03-28-2019 Outdoors

NEW 4-H CLUB MEMBERS… Straight Shooters 4-H Club recent open house was a great success! Four veteran members did an awesome job organizing and making the new members feel welcome. Pictured are (from the left): Maddie Swisher – Club Secretary/ photographer brought in her bow and equipment; Darlene Mattson – Club Vice President brought her bow and equipment, she is still teaching; President Maggie Avery who brought in her 22 rifle and case to display; Zach Smith saved the day with his laptop so they were able to fill out club paper work on five new members who are (continuing from the left) Santiago Wilkinson, Henry Lowry, Benjamin Lowry, Reid Lowry and Charlotte Lowry. Also in the near future the Lowry kids’ father and grandfather will be joining as parent volunteers and possibly leaders. Straight Shooters Club is excited for these kids and the upcoming fun they will have this year!

Fishing Sorry anglers, the ice fishing in Southern Michigan is a thing of the past. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported that while ice fishing continues to the north, anglers in the southern areas of the state are starting to fish open water. Boat and pier anglers are heading out. Some of the rivers still have high levels which will hopefully recede by the weekend. Although a forecast of rain may not see that happening. Ellinee Bait & Tackle on Paw Paw Lake near Coloma reports no ice left on the local lakes, and not many boats out yet fishing the open water. Most anglers in the area are fishing the river for suckers and steelhead. A couple steelheads were taken down by Watervliet. Captain Kenny Bard of Rampage Fishing Charters out of South Haven reported the ice on Lake Michigan is mostly gone now and a few boats are easing out to fish. Reports are good numbers of coho were being taken. No one is fishing off South Haven pier yet, but they are in St. Joseph and taking a few steelhead. The Kalamazoo River and St. Joseph River are producing some nice steelhead. Steelheads are being taken at the Allegan Dam and the Berrien Springs Dam where good numbers were reported. Grand River at Grand Rapids has high water levels and a swift current which made steelhead fishing a bit more difficult. Muskegon Lake still had some ice on it, however anglers would be wise to stay off it as there are areas of open water and the ice is getting soft. Those still wanting to ice fish should head further north. Some anglers may want to store their ice fishing equipment. The key is doing it properly, so as to be ready to hit the ice next winter. Here is a checklist of things to do: For those that have an auger, check for any damage and dry all the blades before storing it. Consult the power auger’s manual to know how to appropriately handle any leftover gas and how to protect the engine. Remove batteries from any electronics to prevent any potential damage from leaking batteries. Make sure portable shelters are completely clean and dry before storing. It is advisable to put some moth balls in it or hang it to keep pests at bay. Take a full inventory of rods, reels and tackle to see what might be needed/ wanted next year. Also remove all bait or line from hooks and lures for storage and make sure everything is dry. By the time everything is properly stored anglers will be itching to get out on their favorite stream, river or lake for some spring fishing. Muskegon River anglers should be on the lookout for DNR personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam this spring. Walleye will be collected with electrofishing boats starting as early as the week of March 27 and concluding by April 17. Anglers should exhibit caution when fishing near the electrofishing boats. Wading anglers will be asked to exit the water when the boat approaches to ensure their safety. For more information contact Plainwell DNR Customer Service Center, 269-685-6851 or Elyse Walter, 517-284-5839. The DNR and the Outdoor Skills Academy will be presenting two fishing clinics this April at the Carl T. Johnson Center in Cadillac. The first one is a Walleye Fishing Clinic and will be held on April 14. The second will be a Bass Fishing for Beginners Clinic and will be held on April 27. Ed Shaw interpreter and originator of the Outdoor Skills Academy said, “Our classes offer more than just a brief taste of outdoor activities – we spend a full day or more teaching the needed skills to get out and try those activities. We provide gear, hands-on experience and expert instructors.” Contact Ed Shaw at 231-779-1321 for more information and to sign up. Hunting The DNR and Outdoor Skills Academy will hold a Turkey Hunting Clinic in the Carl T. Johnson Center at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac on April 13. This introduction to turkey hunting will cover law, habitat, gear, calling and much more. Students will walk away with the knowledge they need to hunt turkeys on their own. The cost is $30.00, which includes lunch and door prizes. Be sure to register for the Turkey Hunting Clinic by calling Ed Shaw at 231-779-1321. Join the DNR for a volunteer stewardship workday, Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Warren Dunes State Park. The work day will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Join their stewardship crew for a morning of invasive shrub removal to protect our beautiful dunes. Please dress for the weather and to work off the trail. Meet at the picnic area south of the campground and please arrive on time as they will hike to the work location. For more workday listings and details, look at the DNR volunteer stewardship page. Coloma Rod & Gun Club Register for Hunter Safety with Tom Foggarty at Coloma Rod and Gun Club or call 269-325-8065. For more information on the CPL class or Hunter Safety Class, email inquiry@colomarodandgunclub.com or visit their website at www.colomarodandgun club.com. Watervliet Rod & Gun Club The trap program at Watervliet Rod & Gun Club will be restarting on Monday, April 8. The evening shoots will be on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and the Sunday afternoon shoots will be on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m. For information: Call (269) 468-3837 or 470-9191; or visit www.watervlietrodandgunclub.org.

The spring ponds echoed with the sound of duck laughter. Except ducks don’t laugh and there were no ducks to be seen. We were listening to the calls of wood frogs. These frogs (as well as gray tree frogs, spring peepers, and chorus frogs) hibernate on land, rather than in pond mud, and so are exposed to freezing temperatures. This is not a problem, however as they just spend the winter as frogsicles, literally frozen solid. Well, most of their body is frozen. Ice forms in the body cavity and spaces between cells. However, ice crystals do not form inside the cells where they would cause extensive damage. Two chemicals flood the frogs’ bodies at the first sensation of freezing tissue. Glycerol protects cell membranes surrounded by ice crystals. Glucose ensures that the ice formation only occurs outside the cells. Together, these products enable the frogs to survive temperatures as low as -17.6° F. Visit our wetland trails in early spring for the chance to hear these amphibians. Lake Milton Raptor Center is presenting two live birds of prey presentations on Saturday, March 30 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Nature Center. Meet many different species of raptors up close and learn about their lives! Cost is $6/adult and $2/child and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.