No deer quite yet-

Just a collection of sweaty, stinky, middle-aged guys working on their deer stands.

And getting ready for deer camp.

True-enough - we've not outgrown our desire to build tree houses.

I mean - really - can you blame us?

This is terrific fun.

Not for the purpose of reading Mad Magazine or a purloined Playboy like when we were youngsters - but to hunt the wily whitetail. 

The rest of you deer hunters know what I'm talking about - annual maintenance on that favorite deer stand that has been battered over the previous eight months.  Including sweeping out all of the raccoon scat.  Blech.

One of my personal favorite stands is in the picture below. 

Many a nap has been taken in this stand and many deer taken as well.

It was constructed from a dismantled and recycled Tosa deck. 

High winds clobbered it following last season's hunt.

With some big lag bolts and a large quantity of nails I think we're back in business.

For another season anyway.

Just for kicks I strapped a game camera to the tree trunk at the base of the stand just to see who's hanging-around. 

Here's what was photographed...

Tom

Wisconsin is home to an estimated 740 million ash trees - most of them found in the forests across the state with more than 5 million of those trees to be found in our urban communities. 

Since I last posted on this subject in May of this year the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been discovered in Wisconsin.

It has long been expected that EAB was here - it being only a matter of time until it was located.

Enjoy your ash trees while you can because it looks like we're in for difficult fight.

Since it's discovery in Michigan six years ago, the pest has killed-off an estimated 25 million trees in the 10 states where it has been found.  This is an efficient killer - moving faster and with deadlier results than Dutch Elm Disease.

The larva of the beetle spends its life feasting beneath the bark of ash trees. The tree suffers extensive damage to its vascular system, depriving the tree's crown of water and nutrients until it dies.

According to Wauwatosa Parks and Forestry Superintendent, Kenneth Walbrandt, about seventeen percent of the city trees are ash.  Wauwatosa has already modified its master planting plan to favor alternative species in light of the unavoidable arrival of the ash borer.   

So what's going to happen when the borer arrives?  "We intend to use all of the tools at our disposal, especially the expertise of the people at the Department of Agricultural" says Walbrandt.  

For the present, the city plans to go above and beyond what Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection recommends, with a plan to identify diseased city trees, take them down and process them in the city yard - chipping them and composting the debris.

So what can you do to slow the arrival?

For starters - don't move firewood into Tosa.  Purchase and use local firewood. 

The critter doesn't travel too far on its own but can cover a great deal of territory when unsuspecting people haul infested firewood from one location to another.

Now that EAB has been located in the counties to the north - do not transport or use firewood that was purchased, stored, harvested in, or that has in any way entered Ozaukee, Washington, Sheboygan, or Fond du Lac counties.  These counties are under quarantine.

I you observe crown die-back report it.  Same for other symptoms of a potential infestation like sprouting at the tree's base and D-shaped holes in the bark.  Call 1-800-462-2803 or e-mail DATCPEmeraldAshBorer@wisconsin.gov.

In the mean time you can probably expect to see a new infestation following on the heels of the EAB - con artists looking rip you-off.

Tom

This year's nesting has drawn to a close.

However, something else that has been going-on in the background that deserves mention.

Feeding the birds.

Critters require some basics - cover, water and food.

Flowering plants are terrific for attracting insects for wild birds to feed-upon - including the native species you see below.

Nonetheless I fret over the birds.

So I planted a giant field of these:

Oil sunflowers.

If you click on the picture below it will enlarge.  It is chock-full of bugs.

The song birds have been enjoying a veritable feast of bugs.

The equivalent of an avian fast-food drive-up.

These plants are going to be left to stand and overwinter.  The seed heads will remain as a food source for the non-migrating birds during the harsh winter months.

I've been seeing a number of sunflower plantings around Tosa - more than ever before.  

In the city a patch of these will brighten your yard and brighten your day - as you enjoy the birds through the summer, fall and winter.  Think of it as a bird feeder you don't have to refill.

Tom

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Edit:

Girlfriend and I were out yesterday cleaning boxes of the old nests when we encountered one remaining batch of fledglings:

I'd bet one of the first thoughts through your head was:  

Whoa, Tom!  Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?

It is true that we've only just put the Independence Day festivities behind us.  Yet it is never too early to begin thinking about deer and deer hunting.

