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Cowboy Up

By FUR-FISH-GAME Editor, John D. Taylor

The Cheyenne River Regulators shooting Cowboy Fast Draw at the Gun Vault’s
indoor range in Edgemont, South Dakota.

Somewhere in the pile of photo albums in my folks’ home there is a black and white image of little Johnny Taylor, about age 2, in diapers and smiling out over his crib at the photographer. There’s not a lot of hair on his head. But a pair of six-guns (cap guns) are strapped to his hips in a fancy black gun belt with holsters right and left. He’s a rooting-tooting buckaroo, judging by that possum grin on his face, something he inherited from his father.

Big bad John, the current version of me, loves this photo. Why? Because surprisingly, not much has changed. While I no longer sleep in a crib, I’d welcome the deep sleep kids of that age get because horses, bird dogs and adult responsibilities have trotted off with much of my sleep. I ditched diapers three score and two years ago, too. Yet aging might send me back there some day. My current hairline pretty much mirrors that baby picture. But what’s really spot on about that old photo is the big smile and the six-guns.

I’d like to tell you why, and share two shooting sports I’ve taken up in the last decade. I hope that if you’re looking for some similar fun, you might give these a try, especially if you’re into history, six-guns, lever guns and shotguns.

Cowboy Fast Draw
Back in 2016 when I was a newspaper editor in Hot Springs, South Dakota, I heard about a group in Edgemont, 30 miles south of Hot Springs, called the Cheyenne River Regulators.

The Regulators were a Cowboy Fast Draw Association (CFDA) affiliated outfit, and I was curious what they did. So, I arranged an interview with Regulators president, John Koller, at his cattle ranch just north of town, to do a newspaper story about the Regulators and Cowboy Fast Draw.

Koller is one of those people who are like bright lights to the moths of humanity. He’s smart, witty and loads of fun to hang around with. We did the basics for the interview and photos, but in no time – it didn’t take much persuasion – he had me strapping on a gun belt and quick-drawing in the CFDA practice range he had set up in his garage. Within a couple of weeks, I became a Regulator and was spending Sunday afternoons in Edgemont pulling pistols instead of whistling Dixie.

Cowboy Fast Draw works like this: The target is a 24-inch diameter steel disc with a yellow light in the middle. It’s 21 feet away from a line where the shooter stands. When the light comes on – it’s controlled by a set-up behind the shooter – the shooter pulls his or her .45 caliber revolver and fires a wax bullet from a modified .45 case propelled by a shotshell primer (no gunpowder) at the target. The amount of time that passes between the light coming on and the hit on the disc is recorded. That’s your score. Fastest gun wins.

At a typical Regulators gathering held at the Gun Vault’s indoor shooting range every second and fourth Sunday in Edgemont, you’d find about 10 to 15 people – men, women and some kids, ages 75-plus to 12 or so – decked out in cowboy gear (jeans, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, gun belt with a special holster canted somewhat and built for fast draw) ready to shoot. We all shoot .45 Single Action Army-style sixguns, most with barrels of 4-3/4-inches long. Some prefer Ruger Vaqueros, some Uberti or Taylor Colt replicas. Some might even shoot genuine Colts.

Everyone has a “handle,” a pseudonym they call themselves. Mine is currently “Siringo,” after Charlie Siringo, a Texan who, in the 1870s, drove cattle up to Kansas railheads and later became a stock detective and Pinkerton man. He chased after Kid Curry of the Wild Bunch – think Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – for many years. We also have Johnny Three-Toes (Koller), Runnin’ Gun, Devil Woman, Midnight Songbird, Wild Bob Hiccup, Lakota Smith, The Conductor, Derek Rivers, Cooper, Cactus Jack, Two-Gun, and Snuffy.

In front of this group are four of those disc targets. A single shooter is told to go to each of the four stations. A hand judge stands behind them and makes sure they follow the rules (no early pulls, a lawman grip on the pistol’s handle, finger out of the trigger guard). A rangemaster is appointed to run that round of the shoot.

