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Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Institute for Applied Ecology Virtual Native Plant Farm Tour
Friday, March 27, 2020
"Shelter-In-Place" Wild Game Cooking Competition Categories and Judging Material
Categories:
1. Creativity - On a scale of 1-10, how original is each dish based upon the preparation and forethought that went into each meal.
2. Resourcefulness - On a scale of 1-10, how resourceful is each chef in regards to sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the use of "Pandemic-Ready" ingredients or cooking tactics.
2. Resourcefulness - On a scale of 1-10, how resourceful is each chef in regards to sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the use of "Pandemic-Ready" ingredients or cooking tactics.
3. Presentation - On a scale of 1-10, how appetizing does each dish appear to be?
The following material will be made
available to judges for each category:
1. Creativity - A brief explanation on the focus of each dish, why it was chosen, and insight into the historical, and/or traditional, and/or current relevance of each dish, as well as some purpose of conservation awareness.
2. Resourcefulness - A list of ingredients that were caught, hunted, foraged, or cultivated. Also anything in regards to preservation, storage, or alternative cooking methods.
3. Presentation - Three posts total with text and photos, one explaining their creative concept for the dish, another based upon the resourcefulness of the dish, and a final post with the finished product, explaining (as best we can) the flavor profile, what we learned from the challenge, and an honest explanation of what we would do differently if we had to do it again.
3. Presentation - Three posts total with text and photos, one explaining their creative concept for the dish, another based upon the resourcefulness of the dish, and a final post with the finished product, explaining (as best we can) the flavor profile, what we learned from the challenge, and an honest explanation of what we would do differently if we had to do it again.
Rules:
1. Participants must agree to "Shelter-In-Place" and use only ingredients currently available to them in their homes, or on their property.
2. No time limit, but the meal must be completed by Saturday night before midnight (Pacific Time) and submitted to judges so that a decision can be reached by noon on Sunday, and broadcast Sunday evening.
3. (This one is more of a guideline) Promotional cooperation between chefs and judges, including social media mentions to respective audiences to collectively promote each other's brands. Because judges are volunteering, this rule is required of chefs, but not required of judges (although it would be cool if you did anyway). Judges will be tagged on social media and thanked by both chefs prior and after competition.
1. Pride.
2. No time limit, but the meal must be completed by Saturday night before midnight (Pacific Time) and submitted to judges so that a decision can be reached by noon on Sunday, and broadcast Sunday evening.
3. (This one is more of a guideline) Promotional cooperation between chefs and judges, including social media mentions to respective audiences to collectively promote each other's brands. Because judges are volunteering, this rule is required of chefs, but not required of judges (although it would be cool if you did anyway). Judges will be tagged on social media and thanked by both chefs prior and after competition.
Prizes:
1. Pride.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Siletz Anglers Association
In January of 2019, guides Scott Ammerman, Mike Kelly, and Grant Scheele, formed a volunteer organization to generate funding for improvement projects on their home river. The Siletz Anglers Association is a non-profit organization designed to raise money and awareness for the Siletz wild broodstock program. With a goal in mind to improve infrastructure at the Alsea Hatchery and projects pertaining to the broodstock program, they've accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time and with limited resources. "Tillamook area guide Jack Smith (who helped build the foundation for the Hatchery Wild Coexist) walked me through getting SAA started. I consider him a mentor through the whole process," says Mike Kelly. Smith runs the North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Enhancement fund, and adopted the SAA as a subsidiary.
Through it's primary fundraiser, the North Coast Salmon Rendevous, the NCSSEF has provided recirculation pumps and screens for raceways at the Trask hatchery, habitat restoration on the Necanicum river, livewells for transporting wild broodstock on the Nestucca and Wilson rivers, and a portable liberation tank for the Tillamook district, primarily used for recycling steelhead. "Anyone who fishes for salmon and steelhead in Northwestern Oregon owes Jack Smith a thank you for all the work he's done," says Scott Ammerman. Ammerman attended the first Rendevous as a teenager when it was hosted by the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation. "The model for the SAA and support for our wild broodstock program is built from the work of the NCSSEF." Ammerman sat beside Smith during the development of the Nestucca and Wilson wild broodstock programs.