We've got a healthy herd of deer - a bit too healthy for my tastes - considering the thousands of dollars worth of damage they've caused munching on our trees.

With good nutrition and cover (yes, that would be our trees they are eating and hiding amongst) whitetail deer can reproduce at prolific rates.

Like this:

A doe in good physical condition will be bred at 6 to 9 months of age.  Translation:  A significant number of the female fawns born this spring will be pregnant by year-end. 

Wisconsin's bow season opens September 13th. 

That would be exactly 68 days from now.

Shoot straight and hunt safe. 

Tom

Girlfriend and I made the rounds this morning and found this. 

It is never a good sign to find a box askew with bird parts on the lid.

The box was empty.  My guess - raccoon. 

This was the late batch of hatchlings that has been featured in the last two posts.  A meal for a predator.

(No - the dog isn't pushing on the box.)

The second broods of the season are already underway.

Life goes on....

Tom

Has anyone ever heard of a black lab turning brown?  Ours certainly is.

I'm not making this up.  Girlfriend is slowly turning brown.  At this rate I figure we'll have a chocolate lab by August. 

I've been spending as much time as I can out-of-doors and already have a Larry the Cable Guy red neck tan.  So maybe the dog is fading as I turn brown?  The Labrador equivalent of a tan?  Go figure.

Girlfriend is being trained this summer to follow whistle commands.  Smart dog - she's picking-up on it quickly.

The morning training includes a check of the nest boxes.  Most are empty as the young have fledged.  We'll clean the boxes - removing the old nest, any dead birds and unhatched eggs.  This will give the parents a clean box for a fresh start on a second brood and less risk of spreading diseases.  These pictures were from a foray this past weekend.

Remember this late hatch from the last update?

Here they are now-

We also found scads of this stuff blooming in the meadow.  Can you identify it?

The R2D2-like call of a bird with striking markings caught our attention and we spied a flock of these-

The sighting of this bird was a first for me so I added it to my life list.  Can you name it?

Last fall I nuked a patch of reed canary grass.  I was hopeful some native seeds were patiently waiting in the soil for a chance to be released.  Now there is a sizable patch of this-

Any guesses?

Girlfriend also found this- 

Very fresh and about a yard-long.

More updates later.

 Tom

Girlfriend and I have been checking weekly on our growing families of cavity-nesting songbirds.

It is absolutely amazing the progress the birds are making.  Some broods already have the avian equivalent of teenagers.  Just like earning a learner's permit to drive - these birds are ready to fledge.

These pictures were all taken on the same afternoon:

House wren eggs laid in the last week

Brand spanking-new tree sparrow hatchlings

Another batch of hatchlings - about a week older

A crowded box

A batch of birds just about read to fledge (check out that little fella below giving me the hairy eyeball)

More updates to follow.

Tom

Did any of you notice that the Journal Sentinel has now jumped-on the nest box bandwagon?

Meg Jones did a great story on bluebirds last weekend.  You can read it here.

She writes about a couple that placed twenty five nest boxes on a Mequon golf course.  What a terrific idea.

I've been checking-in on my sixty-odd boxes spread over almost three miles of trail.

Here is a recently hatched brood from this weekend.

Tom

Girlfriend (the dog) and I have been making our rounds on the nest box trail and a variety of birds have taken-up residence.

When breeding - this little bird will sing from daylight to dusk. 

The male of the species will place a few small twigs in each of several boxes. The female inspects his choices and she decides-upon a finalist and finishes building the nest.

Sound familiar?

Just like this-

Can anyone identify the bird that laid these eggs?

I'll post any comments and the correct answer on Monday.

Tom

Troglodytes aedon  (house wren)

EDIT - Added a couple of addittional pictures. 

This past winter I was busy building nest boxes for my feathered friends so I figured I should share with you what's happening with my subsidized housing tenants.

The amorous tree swallows have begun their clutches-

Mama in another nest box...

Girlfriend and I have been making the circuit and had an opportunity to inspect additional bird boxes.

Here are a couple of pictures we took yesterday morning while making our rounds...

The happy couple

More postings to follow next week.

Tom

By now you've heard about the Emerald Ash Borer - EAB for short.

