THE SPOORrcfga.com/10-2015spoor.pdfThe present plan is to put trees in Carnahan Cove when the lake comes up enough to make the Carnahan Creek boat ramp functional. Pheasant leg soups

Answers on page three.

.IGHTEDSSep September Hunting Results the doves to land to drink.

~October 2015 Volume 32 Issue 8

THE SPOOR Riley County Fish & Game Association Newsletter

Riley County Fish & Game Association Officers:

President: Pat Briggs

Past President: Steve Doughty

Vice President: Kent Stewart

Secretary: Spencer Tomb

Treasurer: Christopher Deetjen

Spoor Editor: Spencer Tomb Directors: Owen Higgins, Dale Grunewald,

Steve Haas, Paul Cassella, Tom Siderwicz, Robert Nelson, Don Taylor, Jim McDiffett

Find us on the Web!! Here are the addresses for our Face Book page and our

website http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riley-County-Fish-

Game-Association/92844055607

http://www.rcfga.org/

Hunter Education Classes Hunter education courses scheduled this year

for Riley County will be held at the Fancy Creek

Range. Preregistration at the Tuttle Creek State Park

office is required. Students receive class outline,

manual, homework assignment and class locations at

sign-up. Classroom sessions will be on consecutive

Saturdays. There is a maximum of 50 students in each

class. The next class will be on 10/20/15 and 10/27/15.

Trivia Questions

1. Common names of the birds we hunt vary across their

range; what are better names for these ducks? A. Bald

pate, B. Bull sprig, C. Grass mallard, D. Summer duck,

E. Blue bill

2. What is the difference between an antler and a horn?

Answers are on page 2.

Board Meeting

The Board of Directors Meeting will be held at Vista on

Thursday 15 October at 6:30PM Board meetings are open to the general

membership; all members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING

When: 7:30 PM Thursday 1 October

Where: Green Valley Community Center

Program: Todd Lovin on Trophy Scoring Using the Boone and Crocket System.

OK. IT IS OCTOBER, WHAT CAN I DO? If you asked Paul Miller, he would smile and say, “Go fishing! I wish

every month was October.” Wipers are on the surface at Milford and

small mouth bass are in shallow water at Melvern.

If you asked a serious waterfowl hunter, they would point out that the

waterfowl seasons open in western Kansas on 10 October and it is time

to get your equipment ready even if you do not want to go west.

Hunters with new hunting dogs can put in a open choke, grab some steel

sixes and tromp around a marsh edge behind their dog in search of snipe

and sora rails. It is great training for the dog. ST

The fish habitat project continues . If you would like to help,

contact Gary Brooks or Steve Haas. See page 3.

Upcoming Events

October 1 Membership Meeting Green Valley Community Center 7:30 PM Program: Todd Lovin will present a program on

the Boone and Crockett trophy scoring system.

October1 Bow season for deer opens and the fall wild turkey season starts.

October 5 Board of Directors Meeting Vista Burger 6:30 PM

October 31 Low Plains Late waterfowl season opens

November 5 Membership Meeting Green Valley Community Center 7:30 PM Program: to be determined.

November 14 Upland bird seasons open

November 19 Board of Directors Meeting Vista Burger 6:30 PM

December 2 Firearms Deer season opens

December 3 Membership Meeting Green Valley Community Center 7:30 PM Program: to be determined.

Nov. 5 Membership Meeting Green Valley Community Center 7:30 PM Program: To be determined

November 14 Opening day of the Kansas Upland Bird Seasons

Our Mission Statement

The Riley County Fish & Game Association, a family-oriented club, is dedicated to the encouragement and

education of outdoor sports in the Riley County, Kansas area. The Riley County Fish & Game Association

strives to encourage and promote responsibility, safety, conservation, habitat improvement, and

sportsmanship to all individuals, including women, youth and the disabled. The Riley County Fish & Game

Association also works to ensure hunting and fishing rights as well as to contribute to the positive growth of

hunting and fishing for future generations.

The Officers and Board of the Riley County Fish and Game Association

President: Pat Briggs 313-1077 [email protected]

Vice-President: G. Kent Stewart 539-2663 [email protected]

Treasurer: Christopher Deetjen 564-0085

Secretary and Spoor Editor: Spencer Tomb 410-2817 [email protected]

Past President: Steve Doughty 565-1854 [email protected]

Paul Cassella 564-3863 [email protected]

Dale Grunewald 537-2127 [email protected]

Don Taylor 313-5016 [email protected]

Owen Higgins 770-7914 [email protected]

Robert Nelson 494-8433 [email protected]

Tom Siderwcz 458-9200 [email protected]

Steve Haas 223-2720 [email protected]

Jim McDiffett 537-9607 [email protected]

The Officers and Board of the Riley County Fish and Game Association

President: Pat Briggs 313-1077 [email protected]

