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Brookings Wildlife Federation Box 104, Brookings, SD 57006

Affiliated with: South Dakota Wildlife Federation

National Wildlife Federation

Board: Spencer Vaa, President; Rich Widman, Past-President;

P. Wagner, D. Micko, Bob Kurtz, T. Wieczorek, Bd Members;

L. Novotny, Treas.

Newsletter Editor: C. Berry September 2019

September 6 Infolunch: Fall hunting and fishing forecast

The Brookings Wildlife Federation will host Conservation

Officer Jeff Grendler and Senior Waterfowl Biologist

Rocco Murano (photo right) who will profile the

upcoming fall hunting and fishing season prospects at the

Federation’s monthly Infolunch. The Infolunch will be

held at the First Lutheran Coffee House meeting room at

noon on Friday, September 6.

Murano will cover the status of the populations of pheasants and

waterfowl, and make comments on other game animals. As the State

Waterfowl Biologist, Murano keeps in touch with biologists throughout the

Central Flyway. Their observations on wetland conditions, nesting success and other factors determine the fall

flight of waterfowl.

Pheasant hunting predictions are made from standardized surveys. The pheasant survey in Brookings

County is done by driving three standard routes from East to West across the county and counting pheasant

broods beside the road in the morning, when the birds move from wet grasses to roadsides for food and gravel.

This pheasant counting methodology seems unscientific, but when the survey is done in a standard way

for many years and the data correlated with harvest, then GFP has a good tool to predict hunting prospects.

Grendler’s “boots on the ground” data is from his everyday observations and communication with

hunters and anglers. Grendler is especially good at predicting deer hunt prospects. He is also up-to-date on

hunting and fishing regulations and has practical hunting and fishing advice.

The Infolunch is open to the public. The BWF is affiliated with the South Dakota Wildlife Federation

and the National Wildlife Federation. The BWF is in its 38th year of supplying conservation information and

activities to the Brookings community. For more info contact BWF President Spencer Vaa 695-6867.

A look back: Last year’s September meeting with the GFP folks was the first meeting that the BWF had in the

Lutheran Church Coffee House. Thirty-six people attended to hear news from Grendler and Murano. Last year,

Rocco said that duck numbers were down in North America by 13%, mostly because of dry conditions in the

prairie pothole region. He reported that the April snows really killed the goose hatch and there were a lot fewer

Canada geese around in the fall of 2018. Both Grendler and Rocco were upset about the future of CRP; as

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contracts end, about 2,600 acres will be plowed in Brookings County. Grendler

said that the State needs a grass program; don’t wait for the Feds to protect

grasslands.

Rocco likes to conclude his talks with a photo of a Northern Shoveler,

which he says is his favorite duck. Some Infolunch attendees scoffed at the

shoveler. But Rocco retorted “The shoveler is just a blue-winged teal but better

at its job!” Will we see the “spoonbill” at the end of Rocco’s talk again this

year??

August Infolunch Review: SDSU Dean Dr John Killefer’s Joke (short version) The Brookings Wildlife Federation (BWF) hosted Dr John Killefer at the August

Infolunch. Killefer, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

talked about the “environmental” part of the College’s name, with a focus on the natural

resource conservation benefits of the new precision agriculture program.

Did you hear the one about the guy who took his pet duck to the vet? The vet’s quick

examination revealed that the duck was dead, but the owner couldn’t accept the diagnosis.

So. the vet brought in a black lab from the kennel; lab sniffed the duck and left the room.

Then the vet got a cat from a cage; cat pawed the duck and jumped back into the cage. The vet gave the guy a

bill for services that amounted to $800, which included lab fees and a cat scan!!

Game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which have heretofore

destroyed it – axe, plow, cow, fire, and gun.” Aldo Leopold, 1952

Hunt for Habitat Raised $320,990 The Hunt for Habitat raffle is part of Governor Kristi Noem's Second Century Initiative, which works to

ensure the next generation has an opportunity to enjoy South Dakota’s outdoor heritage. The Gov wants to get

money for habitat by raffling special hunting permits, like a Bison license and a license called a "triple tag" that

allows a hunt of antelope, deer, and elk. Nonresidents were eligible to win one of the three “triple tag” prizes.

