It's The Little Things

My granddad's name was Francis Xorbie (pronounced zorbie) Miller. Throughout his younger years, he was called Xorbie, but he never liked it, and when he became an adult, he usually went by Francis. When Granddad was little, his friends called him "Soap" because they had trouble saying Xorbie. Soap was a nickname he was stuck with in grade school. Granddad told me that story when I was 12 or 13. He was retired and living in Canon City, Colo., but he and Grandma pulled their travel trailer to Greensburg during the fall so he could watch me play football and we could hunt pheasants together. He told me the story about his nickname when we were driving the sandy roads south of Haviland, hunting pheasants. Granddad was born in Wellsford and farmed south of Haviland for many years. He told stories about the people who lived on the land in the thirties and forties, pointing to an abandoned farmstead and saying a name, and he usually had a funny story about them. I know we walked lots of fields, got cold and hungry, and maybe even saw some pheasants, but I can remember Granddad's stories as if I'd heard them yesterday. I dearly loved Granddad, and I think part of why I hunt today is to be close to him. And, by the way, I think Xorbie is a pretty cool name.

Multi-year License

This year, KDWP is offering resident youth multi-year fishing and hunting licenses. The idea for the multi-year license came when staff looked at the license buying habits of our hunters and anglers in data from our automated license sales system. When looking at age at purchase, we see a spike in sales at 16 years old, followed by a precipitous drop for the next five or six years. Teenagers get busy with high school activities and when they go to college, spending money can be limited. The new resident multi-year license is valid when they turn 16 through the end of the year they turn 21. A multi-year fishing or hunting license is $42.50 and a combination multi-year fishing/hunting license is $72.50. That's a significant savings when you consider that the regular annual fishing or hunting license is $20.50 and an annual combination license is $38.50. The youth multi-year license is designed to keep young people active in the outdoors and make it less expensive for families to enjoy hunting and fishing together. The new license is a great deal any way you look at it, and you'll be investing in much more than a fishing or hunting license.

The Perfect Youth Season

With most of our hunting seasons closed or winding down, you might be thinking that Pass It On activities will have to wait until next fall. But there is one more season that might be perfect for young hunters -- the spring turkey season. We kick off our spring turkey season with a generous youth season, beginning on April 1 and going through April 12 this year. During these 12 days, youth 16 and younger can hunt with any legal equipment while under the supervision of an adult mentor. They will need a turkey permit and 16-year-olds will also need a hunting license. (The early season is also open to archery hunting and hunters with disabilities, but hunting pressure is light.) A spring turkey hunt is perfect for new hunters for a variety of reasons. First, hunting is very controlled. Hunters usually select a hiding spot or pop-up blind and sit tight while trying to call a gobbler into range. The adult can sit with the youngster, controlling all aspects of gun safety, whispering instructions as a bird approaches. The weather can be mild and spring is a great time to be in the woods watching wildlife. A typical morning hunt may only last a couple of hours, and it doesn't have to be physically demanding. And there's nothing more exciting than having a strutting gobbler approaching the blind and gobbling in response to your calls. The target is stationary and success rates can be high. Kansas turkey populations are generally very good. The only negative is that spring turkey hunting can be quite addictive, and many who try it become hopelessly obsessed. It's time to start planning a spring turkey hunt.

Outdoor Equity

In my last entry, I reminisced about hunting as a youngster and the fact that while I remembered my first pheasant, I didn't remember many after that. I enjoy hearing my colleagues stories about taking their children hunting and fishing, but I hear a reoccurring tone from them, at least before a trip. Most of them are anxious about somehow ensuring success. They worry that if their children don't have success they won't want to continue hunting. But anyone who's hunted knows that in fair chase situations, success can never be guaranteed. Even though I don't have children, I try to counsel my colleagues to not worry. I tell them that 10 years from now, their son or daughter won't remember what game was taken on a particular trip, but they will remember the time Mom and Dad spent with them outdoors. I have no doubt that some will get bored or tired or cold. And there will be some children who may not care for hunting or fishing. However, every child who spends time learning to hunt and fish with an adult mentor will remember that time and be a better person for it. The best advice is to plan a trip well and not worry about success. Have fun and teach children about nature. The time spent outdoors will definitely pay off -- for your children and for you!