Sorry for the delay in updating our blog, we have had two good sales days that have kept me busy working with dealers and away from the blog.
Well we got lucky this past weekend and the monster snow storm that was forecast never materialized. That will help all the wildlife in the area after a hard winter.
Regarding wildlife, there are currently thousands and thousands of waterfowl on Big Lake which is on the Mississippi River right across from Wabasha. I have seen Tundra Swans, Canvasbacks, Gadwall, Hooded Mergansers, Northern Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal, Mallards, Widgeon, Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers, Canada Geese, Bluebills, Ring-necks, Pintails, Redheads and Horned Grebes in the last few days. If you love waterfowl this is an awesome time to be on the river with a spotting scope or binoculars.
The first Brown-headed Cowbird this spring has just now landed on the feeder outside my office window. While not my favorite bird because they lay their eggs in other songbird nests, letting the other birds raise their young for them, it is another certain sign that spring is here. As far as songbirds, I am seeing lots of House Finches, Goldfinches, Chipping Sparrows, Redwing Blackbirds, Mourning Doves and a few Redpolls, Cardinals and Bluebirds around the shop right now. I wonder how long before the first Hummingbirds show up?
Remember to check out the live nesting Eagle feed, the estimated hatch day is TODAY April 8th. It is going to be fun to see if the prediction comes true, once the chicks hatch the parents should be real busy feeding them, should make for some interesting viewing. One word about the site is they have slowed the streaming camera down due to so much internet traffic, just click refresh to get an updated image until they get a new streaming media solution. You will notice the adults are standing up turning the eggs more as they get close to hatching.
By the way if you are in the Wabasha area please stop by the Loon Lake Decoy Company Factory Outlet Store. We are adding several new items to the Bargain Corner today so stop by and enjoy some great savings on our quality sculptures!
Regarding the store we also received a new original Whitetail Deer carving from Ben Manor yesterday. This beautiful woodcarving of a Whitetail Buck was first seen by Ben in 2001. In 2002 while scouting, Ben found the sheds and later that fall he successfully harvested this almost 170 class buck. Make sure you click on the link below in the picture to see the entire carving and to learn how you can own this one of a kind carving.
We currently have over 60 original carvings in stock for you to choose from, if you enjoy fine original wood carvings you need to make it a point to visit our store where you can see these beautiful works of art first hand. We currently have original woodcarvings available for sale from noted artists/carvers Sam Nottleman, Jerry Eppel, Marv Meyer, Bill Stark and Ben Manor.
Regarding the store we also received a new original Whitetail Deer carving from Ben Manor yesterday. This beautiful woodcarving of a Whitetail Buck was first seen by Ben in 2001. In 2002 while scouting, Ben found the sheds and later that fall he successfully harvested this almost 170 class buck. Make sure you click on the link below in the picture to see the entire carving and to learn how you can own this one of a kind carving.
We currently have over 60 original carvings in stock for you to choose from, if you enjoy fine original wood carvings you need to make it a point to visit our store where you can see these beautiful works of art first hand. We currently have original woodcarvings available for sale from noted artists/carvers Sam Nottleman, Jerry Eppel, Marv Meyer, Bill Stark and Ben Manor.
Another thing I recently received about our outdoors is this news release from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Now this is what I call a positive economic stimulus plan. Wonder how many jobs are created because of these dollars being funneled into our natural resources?
$740 Million Goes to States for Fish and Wildlife Projects
USFWS Release
$740 Million Goes to States for Fish and Wildlife Projects
USFWS Release
Department of the Interior
Secretary Ken Salazar announced more than $740.9 million will be distributed to the fish and wildlife agencies of the 50 states, commonwealths, the District of Columbia, and territories to fund fish and wildlife conservation, boater access to public waters, and hunter and aquatic education. These Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program funds come from excise taxes and import duties on sporting firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, sportfishing equipment, electric outboard motors, and fuel taxes attributable to motorboats and small engines.
“The funds raised under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs have helped conserve our fish and wildlife resources and provide opportunities for outdoor recreation for more than half a century. These investments, which help create jobs while protecting our nation’s natural treasures, are particularly important in these tough economic times,” Salazar said. “All those who pay into this program — the hunting and fishing industries, boaters, hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters —should take pride in helping to conserve our land and its fish and wildlife and provide benefits to all Americans who cherish the natural world and outdoor recreation.”
The Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2009 totals nearly $336 million, with more than $64.7 million marked for hunter education and firearm and archery range programs. The Sport Fish Restoration apportionment for 2009 totals more than $404 million.
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act funding is available to states, commonwealths, and territories through a formula based on land area, including inland waters and the number of paid hunting license holders in each state, commonwealth, and territory. State, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies use the money to manage wildlife populations, conduct habitat research, acquire wildlife lands
and public access, carry out surveys and inventories, administer hunter education, and construct and maintain shooting ranges.
“State fish and wildlife agencies are proud to be funded by the hunting, fishing and boating community through this American system of conservation funding, which has been a successful model for many years,” said Rex Amack, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “This year’s record Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration apportionment is vital
in order for state agencies to continue their work to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations and provide opportunities for all to connect with nature.”
