Jim Foster Outdoors

HUNTING - A TOP BIRD HUNTING BUDDY

2009-11-11T09:27:00.004-07:00

THE VERSATILE HUNTING DOG
by Jim Foster

The Texas ringneck pheasant season opens in less than a month. And, I am ready. Chasing these long tailed cackling birds has been a passion of mine for the last 35 years – maybe more. At the last count I have hunted pheasant in 14 states.

Getting my gear together for the drive to Hansford County in the Texas Panhandle for the opening of the season always brings back memories of hunts past and people who are no longer with us.

These thoughts carry over as we line up for the first walk of the hunt. Right up there with old friends past, are the dogs that broke trails and found places in our hearts. They may be gone but not forgotten.

One such bird dog was an English Pointer names Cindy. She was an all round quail dog with one exception – she just wouldn’t retrieve. On land she would locate dead birds but over water she wouldn’t even get her feet wet.

After some thought I bred Cindy with Bandit, a large Brittany, and the result was a "drop" and one of the best bird dogs I have ever had, Bob, a truly versatile hunting dog.

It was about this time I discovered what some people were calling a versatile hunting dog or a bird dog that could and would do it all. Along with my other dogs I always tried to include one of these on a hunt.

For many years it has been a German Shorthair Pointer (GSP). The dog I have now is a GSP. A dog that right now is asleep under my desk as I write this column. A real 24/7, 365 days a year buddy and companion – a requirement for a versatile hunting dog.

The breeds included in the versatile hunting dog group are; the German shorthair, the German Wirehair, the Munsterlander, Pudelpointer, the Spinone, Vizsla, Weimaraner, and the Red Setter. There are others but these are the main breeds.

Just getting a versatile pup is only part of the fun of your pup. Bringing pup up the correct way and then the training pup do adjust behavior to meet your expatiations.

I have just finished reading a book written by Chuck Johnson titled Training The Versatile Hunting Dog. To be rather candid, this is a great book, and not only tells you how to train your dog but tells you how to start a pup during its first and second years. These early training and life style tips will really give your pup a head start on other pups.

Other chapters teach you how to introduce pup to water, tracking, birds, and tips on how to chose a trainer if you can’t do it yourself. It also gives you an insight into the Versatile Hunting Dog Association and how membership will improve your dog handling as well as your hunting.

Even if you are planning a new bird dog pup and it’s not one of the versatile breeds, this book will be valuable in pups growing up and conditioning.

To order your copy contact them toll free: 1-866-400-2012 or go to their website: www.wildadvpress.com - E-mail: books@wildadvpress.com.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

PHOTOGRAPHY - BLOWING MY OWN HORN

2009-11-07T17:42:00.005-07:00

Photographer, writer, speaker, and OWAA board member, Jim Foster won Honorable Mention in the 2009 Refuge Photography Contest sponsored by the National Wildlife Refuge Association, ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, Southwest Airlines, Barbara’s Bakery, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Wild Bird Centers of America.

His winning photograph of a Painted Bunting was taken on the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

Jim Foster is a full-time outdoor writer who specializes in writing about and photographing nature, the outdoors, travel, and adventure travel. He has served as South Texas photo stringer for the Associated Press and was regional editor of two saltwater fishing magazines. A native Texan Jim now lives in Salmon, Idaho.

He is a columnist and feature writer for the Port Isabel Press and the San Benito Newspapers, the South Padre Island Times as well as his own well visited and sponsored on-line Blog He edited and wrote the OUTDOORS SUNDAY PAGE for the Valley Freedom Newspaper Group for over 7 years. Jim has just been signed on to write a photography column for the ISLAND PARK NEWS and their On-Line Magazine. This column will feature many of Jim's images taken in Yellowstone National Park.

His photographic images have appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country and in several books. He maintains an extensive stock photo file and sells to publications as well as the advertising community. Jim was the commissioned photographer for Henderson, Nevada to photograph their new birding and wildlife area. Henderson will be using the images for promotional items, their web site, and has produced a series of photo CDs on the areas wildlife. His birding images have been used by several Chamber of Commerce publications.

Jim is a member and serving on the board of directors of OWAA, and a member of Professional Outdoor Media Association, the American Society of Media Photographers, The National Society of Newspaper Columnists, The Southeast Outdoor Press Association, and is a past president (2 Terms) of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association and served 11 terms on the TOWA board of Directors. Over the years he has won over one hundred awards for his writing and photography.

His First DIGITAL BIRD BOOK is going into its second printing and his sponsored BLOG receives multi-K hunts daily.

Jim also is a popular lecturer and gives slide presentations on photography, fishing, hunting, wildlife, birding, and travel locations and events.

Jim has also written about and taught wildlife photography at several colleges and universities. He has also displayed his photography his photography at the Idaho State University gallery and several commercial galleries and has been a guest speaker schools and birding groups across the country on several topics.

END OF HORN BLOWING -

JIM'S GEMS - "THE" REFUGE

2009-11-02T16:52:00.003-07:00

HUNTERS & FISHERMEN PAY - BUT NO PLAY
by Jim Foster

A known fact that has been around for quite a while is that hunters and fishermen were the first conservationists and remains so today.

Millions of hunter’s and fishermen’s self imposed tax dollars have been used to purchase and operate the National Wildlife Refuge System. These taxes were not forced on sportsmen but were taken on gladly in order to provide for the collective good.

It is a shame the people charged with the management of these “public lands” have a hard time grasping the facts of who paid for what. Of course we know the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has become a “politically correct” bureaucratic agency having within their ranks the anti-hunting crowd. Maybe, just plain lazy might be a better nomenclature.

Now, I don’t want to be excessively hard on these people but a glaring example might be the small number of hunting days and hunters allowed on the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (LANWR). And, there is no fishing on the refuge proper.

Saying there is fishing on the refuge because the USFWS “leases” a strip of land to a county park does not mean there is fishing “on” the refuge. It is at best this is misleading information at worst a downright untruth.

A bit about fishing. The LANWR has mile after mile of bay waters that would be excellent wadefishing water. However, the refuge management has refused to listen to suggestions on how this water could be used for additional recreation. One reason given is that anglers would trash the shoreline. I walked this area last March and the whole are is littered with trash – who did this? With no fishing allowed the answer is NOT fishermen.

Bad excuse, so where are their clean up crews?

A few parking areas and entry points would provide fishing to hundreds of people and maybe justify the taxes they paid on their fishing equipment. I have offered to show the refuge how this could be done at very little cost but have hit a stonewall, excuses and more excuses. Being a bird watcher as well as an angler I can’t see the conflict.

The hunting year in the state of Texas begins September 1 and closes near the end of February with only a few exceptions that adds up to approximately 181 days Texas hunters may hunt and fish for a combo license fee of $60.00.

On the LANWR, the total numbers of days hunters may hunt is a whopping 22 days – that’s total. Wow, and that includes the two bow season held in December and January. Many hunts last only 2 days and the cost for any portion of these 22 days, is $60.00.

These minimal hunts take place on over 50,000 acres of the refuge that would support many more hunters and a larger number of animals killed. It would seem there is no actual management been done here.

Throughout the NWR System, excellent opportunities exist for sportsmen to pursue waterfowl, big game and much more.

Hunting is a popular public activity on refuge land and a practical means of maintaining optimal wildlife populations. This has led the USFWS to manage land to produce and maintain wildlife populations that will support the sport – or so they say.

It is also nationally recognized by the USFWS, that hunting is an important wildlife management tool on refuge lands. It is a real stretch to think 22 days of “low results” hunting opportunities will accomplish anything.

Now, as I have said not all refuge management exhibits this type of negative refuge use. I experienced a positive attitude when I visited the Brazoria NWR, near Houston and the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah where waterfowl hunting is not only allowed but also promoted.

