The Original HuntingLife.com Blog

HuntingLife Site

2011-04-05T16:12:00.001-05:00

Our site can and always will be fully functioning at:
http://www.huntinglife.com

Plan Now for Berry Picking Family Fun in Warm Weather by J. Wayne Fears

2010-12-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

12/29/2010 - With snow on the ground and winter winds blowing, few families are thinking about picking wild blackberries, dewberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries - all high in antioxidants - or any other wild fruit. However, if you wait until you start seeing the berries or fruit, you won't be able to pick as many big berries and fruit in the spring and summer as easily as you will, if you plan now.

Youngsters enjoy the adventure of picking berries and wild plums, but they don't like to wade through thorns, weeds and bushes, where many types of wild berries, particularly blackberries and dewberries, grow. If you know where there's a patch of wild blackberries, dewberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries (the wild strawberry, Fragaria Virginiana, has a delicious flavor) or plums, go there now in the winter with your Woodman's Pal Long Reach and your Pro Tool Utility Pole Saw and/or Pro Tool Lopping Shears, and cut paths through these areas. Then in the warm weather when these regions produce berries and/or plums, you and your children can navigate through these places, picking berries or plums without nearly as many thorns to stick you or grab your clothes and take twice as much fruit quickly.

Once you have paths cut-through the berry patches or plum thickets, just before green-up in the early spring, take 10-10-10 fertilizer, and scatter it throughout the berry patches and plum thickets. By putting-out fertilizer then, the spring rains will carry that fertilizer down to the roots of the wild fruit bushes and trees and help those plants produce more and bigger fruit than they will have if you haven't cut paths and fertilized them.

Picking wild berries is a fun family outing in which all ages can participate. Nothing's more delicious or enjoyable for the whole family than making berry pie and berry and wild plum jelly. Visit www.protoolindustries.net to learn more about made-in-the-USA, top-quality hand tools with lifetime warranties from Pro Tool Industries to cut paths and to get more recipes for preparing wild berries and fruit.

Here's one of our family's favorite recipes.
Fresh Berry Pie
You can make this pie with any kind of fresh berries, including wild or commercial blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries or dewberries or commercial loganberries or boysenberries.

Filling for 9-inch pie:
1- to 1-1/2-cups sugar
1/3-cup flour
1/2-teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups fresh berries
1-1/2-tablespoons butter

Filling for 8-inch pie:
2/3- to 1-cup sugar
1/4-cup flour
1/2-teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups fresh berries
1 tablespoon butter

Preparation:
Heat oven to 425 degrees. After gently cleaning and washing the berries, mix sugar, flour and cinnamon. Then mix that combination of ingredients lightly through berries. Pour into pastry-lined pie pan. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust with slits with a 1-1/2-inch strip of aluminum foil around the top of the crust to prevent excessive browning. Bake 35-45 minutes, or until the crust is nicely browned, and the juice bubbles through slits in crust. Serve slightly warm, not hot.

2009-01-10T01:03:00.001-05:00

Pebble Mine Update

The battle for Bristol Bay and the protection of that amazing ecosystem continues on and we are going to continue to do everything we can to get the message out to as many folks as we can.

Our partnership with The Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska continues with our Moose Promotion and I would like to encourage each and everyone of you to log on and make a donation of $50.00 so that you can have an opportunity to win one of the best packages I have seen put together. The package includes a Kimber Rifle, A Leupold scope, A set of Sitka Gear and 10 day moose hunt in Alaska. All of this for a donation of $50.00 to protect one of the greatest ecosystems in America.

Sportsman's Alliance of Alaska Moose Promotion
Stop Pebble Mine

State Conservation and Fish and Game Organizations

2008-07-31T10:45:00.001-05:00

ALABAMA

ALASKA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

DELAWARE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices in the District of Columbia

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices in Georgia

HAWAII

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

IOWA

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices in Iowa

KANSAS

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANA

MAINE

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices in Maine

MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

MINNESOTA

MISSISSIPPI

MISSOURI

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices in Missouri

MONTANA

NEBRASKA

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

NEW MEXICO

NEW YORK

NORTH DAKOTA

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices in South Carolina

SOUTH DAKOTA

TENNESSEE

TEXAS

UTAH

VERMONT

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

Save Bristol Bay Win a Moose Hunt

2008-07-31T10:42:00.000-05:00

Bristol Bay is in trouble and the war for Alaska's Natural Resources is raging on daily in the newspapers and coffee shops of Alaska. The choice is between an open pit mine for copper and gold and the protection of Bristol Bay, Natural Salmon Runs, Trout, Moose and the breeding ground for a Caribou herd.

For me the choice is easy and Bristol Bay must win out. Do we really really need more copper and gold?

Here is an article that talks all about this issue in far more detail then I can and really talks about the issue at hand. There is article after article in almost every outdoor magazine in the country.

Dallas Safari Club Game Trails Bristol Bay Article

Over the next several weeks we will be grabbing these articles and I encourage you all to do your own research.

Here are a couple of links to get you started:

http://www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/BristolBayHunt_details.html

http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/pebble_mine.htm

http://www.stoppebblemine.com/

The website of those that want the mine to succeed is here....

http://www.pebblepartnership.com/

There are thousands of people who are working on this and some really great partners across the world.

www.polartec.com

www.leupold.com

www.kimberamerica.com

www.sitkagear.com

Alaska Wilderness Trips, Inc.

www.wild-alaska.com

And there are many many more..

How can you help you ask?

Log on and buy a raffle ticket.. $50.00 is all we ask for a full donation. I know that times are tough and gas prices are high and every nickel in our lives is important but all I am asking is go to one less night out this month and make a donation to this wonderful promotion and you might even be a lucky winner and get to head out to the Bristol Bay area and go on a Moose hunt.

The sooner the better as there are only 500 tickets total.

http://www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/BristolBayHunt_details.html

HuntingLife.com and Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska Team up for Conservation

2008-07-10T22:16:00.002-05:00

Press Release:

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2008

Kevin Paulson (202)744-5806
Kevin@HuntingLife.com
Scott Hed (605) 336-6738
Scott@SportsmansAlliance4AK.org

HuntingLife.com and Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska Team up for Conservation
Effort Launched to Raise Awareness of the Growing Threat in Alaska’s Bristol Bay Region

Today marks the launch of a special campaign aimed at raising awareness among America’s hunters about a very serious threat facing one of the world’s most iconic sporting destinations: Alaska’s famed Bristol Bay region. While the world of sportfishing has been more aware of the plans to turn this area in southwest Alaska, which is home to the world’s most productive wild salmon fishery and tremendous angling and hunting opportunities, into a massive mining district, the time has come for hunters and the hunting community to further engage in this monumental conservation battle.

“HuntingLife.com has been committed to conservation from day one so it was a natural partnership to work with the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska to protect such amazing resources like Bristol Bay and the Tongass National Forest. Bristol Bay is one of those areas in America where sportsmen from all walks of life dream of hunting moose, caribou and bears or wetting a line pursuing the mighty salmon and trout. Partnering with the Sportman’s Alliance for Alaska on this wonderful project was a no-brainer for Team HuntingLife,” said HuntingLife.com founder Kevin C. Paulson.

For anyone not familiar with the debate raging in Bristol Bay, here is a brief primer. Bristol Bay is home to the largest runs of wild salmon left on the planet, with tens of millions of fish returning every year. The salmon form the cornerstone of an incredibly rich and complex ecosystem which also supports some of the finest trophy wild rainbow trout fishing found in the world, and additional angling opportunities for Dolly Varden, arctic char, lake trout, arctic grayling, and northern pike. Of course the salmon also feed the large population of brown and black bears found in the region. Hunters have traveled to the Bristol Bay area for decades to pursue not only bear, but also trophy moose and caribou from the famed Mulchatna herd in a wild and remote setting. This sporting mecca is located in southwest Alaska, approximately 250 miles from Anchorage, and is only accessible by plane or boat. In the midst of this rich fish and game habitat, a foreign partnership (one British company and one Canadian company) have plans to develop the largest open-pit copper/gold/molybdenum mine in North America. If approved, the Pebble Mine could include a massive open pit mine, an adjacent underground mine, 5 huge earthen dams (including two of the largest on the planet – one being 4.3 miles long and over 740 feet tall), and a tailings lake covering as much as 15 square miles to hold back the toxic byproducts of the mining process. Even more alarming, the Pebble Mine could become the centerpiece of what the mining industry has referred to as a world-class mining district. Over 1,000 square miles of state lands are already staked with mining claims in the region and the federal Bureau of Land Management has proposed lifting the mining restrictions on over 1 million acres of lands under its management in the Bristol Bay region. It’s not hard to imagine that such development in one of the world’s premier hunting and angling destinations would have an impact on fish and game and sportsperson’s opportunities to pursue them.

Scott Hed serves as the Director of the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska (SAA), whose goal is to engage sportspersons in the battle for Bristol Bay’s future. “The need is urgent right now to engage hunters in this fight. Hunters and anglers both have a lot at stake in the future of Bristol Bay. While Bristol Bay is most well-known as one of the top sportfishing destinations on the planet, it’s also a premier place for big game hunting. Hunters travel from across the globe to pursue trophy moose, caribou, and bear in this region,” said Hed. In the past year, the Dallas Safari Club, Wildlife Forever, and Izaak Walton League of America have expressed their opposition to the plans to turn Bristol Bay into an industrial mining zone.