The rangemaster tells shooters to “load and make ready.” The hand judge helps the shooter load, with the hammer on an empty chamber. When everyone is loaded and holstered and the hand judges take their seat behind the shooters, the rangemaster tells the scorekeeper and announcer, “Line is ready.” The announcer says, “Shooters on the line… shooters set,” then pushes the button to make the target lights go on. After a varying degree of time, usually about three seconds, the target light pops on and the shooters draw and fire at the disc.

Each shooter gets five shots per round at the target. The shooter with the fastest time and most hits wins that round and can move on to compete against other shooters as they move up through the elimination process. But everyone continues to shoot, even if they don’t win.

There are two ways to approach Cowboy Fast Draw: Some shooters aim for speed, and I’ve seen times of .300th and .400th of a second. Some gun for accuracy, with times of .600th -.800th of a second. The best can combine both. Koller, as Johnny Three Toes, won the Fastest Gun Alive national CFDA competition in 2018, shooting accurate .500s. Some of us just like to get duded up like a cowboy, make the steel ring and see hits. Lately, I’ve barely broken .900th of a second, but I’m pretty accurate, typically scoring four of five hits, and that makes me happy.

The national Cowboy Fast Draw Association says the sport is all about “…safety first, fun second, and competition third. It’s about handshakes, camaraderie, a man’s word, morality and friendship, fair play and honest competition. Our credo is ‘The Cowboy Way’ in action and deed. It requires no explanation.” I would certainly have to say my experience with the Regulators and CFDA has been that.

There are CFDA clubs in most states. If you’re interested in getting involved in Cowboy Fast Draw, visit cowboyfastdraw.com.

Cowboy Action Shooting
In February, Eric Viers, a friend from the Regulators, a former rodeo bullfighter clown, mounted shooter, and equally fun person, introduced me to Single Action Shooting Society (SASS)-style Cowboy Action Shooting.

There are similarities to Cowboy Fast Draw – you get duded up like a cowboy, and I like going as historically correct to 1870s -1880s as possible – but with SASS, trigger time is expanded, live ammo is used and there are two more firearms to play with.

Yours truly in Cowboy Fast Draw and SASS style.

My introduction took place in Pringle, South Dakota, the state’s elk hunting capital, about 50 miles north of Edgemont. The Black Hills Shootist Association, a SASS affiliated club, was looking for new blood, so Eric and Jim Woehl brought Brad Richardson, retired superintendent of the South Dakota State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, and me to their Pringle outdoor range.

SASS Cowboy Action shooting combines several similar disciplines but uses cowboy era firearms. One is silhouette shooting, where shooters try to knock down metallic silhouette targets of animals – typically a small steel ram, turkey, pig and chicken – at various distances. This is an older shooting sport, still quite popular, but broken into a variety of specific disciplines for rifles and pistols. I encountered blackpowder and big bore handgun silhouette shooting in the early 1980s at a gun club. Another is the three-gun shoots, typically held under the auspices of the International Practical Shooting Association (ISPC). These matches use modern pistols, rifles and shotguns to plink at targets, including silhouettes, at various ranges and settings. This is a timed event. Fastest shooter with the most hits wins.

Cowboy Action Shooting began in 1981, when Harper Creigh, an ISPC shooter, after watching some old Westerns on television, got together with some buddies to put together a cowboy-style shooting match with cowboy era firearms. SASS evolved from this in 1987, and currently has more than 113,000 members.

The shooting Brad and I did with Jim and Eric was simply fun. Using two .38 Special “Evil Roy” Uberti Colt replica six-guns, an Uberti 1873 Winchester lever gun replica in the same caliber, and a 12-gauge stagecoach-style, short, double-barreled shotgun, we went after metallic silhouettes at ranges from about 5 yards to 15 yards.

We began at a loading table, loading five rounds in each of the pistols, hammer resting on an empty chamber; 10 rounds in the Winchester’s magazine; and the shotgun, which was not loaded. The pistols were holstered, the long gun held muzzle up and transferred to a “stage” with a table in front of the targets. The Winchester was placed on the stage table to the left, shotgun to the right.