The federal taxes are being paid daily but the rewards in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas are almost a moot point. It’s time for a change.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

TRAVEL - BOISE, IDAHO

2009-10-10T09:09:00.002-06:00

THE CITY OF TREES
By Jim Foster

Traveling to Boise in a raging snowstorm in search of photographing some fishing on the Boise River, I discovered a city of over 300,000 population that is quite urban but with a rural atmosphere.

Walking around the city proper I was greeted with birds of several species and a plethora of the scampering red squirrel – even scratching on my hotel window.

I was impressed with the many historical buildings, including the Idanha Hotel. This old structure is still in use and at the time of its completion in 1901 at a cost of $125,000 dollars, was the most expensive structure ever built in Boise, was the tallest building in the state, and had Idaho’s first elevator.

Boise, is the capital and largest city of the State of Idaho, is the hub of commerce, banking and government for the state. It is a blend of both traditional and non-traditional sights and attractions.

Located along the Boise River and nestled against foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boise offers many outdoor activities, from skiing at Bogus Basin Ski Resort, to biking on the Boise River Greenbelt to boating at nearby reservoirs.

Let’s not forget the Boise River can brag about being one of the Rockies best urban fisheries and both cold and warm water species can and are caught here. The Green Belt is well maintained and groomed. Drifting the entire length of the Urban River is a popular activity.

Boise Parks & Recreation maintains 22.5 miles of pathway along the Boise River Greenbelt corridor. Types of services provided includes: mowing of riparian areas, tree trimming, path and hard surface maintenance, snow removal, litter removal and site amenity maintenance.

It would seem the city has it all - desert, rivers, mountains and lakes for hiking, camping, kayaking, river rafting, hunting and fishing.

So named The City of Trees, Boise has one-of-a-kind museums and urban parks. Among the many unique sites to visit are the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Idaho Black History Museum and the World Center for Birds of Prey.

Of course Boise is capitol city of Idaho and the location Boise State University, the state's largest university with an enrollment of over 19,500 students. Education is important in Boise and in is exhibited by 5 high schools, 9 junior high schools, and 34 grade schools.

The impressive state capitol building is seen from most downtown location and looms majestic at the end of Capitol Street. Boise is a town with many faces and should be explored in depth with an adventurous spirit.

A visit here should be required for all residents if Idaho and on the travel list for all Americans.

For more information on Boise and the Boise area contact the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau at; http://www.boise.org or give them a call at 800.635.5240 / 208.344.7777 Fax: 208.344.6236

To contact Jim Foster with news or comments Email him at jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com/

PHOTOGRAPHY - THE TRIPOD - A USEFUL TOOL

2009-09-27T09:39:00.006-06:00

HOLD ER’ STEADY
By Jim Foster

Anyone who may have attended one of my photo workshops or seminars might remember I love photographing flying and running subjects with a hand held camera. This involves panning, fast shooting, a fast focus, and, oh yes, some luck involved.

The flying owl image was taken in this manner. This type of shooting in reality should be the exception and not the rule.
The number one photo accessory after the camera and lens is a tripod and like your glass buy what you can afford and don’t skimp.

It’s always better to use a tripod. If you take one of your hand-held images and give it a close look – maybe select – VIEW ACTUAL PICTIALS in PhotoShop – you may see where your image is not as sharp as you might like. This can be the case in spite of using a very fast shutter speed.

True –tripods are a pain to lug along, and I have had my share of problems lugging these three-legged monsters around. On a trip to the rim of Paria Canyon in Arizona our group was caught in a storm. In the haste to get to a lower elavation I lost an expensive tripod from the back rack of a 4-wheeler and having the 2 people behind me run it over ruining it forever.

Something like this could make a photographer leave their tripod the car on the next trip.

However, if you are going to be taking photos in the wild, a tripod can come in very handy to produce quality images. Now before we progress much further, many photo-experts will tell you that you “must” have a ball-head for your tripod. Their name for the other kind is a “video head”.

Well folks, I have never shot a second worth of video in my life and find that type of head quite useful. I do use a ball head from time to time but find that each tripod head has its advantages and disadvantages. For example turning loose of a long lens on a ball head without the proper tightens will cause you multi-thousand dollar lens to go crashing down, many times causing your tripod to fall as well. For shooting out of a hide I prefer the video head.

Now, when working with a micro lens where very small movements matter the ball head is what you will find on my tripod. A fraction of an inch move is not a problem when dealing with something as small as a flower or a butterfly on same. I would say this would be the preference of the photographer and of course your equipment budget. As for me I carry two or more tripods and both type heads.

The tripod comes into its own when the subject is photographed using a slow shutter speed or for weather like multi flashes of lightning. Trying to accomplish this hand held is a near impossibility. As you become more accustomed to using a tripod you will find many other places where it will save the day or at least make it easier to get a sharp image.

Selecting the proper tripod can be frustrating experience until you ask yourself the question. That being, how the tripod will be used and how much weight it will carry safely. Choosing a flimsy lightweight tripod for your 2.8 500 mm lens is a disaster just waiting to happen. Be careful what you buy.

Getting into the “good stuff” that will support professional lenses expect the cost to be higher. This is not the place for a $29.95 Wall Mart special made of plastic.

Choose a tripod you can use standing up as well as from a hide or a sitting position. My choice for a solid working tripod was a Vanguard ELITE 4 CF. I also use a quite light-weight Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT. This is an Aluminum Alloy tripod. The feature that makes this tripod a must-have is the multiple angle control column, making getting hard to reach angles a breeze. Used with the Vanguard SBH-50 ball head. Not only will this tripod get low to the ground but made macro photography of a honey bee much easier.

After using this product for some time, I met Jody Lamb at our OWAA annual conference and was surprised to learn the model had been discontinued. I was accustomed to this happening to computers, cell phone, and digital cameras but not tripods. This tripod is a quality product – and reflects all the Vanguard line of tripods and photo accessories.

All of the better tripods use what I call mounting plates. They will attach to the camera and then will quickly slide into slots on the tripod and lock in place. Some are called quick links.

Sorry to say, most of the different models of tripods have different sizes and shapes of mounting plates. If you are shooting with multiple cameras and lenses this will create a problem or at least slow your work down considerably.

Here’s a tip; when you settle on the tripod you want buy several extra mounting plates. This will save you from the hassle of changing plates when you change cameras or lenses. It’s a small price to pay for making a smooth change from one camera to another.

Tripods are as important to a photographer as any accessory in his or her bag. Take your time and select a product that will meet or exceed your expectations and you will never regret the expenditure.

To comment or to send news items Email Jim at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

TRAVEL - A WESTERN TRIP

2009-09-23T09:06:00.004-06:00

THE GRAND CIRCLE
By Jim Foster

Leaving Salmon, Idaho and driving east along the Lemhi River has been the foundation of many memorable adventures. The morning was crisp and cool with a mere wisp of a breeze. Deer and one lone moose watched my passing.

Nearing the community of Rexburg the sight of the Teton Mountains came into view. There was a haze against the mountains created by virtually hundreds of farm combines harvesting the mile after mile of wheat - amber waves of grain as the song goes.

After crossing the pass the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming came into view - as usual I was again surprised how the town has grown. Each traffic light created a line of high-priced SUV, Land Rovers and the like. Many of these so-called off-road vehicles had never actually been used in four-wheel drive. Tourists were numerous while not one cowboy could be seen. Needless to say no stops were made.

Thoughts crossed my mind of Boots Allen and his son Dick who ran guided trips on the Snake River in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. They also ran a general store where they did sold the Humpy dry fly Dick tied all winter. The story goes that Boots came to Jackson as a youngster riding on the back of a west bound wagon. A grand man he was.

At the edge of Jackson is the beginning of the National Elk Refuge. No elk were sighted due to the time of year but a pair of Trumpeter Swan did catch my attention and called for a stop - maybe add an entry for my second bird book.