Today the SAA is launching a new page on its website to help raise awareness among hunters about this critical issue. At www.SportsmansAlliance4AK.org/BristolBayHunt.html visitors will learn more about hunting in Bristol Bay, view an upcoming advertisement to be placed in Black’s Wing, Clay, and Waterfowl 2009 Guide, and be able to make a donation to the Bristol Bay conservation campaign. Perhaps most exciting is the drawing in which donors will be entered.

Hed added “Through the tremendous support and leadership of conservation-minded companies like HuntingLife.com, Kimber, Leupold, Sitka Gear and Polartec, I’m thrilled that hunters will now be able to learn more about the Bristol Bay region and how they can get involved in the fight to protect an iconic sporting destination. The participation of the Whitney family and Alaska Wilderness Trips, Inc. really put the icing on the cake as we were developing this promotion.”

For a suggested donation of $50, donors will be entered in a drawing for the following prize package:
• 10-day fully guided Alaska moose hunt for 1 hunter in 2009 with Alaska Wilderness Trips, Inc.
• Kimber Model 84M or 8400 Montana rifle in winner’s choice of caliber
• Leupold VX-II 3-9x40mm scope
• 90% Jacket, Ascent pant, and base layer system from Sitka Gear and Polartec
The retail value of the package is approximately $11,700.

“Putting together such an amazing package has been a blast, this is a hunt that any hunter would be more then excited to be a part of,” said HuntingLife.com’s Paulson. The hunt fundraiser will be limited to the first 500 qualifying donations and early responses from hunters aware of the upcoming opportunity to participate indicate that it will be very popular.

When asked why his company chose to support this project, Patrick Mundy, Leupold’s Marketing Communications Supervisor stated simply “As members of the hunting and shooting industry, we are in full support of protecting places like Bristol Bay to preserve hunting lands for future generations for several reasons. Not only is the natural environment critical to conserve, but without hunting lands to access, we lose hunters---which we can ill afford in this day and age.”

Jonathan Hart, Founder and co-owner of Sitka Gear echoed those sentiments. “As a company involved in the hunting industry, Sitka fully supports, and is extremely thankful for, the hard work that the Sportsman¹s Alliance of Alaska is doing to protect the Bristol Bay Region. The bottom line is that the mining proposals would forever compromise the health of the area. The tundra, the big game, and the fisheries in Southwest Alaska are a sustainable resource. The long-term health of the area, both in an economic and an ecosystem sense, depends on those resources. If my kids and your kids can’t hunt and fish there when they’re older, we’ve screwed up big time.”

For Alaskan guide Clark Whitney, Jr. who will be guiding the moose hunt for the winner of the drawing, the matter is even more personal. “I shot my first trophy bull caribou right at the mouth of Talarik Creek (one of the creeks that would be drained to provide water for the mine) when I was 13 years old, and the mine footprint area is a traditional calving grounds for the Mulchatna caribou herd. If this mine is permitted, it will have a devastating effect on these animals and this region’s wild character will forever be lost.”

Contributions to this promotion will be designated for brochures and other informational materials, travel for staff and volunteers to make Bristol Bay conservation presentations to clubs and organizations, day-to-day expenses and other direct costs.

“For someone looking to lend support to an incredibly important conservation campaign and possibly end up on that Alaska hunting trip of a lifetime, this is a tremendous way to help make a difference. While we can’t match the dollars that the mining companies are throwing at this fight, sportspersons have always shown a passion and a willingness to fight for places they care about,” concluded SAA’s Hed.

HuntingLife.com

2008-05-08T12:04:00.001-05:00

COME SEE OUR NEW SITE AT:

WWW.HUNTINGLIFE.COM

HuntingLife.com Seeks to be the Community for Hunters Pursuing the Passions of Hunting, Conservation and a Well Lived Life

2007-10-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

HuntingLife.com Seeks to be the Community for Hunters Pursuing the Passions of Hunting, Conservation and a Well Lived Life

The growth of hunting across North America has fueled the need to provide high quality resources for hunters to find information, great outfitters and conservation resources, HuntingLife.com has stepped into that market to provide a best of class resource portal for hunters worldwide.

Fredericksburg, VA, October 13, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Huntinglife.com focuses on hunters who are interested in both high quality resources for finding quality outfitters across the country and keeping in touch with all of the news of conservation organizations across the country. HuntingLife.com provides a full scale directory for state fish and game resources, outdoor websites, equipment reviews and hunter submitted pictures.

HuntingLife.com was started by Kevin Paulson after a brief stint as an outfitter in Montana and Idaho. Kevin saw the need for a website dedicated to conservation where hunters could research new outfitters and have a national tool for all hunters to use to create reviews and hunting reports on outfitters across the country. “Our Outfitter review tool allows hunters researching trips across the country to separate the wheat from the chaff and make informed decisions about where best to spend their hard earned dollars”

Team HuntingLife pledges 10% of gross revenue to conservation habitat programs and youth hunting opportunities across the country and these donations are reported directly on the blog section of the website on a quarterly basis.

For information, visit www.HuntingLife.com and check out our national resources or contact Kevin Paulson at 202-744-5806 or Kevin@huntinglife.com.

About HuntingLife
HuntingLife.com is community for pursuing your passions of hunting, conservation and a well lived life. Visitors are what helps our community grow by posting hunting photos, reviews, and researching outfitters.

African Hunting Safaris - TJSafari Blog Safari Hunting in South Africa Namibia

2007-09-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

African Hunting Safaris - TJSafari Blog Safari Hunting in South Africa Namibia

A great little story about the increase in hunter and concession fees over in Tanzania.

Check out our new website at HuntingLife.com

A Conversation with the RMEF about Real Estate Advertisements

2007-08-25T21:55:00.001-05:00

Saturday, August 25, 2007
A conversation with the RMEF about Real Estate Advertising.

In the last couple of issues you may have noticed some advertising in the latest issue of Bugle magazine for real estate. I am not sure about you but on initial look these advertisements got my hackle up a bit. For an organization that is working so hard to protect land from development why would they be advertising for real estate companies. Well a couple of emails later and I now have the answers for you as follows:

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is one organization in which I donate a large amount of money and also an organization that I volunteer my relatively limited amount of time to on several committees. I am really happy that we had this conversation via email and I am really thankful that I was able to have Buddy's permission to publish this information here on our website for all of readers.

My hope is that the RMEF will continue to work with these real estate companies to create relationships with new land owners to increase our work with conservation easements to increase habitat for elk and other wildlife.
Our Exchange is as follows:

My Initial Email:

Buddy,

I just received my copy of the September/October issue of Bugle Magazine which in my opinion is still one of the finest publications in the hunting community. I usually take the first night to flip page to page and then the next night I devour it article by article and word by word. Tonight I saw something in the bugle that I can hardly believe. I saw an advertisement for United Country Real Estate selling off the west to the highest bidder.

Isn't this what we are working against as an organization? Why do we need the advertising revenue so badly as to sacrifice our integrity to sell out to the highest bidders? Is the RMEF in support of this? I remember a discussion with you across from our booth at elk camp in 2006 where you told me that if you had your way you would not allow real estate companies to be included in Elk Camp. Please do not allow this to continue, lets keep our integrity and continue to work for the protection of elk and the purchase and protection of habitat that will be open to elk hunters of all walks of life.

--

Kevin C. Paulson
CEO
HuntingLife.com
11005 North Lamont Court
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
202-744-5806
kevin@huntinglife.com

Http://www.HuntingLife.com

Response from Walker S. (Buddy) Smith:

Kevin,

Thanks for your email regarding real estate advertising in Bugle magazine. To your point, the Elk Foundation had a policy against any sort of real estate advertising in Bugle for its first 22 years. The increasing pace of land transactions in Elk Country is one of the primary challenges facing the Elk Foundation today and into the foreseeable future. With escalating land values and changing demographics, the pressure to sell large tracts of land for commercial and residential development is enormous. At the same time, there are emerging buyers, sellers and real estate professionals with a strong conservation ethic who would like to see many of these traditional ranch and farm lands remain intact and be preserved for wildlife and future generations. It is this changing landscape that led us to take another look at that policy and consider the potential benefits of working with appropriate real estate companies.

The Elk Foundation is uniquely qualified to participate in real estate transactions in elk country, and by doing so, further accomplish our mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. By becoming engaged in the real estate business, we create the opportunity to educate buyers, sellers and agents on the benefits of conservation and the tools available to accomplish conservation goals.

It is absolutely crucial to understand that most properties are marketed through a variety of resources. Properties suitable for development are well known to developers. Bugle is a resource for reaching conservation minded buyers. By becoming engaged in the real estate business, we have the opportunity to compete with developers for properties that are important for the future of Elk Country. It is highly unlikely that a property will ever be sold and developed simply because it was advertised in Bugle.

Simply put, we can become engaged in the real estate business, and if we place a single property with a conservation buyer or place a single conservation easement because of the dialog created, then we are accomplishing our mission. Properties that sell and get developed would have been sold and developed regardless of our participation in the process.

We now have a new policy in place that allows limited advertising in Bugle. Properties and agencies must meet specific criteria to be considered. We have already turned down several proposed ads. I’ve attached a copy of the policy for your review.

As always, I appreciate any and all input from you and any other member. At the same time, I know that it is unlikely that any decision we make is going to make everyone happy. Hopefully I have provided you with a better understanding of our thinking regarding real estate advertising. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to call.
By the way this is actually the second issue of this type of ad and this is the issue with ATV ads, from which I am sure to get some e-mails.