The shooting began with the Winchester. When called by the timer to begin, we picked up the rifle and were to knock down 15-yard round silhouettes as fast as we could lever rounds into the chamber and fire. It was like plinking targets in a shooting gallery, yet I couldn’t help thinking about the scene in “Winchester ‘73” where Jimmy Stewart and his buddy High Spade stop an “Injun” raid by Young Bull (Rock Hudson, ha!) leading a Sioux charge. Historical hooey, but still fun.

After those 10 fast rounds, came the pistols. We did a “Lawrence Welk” shoot – a one and a two and a three – at the 5-yard silhouettes, right to left. The first shot going at the big square silhouette, followed by two shots at the triangle, then two more in the smaller circle. Put the first sixgun down, pull the second, and run the sequence backwards. It felt like a real gunfight!

Then came the shotgun. We stuck two rounds in the barrels and were to put one round in each of two knock-down 7-yard silhouettes, reload with a quick shuck of the shotshells, then hit ’em again. Even with light 7/8-ounce loads, that stubby shotgun kicked like a mule, but it sure hammered the targets.

We shot a total of four stages that afternoon, and I was hooked.

Typically, Eric said, the Black Hills Shootist Association meets each month on the third Sunday and shooters do four stages per event. That’s 80 shots for the rifle and pistols, 16 for the shotgun, 96 shots altogether. You might shoot 20 - 25 shots total in Cowboy Fast Draw. Trigger time indeed!

The only drawback to Cowboy Action Shooting is the cost. Getting properly outfitted takes a good chunk of change, if you don’t already have some of the firearms. And popping off 96 rounds per month gets expensive if you’re buying ammo. Most members reload. Fortunately, I had some of the gear and since I reload my own ammo – I’ve hunted only with my reloads for years – the cost of shooting was greatly reduced.

If you’re interested in Cowboy Action Shooting and SASS, there are 400 clubs across the U.S., one in nearly every state, visit https://sassnet.com/.

You Get A Free Book! And You Get A Free Book!

Order any FUR-FISH-GAME merchandise in the month of April and get a free copy of the classic Harding trapping book, Mink Trapping, by A.R. Harding. That's it. No catch. If you order over the phone be sure to mention you saw it here.

Wild Turkeys Strutting Into Spring in Texas

Once on the brink of extirpation, Texas’s wild turkeys have experienced a comeback thanks to the collaborative efforts of state agencies, non-profits and private landowners. Photo: Joseph Richards/Richards Outdoor Photography, LLC

More Texans may see spring gobblers thanks to ongoing education and research by Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Thanks to the state’s diverse ecoregions, Texas supports three of the five wild turkey subspecies found in North America: the Rio Grande, eastern and Merriam’s. Rio Grande turkeys prefer the arid and brushy environments found throughout the Rolling Plains, Edwards Plateau, southern Post Oak Savanna and the South Texas plains. Eastern turkeys prefer areas with higher rainfall, such as the Piney Woods and bottomland hardwoods of East Texas. Merriam’s turkeys are the least common, preferring the ponderosa pines found in the Trans-Pecos mountains. “We’re fortunate that Texas offers such a wide range of ecosystems that support diverse wildlife species like these turkey,” said Jacob Dykes, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist. “While we’ve come a long way in restoring turkey populations across the state, there is still more work to be done to ensure they continue to thrive.” While Texas currently boasts a thriving population of more than 500,000 wild turkeys, this wasn’t always the case. Jason Hardin, wild turkey program leader with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) noted that unregulated market gunning and habitat alteration drove the decline of wild turkeys throughout the species’ historic range. By 1942, TPWD estimated fewer than 100 turkeys remained in East Texas. Initially, stocking was tried. Later, trapping all three subspecies outside of Texas and transferring these birds to suitable habitat yielded success. Rio Grande birds were the poster child for this success, one conservationists hope to replicate across the state. From 1920 to 2000, 33,000 Rio Grande wild turkeys were released across Texas, Hardin said, filling 95% of suitable Rio Grande turkey range. Yet biologists are still puzzled why East Texas turkey populations have experienced slower recovery and limited range expansion. Ongoing Texas A&M research is contributing to turkey recovery. As a graduate student at Texas A&M in the mid-1990s, Roel Lopez, Ph.D., head of the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, used ecological modeling to simulate the dynamics of a wild turkey population under a variety of restoration efforts. He devised a new trap and transfer strategy, “super stocking,” where 80 male and female wild turkeys are released at each restoration site instead of 15 to 20 birds used previously. Hardin said this method has shown promise in suitable East Texas habitat since being implemented in 2014. Since then, TPWD has released more than 1,100 wild turkeys from 10 different states into 10 East Texas counties.

