Wild Game Supper open invite for Feb. 7
PHOTOS BY GARRY BRANDENBURG — Raised in the wilds by Mother Nature, fish, fowl or venison, are all tasty things to eat when properly cooked. Since everybody on earth needs to eat, the end game for many fishing excursions or hunting trips, locally or nationally, ultimately becomes special table fare to enjoy. Almost every outdoor magazine this scribe gets to read will have several pages devoted to how to cook wild caught fish, fowl, and/or big game animals so that the nourishment those meats provide help sustain ourselves. The Izaak Walton League of Marshall County is hosting a Wild Game Supper on Feb. 7 — and the public is invited to come sample and or bring their your own prepared covered potluck dish of fish, waterfowl, pheasant, turkey or venison from elk, deer, or moose. A special program will be presented after the meal about African Adventures, both photographically and as a bowhunter, by Garry Brandenburg. The location of the Ikes Wild Game Supper will be the meeting room at Consumers Energy, 2074 242nd St., near the junction of Highways 30 and 330 west of Marshalltown.
The local Izaak Walton League has several special events during each calendar year. It could be clay bird shoots, hunter safety courses, club house rentals and special firearms competitions. From time to time special speakers are arranged to visit about conservation issues and how the Ikes membership can learn, assist or participate.
Coming up on Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, will be a WILD GAME SUPPER. All Ikes members and their guests, plus the interested public, who like to fish or hunt, are welcome to attend. Set up time will be from 5:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Supper will be from 6 to 7 p.m. The program will begin after 7 p.m.
The Izaak Walton League is the caretaker of over 80 acres of land located two miles southeast of Marshalltown on Smith Avenue. They have been active at this site since the mid 1940s.
It was a place for outdoor active people to get together for meetings and also as a place for members to safely use firearms for target practice. Over time, the site added a small pond for fishing, and trails for nature walks.
An archery practice range was added, and Christmas tree plantings were initiated so that sales could be offered each winter. Outdoor education has also been one of the benefits offered in a cooperative venture with naturalist staff from the Marshall County Conservation Board.
This scribe will feature a special overview program after the supper concludes. Beginning at 7 p.m., I will have a photo display and several other items collected in Africa from a photo safari made in 2005 and plains game bow hunts in 2007 and 2021.
Since Africa has an entire well structured industry devoted to conservation of wildlife largely funded by hunters from all over the world, the program will show how those rugged landscapes of East and South Africa are well suited for producing wild grown foods from the wild animals that are so well adapted to those environments. It can also be called sustainable use.
Local populations of people benefit from these protein sources because they see that wildlife has value, not as a liability, and are therefore willing to participate in long-term management. Safari outfitters ensure a proper off take of animals which enables the local people to benefit to the maximum amount possible.
The reasons people may want to visit Africa tend to fall into two segments, one being photo tourism and the other is hunting safaris. Each has a role to play and cooperation in this mix can be made to work. In general terms, photo safaris bring in about one-fifth of the income and hunting fills the other four-fifths of the funding stream.
Photo tourism is geared to offering the best opportunities to gather images in a short amount of time usually in national parks where the big five can readily be viewed, and the lodges and amenities cater to that group very well. A large contingent of people find this type of African
experience awesome, because it is awesome.
Hunting safaris are different and specializes to a smaller group of clients. As noted above, hunting clients pay a whole lot more for their experiences.
Hunting Safaris operate outside parks, more often in the rugged bush, in places where photography is accomplished primarily at the end of each hunt, and the amenities are still adequate but more rustic. The realities of existence in the bush become more apparent, visual, educational and eye-opening. Both photo safaris and hunting safaris fill a need and each does it very well.
These points will be part of the program on Feb. 7. You are welcome to attend and learn, have fun and fellowship, and eat wild game foods.
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The first weekend of February, the Izaak Walton League will have a table at the local gun show at the fairgrounds. Members or prospective Ikes members can learn about the Ikes grounds and the firearms ranges available.
Also coming up on Saturday, Feb. 3 will be a sporting clay 50 bird course at the Ikes grounds. It is called the Winter Sporting Clay event. Registration hours begin at 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Five stations for a total of 50 targets at a cost of $20 per round. Kids age 16 and under can shoot for just $5 for one round when shooting with an adult paid admission.
Mark Dolash can be contacted for more information at 641-751-6219 or via email at mdolash@heartofiowa.net. A bonfire will be on hand for warming up. Hot dogs, chips, pop or coffee will be available for a free will donation.