The raffle raised $320,990 to improve habitat for everything from butterflies and other pollinators to

deer, elk, pheasants and everything in between. The money raised will be used to improve habitat on both

public and private lands, along with improving access to public hunting areas across South Dakota.

37,720 Raccoon Tails The Gov’s plan to improve the state’s pheasant and duck

population by trapping nest predators finished the first year. The

program focused on introducing people to trapping and outdoors

activities as well as reducing localized populations of nest

predators. The program offered a $10 bounty for nest predator

tails, and gave 3 free traps to 5,500 people; no trapping license

was needed. Nest predators include raccoon, striped skunk,

badger, opossum, and red fox. The Program had a budget of

$500,000, which was gone by August 12. Trappers turned in

37,720 raccoon tails and 5,529 skunk tails. The top counties

included Minnehaha, Beadle, Yankton, Grant, Brookings, Turner,

Kingsbury, Clark, Roberts, and Lake.

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Jackrabbit Football Players Hunt and Fish (by Chuck Berry)

For the past few years, our Brookings Wildlife Federation

Newsletter Editor has interviewed a couple of SDSU football players

about their hunting and fishing interests. This opportunity comes

thanks to Coach Stig’s openness and the cooperation of his Director

of Football Operations. Again this year, I explained the BWF’s

interest in Jacks’ football players to the new Director of Football

Operations Jonathan Shaeffer. And, I asked my usual question:

“Can you line me up with a couple of outdoorsmen/football

players?” Shaeffer replied “No problem.” He later emailed that I

should be present at media day to interview Chase Venatieri and

John Gruetzmacher.

Assisting me on these interviews is Skip Webster who

represents the Lake Campbell Sportsmen Club. Skip is supposed to

be the cameraman but every year, he poses with the players while I

take the photos – says he doesn’t know how to use my camera.

Members of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation know the Venatieri name well because Chase’s

Grandfather is Paul Venatieri, who is the SDWF District One Director (Rapid City). Chase is a Senior from

Sioux Falls who is majoring in Nursing and is a kicker for the team. He was shocked when I said “Don’t want

to talk football today, we’re here to learn about your interest in hunting and fishing.”

Chase is mostly a waterfowler, hunting ducks on public land, and geese on the Missouri River bluffs.

He usually meets his Dad the early morning after a home game; Dad brings the boat and decoys. On goose

hunting days, he meets Dad in Madison and they drive through the early morning hours to be at the GFP’s

registration trailer so they can register for one of the pit blinds in the Lower Oahe Waterfowl Access Area.

Chase said that he enjoyed taking Taryn Christion hunting; Taryn is last year’s star QB now trying to make the

Dallas Cowboy team.

When asked about a memorable experience, he told of the

time he and Taryn sneaked up the face of a stock dam full of

ducks and geese. Chase shoots a 10 gauge shotgun for geese and

a 12 ga pump for ducks. They sometimes hunt pheasants on

public land after the duck hunt; says he will join some

conservation organizations like the SDWF after he graduates and

has more money. Whether he goes into Pro football or Nursing,

he’ll have more money next year, and the SDWF will probably

have a new member.

The other guy that we interviewed was #75, Jon

Gruetzmacher, a 300+ pound O-lineman. Jon is a Sophomore

from Merrill, Wisconsin; is majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

The first thing to know about his outdoor interests is that he has

won several youth archery tournaments – how does the patience,

precision, concentration, and repetition of the sport of archery

translate to the violent interior line of the Jacks offense??

Hunting and fishing is a family affair at Jon’s house. His

Chase Venatieri and Skip Webster;

Chase is the one with the #4 jersey.

Jon G. (#75) and Skip Webster at

SDSU Media Day, Fall 2019.

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favorite hunt is bow hunting for bear and turkey. His most memorable hunt was taking a 251 pound black bear

with a bow when he was 12 years old!

Jon likes to fish a lake near his home town; says the big crappie hang out around the old railroad trestle

and tree stumps. In Brookings, he has caught walleye from the bridge at the south end of Lake Campbell. And,

he has “pestered the poultry” (pheasant hunted) with another SDSU football player, Krockett Krolikowske, who

invited him to hunt the family farm near Winner.

