Field Trip - Destination LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area - Kankakee River Stateline
A couple weeks ago, after Ranger Dangers yearly vet visit, we headed down to the Kankakee River near the state line for a walk and a swim at LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area. LaSalle is a state wildlife area managed by the Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources located in Northwest Indiana. The property parallels the north and south banks of the Kankakee River from Highway 41 to the Indiana-Illinois state line. The area is in the flood plain of the river, Oak-Maple forests laced with old river channel bayous, agricultural foodplots, marshes and open-waters areas make up the habitat. The foodplots are managed by the personnel of the FWA, providing food and shelter for the many different species of migratory birds that use the property during the fall and spring migrations. Fishing and managed hunting opportunities are provided on the 3,797 acres of land that make up LaSalle. When you visit LaSalle stop at the Headquarters, there you can find maps and the rules and regulations, if you have any questions the answers can be found there. The area is funded by taxes levied on hunting and fishing equipment purchases.
Ranger's on the leash and ready to start the field trip, the cameras are packed, and we're ready to hit the dirt running. If we're lucky, there will be a few migrating waterfowl using the refuge. Resting before they continue their flight to Canada and all points north, east and west. Before I go any further, I must warn you. This time of year, March through May is Turkey season. Hunters are in the woods hoping to bag Big Tom Gobbler. So before you start stomping around at a fish and wildlife area, go to the headquarters and ask about their restrictions and rules at that property. If there are turkey hunters in the woods, I would not enter. Give the hunters the woods, the season is about a month in most states and the vast majority of hunters get just one chance to bag that Old Tom.
As we stroll along a levee ditch, sunning on a log are three Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Spring time in the field, mid to late April, is still fairly cold. Low temps at night may fall to the mid 20's, day time highs may reach 50 degrees. But as the sun rises higher in the sky each day, the sun's rays warm the plants, logs and mud in and under the cold water. Turtles being cold-blooded, spend the winter hibernating in leaves and mud under the water so they won't freeze. The warm sunlight wakes the turtles from their sleep. On a sunny day the turtles will congregate on a toasty log, soaking up the spring sunshine.
What on earth is that! A short distance ahead, crossing the trail is a large shadow creeping slowly through the tall grass. The shadow stops and disappears in the spring foliage. Slowly a red and blue head rises above the grasses and brush. A 20 lb tom turkey stands before us. Head erect, neck fully extended. This is who the hunters are after, Old Tom Gobbler, the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Turkeys are a native bird, but the turkeys we see were re-introduced to most of their home range because the original turkey population was nearly exterminated from the Eastern United States.
This bird has a "beard" consisting of modified feathers that stick out from the breast. His beard is about 9 inches (230 mm) in length, about average for a mature bird. I know, hard to see a turkey in the straw, not to mention a beard, on a turkey in the straw. A turkey hunter has to determine the length of the beard before he can take a bird. Maybe you can make out the beard, it hangs from the front of his breast about half-way down.
Can a 20 lb Turkey Really Fly? You betcha! A wild turkey is a strong flier. If they see you coming they'll hold still and be practically invisible, get to close, they will flush (jump up into the air) and fly away at full speed. It will scare the bejebees out of you! A slap from a flushing wild turkey has the potential to knock a person out cold. Take this advice, don't step on a turkey!
Turkeys roost in trees. A roost is a place where birds like to rest, where they can avoid trouble (predators). There can be upwards of twenty (20) birds using the same tree. Here again, surprising a flock of wild turkeys in the roost can be hazardous to your health and is not advised. When they take flight overhead, you will believe that the sky is falling. First you'll hear the sonic booms of massive wings beating the air, immediately the compression wave is felt pushing through your body. As the turkeys take flight, they fly through the trees breaking limbs and branches like airborne Sherman Tanks. Fear over take you when the sound of cracking and falling tree branches can be heard over your head and seen crashing to the ground around you. Even tho being in the company of a bunch of turkeys may not be advisable, seeing a large flock of Wild Turkeys flying through a dense oak woods is an amazing sight.
Ranger's on the leash and ready to start the field trip, the cameras are packed, and we're ready to hit the dirt running. If we're lucky, there will be a few migrating waterfowl using the refuge. Resting before they continue their flight to Canada and all points north, east and west. Before I go any further, I must warn you. This time of year, March through May is Turkey season. Hunters are in the woods hoping to bag Big Tom Gobbler. So before you start stomping around at a fish and wildlife area, go to the headquarters and ask about their restrictions and rules at that property. If there are turkey hunters in the woods, I would not enter. Give the hunters the woods, the season is about a month in most states and the vast majority of hunters get just one chance to bag that Old Tom.
