NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/853309
16 NEBRASKAland • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017 Kevin J. Murray Memorial Fishing Tourney By Brandi Petersen This summer, hundreds of fishermen will gather to cast their lines and pay tribute to a friend and respected Nebraskan, Kevin Murray. The Wayne native rose from humble beginnings to the top of his field as a Kiewit general superintendent, overseeing one of Omaha's most iconic buildings, the First National Bank Tower. Throughout his life he displayed incomparable talent, determination and work ethic, and shared those traits with his three daughters through the simple pleasures he loved: hunting, camping and family. In October of 2004, Kevin drowned after being tossed from his boat while fishing at Lewis and Clark Lake. In the devastating weeks and months that followed, the Murray family channeled their pain into a fishing tournament to honor Kevin. The event, now in its 13th year, has raised $104,000 dollars for scholarships for Wayne High School students, as well as playground and weight room equipment, welders for the tech department, field repairs and more. "I think Kevin would be very proud of the event," said Sherry Murray, Kevin's wife. "He would love sitting around telling fish stories with all the guys after a day of fishing. Together, we leave a mark in history, to the place where it all started for us, Wayne High School in Wayne, America. This has helped to heal the hole left in my heart with Kevin's absence. It is my way of paying him back for the wonderful life he gave me and our children." The 13th Annual Kevin J. Murray Memorial Fishing Tournament will take place Aug. 26, 2017, at Lewis and Clark Lake near Crofton, Nebraska. Cash prizes are awarded for biggest catches, along with a raffle and buffet dinner. For more information and to register, visit kevinjmurraymemorial.com. ■ The 13th Annual Kevin J. Murray Memorial Fishing Tournament will take place Aug. 26, 2017, at Lewis and Clark Lake near Crofton. By Jarrod Spilger While dove hunting is relatively easy early on, by mid- September pressured birds can become more difficult to hunt. Dove calls, used in conjunction with decoys, can help lure wary doves in closer to your set-up. Here's how to use them. Several major call manufacturers, such as Faulk's, Primos and Haydel's, offer dove calls. Air is blown through a mouthpiece, while a hole located somewhere on the call's barrel regulates tone. A typical mourning dove vocalization consists of a six note sequence: who-we-who, woo, woo, woo. To operate the call, cover the tonal hole with a finger for the first, lower note of the sequence, then lift the finger to uncover the hole for the second, higher "we" note. Cover the hole again for the final four notes of the series. The first three "who-we-who" notes are made very close together, while the final three "woo" notes are drawn out with a breath in between each. Deploy decoys to grab the attention of passing doves, then use calling to bring them within shotgun range, much like a duck hunter employs calls to finish ducks. Use a mellow call, like Faulk's or Haydel's, on calm days, and a higher pitched call, like the Primos, on windy days. Visit primos.com, haydels.com or faulkcalls.com for more details about each of these calls. Calling doves doesn't work all the time, but it works often enough to make hanging a dove call around your neck worthwhile. Keep this handy tool ready, because it may just help you fill a late-season limit. ■ Dove Calls PHOTO BY JARROD SPILGER