Youth ATV/UTV Riders: Ride Safe

Wisconsin’s DNR encourages all ATV/UTV riders to be safe. Photo: WDNR

Two wildlife agencies are urging ATV/UTV riders to focus on safety. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) wants youth users of recreational vehicles and their parents to operate these vehicles responsibly, including on private lands. Fatal crashes happen on private lands each year. One fatal UTV crash on private property has already occurred in 2024 and six ATV/UTV fatal crashes took place on private property in 2023. During the last five years, 70% of fatal crashes involving operators or passengers under the age of 18 took place on private lands. Lack of helmets, not using seatbelts in UTVs and inexperience are among the top factors in these crashes. “Parents and guardians need to stay alert and teach their children to ride responsibly by making sure they wear helmets and seatbelts, take an ATV safety course and get mentorship from an experienced adult,” said Lt. Warden Jacob Holsclaw, WDNR Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator. The same guidelines for helmet and seatbelt use also apply to adults. Wisconsin law requires ATV and UTV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who are at least 12 years old for an ATV, 16 years old for UTV, to complete a safety certification course if riding on public lands, roads or another person’s property with permission. Courses can be taken online or in person. A list of approved safety education classes is available on the WDNR Safety Education webpage, https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/atv. Youth riders are not required to complete an ATV safety course if riding on property owned by their immediate family, but it’s still a good idea to still take one. Some safety tips to when operating off-highway vehicles include:
• Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during your ride.
• Always wear a DOT-approved helmet.
• Always wear a seatbelt in a UTV.
• Do not travel in unfamiliar areas.
• Let someone not riding with you know where you are going and when you will return.
• Follow all posted speed limits and regulatory signs.
• Double-check before operating on trails.
Wisconsin law requires every operator involved in a crash to report the incident to law enforcement officials without delay. Operators must submit a written report to the DNR within 10 days of the incident. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) says riders can protect their children from traumatic brain injuries by following the same basic tips while recreating on their off-highway vehicles (OHVs). NMDGF also encourages youth riders and their parents to make sure kids operate appropriately sized OHVs, take an approved safety course to ensure proper techniques are taught and be aware of the symptoms of a concussion. If your child has a head injury, don't hesitate to take them to a healthcare provider.
To register for a New Mexico safety class or learn more about OHV laws and rules, contact NMDGF at (505) 222-4712 or send an email to?DGF-OHVEDU@dgf.nm.gov. OHV in-person classes are currently scheduled in Albuquerque and Roswell.

South Dakota Nest Predator Bounty Program Begins

Skunks are one of the nest predators on South Dakota’s $10 per tail bounty program.
Photo: Bryan Padron/Unsplash

South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks department (SDGFP) is kicking off the sixth year of the Nest Predator Bounty Program, part of Gov. Noem’s Second Century Initiative. The 2024 program opened for South Dakota youth less than 18 in March. The program will open to all South Dakota residents April 1. Tails from raccoons, striped skunks, badgers, red foxes and opossums will be eligible for $10 per-tail payments with a maximum total payout of $500,000. “Last year was an amazing year for youth participation as we saw the highest number of youth participation since inception,” said Kevin Robling, GFP Department Secretary. "It is so great to see the next generation getting outdoors and participating in wildlife management and conservation." In 2023, 108 youth participated in the youth-only month of March and submitted 800 nest predators during this time. Overall, 2,484 individuals participated in the 2023 program removing 50,797 nest predators. Youth were 46% of total participants, higher than in 2022 at 32%. In 2023, 1,017 live traps were distributed to youth across South Dakota. Once again in 2024, youth who did not receive a live trap in 2023 will receive one free live trap when they submit their tails for the first time. Tails eligible for submission can be harvested via trapping or hunting. Participants need a hunting, furbearer or fishing license to be eligible to participate in the bounty program. Landowners harvesting nest predators for the program on their own land and youth under 18 are exempt from this license requirement. Complete program details as well as dates, times, and locations for tail submissions can be found on the GFP Nest Predator website, gfp.sd.gov/bounty-program.