As we stroll along a levee ditch, sunning on a log are three Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Spring time in the field, mid to late April, is still fairly cold. Low temps at night may fall to the mid 20's, day time highs may reach 50 degrees. But as the sun rises higher in the sky each day, the sun's rays warm the plants, logs and mud in and under the cold water. Turtles being cold-blooded, spend the winter hibernating in leaves and mud under the water so they won't freeze. The warm sunlight wakes the turtles from their sleep. On a sunny day the turtles will congregate on a toasty log, soaking up the spring sunshine.
What on earth is that! A short distance ahead, crossing the trail is a large shadow creeping slowly through the tall grass. The shadow stops and disappears in the spring foliage. Slowly a red and blue head rises above the grasses and brush. A 20 lb tom turkey stands before us. Head erect, neck fully extended. This is who the hunters are after, Old Tom Gobbler, the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Turkeys are a native bird, but the turkeys we see were re-introduced to most of their home range because the original turkey population was nearly exterminated from the Eastern United States.
This bird has a "beard" consisting of modified feathers that stick out from the breast. His beard is about 9 inches (230 mm) in length, about average for a mature bird. I know, hard to see a turkey in the straw, not to mention a beard, on a turkey in the straw. A turkey hunter has to determine the length of the beard before he can take a bird. Maybe you can make out the beard, it hangs from the front of his breast about half-way down.
Can a 20 lb Turkey Really Fly? You betcha! A wild turkey is a strong flier. If they see you coming they'll hold still and be practically invisible, get to close, they will flush (jump up into the air) and fly away at full speed. It will scare the bejebees out of you! A slap from a flushing wild turkey has the potential to knock a person out cold. Take this advice, don't step on a turkey!
Turkeys roost in trees. A roost is a place where birds like to rest, where they can avoid trouble (predators). There can be upwards of twenty (20) birds using the same tree. Here again, surprising a flock of wild turkeys in the roost can be hazardous to your health and is not advised. When they take flight overhead, you will believe that the sky is falling. First you'll hear the sonic booms of massive wings beating the air, immediately the compression wave is felt pushing through your body. As the turkeys take flight, they fly through the trees breaking limbs and branches like airborne Sherman Tanks. Fear over take you when the sound of cracking and falling tree branches can be heard over your head and seen crashing to the ground around you. Even tho being in the company of a bunch of turkeys may not be advisable, seeing a large flock of Wild Turkeys flying through a dense oak woods is an amazing sight.
A
couple weeks ago, after Ranger Dangers yearly vet visit, we headed down
to the Kankakee River near the state line for a walk and a swim at
LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area. LaSalle is a state wildlife area managed
by the Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources located in Northwest Indiana.
The property parallels the north and south banks of the Kankakee River
from Highway 41 to the Indiana-Illinois state line. The area is in the
flood plain of the river, Oak-Maple forests laced with old river channel
bayous, agricultural foodplots, marshes and open-waters areas make up
the habitat. The foodplots are managed by the personnel of the FWA,
providing food and shelter for the many different species of migratory
birds that use the property during the fall and spring migrations.
Fishing and managed hunting opportunities are provided on the 3,797
acres of land that make up LaSalle. When you visit LaSalle stop at the
Headquarters, there you can find maps and the rules and regulations, if
you have any questions the answers can be found there. The area is
funded by taxes levied on hunting and fishing equipment purchases.
Ranger's on the leash and ready to start the field trip, the cameras are packed, and we're ready to hit the dirt running. If we're lucky, there will be a few migrating waterfowl using the refuge. Resting before they continue their flight to Canada and all points north, east and west. Before I go any further, I must warn you. This time of year, March through May is Turkey season. Hunters are in the woods hoping to bag Big Tom Gobbler. So before you start stomping around at a fish and wildlife area, go to the headquarters and ask about their restrictions and rules at that property. If there are turkey hunters in the woods, I would not enter. Give the hunters the woods, the season is about a month in most states and the vast majority of hunters get just one chance to bag that Old Tom.
As we stroll along a levee ditch, sunning on a log are three Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Spring time in the field, mid to late April, is still fairly cold. Low temps at night may fall to the mid 20's, day time highs may reach 50 degrees. But as the sun rises higher in the sky each day, the sun's rays warm the plants, logs and mud in and under the cold water. Turtles being cold-blooded, spend the winter hibernating in leaves and mud under the water so they won't freeze. The warm sunlight wakes the turtles from their sleep. On a sunny day the turtles will congregate on a toasty log, soaking up the spring sunshine.
What on earth is that! A short distance ahead, crossing the trail is a large shadow creeping slowly through the tall grass. The shadow stops and disappears in the spring foliage. Slowly a red and blue head rises above the grasses and brush. A 20 lb tom turkey stands before us. Head erect, neck fully extended. This is who the hunters are after, Old Tom Gobbler, the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Turkeys are a native bird, but the turkeys we see were re-introduced to most of their home range because the original turkey population was nearly exterminated from the Eastern United States.