Jon doesn’t know it but he has a connection with former Jacks football player and now top official in

GFP – Kevin Robling. This year, Kevin was promoted to deputy secretary of GFP. Robling received his

bachelor’s and master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries science from SDSU, began his career with GFP in 2009

as a graduate student radio-collaring white-tailed deer, and was soon promoted to a big game biologist. In

2017, he moved to Pierre as special projects coordinator working with the GFP Commission and the state

Legislature (can a Jacks lineman have such good people skills??).

What’s the connection between Robling and Gruetzmacher besides their outdoor interests – they both

had/have football jersey #75.

SDWF Convention in Aberdeen, Sept 13-15 Exec Chris Hesla sent this letter giving the agenda.

To: Affiliate Presidents, SDWF Board Members

From: Chris Hesla, Executive Director

Re: Summer Convention, Conservation Awards, & Resolution Deadlines

SDWF’s 74th Annual Summer Convention is scheduled for Sep. 13-15, 2019, hosted by Sportsmen’s Club of

Brown Co. located in Aberdeen.

Pre-Convention Social Friday, Sept. 13 at the Sportsman’s Club Hunter Education Center.

Saturday Meeting Saturday Sept. 14 – Sportsmen’s Club Hunter Education Center 8 am to 4 pm

8 am Registration

8:30 am Meeting called to order

10 am GFP Sec. Hepler and Tony Leif

Noon Lunch

4pm GFP presentations

“Comparing Walleye Netting Results with Angling Success” - Cameron Goble

“Deer radio-collaring projects” – Chad Switzer

Awards Dinner & Auction: Saturday Sept. 14 - Aberdeen Gun Club log cabin 6 pm to 10 pm

Sunday Meeting: Sunday, Aug. 26 – Sportsmen’s Club Hunter Education Center, 8 am to Noon

Saturday morning will kick off the convention with Tony Leif and GFP Secretary Hepler. Some topics they will

cover are the new reg. and rules for zebra Mussels and CWD. Other guest speakers (to be announced) will be

scheduled for Saturday afternoon and announced in the Out-of-Doors. Saturday night the Auction combined with

the Conservation Award presentation will be held at the Aberdeen Gun Club log cabin.

Sunday will be a business meeting with Resolutions and hopefully, we will be out of there early afternoon.

SDWF hopes ALL AFFILIATES can send their two delegates and each club gets additional delegates for each 75

paid up members. As in the past we ask each affiliate to bring a couple of auction items to help add to the auction

Saturday night if you are donating money, please advise me, so we can purchase some auction items prior to the

night of the auction, we request your donation to be in the $250 range. There will be registration Friday night and

Saturday morning prior to the opening ceremony.

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BWF’s Highway Clean-up Four individuals (Steve Britzman, Dennis Micko, Mike Riley, and

Lawrence Novotny) spent an hour walking the 2-mile stretch of the

outhouse road on August 21 as part of BWF’s highway cleanup project.

They obtained one full large trash bag of mainly discarded beverage and

food container items amongst the 4 of them. Photo shows a couple of happy

litter pickers from a previous effort.

Membership Overview (by L. Novotny)

We ended the fiscal 2019 membership year on June 30 with 109

members. The new fiscal 2020 membership year began on July 1. Thanks

for renewing in August – Ken Higgins, Ron Jacobson, Harry Manshiem,

Bill Gibbons, Marlin Hintz, Jay Johnson, John Ruffolo, Jerome & Maxine Leslie – family, Tom Campbell and

Michele Dudash & Charlie Fenster. Welcome New Member Trevor Penning.

We are losing 23 members so, to the list below – thanks for your interest in the past, sorry to see you go.

Beer Collins Eggen Hanson Koerner Main Pederson Rang

Burris Dahl Ellis Johnson Krogh Mitchell Peick Schardin

Earley Fixit Shop Kindt Lee Munsterman Prohaska Wicks

Rainy Day Thoughts about Plant Eaarth (by C. Berry) “Think globally, act locally.” This environmentalist’s cliché is easy to say but what the heck does it

mean. I found myself looking out over damp and dreary Lake Campbell as I recalled the saying “If people

concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles.”