Happy trails,
Buddy Smith

The Official Policy on Real Estate Advertising from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Real Estate Advertising Policy for Bugle

There is substantial interest in advertising real estate in Bugle magazine. With escalating land values and changing demographics, land transactions are expected to increase dramatically in the years ahead. As the pressure for commercial and residential development of land has increased, numerous real estate companies specializing in larger properties and promoting conservation ethics have emerged. By accepting appropriate real estate advertising in Bugle magazine, and developing an RMEF endorsed property program, the Elk Foundation will benefit by developing a new source of advertising revenue and by becoming more engaged in the business. Through greater involvement, we stand to develop more opportunities to promote conservation values, place conservation easements, and acquire critical properties or place them with suitable conservation minded buyers. Real estate advertising in Bugle must meet specific conservation oriented criteria to avoid conflict with our mission to protect habitat in elk country.

Properties listed in any advertisement in Bugle must meet the following criteria:

1. Located in Elk Country as defined by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
2. Minimum property size of 100 acres
3. Property possesses conservation value for elk and other wildlife
4. Current and future use is consistent with good habitat stewardship or has the potential to respond to good habitat stewardship
5. Is an appropriate candidate for a conservation easement
6. Advertising message is consistent with habitat protection (no development oriented ads)
7. Located in Elk Country as defined by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
8. Minimum property size of 100 acres
9. Property possesses conservation value for elk and other wildlife
10. Current and future use is consistent with good habitat stewardship or has the potential to respond to good habitat stewardship
11. Is an appropriate candidate for a conservation easement
12. Advertising message is consistent with habitat protection (no development oriented ads)

Criteria for real estate companies/agents:

1. Commitment to conservation properties and ethics
2. Not oriented to subdivision/development of properties in elk country
3. Not associated wing, non-fair chase hunting, etc.

Lots and lots of blog links

2007-08-12T20:11:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of outdoor blogs. Team Hunting Life came from the world of blogging first as an outfitter and then as a writer. We will always support the bloggers by trying to have the most complete list available to you. If your blog is listed please reciprocate with a link back to our website in your blog roll and if you are not listed in this group, please contact us and we will get your site up on our list within 48 hours.

Our Old HuntingLife Blog

www.alphatrilogy.com

The Deer Camp Blog

Backwoods Drifter

Upland Feathers

Black Bear Hunting Blog

Mane Hunting Today

Bolt Mountain, WV Blog

Bright Idea Outdoors

Gun Safety Innovations, LLC

Hunt Smart Think Safety Blog

Heartland Outdoors

Idaho Fishin' Times

Kings Outdoor World Blog

Marian's Hunting Stories

Mule Deer Fanatic

North Dakota Outdoors and Beyond

The Outdoor Odyssey

The Outdoor Pressroom

Outdoor U

Outdoors with Othmar Vohringer

Outdoor Bloggers Summit - Team Hunting Life is a Founding Member

Great Wild Outdoors Blog

Hunting Sense

Skinny Moose Media

South Jersey Outdoors

Hog Blog

The Shed Antler

Arizona Outdoorsman

Outdoor Life - Big Buck Zone

Outdoor Life - Newshound

Outdoor Life - GoneFishin

Outdoor Life - The Strut Zone

Riding in the Backcountry

The Sportsman's Blog

Pennsylvania Hunt. Fish. Shoot

Muskoka Outdoors Blog

Montana Outdoors

Goon's North Dakota Red Neck

Dave Richey's Weblog

Oregon Outdoor Journal

Jon Bryan Outdoor Blog

Simply Outdoors

TJSafari Blog Safari Hunting in South Africa Namibia

Walking in the Woods

Outdoor Resources for finding other websites or promised reciprocal links to grow readers of our site.

top 10 Hunting, Fishing and Camping Sites

New Sites!!!!

2007-08-11T23:32:00.001-05:00

OUR Great New website.. Call us Modest!!!!!!
HuntingLife.com

A Great new Blog that hopefully will become something really great!!!!
deerPhD: A Place to Call Home

We are live!

2007-07-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

WWW.HUNTINGLIFE.COM

Please come visit our new site and our new blog! It is the same writing, the same style, the same commitment to hunting and wildlife conservation with a more professional look and feel.

We are listening and growing while we rebuild to add to your enjoyment. We hope you will stick around and visit often.

Dennis is trying to get out the vote with Wolverine!

2007-07-10T10:26:00.000-05:00

VOTE HERE FOR DENNIS!!!

Mixing business with pleasure on his annual family vacation, Dennis takes out a sign during his trip to Ocean City, MD. It's too bad the beach did not have wifi because everyone would of been excited to have the opportunity to win a 100 just to get Dennis some new boots.

New Mexico Governors Tag FOR SALE here on www.huntinglife.com

2007-07-07T09:37:00.000-05:00

Ladies & Gentlemen, I have the story of the year for this humble little blog and website called HuntingLife.com. Several months ago Ben Nicholson was looking for some information on the Valles Caldera Wildlife Management area in New Mexico and he ran a search on google and up popped my article on how to apply for tags for the opportunity to hunt elk there. About that same time we also had a post about the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation holding a raffle for the New Mexico Governors tag for elk. Ben followed the link to the Valles Caldera and learned that he had missed the deadline and on a whim came back to HuntingLife.com and decided to buy a raffle ticket for the that RMEF raffle for the tag.

HE WON!

I got a comment on that post just after the raffle was finished and Ben was looking to sell the tag. New Mexico is the only state that allows you to transfer the tag if you have purchased it and/or won the tag. He asked me if he should put it up on ebay and I thought about it for two seconds and decided that might not be the best way to sell such a valuable item like this tag.

I put Ben in touch with a couple of people I knew just might have the connections out there to sell this tag and he is working the phones and now we are working the phones on his behalf. In talking to Ben, I agreed to assist him in the sale of this tag if he would agree to donate 10% of the proceeds to Conservation. He has already agreed to buy a life membership in the RMEF and if we can assist him in selling the tag through HuntingLife.com then he will confirm with us once he has completed the sale where he is donating the 10% and we will bring the story here to all of you.

Of course we now have competitors who are also trying to sell the tag on his behalf but if they assist him, he is going to have to pay them 10% and the money will not be guaranteed to go to conservation.

I will not in any way take or receive a single dime to assist him in selling this tag. I just think this is the coolest story of the year for this fledgling website called HuntingLife.com.

A little bit about Ben Nicholson

Ben has been hunting since 1984 and is mostly a water fowler and upland game hunter but likes to forage into the world of whitetail deer and black bear. His father Tom and good friend Jim got Ben started in the world of hunting with a hunters safety course and many trips to the field together. Ben is married to a wife(Rachel) whom he describes as wonderful and for the last 8 years they have been quite happy together along with a German Wirehair named Clyde. Living in Iowa City, IA and working as a loan officer for a local bank, Ben has been able to balance a great family life with some great hunting time.

Ben said, "I've been wanting to go elk hunting for years and will be making my first elk hunting trip this fall."

I tried to convince Ben that this was the hunt of a lifetime and his comments were, "I can go on a lot of hunts with the proceeds from the sale of this tag. I would really like you to sell it so that 10% can go towards conservation" was his last comment on our phone call.

How this is going to work.

Team Hunting Life(which is currently only myself - Kevin Paulson) will be taking emails from perspective buyers for this tag. You will need to make a full offer and include your name, address, phone number and email and we will be in touch with each and every one of you. I will make an initial call to you to determine if you are serious and then put you in direct touch with Ben Nicholson and you will work out the deal directly with him. Once that deal is complete, Ben will donate his 10% to conservation and we will report the story to all of you along with the details. My email is kevin@huntinglife.com!

This tag is for
Species: One bull elk
Area: Hunt in any unit in the state on public land
or private land with permission
Dates: September 1- December 31, 2007
Weapon: Legal weapon of choice during any season.

The opportunity for a 400 class bull anywhere in the state of New Mexico is what your buying here. This will be the hunt of a lifetime. This tag is priceless to the right person so please be very serious in your offers.

Let the bidding begin!!!!!!!!

Proposed “Safety” Regulations Would Dry Up Ammunition Sales

2007-07-07T08:54:00.000-05:00

Proposed “Safety” Regulations Would Dry Up Ammunition Sales

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed new rules that would have a dramatic effect on the storage and transportation of ammunition and handloading components such as primers or black and smokeless powder. The proposed rule indiscriminately treats ammunition, powder and primers as “explosives.” Among many other provisions, the proposed rule would:

Prohibit possession of firearms in commercial “facilities containing explosives”—an obvious problem for your local gun store.
Require evacuation of all “facilities containing explosives”—even your local Wal-Mart—during any electrical storm.
Prohibit smoking within 50 feet of “facilities containing explosives.”

It’s important to remember this is only a proposed rule right now, so there’s still time for concerned citizens to speak out before OSHA issues its final rule. The National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute will all be commenting on these proposed regulations, based on the severe effect these regulations (if finalized) would have on the availability of ammunition and reloading supplies to safe and responsible shooters.

The public comment period ends July 12. To file your own comment, or to learn more about the OSHA proposal, click here or go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Docket Number OSHA-2007-0032”; you can read OSHA’s proposal and learn how to submit comments electronically, or by fax or mail.

