Past DCCL Newletters

Mark Martin, who is a Department of Natural Resources Natural Area Specialist, and who, along with his wife, Sue, also manages Madison Audubon Society’s Goose Pond prairie/wildlife habitat restoration near Arlington, will be our guest speaker at the October 26^th general meeting. He will speak about a variety of topics among which will be the effect of prairie habitat restoration at Goose Pond on its pheasant population over a 25-year period. He will also discuss the recent efforts of the Madison Audubon Society that resulted in the purchase of the 1,496 acre Zeloski Marsh near Lake Mills and plans for this land, which includes its transfer to the DNR for multipurpose public use, including hunting. The Madison Audubon Society has partnered with many conservation organizations, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, on wetland and prairie restoration projects.

If asked, Mark may even comment on his recent trip to South Dakota where he hunted prairie chickens, sharp tail grouse, and pheasants – particularly if he had a successful hunt.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at the VFW Hall, 133 E. Lakeside, Madison.

As a special treat members will also have a chance to purchase Alaskan canned Smoked Salmon brought back from a recent trip. This is our first time to offer this opportunity to the members. Remember, the holiday seasons are approaching. A can of Smoked Sockeye will be $6.00 with a can of Silver going for $5.00. Feel free to buy for family and friends. We will be offering the cans through January or earlier if we sell out.

We will also hold a special raffle that evening for all graduates of the League’s Hunter Education program who are sixteen years of age of younger. We had two successful Spring and Fall classes and our thanks go to the educators.

In addition to the graduate’s raffle, we will hold our normal raffle, which will feature a quality gun, rod & reel, bird feeders, and other items.

Prepaid mailers will be available for those members who want to recycle a printer cartridge. Helping to do our part to show you can make the difference.

The Board of Directors recently gave approval to help fund a project being coordinated by Capitol Water Trails Ltd. that will change the course of 4000 feet of the Maunesha River through the Deansville Marsh State Wildlife Area. Many of you may be aware that part of this land formally belonged to the DCCL and it became one of the first State Wildlife Areas in the nation. The project will re-establish the original riverbed course by effectively eliminating a drainage ditch that had altered its course for many years. It is hoped this will create a wet marsh area of over a half square mile. It will improve water quality, fisheries, bird habitat and recreational use of the land.

The project has been given a "thumbs-up" by the DNR and is being surveyed by the UW Environmental Engineering Department for flood plain analyzing. There is a graduate student leading field studies and acting as a liaison to Capitol Water Trails.

The hope is for the project to be completed sometime in the first part of 2005. A guest speaker from Capitol Water Trails is scheduled to give a presentation at our March meeting in 2005. We have a link to their website on our web page so you can see what other projects they have worked on.

The money for funding this project came in part from the generous donation from the estate of J. Nash Williams.

Golf outing chairs, Keith and Linda Waier, again put together a great event. All enjoyed some great golf, fun, and camaraderie. There was some rain at the very beginning, but it turned out to be one of our best days yet.

They are planning to change the site next year to possibly the east side of Madison. Should continue to be a great event as it has been at Deer Valley in Barneveld.

This year’s Open House went well aided by temperatures which were more moderate than they have been in the past. About fifty-five members and their families and friends made it out for a great meal prepared by cooks Ed Brost, Don Putz, Dwaine Rundle and Cathy Matts. The main staples of chicken breasts, burgers, dogs and corn on the cob were big hits. Thanks to those who made some great desserts as they were delicious.

Welcome to new members Tom Culver, Alan Campfield, Julie Sweeney, and James Barlow

BOAT/CAMPER/VEHICLE winter storage space at the shed is filled. This is the first year we have had an actual waiting list. Thanks, Dwaine Rundle, for continuing as our storage chair.

For the person who is extremely difficult to buy a Christmas gift for, the DCCL has a solution. Without having to go to the mall and wait in long lines, or order it on-line why not think about giving one of the specially made bluebird/wren/or bats houses to a friend or family member. Everyone enjoys watching birds and this would be great gift.

If you are interested in purchasing one from the league, just call Cathy Matts at 241-2329.

On August 21^st the Town of Windsor and the Token Creek Conservancy Committee held a workday at the Elmer and Edna Culver Conservancy. The League supplied help and equipment for this project. We had a big turnout of league members. (I hope that I got all of your names listed below!) The Conservancy Committee members mentioned that they had help beyond their wildest expectations.

There were a total of 33 workers along with chain saws, brush cutters, a bobcat, two or three farm

tractors and two or three large front-end loaders. It was a good showing for this project and they were

grateful for the donation of labor and equipment. Look for future projects at this wonderful area. There are pictures from the day posted on our website if you have not already seen them.

I want to thank all those listed below for showing up to help out for this worthwhile project. If you get a chance to take a little drive someday it is a town park located about a mile north of Highway 19 off of Portage Road, then east on Egre Road.

Project Chair – Tim Thompson

Workers: Jack Bell, Stan Allen, Jack Bond, Jerry Paffenroth, Jerry and Matt Sands, Brian, Sherry, Bailey and Darby Buisker, Ed Brost, Dave Pulda, Steve Pederson, Jim Paffenroth and Family and Jerry Derr.

Ed Fuss reports that Jennifer Smith and Cathy Matts cleaned our two sections of Highway 18-151 on Saturday, October 9^th. He also wanted to point out, to those who say it’s tough to get in their hours to be eligible for birds in the fall, that many opportunities, such as highway cleanup, exist throughout the year. In the meantime, thanks, Cathy and Jennifer, for a nice job.

The farm was closed in late September, the first time we have completed cleaning feeders, cultivating and disking the pens and seeding the pens and runs that early with winter wheat. The prairie still has its color but is turning a nice brown along with Clyde Hellenbrand’s soybeans, which grow adjacent to the pens. We raised 1,800 beautiful pheasants and 600 quail. Members who worked a designated number of hours picked up their birds, and the remaining birds were all sold. Thanks to all members who put in their work hours. Special thanks to Ron Brinkmann, Don Putz, Don Sprang, and Lowell Carter, as they form our core for the farm.

The flag was retired for safe keeping, and we already are looking forward to next spring as the pheasant committee has recently met to go over past issues at the farm and things we need to do for next year. As the flag was taken down, one sees the plaque honoring one of the League’s founders, Harold Starkweather. It was through the efforts by Jerry Weisner, that the flag pole in memory of Harold was put in place. I think Harold would be pretty proud of the farm as he was when he visited it the first year it was in operation; unfortunately he passed away that following winter.

Some ask, what is done to close the farm? Remaining feed in the feeders is removed, and the feeders are then pressure-washed. All tarps are removed, water lines are drained, and catch areas are spread with barn lime, as is the area in front of each feeder to reduce the bacteria that may have accumulated during the year. The area in front of the feeders is also bleached. Lines are blown out with air, and the water tank is drained. We then siphon out remaining water at the bottom of the pump. The boxes around the prairie are mowed as is the yard. We disc the pens and runs. They are then sown with winter wheat for next year.

The League annually selects individuals for Conservationist and Member of the Year. Nominees do not need to be members; however, a League member must nominate them. The nominees do not need to walk on water, but the nomination must be supported with a written narrative limited to no more than two pages. Mailed nominations must be sent no later than December 18^th to the League’s address listed below.

DCCL

The board will review nominations at their December director’s meeting. Recipients will be announced in the winter newsletter in January, and the awards will be presented at the annual meeting in January.

FROM THE PREZ