Page 11 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 3-16-2016

Local NewsClear Lake Mirror-Reporter
A pair of mature gobblers square off. -Photo by Lowell Washburn.
Pre-season scouting leads
to turkey hunting success
by Lowell Washburn
Iowa’s youth turkey hunting sea-
son begins April 9. The regular spring
seasons commence April 18. For lo-
cal turkey hunting enthusiasts, the
seasons can’t come a minute too soon.
Most hunters are already pacing the
floor in anticipation of what to expect
when they finally take to their favorite
woodland in search of the elusive gob-
bler. Chronic outbreaks of Gobbler
Fever are further intensified by this
year’s abnormally early snow melt.
I’m plenty anxious myself. But
regardless of what this year’s hunts
may bring, I’ve already had an exciting
season. During the past several days
I’ve been exploring familiar timbers,
blasting away on turkey calls, and gen-
erally having an all around good time
with preseason gobblers. As always,
the boisterous crack-of-dawn turkey
shows have been nothing short of
spectacular and I’ve had opportunities
to watch and photograph adult gob-
blers as well as some jakes and hens.
As is usually the case, I’ve had the pre- not automatically become a hermit.
season woodlands all to myself --- just
me, the birds and an occasional rac-
coon.
It’s unfortunate that so many
spring turkey hunters are entirely
missing out on the preseason fun. I
blame the pros. For years now, turkey
hunting professionals have been using
seminars, magazine articles, and other
communication mediums to preach
the evils of preseason calling. Engag-
ing in such activities will needlessly
educate birds, they say, resulting in
spooky, call shy toms that will lead to
reduced success when hunting seasons
finally open for real. Often repeated
and widely accepted, the theory has
been around since Iowa turkey seasons
first began more than 30 years ago.
I’ll admit that the theory does
sound logical. In reality, it’s far from dominance.
the truth. As long as hunters adopt
a stealthy common sense approach,
preseason excursions with call, bin-
oculars, or camera can result in some
of your most productive hours afield.
Upon closer scrutiny, the idea
that the gobbler who hears your call,
comes looking, and then doesn’t find
a real hen will not respond to the same
sound another day is just plain ridicu-
lous. Wild turkeys are highly social,
highly vocal, and extremely mobile.
In the real woods, games of hide and
seek play out on a near continual ba-
sis. When such scenarios do occur
and a roving gobbler doesn’t actually
see every hen he hears, that tom will
Think about it.
In reality, hunters have plenty
of incentive for getting into the tim-
ber well in advance of legal hunting
seasons. Generally speaking, spring
mornings are crisp and invigorat-
ing. As daylight hours continue to
lengthen, the predawn gobbling be-
comes as loud and raucous as it gets.
When sunrise approaches and birds
finally hit the ground, they rarely fail iawildlife.org/blog
to provide dramatic displays that in-
clude in-your-face gobbling, nonstop
strutting, and if you’re extremely for-
tunate, a good old fashioned Gobbler
Smack Down. Those who have en-
joyed a ring side seat know that few
wildlife dramas are more breath taking
than when a couple of long bearded,
needle-spurred heavyweights vie for
In addition to the entertainment
value, preseason forays also have a
practical side. They offer a chance to
explore new territories or to become
reacquainted with familiar timbers.
They also provide spring turkey en-
thusiasts with unparalleled opportu-
nities to look, listen and learn as wild supporters to walk a block around the
turkeys communicate and interact
within a completely natural setting.
If you really want to know what tur-
key calling is supposed to sound like,
nothing tops the instruction of live
hens. It’s an education that can’t be
matched – even by the pros. Arming
yourself with knowledge obtained
directly from the wild bird itself can
only serve to increase, not decrease,
your probability for future success.
My advice? Quit listening to the
pros – at least on this point. Instead,
get into the woodlands and enjoy
some preseason fun for yourself. Bet-
ter hurry though. Opening day will
be here before you know it.
Enjoy more wildlife tales online at
Washburn’s Outdoor Journal at
March 21-15 proclaimed as
Severe Weather Awareness Week
Daily subjects suggested for storm preparation
Governor Terry E. Branstad has
proclaimed March 21-25, 2016, as
Severe Weather Awareness Week. The
Iowa Department of Homeland Se-
curity and Emergency Management
(HSEMD) and the National Weather
Service (NWS) have again joined
together to promote severe weather
awareness and family preparedness.