EAB is a non-native insect - an exotic Asian gift courtesy of global commerce that likely traveled stateside in a wooden packing crate.

It's a gift that keeps on giving and an expensive one at that.  Losses resulting from EAB infestations are estimated at $157,000 to $665,000 per 1000 urban residents.  That doesn't include losses to nurseries, the forest products industry and woodland owners.  Those numbers would be staggering.

It would seem that while the infestation has practically surrounded us this destructive little critter hasn't shown-up in Wauwatosa.  At least that we're aware-of.

When it does - this is what we have to look forward to:

I'm old enough to remember the cathedral-like elm trees that lined the city streets. 

It will be interesting to see how Tosans cope with another massive tree die-off and its aesthetic and fiscal consequences.

Anyway - this week is Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week.

Keep a sharp eye out for the symptoms and signs of EAB infestation and call the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection if you see this bugger:

The hotline is: 1-800-462-2803

Read about Wisconsin's current management strategy.

Tom

PS - The critter doesn't travel very far on its own.  Movement of infested firewood is generally how it travels long distances.  Remember that.

I'm told that the price of gasoline might hit $4 a gallon before too long.  Maybe even $7 a gallon.

What about the possibility of $10 a gallon gasoline?

With the prospect of a bazillion people in China and India finally grabbing the middle class brass ring - and purchasing an automobile - demand for oil is going to grow.

And grow.

The law of supply and demand dictates that outrageous gasoline prices are here to stay.

My guess - they'll get worse over time.

I wonder what the future holds for those folks who pulled-out all the stops to leverage the building of those massive McMansions an hour or more from their day jobs?

I'm kinda glad I live in good old Tosa Town.

I can walk to a grocery, church, bank, restaurant or pub.

I'm a short fifteen minutes from anywhere by car.

We've got it pretty good.

We should flaunt it.

Just thought I'd shed some sunshine on your day.

Tom

BTW - We're also in the Great Lakes Basin.  We got the water too.

It has been reported that a local man has begun building no-income housing within the city limits and without the prior knowledge or approval of city officials.

Exactly how this has escaped the scrutiny of the authorities is unclear.

A known builder of this type of housing, he has eluded the authorities while blatantly engaging in this practice for more than a dozen years.

Thumbing his nose at the permitting and approval process he has already constructed nine new units this winter, rehabbed two additional units and has lined-up both materials and labor to begin building at least three to four more units before the arrival of spring.

The authorities at City Hall are said to be shocked that this has been going on under their noses for so long.

When asked to comment mayoral candidate Jerry Stepaniak stated, "Development is Wauwatosa's future, but this is certainly not what I had in mind.  This guy's intentions might be good, but he's clearly obsessive.  This is an outrageous example of an individual run-amok.  I think he's got too much time on his hands."

Candidate Jill Didier staked-out a stronger stance calling for an investigation into the actions of the individual who reportedly lives in her aldermanic district.  "He's hardly got too much time on his hands.  This was carefully and thoughtfully planned.  He's a sneaky, snake in the grass who'll pay a heavy price for his actions," said Didier; "Justice will be served if I have to strangle him with a yard sign!"

Panicked residents have been flooding City Hall and the building inspector's department with calls to find out if this has occurred in their neighborhood.  

Conservative talk radio host Jeff Wagner praised Mayor Estness for her cool and measured handling of the crisis that has begun to paralyze city government.  "Wauwatosa's loss as Estness steps-down as mayor will be immeasurable" said Wagner.

The details are as follows:

My nest boxes. 

Subsidized housing for growing songbird families.

Made you look.

Springtime is practically around the corner and the basement workshop is usually home to a winter project.  This winter it is rebuilding and replacing nest boxes.  If you are looking for a project to do with the kids, a scout troop or by yourself this is really therapeutic and especially rewarding.

My wife and I have about five dozen (give or take) of these scattered about the tree farm.  Technically they are bluebird boxes but tree swallows and other cavity nesting birds and critters make their homes in them. 

Sometimes I'll find some little brown bats have set-up housekeeping.

Anyway, every couple of years the inventory of nest boxes has to be replenished as some eventually succumb to the elements. 

When building next boxes I've found a template is best.

The template allows for mass production of the component pieces - just like any manufactured housing.

Parts are interchangeable so repairs to older boxes are facilitated.  The two below are getting a new bottom and back.

