Out & About

OUTFIELD

Harbingers of spring

Reader Tina Wynecoop reports spotting a red-winged blackbird on Feb. 6 in Colbert followed by pussy willows bursting their buds on Feb. 10.

Can buttercups be far behind?

OUTFLOAT

What sinks sailors?

Half of reported sailboat sinkings occur at the dock, according to a study of 100 cases from the BoatU.S. Insurance claims files.

A sailboat’s deep draft is the most common culprit in sinkings that occur while under way. Most cases reported striking a submerged object, followed by prop shaft issues. Sailboats have more problems than motor boats with prop shaft corrosion because auxiliary sailboat engines are not run as often.

But just as many sailboats sink at dockside, largely from neglect to fittings such as intakes, seacocks and drains below the waterline.

Beware, however, that through-hull fittings or hoses that appear to be “safely” above the water level can leak when heeled over or when snow or ice forces the boat under.

OUTLAST

Elk futures up

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation purchased the historic D.J. and Frances Maclay Ranch in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley nearly a year ago to prevent the sale of a key wildlife area to developers.

Last week, the foundation announced it’s found a conservation-minded Minnesotan to buy the 3,082-acre ranch.

OUTRAGE

Drilling the ducks

The oil industry is planning development that could nip a lot of waterfowl hunting in the bud.

Ducks Unlimited, the International Wild Waterfowl Association and groups from 13 states are asking Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to curtail plans for oil leasing in the wetlands around Alaska’sTeshekpuk Lake, a nursery for waterfowl that fledge and spread throughout North America.

Birds banded at Teshekpuk have shown up along the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, the Pacific Coast, plains states, Eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana, plus Siberia and the Gulf of Mexico.

Info: www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org.

OUTLOOK

Best fishing times

Lunar tables from the U.S. Naval Observatory. Be fishing at least one hour before and one hour after peak times. Applies to all time zones.

(* indicates best days.)

Through Feb. 24

Today: 9:50 p.m., 10:15 a.m.

Monday: 10:45 p.m., 11:10 a.m.

Tuesday: 11:35 p.m. —

Wednesday: — 12 a.m.

Thursday: 12:25 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

Friday: 1:10 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: 1:50 a.m., 2:10 p.m.

Next Sunday: 2:35 a.m., 2:55 p.m.

See the Hunting-Fishing Report

every Friday in Sports