Kansas.com: Outdoors

Prairie chickens a part of life for Morris County hunter

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:22 CST

Ten prairie chickens flew uncharacteristically low and slow over pasture grass, barely clearing a barbed-wire fence.

All passed near a rusted, round fence post where Marv Peterson had begun the day.

At that moment, he was watching from about 100 yards away.

"You just never know with prairie chickens," Peterson earlier said about when or where the birds might fly Monday morning.

Peterson, 49, has spent a lot of time studying and hunting the birds. He has been going on prairie chicken hunts for 50 years -- his mother hunted and shot prairie chickens while pregnant with him.

A month later, folks still fascinated by antlered doe

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Mike Smith's 15 minutes of fame is stretching into days and weeks. The rare whitetail doe with antlers he shot Dec. 3, the opening day of firearms deer season, had 27 points and unofficially totaled 179 inches of score.

"I've got a bunch of phone calls and done quite a few interviews," said Smith, of Clay Center. "I think it's pretty neat people are so interested in it."

It's widely believed to be the largest antlered doe ever killed. The deer's antlers were covered in velvet, a soft covering that bucks usually shed when the antlers stop growing for the year.

The story of Smith's antlered doe was the second most read story on Kansas.com for 2008. Smith has been contacted by various media outlets for interviews.

"I did a live radio interview with a station in Michigan the other morning," Smith said. "I didn't sound very good, but they did put me on at 7 o'clock in the morning."

Outdoor schedules

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:22 CST

Birding/Nature

Jan. 20 -- "The Status of the Black-Footed Ferret and Other Endangered Species in Kansas," Dan Mulhern, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wichita Audubon Society meeting, Great Plains Nature Center, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 -- Wichita area mystery birding trip, Wichita Audubon Society, depart Kings-X at 21st and Amidon at 7:30 a.m. Contact Cheryl Miller at avian67226@gmail.com

Jan. 31 -- Eagle watch, Chaplin Nature Center, Arkansas City, 10 a.m.-noon. Call 620-442-4133.

Feb. 7 -- Eagle watch, Chaplin Nature Center, Arkansas City, 10 a.m.-noon. Call 620-442-4133.

Feb. 17 -- "The Natural History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition," Phil Thomas, Wichita Audubon Society meeting, Great Plains Nature Center, 7:30 p.m.

SOLUNAR TABLES

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

This table lists top fishing times and days for the coming week. For best results, begin fishing one hour before and continue one hour after the times given. Times apply to all time zones (bold indicates best days).

Today	6:20 p.m.	6:45 a.m.
Monday	7:10 p.m.	7:35 a.m.
Tuesday	8:05 p.m.	8:35 a.m.
Wednesday	9:05 p.m.	9:35 a.m.
Thursday	10:10 p.m.	10:40 a.m.
Friday	11:15 p.m.	11:45 a.m.
Saturday	12:20 a.m.	------
Next Sun.	------	12: 50 p.m.

Source: U.S. Naval Observatory

Northern flicker

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:22 CST

NORTHERN FLICKER

Colaptes auratus

From thinly-wooded fence lines to river bottom lands of towering, mature timber, northern flickers are right at home in south-central Kansas.

Probably our region's most-common woodpecker, flickers are about a foot long.

Nearly every flicker you see will have a brownish-barred back. What's under the wings may give you an idea of the bird's family history.

Upcoming coverage

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:07 CST

Dec. 31, 2008

Happy New Year,

I hope your Christmas went as well as mine, which was some of the best of both worlds.

The morning was with my wife and kids before they headed to Oklahoma. I can't go because my sister-in-law has a couple of cats that trigger my allergies and asthma worse than anything. Bummer.

So I spent Christmas afternoon in my favorite treestand. It was a special time.

SOLUNAR TABLES

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

Today	1:10 p.m.	1:30 a.m.
Monday	1:55 p.m.	2:15 a.m.
Tuesday	2:40 p.m.	3:00 a.m.
Wednesday	3:25 p.m.	3:45 a.m.
Thursday	4:05 p.m.	4:25 a.m.
Friday	4:50 p.m.	5:10 a.m.
Saturday	5:30 p.m.	5:55 a.m.
Next Sun.	6:20 p.m.	6:45 a.m.

Source: U.S. Naval Observatory

SCHEDULES

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

Birding/Nature

Saturday -- Red Hills Christmas Bird Count, Indian Grill Restaurant, Medicine Lodge, 7 a.m., Call 316-832-0182.

Fishing

Feb. 7-8 -- Jeff Currier Seminars, Flatland Fly Fishers, Great Plains Nature Center. Call 316-838-4056 or www.flatlandflyfishers.org

Through April 15 -- Trout season, special permit required for those 16 and older.

PROFILE

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE

Myadestes townsendi

Back in the recesses of a big cedar tree you may find a winter visitor to central Kansas.

Townsend's Solitaires spend most of the summer in the mountains and foothills out west, then migrate to Kansas to feed on berries. Like mountain bluebirds, they have a fondness for cedar berries.

Relatives of robins, solitaires are slightly smaller than their red-breasted cousins.

Rare Kansas bird sighting generates national buzz

MICHAEL PEARCE — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:59 CST

During the summer, Kansas birders aren't too surprised to see a blue grosbeak.

The cardinal-sized birds with offset beaks are seen statewide and often found by those who know where to look and what songs to listen for.

But one found last weekend during Wichita's Christmas bird count is a pretty big deal.

"Anything that's not been seen on any Christmas count in the U.S. within the last five years is a pretty good find," said Pete Janzen, co-author of "Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hotspots."