Vice-President: G. Kent Stewart 539-2663 [email protected]

Treasurer: Christopher Deetjen 564-0085

Secretary and Spoor Editor: Spencer Tomb 410-2817 [email protected]

Past President: Steve Doughty 565-1854 [email protected]

Paul Cassella 564-3863 [email protected]

Dale Grunewald 537-2127 [email protected]

Don Taylor 313-5016 [email protected]

Owen Higgins 770-7914 [email protected]

Robert Nelson 494-8433 [email protected]

Tom Siderwcz 458-9200 [email protected]

Steve Haas 223-2720 [email protected]

Jim McDiffett 537-9607 [email protected]

Trivia Question Answers 1. A. Bald pate = widgeon ,B.Bull sprig = Pintail drake, C. Grass mallard = Gadwall, D. Summer duck =

Mottled duck, E. Blue bill = Scaup. 2. Antlers are shed each year a nd then grow back and horns are not shed and continue to grow each

year.

Tuttle Puddle Fish Habitat Improvements The RCF&G Association’s Fish Habitat Team has spent two September mornings placing PVC pipe “trees” in selected fishing

spots in the River Pond below Tuttle Creek Reservoir. The team is led by Steve Haas and Gary Brooks. They have been working together

several years and have received donations from local businesses and our club. This is the second year that they have been given a $3,000

line in the club budget.

The pipes are cut and the bases are made at Gary Brooks’ shop and then club volunteers assemble them on the bank near where

they will be placed. A large open decked pontoon boat is used to place the fake trees in clusters in about 20 feet of water.

So far the fake PVC trees appear to hold up and stay in place better than sinking cedar trees and Christmas trees. The fish find the

structures very soon after they are dropped in place. Both the structures and fish were seen on depth finders a few hours after the fake trees

had been placed.

At least one more batch of trees will be placed this fall. If you want to help with the project contact, Gary Brooks or Steve Haas.

The present plan is to put trees in Carnahan Cove when the lake comes up enough to make the Carnahan Creek boat ramp functional.

Pheasant leg soups or Gumbo The bony tendons of pheasant legs make them a culinary challenge. Many recipes call for pheasant breast fillets, leaving behind

the legs, thighs, keel bone, upper wing bones and backs. Here is a way to salvage the remaining pheasant pieces and turn them into a great

soup or pheasant gumbo. Gumbo is a broad term. Gumbo varies regionally and family by family. It is one of those soups that gets whatever

you have on hand and then if it turns out well it becomes a family tradition.

Place the pheasant pieces left over after filleting (the backs, keel bones, shoulders and necks) and the drumsticks in a large pot;

cover them with water and add a large finely chopped onion, a bay leaf and salt and black pepper. If you are not a gumbo lover, leave out

the bay leaf and use the stock as the base in your favorite chicken soup recipe. After all, the ring neck pheasant is a wild "cousin" of the

domestic chicken. Bring the pot to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to a gentle, but continuous boil and let it cook until the meat is ready to fall

off the bones. There is a point in cooking when the bony tendons in the drumsticks are easily separated from the meat by pulling them at the

narrow end of the drumstick.

Let it cool and separate the bones from the meat and stock and discard the bones. If the stock is to be stored, return it to the stove

and reduce the volume and freeze it.

This stock can be the base of a gumbo or used in any chicken soup recipe. Try it you will like it.

The last Shot— It looks like this is going to be a good year for quail, and many younger hunters have little or no quail hunting experience. It is a good idea to

have a pre hunt safety discussion and make sure that every hunter has shooting glasses and an orange vest and hat. Quail hunting is best done

in small groups of two or three hunters and a dog or two. Be Safe and Have Fun.

Some Things to Consider about Quail Hunting 1. Hunt the best cover into the wind and in the mid-morning while there is

still some dew on the vegetation. This will give your dogs a scenting

advantage

2. Always reload your gun before you take a step. It is not unusual to find

a bird that was detached from the covey and holding tight.

3. Treat every point as if it were a covey even when you are pursuing

singles. All of the hunters should gather behind the dog on point. You may

have walked to the next covey or have several birds that have regrouped.

4. There is always one more; quail do not often come in singles. If you

have found birds in good cover where they are spread out and holding,

give your dogs time to work the area.

5. If you shoot and miss, follow your shot. Watch where that bird flies

and try to get it up again. It is important to follow it as it may have been

hit.

6. Hunt the dog not the cover. If your dog is acting birdy and turns, follow

it. They are bred for their noses and we feed them all year for this so trust

them.

7. Do not pursue singles on small coveys . Small coveys will find another

covey to join, but it is time to lighten up on them if they are down to 10 or

fewer birds. ST

(I have left a few good things out. Send me the ones you think

should be here and we will finish it next month.)

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please contact Spencer

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[email protected]