Deerfly Diaries

SHOT Show 2010 in Las Vegas & Columbia Sportswear

SHOT Show 2010 was a Success

These last couple weeks were very busy ones for me and the rest of the outdoor industry. I attended the 2010 SHOT Show in Las Vegas from January 19-21st. SHOT stands for Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference.

The SHOT Show is owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). According to the NSSF, overall attendance was 58,444, only several hundred shy of the show’s all-time record set at the 2008 Las Vegas Show and more than 11,000 above last year’s show in Orlando. The show attracted an all-time high of 31,280 buyers, and the 1,804 media professionals attending established a new record. Impressive for a country living in recession.

View photos of the SHOT Show here.

Melus Outdoors, LLC Working with Columbia Sportswear

I was stoked to ink a deal with Columbia Sportswear just prior to the show to help them with their hunting and fishing public relations efforts. I spent most of my time in the Columbia booth at SHOT Show in appointments with the hunting industry media. Always a good time to meet new people and catch up with my friends in the industry.

Columbia Sportswear Launched Omni-Heat Technology

Columbia launched it's new patent pending Omni-Heat Technology to the media at the show. The Omni-heat technology combines a new thermal reflective technology that is breathable and wicking, a new Omni-heat insulation that surpasses comparable insulation on the market and a super cool new Omni-heat electric technology that is available in boots. I am very excited to work with Columbia to bring this new technology to the hunting market July 1, 2010.

The SHOT Show was followed by the Safari Club International Annual Hunter's Conference in Reno, NV from January 20 - 23rd, 2010. The ski, snowboard and general outdoor recreation show, known as OR SHOW, was also held just after SHOT in Salt Lake City, UT.

Personalized Dog Collars and Microchip for Dogs

When I'm walking my dogs at the local dog park here in Carbondale, I get a lot of comments on the personalized dog collars that I have for Elsie and Porter. They are the colored plastic collars on which I have the personalized brass name plates. I actually have two name plates. One for my contact info and the other is for their microchip number. The reason I have both is simply because more contact info is better.

Make it easy for your lost dog to be returned

The microchip works in two ways. First, if one of my dogs gets lost or, God forbid, stolen, the microchip can be used by vets or dog shelters to identify who the owner is by scanning over the top of my dog's shoulder blades with a special scanner. Second, if my dog is found by a upstanding citizen who is attempting to return it to me, then they can either call my cell phone directly or call the Pet Retrieval System 1-800 number and read the microchip number off to the service and then the service has all all of my contact info, backup contacts and emergency numbers that I have provided them. This is very important if for some reason I am not reachable by my cell phone.

Microchips for dogs are a smart investment

The microchips company is called HomeAgain. Ask your vet for more information. Expect to pay about $75 dollars for the chip and installation at your vet. I would highly recommend the service, especially if you plan to hunt or travel with your dogs. I make a specific request to HomeAgain to not let them disclose the name of my dog to someone who finds it. It's much harder for someone to steal a hunting dog if they don't know its name.

Personalized dog collars help identify your dog

I get the collars at a dog supply company that I often use called Lion County Supply. The collars and the brass name plates are inexpensive which makes this one of the best investments I can make for the protection of my dogs if for some reason they are separated from me. I also like the fact that the brass name plates are affixed to their collars and don't make a lot of noise like dangling identification tags do on most dog collars.

Outdoor Writer Charlie Meyers Passes Away at Age 72

 I am sorry to learn that wordsmith Charlie Meyers passed away Tuesday evening after a battle with cancer. Charlie covered the outdoor beat for 40 years at the Denver Post, where he wrote about skiing, nature, fishing and hunting. He was very accomplished and well respected at what he did.

I had the opportunity to meet Charlie at the Fly Fishing Retailer Show in Denver in 2007 and work with him on and off while I did the PR for Simms Fishing Products. 

Colorado Snowpack below average: Low snowfall can affect fisheries and angling in the summer months

Below average snowpack in Colorado's mountain basins

Colorado's snowpack is currently at 79 to 90% percent of average for this time of the year. There is still time to catch up, but the fact is that a low snow pack can spell trouble for months to come, affecting agriculture, fish and wildlife, recreation and tourism.

Endangered species program affects local fishing economy in Colorado

 Yesterday representatives from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation addressed the Basalt, Colorado town government to make it clear that the endangered species program trumps local fishing concerns. 

Members of the Basalt governments and local fly fishing shops are concerned because fishing in the Fryingpan River was compromised last summer, mostly in the month of August, when high water flows resulted in cancellation of booked fishing trips. Apparently, there were 23 days between June 1 and Sept. 1 when water flows on the Fryingpan River exceeded 350 cubic feet per second.

