I don't know about you, but maybe it's time for seminar speakers at various deer and turkey expos to stop blowing grunt calls and shaking rattling bags.

Enough already. How about some information on wildlife habitat or the psychology of those who hunt, fish or recreate in other ways?

Enter Art Helin, a 38-year-old hunter and outdoors product representative from Dodgeville, who has found a way to hold animals near his 40-acre parcel in Iowa County.

His wife, Michelle, and their 15-year-old daughter, Alana, have enjoyed hunting successes on the property. Their younger daughter, Elizabeth, 11, often accompanies her parents into the woods, too.

Most animals, certainly deer and turkeys, need food, shelter and water to survive. If they don't find these necessities where they are, they establish a different home range.

"Of all these things, water seems to be the most important because deer can usually find food nearby, but water may be missing," Helin said.

Helin isn't talking about having lakes and rivers, or even streams and large springs on a parcel. In fact, the absence of these large water sources is what makes intriguing his seminar on miniature ponds at the Wisconsin Deer and Turkey Expo April 4 to April 6 at the Alliant Center.

"Most of the ponds I've built are 12 feet by 12 feet and about 3 feet deep," said Helin, who will be the center of attention four times next weekend. "They fill by runoff, not by springs. Most can be constructed for about $500, including a bentonite clay lining."

It's a plus for animals that a landowner can choose where to construct the miniature ponds, Helin said. He noted that deer and other animals can, in some cases, enjoy an enhanced sense of security depending on the location.

"With the right construction, these ponds shouldn't require any maintenance for five years," he said.

* Helin is part of a cadre of 16 speakers who plan to dole out as much insight on deer and turkey hunting as they can to an expected audience of more than 25,000 to the annual Madison expo.

"Our seminars continue to be hugely popular at the Expo," Helgeland said. "The seminars continue to be one of the top three reasons people come to the Expo. I try to line up a number of local speakers, like Art, because it makes people comfortable knowing these speakers have walked a mile in the same habitat where I might be hunting.

"Why overlook a local person and only bring some big name person from a long ways away? I do some of both."

Helin has been giving seminars for 12 years, including the past three years at the deer and Turkey Expo.

Last year he talked about turkeys; in 2006 it was deer.

This year, as mentioned above, is different.

"A lot of guys are getting burned out on turkey and deer seminars," Helin said. "There are just so many ways to call a turkey. This seminar hits more at habitat for the wildlife."

* Husband and wife Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo also will present a hunting seminar with a little bit of a different angle.

The Lanark, Ill., hunters are currently producing two popular TV shows — Archers Choice and Choice. They've seen plenty of personality clashes in their time in the field and they are calling for hunters to show some civility.

The Cianciarulos will discuss the importance of getting along in their seminar, "Lifetime Family Recreation, Hunting and the Outdoors."

"There is so much inner fighting among hunters about hunting styles," Ralph Cianciarulo said. "Why can't we all just get along?

"We argue about baiting, types of archery equipment, whether it should be crossbow, longbow and a lot of other things.

"We never let our listeners forget our message," he added. "We don't care what you hunt with. If it's legal, shut up and don't fight among ourselves about what should or shouldn't be used."
 
WHAT: The 24th Wisconsin Deer and Turkey Expo.

WHEN: April 4 to April 6.

WHERE: Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way in Madison.

HIGHLIGHTS: More than 550 booths of exhibitors and more than 50 seminar sessions.

DEER, BEAR CONTESTS: Trophies can be entered from noon on Friday to 10 a.m. on Sunday. Entry fee, which includes a weekend pass, is $15. Firearms and archery divisions with typical and non-typical deer antler sections. Includes firearms and archery divisions in the bear contest. Measuring will be done by the Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club with the Boone & Crockett/Pope & Young scoring systems.   

TRAIL CAMERA PHOTO CONTEST: Photos of any species of animal spotted along the trail when no human is present. For details, go to www.deerinfo.com.

THE BUZZ: "Since there's snow on the ground, cabin fever is rampant, so I expect a great show," said expo producer Glenn Helgeland of Target Communications in DePere. "Wisconsin hunters had a great year last year so I'm expecting to see some good deer antlers in the trophy contest."

HOURS: Friday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

TICKETS: Adult one-day pass is $10; adult two-day pass is $17; youth pass (ages 6 to 11) is $3; and ages 5 and under admitted free. First-year hunters with a hunter education certificate (Jan. 1, 2007 to April 3, 2008) are admitted free. Hunter education grads (ages 12 to 18) admitted for $7. Parking is $5.

INFORMATION: Go to www.deerinfo.com.

John Nolan contributed to this report.