Fishers in Ohio?

Fishers, like this one, caught on a trail camera, have been confirmed in nine
northeast Ohio counties through verified sightings. Photo: ODNR photo

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife confirmed that a female fisher, a mammal that was collected as roadkill in Ashtabula County in February 2023, was pregnant. Although that fisher did not successfully give birth, the results are a sign that fishers are colonizing Ohio. Fishers are a forest-dwelling carnivorous mammal of the weasel family. Fishers were extirpated from Ohio in the mid-1800s. In 2013, Ohio’s first modern-day fisher sighting was confirmed. Since then, there have been 40 confirmed fisher observations across nine northeast Ohio counties (Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Trumbull, Mahoning, Lake, Jefferson, Harrison, and Tuscarawas). Two-thirds of those sightings occurred in the last three years. Fishers are moving westward from established populations in Pennsylvania and naturally colonizing Ohio. ODNR collects roadkill fishers found in Ohio, when possible, to determine age and test genetics. In February 2023, biologists collected two roadkill fisher carcasses from northeast Ohio. Laboratory results showed that one of those individuals was pregnant. ODNR anticipates natural reproduction in fishers will be confirmed in the coming years or may already be occurring. ODNR relies in part on public reports to monitor Ohio’s growing fisher population, as well as black bears, badgers, weasels, and bobcats. Report observations of these species, including photos or videos, to the Division of Wildlife via the HuntFish OH mobile app or at wildohio.gov. Please contact your county wildlife officer to report roadkilled fishers. It is not permitted to collect roadkill carcasses. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

Minnesota Deer Harvest Down

Minnesota deer hunters saw an 8% reduction in their 2023 harvest, according to
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Photo: Steven Cordes/Unsplash

Hunters harvested 158,678 deer during Minnesota’s 2023 deer season, a lower total harvest, down 8%, compared to the 2022 season and 14% less than the five-year average. The greatest decreases were in the northern part of the state, where deer harvest compared to 2022 was 21% lower in the northeast region and 8% lower in the northwest region. Other regions saw smaller decreases in harvest, with 3% lower in central and southeast Minnesota, and 4% lower in southern Minnesota. “In recent years, deer populations have been lower in northern Minnesota, particularly following the severe winters of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023,” said Todd Froberg, big game program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). “Several factors can drive these declines, resulting in fewer deer on the landscape during subsequent hunting seasons.” Deer numbers can suffer during prolonged severe winters, especially in areas with deep snow or insufficient winter habitat. In these conditions, deer must expend more energy to acquire food, making them more vulnerable to predators. Wolves play a large role as deer predators, especially in winter, but there is little evidence to suggest that northern Minnesota’s low deer numbers are directly due to wolf predation. The influence of wolves on deer populations likely changes over time and can be exacerbated by poor quality wintering habitat. Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, also hit hard by severe winter, saw similar declines in deer harvests in 2023. “This year’s extremely mild conditions do bode well for deer in northern Minnesota, but deer populations in the far north will need several mild winters to start to recover,” Froberg said. Crossbows were allowed for all deer hunters for the first time in 2023. Archery harvest totaled 24,088 deer which was a similar total compared to 2022. In 2023, crossbows accounted for 43% of the total archery harvest. Analysis of the 2023 deer harvest is available in a final deer harvest report, available on at mndnr.gov/mammals/deer/management/statistics.html.

Illinois trout season opens April 6

Illinois trout season. Photo: Malachi Brooks/Unsplash

Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 6 at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. The daily harvest limit for each angler is five trout. The Illinois Catchable Trout Program receives funding support by those who use the program through the sale of inland trout stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be stocked for the fall trout season, which begins in October. For the 2024 spring trout season, no trout may be taken from any stocked sites between March 15 and the season opening at 5 a.m. April 6. Anyone attempting to harvest trout before the legal harvest season opening will be issued citations. For information about all site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Not all sites open at 5 a.m. opening day. The spring trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing. Resources are available at www.ifishillinois.org/Kids_Fishing/kidsfishing.html. All anglers must have a fishing license and an inland trout stamp unless they are younger than 16, blind or disabled, or are an Illinois resident on leave from active duty in the Armed Forces. Fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased online. Visit ifishillinois.org for more information on trout seasons and other Illinois fishing opportunities.

