De-watering Wetland and April 14, 2007 Outdoor Column

Began de-watering the Woods Edge wetland last night. Plan to bring water off slowly through June.

The following column appeared in the Pittsburg Kansas Morning Sun on April 14, 2007:

On the “Web”…Part 1

Waterfowl hunters are a hybrid breed when it comes to technology. One-half of a waterfowler’s brain seeks all the latest technological advances with which to gain some miniscule advantage when it comes to luring in his fine feathered friends. The other half of a waterfowler’s brain yearns to return to bygone times of tan colored, canvas hunting jackets, hand-carved wooden decoys, and black and white photographs of salty duck hunters displaying a day’s harvest on the fender of a Model T.

The following “web” resources are a compromise to, hopefully, entertain both sides of the hardy waterfowler’s brain. Check them out and I’m sure you’ll find links to the latest spinning wing duck decoy as well as underground deals on the famed waterfowling gear of yesteryear.

Ducks Unlimited: www.ducks.org
Duck Unlimited is one of the oldest conservation organizations in the world. Its roots are anchored in the vision of a handful of duck hunters that, in the 1930’s, created an agency to conserve and develop wetland habitat for generations to come. On the Ducks Unlimited website you’ll find resources from biology to natural history to tips on how to properly train your own super human Labrador retriever. Check out the “Biologist Blog” of Ducks Unlimited waterfowl biologist Mike Checkett to follow along on the real-life adventures of conservation professional and a died-in-the-wool waterfowler.

Avery Outdoors Forum: http://forum.averyoutdoors.com
Avery Outdoors is a leading supplier of waterfowling gear that ranges from decoys to clothing to portable duck and goose blinds. Their interactive forum is a clearinghouse for a network of waterfowlers from across the world. If one has questions about waterfowling products, hunting strategies, duck and goose calls, or how to take great outdoor photographs the Avery Forum is a one-stop online shopping center. So, if you’re thinking of purchasing some new piece of gear, check out the Avery Forum as chances are there are waterfowlers out there who have used it and can give you a “thums-up” or “thumbs-down.”

Waterdog TV: www.waterdogtv.com
If you love stinky, wet Labrador retrievers as most waterfowlers do, check out Waterdog TV. This website and accompanying television programming is an offshoot of Ducks Unlimited and their members’ desire to enhance the average waterfowler’s linkage to their loyal retriever. This site is packed with professional trainers’ blogs, training tips, video teasers of upcoming programs, and links to other dog training resources. This is one of those sites where, just by merely browsing the homepage, you are bound to learn a few tips on getting the most out of your own “water dog.”

Mack’s Prairie Wings: www.mackspw.com
Last, but certainly not least, Mack’s Prairie Wings has everything that the waterfowler needs, could need, might need, and probably doesn’t need and it’s all only a mouse click away. Mack’s Prairie Wings is the online cousin of Mack’s Sport Shop in Stuttgart, Arkansas, who stakes their claim as “America’s Premier Waterfowl Outfitter.” Each year during my annual sojourn to hunt mallards around Stuttgart, time for shopping at Mack’s is always factored into my pre-trip planning. If a waterfowler cannot find some what he or she needs at Mack’s Prairie Wings, one doesn’t need it, period. They run many seasonal specials and also have a wide assortment of turkey hunting gear so log on to find something you “need” for the spring turkey season this year.

These are only a few waterfowling resources on the vast digital superhighway. I will share more in future columns and would welcome an e-mail from any waterfowler out there with information on other “web” resources that are out there.