This bird has a "beard" consisting of modified feathers that stick out from the breast. His beard is about 9 inches (230 mm) in length, about average for a mature bird. I know, hard to see a turkey in the straw, not to mention a beard, on a turkey in the straw. A turkey hunter has to determine the length of the beard before he can take a bird. Maybe you can make out the beard, it hangs from the front of his breast about half-way down.
Can a 20 lb Turkey Really Fly? You betcha! A wild turkey is a strong flier. If they see you coming they'll hold still and be practically invisible, get to close, they will flush (jump up into the air) and fly away at full speed. It will scare the bejebees out of you! A slap from a flushing wild turkey has the potential to knock a person out cold. Take this advice, don't step on a turkey!
Turkeys roost in trees. A roost is a place where birds like to rest, where they can avoid trouble (predators). There can be upwards of twenty (20) birds using the same tree. Here again, surprising a flock of wild turkeys in the roost can be hazardous to your health and is not advised. When they take flight overhead, you will believe that the sky is falling. First you'll hear the sonic booms of massive wings beating the air, immediately the compression wave is felt pushing through your body. As the turkeys take flight, they fly through the trees breaking limbs and branches like airborne Sherman Tanks. Fear over take you when the sound of cracking and falling tree branches can be heard over your head and seen crashing to the ground around you. Even tho being in the company of a bunch of turkeys may not be advisable, seeing a large flock of Wild Turkeys flying through a dense oak woods is an amazing sight.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2485997
Ranger's on the leash and ready to start the field trip, the cameras are packed, and we're ready to hit the dirt running. If we're lucky, there will be a few migrating waterfowl using the refuge. Resting before they continue their flight to Canada and all points north, east and west. Before I go any further, I must warn you. This time of year, March through May is Turkey season. Hunters are in the woods hoping to bag Big Tom Gobbler. So before you start stomping around at a fish and wildlife area, go to the headquarters and ask about their restrictions and rules at that property. If there are turkey hunters in the woods, I would not enter. Give the hunters the woods, the season is about a month in most states and the vast majority of hunters get just one chance to bag that Old Tom.
As we stroll along a levee ditch, sunning on a log are three Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Spring time in the field, mid to late April, is still fairly cold. Low temps at night may fall to the mid 20's, day time highs may reach 50 degrees. But as the sun rises higher in the sky each day, the sun's rays warm the plants, logs and mud in and under the cold water. Turtles being cold-blooded, spend the winter hibernating in leaves and mud under the water so they won't freeze. The warm sunlight wakes the turtles from their sleep. On a sunny day the turtles will congregate on a toasty log, soaking up the spring sunshine.
What on earth is that! A short distance ahead, crossing the trail is a large shadow creeping slowly through the tall grass. The shadow stops and disappears in the spring foliage. Slowly a red and blue head rises above the grasses and brush. A 20 lb tom turkey stands before us. Head erect, neck fully extended. This is who the hunters are after, Old Tom Gobbler, the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Turkeys are a native bird, but the turkeys we see were re-introduced to most of their home range because the original turkey population was nearly exterminated from the Eastern United States.
This bird has a "beard" consisting of modified feathers that stick out from the breast. His beard is about 9 inches (230 mm) in length, about average for a mature bird. I know, hard to see a turkey in the straw, not to mention a beard, on a turkey in the straw. A turkey hunter has to determine the length of the beard before he can take a bird. Maybe you can make out the beard, it hangs from the front of his breast about half-way down.
Can a 20 lb Turkey Really Fly? You betcha! A wild turkey is a strong flier. If they see you coming they'll hold still and be practically invisible, get to close, they will flush (jump up into the air) and fly away at full speed. It will scare the bejebees out of you! A slap from a flushing wild turkey has the potential to knock a person out cold. Take this advice, don't step on a turkey!
Turkeys roost in trees. A roost is a place where birds like to rest, where they can avoid trouble (predators). There can be upwards of twenty (20) birds using the same tree. Here again, surprising a flock of wild turkeys in the roost can be hazardous to your health and is not advised. When they take flight overhead, you will believe that the sky is falling. First you'll hear the sonic booms of massive wings beating the air, immediately the compression wave is felt pushing through your body. As the turkeys take flight, they fly through the trees breaking limbs and branches like airborne Sherman Tanks. Fear over take you when the sound of cracking and falling tree branches can be heard over your head and seen crashing to the ground around you. Even tho being in the company of a bunch of turkeys may not be advisable, seeing a large flock of Wild Turkeys flying through a dense oak woods is an amazing sight.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2485997
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