-----------------------------

OSHA Docket Office Docket No. OSHA-2007-0032 U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625 200 Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20210

Re.: Docket No. OSHA-2007-0032 (Explosives—Proposed Rule)

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing in strong opposition to OSHA’s proposed rules on “explosives,” which go far beyond regulating true explosives. These proposed rules would impose severe restrictions on the transportation and storage of small arms ammunition—both complete cartridges and handloading components such as black and smokeless powder, primers, and percussion caps. These restrictions go far beyond existing transportation and fire protection regulations.

As a person who uses ammunition and components, I am very concerned that these regulations will have a serious effect on my ability to obtain these products. OSHA’s proposed rules would impose restrictions that very few gun stores, sporting goods stores, or ammunition dealers could comply with. (Prohibiting firearms in stores that sell ammunition, for example, is absurd—but would be required under the proposed rule.)

The proposed transportation regulations would also affect shooters’ ability to buy these components by mail or online, because shipping companies would also have great difficulty complying with the proposed rules.

There is absolutely no evidence of any new safety hazard from storage or transportation of small arms ammunition or components that would justify these new rules. I also understand that organizations with expertise in this field, such as the National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Association, will be submitting detailed comments on this issue. I hope OSHA will listen to these organizations’ comments as the agency develops a final rule on this issue.

Sincerely,

Courtesy of NRA-ILA

Missouri Governor Signs Castle Doctrine, Hunting Preservation Bills Into Law

2007-07-07T08:51:00.000-05:00

Friday, July 06, 2007

In a recent fly-around tour across Missouri, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox joined Governor Matt Blunt (R) at bill signing ceremonies for two of NRA-ILA's top legislative priorities. SB 62, Missouri's "Castle Doctrine" bill, removes the "duty to retreat" for victims of criminal attack; while SB 225, the "Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act," preserves important wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities for future Missouri generations.

"Missouri now joins a group of 18 other 'Castle Doctrine' states, guaranteeing victims' right to protect themselves against a criminal attack," said Cox. "When you're confronted by a criminal, you don't have the luxury of time. This bill states that if victims choose to stand their ground and fight, their decision will not be second-guessed by the State of Missouri. The ability to protect yourself, your children, or your spouse from harm is critical, whether you're in your home or outside."

Also, in a historic set of votes, the "Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act" passed unanimously out of both chambers of the General Assembly. The measure passed the State Senate, 32-0, and the State House, 158-0.

Commenting on the signing of the pro-hunting bill, Cox said, "Missouri provides some of the richest and most pristine wildlife habitats in the world. Hunters here continue to be leaders in ensuring sound wildlife management and conservation practices. The 'Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act' will protect these diverse lands critical for wildlife species and preserve hunting opportunities into the future."

"On behalf of Missouri NRA members, hunters, and residents, I want to thank Governor Blunt for signing the 'Castle Doctrine' and 'Hunting Heritage Protection' bills into law," concluded Cox. "Missourians are fortunate to have a Governor and state legislators who respect and cherish their Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage."

Courtesy of NRA-ILA

Launch Date moves to Friday the 13th!

2007-07-06T10:51:00.000-05:00

In the quest to provide you all with the best of the best, We have moved our Launch date to Friday the 13th, at 5pm!

We have gone from what could be the luckiest day in the world to a Friday the 13th!!!!

But I am more excited then ever because it will be a great site!!

A listing of some great Outdoor Blogs

2007-07-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

If you have any more that you think should be listed, please email me at Kevin@huntinglife.com. Thank you! I know there are many more, including many on Skinny Moose and I am trying to create a complete list of everything I can find specifically on hunting or at least 50% on hunting! Send me your links for inclusion on www.huntinglife.com which is going live this weekend.

www.alphatrilogy.com - A great site written by Darrell

The Deer Camp Blog - Rex is filled with wit and is a great writer

Backwoods Drifter

Black Bear Hunting Blog

Bolt Mountain, WV Blog

Bright Idea Outdoors - Matt is a great writer

Git-R-Slung and Hunt Smart Think Safety Blog - Kristine and the team at Git-r-slung is a great product and a great blog.

Heartland Outdoors

Idaho Fishin' Times

Kings Outdoor World Blog

Marian's Hunting Stories

Mule Deer Fanatic

National Rifle Association

North Dakota Outdoors and Beyond - Doug Leier is a great writer and biologist from the North Dakota Game and Fish.

The Outdoor Odyssey - Jon Bryan

The Outdoor Pressroom - Outdoor News that is hand picked nationwide

Outdoor U - Great blog filled with Hunting Tips

Outdoors with Othmar Vohringer

Outdoor Bloggers Summit - I am a founding Member of this group, along with many other dedicated bloggers

Great Wild Outdoors Blog

Hunting Sense

Skinny Moose Media

South Jersey Outdoors

Hog Blog

The Shed Antler

Arizona Outdoorsman

Outdoor Life - Big Buck Zone

Outdoor Life - Newshound

Outdoor Life - GoneFishin

Outdoor Life - The Strut Zone

Outfiiters Supply

Quail Forever Washington State

Riding in the Backcountry

Sitka Gear

Schnee's Boots, Shoes & Hunting Gear

The Sportsman's Blog

Pennsylvania Hunt. Fish. Shoot

Muskoka Outdoors Blog

Montana Outdoors

Goon's North Dakota Red Neck

Jay Houston's Elkcamp.com

Dave Richey's Weblog

Oregon Outdoor Journal

Upland Feathers

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T15:51:00.001-05:00

Happy 4th of July to all of you!!!!

You have all given me purpose
and I appreciate it!
New Website coming Soon!

Monatana Outdoors: Sportsmen's group does battle with Cabela's over land sales

2007-07-03T13:09:00.000-05:00

By MARK HENCKEL
Montana Outdoors

The Montana Wildlife Federation is waging a war of words with outdoor gear retail giant Cabela's over its Cabela's Trophy Properties recreational real estate listing business and how it may affect hunter access in Montana.

It began with a letter to Cabela's president and CEO Dennis Highby from MWF executive director Craig Sharpe on May 30. It continued with a letter back from Trophy Properties' manager David Nelson a few days later. And it resumed last Tuesday with another letter from Sharpe to Highby.

What sparked the controversy was Cabela's involvement in selling key pieces of wildlife habitat, including the 29,000-acre Weaver Ranch, north of Winnett, which had been enrolled in the state's Block Management Program. Through the Block Management Program, farmers and ranchers are paid by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to provide free public access to resident and nonresident hunters.

Rest of the Article at: Billings Gazette

Blog Rating

2007-07-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

Mingle² - Online Dating

Hey Rex do they think you are working blue over there in the Deer Camp Blog? What happens in deer camp, stays in deer camp.

Outdoor Tips

2007-07-02T22:08:00.000-05:00

I am looking for 5 to 10 great outdoor tips to post on our new site. I am running short on time and I would really appreciate some assistance. The tips should be hunting related and they should be little secrets or tips that you have learned from the field. Once the site goes live we will be holding a monthly contest for our tips section and I will be contributing some as well. This week is completely slammed!

Jr. Mr. Lehigh Valley Outdoorsman

2007-07-02T22:04:00.000-05:00

JR. MR. LEHIGH VALLEY OUTDOORSMAN WINNER
It was my pleasure to award this young man with his Cabela's 300.00 shopping spree & certificate. It could not have been won by a nicer young outdoorsman. The competition was won by Tom Hudak of Orefield, PA. He is a young hunter and avid fisherman, he really wants to become a fly fisherman & tier. During his visit to my shop I took the opportunity to show him how to tie a bass bug and a woolly old wet fly pattern. I think he has a Fly rod and some tying supplies on his wish list for his next trip to Cabela's.
Feels good to meet such and enthusiastic young man !!
Thanks
Bob V Danenhower Sr.

CONGRATS TOM!!

WYOMING PRONGHORN HEAD SOUTH TO HELP MEXICAN PRONGHORN POPULATIONS

2007-07-01T21:04:00.000-05:00

WYOMING PRONGHORN HEAD SOUTH TO HELP MEXICAN PRONGHORN POPULATIONS

6/22/2007

CHEYENNE – American pronghorn fawns captured near Cheyenne in June are headed to Zacatecas, Mexico as part of a recovery effort to bolster populations of Sonoran and peninsular pronghorn in Mexico.

Biologists and volunteers from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, F.E. Warren Air Force Base and Mexico spent two weeks capturing 159 pronghorn fawns on F.E. Warren and surrounding property. The first group of fawns were flown to Mexico on June 16, with the remaining fawns scheduled to leave sometime the weekend of June 23.

“Wyoming is lucky to have a wealth of pronghorn,” says Jon Stephens, the Game and Fish Warden who organized the capture effort. “The pronghorns indigenous to Mexico haven’t fared so well, and Mexican biologists were looking for a way to help stabilize their pronghorn populations.”

Some scientists believe there to be five subspecies of pronghorn, including the Sonoran and penisular pronghorn. The capture effort in Wyoming was part of a recovery project formulated in an international pronghorn working group.

“We have the resources in Wyoming to help make this project a success,” says Stephens. “Relocating fawns from the Cheyenne area allows wildlife managers to help control populations using non-lethal techniques. F.E. Warren Air Force Base and other lands in the area do not provide opportunity for hunter harvest because of safety concerns for both people and wildlife. Because of this, the Game and Fish must look at alternative methods to manage and sustain the pronghorn population in southeast Wyoming.”

