Time of year for birdwatching
Dennis L. Clay photo A homemade bird feeder can be made with an empty toilet paper roll, peanut butter and bird seed. Heat peanut butter on a paper plate in the microwave, then cover the cardboard roll with the peanut butter by first rolling it on the peanut butter plate, then the plate with bird seed. Finally, slide the completed birdfeeder onto a branch of a tree.
By DENNIS L. CLAY
Herald Columnist
Birdwatching is a sport practiced all year long. However, the wintertime seems to be the season of the birder, which are what birdwatchers are called. Check my column this week and next for two bird-counting events scheduled for the next few weeks.
Turkey season continues
The Death Ram has yet to travel north in search of turkeys, but there four turkey tags in my wallet. The time is near.
The fall general turkey season will run through Dec. 31 in Game Management Units 101 through 154, along with 162 through 186. The limit is four turkeys, two beardless and two of either sex.
This means a hunter could tag four beardless (hens), or three beardless and one with a beard (tom) or two beardless and two with a beard.
This opportunity continues to be pounded in my writings. There are a bunch of turkeys out there. This is a chance to allow inexperienced hunters to take four birds, getting more experience with each bird.
Inexperienced hunters might be a 10-year-old or a 50-year-old. Both age groups, and all ages in between, could benefit from additional hunting opportunities.
It is obvious Fish and Wildlife is wanting to reduce the number of turkeys by allowing hunters to take four hens, which should reduce the overall numbers. This is also the way to deal with a game bird/animal overpopulation; issue more tags and provide more opportunities.
This is your opportunity to take advantage of more fishing and hunting chances. If you have an inexperienced hunter in your circle of family/friends, take them on some turkey hunts this year and help Fish and Wildlife control the turkey population.