The SAA is still in it's infancy. However, it's the ambition of young, energetic guides that depend on their home water to make their living that has made the SAA a formidable and cohesive group, hyper-focused on make big changes within a small region. In it's first year the SAA raised $18,000 in donations by spring. "We contacted ODFW and asked what we could do to help. They said the area of greatest need was improving the acclimation ponds," says Grant Scheele. Two dozen guides donated trips, selling roughly 60 seats for the event between $250-500 a seat. The Original Siletz River Shuttle Service provided free shuttles during the event as well. White Oaks Construction provided catering for the event with raffle donations from Oregon Rod Reel & Tackle, Clackacraft, BnR Tackle, & LURED. Sandy River Marketing designed a SAA logo and provided hats and t-shirts. Table Mountain Forestry, Dahl Sanitation, Peterson CAT rentals in Salem, and Knife River Building Materials were among the major donors whose efforts went towards upgrading the acclimation pond near Palmer Creek on the Siletz. Rearing smolts at an acclimation site increases the number of adults that "home" and return to that site.
Next on the SAA's radar are constructing a second lower river acclimation pond on the Siletz, and partnering with the Rock Creek Hatchery (owned by the Siletz Tribe) which is beginning a program raising 5,000 smolts this year. They are hopeful that this number will increase in the future. Also on the to-do list are upgrades to the Alsea hatchery, where the Siletz wild broodstock are spawned and hatched. "If we get all of our coastal rivers having great returns, it will spread out people and create that much more of a chance for people to catch a fish," says Scott Ammerman. Upgrades to the facility could benefit both sides of the mountain that separate the two major river basins.
Historically, the Alsea Sportsman's Association has generated funding for projects related to the wild broodstock program at the Alsea Hatchery. More recently, the SAA has gathered fresh ideas, bodies, and funding to make upgrades and improvements to existing infrastructure. This year, the Alsea Hatchery is trying to transition away from using tubes to collect wild fish for the broodstock program by boat on the Alsea River. Instead, ODFW approved livewells are being introduced to the program. Each boater participating in the program must apply for a permit to transport wild steelhead back to the Alsea Hatchery. Assistant District Biologist Paul Olmsted says the number of these permits will be "kept to a limited and manageable number to minimize wild fish impacts and mortalities." Meanwhile, the SAA is lending a hand to the neighboring system by contributing batteries to operate the aerators on the new livewells, and nets to ease handling of fish during their transition from the livewell to the raceway or the new collection pen that is being installed at Mike Bauer Wayside.
"Jack, Grant, Mike, and I are all members of CCA, and support the work they are doing at the state and federal level. Our small organization aims to fill in the gaps at a local level, focusing on the Alsea and Siletz," says Ammerman. As the SAA continues to foster growth with the local community, the three founding members intend to form a board. "The work of the SAA will quickly outgrow the work that Mike, Grant and I can manage."
The next SAA fundraiser is set for March 8th at the Logsden Grange. The SAA is expecting to have 30 boats sell their seats for this year's event. If you'd like to contribute to the SAA, you can make tax deductible donation via the NCSSEF website salmonrendevous.com (leave a note the donation is for the SAA). The North Coast Salmon Rendevous is set for October 28th, 29th, and 30th at the Old Mill Event Center in Garibaldi.
Through it's primary fundraiser, the North Coast Salmon Rendevous, the NCSSEF has provided recirculation pumps and screens for raceways at the Trask hatchery, habitat restoration on the Necanicum river, livewells for transporting wild broodstock on the Nestucca and Wilson rivers, and a portable liberation tank for the Tillamook district, primarily used for recycling steelhead. "Anyone who fishes for salmon and steelhead in Northwestern Oregon owes Jack Smith a thank you for all the work he's done," says Scott Ammerman. Ammerman attended the first Rendevous as a teenager when it was hosted by the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation. "The model for the SAA and support for our wild broodstock program is built from the work of the NCSSEF." Ammerman sat beside Smith during the development of the Nestucca and Wilson wild broodstock programs.
