Winter to spring

Posted March 6, 2012 at 3:49 pm

By Kenneth L. Kieser
Northeast News
March 6, 2012

Winter is a rough time! Cold winds drive up heating bills and cabin fever becomes a reality. My father always said, “You endure a bad winter to be rewarded by a beautiful spring.” This is especially true for wildlife.

Thankfully, March is the gateway to spring. Let’s take a look at how several species survive this roughest part of winter and how they will fare this spring:

January and part of February makes wildlife survival a challenge. Larger animals like deer dig through ice and snow with their hooves to find meager tidbits. Coyotes, foxes and birds of prey are rewarded with small game that has few places to hide. Rabbits, rodents and quail with the best cover and food sources probably will make it. Many will not. They have a low survival percentage and generally a good reproduction rate. Let’s take a closer look at

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    The National Pheasant Quest and Quail Classic

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    Northeast News
    February 2, 2012

    Snow crunched as the English pointer ran through a huge field. Suddenly the muscular dog came to a complete stop, hesitated, and then froze in deliberate point. The hunter moved slowly towards the pointer, deliberately picking each step.

    A shiver flushed through the pointer’s body as excitement set in. This was his moment. The man moved closer while anticipation of a covey rise grew with each step – for both hunter and dog.

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    A New Year’s miracle

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    Northeast News
    January 4, 2012

    The very wildlife we cherish fights for life daily. Each species is equipped with fur, fins or feathers that sustain life in severe weather conditions, but aspects of the food chain often shorten life. We know this, but on occasion witness wildlife’s daily struggles to survive.

    The year of 2011 was in its finally days as Steve Matt and I slipped through the darkness towards several thousand white geese on a small lake. We were in the middle

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    All about turkey

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    Northeast News
    December 1, 2011

    So, it’s the holiday season and many will devour turkey. Did you ever wonder the history of wild turkey? Most importantly, why is there a domestic and wild version of this bird who dreads the holidays?

    Spanish explorers discovered Mexico in 1517, and on this expedition they discovered large numbers of turkeys. The men took careful notes and

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    Hobies on Taneycomo

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    Northeast News
    November 1, 2011

    I once made the statement, “You will never see me on a kayak or canoe in Branson’s Lake Taneycomo,” a statement that seemed like common sense.

    Kayaks and canoes are scarce on Taneycomo. The water is ice cold throughout the year, great for trout and lousy for swimming humans. Kayaks turn over, especially when the angler is 6’5 and 240 pounds like me, so putting that much weight in a kayak over deep, cold water seemed foolish-a chilling

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    Flying the Tin Goose

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    Northeast News
    October 1, 2011

    Many thoughts occur while riding on an airplane made in 1929, like, will this plane stay in the air? How can a plane fly slowly enough to land without flaps? Why does this plane have automobile-style steering wheels with Ford printed where the horn should be?

    These were three of my many thoughts while taxing down the runway at Lee’s Summit Airport in a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor made from corrugated aluminum alloy that resembled material from a metal roof usually found on barns. The Ford Motor Company mass produced

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    Why I Hate Dove Hunting

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    Northeast News
    September 1, 2011

    I recently wrote this letter to Remington Arms:
    Dear Remington,
    I sent back the 870 Wingmaster I bought yesterday and enclosed a letter demanding a full refund and perhaps an apology. I realize that your 870 is one of the toughest and most dependable shotguns ever made, normally. Sadly, I am sure you sold me a defective model.

    Let me explain: Last week I took my new shotgun out of the box, oiled it and went dove hunting. Five boxes of shells and no doves later, I stomped out of the

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    Fishing for wild Virginia trout

     

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    Northeast News
    Aug. 3, 2011

    Waist-high water shot through a canyon filled with heavy boulders, slippery sand and various types of fish. I stepped carefully to avoid taking a cold swim in the tail water section of Virginia’s Jackson River, an uninviting experience in heavy waders. Sweat dripped down my forehead until a welcome cool breeze slipped over the water surface, creating an air conditioning effect that made inhaling a deep breath of sweet mountain air a pleasure.

    I stopped and took a

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    Bullfrog Breeding in Antarctica

     

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    July 14, 2011

    Recently I was asked to write a story about bullfrog breeding in Antarctica. I thought about this for some time before contacting an outdoor writer buddy of mine who lives in Antarctica. I knew he would have useful information into this all-important and yet sometimes forgotten matter. He had retired for the day and sat staring at a roaring fire in his wigwam or whatever he lived in while concentrating on a glass of scotch and a good cigar when my phone call came

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    A Dark Night on the River

    By Kenneth L. Kieser
    June 8, 2011

    Some nights are darker than others, especially on any river bank. Take away the moonlight and you have a very spooky place.

    The men in my family are rough and tumble types. Our fathers were raised in much harder times and taught each boy in my family to be tough and self sufficient.

    We were young men then, full of energy and confidence, not smart

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