Spring Outdoors Days at Cabela's

This week in my e-mail box I received notification from one of my outdoor supplies providers - that they would be having some informational and hands-on workshops. Twenty-six stores of the Cabela's Retail outlets will be hosting Cabela's Spring Outdoors Days. The location closest to me at Owatonna,MN. will be starting their first weekend event at 11:00 AM, Saturday March 15th,2008. If you aren't able to make it on Saturday they will have repeat events from 1:00 - 4:00 PM on Sunday the 16th. Then again the following weekend there are activities planned. Just wish they were closer so it would be easier to hangout and take in the information in the seminars. The events are getting everybody going on fishing, which if you haven't done yet with ice fishing, you probably will be gearing up for Spring and Summer. Ladies, they are getting some guest speakers for us too. Shannon Hentges from the Women Anglers Association will be there to enlighten those able to attend. She is a lady who can tell you some exciting experiences she has had in fishing ,and about being apart of a women's Angler's association. Shannon will be able to tell you how you can get started with fishing because of her long time association with the sport. 1:00 p.m.(both Saturday and Sunday) Location:Great Lakes Conference Room. A representative from the Women Hunters Organization, Linda Burch will be available to relate her adventures in Spring Turkey or Bear Hunting - Some of her accomplishments will be presented in an informal seminar. She will also tell you about the Women Hunters organization she belongs to and how you can also get in on some of the adventures and fun. 2:00 p.m. (both Saturday and Sunday gatherings are at the same time and location) Location: From the front entrance, take the left wood walkway to the fishing department on the left. I, for one, have plans to attend to keep working towards my goal to become a more complete outdoors woman. Maybe I will see you there!

Seminar Report

Local co-host of WHO radio's Sportsman's Notebook and field editor for the Iowa Sportsman magazine Ron Kuntz, moderated the weekend seminars featuring Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, at the Iowa Deer Classic on the Hunter's Specialties Stage. The Lakoskys along with Matt Morett and Ron White fielded some questions after introducing themselves. Lee, a trained Chemical Engineer and Tiffany, a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines met in Minnepolis, MN. The couple became aquainted at an archery shop where Lee was employeed. Tiffany said her family was into fishing and Lee's family enjoyed hunting. Six years ago Lee invited Tiffany on a hunt. She declined the first invitation, but on the second invitation she agreed to go to see if she would like it. Well, as things worked out she brought down a 6 point buck her first shot. From that moment until now she says that is her trophy buck because of the circumstances that surrounded its take. After that hunting trip Tiffany was hooked both on the hunting experience and on Lee. The joint decision to buy land, and move south to Iowa, to continue the deer hunting passion brought them south five years ago. They now own 3,500 acres in the Mount Pleasant area in Henry county. The floor was opened by Ron to a few questions focused in the direction of Lee. A question was asked concerning being able to determine the difference in appearance of a 6 year old buck in comparison with a 3-4 year old buck. Lee responded that he likes checking out the neck and shoulder structure. Most older bucks have a larger mass over the whole body but the neck and shoulders are much thicker under the influence of hormones in the rut, than are the younger bucks. Then he made a point that they may be the first to lose their antlers with declining hormones and stress during the later seasons. He commented that caution should be practiced in the "Doe only"season, individuals traveling alone are most likely anterless males, females usually still have fawns at their side. Great points which I observed more this past season myself. The discussion turned to Lee's love of watching the deer from the couples bedroom late at night on the infrared trail camera over the food plot closest to the house. A big supporter of all season feeding, the Lakoskys have 72 seperate plots of various sizes. When asked about filming their show they revealed how long it could take to get the right shot, to make enough good material. Hunting is a full-time job for this young couple. They hunt 100 days a year. These people eat, breathe, and sleep ethical whitetail deer management in an effort to bring healthy specimens to their hunts and for the future generations to come...