Enroll In Hunter Education Now

The DNR offers multiple hunter education course options and locations, so hunters can
choose the best format for how and where they’d like to learn. Photo: WDNR photo

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) reminds anyone considering hunting for the first time in 2024 to enroll in a hunter education course now, before courses fill up in spring. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must have a hunter education certification to purchase a hunting license unless hunting under the Mentored Hunting Law. As part of the program, hunter education graduates receive a certificate accepted in every U.S. state, Canada and Mexico. Those who complete a hunter education course play a vital role in keeping Wisconsin a safe place to hunt. Many hunting incidents in Wisconsin involve hunters older than 40, decades after learning firearm safety rules in their hunter education courses. It may be time for veteran hunters to refresh these valuable lessons. The DNR offers multiple hunter education course options and locations, so hunters can choose the best format for how and where they’d like to learn. More than 20,000 people take hunter education courses in Wisconsin each year, making early enrollment important for anyone interested in taking a class.
• Traditional Course - Students attend a multi-day, in-person course where students learn hunter responsibility and safety through lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, practical exercises and individual study. The students then take a multiple-choice exam and complete a hands-on, skills-based assessment based on information found in the printed student manual and taught during class.
• Internet + Field Day -Students must enroll in an in-person field day course and then complete the online portion before attending the field day. Upon completing the online course, students will receive a field day voucher, which is required to participate in the in-person field day course they enrolled in. Students will reinforce what they learned online through hands-on safe firearm handling, demonstrations from experienced hunters and practical exercises. The students then take a multiple-choice exam and complete a hands-on, skills-based assessment.
• Online-Only (Ages 18+) - The online-only course has the same general content as the other course options but is entirely online. Students work through online units, take multiple-choice quizzes and take a final multiple-choice exam. This course is specifically for students with prior hunting or firearms handling experience. It is only for those 18 years of age or older.

Visit https://gowild.wi.gov/customers/safetyedclass to find a course near you.

ND Hunters, Anglers Encouraged toParticipate in Survey

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) is collaborating with North Dakota State University on a statewide survey aimed at understanding the economic impact of hunting and fishing activities in the state. The survey will be distributed via email to a random sample of hunters and anglers beginning March 11. Participants will be asked to provide details on their expenditures related to equipment purchases, vehicles, travel, accommodations, and other associated costs incurred during hunting and fishing trips. By conducting this survey, NDGFD intends to develop a comprehensive understanding of the financial contributions made by hunters and anglers to North Dakota's economy. If selected for the survey, hunters and anglers are encouraged to participate so their contributions are accurately reflected in important economic data used to inform hunting and fishing policies in the state.

Slow Down for Frogs and Salamanders

Wildlife agencies across the country are asking drivers to slow down and be cautious when travelling at night in early spring or to take alternate routes to avoid driving near ponds and wetlands where salamanders and frogs breed. Photo: VTFW photo by Luke Groff

Wildlife agencies across the country are urging drivers to slow down and be cautious when driving near ponds and wetlands where amphibians like frogs and salamanders breed. Also, some states are seeking help locating and monitoring amphibian breeding areas. For example, Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Program is seeking people to help with Iowa’s frog and toad call survey. Volunteers are trained to listen to and recognize the 16 species of frogs and toads in Iowa based on their breeding calls. During the survey’s 30 years, volunteers have collected data on over 2,000 wetland sites. These community scientists are making enormous contributions to wildlife conservation, says IDNR. The survey is important because amphibians have been of concern to scientists all over the globe because they are vulnerable and appear to be declining. Anyone interested in getting involved must register for one training workshop. The workshops are most appropriate for adults and teens. IDNR and the Montgomery County Conservation Board are partnering to host a workshop at the Wolfe Nature Center at the Anderson Conservation Area, on April 3, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and with the Mitchell County Conservation Board to host a workshop at the Mitchell R. Owen Nature Center, on April 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. There is a fee of $10 to participate. For more information about the survey and to register, visit www.iowadnr.com/vwmp.