Easing down the little embankment to the refuge fence my camera was soon rested on the fence. Another photographer was already set up and watching the swan so I quietly eased to the side out of his way. We exchanged quiet pleasantries and both took a few shots. As my time was somewhat limited I took several images of the feeding birds then moved on leaving the large waterfowl to fill his lens.

As the day progressed I searched for a reported large bull moose along the river and around several small lakes but the bull avoided my camera. The clouds over Grand Teton were forming so as a late afternoon activity I stopped and took several images of the mighty peak.

The next morning found me following the road away from the park and driving in the direction of Alcova, Wyoming to meet up with an old friend and past president of the Wyoming Guides and Outfitters Association, E.K. Bostick and his son Coulter.
The father son duo would be hunting with guide and now outfitter Jerry Lake on the Rattlesnake Grazing Association Ranch. E.K.’s plan was to have Coulter, a senior at Powell High School kill a trophy pronghorn.

I had hunted mule deer with Jerry near Cody so it was like old home week on this hunt.

On the first afternoon of the hunt Coulter did bring down a very respectable buck pronghorn with Jerry’s top guide Scott Martinez. That evening the sky showed signs of a weather change and by the time I had rolled out of my sleeping bag the next morning the weather had arrived. It was cooler and looked like the rain might follow any second.

We were the guests of Bob and Becky Martinez. Bob is the ranch ramrod and I must say I had second helpings of Becky’s biscuits and gravy the next morning.

Following breakfast a small group of Sage Grouse wandered close by and I grabbed a camera and did what I could considering the weather. These large birds make for some great hunting and I was happy to add them to my stock image files.

Coulter stayed in the bunkhouse while his dad, Jerry, Scott, and yours truly took off in search of a speed goat for E.K. At almost noon we spotted a nice buck.

After a round robin palaver E.K. decided he would give this one a try. The buck was standing at almost 400 yards and the rain had started to fall when E.K. settled the .270 on the shooting sticks. A split second later the buck was his.

After the photos, congrats’ and a large bowl of Becky Martinez’s “Cheeseburger Soup” we all pulled out for our respective homes- E.K. and Coulter for Powell, Jerry for his home in Thermopolis, and I for a hotel and a hot shower in Cody. The next day I would be in Yellowstone Park and then home.

Entering Yellowstone through the East entrance and driving to the Fishing Bridge area was uneventful with some bison and one mule deer buck but very little other wildlife. The drive around the lake to West Thumb was a beautiful drive but here again little wildlife.

Again between West Thumb and Old Faithful there was nothing to photograph but the scenery – not a bad thing except I live surrounded by great scenery. It was strange not to see the large herds of elk that usually greet the visitor. Could it be the much favored and highly contested gray wolf is bothering the Yellowstone elk herds?

A few miles further a group of 8 to 10 mature bull bison were standing guard over their cows and displaying to the other bulls just how big, tough, and how much dirt they could make airborne.

Following Grand Loop Road I did finely get to photograph one lone bull elk – a fantastic animal to be sure, after a brief few minutes wandered off into a stand of pines and was gone.

Leaving the park through West Yellowstone my attention was drawn to several of the Fly Shops so a bit of browsing was in order. Turning left on Highway 20, I was soon crossing the Idaho border leaving Wyoming and Montana and the Yellowstone behind.

A short while I crossed I-15 and an hour later crossed Gilmore Summit into the Lemhi Valley. The circle was now complete and Salmon was just down highway 28.

Home on the side of the mountain was just down the highway, a place to recharge and think about friends, travel, and the beauty of God’s nature.

To make comments or to report news or information contact Jim at jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - MORE WOLF "POOP"

2009-09-03T10:17:00.004-06:00

THE ANTI-HUNTERS SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS
By Jim Foster

Just a mere few days after Bob Millage, who bagged the first wolf legally killed in Idaho on opening day he told 670 KBOI news in Bosie, Idaho, he's received some threatening calls.

Some of these emotional under educated jerks have told him “he will never sell a house again – he works in Real Estate”, his business is doomed, and things like that.

Others say he should feel ashamed of himself; hopes the wolf haunts his dreams, and other equally stupid things that only an anti-hunter-animal rights radicals spout. I would bet money that none of the GED Wannabes gave their name. Cowards all.

It was encouraging to learn that Mr. Millage wasn’t disturbed by these calls. I say, “GOOD FOR YOU BOB”.

I don't really let it bug me that much…” Said Bob

Of course, as I have written in the past, over in Montana that so-called “judge” is still debating on whether to stop the hunt like his animal rights buddies are telling him to do.

Molloy refused to listen to the facts and real science the last time so I am assuming this time will be no different.

As my Dillon, Montana buddy likes to say, “ It’s obvious this guy (Molloy) didn’t make the third grade picnic”. I do agree.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - LET'S HUNT A WOLF

2009-09-02T14:20:00.006-06:00

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN
By Jim Foster

{The Encarta World English Dictionary defines “GREEN” as the following; 1. A color in the spectrum between yellow and blue. 2. Consisting of or containing green leaves of vegetables. 3. Consisting of or containing grass, plants, or foliage. 4. Green or green supporting or promoting the protection of the environment. 5. Produced in an environmentally and ecologically friendly way, for example, by using renewable resources. 6. Unripe or not mature.}

It is a shame this simple word, and beautiful color have led the way to so many negative words and activities – and so many have turned something good into something so wrong.

Upheld by many of the uneducated masses as well as the over-educated idiots with more interest in continuing their grants, stroking an ego, or political advancement, than protecting anything on this planet. I do wonder about judges who make such outrageous rulings a first year law student could spot the wrong thinking. In many cases, “fair and impartial” does not include the Montana judge.

Adding issues to the Green List has been easy. The first and most widely spread, and sadly believed, is “global warming” which has been touted in the mainstream press parroting the words of the presidential loser and noted mental midget, Al Gore. His winning an Oscar and the Nobel Prize just go to show how environmentally stupid some people have become. Just remember Yasier Airafat won the Pease prize, a man responsible for killing thousands with his PLO.

Hollywood’s recognition is not that surprising due to the numerous personalities who believe their show business popularity gives them the ability to comment on other issues. Most of these “stars” are not the sharpest tools in the shed.

And then there is the issue of the gray wolf in the Rocky Mountain States. An emotional issue involving emotional people who don’t know or want to know the facts as they are – not the “facts” according to the Humane Society of the United States or the ever so phony, excuse the expression, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Sierra Club. These two groups aren’t green they are mean.

I would like to remind these educated jerks that when they sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife for something stupid it’s their tax dollars that are used to defend the suit.

So, now the gray wolf is off the endangered species list and Idaho has opened it’s first hunting season complete with a resident license costing $11.75. Thousands of hunters were on hand the day they went on sale to buy their tags. To sweeten the pot on opening day two Idaho hunters from different ends of the state filled their tags with a lot more season left in which to hunt.

Unexpectedly the wolf loving federal judge Molloy hasn’t ruled in favor of the 13 so called environmental groups who filed the suit in his court. I am sure groups thought the suit was a done deal considering the way Molloy ruled the last time putting the wolf back on the Endangered Species List.

The dismal truth is that Molloy completely ignored the science offered in his court by experts and ruled in favor of his wolf loving buddies. Many believe he should be removed from the bench and then disbarred. Of course these were some of the milder comments that were made, after all he does live in Montana where hunting is a way of life and anti-hunters are considered somewhere below the lowest vermin.

One funny item to come out of the wolf issue the Friends of Animals group from Connecticut has urging people to boycott Idaho potatoes because of the wolf-hunting season. I do wonder what these human speed bumps will boycott when the Montana wolf season opens?

So folks you can be friends of whomever you wish – for this writer I will continue to friends with people.

So, I will close this and go wolf hunting.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

TRAVEL - A NIGHT IN KENYA

2009-08-22T17:02:00.007-06:00

SOUNDS OF A KENYAN NIGHT
By Jim Foster

Standing at the window in the rock, i felt a cool breeze touch my face. The warmth of the day was giving way to the cool of the African night. The setting sun was creating mystical images on the distant clouds and mountains.

