the lowest since 2000, but there will be some local areas with good opportunities,” Kohn said.
Observers surveying in the southwest counted 15 broods and 113 birds per 100 miles. The average brood size was 5.05. “Though brood and pheasant numbers are down about 40 percent from last year, this area will likely have the best pheasant numbers in the state, albeit well below what hunters have seen the last several years,” Kohn said.
The 2009 regular pheasant season opens Oct. 10 and continues through Jan. 3, 2010. The two-day youth pheasant hunting weekend, when legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger can hunt statewide, is set for Oct. 3-4.

here’s a quick look at the recent North Dakota pheasant harvest. Season opens Saturday morning in North Dakota

1999-258,000

2000-283,000

2001-421,000

2002-517,000

2003-592,000

2004-587,000

2005-809,000

2006-750,000

2007-907,000

It’s serious, but made me laugh..I’d never heard of South Butt

By now perhaps you’ve heard of The South Butt and young Jimmy Winkelmann.

Winkelmann is the Ladue teen who dreamed up the clothing line as a parody of The North Face, a brand of trendy fleece jackets and T-shirts popular with outdoorsy types and teenagers.

He did this more than two years ago, inspired to create a logo that spoofed what he saw as a senseless status symbol crowding the hallways of his school, Chaminade College Prep.

But hardly anyone knew what he was up to.

That changed, dramatically, after an attorney for The North Face recently fired off a letter to Winkelmann threatening legal action. He was accused of confusing consumers. Ordered to cease and desist. Now.

full story here

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel will stock 15,000 salmon in Lake Sakakawea this fall, and at the same time collect salmon for spawning purposes and stocking next year.
Scott Gangl, fisheries management section leader, said fall stocking in the big lake – largely brought on by low water levels – has been standard the past few years. “Historically, we’ve stocked salmon in spring,” Gangl said. “But when the lake’s water level dropped we lost a large portion of our cold water habitat, causing us to hold some fish in the hatchery to stock in fall to try to enhance their survival.”
Also similar to recent years, fisheries personnel will use electrofishing to collect the salmon for the spawning operation. “We stopped using the salmon ladder a few years ago due to the low water levels, and in doing so discovered we can collect salmon just as easily by electrofishing,” Gangl said. “Setting up and using the ladder was pretty labor intensive.”
Plans are to start salmon spawning efforts in early October, with completion scheduled by the end of the month. Numbers aren’t finalized for next year, but Gangl said the department is planning a larger egg take compared to this year. “The high water level brought an increase in forage in the lake,” he said. “We are planning a substantial increase in the number of salmon stocked next year.”
Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in early October. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in the lake, Game and Fish Department and Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery personnel collect eggs and transport them to the hatchery.
Once the eggs hatch, young salmon spend several months in the hatchery before they are stocked back into Lake Sakakawea, generally in spring.

Game and Fish furbearer biologist Stephanie Tucker says the cat was taken in zone one in the western part of the state.

There’s a quota of eight mountain lions in zone 1, the season will close when six more are killed.

There is no limit on the number of cats taken in zone two, which is the rest of the state.

The season runs through March.