In Vermont, the Fish and Wildlife Department (VTFW) says every year, in early spring, many of Vermont’s amphibians leave their overwintering sites and migrate to the wetlands and ponds where they will breed and lay eggs. The timing of this annual event, termed Big Nights, coincides with melting snowpack, thawing soils, relatively warm evening temperatures, and rainfall. Due to the mild winter this year, these conditions are expected to align and trigger the spring amphibian migration, earlier than usual. “One of the benefits of checking out amphibian road crossings,” says VTFW herpetologist Luke Groff, “is that you can see many individuals and species in a short period and small area, and some species may not be seen the rest of the year. The spotted and blue-spotted salamanders, for example, belong to a group called mole salamanders, because after breeding, they retreat underground or under logs or stumps, and are rarely seen until the next spring.” Groff is encouraging Vermonters to explore the roads near their home and report amphibian road crossings to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (www.vtherpatlas.org/sighting-submission-form). If it’s safe to take pictures of the migrating amphibians, please include them in your report. This information is used by VTFW, the state transportation agency of and other conservation partners to assess the need for wildlife passages and barriers that allow all wildlife, not just frogs and salamanders, to more safely cross roadways.

New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) is stressing the importance of the vernal pools for amphibians like wood frogs and salamanders. Vernal pools are small, temporary wetlands, critical breeding habitat for amphibians. The pools hold water until summer, so adult amphibians must gather, breed, and deposit eggs early enough to ensure their aquatic young can hatch, grow, and leave the pools before they dry up. NYDEC says wood frog breeding was well underway in March, with reports of choruses and egg masses in vernal pools. Mole salamanders were expected to start early as well. But NYDEC says this year’s migration is “early and erratic,” and could be related to the extreme weather the state experienced during winter. New York had its warmest meteorological winter (December – February) on record. The average winter temperature for the contiguous United States was 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit above average. Precipitation in the eastern half of the U.S. was below average and New York had its second-driest February on record. What does this mean for vernal pool-breeding amphibians? Climate change is a major concern for these species as fluctuations in timing of pool inundation and drought may interfere with the completion of breeding cycles. Conservation efforts that keep clusters of vernal pools and large forests intact will help to provide habitat refuge in the face of these changes.

April is Bat Maternity Season

A bat roosting site in a cave. Photo: USFWS

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to remind residents and others that bat maternity season, when most of the state’s native bats give birth and raise their young, begins April 16. Hence, now is the time for property owners to check homes and other buildings for roosting bats before bat maternity season begins. Florida’s 13 bat species typically roost in trees, caves or other natural spaces, but are sometimes attracted to human-made structures. Buildings undergoing major construction can also provide greater access to bats. During bat maternity season, it is illegal to block bats from their roosts to prevent flightless young from being trapped inside structures, which isn’t good for people or bats. The most effective and only legal method to remove roosting bats from structures is the use of exclusion devices. These allow bats to safely exit a structure but blocks their return to a roost. Exclusion devices are only allowed from August 15 until April 15. Permits are required to use exclusion devices outside those dates. It is illegal in Florida to kill or harm bats, so exclusion guidelines were developed to ensure bats are removed safely and effectively from buildings outside of maternity season. Bat exclusion is a multi-step process that begins by identifying all potential bat entry and exit points in a building. To legally exclude bats, exclusion devices must be installed on key exit points, left up for a minimum of four nights and the exclusion must be conducted when the overnight temperature is forecast to be 50ºFor above. Bats are highly beneficial, both ecologically and economically. Florida’s bats are insectivores, with a single bat eating up to hundreds of insects a night, including mosquitoes and other garden and agricultural pests. Bats also serve critical functions in their roles as pollinators and seed dispersers. Also, their guano can be a valuable fertilizer. Florida’s native bat populations include endangered species including the Florida bonneted bat. Want to help our bats? There are several ways that Florida residents and visitors can support bat conservation: Preserve natural roost sites, including trees with cavities or peeling bark. Leave dead fronds on palm trees to provide roosting spots for bats. Install a bat house on your property. For more information about how to properly exclude bats as well as other tips to bat-proof your home, visit MyFWC.com/Bats and click “Bats in Buildings.”

