When deer hunters reported both hearing and seeing wild turkeys in southeast Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains, Bobby Maddrey, a National Wild Turkey Federation biologist, took it as a good sign that the Gould's wild turkeys transferred there would endure.

 The NWTF, in a partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) and the Republic of Mexico, trapped, transferred and released 39 Gould's subspecies of wild turkey from Mexico to southeast Arizona in April 2003, as part of the Go for the Gould's project. On 14 of the birds, they attached radio transmitters to track their movements. Seven transmitters are still sending a signal.

 "Breeding activity has been observed, and several broods of wild turkeys have been seen in the area," Maddrey said. "This shows that the Gould's wild turkey should be able to survive and flourish in the dry habitat of southern Arizona."

 According to Maddrey, a 50 percent survival rate is an excellent sign that the trap and transfer of Mexican birds to the United States will successfully repopulate the Gould's turkey to some of its former habitat.

 Gilbert Gonzales, an AGFD game warden for the Chiricahua Mountains, has reported seeing multiple gobblers and hens, including a hen with a poult, chasing grasshoppers in a meadow.

 "The turkeys seem to be doing very well in the mountain canyons of the Chiricahuas," Gonzales said. "I have seen turkeys in a lot of different areas throughout my unit."

 The partnership among the two governments and the NWTF will continue in 2004 with additional transfers of Gould's wild turkeys from Mexico to Arizona.

 NWTF trap and transfer teams plan to capture 70 birds in the Sierra Madrea Mountains with help from Wingshooter's Lodge and a Mexican conservation organization, the Organizacion Vida Silvestre A.C. Afterward, biologists will quarantine the birds to ensure they are disease free and then transfer them to Arizona to be released into their new home.

 For information about the NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit their web site at WWW.NWTF.ORG.

 Nothing ruins the occasional fishing trip more than driving a long distance to your favorite spot, only to find out it's been raining for the last few weeks and the water is the color of chocolate milk! Many years ago, I was like most weekend anglers, and would immediately try to find another lake or river that might be a little more clear, or just turn around and go home. But I found over the last 20 years, that it isn't necessary to give up so quickly on muddy water.

 There are many times when a creek arm, or a certain portion of the lake or river isn't as muddy, or there is a transition zone where it goes from muddy to stained, which can be a good area, but, even if there is no clearer water, there are many things you can do. Most gamefish react the same way to muddy water, they go shallow and they move closer to structure. This could mean a lot of different types of structure, such as brushpiles, laydowns, rocks, stump fields, pads on shallow flats, anything! When the bass are holding tight to cover, because of low visibility, the lure presentations sometimes need to be precise, such as when flipping a log or tree roots with a jig. Below are the 6 basic choices you should have rigged for fishing muddy waters.

Plastic Worms:

 I know this sounds like a strange choice, but a lot of times when bass are holding real tight to cover, a larger, bulkier worm, with some rattle inserted, possibly with a paddle tail, worked real close in the cover, can work well. I use a black or a black/red combination in muddy water. I also use the new Big 7 inch Senko that is out now, and drop it right into heavier cover. I have been using the new Cut-Tail worm for this also.

Vibrating Rattlers:

 These baits such as the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap, Cotton Cordell Diamond Shad, or the Rattlin' Rapalas, are excellent choices for probing different depths of muddy water, and where muddy changes to stained. The noise and vibrations of these baits, along with a realistic shad shape, make these great baits for stained to muddy water.

Crankbaits:

 I use a lot of the real fat bodied crankbaits in muddy water. I choose different baits with a wide wobble, and sometimes rattles. I usually stay with darker colors like red and copper in muddy water. These colors with a wide wobble, are easier for bass to find.

Spinnerbaits:

 The bass will be using their lateral line more in the muddy water, so a spinnerbait with a heavy pulse such as a Terminator night bait, with a black skirt, and Colorado blade, is a perfect choice. You could even add rattles to this bait, which I have had success with in the muddy rivers and lakes in the Northeast. I always use a single Colorado blade on the spinner baits in muddy water, but in stained, or warmer stained water, I do go to an Oklahoma Blade sometimes with good results.ZAP Custom Baits has 2 spinnerbaits that we have been using for these situations, that work real well.

Topwaters:

 These are my favorite baits to use in muddy water. There are so many baits that shallow, muddy water bass will hit! The buzzbait worked slowly around cover will draw tremendous strikes.We use a ZAP clacker type buzzbait for this. The walking type baits, such as a Zara Spook, and Fenwick walking baits, Jitterbugs, Crazy Crawlers, and a variety of other topwaters, including poppers with rattles, are excellent and exciting choices for muddy water bass. The bass will all be in water that is 1-4 feet deep, eliminating a lot of the water, making them easier to catch!

Jigs:

 Jigs in Brown/Black or Blue/Black with a Zoom or Uncle Josh trailer, with some rattles, are an excellent choice to flip into laydowns, and shallow stump fields, and of course on docks. Terminator makes a new jig for these situations that we really like. Make repeated casts to give them a good look and provoke them.

 If you stick with these baits and methods the next time you run into muddy water, you will never be afraid to see it again. It will become a friend, as it has become to me.

  Visit Steve vonBrandt on his web site, S&K Trophy Bass Site at http://skguides.proboards20.com. Tell him you read his article in the Backwoods Bound Bullet.

 Buster's Drunk Chicken Roost provides an excellent way to cook deliciously moist, savory chicken even in the oven! Our family loves drunk chicken, but it's always been a special treat we reserved for campouts. As a working mother of four, drunk chicken was not a recipe I'd consider using around the house.

 However, I tried Buster's Drunk Chicken Roost to cook chicken in the oven. Preparation wasn't any longer than if I were going to use a roaster, and it took up much less room than a roaster. I only cooked two chickens, but I could have cooked four in the same amount of space and frozen two for another meal. I particularly liked that there was enough room in the oven to also slide in a pan of potatoes to bake.

 The design of Buster's Drunk Chicken Roost provided solid support for the chickens, they never slipped an inch. The design ensures they will not topple either. I particularly enjoyed serving the chickens right on the Roost. I set the Roost on a serving platter and placed right on the table. Each chicken represented a different recipe, so my family chose the type they wanted and I carved their serving off right then. It added a special touch to the meal!

 Cleaning was also easier than I expected. I followed Buster's cleaning recommendations and soaked it overnight in soapy water. The next morning it wiped clean with minimal scrubbing. The food grade stainless steel still shines like new!

 Buster's Drunk Chicken Roost is great for big families or for entertaining. It cooks a large amount of food in a minimal amount of space and makes a great presentation on the table! This product has quickly become one of my favorite cooking tools! Whether grilling outdoors over an open fire or cooking in the oven, you will be pleased with the tasty results. Maggie Burns

 Visit Buster on his web site at WWW.DRUNKCHICKEN.COM for more information on how to get your own Buster's Drunk Chicken Roost.

 The so-called Florida panther, which lives in the United States, is actually a cougar (Felis concolor). Cougars are also known as pumas, mountain lions, catamounts, and painters.