The SAA is still in it's infancy. However, it's the ambition of young, energetic guides that depend on their home water to make their living that has made the SAA a formidable and cohesive group, hyper-focused on make big changes within a small region. In it's first year the SAA raised $18,000 in donations by spring. "We contacted ODFW and asked what we could do to help. They said the area of greatest need was improving the acclimation ponds," says Grant Scheele. Two dozen guides donated trips, selling roughly 60 seats for the event between $250-500 a seat. The Original Siletz River Shuttle Service provided free shuttles during the event as well. White Oaks Construction provided catering for the event with raffle donations from Oregon Rod Reel & Tackle, Clackacraft, BnR Tackle, & LURED. Sandy River Marketing designed a SAA logo and provided hats and t-shirts. Table Mountain Forestry, Dahl Sanitation, Peterson CAT rentals in Salem, and Knife River Building Materials were among the major donors whose efforts went towards upgrading the acclimation pond near Palmer Creek on the Siletz. Rearing smolts at an acclimation site increases the number of adults that "home" and return to that site.
Next on the SAA's radar are constructing a second lower river acclimation pond on the Siletz, and partnering with the Rock Creek Hatchery (owned by the Siletz Tribe) which is beginning a program raising 5,000 smolts this year. They are hopeful that this number will increase in the future. Also on the to-do list are upgrades to the Alsea hatchery, where the Siletz wild broodstock are spawned and hatched. "If we get all of our coastal rivers having great returns, it will spread out people and create that much more of a chance for people to catch a fish," says Scott Ammerman. Upgrades to the facility could benefit both sides of the mountain that separate the two major river basins.
Historically, the Alsea Sportsman's Association has generated funding for projects related to the wild broodstock program at the Alsea Hatchery. More recently, the SAA has gathered fresh ideas, bodies, and funding to make upgrades and improvements to existing infrastructure. This year, the Alsea Hatchery is trying to transition away from using tubes to collect wild fish for the broodstock program by boat on the Alsea River. Instead, ODFW approved livewells are being introduced to the program. Each boater participating in the program must apply for a permit to transport wild steelhead back to the Alsea Hatchery. Assistant District Biologist Paul Olmsted says the number of these permits will be "kept to a limited and manageable number to minimize wild fish impacts and mortalities." Meanwhile, the SAA is lending a hand to the neighboring system by contributing batteries to operate the aerators on the new livewells, and nets to ease handling of fish during their transition from the livewell to the raceway or the new collection pen that is being installed at Mike Bauer Wayside.
"Jack, Grant, Mike, and I are all members of CCA, and support the work they are doing at the state and federal level. Our small organization aims to fill in the gaps at a local level, focusing on the Alsea and Siletz," says Ammerman. As the SAA continues to foster growth with the local community, the three founding members intend to form a board. "The work of the SAA will quickly outgrow the work that Mike, Grant and I can manage."
The next SAA fundraiser is set for March 8th at the Logsden Grange. The SAA is expecting to have 30 boats sell their seats for this year's event. If you'd like to contribute to the SAA, you can make tax deductible donation via the NCSSEF website salmonrendevous.com (leave a note the donation is for the SAA). The North Coast Salmon Rendevous is set for October 28th, 29th, and 30th at the Old Mill Event Center in Garibaldi.
This article was published in the February 2020 Issue of Northwest Sportsman Magazine
Friday, February 14, 2020
Corvallis Indoor Winter Market
Benton County is well known as an agricultural destination for farmers and foodies. The multitude of organic farms and farm-to-table restaurants has created an appreciation for local foods that makes Corvallis an acclaimed area for locavores and culinary creatives. Winter is a slow season for these industries, with the valley flooding with rich nutrients from the rising banks of the Willamette River and it's tributaries. However, if you're longing for the experience of mozying downtown through a sea of local vendors, you don't have to wait until summer. The Corvallis Indoor Winter Market provides a unique opportunity for local food vendors to continue operating year-round!
Founded in the early 90's by a group of artisans and farmers who wanted to provide the public with a market during the off-season, the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors, with each position serving two year terms and elected each year in the Spring. The board reserves the right to accept or reject applications at their discretion to assure that only top-quality foods, local farm products, and handcrafted items are sold at the market.
Located in Guerber Hall at the Benton County Fairgrounds, the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is open every Saturday from mid-January until the end of March. It has everything you would expect from a typical seasonal farmer's market, only with a roof over it's head to keep patrons warm and dry while they browse. Live music, baked goods, crafts, and of course locally grown produce all create the ambiance of the farmer's market with a unique opportunity to purchase seasonal items that you might not be able to find in July. Whether you want to fill your root cellar with potatoes, beets, carrots and turnips, get some seasonal yellowfoot chanterelles, truffles, black trumpet mushrooms, or fresh leeks and greens, you don't have to wait until summer and the clouds clear. You can enjoy the farmer's market experience in Corvallis, rain or shine.
