Turkey hunters heading to the field this spring can also compete for bragging rights by entering the "Biggest Breast" turkey hunting contest sponsored by the Round Up BBQ Grill at Lake Henshaw.
Prizes will be awarded for the best all around turkey, the heaviest bird, the longest beard and the longest spur.
Contest organizer Meriah Druliner said hunters must enter the contest prior to a kill. Entry fee is $25 for the contest only, $40 for the contest and the awards banquet dinner for one and $50 for two dinner tickets. Additional turkey entries are $10 each.
The best overall turkey will be determined by a composite score that includes weight, beard length and spur length. Birds taken by bow will receive two additional points.
The Round Up is located at 26439 Highway 76. For additional information, call 760-782-2729.
Spring turkey season open in San Diego County on March 27 and continues through May 2. Daily bag limit is one bearded turkey, three for the season.
Hunters who have been scouting the most popular areas say field conditions are excellent, but abundant food and available water means birds could be spread out over wide areas. Bird populations are strong right now.
Janice Mendenhall at My Country Club hunting club said opening weekend is always popular because hunters have not spooked birds and scattered flocks.
She said she has seen flocks of up to 200 birds in areas around Palomar, Santa Ysabel and Lake Henshaw. She said successful hunters locate roosting trees, develop skillful calling techniques and patience. Hunters are reminded that they need a valid hunting license and Upland Game Bird stamp.
Senior anglers
Robert Suarez, a fishing guide from Sitka, Alaska, will be the guest speaker March 19 at the monthly meeting of the Senior Anglers of Escondido. Guests are welcome at the 9:30 a.m. meeting at the Joslyn Senior Center, 210 Park Ave. in Escondido.
Suarez operates Kingfisher Charters and lodge in Sitka and will talk about halibut and salmon fishing in northern waters. For additional club information, visit the club website at www.senioranglersofescondido.net/ .
Trailhead parking
Visitors to the Iron Mountain trailhead in Poway will now have safer access and a paved parking lot where they can leave their cars while hiking.
Located at the intersection of Highway 67 and Poway Road, the project includes two new turn lanes from the northbound and southbound parts of the highway, as well as a new lane into the parking lot from eastbound Poway Road.
The surface of the parking lot is constructed of a recycled roadway base material and a decomposed granite mixture. The parking lot can hold up to 110 cars and four to five trucks with equestrian trailers. Hikers will be able to access the Iron Mountain Trail immediately to the south by crossing a small bridge and a connector trail.
Wildflowers
Crowds in Borrego Springs should begin to grow this weekend as expected warm weather accelerates the bloom of spring wildflowers. Conditions are excellent for an extensive bloom of desert sunflowers, verbena, brittlebush and ocotillo. Desert lilies are already blooming well in areas south of Borrego Springs.
Check at the park visitor center west of town or call the desert wildflower hotline at 760-767-4684 for the latest bloom report.
Spring shoot
The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited is sponsoring a sporting clays spring shoot March 26 and 27 at Mike Raahauge Shooting Enterprises in Corona. The event runs from noon-5 p.m. on the 26th and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on the 27th.
Events the first day include a 50-target small bore shoot for $40 and a 100-target course for $60.
Shooters can compete in a 100-target main event on the second day for $70, followed by a raffle and awards ceremony. Additional information and registration forms are available at www.raahauges.com or by calling 951-735-7981.
Ernie Cowan is the outdoors writer for the North County Times. If you have a story of interest, call (760) 518-8050 or e-mail ernie@packtrain.com.