A rock hyrax moved effortlessly from one rock on the window ledge to another. Disturbing a large blue lizard with a very red head and shoulders.

The hyrax was searching for a nightspot while the lizard was just catching the last shards of warmth from the setting sun. Soon it would be dark in the valley below and on the kopje (hill) where I was to spend the night.

The setting was several hours after the evening meal in Meru National Park. The location was where the real Elsa of Born Free fame was released on the location of the lodge bearing her name ELSA’S KOPJE LODGE.

A large portion of the day had been spent along a dry riverbed watching and photographing a pride of lion moving and resting after a successful hunt. This fact was on my mind as I watched the sun disappear behind the hills.

In spite of being located on a steep rock wall overlooking the valley, the idea of not having a hard type window of some type of construction separating the room from the wildlife was a bit discomforting – especially when from the darkness of the valley below a male lion roared making a sound only a male lion can produce, telling all the area was his. This lion was answered quickly by another lion somewhat closer and off to the south.

Looking closer at the ledge I noticed the hyrax and lizard were nowhere to be seen. Below the thorny bushes and wooded grasslands stretched for miles down the valley to the river. The night creatures were beginning their hunts while the prey creatures became more aware and alert.

In addition to photographing lion there were cheetah, elephant, giraffe, oryx, hartebeest, and gazelle that had kept me busy during the day and now would keep me at my computer downloading my digital images and packaging my film for transport to Nairobi. As I worked the sounds of the night grew louder

The sounds of the lion did cause me to glance up several times from my work and some time later filled my dreams that night.

This was Africa.

Tomorrow would be another day driving to the town of Meru and later to the Samburu National Park and a visit to a Samburu village and it’s people.

But that’s another tale for another day of Kenya.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - ELK HUNTING - THE CALLING

2009-08-08T08:55:00.003-06:00

CALLING ALL ELK
By Jim Foster

It’s nearly that time again when the mountains will be filled with the sound on a bull elk bugling to attract the cows. So it stands to reason that calling elk is a very productive method of finding and killing a good elk.

Before I go any further let me mention that I will be hunting in the Salmon region of Idaho with what is called a “green fields” tag for cow elk so attracting a large bull is a moot point – that is unless he brings several cows with him when he comes to a call. I think it’s worth a try.

A serious problem that Idaho elk have been facing for a few years is the introduction of the Gray Wolf in several of the Rocky Mountain States. In spite of what the “tree-hugging-tofu-eating-wolf-lovers” say the wolf is either killing or chasing the elk out of the country. A bad deal and a problem that the states must manage not the Feds.

So – how do you get close to your elk? The answer is readily available from the HUNTER’S SPECIALITES people. These are the same people who sponsored me when I competed in the Valley Land Fund Photo Contest sending me several of their pop-up blinds that helped me win a first place.

As for as elk hunters go I do rank way down the list but do consider myself as reasonably proficient with a cow call. Oh yes, I have had distant answers using a bugle call in the past but using it in a hunting situation is not on the hunt plan for this guy. However, there is a person who has been an expert elk hunter for years.

The man with the knowledge and many years of experience is Wayne Carlton. I met Wayne over a decade ago and have always found his advise sound and extremely helpful. My last visit with Wayne was at the grand opening of the new headquarters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Missoula, Montana.

Recognized as one of the top experts on elk hunting his words of wisdom are always well heeded and appreciated in hunting circles.

Now Hunter Specialties has produced a new CD with elk expert Wayne titled “ PRIMETIME BULLS 7-25” and takes in 25 years of elk hunting with Wayne. The CD is over two and a half hours of great hunting tips, and advice for elk hunters. Whether you hunt with bow, rifle, or black powder this CD will give you an edge up this year on your elk.

For more information or to order your copy go to; www.hunterspec.com and ask for CD # 70666. While you are on the sight look over their wide selection of other calls and hunting gear.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - A FRIEND HAS CHANGED WORLDS

2009-08-02T17:09:00.003-06:00

CURLY BEAR WAGNER
By Jim Foster

“There is no death, only a change of worlds.” – Chief Seattle

During my life stories and recounts of how and where things happened have been important Especially during the early days of this country. The telling of a story is an art and one of the best has now experienced a change of worlds.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Curly Bear Wagner this past Thursday at the Browning hospital on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. He was in his 64th year.

Curly Bear worked to establish the “Native America Speaks” interpretive program at Glacier National Park and often presented the program to park visitors. This were where I first met curly Bear who had an ability to connect with his audience, especially children, who seemed drawn to his natural personality and stories from the elders of his people.

Wagner interviewed Blackfeet tribal elders, recording their stories, and worked to preserve sites considered sacred by the tribe.

“My family and tribe instilled in me a great love and respect for my culture. For over twenty-five years I have participated in Blackfeet ceremonies and rituals, most recently as a member of the traditional society of Crazy Dogs.” wrote Curly Bear.

Curly Bear was one of the Blackfeet leaders who worked to bring the remains of his and other nations remains back to where they belong from the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Anyone who heard his stories and felt his love of the land and his people know what we have lost.

May his quiver always be full, his bow strong, his path be smooth, game be plentiful, and may he always walk with kind and gentle souls.

If you have news or comments about this or other articles Jim's Email is jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

BIRDING - THE TALE OF THE ALBINO HUMMER

2009-07-20T09:06:00.002-06:00

The photos above show the classic traits of an Albino - pink eyes, pink feet, and a pink bill. Not just a white hummingbird but a true albino. These photographs and an accompanying article appeared in "BIRDS & BLOOMS" Magazine. Thanks for stopping by. Jim Foster

NEVER PASS UP A PHOTO
By Jim Foster

The morning had been vastly productive and I was very pleased with the results. Photographing nesting osprey is many times frustrating but today it seemed they were posing for the camera and I had stayed much longer than intended.

The telephone rang as I was finishing a late lunch. It was my neighbor Bill Mead, a Lemhi Valley native, calling to invite me out to take more photographs. I was a split second away from begging off when he said his aunt had called saying she had a white hummingbird at her feeder.

In seconds I grabbed a jacket, my camera gear and was sitting in my neighbor’s pick-up.

The 30-mile drive seemed more like 60 miles as I looked out the window and watched the sun sink lower in the west.

Even without a white hummer Aunt Clover would be an interesting lady. Besides bird watching and alerting photographers she and her family have quite a history in the Lemhi Valley of Idaho. Her father was one of the last stagecoach drivers crossing the Lemhi Pass between Montana and Idaho - the same pass Lewis and Clark crossed in their trek to the Pacific Ocean.

After settling in with my photo gear on her front porch it was a full thirty minutes before the little white bird arrived. There had been other hummingbirds at the feeders during our wait and now they set it harassing their white cousin.

During the search period my Alpen binoculars came in handy for slowly scanning through the branches and using their close focus feature to see the hummers at the feeder. I did spot the white hummer in a tree some distance away through the binoculars.

Getting the first shot was tough until I figured out their program. My shots would need to be in the first thirty seconds to a minute when the the white hummer settled or hovered before the other birds tried to run him off.

He did finally get to feed while the others left him alone. He spent most of his time either perched on an electric line or in a nearby tree where the little white bird stood out distinctly.

Shooting in this way required a fast lens and a steady hand. The rapid movement of the birds made handholding a must. For this I was shooting a Canon 20D digital body shooting in the raw mode, using a Canon 2.8 70 to 200-zoom lens. In case of a distance problem I had both a 1.4 and 2X doubler's tucked in my pocket.

As I began to lose the light I moved my camera speed from 100 up to 200. As the light faded I was extremely happy for the fast lens. Shooting at every chance the little white bird afforded me I was kept quite busy.

Then the white hummer was gone.

“Oh well,” I thought, “there is always tomorrow.” I thought.