Founded in the early 90's by a group of artisans and farmers who wanted to provide the public with a market during the off-season, the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors, with each position serving two year terms and elected each year in the Spring. The board reserves the right to accept or reject applications at their discretion to assure that only top-quality foods, local farm products, and handcrafted items are sold at the market.
Located in Guerber Hall at the Benton County Fairgrounds, the Corvallis Indoor Winter Market is open every Saturday from mid-January until the end of March. It has everything you would expect from a typical seasonal farmer's market, only with a roof over it's head to keep patrons warm and dry while they browse. Live music, baked goods, crafts, and of course locally grown produce all create the ambiance of the farmer's market with a unique opportunity to purchase seasonal items that you might not be able to find in July. Whether you want to fill your root cellar with potatoes, beets, carrots and turnips, get some seasonal yellowfoot chanterelles, truffles, black trumpet mushrooms, or fresh leeks and greens, you don't have to wait until summer and the clouds clear. You can enjoy the farmer's market experience in Corvallis, rain or shine.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Auerlia Skipwith, Clean Water, and the LWCF
I had the opportunity this weekend at the Portland Sportsman's show to question our USFWS director Aurelia Skipwith on the current administration's deregulation of clean water protections that ensure healthy ecosystems for our fish. She simply responded that "the USFWS makes the best decisions they can based on science." What science says dumping mining waste into rivers isn't good for fish? That question I never got the chance to ask, but whether it's waste from coal mining in the Appalachian Mountains threatening trout streams or paving the way for a pebble mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, these issues need our attention, and the attention of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Oddly enough, it was the next day that the Trump administration proposed to eliminate nearly all funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in its Fiscal Year 2021 budget. The President’s proposal to wipe out funding for LWCF, repeated from his prior year budget requests flies in the face of extremely popular bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate that would provide full
dedicated funding for the program.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is America’s most important conservation program, responsible
for protecting parks, wildlife refuges and recreation areas at the federal, state and local level. For 50
years, it has provided critical funding for land and water conservation projects, recreational construction and activities and the continued historic preservation of our nation’s iconic landmarks from coast-to-coast.
LWCF does not use any taxpayer dollars – it is funded using a small portion of revenues from offshore oil and gas royalty payments. Outdoor recreation, conservation and historic preservation activities
contribute more than $887 billion annually to the U.S. economy, supporting 7.6 million jobs.
The LWCF Coalition is the umbrella group of more than 1,000 state and local land owners, small
businesses, ranchers, sportsmen, veterans, outdoor recreationists and conservation organizations
working to protect America’s public lands and safeguard our shared outdoor heritage for future
generations. The Coalition is united in its advocacy for the reauthorization and full funding of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund, which will ensure the continued conservation of our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, wilderness, civil war battlefields, as well as state and local parks.
For more information on LWCF and the places in each state that have been protected using LWCF funds, visit www.lcfwcoalition.org
Let director Skipwith know what you think about conservation of our salmon, steelhead and trout streams that need clean water.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Yakutat - First Alaskan Experience 2018
This article was featured in the April 2019 issue of Alaska Sporting Journal. To view photos from the trip, the article is featured on the ASJ website here: http://aksportingjournal.com/steelhead-sweetness-on-first-alaska-trip/
Having never visited Alaska, Glacier Bear Lodge in the small town of Yakutat has left a lifelong impression on me. Traveling solo with my Australian cattledog "Wrangler," I booked the trip only a couple weeks in advance without a plan and flew by the seat of my pants. I've always thought of steelhead anglers to often be a bit of a grumpy bunch, but with the plentiful numbers of the Situk River, the atmosphere of the community and it's visitors is a completely different story. Drivers of every passing vehicle wave at each other in this relaxed rural environment, yet there's still several flights that come in and out of the small Alaskan Airlines airport daily.
After getting a ride from the lodge's shuttle, I had a couple drinks at the bar at Glacier Bear Lodge, where I ran into Jared Cady of Get Em Dry Jigs and Lael Johnson of Bait Ballz, who were preparing to fish the tidally influenced lower end of the river and invited me to tag along with them. Speckled belly geese flew overhead, as bald eagles towered over us in the trees, and greater yellowlegs roamed the gravel shorelines, a welcoming scene of abundant wildlife that set the tone for our evening quest for chrome.
