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| Joe Kalt, Sr. with his eldest son (Jeff), autumn of 1995. [What is now our field office is behind them to the left. The roof of the darker building to the right had failed by the time we took possession of the property, so it unfortunately needed to be raised. It is now the site of our storage/workshop.] |
I knew going into this project that it would present a true test in patience. While wetland management is about as "instant" as one gets when seeing changes in the landscape, a wise, seasoned marshman (and neighbor) told me from the onset: restoring and protecting wetland habitat "is a marathon, not a sprint."
As we juggle a handful of projects in the field and try to continue to lay the groundwork for a handful more through various potential partnering organizations, I'm learning this lesson firsthand. The uncertainty of the current political climate only compounds the waiting game. (Just yesterday, President Trump presented a federal budget that would completely eliminate $300 million allocated to continue the great work done through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative or GLRI. While our efforts aren't contingent on this funding, reduction -- much less elimination -- of these funds would have a profound ripple effect.)
Despite all the positive momentum and all the potential that lies in our near-term future, I've spent the last week or so fighting the demons of negativity and pessimism. It's sometimes hard to wait and trust that the right outcomes will play out. I needed a pick-me-up. And as has always been the case with this adventure, I got it just when I needed it -- this time in the form of an email from one of our duck hunting lease holders.
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| Included with permission from Joe Kalt |
It was one of those days . . . ducks flying in from every direction. Activity and shooting all morning. They finally limited out with a mixed bag of mallards, teal, widgeon, gadwall, woodies, and a goose. Jeff even dropped three teal with one shot!
It’s really the first time either of them have hunted waterfowl without me. I’ve never seen either of them SO excited to tell about their hunt. They had the best time of their young hunting careers, especially doing it together on their own. They both said they will remember that hunt for the rest of their lives! I was so happy for them because they’ve been with me through the good times and a lot of the blue bird days where we never pulled the trigger. The stories about that day just keep on rolling. They can’t wait to get out there again.
My boys will never forget that day, nor will I, even though I wasn’t there! This is why we do what we do as good stewards of the land, isn’t it? To pass it on to future generations to enjoy as we have. Thanks for taking over that marsh and for having the vision to do what you are doing, and letting us be a part of it. Just needed to let you know how what you are doing is affecting others . . .
Truly blessed to be so fortunate. Have a great day. -- Joe
This story highlights several fundamental pillars of our mission. There is clearly a recreational component. Several of the guys who are leasing our West Marsh for the duck season have hunted these same blinds for years, decades. They have hunted with their grandfathers, fathers, uncles, sons, and grandsons. (While duck hunting tends to be a male-dominated pursuit, trust that some girls/women have hunted the property, too!). But more than just hunting, this activity has fostered a practical education and deep-seeded conservation ethic in the lives of those who have been able to experience it firsthand. Sure these hunters love to have a day of fantastic shooting like the one described above, but what they love even more is seeing the sun rise on the cattails. Nothing beats seeing nature "wake up," and nothing compares to just "being" in the marsh.
Thanks Joe, for the ongoing motivation.
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The photo at left was taken in November 2016, on the morning described above.
Thanks to Jeff and Joe, Jr. for the visual reference to a memorable morning in the marsh.