As the kids say, “NOT!” The next day at that location produced nothing.

The white hummer must have had enough of the unfriendly environment and moved on to more hospitable locales. After several trips without his appearance, I gave up.

The little white hummer did teach this old photo dog that I should never be too hasty in declining a photo opportunity and, shoot today because tomorrow’s chance may never appear.

If you news or comments about this or other articles Jim's Email is jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - JUST A WORD OF THANKS!

2009-07-19T22:31:00.002-06:00

A NOTE FROM JIM: Someone sent me this in an Email and I thought it deserved space on my Blog – I did take some liberties with the text but didn’t change the “sprit” or “meaning” of what was written. Again there was no photo credit attached with the images.
______________________________________________________

Don't know whether you heard about this but Denzel Washington and his family visited  the troops at Brook Army Medical Center (BAMC), in San Antonio, Texas a short time ago.

This is where soldiers who have been evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized in the United States, especially burn victims.

There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses. A Fisher House is a hotel where soldiers' families can stay for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the hospital on base, but as you can imagine, these hotels are full or nearly full most of the time.   While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC; they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses.

He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his checkbook out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot.

Soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it.
  
The question is - why do:  Britney Spears, Madonna, Tom Cruise and other Hollywood fluff people make front page news with their ridiculous antics and Denzel Washington's story doesn't even make page 3 in the Metro section of any newspaper except the local newspaper in San Antonio.

I guess they are just to busy letting long-time employees go and following the lead of most of the liberal press. What a shame.

I wish I could shake Mr. Washington’s hand and say Thank You in person.

Thanks Very Much!

If you have news or comments for Jim his Email is jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

TRAVEL - East Fork of the Bitterroot River

2009-07-17T10:46:00.006-06:00

WHERE IS SULA, MONTANA ?
By Jim Foster

If I didn’t drive by the “eye blink” town ever so often or stop at the little store and café on Highway 93 for a coffee refill I wouldn’t know either. But – Sula, Montana is a place consisting of nice homes, a store/café and Post Office. That’s it.

The drive from Salmon, Idaho up the mountain through Lost Trail Pass and then downhill into Montana takes the traveler by Sula. I made this trip this week in hopes of photographing wildlife or locating a new birding hot spot. Neither happened although I found subjects to photograph.

Before I even entered Montana I noticed a small road with quite a few bear grass plants in different stages of maturing. It was chilly but the light was good and I took several images. I have an article started on the subject of bear grass so I will only include a macro lens shot of the center of the flower. This is an interesting plant.

After reaching Sula and turning east along the east fork of the Bitterroot River I had only gone about 2 miles when I came up to the rear of an east bound herd of cattle. These bovine bellowers – cows are a noise lot - were being herded by 4 cow persons driving 4 wheelers.

I guess that was the high spot of the morning. I must add that on the drive out of Sula there were at least 30 head of cattle either heading back from whence they came or just milling around eating the knee high grass in the ditches.

I did enjoy driving several miles up Bear Creek and photographing the creek and some flowers and insects. The creek did have its share of mosquitoes. I am posting several of the images here – I do hope you enjoy.

If you have NEWS or Comments for Jim please Email him at jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS -THE MEDIA HAS NO HONOR.

2009-07-15T14:16:00.002-06:00

SPECIAL NOTE: Michael Jackson dies and there is 24/7 news coverage That’s still going on.

A REAL AMERICAN HERO DIES AND NOT A MENTION OF IT IN THE NEWS.

THE STORY -

You're a 19-year-old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley , 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, Vietnam.

Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.    

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.    

Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter and you look up to see an unarmed Huey, but it doesn't seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.    

Ed Freeman is coming for you. He's not Medi-Vac, so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.    

He's coming anyway.    

And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire as they load 2 or 3 of you on board. Then he flies you up and out, through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses.    

And - he kept coming back, 13 more times, and took about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten out..    

Medal of Honor Recipient Ed Freeman died on Wednesday, June 25th, 2009, at the age of 80, in Boise , ID.

May God rest his soul.

If you have news or comments for Jim Foster his Email is jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

WILDLIFE - DELISTING THE WOLF ?

2009-07-11T08:37:00.003-06:00

THE WOLF – HERE WE GO AGAIN
By Jim Foster

It must be déjà view. It does seem like we have gone down this road before. Wait a minute – we have! It’s been recently announced that Montana will have its first official gray wolf hunting season this fall.

That is of course if there happens to be a shortage of ambulances to chase and the so-called animal rights legal nerds - with more money than gray matter - undertake more legal intervention. Remember last year when a Montana judge used the law above scientific facts and reissued the protected status of the wolf.

Montana Wildlife and Parks Commission unanimously agreed on a 75-wolf quota for a hunting season this fall. State officials said the historic decision (again) represents a victory for wildlife conservation in Montana. Dealing with the multi-flawed Endangered Species Act has been a challenge. Of course Obama hasn’t helped – so far.

Montana manages elk, deer, bears, mountain lions, ducks, bighorn sheep, and wolves in balance with their habitats, other species, and in balance with the people who live here,” said FWP Director Joe Maurier.

Wolf advocates have two lawsuits ready to file in federal court contesting the removal of gray wolves in Montana and Idaho from the protection offered by the Endangered Species Act, and say they expect to ask a judge to intervene in the wolf hunt. They haven’t filed as yet but it’s seems only a matter of time.

These were the same simpletons who put the Polar Bear on the ESL under the excuse of Global Warming, something anyone with a brain knows just isn’t happening. Even scientists who were promoting this myth/theory have now jumped ship creating the need for Al – the sky is falling - Gore to try and cover his soon to be frozen posterior.

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies, believes Montana shouldn’t have a wolf-hunting season until the population is fully recovered. The key word here is recovered and to be “recovered” the Gray Wolf must have been in Montana and Idaho in the first place. FACT: The gray wolf NEVER lived in Montana or Idaho.

A majority of the 180 public comments submitted to the commission stated that not only should a hunting season take place, but also the proposed range of a 26 to 165-wolf quota was too low. The favorable comments were from people who must live with and put up with the wolf. Those misguided souls against the delisting were mostly from eastern states. Let’s stock these canine darlings in Central Park in New York and see who starts yelling.

Montana is home to at least 500 gray wolves, with another 846 residing in Idaho and 302 in Wyoming. An estimated 1,000 wolf pups were born in the Northern Rockies this spring. (I question these numbers - the numbers are much higher.)

Idaho is expected to set a wolf-hunting quota in August, according to Ken McDonald, Idaho chief of wildlife. Wolves are being seen now in residential communities around Salmon, Idaho. In addition the Moyer Basin pack has removed or caused the relocation of the majority of elk and deer from that area.

GW Bush has caught the ire of the liberal populations for many things some true and some not, but it was the Bush administration took gray wolves in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming off the endangered species list in 2008. Of course, a lawsuit by groups opposed to the delisting resulted in the injunction mentioned above and the USFWS pulled the delisting.

It is rumored (I haven’t red it.) there is a new plan, by the Obama administration, to delisted wolves in Montana and Idaho. ( NOTE: As this is written the wolf IS DELISTED.) For now the listing remains and wolves are still protected in Wyoming. No one seems to agree with the Wyoming plan – except people in Wyoming where the wolves are causing a multitude of problems. Does States rights enter in here at all?

So here we go again. I have never had faith in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife service or The Idaho Fish and Game but I am willing to watch and see what happens.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS -A FIGHT WORTH FIGHTING

2009-07-02T17:07:00.002-06:00

THE “C” WORD
By Jim Foster

This article is way out of my area of expertise BUT it’s one I believe needs to be written.

For those of you who have been reading this blog for a few years you noticed that last year I added a new sponsor – ALPEN OPTICS.
This company has beginning this year jumped into the fight against cancer – more specifically breast cancer - with both feet. Hence, it is the subject of this article. Thanks to those who helped with gathering the information used here.