The high flows came after the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service practiced its right to make a call on water, for which they have a contract, to supplement flows in the Colorado River to protect fish habitat near Palisade, Colorado. The endangered species of concern include the pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub and bonytail chub.

Western water rights are complicated

There are several factors that affect flows in the Colorado River, including water calls made upstream by the Shoshone Power Plant, front range water use, agricultural water use, releases from Reudi Reservoir and weather factors. Last year, was an unusually low flow in the Colorado, which resulted in an additional call on the water from Reudi Reservoir, above the Fryingpan River for the endangered fish recovery program.

Ultimately, however, the goal to save the rare fish in the Colorado the Endangered Species Act takes precedent over local economic concerns surrounding angling in the Fryingpan River.

Additional resources:

See the full article in yesterday's Aspen Times.

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Roaring Fork Conservancy

Taylor Creek Fly Shops

How to Find a German Shorthaired Pointer and Breeder Considerations

When I started looking for a German shorthaired pointer for the first time, I wasn't sure where to begin. I answered several classifieds in the paper and asked friends if they knew of anyone reputable. Eventually I got my older dog Porter from a breeder, who were also falconers, in Casper, WY. Now that I have two GSPs I get asked the same question a lot by people who are interested in the breed.

Why a German shorthaired pointer?

Prospective dog owners should ask themselves why they want a German shorthaired pointer and what they intend to have it for. I don't recommend getting a German shorthaired pointer unless you are up for the challenge. They require a lot of exercise and they need to run big on a daily basis. 

Ideally, I wouldn't recommend getting a bird dog unless you plan to train it and hunt with it. GSPs were bred to hunt and a good shorthair will always have a strong prey drive, which can be overwhelming for dog owners who are not used to living with a sporting breed. 

That said, with enough exercise German shorthaired pointers do make wonderful pets. They are generally easily trained, they are usually good with with kids and they are they relatively clean and easy to groom. German shorthired pointers were bred to be versatile and they excel when they have the opportunity to work for and with their owners in one way or another.

The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America (GSPCA)

The GSPCA is a national organization that is a great resource for people who are considering buying a shorthair. The GSPCA's Code of Ethics promotes ethical breeding and business and asks that all its members abide by these practices. They also encourage all breeders and owners to get involved in a field trials, competitions and sporting events to maintain the breed standards.

Responsible breeding is important.

 A lot of people new to German shorthaired pointers might underestimate the importance of good breeding and pedigree. GSPs are a relatively new breed. They are thought to have originated in Germany in the 1800s, but were not easily found in the States until the mid-20th century.

Fortunately, the German shorthaired pointer has maintained high breed standards as set forth by the AKC breed standards for German shorthaired pointers. A dog with an exceptional pedigree comes with a price tag because the dog comes from a lineage that has excelled in field competitions, hunting tests or other comparable events. And generally speaking, only dogs with a good bill of health, excellent conformation and disposition will excel in these competitions. Good breeding keeps the dogs healthy and strong by maintaing a healthy blood line. 

There are lots of respectable hobby breeders that may have a good line of healthy GSP puppies available even if they don't have a top of the line pedigree. The most important thing is to do your research and try to support breeders who do the right thing by the breed. Ask a lot of questions, ask for references and read up on the breed before you make any decisions.

GSP Rescue Services

Unfortunately a lot of dogs don't have the loving homes that they need and they find their way into shelters. Often times, a perfectly good dog will be made gun shy by its uneducated owner and then the owner will get rid of it, "because it won't hunt." Or possibly a dog was not given the proper exercise it needs and ends up causing problems in the home. National and regional GSP rescue organizations help place these dogs into good new homes.

If you are willing to work with the dog and some of its possible short comings, GSP rescue is a great place to look for a dog. Just be aware that you may not be working with a clean slate and it will be important to be patient and compassionate with the dog while it is getting accustomed to its new home.

Resources

German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America (GSPCA)

American Kennnel Club (AKC)

German shorthaired pointer Rescue

Rocky Mountain GSP Rescue of Colorado

Sue Melus trains and hunts her two German shorthaired pointers in Western, Colorado. Sue is an outdoor writer and marketing specialist.

Reflections on the Past Shape Plans for 2010 on the Deerfly Diaries Outdoor Blog

The Origins of Deerfly Diaries Blog

I started writing the Deerfly Diaries in April of 2007. I had just started a new job at Backbone Media and, on the same day, taken possession of a brand new 8 week old German shorthaired pointer puppy. I spent days behind my desk doing PR for several companies in the outdoor industry. Evenings were puppy runs and bird dog training, often in pastures amongst swarms of biting deer flies. 

 Deerflydiaries.com had two main purposes when I started writing it. The first was to act as a log for my dog training I was doing with Elsie, her litter mates and my older shorthair, Porter. The second was to add credibility to my PR work. It was important to me to let writers and editors know that I was not just a PR person, but rather an outdoors woman that gets into the field and also uses the gear that I promote. 