The design is simple and the parts cheap.  

3/4" pine stock, cut to six standardized pieces, fastened together with 1 1/4" # 7 treated deck screws installed thru pilot holes.  A hinged roof makes taking pictures and cleaning a snap.  A hook and eye keep the lid closed. 

Stick a bit of dowel below a 35mm entrance cut with a hole saw.

This is not cabinet-making - the birds really don't care.  However, if you are anal about the fit and finish trim any errant edges so everything is tidy.

Two coats of cedar-tone exterior penetrating oil finish and you're set.

The cost of materials is about $6 per nest box.  This doesn't include labor, capitol investment in power tools, mounting post or beer consumed by the builder.  They're cheaper when you build them by the dozen and they make terrific gifts.

There you have it; affordable housing that is for the birds.

You can find the basic plans here Nest Box Plans.pdf .  My boxes are modified to include a slightly larger hinged roof and the hook and eye closure.  The floor is sized larger to fit on the bottom and not inside the walls.  The larger roof dissuades raccoons.  If the raccoons persist - shoot them.  (Caution - in the city that will certainly will get you arrested).

Mount your box on a post of your choice - you can use a green metal fence post found in any hardware store or a length of re-bar.

Clean the old nests from each box at least annually to prevent the spread of disease between broods.  Your dog will be absolutely ecstatic about rolling in the nesting material when it's tossed-out.  Girlfriend especially likes it if I evict a box full of white-footed deer mice.

A well-constructed nest box that is treated with sealant every 3 years or so will yield years of enjoyment.  The box above has a March 2001 date inside the lid.  The box in the second picture (above) with the deer in the background is eleven years old - and nearing the end of its useful life.

Enjoy!

Tom

This past Saturday hundreds of woodland owners from southeast Wisconsin gathered at the Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center for what we figure might have been our 30th or so winter conference.  Inasmuch as it's the second largest woodland owner gathering in the state you'd think they'd keep better track of how many times they've done this.

As a participant in the conference's organizing committee I was there to make sure everything went-off without a hitch.

In the ballroom to the north of us was a smaller gathering; a group calling themselves Americans for Prosperity - Defending the American Dream.  You can learn more about them here.  They appear to be big believers of free markets.

Anyway, the tree people had some issues with the prosperity people.  Seems they kept helping themselves to our breakfast as they wandered about the conference center.  Some wag even suggested that was likely how they got to be so prosperous.  I figured it to be a simple misunderstanding.  They probably have tree nurseries, John Deere implement dealers and portable logging winches on display all the time when they put food out at their meetings.  

The confusion was cleared-up with a simple announcement.

I bumped into some personal friends attending the American Dream meeting - and a handful of Republican politicians I am acquainted with.  I had a nice chat with former State Senator Tom Reynolds who told me about his new PAC.  I introduced myself to a conservative blogger from Boots and Sabers. 

What struck me about the two groups was the dichotomy in attire. 

Dark, conservative business suits contrasted by Carhartt dungarees, denim shirts and cammo ball caps.  Talk about two different worlds.

Today I read a comment posted over at Boots and Sabers about an exhibitor at the woodland owners meeting - the Wisconsin Farmer's Union.  The comment was obliquely non-complimentary - as if the farmers were somehow subversive.

As a conference organizer I can tell you that our exhibitors pay to be there.  They don't attend unless they have something they think woodland owners are interested in.  The Farmer's Union was there to pitch, among other things, a program they sponsor which allows tree farmers who engage in specific afforestation and reforestation practices to sell carbon credits through their aggregator program.

Trees are incredible carbon sequesters.  Imagine getting paid to engage in these practices. 

What a novel idea - a new market to trade in. 

However, gazing toward the north ballroom I somehow figured this idea would not settle very well with the prosperity people.

The conservative right hasn't been very receptive to embracing the notion of trading carbon credits.

Uh-oh.  Another dichotomy.  Free economics is good as long as it doesn't involve trading carbon credits. 

I got to thinking.

What a novel idea - a new market to trade in.

The markets have evolved ever since.  They don't just trade stocks.  That is the beauty of a free market.

Decades from now there will be trading in things we haven't dreamed possible.