Lael and Jared hooked a couple fish swinging flies, and I brought in my first Alaskan steelhead on a spinner. Having thought I was just going to have some beers at the lodge, I had only been in Alaska since lunch and at the river for an hour before smooching an oryncus mykiss hen and sending her on her way upstream to spawn. A brown bear ran across the road in front of us on the way out, as if it was chasing our report and heading to the river. A sign at the ramp warned visitors of an aggressive bear in the area recently, so seeing my first grizzly from the safety of the vehicle was satisfying. I was in awe of the beauty of this place and the diversity of wildlife species. Being my first day in Alaska, I felt as if mother nature rolled out the red carpet for me.The next day, I caught a ride with some friends to the boat launch and explored the river on foot. I hooked some of the biggest steelhead I've ever been witness to, and lost them to snags at my feet struggling to keep them under control. I redeemed myself by shaking hands with a few fresh fish later on, as well as my first dolly varden and a rare resident rainbow trout. I continued catching fish until the sun began to fall and it got too cold for comfort. I stood at a popular river crossing attempting to hitch a ride back to the lodge. The first two anglers were camping near the river, and although they weren't headed to the lodge, invited me back to their camp for a beer. However, I was eager to return to the lodge (where there's a roof, heat, and a bar), and the next angler politely obliged me and my canine companion with a ride.Back at the lodge, I met Tony "Famous" Davis and Kristen Dunn from Kodiak Custom Tackle. They were headed out for a float trip the next day, but were staying with a couple friends, Shannon and Kate, that wanted to stomp the banks and indicator fish with beads. They offered me a ride to the river the next morning, where Shannon started the day with a couple beautiful hens right out of the gate, including one that broke the handle on her net. We mozied upriver and settled in at the spot where I hooked most of my fish the day before and we landed several more. We were using just the basket of the net at that point, which was an awkward and exciting experience. The amount of wood snags is intimidating, but with every fish, I seemed to get better at keeping them pinned and getting them close enough for pictures.Tony and Kristen from Kodiak Custom Fishing tackle, and Ty Wyatt, Glacier Bear Lodge's halibut captain took me along with them for a fun trip walking along the banks of the Situk. While wandering upstream in belly-button deep water, I hooked a hen early in the morning that caught the attention of a large otter that swam across the river to steal it from me. I found a small perch tucked into some willows where I could get out of the water and try to quickly land the fish. As I was leaning down to grab it by the tail, the otter popped it's head up only a couple feet away to my left. I tried to boot it in the head to send a message that I wasn't giving up my fish that easy. It showed it's teeth like an angry dog and leaped back into the water, swimming upstream. I managed to land the fish downstream and safely release it away from the otter, but it was definitely humbling to know I was meddling with the local wildlife's territory.In the evening, we headed back to tidally influenced water, and on my first cast, I landed my first ever tidally influenced steelhead on a bead, a mission I wanted to complete purely out of curiosity how soon the feeding instincts of steelhead kick in as they enter the river and begin viewing eggs as a food source. Shortly after, Ty and Tony, who happen to be lifelong friends from Philomath, Oregon, doubled up on a pair of bucks fresh from the salt. Tony's fish was a redeeming note to end his visit, having been out-fished by his partner Kristen most of their time in Yakutat. As we continued to push the limits of the rising tide and a hot bite, we eventually turned around to notice the ground we were standing on was underwater, and so was our gear, so it was time to head back to the lodge.
Dinners at the lodge every evening were incredible, but being able to put in an order for a sack lunch to take to the river the next day was truly a convenience worthy of appreciation. Complimentary breakfasts in the morning were nothing short of any diner as well. A quick stop at the airport's fly shop on the way out to pick up some souvenirs, and I left Yakutat with my head in the clouds, obsessing over returning someday to do it again. The target-rich environment of the Situk is the steelhead stream dreams are made of, offering the experience for a novice to cut their teeth on steelheading, for the tinkering tackle-crafter to experiment with new methods, and for the advanced angler to challenge themselves, marking the last few checks off their list. A mix of younger trout bums packing into rooms and vehicles like sardines and wealthy, retired businessmen sipping scotch and smoking cigars in the lodge all convene on the river to live the same dream, and have the kind of experience that never leaves them.