The bird was found in Maple Grove Cemetery on Dec. 20 by Cheryl Miller. Fellow birders Mike Heaney and Kevin Groeneweg also positively identified the bird as a blue grosbeak. Heaney took photos that clearly show it to be a juvenile male blue grosbeak.

Facility is on target

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

Together, bowhunting buddies Eric Shepard and Herb Brewer shot huge Alaskan moose and flung arrows at everything from desert rabbits to African antelope and bison.

It only cost them a few dollars and an hour's time last Sunday at recently opened archery facility.

"Wichita's needed a full service place like this for quite a while," said Shepard, of Wellington, as he shot a round of video-active targets. "It's a place where guys can shoot the techno-system or shoot the other indoor targets. This is the whole reason I came to Wichita today."

Jim Mellinger is hoping archers come from all parts of central Kansas to Diamond Archery Technologies, 926 W. Harry.

The new location gives him a chance to combine two of his passions.

Holiday adventures

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:48 CST

The holiday season is a great time for wildlife watching in south-central Kansas.

Eagles and huge flocks of geese are in the area. Woolly-coated bison and big-antlered bull elk roam the prairie not far away.

There are even some indoor locations where you can learn a bit more about Kansas critters.

Here are seven suggested trips within an hour or so of Wichita. Some are within the city limits.

Take binoculars if you can and look carefully. Chances are you'll find more than enough to make the trek worthwhile.

A top season at the Bottoms

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

For several seconds it sounded like a boat motoring closer and closer behind us.

When we turned, we saw the source of the sound was a rising wall of white, ever-widening and spiraling upward.

Millions of wingbeats raised a thick layer of spray several feet above the water's surface.

"I'm not sure I can remember this many snow geese on Cheyenne Bottoms," said Rick Tomlinson, of Great Bend, as he watched last weekend's show.

Few who have hunted Cheyenne Bottoms can remember a fall of better goose hunting.

Birders tally 93 species in area

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:38 CST

Annual Christmas Bird Count organizer says wind, cold challenged the project

Seconds seemed too long for most to be outside amid Saturday's brutal cold. But Harry Gregory, Tom Ewert and Art Weigand gladly spent about eight bone-chilling hours outdoors.

They hiked more than two miles into the stiff north wind along the Arkansas River and stood in the wide open on the downwind side of large lakes.

They were three of about 20 birders helping with the annual Wichita Christmas Bird Count, coordinated by the Wichita Audubon Society.

They tallied 93 species.

Pileated woodpecker

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:38 CST

PILEATED WOODPECKER

Dryocopus pileatus

Kansas' largest woodpecker is also one of its most secretive.

Pileated woodpeckers are about the size of a skinny crow, and thrive in stands of mature timber in the eastern part of the state.

The birds are occasionally seen as far west as the Wichita area along the Arkansas River.

SOLUNAR TABLES

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

Today	7:30 a.m.	7:50 p.m.
Monday	8:15 a.m.	8:35 p.m.
Tuesday	9:00 a.m.	9:25 p.m.
Wednesday	9:50 a.m.	10:15 p.m.
Thursday	10:40 a.m.	11:05 p.m.
Friday	11:30 a.m.	11:55 p.m.
Saturday	12:20 p.m.	12:45 a.m. Next Sun.	1:10 p.m.	1:30 a.m.

Source: U.S. Naval Observatory

Co-workers recall Niemeyer fondly

MICHAEL PEARCE — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:37 CST

Doyle Niemeyer, the manager of Cross Timbers and Fall River state parks who died Friday, was remembered by co-workers as someone outside much more than in an office.

Niemeyer, 59, had been on medical leave since being diagnosed with a brain tumor in early June.

After working several years with state parks in his native Indiana, Niemeyer became the parks' manager in 1990.

Kim Jones started working for Niemeyer in 2000 and said he had a "high degree of give-a-darn."

"He was always out there taking care of the trails or working with (state park users)," said Jones, a park ranger. "Doyle really wanted to give people better access to the outdoors. He really believed this was a special area and wanted to do whatever he could to help others enjoy it."

Ammunition plant site will offer a variety of possibilities

MICHAEL PEARCE — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:57 CST

In a few months, outdoors lovers should have another 10,000-plus Kansas acres at their disposal.

They're some pretty impressive acres, too -- land southeast of Parsons that the Army has used for an ammunition plant and storage.

"It's got some great riparian areas with some old growth timber like you don't find in many places," said Lance Hedges, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks public lands supervisor for southeast Kansas. "There's quite a bit of native grass and some rich farm fields. It's also in one big, contiguous, compact form. It's unique for this area."

Owned by the Army since 1941, it's scheduled to be transferred to other groups in the first quarter of 2009.

Dan Goddard of the Great Plains Development Authority, the organization overseeing the property transfer, said the Army is relinquishing the land to save on the cost of maintaining and managing the property.

Clay Center hunter shoots 27-point doe

MICHAEL PEARCE — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:12 CST

Everything seemed perfect for Mike Smith.

His scouting, stand location and shot were all on.

The whitetail wore the kind of 27-point, gnarly non-typical rack most hunters only dream about.

But something totally expected was missing.

"When I rolled it over there was nothing male-looking on the deer," said Smith, of Clay Center. "I looked at the back end and it was definitely a doe. That was a real surprise."

Golden Eagle

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:57 CST

GOLDEN EAGLE

Aquila chrysaetos

Bald eagles are the national bird. Many people think golden eagles exhibit better traits.

While bald eagles often rely on carrion or injured fish and animals, golden eagles make a living catching healthy specimens.

In Kansas, golden eagles rely heavily on prairie dogs, snakes and rabbits. In some places they also kill newborn antelope and deer.