Upcoming Events

• North Orwell Pennsylvania Sportsmen’s Show – The North Orwell Pennsylvania Sportsmen’s Show will be held May 10, 7 am – dark and May 11, 7 am - noon. Admission is free. For more information, contact Bruce (607) 426-6276.

• Upper Peninsula Trapper’s Association Convention and Outdoor Show – The Upper Peninsula Trapper’s Association Convention and Outdoor Show will be held July 12 - 13, at the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds, in Escanaba Michigan. Camping and food are available on the fairgrounds. Demos, mini raffles, can raffles, special entertainment and projects for kids will be held. Demonstrators include by Les Johnson, Paul Antczak (of the History Channel’s “Mountain Men”), Laura & Zac Gidney, Jeff Dunlap and others. Vendor spaces are available. For more information, contact Roy Dahlgren (906) 399-1960 or email trapperroy@outlook.com. Additional information will be available at www.uptrappers.com.

• New England Trappers Weekend – The New England Trappers’ Weekend will be held August 15 – 17 in Bethel, Maine. Contact Neil Olson at (207) 875-5765 – landline, or (207) 749-1179 – cell.

• West Virginia Trappers Convention – The West Virginia Trappers Association will hold their 55th Annual Trappers Convention on September 20 - 21, at the Gilmer County Recreation Center, located at 1365 Sycamore Run Road, in Glenville, West Virginia. Admission is free. Gates opens at 9 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. A free Trapper Education Class will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, with registration at 8:30 a.m., classes begin at 9 a.m., and lunch at noon and class graduation at 1 p.m. A general membership meeting and awards ceremony will also take place at 1 p.m. Saturday. Benefit Auction will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday. The board of directors meeting will be held Friday at 7 p.m. Primitive camping is available. Also, lunch will available both days in the dining hall. Several events for the women, kids, and more will be held. Trapping demonstrations and vendors will be available both days. For a list of vendors and more information, visit www.wvtrappers.com or contact Jeremiah Whitlatch (304) 916-3329.

What’s Coming in May

River Of No Return - Matthew Monson tells how a FUR-FISH-GAME article sent him on the sheep hunt of a lifetime in Idaho’s legendary bighorn country.
Rio Redemption - Missouri hunter Will Bowen shares his story of a grudge match to settle with some Oklahoma Rio Grande wild turkeys.
A Canadian Pike Adventure - Joe Shead tells how some Midwestern anglers visited Canada’s remote lakes to discover and boat some huge northern pike.
Late Season Gobbler Options - Bruce Ingram share how some of his late season turkey tactics can help you connect on a spring gobbler.
Stick And String: Tenkara For Trout - Phil Goes explores the dynamics of Tenkara trout fishing and convinces himself that his father was right. It’s fun, productive too.

Other Stories:
• Gopher Money – Jay A. Leitch shares how trapping gophers for bounties earned him more money than some furbearers produce.
• Lew & Charlie, Chapter VI, Part 2
• The Seen and Unseen – Noah Davis tells the story of a mountain mule deer hunt in northwestern Montana.
• A Bear Hunt For The Books – Oregon spring bear hunting is an adventure and fun, says Richy Harrod
• Pick A Poke Of Poke – Looking for some wild vittles, try pokeweed’s young leaves and stems says Dave Fisher, but make sure you boil them for safety.
• Call The Hen, Get the Gobbler – David R. Thompson shares his wild turkey hunting experiences focused on calling hens to bring in the gobblers.
• Homemade Hunter’s Soap – Jenny Underwood, seeking a way to utilize more of the deer hunters bring home, tells how to make DIY hunter’s soap.
• Lynx Ecology – Lucas Byker looks at the lynx and snowshoe hare cycle, how this can influence trapping regulations for lynx as the populations of both species peaks and valleys.
• A Secret Creek – Joseph Sigurdson seeks those special places untrammeled by fellow anglers, sometimes he finds them.