Having never visited Alaska, Glacier Bear Lodge in the small town of Yakutat has left a lifelong impression on me. Traveling solo with my Australian cattledog "Wrangler," I booked the trip only a couple weeks in advance without a plan and flew by the seat of my pants. I've always thought of steelhead anglers to often be a bit of a grumpy bunch, but with the plentiful numbers of the Situk River, the atmosphere of the community and it's visitors is a completely different story. Drivers of every passing vehicle wave at each other in this relaxed rural environment, yet there's still several flights that come in and out of the small Alaskan Airlines airport daily.
After getting a ride from the lodge's shuttle, I had a couple drinks at the bar at Glacier Bear Lodge, where I ran into Jared Cady of Get Em Dry Jigs and Lael Johnson of Bait Ballz, who were preparing to fish the tidally influenced lower end of the river and invited me to tag along with them. Speckled belly geese flew overhead, as bald eagles towered over us in the trees, and greater yellowlegs roamed the gravel shorelines, a welcoming scene of abundant wildlife that set the tone for our evening quest for chrome.
Lael and Jared hooked a couple fish swinging flies, and I brought in my first Alaskan steelhead on a spinner. Having thought I was just going to have some beers at the lodge, I had only been in Alaska since lunch and at the river for an hour before smooching an oryncus mykiss hen and sending her on her way upstream to spawn. A brown bear ran across the road in front of us on the way out, as if it was chasing our report and heading to the river. A sign at the ramp warned visitors of an aggressive bear in the area recently, so seeing my first grizzly from the safety of the vehicle was satisfying. I was in awe of the beauty of this place and the diversity of wildlife species. Being my first day in Alaska, I felt as if mother nature rolled out the red carpet for me.The next day, I caught a ride with some friends to the boat launch and explored the river on foot. I hooked some of the biggest steelhead I've ever been witness to, and lost them to snags at my feet struggling to keep them under control. I redeemed myself by shaking hands with a few fresh fish later on, as well as my first dolly varden and a rare resident rainbow trout. I continued catching fish until the sun began to fall and it got too cold for comfort. I stood at a popular river crossing attempting to hitch a ride back to the lodge. The first two anglers were camping near the river, and although they weren't headed to the lodge, invited me back to their camp for a beer. However, I was eager to return to the lodge (where there's a roof, heat, and a bar), and the next angler politely obliged me and my canine companion with a ride.Back at the lodge, I met Tony "Famous" Davis and Kristen Dunn from Kodiak Custom Tackle. They were headed out for a float trip the next day, but were staying with a couple friends, Shannon and Kate, that wanted to stomp the banks and indicator fish with beads. They offered me a ride to the river the next morning, where Shannon started the day with a couple beautiful hens right out of the gate, including one that broke the handle on her net. We mozied upriver and settled in at the spot where I hooked most of my fish the day before and we landed several more. We were using just the basket of the net at that point, which was an awkward and exciting experience. The amount of wood snags is intimidating, but with every fish, I seemed to get better at keeping them pinned and getting them close enough for pictures.Tony and Kristen from Kodiak Custom Fishing tackle, and Ty Wyatt, Glacier Bear Lodge's halibut captain took me along with them for a fun trip walking along the banks of the Situk. While wandering upstream in belly-button deep water, I hooked a hen early in the morning that caught the attention of a large otter that swam across the river to steal it from me. I found a small perch tucked into some willows where I could get out of the water and try to quickly land the fish. As I was leaning down to grab it by the tail, the otter popped it's head up only a couple feet away to my left. I tried to boot it in the head to send a message that I wasn't giving up my fish that easy. It showed it's teeth like an angry dog and leaped back into the water, swimming upstream. I managed to land the fish downstream and safely release it away from the otter, but it was definitely humbling to know I was meddling with the local wildlife's territory.In the evening, we headed back to tidally influenced water, and on my first cast, I landed my first ever tidally influenced steelhead on a bead, a mission I wanted to complete purely out of curiosity how soon the feeding instincts of steelhead kick in as they enter the river and begin viewing eggs as a food source. Shortly after, Ty and Tony, who happen to be lifelong friends from Philomath, Oregon, doubled up on a pair of bucks fresh from the salt. Tony's fish was a redeeming note to end his visit, having been out-fished by his partner Kristen most of their time in Yakutat. As we continued to push the limits of the rising tide and a hot bite, we eventually turned around to notice the ground we were standing on was underwater, and so was our gear, so it was time to head back to the lodge.
