Outdoors

Bob Cwalina of Towson asks: Why is it that fishing enthusiasts have not been allowed to park on the many available spots along the eastern side of Dulaney Valley Road at Loch Raven Reservoir? The only place you can park and hike back to the water is one spot just below the Dulaney Valley bridge. But, now all the "No Parking" signs have been removed strictly for the convenience of deer hunters. If the previous denial of parking was for auto safety, then, obviously, there are now no such concerns.

Outdoors Girl grew up believing that sweet potatoes were glorified pig food and bear meat was an unchewable lump of greasy protein. Folks with a contrary point of view always said the dislike was directly tied to not having those foods prepared the right way. After much experimentation, she still thinks sweet potatoes are pig food, but the outdoors writer at the Cumberland Times-News turned her around on bear. Mike Sawyers counsels: For bear stew, all I do is use a packet of McCormick Beef Stew Mix, perfect for a Maryland bear since McCormick is a Maryland company.

Bill Huppert of Baltimore County (and several other readers) asked: Several unmarked illegal nets were removed from the Susquehanna River not too long ago. What happened to the nets? Were they destroyed or sold? I hope they were destroyed because that is the only way to prevent them from being used again. Stealing natural resources must be treated as a major infraction of the law. Outdoors Girl turned to Eric Schwaab , deputy secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, who began his career at the agency as a Natural Resources Police officer.

Bruce Miller of Dundalk writes: Nice column about Natural Resources Police (Dec. 6: "Effort to boost state's Natural Resources Police"). I appreciate what these people do and enjoy reading about them. However, in your column you wrote: "Groups will be working on a bill to spell out the issues and potential solutions to set the stage for more sweeping assistance. ... " What groups? What issues? What solutions? You whetted my appetite for more information. Outdoors Girl replies: Thanks, Bruce, for giving me the opening to use all the stuff I couldn't cram into last Sunday's column.

Joe McHugh was one of several readers who asked: The picture in The Baltimore Sun on Dec. 13 showed a huge 25-point, nontypical buck that was still in velvet. I had never seen a deer still in velvet this late in the season. Is this common? Is there any explanation? (Please don't say global warming and/or El Nino.) More information on this phenomenon would be truly appreciated. Outdoors Girl replies: My mantra is: "Everyone should have a personal biologist." I am lucky to have lots of them.

Jack Mercer of Laurel asks: As a recent transplant to Maryland via a military transfer, I'd like some information about waterfowling opportunities. I understand Maryland has some of the best goose and duck hunting around, and I'd like to get my feet wet, literally and figuratively. What would you suggest? Outdoors Girl replies: If you love waterfowl hunting, you've come to the right place. The Maryland Waterfowler's Association (mdwfa.org) is a growing organization that takes its hunting and advocacy roles seriously.

A lot of folks complain, rightfully so, that when it comes to covering news or taking the pulse of the nation, members of the media think of states between the two coasts as no man's land. Well, when it comes to the outdoors, the hook-and-bullet press treats the Northeast Corridor and the Left Coast like dead zones. How else to explain Outdoor Life magazine's third annual, "America's Top 20 Towns for Sportsmen." Someone had a thumb on the scale. Not a single community on either coast made the Top 20. The first acknowledgement that the country has more than just a middle comes at No. 37, where our own Easton makes an appearance.

Tim Wist of Baltimore County writes: I cannot figure out why there is still a ban on Sunday hunting in just four of Maryland's 23 counties. With 19 counties now having two to five Sunday hunting days on private property, why not all counties? We are talking about private property. If a landowner wants to permit Sunday hunting, then it should be allowed all season. I hunt in Baltimore County and am limited to Saturdays. Can you possibly get an answer from the Department of Natural Resources?

David Bennett writes: Can you recommend a course - either free or paid - that teaches how to string up a reel, choose a rod, the correct line, etc.? I have seen courses offered at the Bass Pro Shops but nothing as basic as how to perform these tasks. In fact, most have to do with fly fishing. Outdoors Girl replies: Basic tutorials for adults are hard to come by. The Baltimore Sun lists plenty of fishing derby opportunities for kids and lots of tournaments for adults each week, but the sport isn't going to grow unless someone steps up to the plate and provides the basics.

Christine Willingham of Washington writes: So we finally have winter in spades. What are we supposed to do with it? Do people here know how to do winter or does everyone just sit inside and whimper until April 1? Outdoors Girl replies: This is your lucky month, Christine. Believe it or not, it's "Learn a Snow Sport Month," as proclaimed by whoever it is that makes up holidays and forces us to buy greeting cards. Governors across this great, frozen land of ours have jumped aboard the Hallmark train with proclamations urging us to pry ourselves away from the flat screens and take a walk or ski or snowshoe.