Breast cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is considered a heterogeneous disease—differing by individual, age group, and even the kinds of cells within the tumors themselves.

Obviously no woman wants to receive this diagnosis, but hearing the words “breast cancer” doesn’t always mean an end. It can be the beginning of learning how to fight, getting the facts, and finding hope.

Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer except for skin cancer. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.

Each year it is estimated that nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. A fact not widely known is that in addition to women approximately 1,700 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 will die each year. Wake up guys.

In January of this year Alpen Optics introduced its new Alpen Pink 263P 8x25 compact and Alpen Pink 393P 10x42 full-size binocular. Alpen® Optics is the first optics company to partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and will make a donation to NBCF to help fight breast cancer.

“Pink is the color most associated with breast-cancer research,” says Vickie Gardner, vice president of Alpen Optics.

The NBCF is committed to spreading knowledge and fostering hope in the fight against breast cancer. By funding free mammograms for women who could otherwise not afford them and supporting research programs in leading facilities across the country, NBCF helps inspire the courage needed to win this monumental battle.

Now when you buy your next pair of binoculars you are helping the NBCF fight this dreaded disease.

I feel honored to have Alpen as a sponsor and be on their Birding Pro Staff and totally endorse this worthy effort.

Thanks Vickie!

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

BIRDS - A DIFFERENT RAPTOR

2009-06-30T09:42:00.004-06:00

THE SEA HAWK
By Jim Foster

Just to clear the air so to speak the title of this article is not about a professional sports team in Washington State – it is about one of the most interesting of raptors, the osprey.

Known by several names including Sea Hawk and Fish Hawk the osprey is a large bird sporting a wingspan of around six feet and being one of the most successful hunters of raptor species.

The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

The Osprey differs in several respects from other diurnal birds of prey. Its toes are of equal length, its tarsi are reticulate, and its talons are rounded, rather than grooved. The Osprey is the only raptor whose outer toe is reversible, allowing it to grasp its prey with two toes in front and two behind.

The sexes appear fairly similar, but the adult male can be distinguished from the female by its slimmer body and narrower wings. The breast band of the male is also weaker than that of the female, or is non-existent, and the underwing coverts of the male are more uniformly pale. It is straightforward to determine the sex in a breeding pair, but harder with individual birds. Looking at the photographs try to tell the male from the female.

Fish make up 99 percent of the Osprey's diet. It typically takes fish weighing 5–10 ounces and 10–14 inches in length. However, the weight can range from 2 up to 68 ounces. I have seen a large osprey try to tackle a fish bigger than it can lift in the Lower Laguna Madre of Texas and a 15-inch rainbow trout on the Salmon River in Idaho.

Prey is sometimes spotted when the Osprey is up to 130 feet above the water. It will then it will plunge feet first into the water at times to a depth of three feet. The angle of entry into the water varies with the nature of the prey; steeper, slower dives are used when pursuing deeper, slow-moving fish, while long, quick dives are used for faster surface fish. After catching the fish considerable effort is needed to get airborne again. As it rises back into flight the fish is turned head-forward to reduce drag. When returning to the nest the osprey will hold the fish with one foot while acquiring the nest with the other.

The Osprey breeds by freshwater lakes, coastal brackish waters, and saltwater bays. Ospreys reach sexual maturity and begin breeding around the age of three to four years old. The nest is a large heap of sticks, driftwood and seaweed built in forks of trees, rocky outcrops, utility poles, artificial platforms.

The female lays two to four eggs within a month, and relies on the size of the nest to conserve heat. The eggs are incubated for about 5 weeks to hatching. The newly hatched chicks weigh around 2 ounces, but fledge in 8–10 weeks. A study on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, had an average time between hatching and fledging of 69 days.

Some owls and hawks will prey on the chicks but this is somewhat rare here in the Lower 48. Due to the ospreys hunting ability most chicks are fledged but then may be lost for one reason or another after leaving the nest and protection of their parents.

An observed behavior surprised me – that behavior by the female was to spread her wings providing shade and a cooler environment for her young.

The osprey is an interesting bird and the more I watch and photograph the family in the nest the more interesting they are.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - DUCKS UNLIMITED (DU)

2009-06-22T19:06:00.004-06:00

The Model For Getting Things Done
By Jim Foster

Today looking over the specialty conservation organizations, one stands out as the model for many of the rest. That group is Ducks Unlimited.

Beginning in the 1930’s DU has fine tuned it’s programs and meetings to allow multi-million dollars projects all across the United States and Canada and created fund raising formula for others to follow. Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Quail Unlimited, to name a few.

During the dust bowl of the 1930s, drought wreaked havoc on North America's waterfowl populations, turning the birds' northern breeding grounds into dry basins. Waterfowl numbers dwindled, and a small group of sportsmen called the More Game Birds in America Foundation decided to take action.  

In 1935, the group conducted the International Wild Duck Census, the first aerial survey of Canada's breeding grounds. Based on the results, the Foundation initiated a program in 1937 to restore and improve the drought-parched prairies of Canada. They dubbed the program Ducks Unlimited, incorporated it that same year, and aimed to complete DU's work in five years at a cost of $3 million.

Ducks Unlimited has now conserved 10 million acres of habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

"Ten million acres is an impressive number," says DU Chief Biologist Bruce Batt, "especially considering that only includes the acres DU worked on. Millions of additional acres have been impacted through public policies that DU supports, many DU members have restored wetlands on their own property, thousands of farmers flood their fields annually for waterfowl, and I could go on."  

To appreciate the significance of conserving 10 million acres, one must first appreciate the size of that much land. Ten million acres could accommodate Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, with 368,000 acres to spare. To conserve 10 million acres over 65 years requires conserving more than 421 acres per day.

While attending the Outdoor Writers of America conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan Ducks Unlimited invited a group of writers to a dinner held at Pine Hill, a shooting resort and the home of an ongoing DU project. Owner Jim Rypkema was our gracious host and DU had arranged to have many of their project leaders, biologists, and DU Chapter members on hand for interviews and questions. He also showed us around the place and the results of his efforts were obvious.

As a waterfowl hunter I have been impressed with the work DU does in working with wetlands and waterfowl habitat.

For more information about DU or to find the dates of their many banquets go to; http://www.ducks.org/

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

FISHING - TAKING THE FIRST STEP

2009-06-19T17:44:00.002-06:00

WADEFISHING
By Jim Foster

Quite a few anglers would like to try wade fishing if they just knew the basics. Some have never waded the Lower Laguna Madre and want to know how to wade and what they might need to get started. So here we go.

Wade-fishing equipment is fairly simple. There are several manufactures of wading equipment that make the sport much safer and more comfortable. The equipment is simple and relatively inexpensive – oh yes, you can find the “pricy” stuff.

The first item of wade fishing gear an angler should have would be a good pair of wading shoes or boots. These can be special Wade fishing boots made to be worn with stocking-foot waders, a plain pair of high-top tennis shoes, or the zip-up-the-side special wading boot.

If you choose tennis shoes then the high-top styles are better than the low top variety because they help keep sand and bits of shell out of your shoes. During the cooler times of the year a pair of neoprene waders will help keep you warm in the cooler water.

The next piece of equipment would be a wade fishing belt. The belt should have a rod holder and a stringer clip. I have been using a NUMARK model that comes with all the basics plus a Velcro pouch for extra tackle, and a matching stringer clip and stringer.

Some anglers prefer to wear a fishing vest instead of having the small pouch on their belt. The vest does allow you to carry much more fishing type stuff. I wear a belt and a vest because I like to carry a lot of STUFF.

A long stringer will come in handy by keeping your fish away from your legs and make it easier to walk without a constant tugging on your belt. Many wade-fishermen are also trophy anglers and will only keep the larger fish if it’s going to the taxidermist. Wade-fishing tackle is basically the same gear you would use in a boat.