After the fawns arrive in Mexico, they are released in a natural environment on wildlife preserves or other protected areas where they mature and breed. Scientists are studying how closely the DNA of the Sonoran and peninsular pronghorn resembles that of American pronghorn. If the genetics are determined suitable, some of the of fourth or fifth generation American fawns will be released in the wild with the Sonoran and penisular pronghorn to provide a stable captive breeding population.

Female American fawns may also serve as surrogate mothers. Pronghorn can have up to six embryos, with only three having the potential to develop into fawns. Mexican biologists are studying the viability of taking the unused embryos from the Mexican does and implanting them in the American pronghorn. The hope is to provide twice as many genetically unique Sonoran or penisular fawns each year to help these populations grow more quickly.

“This project brought together people from two countries with different languages for a common goal: wildlife conservation,” says Stephens. “We are happy to help by providing Wyoming fawns, just as Wyoming has received turkeys, bighorn sheep and fish eggs from other agencies in the past.”

Fawns were housed in an outbuilding on F.E. Warren Air Force Base, and were fed by volunteers every 4 hours as they awaited transport. Veterinary care for the fawns was provided by Dr. Mike Driscoll and the staff of Broadmoor East Veterinary Clinic of Cheyenne.

“The fawns went through a rigorous health inspection to pass U.S. and Mexican customs,” explained Stephens. Driscoll inspected each fawn, insuring it was physically able to make the trip to Mexico before submitting his paperwork to the requisite federal agencies so the fawns could travel.

This is the fourth year the Game and Fish has partnered on the project, which is funded by the Mexican counterpart of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In all, more than 300 fawns from Wyoming have been translocated to Mexico in the last four years.

Our Goals for www.huntinglife.com

2007-06-30T22:14:00.000-05:00

About Our Team

Team Hunting Life was created out of a dream and a desire to find a way to give back to the hunting community, after our years of work volunteering for wildlife conservation and chasing our dreams of the North American Grand Slam. Having been an outfitter, having been a hunter and a client, we wanted to create the best resource we could to satisfy the needs of the public in researching the very best in todays equipment, resources, outfitters & news.

HuntingLife.com is the culmination of a year in development to create a worldwide information portal for the hunter.

Our goals are as follows:

Become the number one community for hunters worldwide.
Provide a nationwide listing of quality outfitters worldwide.
Provide a national calendar for conservation events, hunting, outdoor shows and seasons of all game in every state.
Provide free outfitter reviews to research reputable outfitters.
Provide a daily international online magazine and blog to our readers providing daily knowledge to hunters worldwide.
Our biggest goal is to provide you the readers with the best information, the best outfitters, the best reviews and the best website in the country. We will be growing changing and listening to our readers to continue to provide the best website we can provide! We will be adding writers and members to our pro staff as we grow.

We Pledge 10% of our revenue to youth education and wildlife conservation so we can continue to protect the habitat that is so important in our pursuit of fair chase hunting worldwide!

USSA Provides Breakdown on Congressional Vote to Ban Polar Bear Hunting

2007-06-29T22:29:00.000-05:00

(Columbus) – The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance has compiled a summary of how congressmen voted on a measure introduced in Congress earlier this week that sought to ban polar bear hunting.

Congress rejected an amendment in the Interior Appropriations Bill that would have prohibited American hunters from pursuing polar bears from healthy populations in Canada. The vote was 188-242. Seven lawmakers did not vote.

Breaking the vote down by party, 165 Democrats supported the amendment, while 68 opposed it. Two did not vote. At the same time, 23 Republicans voted for the amendment while 174 Republicans voted no. Five did not vote.

There are 228 members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Forty-four voted to ban polar bear hunting, while 180 voted no. Four members of the caucus did not vote.

“It is critical to the future of hunting for sportsmen to know how their legislators vote on key issues like this one,” said U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Senior Vice President Rick Story. “Many legislators claim to be supportive of hunting, but we find out who our friends really are when the votes are counted.”

Wondering how your congressman voted?

Click here for vote results organized by state.

Click here for vote results organized by congressman’s last name.

Click here for vote results organized by ayes and noes.

Click here for Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus member vote results.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance encourages sportsmen to contact their congressmen offering thanks to those who voted for sportsmen’s rights and polar bear conservation. They should contact those who voted against hunting to make sure that congressmen understand the conservation and political facts behind the vote. Sportsmen should phone (202) 224-3121 and ask to be transferred to their U.S. representative’s office. Or, they may get direct contact information by using the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organization that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

Launch Date Moved back!!!!!!

2007-06-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

WE WILL NOW LAUNCH on:

07-07-07 at 7:07pm

Washington State needs new representation!

2007-06-28T22:49:00.000-05:00

Hunters need to band together and vote these Whack jobs out of office!

This is what was on Representative Jay Inslee's webpage!

"In the last 10 years, over 800 polar bears have been killed by hunters to decorate American homes. U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Frank A. LoBiondo (R-N.J.) filed legislation in the House that would end the practice and help stop the decline of the iconic marine mammal, now threatened by global warming. A companion measure is expected to be introduced today in the Senate by U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)."

I am so glad this was defeated on the floor yesterday! I cannot understand the ignorance that must be present in a mans head to believe that hunters go hunting so that they can decorate their homes! With that little bit of ignorance alone should give most voters all of the knowledge they need to choose another candidate.

Lets do the math, 80 polar bears per year for 10 years and close to $4,000,000 in tag fees that go to native tribes in Nunavut. Millions of dollars donated to conservation projects by those same hunters and other hunters who dream of someday hope to hunt polar bears. Conservation dollars that are needed!

Just ask the Humane Society of the United States how much money has actually been donated to real conservation projects from their organization. The answer will be zero!

How much money has been spent to stop hunting of polar bears and other wildlife? Millions

Pictures from Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza

2007-06-28T15:54:00.000-05:00

This truly was a great hunting show for the entire family. Plan on attending next year!

Draw Success Pronghorn Antelope!!!!

2007-06-28T13:18:00.000-05:00

Dennis, Brandon and I are going hunting in Wyoming unit 43! Draw results are up at: Wyoming Game and Fish

U.S. House Rejects Polar Bear Hunting Ban

2007-06-27T20:13:00.000-05:00

U.S. Sportsmen work to defeat amendment

(Columbus) – The nation’s sportsmen have stood up on behalf of polar bear conservation. Congressmen have refused to impose restrictions on big game hunters that would have crippled polar bear conservation.

On June 27, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated a last minute amendment to HR 2643, the House Interior Appropriations Bill, which would have banned the import of polar bear trophies. Voting 188 to 242, the House turned down anti-hunters’ efforts to prohibit American big game hunters from pursuing healthy, sustainable polar bear populations in Canada.

“It appears U.S. representatives recognized that the effort to ban Americans from polar bear hunting is baseless from a conservation standpoint,” said U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Senior Vice President Rick Story. “Science that shows polar bear populations are at historic highs and that there are no imminent threats to the healthy, huntable populations.”

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance worked along with the National Rifle Association and other sportsmen’s groups to help defeat the amendment. The American Wildlife Conservation Partners sent a letter of opposition signed by many of its members to all congressional offices.

American sportsmen comprise approximately 90 percent of the foreign hunting clientele in Canada, annually pouring millions of dollars into polar bear conservation and management, not to mention the financial benefits to the local communities. American hunters are the primary source of essential funding for conservation and research that allows for continued success of the populations.

Language banning the hunt has already been included in the Senate Interior Appropriations Bill.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organization that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

My Comments:
I thank all of you that made a tremendous effort to get on the phones, sent emails and contacted their congressmen to defeat this idiotic legislation. Congressmen Inslee needs to learn about the North American Hunter Conservation Model. The reality is that the Humane Society will not stop until they stop all hunting nationwide. All hunters nationwide must share this knowledge strongly and vocally and alert everyone they know to stop giving them money and stem the flow of funds to this two-faced organization. People giving them money do not even know that they are supporting an organization working to ban hunting and stop the flow of money for conservation and the protection of habitat.

Here is the reality, there is always going to be people who are anti-hunting. I get that and understand that they have a differing view then I do. I can accept that and while I will continue for the rest of my life to share with them the good things that hunters do for the environment, for conservation, for wildlife and share the human stories, I understand they may never change their mind. That is their right! What absolutely bothers me is that organizations like the Humane Society lie to the donors about their intent with the money that is being donated to their organization. That dishonesty bothers me.

All of us most continue to support organizations like the US Sportmen's Alliance, Conservation Force, the NRA and others that are working to protect the rights of hunters. We must also continue to support the great organizations who are working to protect our habitat and the conservation of the wildlife we as hunters so dearly love.

Relentless with competition!

2007-06-26T22:08:00.000-05:00

VOTE HERE

VOTE HERE!

Of course we are helping Dennis pursue the dream of being called Relentless by Nature. I know it to be true and throw all my support his way! Please help us show the power of the HuntingLife Fan Base.

Vote for Dennis in this great competition of hunter/conservationist VS car driver that we are locked into right now!

All it takes is your name and email address and if you click on the button that you want more information they may send you a special discount coupon or something a couple of times a year. Of course you can always opt out and vote each and every day!

We appreciate the support for Dennis and we know him to be a man of true integrity!

VOTE HERE!

Outdoor Tips!

2007-06-26T21:44:00.001-05:00

My tip was posted up on the Outdoor U!

