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ALUS will provide much needed habitat for waterfowl and other species in Canada
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As winter wears on, a few recent news items give reason to pause and ponder. Rather than keep opinions to myself, here’s a snippet of frozen tundra topics that have crossed my desk, entered my email, been brought up in meetings, on the phone or at the coffee shop.
ALUS (alternative land use services) – While we may not need another acronym on our outdoors radar screen, ALUS, which hails from north of the border in Canada, has the potential for positive reverberations across the waterfowl flyways.
In short it’s a pilot habitat protection project for the prairies of Canada, somewhat similar to the Conservation Reserve Program in the United States. With grassland habitat at a premium throughout the prairie pothole duck factory, support from waterfowlers in the U.S. is paramount to aiding in maintaining and enhancing grassland nesting habitat in crucial northern breeding grounds.
Improved water conditions are one part of the equation that has enhanced waterfowl hunting throughout the Central Flyway in recent years. Things could get even better with an expanded habitat matrix north of the border.
Biosonics or BSX technology – Professional anglers are raving about the latest technological advance to hit the fishing scene. For the cool price of $699.99 you can be equipped with a digital sound system that recreates the underwater sound of predatory fish feeding on baitfish. The intent is that this will stimulate real, live fish to bite the imitation or real baitfish at the end of your line.
Critics question, as they did with underwater cameras, if this crosses the proverbial line of acceptability line and is leading us to a time when we call it “catching fish” instead of “fishing.” Personally I’m just getting used to monofilament line.
Seriously, I may be wrong, but it seems every couple of years a new gadget or gear hits the water and doubters fear the end of fishing, as if the new gear will physically put fish in your frying pan. Consider a couple items. First, social tolerance has created a stir in angler circles, such that catch-and-release popularity almost makes one feel guilty for keeping a fish.
It’s pretty much true that modern technology such as sonar and underwater cameras has made finding fish easier than ever, and GPS marks the spot. After which it’s become popular to broadcast success via the internet and cell phones.
Regardless of the working potential of any device, here’s hoping anglers understand the need for self-limitation may overshadow personal gratification.
Besides, whatever happened to the good old days when you’d find a secret spot even your friends would have to bribe with free coffee and doughnuts for a couple of days to coax out the location?
Winter weather
I have few complaints on the unseasonably warm weather so far in January. In fact, save for a few ice anglers yearning for even thicker ice, the weather has been just short of perfect.
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Winter is the best time to get after predators
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I’m still crossing my fingers for the pheasants. Indeed, any mild weather is preferred compared to the inevitable arctic clipper, and each warm day is another day closer to spring and bringing pheasants to spring mating. Beware, as nice as January came in, a nasty stretch of weather on the backside of winter can be deadly. Pheasants use up fat reserves just surviving winter and they are vulnerable to late winter and early spring storms, which have in the past dealt serious blows to pheasant populations.
Winter outings
I’ve made a couple trips out with my snowshoes and .22-250 in search of coyotes and fox. Even without getting a shot, there’s just something about the solitude, peace and purity of a cold winter day. A solo trek across a snow-crusted prairie field is food for the soul – proof positive there’s no downtime when it comes to outdoor adventures available.
Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Dept. He can be reached via email: dleier@state.nd.us
Photo credits to the ND Game and Fish Department