At times fishing around the many small islands and spoil areas you will see tailing redfish. Here's how it’s done.

Wade to within casting range of the fish - No Splashing - When you are in position cast your lure or bait well past the fish then bring your bait back through the feeding fish. If the first cast is a little off, don't get excited and spook the fish. Try the cast again until your bait is taken by one of the feeding fish.

As far as things to avoid, the most common of the saltwater boogers is the stingray. This flat, bottom-loving creature is found in the same areas as redfish. Many times it’s hard to find one without the other. To avoid a problem shuffle your feet as you walk along.

Wade fishing is a fun, relaxing and great way to find and catch a good stringer of reds, speckled trout and flounder. It is easy to master and there are numerous locations to wade for game fish.

A few good spots that are accessible without a boat are Holly Beach, Laguna Vista Cove, the water across from the Port Isabel High School, South Bay via Boca Chica Beach, on either side of the Queen Isabella Causeway (island side), and the miles of bay north of the convention center on the island.

Now that you have the basics, go get your feet wet. Good Fishing!

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

FISHING -BEYOND THE LOWER LAGUNA MADRE

2009-05-31T12:53:00.002-06:00

FISHING SOUTH BAY
By Jim Foster

It happened well over two decades ago but I can still remember my first time to enter South Bay. My thoughts were not on big redfish and speckled trout. After talking with several of the old timers my thoughts were mostly focused on whether or not I could get out of the shallow Bay.

The narrow inlet was easy to see at low tide but the tide was rushing in and would soon make the channel much harder to see.
Anyway in true “Gone With The Wind” fashion I thought, “I’m in now, I’ll just catch a few fish and worry about getting out later.”
Three hours and several rod-bending fights later I eased back into the channel and was soon back in at the boat ramp in Port Isabel.

The morning had been spent both wading and drifting some of the prettiest water the Lower Laguna Madre has to offer. As an added incentive I knew this could be one of the areas where the next state record speckled trout could be caught.

South bay is located about as far south on the Texas coast as one can travel without crossing the Rio Grande River. The mouth of the border river with Mexico is located only a few miles across the now visible sand dunes. During times of quiet the surf may be heard pounding on the Boca Chica beach.

Many years ago the bay had openings on both the Gulf side and a major opening along the north side of the bay. Over the years the opening from the Gulf has naturally closed until there is an expanse of sand and dunes separating the bay from Boca Chica Beach and the open gulf.

Dredging of the Brownsville Ship Channel over time and other navigational projects has helped to narrow the opening to only a few hundred yards and three shallow channels.

The 3400-acre bay is now considered a Coastal Preserve, State Wildlife Management and scientific area. South Bay remains open to anglers and will remain open according to officials in Austin. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has tried to close down vehicle access to South Bay in their normal “shut-it-down & keep `em out” policy but were over-ruled in this case.

South Bay offers the angler a combination of structure causing even the most jaded saltwater angler want to fish this bay. Vast areas of sea-grass and potholes provide resting areas for big speckled trout, redfish, and some snook.

South Bay is the first to be encountered by fish entering the pass between the southern tip of South Padre Island and Brazos Island in the Brownsville Channel. During incoming tides fish are guided into the bay, a natural process of water movement and structure.

Following the east shore of the bay south anglers have several large sand and grass flats with scattered potholes visible in the clear water. There are very few “deeper” areas in this bay. One of these, 2 to 3 feet at mean tide, is located half way between the mouth of the bay and the southeast corner. This is a good area for trout and redfish in the summer and spring and redfish during most of the year.

This area may be drifted as well as waded with better than average results. Waders have found that big topwater lures like the Storm Big Bug and Rattlin’ Chug Bug are super baits that result in crashing strikes. The key in this area is working the bait at a moderate to very slow pace in order to induce a hit. Soft plastics fished either alone or under a popping cork is another favorite South Bay favorite.

For most of the year the prevailing winds are from the southeast. It would be advisable to motor out from the bank then either drift or wade the east shoreline with the wind at your back. Working this shoreline on a rising or falling tide can be extremely good. Waders will find a very friendly bottom in this area with mostly hard sand and grass.

Located just inside the entrance to the bay and extending to the west is the largest of several tabletops in South Bay. Even at a high tide the water on the tabletop is very shallow and even the tunnel type flats boats find it hard to run at times. The edges however can and do produce good catches of fish during most of the year.

Although not considered as sporting, some anglers and a few more meat conscience guides anchor and fish this area for redfish and black drum. Using a live or dead finger mullet or pinfish on the bottom can be very productive. Sheepshead, and a few flounder may also be caught along the tabletop edges and drop-offs. Smaller tabletops areas are located in the far southern quadrant.

Beginning in about the middle of the bay are oyster beds some of which are still active. These are prime fishing spots but boaters should use caution when motoring through. It is a very good idea to learn this part of South Bay before venturing in alone. The water is shallow and the obstacles are unforgiving. Boat hulls and lower units are at hazard.

Along the west side of the bay grow several small islands with stands of Mangrove trees stretching their roots into the water. Some grow around or near the oyster beds. Seagrass and potholes along with other structure are found in their vicinity. Casting a lure or fly to the base of these small trees has been the beginning of many a hard fight from a large redfish, speckled trout, or big snook.

Yes, South Bay is one of the best places to try for and catch a “wall hanger” snook. Most knowledgeable anglers will release these scrappy fish to fight again and then produce offspring for future anglers. During high tides there are several thousand yards of fishing water directly west of the mangroves.

Moving clockwise or back to the northeast along the flats are several miles of top wading water and the variety of species is truly remarkable. A few years ago a friend and I with fly rods in hand fished the north shore for over three hours and during that time one of us had a fish on almost continuously. We both caught several snook, redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. It was a memorable day of fishing. During the time we were fishing we only encountered one other fisherman in the bay and he was drifting well over a mile from us. By the time we walked back to our boat the other boat had departed and we watched a most spectacular sunset as we left the bay.

The entrance to South Bay is located just past Marker # 22 on the Brownsville Channel and only a few miles west of the tip of South Padre Island. The closest boat ramps are the public ramp located next to the new Sea Ranch Fishing Pier and the boat ramps in Port Isabel. Bait shops along the Port Isabel Channel offer everything from tackle to live bait and quite a few extras. A good spot to stop for supplies and some of the best information is the R&R Hi-Way Bait Stand & Marina. The place is run by fisherman with several decades of combined experience with South Bay and the surrounding waters. Lodging and other services are close, varied, and available.

A word of caution: South Bay offers the saltwater angler a beautiful place to fish but with it comes with restrictions. The bay is full of hazards and is a very shallow bay. Learn all you can about the area before going it alone. It might be a good idea to hire one of the local guides for your first or second trip into the bay and see where you can run your boat and where it’s not advised. And lastly, check the tides before fishing South Bay. The best fishing is on a moving tide either in or out.

Remembering the fish follow the bait and the tides move the bait should help you find your starting point in South Bay. As you fish this bay take a second and think about your location. You are, in most cases, the most southern saltwater bay fisherman in the continental United States.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com/

JIM'S GEMS -A TASER HERE A TASER THERE!

2009-05-19T11:04:00.003-06:00

BAD COP – NO DONUT
By Jim Foster

If this story weren’t so sad, it would be funny.

OK folks, I will admit I don’t have much regard for most law enforcement people, starting with the Feds and working downhill.

The people hired and paid by “the people” leave a lot to be desired. It does seem most are self-serving nerds who have been given some little power and can't wait to use it. Most of these “headline wannabes” seem to fit the pattern of those who ran amuck in Waco and Ruby Ridge. The words “Protect and Serve” written on police cars are just that, words.

The use of tasers has been the topic of at least one of my BLOG articles in the past. These things kill people, the lady in the airport for example. Six large policemen couldn’t subdue a medium sized lady so they tasered her and she died. And, the death of a teen-aged boy caused by the subject of this article, the Warren police, happened only a short time before. Now the Warren police and tasers are back in the news.