As for the concept of trading carbon credits - if it is such a bad idea why is it that Wall Street and private equity firms are all over it?

Let the markets decide the success or failure of this idea.

Isn't that what free markets are all about?

Capitalism - living the American Dream.

Tom

Wait a 'sec - almost forgot!

I saw someone else from the prosperity meeting.

The double-take when she saw me was priceless!

I think it was the identical twin sister of one of the Tosa mayoral candidates.

The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters held their annual Conservation Lobby Day in Madison on Wednesday.

As an avid hunter, fisherman and conservationist this stuff is important so I took the day-off to become a citizen lobbyist.

No tassel-toed loafers or martini-infused parties.  No pay or pay-off.  

I met-up with a bunch of folks that were from the 5th Senate District and both the 13th and neighboring Assembly Districts.

This included many Tosans I've come to know over the years.  One new friend was a recently retired conservation warden.  We compared notes on Dakota pheasant hunting. 

I ran into friends from other parts of the state that were there representing various hunting, fishing and woodland organizations.  

What we have in common is we hunt, fish and vote.  It is refreshing to see so many people who care so much about Wisconsin's resources take a day out of their lives to drive-home that point.. 

The crowd included a mix of suits, business casual, cammo, boots and jeans.

I was looking forward to meeting with Senator Jim Sullivan and Representative David Cullen and the opportunity to share my views. 

The League had previously scheduled time for our group to meet with them.  Very cool.

A similar foray a couple of years ago was disappointing. 

My attempt to hold a conversation with the previous State Senator could be described as...er, let's just say it was akin to trying to carry-on a conversation with a stump - but I digress.

This year's attendance was lighter as the previous night's blizzard cut into the travel of attendees from the further reaches of the state.

There was the usual welcome and preliminaries.

The Lieutenant Governor, Barbara Lawton, stopped by to visit.

She claimed she knows how to pee in the woods just like the rest of us.

Discussion and strategy followed.

I was chosen to speak to legislators about the Hunter, Trapper, Angler Bill of Rights.

Over the past number of years management of Wisconsin's natural resources has become increasingly politicized.  A handful of examples include nonsense such as an attempt to allow the snowmobile lobby to dictate the Wisconsin deer season framework. The committee chair happened to be tight with their lobbyist.  Or legislators raiding the Stamp Fund accounts; plugging holes in the state budget by stealing segregated funds voluntarily paid by hunters and anglers for turkey, pheasant and great lakes fish.

That stinks.

So, I took the opportunity to lobby for the restoration of the appointment authority for the DNR Secretary to the Natural Resources Board (NRB)  - reconciliation of Senate Bill 15 and Assembly Bill 504 if it passes.

I asked for support of Senate Bill 422, requiring that the state Senate vote on NRB nominees within six months of their nomination.  Stop playing games with the nominees and allow them a straight up and down vote.

With a weakening economy, budget forecasts aren't very promising, so there's a good chance some legislator is going to be drooling with anticipation over the prospects of swiping funds for a pet project outdoors folks know nothing about.  I lobbied for the support of Assembly Joint Resolution 34 which would prohibit transfer of funds from sportsman's and sportswoman's stamp accounts.

On this matter - hunters and anglers had best be vigilant.

We had a satisfying visit with Senator Sullivan.

He knows his stuff and appeared supportive of issues we discussed.  (It is possible we ran over into the time alloted to the Beer Distributors - but that's OK - on he way out we assured them of our support for beer.)

Representative Cullen was absent and while he has a good voting record on these issues we were disappointed in having to meet with one of his aides.

The wrap-up included a wild game feed of bear, venison, raccoon, salmon and pheasant.

With my stomach growling I had to take a pass and get back to Tosa on other business.

I'll be following-up with Sullivan, Cullen and others on these and related issues.

Thanks to the more than 70 outdoor, wildlife and conservation groups that supported this event - especially the 15 organizations that sponsored the wild game feed. 

I'll be going back next year.

You might consider doing so yourself.

Tom

PS -

Contact your legislators and ask them to support adoption of the Great Lakes Compact.

If you wait until you hear the great sucking sound of our water going to the arid southwest it will be too late.

For Wisconsin it's an economic issue.

Fellow Community Voice - Family Guy (Peter Hart) has broached a topic rather near and dear to my heart. 