However, a couple of global environmental issues are

nagging at me, so here are some rainy day thoughts. I know, I

know --- why worry about the Arctic and ocean plastic pollution

when we have important local issues to deal with, like pheasants,

Big Sioux River water quality, the City’s drainage plan, pollinator

gardens, and the sale of our state wildlife to out-of-state hunters.

My main goal is to give you a “heads-up” about some recent

publications that are easy reading and very informative. I’ve got to

point you to the September issue of NatGeo on the newsstand down

at HyVee. The magazine covers the two big issues concerning planet “Eaarth.” The unusual spelling is in

reference to a 2010 book titled Eaarth by Bill McKibben. The premise is that we now have a planet that

operates by different rules than in the past – a planet where one species changed the environmental rules to

create a new planet, still recognizable but fundamentally different. My Grandkids will be living on Eaarth.

The Arctic: If you believe the climate scientists (and I do), the Arctic is

warming faster than the rest of the globe and ice is melting. If you believe

messages sent to us by the fish and wildlife in the Arctic (and I do), then the

Arctic must be changing. Some species are profiting and some aren’t. Read a

good, general-interest article about the Arctic written this May during an 18-

day voyage through the Northwest Passage. https://e360.yale.edu/features/a-

northwest-passage-journey-finds-little-ice-and-big-changes.

What about the Arctic and our species? Are the changes good or bad? We’re the species causing the

warming, which apparently cannot be stopped now that certain tipping points have been reached. Some say that

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we’ve opened up some great opportunities for ourselves. I was interested in Secretary of State Pompeo’s

comments at a meeting of Arctic Nations in May. The newspapers picked one line from his talk: “the Arctic is

at the forefront of opportunity and abundance.” https://www.state.gov/looking-north-sharpening-americas-arctic-focus/. Read the text of the talk that

Pompeo gave to the Arctic Nations representatives – it’s interesting. He really slaps around the Chinese for their

aggressive economic advances in the Arctic, and the

Russians for their aggressive military advances in the

Arctic. His message is about commercial development of

the Arctic that should be done in an environmentally

responsible way. (how does he keep the oceans from

rising?)

Now, turn to the NatGeo Magazine with the cover

that shouts THE ARCTIC. Yes, there are good photos, but

also a synthesis of data into great maps and charts. In the

future, my Grandkids will be reading about and perhaps

experiencing the Arctic’s new importance to their world.

But today, one hears the phrase “Conservation is good as

long as it doesn’t affect the economy.” I wonder, “Which

economy?” The one tomorrow, or the one 25 years from

now? Conservation is conservative, said TR.

Ocean Plastic: The reports and photos of animals trapped

and dead in plastic pollution in our National Wildlife

Magazine (June-July, 2019) really “grossed me out” as we use to say in the 60s. Another image, a video

actually, that stopped me in my tracks was of a swan making a nest of plastic. https://www.facebook.com/JohnObergOfficial/videos/682376425498529/Uzpf

STEwMDAwOTc3NDAxODUwMDo4MzQ0NDcyNDM1NTc3MzU/.

Thankfully, there are “prettier” images created by artists who

pick up the plastic from beaches, and get it out of the stomachs of dead

animals to create art, as was demonstrated in the NatGeo issue shown

above - - Plastic. We made it, we depend on it, we’re drowning in it.

One icon of the plastic problem is the plastic bag. It is supposed

to have a 15 minute working life and a “forever” persistence. I get more

that 15 minutes from my plastic bag – groceries in, cat poop out. I

depend on it, but would paper serve as well???

Another icon of the plastic problem is the plastic straw. Straws

are in the top 10 contributors to plastic marine debris. Most recycling

machines can’t recycle straws, given their size. A straw isn’t going to choke a

bird or wrap around a fish, but they do break up into micro-plastics that pollute

Eaarth – even Arctic ice. I depend on straws as a way to drink my tonic and

gin.

One person said to me “I don’t like paper straws.” (End of discussion!).

The manager of a fast food chain said to me about plastic straws “We put them

out, you decide whether to use them.” Mary Lou found paper straws of the top

shelf at HyVee (plastic was cheaper). I’ll use paper and pay the environmental

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“tithe.” What can one person do? Act locally I guess. Welcome to planet Eaarth.

