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Teen's hunt of a Lifetime

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Brooke Hanson and her dad pose with Brooke’s bull – taken near North Powder through the Hunt of a Lifetime program. RAY FOSTER
In many ways Brooke Hanson is like most teenagers — she enjoys sports like softball and basketball, likes riding horses and has been involved with 4-H for much of her life. She likes spending time in the outdoors and keeps her cell phone hot — calling and texting her boyfriend, David.

Growing up in a family of hunters, Brooke learned how to shoot a rifle at age 11 and took her first whitetail buck at age 12. White-tailed deer are the primary target for hunters near her home in Baudette, Minn. — a land of bogs and swamps surrounded by heavy timber.

 

Local horsemen appear on ‘Jesse James‚ Hidden Treasures’

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DOGGED BY THE PINKERTONS, the James-Younger Gang decide to split up and attempt to throw the deputized Pinkerton agents off their trail. From left, are Jim Whitherspoon, Jack Armstrong, Rick Hagen, Frank Edward and Glen Edmondson. - Photos by Jerry Gowins
A Seattle-based production company hired local horsemen to re-enact historical scenes for a new documentary, “Jesse James‚ Hidden Treasures.” The two-hour program will air on Nov. 9 and 10 on The History Channel.

Screaming Flea Productions, Inc. (formerly Belo Productions) is an award-winning producer of non-fiction and documentary programming for leading networks such as National Geographic, A&E and The History Channel. Its most current film about Jesse James was produced by Sandy Dang-Asher. The re-enactments were directed by 32-year-old Billy McMillin and filmed by his father, Bill McMillin.

 

Pumpkin Chuckin’ Getting all medieval on Halloween

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HALLOWEEN HOWITZER: Although not exactly falling into the “medieval” category, Russel Olmsted’s (at the helm) crowd-pleasing homemade “Halloween Howitzer” does fall into the “Efficiently Destructive” category as the compressed air can propel a 1000-caliber pumpkin out of its 10-inch barrel up to a distance of 400 yards. On this day, the target car at a distance of around 75 yards doesn’t stand a chance.
What many are beginning to consider the highlight of Union’s annual Harvest Festival, the fourth Punkin’ Chunkin’ gathered a crowd to the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show grounds Saturday afternoon to watch some good ol’ pumpkin tossing mayhem.

 

Ken Patterson honored for his work with 4-H

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4-H Leader Ken Patterson was honored as leader of the year at the recent 2009 4-H Recognition Dinner. - Photos/TRISH YERGES
ISLAND CITY — Union County’s 4-H leader of the year is no stranger to service.

Ken Patterson, who was named the leader of the year at the recent 2009 4-H Recognition Dinner at the Ag Service Center, has been involved in numerous aspects of 4-H since becoming a leader 15 years ago.

The 4-H leader of the year award is given to a member who inspires others to greater personal achievements and does so by example.

 

Dry conditions will greet opening day duck hunters at Ladd Marsh

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Duck hunting season opens at 6:35 a.m. Saturday. Observer file photo
A coffee and donut vendor could earn a tidy profit Saturday between 1 and 4 a.m. in the parking area of the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area headquarters.

So might anyone selling duck calls and decoys.

The Ladd Marsh parking lot will be percolating as hunters await the opening of duck season Saturday.

 

The joy of the pheasant hunt

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FLIGHT TO FREEDOM: From left, Grant, Gavin and Madison Young, known as the “pheasant whisperer,” take part in the Sept. 18 pheasant release in preparation for the weekend’s Youth Hunt. Photo/JIM WARD
Young hunters experienced success at the annual youth pheasant hunt Sept. 19-20 at the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area.

The 75 hunters participating, all age 17 and younger, took 76 pheasants and three quail during the two-day hunt, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Many of the pheasants taken were among the 212 released Sept. 18 at Ladd Marsh. The Oregon Hunters Association and the Oregon Department of Fish each paid for 100 of the pheasants, and Les Henderson of Oregon Trail Trader paid for 12.

 

American kestrel Farmers’ friend

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Clancy Strand
The American kestrel does not have a taste for mint or peppermint — but it is a friend to those who do.

Just ask Phil Hassinger, an environmentally conscious Union County farmer.

Hassinger is using American kestrels to help him grow 200 acres of mint and peppermint, thanks to a major assist from La Grande Boy Scout Clancy Strand.

 

An alternative to technology

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Mark Penninger finds the traditional bow an effective tool for gathering small game like this blue grouse in the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
To trust everything you hear or read about archery equipment these days is to be led astray.

Many modern archery equipment manufacturers want us to believe that the only way to be a successful bow hunter is to spend a fortune on the latest and fastest compound bow, complete with fiber-optic sight, drop away arrow rest, vibration silencers, mechanical release aid, the lightest and skinniest carbon arrows, and broadheads that have catchy names and cost more than $12 apiece.

 

Taking aim at the Texas Star

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TEXAS STAR: Jess Roberts sets up plates for the Grande Ronde Rifle and Pistol Club’s new Texas Star targets. Roberts is a member of the club’s Grande Ronde Practical Shooters and International Defensive Pistol Association groups. Roberts is also a Union County Sheriff’s Department reserve deputy. The Observer/DICK MASON
The La Grande Rifle and Pistol Club is receiving a boost from the National Rifle Association.

The NRA recently awarded the club a $3,005 grant used to purchase 11 new targets for the club’s practical shooting pistol range.

The range is used by the club’s Grande Ronde Practical Shooters and International Defensive Pistol Association groups and the Union County Sheriff’s Department. The range is also open to members of the La Grande Rifle and Pistol Club.

 

Expo comes home

Cathy Nowak was stunned.

She was so shocked a feather from a mallard could have knocked her over.

Nowak, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, had just spotted a sandhill crane at Ladd Marsh. The crane was one of more than 100 that come to Ladd Marsh in the spring. This one, though, was different.

The crane had punctuation — an exclamation mark on a green leg band.

 
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