In between the outdoor recreation seasons

We’re into those “tween” times! Lake ice is becoming questionable for safe icefishing but the lake surfaces are still covered with the stuff. There is no open water to wet a line. The snow, at least in this area, is gone. Running a snowmachine is only asking for damage to the undercarriage. Skiing is problematic as well. We never did get enough snow to even consider snowshoeing either.

A lot of folks are looking for something to do outside in this spring-like weather, including me. There are other activities one can pursue, although most will have an indoor flavor for a while.

The Great Alaska Sportsmen’s Show started Thursday in Anchorage and will continue through Sunday.

We just finished the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show in Wasilla this past weekend. I spent a couple of days at the valley show and hope to spend a half-day or maybe a little more at the Anchorage show. These are good opportunities to begin planning your coming outdoor season’s activities. I also see the Alaska Gun Collectors Association has a gun show scheduled for Raven Hall on the state fairgrounds in Palmer for April 18-19.

The weather should be getting even more spring-like as we continue through April and move into May. The blackpowder pistol shooters are having their Alaska Regional 1000 point aggregate match at the Mat Valley Sportsmen’s Range in Palmer on the weekend of May 9-10. I am a range safety officer (RSO) at the Upper Susitna Shooters Association range at Mile 94 on the Parks Highway and they’re already developing a schedule for the RSO’s to be sure they have the coverage to open the range on May 1.

So far, all my talking has revolved around shooting. I’m looking forward to the lakes opening up so I can chase some rainbows with my ultralight gear and get more practice with my fly rod. I can’t get real excited about king salmon fishing since ADF&G is still forecasting weak returns, but I will make more effort than last year to fish the Eklutna Tailrace and maybe visit the Deshka and Little Susitna Rivers a couple of days when I can keep a king if I’m lucky enough to hook one.

I stopped by Greatland Welding and Machine earlier this week to talk with Gary Feaster about getting some parts fabricated to mount stuff out of the way in the bed of my truck. While there, Gary showed me some pictures of his elk hunt this past September in Utah. Both he and his partner took nice elk. Gary’s bull was a wide 6 x 6 and while not a record breaker, was still a very respectable animal. I would be proud to have that rack hanging on my wall (I’ve got a set of spike antlers from my Afognak bull nearly 30 years ago)!

I would be even prouder to have the freezer full of meat Gary now has. The cost of groceries in general and beef in particular is going out of sight. I’m going to have to get a lot more serious about finding a meat bull moose this fall!

While not directly outdoors oriented, I need to mention a significant happening, at least to me, this past week. Both my truck and our small RV needed registration renewals during April. I went in to DMV to find out about the senior exemption for one vehicle and the “one and done” registration process for the other. Both are eight model years old.

Much to my surprise, the whole process was totally painless, if you don’t count the 1 ½-hour wait I had to get to the counter. Once there, the gentleman waiting on me explained everything and in a matter of a few minutes, I had my “forever” senior sticker for my truck – and it was completely free! The RV went just as quickly and for $25 on top of the regular two-year registration renewal fee, this vehicle is now permanently registered as well.

There’s not a lot to look foreword to as one ages – the “geezer” hunting, fishing, and trapping license at age 60 (age soon to be raised I hear); the property tax exemption on your home at age 65; and the permanent vehicle registration for one vehicle at age 65. The only thing I have left that I’m aware of at this time is a free state ID card from DMV, but I’ll have to get a good hair cut before I collect on that option!