Guzzler Maintenance

Trail cameras keep working even when it is too hot or dark for humans to be in the field maintaining water guzzlers.  Larry Martin submitted these photos that were taken by trail cams he has installed near some of the guzzlers.  I wonder what song the coyote pup is singing?

Wood Duck Project Update

Dale Schielke reported that cameras installed in nest boxes with late season egg clutches revealed something that he has not seen or been aware of before.  Two boxes contained 17 eggs and 19 eggs but none of the eggs ever hatched.  A third box with a similar number of eggs hatched only two ducklings.  Dale suspects that the eggs overheated from high temperatures late in the nesting season.  Dale and John Merk are reaching out to other organizations to ascertain whether they have experienced anything similar.  

Wild Game Dinner “Want List”

The 2026 Wild Game Dinner will be held on March 21 in Building 4 at the Benton County Fairgrounds.  If you have ideas to share or want to get involved for the 2026 dinner, please call or text Marilyn at 509-392-2128.

Marilyn has developed a “Want List’ for the 2026 dinner that she will update as donations are received.  The list was first published in the July newsletter and will be updated in upcoming monthly newsletters.  Meats include:
 
Duck – 25 to 30 pounds for poppers, tacos, pepperoni 
Pheasant - 20 pounds for jambalaya or another main dish 
Venison - neck for mincemeat, 10-15 pounds of roasts, 10 pounds of meat for grinding into sausage
Elk - 20 pounds of roasts and 10 pounds for grinding into sausage.
Bear – 13 pounds of meat for stew/chili or 10 pounds for grinding into sausage
Cougar – 6 to 13 pounds of meat for grinding for meatballs, tacos, or a main dish
Bobcat – 6 to 13 pounds of meat for grinding (same as Cougar)
Goose – 13 whole plucked geese for roasting and possibly 10 pounds for jerky
Walleye –15 pounds for chowder or 13 pounds for tacos
Catfish – 13 pounds for tacos and/or 20 pounds for a main dish     
Salmon – 10 pounds for smoking plus 20 pounds for the main meal
Chukar – 100 to150 birds for soup and a main dish

If and when you can commit to a donation just text Marilyn at 509-392-2128 or send an email to  momhoops46@gmail.com.  The list will be trimmed as donations are received.  Other items that we expect to need that we have purchased in the past are 30 to 40 pounds of roasting potatoes, 15 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes for chowder, 15 pounds of yellow onions, and individually wrapped butter pats.  If you have a cost effective source for these items, please contact Marilyn. 

Taking Better Wildlife Photos – Mike Estes

Hunters and fishermen have posed for photos with their harvest for more than 100 years, as long as there have been cameras.  Taking photos today with mobile phones and digital cameras is easier than ever.  With no film to buy or negatives to develop, a person can take an almost endless number of photos and have the convenience to sort through them later to decide which to keep and which to discard.  The challenge is to take photos that are worthy of your memorable moment, that show respect for the critter you have harvested, and that will be “interesting” to those you share the photos with.  Well taken pictures usually require a little more attention than just grabbing the camera and clicking the button.  Quality photos of harvested animals will create a better impression for people who do not necessarily love or understand hunting of birds and animals or retention of fish to serve for dinner.

Suggestions and Tips:
⦁    Choose a good background and position your critter accordingly.  For big game consider the African safari pose with the animal as upright as possible (use a rock or two as a brace if necessary) and legs tucked in.
⦁    Photos taken in a natural environment usually look better than those taken at home, in the driveway, at the boat launch, or in the bed of a pickup truck.  
⦁    Avoid full or partial shadows on faces, antlers, etc.  If possible, take photos in full sun or full shade.  Remove or tilt hats back and remove sunglasses.
⦁    Help the critter look its best by placing it in a natural posture.  
⦁    Remove any blood from the mouth or wounds, tuck in the animal’s tongue if it is hanging out, and do not expose the gills of a fish that will show up in the photo. 
⦁    Decide whether a vertical or horizontal, loose or tightly framed view will look best.  The back portion of the animal and the entire person’s body do not necessarily need to be in the photo.
⦁    If the background is boring or you do not want to reveal a lot about the location, get closer.
⦁    Rather than standing full height and shooting photos from above, experiment with a lower angle.  Maybe even silhouette a fish or antlers against the sky. 
⦁    Clear the photo path of debris and unnecessary clutter.
⦁    Consider whether you want to include a firearm, bow and arrows, or fishing rod in the photo.
⦁    Think about the focal point of your photo.  Is it the fish or the fisherman?  Is it the size of the antlers or the happiness on the hunter’s face?  Check to be sure that human and animal eyes are sharp and in focus.
⦁    Snap multiple photos and review them immediately to see whether you captured the shot you wanted.  If not, snap a few more.
⦁    Try different poses and angles and possibly rearrange items in the photo for best effect.
⦁    Being behind the critter in the photo is great, but don’t over exaggerate by holding your arms at full extension with the fish towards the camera or standing several feet behind an animal to make it larger than life.  People will quickly recognize your attempt to make it look bigger and will discount the authenticity of the photo.
⦁    Use a tripod when possible for a steadier and clearer photo.
⦁    To smile or not to smile?  That is up to the person in the photo, but at least look happy.
⦁    Enter your favorite photos in the monthly RRGC photo contest so we can all enjoy your special moments.  

Photo of the Month

There were three contest entries this month.  Scott Abernethy submitted a photo of his son, Jeff, with a 3.6 pound smallmouth bass caught in the Snake River out of Hood Park on June 16.  Micah Little submitted a photo taken by Tanner Gross of Micah with a 6 pound smallmouth bass caught by Micah on the Yakima river on July 11.  Richard Sharp submitted a photo he took on June 14 of Wade Ralston, owner of Casting for Memories Guide Service, with a catfish Wade caught using a centerpin reel and cut bait while fishing with Richard on the Yakima River.  Congratulations to all the fishermen for their catches.  Micah’s photo was selected as the monthly contest winner.