Here is the tip for all of you:

When hunting elk there is no need for scent control! Walking up and down mountains with a scent lock suite or carbon suit is only going to get you covered in sweat. Chasing elk is hard work and if you want to be successful you need to learn how to hunt with the wind and to watch the thermals. In most situations in the morning and once the sun goes down, the thermals are going to be headed down the mountain. During early morning once the sun hits the valley floor, the thermals are going to change and come rushing up the mountain. If you want a bull during archery season you are going to have to place yourself to the left or right of the elk herd.

Sandy River Outfitters Spring Bear Pictures #1

2007-06-25T16:19:00.001-05:00

450 pound Monster bear taken in Manitoba with Sandy River Outfitters! Andy Alfeldt took this bear on the sixth night of the hunt and had passed on it on the third night. But this bruiser came in late in the evening and he could not pass it up. This is an excellent Pope and Young Bear! Taken with Harry Walker at Sandy River Outfitters. Give Harry a call at 204-257-5223 and book yourself an adventure. If you notice the paw was bit off and on the third night when Andy was videoing the bear it got in a tremendous fight and lost its paw.

Sandy River Outfitters

Sandy River Outfitters Spring Bear Pictures #2

2007-06-25T15:46:00.000-05:00

Some great shots from a fantastic season of spring bear hunting in Manitoba. I have known Harry Walker for over 3 years now and when I was a new outfitter he was the guy I called for advise and he is a stand up guy. His hunts are more then reasonable and with over 14 years of experience guiding hunters in this area of Manitoba, he has the knowledge to help you find your dream buck or bear. His lodge is on the shore of Winnipeg River and they hunt out of several camps. His team has been with him for years and years and I hear he has one heck of great cook. I personally will be hunting with him next year for both bear and deer and if any of you are interested contact Harry directly and tell him you want to hunt with the team from HuntingLife.com. I always like being surrounded with great friends while in camp.

Check out Harry Walker and Sandy River Outfitters and book your trip early.

These are some of the bears that Andy Alfedt took pictures of while in the stand in the 6 days he was hunting. He saw a total of over 16 total bears and took one of the biggest bears of the season.

Carlos Woker took this nice 300# bear.

Carlos and his son Kevin Woker who had already tagged out on the first night.

Carlos and Andy.

James Crossen with his bear taken on his second night in the stand after passing on 6 bears. This was his first bear and he could not be happier.

James and Carlos.

James, Harry Walker and Carlos! Look at that smile on Harry's face with two great happy hunters!

Paul Moore took his bear on the first night and this was the fifth bear to come into the stand! Excellent bear.

Butch Ray took this fine bear that was well over 450 lbs and was one of the biggest bears of the season and it is his first bear ever. Great Job Butch!!!!

Kevin and Carlos with an 8 and 9lb walleye respectively. Great fish guys!

Kevin Woker's Bear with his proud father Carlos.

Kevin with some great walleye and guide Jim Locke.

Kevin with some great fish and a wonderful day fishing on the Winnipeg River.

Travis Basham with a 43 and a half inch Northern Pike! What a fish!

Great looking day on the river with some good looking fish.

Travis Basham with a 10.5 lb Walleye.

Bill is Back from New Zealand!!!!

2007-06-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

Go Check out all of his great photos at Huntinfo.

To book a great trip like this check out his booking agency at MacFarland Adventures.

A Pennsylvania Outdoor Weekend!

2007-06-24T21:49:00.000-05:00

My Best Picture of the weekend! This little boy came around for a half hour or so and this is the only picture I got of him.
Registration at the Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza!

Cabelas sponsored this show.

Our troops were present showing off some of the great opportunities they present!

Some really great beagles!

Some young boy scouts learning how to shoot!

Team Extreme was there.
The outhouse at Timber Ridge Hunt Club.

I spent most of Saturday afternoon sighting in this baby. This is a browning A-bolt in 25 wssm scoped with a Leupold VX-III and it shoots like a dream.

110 yards from the bench to the target and I was an inch high. Ready for Antelope!!!

The fire pit we had burning hot most of the night! I really needed a great night by the campfire telling hunting stories and relaxing before the great launch coming in the next two weeks.

Timber Ridge Hunt Club.

Thank you to Dennis Brauchle for a wonderful much needed weekend of shooting and fun, I really enjoyed the escape!

2007-06-20T23:40:00.000-05:00

I need your help! I agree with Darrell that we all need to step up to the plate and show that hunting and wildlife conservation are important subjects and should be talked about and promoted throughout the land. A vote from you all would definitely help in that regard!

Support your favorite blogger and log on and vote for me, please. I am not a big fan of self promotion but the reality is that in order for this website and blog to get in front of more readers is that it has to be done. The more links I have, the more people reading the blog, the faster it gets in and through the search engines the easier it is to get the message out. The great hunting in North America and the world and the great conservation that is being done by volunteers worldwide is a story that needs to be told over and over each and every day!

Greatest Link of the week!

2007-06-20T22:42:00.000-05:00

Darrell over at www.alphatrilogy.com wins my vote for greatest link of the day! His writing is informative, educational and well written. His website coloring is a bit hard to read but the site is so well laid out and the content so good that I will be reading and checking his site on a very regular basis! I enjoyed his posts about his Alaska Bear hunt and was glad to see that he brought his son on the adventure with him! I look forward to chatting with him soon.

Delta Waterfowl Supports Clean Water Restoration Act

2007-06-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

Hunters Asked to Contact Congressional Representatives

Delta Waterfowl urges waterfowl hunters nationwide to contact their Congressional representatives and ask them to support the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, a bill that would protect millions of acres of small, isolated wetlands most critical for duck production.

Passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 took on added importance after a new guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers removed Clean Water Act protections for geographically isolated wetlands.

Also known as prairie potholes, these small wetlands are the engines that drive duck production on the prairie breeding grounds across North and South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota and Iowa. Without these small, ephemeral wetlands, continental duck populations would plummet.

The new guidance follows two Supreme Court decisions (2001 and 2006) that failed to adequately resolve which wetlands qualify for protection under the Clean Water Act of 1972.

The new legislation, which currently has roughly 160 co-sponsors, would reaffirm Congress' original intent and protect prairie potholes, as well as other critical bodies of water.

Aside from providing important habitat for ducks and other migratory waterfowl, the wetlands at risk of loosing protection help filter out pollution, replenish public water supplies and act as buffers against storms and flooding.

To help save our remaining prairie potholes vital for the future of duck hunting, click here.

NWTF Hosts Large Ocellated Turkey Survey

2007-06-19T20:47:00.000-05:00

MEXICO — The National Wild Turkey Federation recently trapped and released a record number of Ocellated turkeys as part of an ongoing project to learn more about the species.

"We expect to gain basic population information on the Ocellated turkey, with the goal of addressing concerns on the welfare of this species," said Scott Vance, NWTF director of partnership programs. "This will provide critical information for wildlife managers in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize who are responsible for Ocellated turkey management and hunting regulations. Without this study and the valuable information gained from it, future hunting for the Ocellated turkey could be in jeopardy because so little is known about the bird."

The study will take place over a four-year period, where birds will be trapped in the fall and winter, fitted with radio-tags and released. The birds will be monitored throughout the entire year to determine population size and status; home range and habitat use; nest initiation rates, nesting success and poult survival; adult mortality rates and to identify cause of mortality.

Last year, five Ocellated turkeys were radio-tagged and monitored. Some of these birds moved over seven miles in a few months and provided important habitat use information. This past March, 12 Ocellated turkeys were trapped, radio-tagged, released and are currently being monitored. This is the most Ocellated turkeys ever trapped, tagged and released.

The study is being conducted on La Montana Ranch, which is a 25,000-acre hunting ranch. The first year will serve as a pilot project and will be confined to La Montana Ranch, with future plans to expand the program to more sites.

"Because of this study we should obtain the largest and most comprehensive amount of Ocellated turkey data ever recorded," said Vance. "These studies are extremely important for the continued well-being and regulated hunting of the species."

Partners in this study are NWTF-Mexico, SEMARNAT (The Mexican equivalent to the US Fish and Wildlife Service), AMAVISI, La Montana Ranch and the Collegios de Postgraduados in Campeche and San Luis Potosi.

To learn more about the Ocellated turkey study, contact Scott Vance at (800) THE-NWTF or svance@nwtf.net.

Safari Club International elects new leadership

2007-06-19T20:42:00.001-05:00

June 6, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International, leader in protecting the freedom to hunt, has elected Dennis Anderson of Anaheim, California as its new president. His one-year term as head of the 50,000-member organization runs from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

Anderson was previously an SCI Vice President serving on the Executive Committee for three years. He has been the SCI California Chapters Legislative Coordinator since 1996 and was instrumental in originating the California Youth Outdoor Safari Day in 1999.

Anderson has hunted in Asia, Africa, Europe, the South Pacific and throughout North America, completing the North American 29 in 2003.

Anderson is founder and owner of a successful seafood processing and distribution business in Southern California that he operates with his wife, Leean.

Merle Shepard, from Allen Park, Michigan was elected as President-Elect and will begin his term on July 1, 2008.

Shepard has been Chairman of SCI’s Governmental Affairs Committee for five years. Shepard learned to hunt with his grandfather in Michigan and has enjoyed hunting big game with a bow ever since.

Shepard is a founding member of the Michigan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners and the Ballot Issues Coalition.

Outgoing SCI President Ralph Cunningham, of Houston, Texas said “the future of SCI is in brilliant hands. I am more than confident that Dennis and Merle will take SCI to new heights and I wish them nothing but the best in their efforts.”