Evolution of an Outdoor Blog

My little eight week puppy is now almost three years old and Porter is going on six. Two months after I started the blog I met Glenn and we have since gotten married. I wrote about our adventures bonefishing on our honeymoon in the Bahamas, fly fishing the mountain streams and archery elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains. I have also moved on from Backbone Media and have started my own public relations and freelance writing business specialized for hunting, fishing, shooting sports and resource conservation.

Plans for 2010 for Deerflydiaries.com

The blog will continue to log Glenn's an my outdoor adventures, but I feel that we have a lot more to offer the outdoor community. To that note, my goal is to provide a useful, entertaining and consistent resource for other outdoors men and women and to engage a community of readers who are interested in sharing their experiences in the outdoors.

In the upcoming year, you can expect to consistently read more:

• Dog training how-to's and tips
• Fishing how-to's and tips
• Shooting how-to's and tips
• Gear and book reviews
• Profiles of other outdoors woman
• Links to other outdoor bloggers 
• Outdoor glossary
• And current affairs in the outdoor industry
• Hunting, fishing, and shooting videos

Thank you to everyone who currently read my blog. I hope it has provided you some entertainment. Please tell your friends about it and I hope to hear from you in the upcoming weeks.

Video: Ice Fishing for Yellow Perch at Harvey Gap Reservoir

A short video clip of ice fishing at Harvey Gap Reservoir between New Castle and Rifle, Colorado. It was a cold, but sunny bluebird day. We fished the down-time at midday, but still managed to each catch a handful of small yellow perch. 

This was my first day ice fishing, so as usual, Glenn did a great job of teaching me the ropes. I learned how to prepare the ice hole, rig the jigs, find the bottom of the lake with the plumb-bob, recognize a hit and set the hook.

We had a lot of fun. Glenn even landed a rainbow trout. A relaxing way to spend the day.

Sue Melus owns Melus Outdoors, a PR and communications business for hunting, fishing and shooting.

Winter Fly Fishing Tips

Glenn and I made it down to the Roaring Fork River for some winter fly fishing. Or rather Glenn fished while I stood safely on the bank supervising the situation. Here are some winter fly fishing tips that are worth noting.

Tip #1 Stay away from the edge of the ice.

Tip #2 Use a long handled net.

Tip #3 Try to ignore your worried spouse who is snapping pictures of you.

 OK, tip #4: Find a deep pool to drift your fly through.

In no time Glenn had a nice trout on the line.  

The long handled net worked well to both retrieve the fish and to put them back in the water.

 

Glenn caught mostly 10-12 inch brown trout.

I give these other guys A+ for effort, but I didn't see them catch any fish. 

 

A half dozen fish in 30 minutes and this fisherman was happy.

 

Time to go home and warm up by the Christmas tree.
 

Sue Melus handles public relations and communications for the shooting, hunting and outdoor industries. 
  

Video: Herman the Sturgeon at Bonneville Fish Hatchery east of Portland, Oregon

I was able to take a day of sightseeing today on a trip up to Portland, Oregon. I drove out the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River where I took in the sights, enjoyed talking with the locals and had 8 incredible ounces of Full Sail Brewery's Full Sail Wassail Holiday Blend. Yummy!

On my way back to Portland I exited the highway to check out the Bonneville Fish Hatchery. The folks at Columbia Sportswear told me I had to check out Herman the Sturgeon. Herman is a 450 pound, ten foot long, 70 year old white sturgeon that was taken from the Columbia River in 1998 when the hatchery was built. Unfortunatley, I couldn't get Herman to show his face. The other more brightly colored fish are rainbow trout.

Bonneville Hatchery sits on Tanner Creek in the Columbia River Gorge about 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon. Tanner Creek flows into the Columbia River about 145 miles upstream from the ocean. The hatchery, run by the Oregon Department of Fish and Game, raises salmon and steelhead for sport and tribal fisheries in the lower Columbia River and along the northern Oregon Coast. 

Sue Melus handles public relations and communications for hunting, fishing, shooting sports and resource conservation. Check out her website at Melus Outdoors, LLC.

The Best Fall Fishing on the Roaring Fork River

Glenn and I got out for some much needed quiet time on the river yesterday. It was a beautiful unseasonably warm day in the Roaring Fork Valley just outside of Carbondale, Colorado. The fly fishing was great and we both caught several good sized brown trout. You can't ask for more than that.

 

 

Sue Melus owns Melus Outdoors, LLC, public relations and creative communication for the outdoors. Sue has two German shorthaired pointers who can't run enough and a husband who she is pretty sure has grown gills from spending so much time on the river.