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One other item on the Izaaak Walton agenda is its annual scholarship.
The Piper Family endowment was given to the Izaak Walton League many years ago. It allows for the interest to be used to qualified candidates, both high school seniors, or full time enrolled college students, who are either from Marshall County or any of the surrounding school districts outside of Marshall County.
The applications for the scholarship will soon be in the hands of all area high school counselors. Any student truly dedicated toward a conservation related career and who can convince the Ikes board of directors of that goal should consider this scholarship. It is a healthy $3,500 award.
Contact me, Garry Brandenburg for details of this scholarship application process.
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Tax time is around the corner. Many outdoor enthusiasts donate to special causes. One of these causes has the common name “Chickadee Checkoff.” Last year about 5,800 Iowa taxpayers helped boost funds by giving. Last year’s funds donated were $147,000. The Wildlife Diversity Program within the DNR appreciates all the help that is given which is used for non-game species projects.
There are over 1,000 non-game critters, small and large, that benefit from these dollars. They could be songbirds, eagles, salamanders, turtles, butterflies or bees.
Look for line 21 on Form 1040. Tell your tax preparer to not miss this item. The potential for the growth of the Chickadee Checkoff is huge.
If every Iowa taxpayer donated just $1, the amount for non-game projects would be $1.6 million. So here is your chance to make a difference.
Just do it. Thanks.
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An informal bird migration hawk watch was undertaken last fall at Grammer Grove, a county park area located a few miles southwest of Liscomb. Mark Proescholdt compiles the sighting data from himself and co-helpers Ken and Mary Ann Gregory, Phil Tetzloff, Andy Spellman, and Diana Pesek. This is their 34th year of doing some citizen science observation of migrating birds of prey along the Iowa River valley.
They typically begin hawk watching on or around mid August and continue through mid-December. A total of 197.5 hours of observation time was tallied over 56 days.
Their grand total raptor sightings added up to 1,819 for 2023. Top of the list in terms of numbers were turkey vultures, 592; Broad-winged hawks were next at 492; and Bald Eagles were third at 255.
Other raptors added to the list were Ospreys, Sharp-shinned hawks, Northern harriers, Cooper’s hawks, Red-shouldered hawks, Swainson’s hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Rough-legged hawks, Golden Eagles, American kestrels, Merlins and Peregrine Falcons. The actual number of raptors that passed over the Iowa River valley is much larger than these numbers indicated. Why? Because human time is limited to day times only, and not every day, and many migrating birds do their travel at night.
So this survey is a snapshot only, but a good snapshot of bird migration by raptors.
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For your Comedy Central funny bone: a warning about Fishing Pox says it is very contagious to adult males. Symptoms include constant complaining as for the need for fresh air, sunshine and relaxation.
The patient may have a blank look on their face, sometimes deaf to his wife and kids. He has no taste for work. He can be seen constantly checking tackle catalogs.
He hangs out in sporting goods stores longer than usual. He places secret late night phone calls to fishing buddies. He mumbles to himself.
On the good side of this equation is this: medication is useless. This fishing pox is not fatal. Victims can and should read Wood & Waters Magazine daily and go fishing often.
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Garry Brandenburg is the retired director of the Marshall County Conservation Board. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS degree in Fish & Wildlife Biology.
Contact him at:
P.O. Box 96
Albion, IA 50005
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- PHOTOS BY GARRY BRANDENBURG — Raised in the wilds by Mother Nature, fish, fowl or venison, are all tasty things to eat when properly cooked. Since everybody on earth needs to eat, the end game for many fishing excursions or hunting trips, locally or nationally, ultimately becomes special table fare to enjoy. Almost every outdoor magazine this scribe gets to read will have several pages devoted to how to cook wild caught fish, fowl, and/or big game animals so that the nourishment those meats provide help sustain ourselves. The Izaak Walton League of Marshall County is hosting a Wild Game Supper on Feb. 7 — and the public is invited to come sample and or bring their your own prepared covered potluck dish of fish, waterfowl, pheasant, turkey or venison from elk, deer, or moose. A special program will be presented after the meal about African Adventures, both photographically and as a bowhunter, by Garry Brandenburg. The location of the Ikes Wild Game Supper will be the meeting room at Consumers Energy, 2074 242nd St., near the junction of Highways 30 and 330 west of Marshalltown.
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