The other newly elected members of SCI’s Executive Committee include:

Treasurer, Ron Arendt resides in the Sacramento Valley, California, and hunts with his children and grandchildren as the seasons permit.

Secretary, Kevin Anderson is an attorney engaged in private practice in Harrisonville, Missouri for 26 years. He has hunted big game on five continents.

Vice President, Bruce Eavenson has been an SCI member for 31 years. He works in the insurance industry and currently resides in Ortonville, Michigan.

Vice President, Joe Hosmer enters his fourth term on the Executive Committee and has pursued big game and upland birds on a worldwide level. Joe is a successful business leader and entrepreneur, who divides his residence between Maine''s coast and the Texas Hill Country.

Vice President, Sven Lindquist is an avid international hunter and currently resides in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota

Vice President, John W. Nelson recently retired as a successful attorney, judge and volunteer Deputy Sheriff in Phoenix, Arizona. He currently resides in the hills outside of Montrose, Colorado.

Vice President, Larry Rudolph will be starting his third year on SCI''s executive committee. Dr. Rudolph owns a large dental services company in Pittsburgh, is an avid hunter and is a Weatherby Award nominee.

Vice President, Mary Lynn West is the Sables representative for the Orange County Chapter, California and has hunted with her rifle and shotgun on four continents.

Vice President, John Whipple is President of the Orange County Chapter, Life member of SCI, Sables and SCI-PAC, and lives in Orange County, California.

Alternate Vice President, Cheri Eby has degrees in business and cost accounting and has worked in the mining/construction industries. She has enjoyed hunting on several continents and currently lives in Gunnison, Colorado.

SCIF Director, Lance Norris is a Past President of SCI and has served on the board since 1986. Lance has hunted Africa 15 times, three times with his grandkids, and currently resides in Nunica, Michigan.

Contact:
Ken Schwartz
Governmental Affairs and
Communications Manager

kschwartz@sci-dc.org
(202) 543-8733

###

SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s 179 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 13 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

Victory for Sustainable Use of Elephants

2007-06-19T20:22:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Safari Club

June 14, 2007

The Hague, Netherlands – The commercial sales of elephant ivory stocks will be allowed after a compromise was reached following nearly two weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations at the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

The 170 nation CITES treaty will also allow sportsmen to ship their elephant ivory hunting trophies from range states. Commercial trade in elephant hair, hide and certain carved ivory items was also approved.

Safari Club International’s chief of delegation, John Monson, said that “the result was recognition of the good management of elephants in southern Africa and the dramatic increase in those populations.”

Rick Parsons, SCI’s Director of Governmental Affairs, added that “the CITES parties have moved a long way in recognizing that the sustainable use of wildlife, including sport hunting, can have substantial benefits for wildlife conservation.”

The day prior to the two-week meeting, the executive body of CITES, the Standing Committee, agreed that the final conditions had been met for the sale of varying amount of ivory in governmental stocks that had been agreed in principle at the CITES meeting in Chile five years earlier. These stocks are held by Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

As a result of the compromise reached last night, those three countries, plus Zimbabwe, received approval to sell governmental ivory stocks that had accumulated through January 2007. This trade in the “Chile-approved” stocks and the stocks accumulated through January 2007 can be suspended if it is shown that there has been non-compliance with the many conditions attached to the trade, or “in the case of proven detrimental impacts of the trade on other elephant populations.”

The governmental stocks come from elephants that died of natural causes or from elephants taken to protect local communities. The proceeds from these sales must go entirely to elephant conservation and to development of the local communities that live with the elephants.

Once the sale of the “Chile-approved” stocks occurs, there will follow a nine-year period in which no sale of ivory stocks can occur. The Standing Committee was charged with coming up with a “decision-making mechanism for a process of trade in ivory…” by the time the parties have their 16th meeting.

Contact:
Ken Schwartz
Governmental Affairs and Communications Manager
kschwartz@sci-dc.org
(202) 543-8733

Huntinglife.com goes International

2007-06-19T17:56:00.000-05:00

Looking at my analytics today and doing some searching I realized that this site has been viewed in over 1500 cities and over 90 countries in the last several months! WOW! Thank you to everyone it is a ton of fun for me reading and writing for you all and we will endeavor to bring you the best website we can on when we launch our new website on July 4th, 2007! It is our goal to focus on hunting, conservation, education and all of the resources you could possibly use to plan your days in the field with knowledge, equipment and the very best outfitters we can help you find. I get more excited each and every day as I feel that my entire life has evolved to bring you all this very special project!

Thanks again!!!

Different kind of show on tap

2007-06-19T12:36:00.000-05:00

Different kind of show on tap
Sunday, June 17, 2007

BY MARCUS SCHNECK

For The Patriot-News

The most innovative, family-oriented, hands-on outdoor show in Pennsylvania is set to run Friday through next Sunday at the Kempton Fairgrounds in northern Berks County. Created last year to fill the void created by the collapse of the Lehigh Valley Outdoor Expo, the Lehigh Valley Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza has nearly doubled in size.

Organized by a taxidermist and the owner of an archery shop -- both local men -- with the help of a growing collaboration of local individuals and outdoor organizations, rather than an out-of-area professional show promoter, the extravaganza focuses much more on the experience of the visitor. No other show offers as many hands-on activities geared to kids and adults. This has everything a regular sports show has -- new products, sales of outdoor gear, outfitters, manufacturers with their new products and a heck of a lot more -- even an outdoor flea market," said show co-director Bob Danenhower, owner of Bob's Wildlife Taxidermy in Orefield. "It's focused on both kids and adults. It really is a family affair."

Another great unshowlike feature of the extravaganza is its outdoor component.

Visitors can spend the day wandering the fairground, stopping by booths, demonstrations, displays, seminars and other attractions set up inside two large halls, under the roofed picnic pavilion and beneath the open sky. The show also includes an outdoor primitive encampment by the Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters; a 50-target 3-D archery course through woodland, hillside and field; a running deer challenge; a 10-station, 50-target sporting clays shoot; and a natural stream trout-fishing area.

Then there's the family and "troop" experience of the show, with adults from regional and statewide sportsmen's groups volunteering as youth mentors for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youngsters. The 2007 Scout Challenge will feature a 10-station competition scattered across the fairgrounds to test youngsters' talents in BB-gun marksmanship, tomahawk tossing, casting accuracy, knot tying and other events.

Dog demonstrations will be offered throughout the weekend by groups enthusiastic about beagles, German short-haired pointers, retrievers, performing dogs and seeing-eye dogs.

Mr., Miss and Junior Lehigh Valley Outdoorsman competitions will run Saturday, featuring events such as shooting, deer dragging and slimy fish-throwing. Another big draw will be the Pennsylvania Big Buck Display, featuring a 2006 Lehigh County 16-point whitetail and several bucks that scored better than 130 Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young.

The Kempton Fairgrounds are located off Rt. 737, five miles north of Exit 40 (Krumsville) off I-78. Show hours are noon-8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for youth ages 8-12, and free to youth under age 8 and Scouts and Scout leaders in uniform.

For more information, call (610) 398-7609 or visit www.lvhfe.com
MARCUS SCHNECK: 610-562-1884 or mschneck@comcast.net

Utah Boy Killed by Bear!

2007-06-19T10:35:00.000-05:00

AMERICAN FORK CANYON — A black bear that fatally mauled an 11-year-old boy in American Fork Canyon might not have been motivated by leftover camp food, officials said Monday. "It does not appear that the very minimal amount of food in the campsite had anything to do with the bear attack," Utah County Sheriff's Lt. Darren Gilbert said.

The boy, Samuel Evan Ives of Pleasant Grove, was camping with his family in a wooded area just north of the Timpanooke campgrounds Sunday night when a bear slashed through his tent and pulled him out in his sleeping bag.

"We're trying to make sense of this very tragic event," grandfather Eldon Ives said. "It's something that just doesn't make sense. It's like a bad dream. We're still struggling with how to grieve."

Complete story at: Deseretnews.com

Really tragic story going on in Utah! I have personally been hiking in this canyon and in this area when I went to college at Weber State. It seems that this year there are a lot of stories of bear attacks, more so then usual, at least it seems that way.

Possible elk hunt in park

2007-06-18T23:26:00.000-05:00

By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News
June 16, 2007

The U.S. Department of the Interior said it is considering allowing qualified hunters to help reduce the overpopulated elk herd at Rocky Mountain National Park, U.S. Rep. Mark Udall said Friday.

Rest of the Story at: Rocky Mountain News Denver

My Comments:

I am absolutely in favor of this kind of situation and my only hope is that the park service uses a raffle format to allow hunters from all across the entire country to participate and buy one ticket each! The reality is that if they charged $20.00 each per ticket they could sell out over 100,000 tickets bringing in 2 million dollars for elk habitat, research and managing the hunt. If they allowed everyone to purchase more then one ticket each they could quadruple the results. As well they should donate 1 percent of the tags to conservation organizations to auction off and build revenue for those organizations. I really hope this goes through! I am sure they are going to have every hunter go through some kind of training program just for this particular hunt. Every hunter who is chosen for this type of hunt is carrying with them a tremendous amount of responsibility to hunt safely, ethically and remember that you are the example the world will be watching.

Remember Our Troops!

2007-06-18T22:39:00.001-05:00

What's wrong with this picture?

