Bottoming Out

From Family Fish & Game magazine- July/August, 2010 issue

FAMILY BOATING column

Bottoming Out
By Dan Armitage

Chances are high that your family boat will eventually “bottom out” at some point in your boating career. And odds are best that it will happen in mid-summer, when air temperatures, evaporation rates and water consumption are at their highest and water levels at many popular Midwest boating destinations at their lowest, putting your lower unit at risk.

No matter how minor or what you think you might have hit, even if it’s just skimming a sand bottom or grazing a grass bed, whenever you have reason to believe that the hull, prop or lower unit of your boat has come into contact with anything but water, you should shut the engine down and inspect it as soon as possible.

Iowa Outdoor Expo for Kids & Families

Celebrate the weekend of National Hunting and Fishing Day by bringing your family for a fun day of discovering new and exciting ways to enjoy the Iowa outdoors! The Iowa Outdoor Expo for Kids & Families is on September 25th & 26th at Water Works Park in Des Moines. This FREE event will feature many hands-on activities and educational exhibits for kids and families to enjoy.

This is the second year for this event hosted by the Des Moines Izaak Walton League, a group dedicated to environmental conservation. Last year, approximately 3,000 people attended. This year, the event is even bigger from the help of many supporters, including the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“We’re doing 10 times as much as we did last year,” said Joe Gavin, chairman of the expo. “This is going to be huge.”

Some of the activities include fishing, canoeing, kayaking, fur demonstrations, dog demonstrations, archery, aerial archery, BB guns and much more!

“This year, we have many more sets of each activity to keep kids involved rather than waiting in line,” Gavin said. “Last year, the volunteers all said they had a wonderful time teaching the kids and families how to do things they were interested in. We can’t wait for this year’s event!”

When:
September 25th & 26th, 2010
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where:
Water Works Park is located at 4343 George Flagg Parkway on the south side of Des Moines.

IADNR press release

The 2010-11 hunting seasons for cottontail rabbits and squirrels (fox and gray) will open on September 4.
Roadside surveys show cottontail rabbit numbers have generally decreased across the state, but will be similar to last year.
“Persistent snow cover this past winter and a wet spring and summer statewide likely reduced the winter survival and reproductive success of cottontails,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the DNR. The DNR’s roadside survey indicates the southern and eastern portions of Iowa will offer the best rabbit numbers this fall

Contibuted by the IDNR


The Iowa duck and goose hunting seasons were approved by the Natural Resource Commission on Aug. 12, with two notable changes from last year. The first change increases the Canada goose daily bag limit starting on Nov. 1, from two geese to three. The other change increases the daily bag limit of pintail from one to two.

Migratory Game Bird Seasons
For the purpose of duck and goose hunting, the state is divided into north and south zones by a line beginning on the Nebraska-Iowa border at State Highway 175, east to State Highway 37, southeast to State Highway 183, northeast to State Highway 141, east to U.S. Highway 30, and along U.S. Highway 30 to the Iowa-Illinois border.

IDNR press release




Two introductory to target archery and bow hunting workshops teaching fundamentals, history, safety and games of the sport are scheduled for July and August in the Des Moines area.
“Archery and bow hunting are two fast growing recreational activities. This workshop will provide a solid introduction on getting started in target archery and bow hunting and participants will leave the course with the knowledge, skills and information that will allow them to hopefully continue participating throughout their life,” said Ben Berka, shooting sports coordinator for the Iowa DNR

Press release from the IDNR



Do bring plenty of sunscreen and bug repellent
Don’t bring fireworks
Do bring balls, bats and gloves for kids to play with
Don’t bring in firewood from out of state. Plan to get firewood locally.
Do plan to spend extra time setting up the campsite

Press release from the IDNR


DES MOINES—Due to flooding, several state parks are closed to all recreational activities. Currently, George Wyth State Park of Blackhawk County is closed, but is anticipated to reopen on July 1. Walnut Woods Park in Polk County, and Pottawattamie County's Wilson Island State Recreation Area are also presently closed to the public

Press Release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Enforcement is being stepped up this weekend on the water, as officers take part in ‘Operation Dry Water’ here and across the country. The nationwide law enforcement push—scheduled for June 25-27 this year—seeks to reduce alcohol or drug related fatalities during the boating season. In Iowa, 10 different waters will see ‘Dry Water’ patrols, with 177 officers involved.
“We are focusing on educating boaters about boating while intoxicated; the dangers of boating and alcohol,” explains Susan Stocker, DNR boating law administrator. Operation Dry Water sets up ‘boating under the influence’ (BUI) checkpoints and challenges more officers to test more boat operators for influence of alcohol or drugs on the water.
In 2009, Iowa recorded 41 boat accidents. Of three which involved fatalities, two were alcohol-related. There were 30 boating while intoxicated arrests on Iowa waters last year. In Iowa, a boater is considered legally over the limit with a .10 blood alcohol level. On the road, the legal limit is .08. Stocker says bringing that ‘on the water’ limit down to match the roadway threshold remains a DNR priority.

Just a heads up on all the outdoor activities that the Linn County Conservation department have coming up. Fun for the entire family.

Press release from IDNR


It’s the state championships. You step up to the line, take a deep breath and concentrate. It’s good advice as you cradle the ball for that last second foul shot in basketball....or position your shotgun during the final round shootoff on the trap shooting range.
More than 500 Iowa high schoolers took their best shots this month at the 2010 state high school trapshooting championships, near Cedar Falls. “In the last three years, we’ve been growing about 100 competitors a year,” notes Ben Berka, shooting sports coordinator with the Department of Natural Resources. “We see a ‘cluster’ effect. One school starts; then another wants it.”