I would like to thank those Tosans that opened his eyes to see the light.

While the typical Christmas tree is grown and harvested for one single purpose - namely the celebration of Jesus' birth; I am inclined to believe that the second member of the Holy Trinity would actually have spoken highly-of and possibly blessed the practice of TSI - timber stand improvement.

Euphemistically known as clear cutting.

I'm not talking about clear cutting rain forests for the grazing of beef cattle to feed America's fast-food appetite.  I'm suggesting clear-cutting to mimic the impacts of nature (namely fire) that we have chosen to suppress, so that certain tree species have an opportunity to regenerate with human (in the absence of nature's) intervention.

In case any of you don't know this (or even care to know) my wife and I are tree farmers.

Yep, just like the farmer that grows corn, beans or hay.

We grow trees. 

Like most farmers we deal with blights, diseases, insects, critters, poor weather and other unlikely and unpredictable events. 

Unlike most farmers - the growing and harvest cycles for a tree farmer extend beyond one year to the next.  They last decades, lifetimes and beyond. 

Think: patient farmer.

We do not grow Christmas trees or nursery stock. 

All of our trees are destined for the mill - either as pulp or saw boards.

A couple of months ago my wife and I attended the National Tree Farm Convention - hosted in Madison, Wisconsin.  Almost 700 individuals from 38 states made a point of attending some or all of the event. It was the largest gathering yet.

Forests and forestry are a big deal in Wisconsin. 

To get your arms around how big consider the following:

It is estimated that the forest industry in Wisconsin contributes more than $30 billion annually to the state's economy and supports over 100,000 jobs in the forest products and processing industries with more than $3.5 billion in payroll.  Additionally, more than 125,000 jobs are indirectly supported in other sectors of the state's economy.

In 28 counties (out of 72 total) the forest industry is the largest employer.  In 14 additional counties the forest products industry is among the top three employers.

Forests are the backbone of more that 1900 companies. Capital investment in the forest industry exceeds $811 million annually - second in the nation - and one-fifth of all investment in Wisconsin manufacturing.

Wisconsin is the number one paper making state in the nation and has been for more than 50 years.  Wisconsin produces more than 5.3 million tons of paper and over 1.1 million tons of paperboard annually.

The combined value of paper, lumber and wood products shipped from Wisconsin in a single year is around $17 billion.

Forest-based recreation adds an additional $5.5 billion annually to the Wisconsin economy.

Most kids today don't have a clue about the role that trees play in their lives.

I think that stinks.

The planned State Forestry Education Center that is going to be built in Tosa on the County Grounds may begin to turn that around.

About that Christmas tree? 

Do yourself, the Wisconsin economy, and the world a favor and guiltlessly purchase a real tree - a genuine renewable resource.

Jesus loves you for doing so.

Up at 4:30 AM.  We scarf coffee, oatmeal and donuts.  We head-out in the dark to settle into our stands long before sunrise.

It's balmy 32 degrees, winds from the north and snow flurries.

View from my tree stand.  The tamaracks are just beginning lose their brilliant golden needles.

Bingo.  Braumeister bags a nice buck at 7 AM.

Back out to the field following a very late breakfast of Lancaster, Pennsylvania scrapple and farm-raised eggs (you know, the brown eggs).

I start my half-mile hike.  So I'm walking north on a trail thru the farm take a right turn and find myself face-to-face with a buck deer.  Well, not quite - but at least 50 yards - right smack in the middle of the trail.  I'm not sure who was more surprised.  I struggle with a pack on my right shoulder, chambering a round and bringing the rifle to bear on a deer now beginning to bolt.

Missed shot. 

Pathetic marksmanship.

I just missed (what could have been) my third deer for the year.

I am not amused. I am p****d.

A quiet and cold and windy afternoon follows. 

Lawyer saves the day with about 30 minutes left to shooting time. 

One shot.

A second shot.

Then a third shot.

Three baldies down.

Prompt field-dressing is the start of proper processing

The lawyer at work

Android, Lawyer and the Wench back from the registration station.  How do you like those

blaze-orange smurf hats?

Android, me and the Wench. 

These are the Official Camp Wear t-shirts.

More tomorrow.  I have to get back to a nasty sheepshead game.

Shoot straight and hunt safe.

Tom