Dinners at the lodge every evening were incredible, but being able to put in an order for a sack lunch to take to the river the next day was truly a convenience worthy of appreciation. Complimentary breakfasts in the morning were nothing short of any diner as well. A quick stop at the airport's fly shop on the way out to pick up some souvenirs, and I left Yakutat with my head in the clouds, obsessing over returning someday to do it again. The target-rich environment of the Situk is the steelhead stream dreams are made of, offering the experience for a novice to cut their teeth on steelheading, for the tinkering tackle-crafter to experiment with new methods, and for the advanced angler to challenge themselves, marking the last few checks off their list. A mix of younger trout bums packing into rooms and vehicles like sardines and wealthy, retired businessmen sipping scotch and smoking cigars in the lodge all convene on the river to live the same dream, and have the kind of experience that never leaves them.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Snipe Hunting (Yes, it's a thing)
When I was about 10 years old, my father, an avid waterfowler, took me out on my first snipe hunt. His preface on the drive out to the marsh was to be suspicious of anyone who offered to take me on a snipe hunt. He explained the folklore of a fool's errand, where a city slicker is taken out in the woods with a burlap sack and a flashlight, basically left to their own devices with an impossible mission. Snipe hunting however is a real thing that people do, and although it's not as difficult as catching a bird with a sack in the middle of the night, it's still a fun, challenging endeavour.
The appreciation of small game hunting in general is something that seems to have been lost among the modern hunters of today. It's lack of popularity and hunter participation has some fringe benefits. Private landowners are more likely to grant permission to hunt small game than deer. Small game hunting areas, specifically the habitat that is likely to hold snipe, are typically less pressured. Getting away from other hunters offers an experience of solitude, which is a nice change of pace from battling with weekend warrior waterfowlers.
It's a great alternative activity when your days off don't always align with the best days of duck hunting. Snipe are often a by-catch as far as harvesting target species, and their season runs parallel with waterfowl in Oregon and Washington. A fair weather day that doesn't get ducks moving can often become a great snipe hunt. Popular public game reserves for pheasant and waterfowling are good places to look when duck hunters are at home waiting for a rainy day. Drainage ditches and shallow flooded grasslands near wooded areas are another safe bet. A snowy small game hunt can often narrow down the space these birds will occupy. Their long beaks are made for capturing worms in bogs, shorelines, or the edges of marshland. Frozen ground will often push them back into thick cover. They need to be able to probe the ground to be out and actively feeding.
Snipe are the only shorebirds legal to hunt, and they inhabit the northwest year round. There are many shorebirds that are protected species, but once you stumble upon snipe, observing their flying habits make them unmistakable. Killdeer are often encountered in the same areas and are off limits. They make a loud, continuous, annoying call, and often fake being injured to lead threats away from their nests. There are several other shorebird species such as the dowitcher, that are also off-limits that you're likely to see out in the marsh. These you'll often see out in open flats in large flocks. You'll be able to spot snipe once they're airborne, it is extremely unlikely you'll ever see one on the ground. They make a distinctive peep as they leave the ground and take to the air.
One tip my father gave me on that hunt as a kid was, "Shoot 'em before they shit!" His suggestion was that snipe are like a racehorse with wings, meaning that once they lifted off and lightened their load, they would suddenly accelerate into oblivion. That advice helped me take my first snipe on that hunt, just as it left the ground. However, hunting them as an adult revealed the value of patience.
The flight pattern of a snipe for the most part is highly unpredictable, zigging and zagging erratically as they reach a certain altitude, wings beating frantically, often looking confused as to where it's going, much to the confusion of the hunter aiming at it. A "sniper" is a shooter skilled enough to take down this strange bird. Although the birds are excellent table fare, this is admittedly not the most economical method at gathering food, and they are mainly appetizer sized birds. The scientific name for Wilson's snipe is Gallinago delicata, gallina being latin for "hen," the suffix -ago meaning "resembling," and delicata meaning "dainty." They are small creatures that are tough to hit and it often takes many shells to bring home a few. Non-toxic shot is required by law, and you don't have to use the smallest shot possible with the most pellets you can sling in their general direction, but it helps.