The Warren “donut boys” have tasered the most deadly of all creatures – a black cougar. Never mind if it was a stuffed toy.

The lead paragraph in the Macomb Daily News read; “Warren police fired a stun-gun at a large cat that officers believed was a panther but turned out to be a stuffed animal, the department's top official confirmed Thursday.”

The protectors of the citizenry saw what looked like the outline of a panther-like animal lying in the pipe. In the article Police Commissioner Dwyer is quoted to say, “ it was looking out at them…” “So, they backed out in fear it would lunge at them.”
After nearly an hour after the police arrived and after several peeks into the pipe they decided the beast should be tasered.

So what was this most dangerous of beasts? It was no more than a black, stuffed toy panther.

So what’s the Bubba rule? If you THINK it will resist SHOOT IT.

I’ll bet these Barney Fife types like sprinkles on their donuts.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com Please put YOUR BLOG in the subject line. Thanks!

BIRDING - BIRDING THE BEAR

2009-05-16T19:02:00.003-06:00

PHOTO: The flying owl in the top image is a Short-Eared Owl.

BEAR RIVER MIGRATORY BIRD REFUGE
By Jim Foster

Located in northern Utah is the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (MBR). This is where Bear River flows into the northeast arm of the Great Salt Lake. This joining creates the marshes found at the mouth of the Bear River and are the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

Considering the fact that arid desert lands surround these marshes explains why they have always been an oasis for waterfowl and shorebirds.

The Refuge and other wetlands associated with the Great Salt Lake provide critical habitat for migrating birds from both the Pacific and Central Flyway of North America. This area contains abundant food for birds. Birds come to the Refuge by the millions to eat and rest during migration.

During my visit it seemed like a yellow-headed blackbird occupied every available perch while the water hosted hundreds of pairs of Grebe of several species. Canada Geese couples were busy introducing their small yellow goslings to the land and water.

As part of Great Salt Lake, the Refuge is designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site. The millions of feathered visitors that congregate at the refuge during migration will ultimately spread out over the hemisphere. Recoveries of birds banded at Bear River Refuge have shown that while many remain in the United States, Canada and Mexico, some may fly as far as Russia, Central America, or islands in the Pacific Ocean.

HERE ARE A FEW BEAR RIVER REFUGE FEATHERED FACTS.

* Refuge breeding colonies of white-faced ibis contain as many as 18,000 birds.
* Up to 10,000 American avocets breed at the Refuge annually.
* One of North America’s three largest American white pelican breeding colonies, containing in excess of 50,000 birds, is found on Gunnison Island in Great Salt Lake.
* Northern Utah marshes host up to 60 percent of the continental breeding population of cinnamon teal.
* The Great Salt Lake boasts the largest fall staging concentration of Wilson’s phalaropes in the world, at approximately 500,000 birds. Red-necked phalaropes number nearly 100,000.
*The Great Salt Lake area hosts greater than 50 percent of the continental breeding population of snowy plovers.
*Bear River Refuge may attract over 65,000 black-necked stilts in the fall, more than anywhere else in the country.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com.

BIRDING - QUEST FOR A RARE BIRD

2009-05-04T09:11:00.005-06:00

THE SEARCH FOR A TROGAN
By Jim Foster

Just for the record the Elegant Trogan is a bird and is not something that lives under a bridge.

Driving into the Chiricahua Mountains alone is a great trip. This drive was the idea of neighbor Bill Mead who suggested the side trip on our way back to Idaho. We had had a great morning in a blind in Junction, Texas a few days earlier and our confidence was high.

Bill’s question that perked my attention was something like, “Have you ever seen a Trogan?” Considering that Bill was the guy that steered me to an albino hummingbird and an article that was published in BIRDS & BLOOMS magazine – hence the decision to search for the trogan was a no brainer.

After some on-line research I learned the trogon is surpassingly beautiful bird, a relative of the “quetzal”, the bird revered by Mayan priests. I also learned these feathered friends are quite rare and hard to locate, even for those who know where to look.

The bird is found in one of the desert mountain canyons where it returns to annually for nesting.
“Look in the large sycamore trees”, said Bill. “They will generally be perched stiff and upright on a sycamore or on some other streamside tree.”

After several hours walking along sycamore-lined creeks we still had not even heard the call of the bird. These large trees have holes where limbs have fallen off and are the trogans favorite nesting areas.

The bird we searched for has a deep green head with a white line across its breast, beneath that a bright red lower breast and belly. This is a bird with extraordinary colors nature has painted. This is the trogon.

The trogon was almost wiped out by collectors half a century ago, though its numbers seem to be on the rise. As one of the few truly exotic birds that breed north of Mexico, it has always drawn an interest that vastly exceeds its very slight numbers.

We were looking what is said to be the best location to find the elegant trogon, Cave Creek Canyon. It is also considered one of the best birding spots in the Southwest United States. Located in the heart of the Chiricahua Mountains the drive will pass through towering, jagged cliffs over them, green sycamores that fill the canyon.

It was just before ten in the morning when we saw the trogan back in the limbs. It was a good sighting but did not give me a good view for a photograph. Just then the bird flew and our luck held. The trogan landed closer to us and on a limb in full sun.

The angle was steep but I started shooting away. I was excited to say the least and several of the images were not as sharp as I would have liked but I got the shot.

For those of you who have never seen a trogan this is the place to spend the day in the spring. After nesting these colorful birds return to Mexico.

As a further observation, it doesn’t seem like the “border wall” has slowed the trogans down in the least as some of the more radical environmental idiots seemed to think it would.

To reach Cave Creek Canyon, head south on State Road 80 from the small community of Road Forks, New Mexico (Exit 5 on I-10, just before the interstate crosses into Arizona). Drive on State Road 80 for 26.5 miles through rocky foothills, creosote and yucca, and (2.5 miles before the town of Rodeo) look for the sign for State Road 533, also known as Portal Road. Take this road west - a "Cave Creek Canyon" sign is clearly visible. Follow it for 7 miles to the town of Portal. The store at Portal, incidentally, is a good source of information about recent sightings in the canyon. Continue on State Road 533, and at 0.6 mile beyond the store, stay on the paved road to the left of a fork. There is a sign here, but some signs are confusing and don't agree on mileage. If you follow the signs and a "map" you shouldn't get lost.

A visitor center/ranger station lies 0.8 mile beyond the fork in the road; stop for good information here. This was closed when we visited.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS -DON'T WRITE ON THE WALL

2009-05-04T09:06:00.002-06:00

NO SURPRISE HERE
By Jim Foster

In a special news item today in the Arizona Republic it was reviled that the new person selected to be the director of Arizona’s state parks has also committed vandalism on State historic property.

In an era when the director of our nation’s money is a tax dodger, the majority of the appointments from Washington have questionable backgrounds, and the man in the White House (BO for short) can’t put together a full sentence without his teleprompter, why should a known vandal not be qualified to run the parks system.

Bahl, 40, is described as a vigorous, intelligent, resourceful person who knows how to get through the most difficult of times, by Bill Scalzo, leader the selection committee.

In 2001, another employee caught her etching her first name and the year into the wall of a historic adobe barn. She was disciplined but remained in her job until 2002, when she left to become director of parks and recreation for San Diego County in California.

Oh well kids will be kids – Oops! This happened less than 10 years ago when she was over 30. She knew better but when ahead and committed a crime that could have meant a trial for someone not so well connected. A true sign of the times, or maybe it was Bush’s fault, ya think? He’s blamed for everything else.
State Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, criticized the selection and was quoted saying, "She was in a position overseeing the state's historic preservation office." What's wrong with this picture?

Patterson called for Bahl to issue a public apology. Wrong! She should be fired on the spot. Oh well I guess she will stay; after all it is in California. The breeding ground for “political correctness” and we all know what that is.

If not here is the definition.

"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com