For each day during Severe
Weather Awareness Week, a different
subject will be featured:
•Monday – Severe Thunderstorms
•Tuesday – Weather warnings
•Wednesday – Tornadoes (10-11 a.m.
Tornado drill 10:15 a.m.)
•Thursday – Family Preparedness
•Friday – Flash Flooding
The annual tornado drill will take
place on Wednesday, March 23, at
approximately 10 a.m. Schools, busi-
Registration
open for Autism
Advocacy Walk
Residents throughout North
Iowa are invited to join radio person-
ality J. Brooks of 98.7 KISS Country
and the Opportunity Village Chil-
dren’s Autism Center to celebrate au-
tism advocacy at the third annual J.
Brooks Walk-A-Block fundraiser on
April 2.
This year’s walk will be held from
9-11 a.m. at City Park in Clear Lake.
In honor of Autism Awareness Month,
participants will join other friends and lowing counties are eligible to enter:
park. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and
the walk starts at 10 a.m. A balloon
release from the Clear Lake Sea Wall
will follow the walk. From 9-10 a.m.,
a resource reception will take place in
the Lakeview Room directly behind
the City Park Bandshell. Area autism
supports and services will be present
to visit and answer questions.
All proceeds from the walk go
toward services provided by Opportu-
nity Village Children’s Autism Center
to local families of children with au-
tism.
Individuals wishing to partici-
pate should register at www.jbrook-
swalkablock.org. Early registration
will take place through 9 a.m. March
21. Cost is $15 for adults and $5 for
children 12 and under. After 9 a.m.
March 21, registration cost for adults
is $20. Participants can register at the
event.
March 16, 2016 • Page 11
nesses, state and local governments There are three simple steps you
and individuals are strongly encour- can take:
aged to participate in the drill. Addi- •Build a kit. Your emergency
tional information about the tornado supply kit should have everything you
drill can be found on local NWS web- need to sustain you and your family
sites. for three to five days.
“Severe Weather Awareness Week •Make a plan. Knowing what to
is the perfect time to practice our do in the event of an emergency is key.
emergency plans and review the items Make sure everyone in your family
in our emergency supply kits,” said knows what to do.
Stefanie Bond, public information of- •Be Aware. Learn about the haz-
ficer for HSEMD. “Make sure your ards that can affect your community,
medications, batteries, food, and wa- and learn how to obtain information
ter are all up to date. And, every mem- about current weather and road con-
ber of your family should know what ditions. Visit the website to find out
to do if severe weather strikes – no more about specific hazards that affect
matter where you are when it does.” Iowa.
Artists invited to submit entries
for regional show in Clear Lake
Artists from a nine-county area [email protected] or mail to me
are invited to submit entries for the at 717 N. 16th Court, Clear Lake,
2016 Iowa Artists regional show to be Iowa 50428. You must be a member
held in Clear Lake Saturday, April 2. of Iowa Artists to enter, but we will
Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. accept dues for new members at the
at the Clear Lake Arts Center, 17 S. show.”
4th Street, this one-day show involves Acceptable works must be origi-
two and three dimensional art, which nal, stemming from the artist’s own
will be judged and critiqued, with experience and executed within the
first, second, third and honorable last two years,” she stated. “”Photos,
mention ribbons awarded. Artworks computer art slides, videos and work
receiving blue ribbons are then quali- done in classes or workshops are not
fied for entry into the state competi- eligible. Ready-to-hang paintings,
tion in May. drawings, works in pastel, pencil, ink
Artists over age 18 from the fol- or charcoal, and triptychs are accept-
ed, as well as jewelry, ceramics, sculp-
Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, tures, fiber and textile works.”
Humboldt, Kossuth, Pocahontas, Maximum dimensions are four
Winnebago, Worth and Wright. feet in either direction. Each entrant
Iowa is divided into 12 such re- may enter a total of three works.
gions, and persons may enter only in “Iowa Artists, a non-profit group
the region where they live. organized in 1970, includes varied
“Artists wishing to submit works media. This is an advantage because
should pre-register by March 26,” artists come together with various
explained Delores (Dee) Frederick,” forms of art and receive exposure to
event co-chair. “Register with me at and inspiration and encouragement
641-357-8076, or by email at dng. from others,” stated Frederick.
Residential Lots - Priced to Sell
Lots 8 & 9 Wedgewood Court, Clear Lake
Large lots over 20,000 sq. ft. Private street and park. Snow
removal and lawn care. Golf course nearby.
Call 641-425-4323