There is a bizarre phenomenon to their flight pattern that sometimes pays off not to take the shot right away. Once they've frantically zigged, zagged, and gained altitude until nearly out of range, they often seem to forget why they flew off in the first place, double back, and attempt to land where they took off. This is often your best shot, and you may not get this opportunity if you spray and pray right away. Walking with the wind to your back also creates an advantage as they often take flight into the direction of the wind, giving you a better chance at an early shot.
Hunting snipe is the hybrid of flushing upland game birds and waterfowling among the marsh. It's a great youth hunting opportunity on days when it's difficult to keep kids engaged because ducks aren't flying. It doesn't require fancy camo or a well-trained dog, and it's a good hunting opportunity for a minimalist that enjoys walking. Being able to hunt shallow marsh in fair weather often means you can perform this activity in jeans and hip waders, rather than getting fully suited and booted.
The appreciation of small game hunting in general is something that seems to have been lost among the modern hunters of today. It's lack of popularity and hunter participation has some fringe benefits. Private landowners are more likely to grant permission to hunt small game than deer. Small game hunting areas, specifically the habitat that is likely to hold snipe, are typically less pressured. Getting away from other hunters offers an experience of solitude, which is a nice change of pace from battling with weekend warrior waterfowlers.
It's a great alternative activity when your days off don't always align with the best days of duck hunting. Snipe are often a by-catch as far as harvesting target species, and their season runs parallel with waterfowl in Oregon and Washington. A fair weather day that doesn't get ducks moving can often become a great snipe hunt. Popular public game reserves for pheasant and waterfowling are good places to look when duck hunters are at home waiting for a rainy day. Drainage ditches and shallow flooded grasslands near wooded areas are another safe bet. A snowy small game hunt can often narrow down the space these birds will occupy. Their long beaks are made for capturing worms in bogs, shorelines, or the edges of marshland. Frozen ground will often push them back into thick cover. They need to be able to probe the ground to be out and actively feeding.
Snipe are the only shorebirds legal to hunt, and they inhabit the northwest year round. There are many shorebirds that are protected species, but once you stumble upon snipe, observing their flying habits make them unmistakable. Killdeer are often encountered in the same areas and are off limits. They make a loud, continuous, annoying call, and often fake being injured to lead threats away from their nests. There are several other shorebird species such as the dowitcher, that are also off-limits that you're likely to see out in the marsh. These you'll often see out in open flats in large flocks. You'll be able to spot snipe once they're airborne, it is extremely unlikely you'll ever see one on the ground. They make a distinctive peep as they leave the ground and take to the air.
One tip my father gave me on that hunt as a kid was, "Shoot 'em before they shit!" His suggestion was that snipe are like a racehorse with wings, meaning that once they lifted off and lightened their load, they would suddenly accelerate into oblivion. That advice helped me take my first snipe on that hunt, just as it left the ground. However, hunting them as an adult revealed the value of patience.
The flight pattern of a snipe for the most part is highly unpredictable, zigging and zagging erratically as they reach a certain altitude, wings beating frantically, often looking confused as to where it's going, much to the confusion of the hunter aiming at it. A "sniper" is a shooter skilled enough to take down this strange bird. Although the birds are excellent table fare, this is admittedly not the most economical method at gathering food, and they are mainly appetizer sized birds. The scientific name for Wilson's snipe is Gallinago delicata, gallina being latin for "hen," the suffix -ago meaning "resembling," and delicata meaning "dainty." They are small creatures that are tough to hit and it often takes many shells to bring home a few. Non-toxic shot is required by law, and you don't have to use the smallest shot possible with the most pellets you can sling in their general direction, but it helps.
There is a bizarre phenomenon to their flight pattern that sometimes pays off not to take the shot right away. Once they've frantically zigged, zagged, and gained altitude until nearly out of range, they often seem to forget why they flew off in the first place, double back, and attempt to land where they took off. This is often your best shot, and you may not get this opportunity if you spray and pray right away. Walking with the wind to your back also creates an advantage as they often take flight into the direction of the wind, giving you a better chance at an early shot.
Hunting snipe is the hybrid of flushing upland game birds and waterfowling among the marsh. It's a great youth hunting opportunity on days when it's difficult to keep kids engaged because ducks aren't flying. It doesn't require fancy camo or a well-trained dog, and it's a good hunting opportunity for a minimalist that enjoys walking. Being able to hunt shallow marsh in fair weather often means you can perform this activity in jeans and hip waders, rather than getting fully suited and booted.
This article was published in the January 2019 issue of Northwest Sportsman Magazine
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