End notes: Plague of Plastics. NatGeo Issue 6, 2018 has in-depth coverage from p 40 to p 91 of the plastic

problem, with impressive visual figures of the data explaining the cause and consequences of plastic pollution.

Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. Ghandi

BWF – SDWF – NWF Newsbytes

Infolunches: Have an Infolunch speaker or a story to tell? Contact Spencer Vaa 692-7219.

BWF Board: Thanks to our Board members P. Wagner, D. Micko, Bob Kurtz, and T.

Wieczorek for their contributions of time and talent to the BWF. Past Pres. Rich Widman and

Treasurer Lawrence Novotny usually attend Board meetings. Pres. Spencer Vaa’s agenda this

month is: delegates to SDWF convention in September, and September Infolunch speakers.

BWF Membership: Membership Year: July 1 – June 30; membership categories are: 1) Trophy ($100), 2) Magnum

($50), and 3) Regular ($30 single, $40 family) to BWF, Box 104, Brookings SD 57006. Thanks to Treasurer Novotny for

keeping member lists.

BWF Newsletter: Posted at the SDWF website http://www.sdwf.org/, and mailed monthly to 139 email and 9 snail mail

addresses; Contact cberry@itctel.com with news or photos for the next newsletter or address change. Thanks T.

Wieczorek and Barbara Horten for copying and mailing paper copies.

BWF Raffles: we seem to have one going all the time, and much of the time, our raffle board is parked at Brookings

Barbers, which is owned by Linda Vaa. See a very interesting article about Linda in South Dakota Magazine on

newsstands now; Article about a WWII tragedy known as “The Lost 74.” Linda also does a lot of cooking for BWF

gatherings and she feeds and waters our President.

South Dakota Wildlife Federation: http://www.sdwf.org/ and http://www.sdwfcamo.net/,

The SDWF is the oldest wildlife conservation advocacy organization in South Dakota with

membership of over 3,400 sportsmen and women in 16 affiliate clubs across the state. The

newspaper titled Out of Doors is mailed 6 times/yr. A partner to the SDWF is the

CamoCoalition (https://www.sdwfcamo.net/) that follows legislation and takes action.

SDWF Exec. Secretary Chris Hesla wants us to know about “South Dakota Gives”. SDWF is

registered to receive your contributions and money from a pool that is given on one day called Giving

Tuesday, December 3. Every participating nonprofit has the chance to win. Check out the details at

https://www.southdakotagives.org/about

National Wildlife Federation: The National Wildlife Magazine is $15/yr at www.nwf.org or write to NWF 11100

Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190-5362 [$5 goes to the magazine, $10 deductible].

Membership for $15 includes 6 issues. You can order Ranger Rick for your kids/grandkids and

help SDWF at the same time! Go to www.nwf.org/sdwfkidsgift.

The June-July issue of National Wildlife Magazine listed some national awards to

people and affiliates. SDWF member Mike McKernan received the Affiliate

Volunteer of the Year Award for his 20+ year work with kids at Conservation Camp

(see page 46).

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Brookings Wildlife Federation Celebrating 40 years in Brookings

Affiliated with: National Wildlife Federation

South Dakota Wildlife Federation

Interests: Conservation, hunting, fishing

Activities: Kids Fishing Weekend

SDSU Scholarships

Information meetings, seminars

Monthly newsletter

Black Hills Conservation Camp

Brookings County Conservation

State Policy Watch

Conservation Small Grants

Public information, education, awards

Brookings Wildlife Federation

Box 104

Brookings, SD 57006

Inside the September Newsletter Sept. 6 Infolunch: Hunting forecast

August Infolunch review: SDSU programs

Hunt for Habitat results

Raccoon Tails

Highway Clean up – thanks guys!

Jackrabbit Football Players Hunt and Fish

SDWF Convention News

Rainy Day thoughts about Eaarth

Membership overview. 23 members dropped

BWF/SDWF/NWF Tidbits

Salute to Linda Vaa and Mike McKernan

SDWF Convention Sept. 13-15 Aberdeen