December 05, 2007

Commentary
Tips on how to convince your wife
yard work is completely unnatural

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

You’d think that after nearly 25 years of marriage, my charming wife would understand that just because yard work is done outdoors, it’s not like really an “outdoors” activity. Mowing, pruning, trimming, and weeding are not things I want to do. I’ve been trying to explain to her for over two decades now that most of what she wants to do in the yard is unnatural.
When the kids were little, there were more pressing issues and my friends would joke that our yard deserved some sort of wildlife preserve status, which I took as a compliment. It took a lot of hard work and neglect for it to look like that. As soon as the boys were old enough to push a lawn mower and run a weed-eater, a lawn suddenly took over the vast weedy open spaces in our yard that had attracted song birds like a magnet. Let me tell you, a lawn is a barren landscape that doesn’t attract anything except dog droppings.
Now she’s even working on the margins of the yard that I had thought were understood to be left in a more-or-less natural state. Her weeding terrifies me.
This is my idea of yard work: I frequently collect wild seed pods from my favorite wildflowers and flowering shrubs while I’m out hunting and fishing and then dump the contents in my yard. I clean out the crops of gamebirds I shoot and plant those seeds. But each spring when they all start to sprout, weeding projects by Becky and moaning, adult-looking sons negates all that effort in one Saturday morning. For five years, I tried to establish wild yellow monkeyflowers around the front faucet where the soil stays moist. For five years, they were ripped out before flowering. In a stroke of incredible luck a couple of years ago, one stalk bloomed before the weeding rampage and Becky liked them. They are established now, filling in between all those other exotic plants (with no redeeming value) she’s planted.
In spite of the small victory with the monkeyflower and a couple of other plants, this has evolved into a battle between her imported Home Depot horrors and my sprouting dove weed or buckthorn. We will agree on the rare blackberry or boysenberry vine, and I will even make the trellis, but mostly we rip out each others efforts when the other is gone. Since my stuff is hardier and often reseeds itself, I think I’m finally winning again.
I’ve had help recently from a healthy crop of gophers that ate huge holes in the back yard lawn this past summer. I tell everyone they’ve become trap shy, and I just never seem to get a poke at them with the air rifle when they are digging. Becky has bought in on this so far, and my poppies are sprouting in those bare spots right now. Now, if they can just survive the weeding sessions.

MOJAVE PRESERVE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT:

The nation’s national Christmas tree, on display in the blue room at the White House, has an ornament from the Mojave National Preserve that will likely make former superintendent Mary Martin see red -- and not cheerful holiday red.
Ornaments and decorations on the tree come from the 391 National Park units from around the nation, depicting the natural and cultural heritage preserved by these sites. The ornament from the Mojave Preserve is a hand-painted glass ball done by Steve Brodeur, a fire engine captain who lives and works out of the Hole-In-The-Wall Fire Center on the preserve. It depicts a desert tortoise, Joshua tree, yucca, desert mountains, and -- oh, you just gotta love this -- a windmill.
Martin had a vendetta against the historic water-pumping windmills in spite of their importance in providing water for wildlife on the preserve, and she succeeded in getting most removed before howls from the public got her booted from the Mojave. Now the preserve staff is in the process of putting windmills back in the preserve as part of a massive water-for-wildlife study.
Poetic justice.

GAMEBIRDS IN TROUBLE:

According to a report released by Audubon and other bird conservation groups last week, there are a number of gamebirds seriously declining -- some almost to the point where they could be listed as endangered.
Birds on the “red” list, which are considered to be in serious decline, include the small Gunnison sage grouse, the sooty grouse (of Pacific race of blue grouse), and both the greater and lesser prairie chicken, birds of the short and long grass prairie. Birds on the “yellow” list include greater or common sage grouse, mountain quail, scaled quail, and Montezuma or Mearn’s quail.
In all cases, it is the loss of habitat -- not hunting -- which is driving the decline of these gamebirds. In places where their habitat is in good shape, the birds continue to thrive. For both sage grouse, which depend on healthy expanses of sage, the West has experienced a catastrophic 90 percent decline in sage habitat. Most of the sage has been lost through pinon-juniper encroachment, conversion into grassland by fire and, to a lesser extent, grazing, and pad clearing for gas and oil extraction. Mearns and scaled quail declines are almost entirely due to excessive grazing in the Southwest. Both prairie chicken subspecies have seen most of their habitat farmed or overgrazed over the last 100 years. Sooty grouse and mountain quail declines are most likely a result of less timber harvesting in recent years to protect other species because both birds thrive on edges and in second growth. But excessive grazing in riparian areas is also a critical factor. Drought has made the problems for all of these Western species worse.
Involvement by rank-and-file hunters on a local and national level is imperative on two fronts: stopping habitat declines and fostering restoration and mitigation to improve bird numbers, and making sure hunting is not blamed as a culprit and stopped needlessly where bird populations are healthy.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

DECEMBER 8 BAJA FISHING SEMINAR: The staff of 976-TUNA will be conducting a free Baja Fishing Seminar 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8, at Bass Pro Shops, Victora Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga. A free trip to Palmas de Cortez will be given away. Contact 976-TUNA at 310-328-8426.
DECEMBER 9 ORANCO BOWMEN CHARITY SHOOT: The ORANCO Bowmen will have a 42-target silhouette shoot for charity beginning 7:30 a.m. this Sunday, Dec. 9, at the club range located at 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (just off Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). Cost is $15, or $5 for those who bring an unwrapped gift with a value of $10 or more. For more information, call 909-597-7582 or visit the club’s web site at www.oranco.org.
DECEMBER 15 UNITED ANGLERS NO-MOTOR TOURNAMENT: The United Anglers of Southern California will have its rescheduled “No-Motor” Tournament Saturday, Dec. 15. The event will benefit the Carpenteria Marsh helping to protect important halibut nursery habitat. The tournament is open to all anglers who fish aboard kayaks, float tubes, canoes or any other seaworthy craft that runs exclusively on “people power.” The entry fee for those signing up by December 13 is $40 -- which includes UASC membership or renewal. On-site sign-ups on December 14 or 15 will be available for $50. For the latest information, rules, and sign-up forms, go to the UASC web site at www.unitedanglers.com or call the UASC office at 949-83-9447.
JANUARY 25 HEAVYWEIGH BASS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT: The Heavyweight Bass Classic will be held Friday, Jan. 25 at Casitas Lake to determine the best of the big bass anglers. The event is limited to 50 anglers with a $200 entry fee and the winner takes all -- not to mention having bragging rights at the best big bass angler in the country. For more information, contact Ron Cervenka, P.O. Box 800342, Santa Clarita, CA 91380 or e-mail socalteams@hotmail.com.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER):The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER):The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-841-2100 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Bob Peters via e-mail at bpi1@ca.rr.com or Don Jamroz at donjamroz@aol.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Callender's Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to odwriter@earthlink.net. Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]

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