Sport Fish Restoration is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on sport fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, and pleasure boats. Sport Fish Restoration funds are apportioned to the states based on a formula that includes the land and water area, inland waters and
the Great Lakes and marine coastal areas where applicable, and the number of paid fishing license holders. States, the District of Columbia, commonwealths, and territories use the funds to pay for stocking fish; acquiring and improving sport fish habitat; providing aquatic resource education opportunities; conducting fisheries research; maintaining public access, and the construction at boat ramps, fishing piers, and other facilities for recreational boating access.
More than 62 percent of Wildlife Restoration funds are used to buy, develop, maintain, and operate wildlife management areas. Since the program began, state, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have acquired 68 million acres through fee simple, leases, or easements, and operated and maintained more than 390 million acres for hunting since the program began. In addition, agencies certified over 9 million participants in hunter education. “
This source of conservation funding is important not only measured by its dollar amount, but also by legislative safeguards preventing its diversion away from state fish and wildlife agencies,” said Rowan Gould, acting Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “For states working to ensure a future for fish and wildlife—and opportunities for people to enjoy them — precious few programs offer this level of support and reliability.”
Numerous species including the wild turkey, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, American elk, and black bears have increased in population due to improved research and habitat management funded by Wildlife Restoration. In the program’s history, fish and wildlife agencies have assisted more than 9.2 million landowners on fish and wildlife management. States, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have improved more than 35 million acres of habitat and developed more than 44,000 acres of waterfowl impoundments.
Since the inception of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, states, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have acquired 360,000 acres through fee simple, leases, for easements. They have operated and maintained more than 1.5 million acres annually and they stocked over 6.8 billion fish and restored more than 1.7 billion fish throughout the country; renovated or improved 6,400-boat access sites; and had over 11.9 million participants in the aquatic resource education program.
Well that is it for now, make sure you check in on our Eagle friends and if in the neighborhood stop by and say hello, I look forward to meeting you!
Gary
garys@lakes.com
Secretary Ken Salazar announced more than $740.9 million will be distributed to the fish and wildlife agencies of the 50 states, commonwealths, the District of Columbia, and territories to fund fish and wildlife conservation, boater access to public waters, and hunter and aquatic education. These Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program funds come from excise taxes and import duties on sporting firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, sportfishing equipment, electric outboard motors, and fuel taxes attributable to motorboats and small engines.
“The funds raised under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs have helped conserve our fish and wildlife resources and provide opportunities for outdoor recreation for more than half a century. These investments, which help create jobs while protecting our nation’s natural treasures, are particularly important in these tough economic times,” Salazar said. “All those who pay into this program — the hunting and fishing industries, boaters, hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters —should take pride in helping to conserve our land and its fish and wildlife and provide benefits to all Americans who cherish the natural world and outdoor recreation.”
The Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2009 totals nearly $336 million, with more than $64.7 million marked for hunter education and firearm and archery range programs. The Sport Fish Restoration apportionment for 2009 totals more than $404 million.
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act funding is available to states, commonwealths, and territories through a formula based on land area, including inland waters and the number of paid hunting license holders in each state, commonwealth, and territory. State, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies use the money to manage wildlife populations, conduct habitat research, acquire wildlife lands
and public access, carry out surveys and inventories, administer hunter education, and construct and maintain shooting ranges.
“State fish and wildlife agencies are proud to be funded by the hunting, fishing and boating community through this American system of conservation funding, which has been a successful model for many years,” said Rex Amack, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “This year’s record Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration apportionment is vital
in order for state agencies to continue their work to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations and provide opportunities for all to connect with nature.”
Sport Fish Restoration is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on sport fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, and pleasure boats. Sport Fish Restoration funds are apportioned to the states based on a formula that includes the land and water area, inland waters and
the Great Lakes and marine coastal areas where applicable, and the number of paid fishing license holders. States, the District of Columbia, commonwealths, and territories use the funds to pay for stocking fish; acquiring and improving sport fish habitat; providing aquatic resource education opportunities; conducting fisheries research; maintaining public access, and the construction at boat ramps, fishing piers, and other facilities for recreational boating access.
More than 62 percent of Wildlife Restoration funds are used to buy, develop, maintain, and operate wildlife management areas. Since the program began, state, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have acquired 68 million acres through fee simple, leases, or easements, and operated and maintained more than 390 million acres for hunting since the program began. In addition, agencies certified over 9 million participants in hunter education. “
This source of conservation funding is important not only measured by its dollar amount, but also by legislative safeguards preventing its diversion away from state fish and wildlife agencies,” said Rowan Gould, acting Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “For states working to ensure a future for fish and wildlife—and opportunities for people to enjoy them — precious few programs offer this level of support and reliability.”
Numerous species including the wild turkey, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, American elk, and black bears have increased in population due to improved research and habitat management funded by Wildlife Restoration. In the program’s history, fish and wildlife agencies have assisted more than 9.2 million landowners on fish and wildlife management. States, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have improved more than 35 million acres of habitat and developed more than 44,000 acres of waterfowl impoundments.
Since the inception of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, states, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have acquired 360,000 acres through fee simple, leases, for easements. They have operated and maintained more than 1.5 million acres annually and they stocked over 6.8 billion fish and restored more than 1.7 billion fish throughout the country; renovated or improved 6,400-boat access sites; and had over 11.9 million participants in the aquatic resource education program.
Well that is it for now, make sure you check in on our Eagle friends and if in the neighborhood stop by and say hello, I look forward to meeting you!
Gary
garys@lakes.com
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