If you look closely at the picture above, you will note that all the Marines pictured are bowing their heads. That's because they're praying. This incident took place at a recent ceremony honoring the birthday of the corps, and it has the ACLU up in arms. "These are federal employees," says Lucius Traveler, a spokesman for the ACLU, "on federal property and on federal time. For them to pray is clearly an establishment of religion, and we must nip this in the bud immediately."

When asked about the ACLU's charges, Colonel Jack Fessender, speaking for the Commandant of the Corps said (cleaned up a bit), "Screw the ACLU" GOD Bless Our Warriors, Send the ACLU to France." How stupid is the ACLU in trying to remove GOD from everything and every place in America. May God Bless America! We are One Nation Under GOD!

What's wrong with the picture?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

Dennis is Relentless and breaks 100!!!!!!!

2007-06-18T21:59:00.000-05:00

Dennis breaks out in the early lead and yet we still have a long long way to go until September! I know this man, and I know he is Relentless by Nature! We need your help to get him some new boots for our Pronghorn Antelope Hunt! Please log on and help Dennis Get-R-Done in this contest!

Outdoors Blogger Summit

2007-06-18T21:10:00.001-05:00

The outdoor blog world is abuzz with all kinds of talk and plans about how to create a summit in regards to all of the outdoor world. Whether it is fishing, outdoors or hunting we have a growing group of people who are starting to write about their passions and it is an exciting world opening up to many people. So do we need a summit? Why not?

My suggestion is to have the event a couple of days before either the Shot Show, The Safari Club National Convention, or the RMEF National Convention. Now the Shot Show will probably provide the cheapest flights and the best rooms. I am sure we can get some meeting rooms and some demonstrations and more from some of the various exhibitors at the shot show if someone gets on the phone by no later then August. As well various technology players are going to want some access to our group to talk about new technology and what is available out there to help us get the great message of great hunting, great human stories, great conservation stories and all the news and reviews that are fit to print.

Kristine over at Hunt Smart Think Safety is heading up the great cause to create something great followed by a ton of others working towards the cause.

If any of you have outdoor blogs and you are not listed in my blog roll on this page please drop me an email at kevin@huntinglife.com!

World Record Trout!

2007-06-18T21:05:00.000-05:00

Othmar mentioned that a new world record trout was taken in Lake Diefenbaker. Go check out the Trophy Trout Guide to see the link and all of the pictures.

Zambian poachers shoot rare white rhino

2007-06-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

Lusaka - Poachers have shot the last two white rhinos in Zambia, killing one and wounding the other, in a night operation at the Mosi-Oa-Tunya national park in Livingstone, an official said on Tuesday.

The shooting of the two endangered animals in a heavily-guarded zoological park near Victoria Falls in Zambia's tourist resort town of Livingstone took place last week.

"I can confirm that one of the white rhinos was shot dead by suspected poachers. The other one was wounded and is undergoing treatment," said Maureen Mwape, spokesperson of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), which would be investigating the shooting.

The dead female rhino's horn was apparently removed.

This story makes me sick to my stomach.. I post it here because I want more people to know that poaching like this must be stopped in some way!!!!

Zambia's white rhinos were all killed by poachers but the government managed to acquire six from South Africa in 1993, of which the injured male is the last to survive.

Happy Fathers Day!

2007-06-17T20:49:00.000-05:00

Happy Fathers Day!

Now is the time to start planing that father and son/daughter trip out hunting!

Outfitting Business in Quebec, FOR SALE

2007-06-15T21:57:00.000-05:00

Looking to become an outfitter for bear and moose in Quebec? Call me and I may be able to put you in touch with an outfitter for sale. There is nothing in this for me but I can put you in touch with the owner and the due diligence is your to do.

Email me at kevin@huntinglife.com!!!

The Seven Sisters for Conservation

2007-06-15T20:45:00.000-05:00

Log on to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Website to learn more about what you can do to make a difference in wildlife conservation!

The time-tested North American Wildlife Conservation Model is the only one of its kind in the world. In the mid-1800s, hunters and anglers realized they needed to set limits in order to protect rapidly disappearing wildlife, and assume responsibility for managing wild habitats. Hunters and anglers were among the first to crusade for wildlife protection and remain some of today’s most important conservation leaders.

The model’s two basic principles—that our fish and wildlife belong to all North American citizens, and are to be managed in such a way that their populations will be sustained forever—are explained through a set of guidelines known as the “Seven Sisters for Conservation.” The “Seven Sisters” hold the key to wildlife conservation as we know it today.

Sister #1: The Public Trust
In North America, natural resources on public lands are managed by government agencies to ensure that we always have wildlife and wild places to enjoy.

In the United States and Canada, wildlife is not owned by individuals. Instead, federal, state and provincial governments are responsible for managing all wildlife, as well as their habitat on public lands. This public trust gives you and all citizens the opportunity to view, hunt, fish and otherwise enjoy these natural resources.

Two hundred years ago, American colonists appreciated this unfettered access to the continent’s abundant wildlife. Back in Europe in many cases, only nobility and the very wealthy were allowed to hunt. In 1842, the U.S. Supreme Court set a legal precedent by supporting the American ideal that wildlife belongs to everyone.

Sister #2: Prohibition on Commerce of Dead Wildlife
Conservation laws and their strong enforcement in the United States and Canada saved wildlife from slaughter.

Because we all own wildlife, it is illegal in North America to sell the meat of any wild animal. In some cases the hides, teeth, antlers and horns of game animals and the hides of a select few furbearers may be sold.

However, buying and selling meat, hides, feathers and other wild animal parts was a huge business in the latter half of the 1800s. Excessive hunting severely depleted bison, egrets and elk, and drove other species, such as the passenger pigeon, to extinction. Strong laws written at the turn of the 20th century restricted market hunting and the buying and selling of some wild animals, which allowed many threatened wildlife species to rebound and thrive.

Sister #3: Democratic Rule of Law
You can help make laws to regulate hunting and fishing and conserve wildlife.

Every citizen of the United States and Canadian has the right to help create laws to conserve and manage wild animals and their habitats. Government agencies that manage our natural resources provide citizens with public forums to share ideas and opinions about wildlife and habitat. Citizens can also vote for or against ballot measures that impact wildlife.

Although early 20th-century conservationists wanted to protect wildlife, many still wanted to hunt, fish and enjoy wild places. They established laws that regulated those activities. Today, federal, state and provincial game wardens check hunting licenses and tags to make sure people are hunting in permitted areas and only taking the quarry allowed by law.

Sister #4: Hunting Opportunity for All
Every citizen has an opportunity, under the law, to hunt and fish in the United States and Canada.

Regardless of your social status, race, creed, religion or gender, you have the right to legally hunt and fish on most public lands in North America.

Hunters and anglers led the crusade for wildlife protection a century ago. For instance, before Theodore Roosevelt became president, he helped found the Boone and Crockett Club. The club’s Fair Chase Statement was the first document outlining a code of conduct and ethics for hunters and anglers. It became a cornerstone of our game laws.

Sister #5: Non-frivolous Use
In North America, we can legally kill certain wild animals under strict guidelines for food and fur, self-defense and property protection.

Laws restrict us from casually killing wildlife. We cannot kill wildlife merely for antlers, horns or feathers or to use only a small portion of the meat. Laws also help ensure that we show respect for and avoid mistreating wildlife and the land, and when hunting, make maximum use of every animal for food and other purposes.

Most hunters make good use of an elk. Besides feasting on the meat, hunters often keep the antlers as a memento of the hunt. Hides also make sturdy buckskin coats, chaps and gloves. Many hunters also enjoy sharing wild meat with family and friends. In this way, hunting’s rewards benefit everyone—not just the hunters themselves.

Sister #6: International Resources
Wildlife and fish migrate freely across boundaries between states, provinces and countries.

Working together, the United States and Canada jointly manage land and wildlife to make sure that wildlife can safely cross borders and that no country, state or province will take more than its share of a common resource.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 demonstrates this cooperation between countries to protect wildlife. The Act made it illegal to capture or kill migratory birds, except as allowed by specific hunting regulations. Treaties now exist between the United States, Canada, Mexico and Russia to protect birds migrating between these countries. The Act has restored our waterfowl, including ducks, geese and cranes, which travel great distances and cross several countries between their wintering and nesting areas.

Sister #7: Scientific Management
The right information helps us make good decisions and become better stewards of wildlife.

Scientific research—and applying that research--is essential to managing and sustaining North America’s wildlife and habitats. For example, researchers put radio collars on elk to track the animals’ movements. They use the data to answer questions such as: Where do elk cows calve? How will bulls react to motor vehicles driving on forest roads?

Throughout human history, we’ve been fascinated by nature. From Sir Francis Drake to Lewis and Clark, early explorers enthusiastically observed North America’s wildlife, carefully recording their behavior and habits. Today, many hunters and anglers are just as interested in observing our natural world—and protecting those resources for future generations.

A letter from Microsoft

2007-06-15T19:58:00.001-05:00

Well today I got a letter from Microsoft in regards to my letter to them about partnering with the Humane Society of the United States. The letter states:

Dear Mr. Paulson,

Thank you for forwarding your concern.

At Microsoft, our mission and values are to help people and organizations throughout the world realize their full potential. With the "i'm" Initiative, our goal is to empower our users to support causes that are most important to them through something they do every day - send instant messages. Consistent with our initiative slogan "It's your voice, it's your choice", people are able to choose from among ten of the most recognized social cause organizations that address issues ranging from poverty, child protection, disease, environmental degradation and animal protection.

We respect and value your opinion, however, we do not plan to make changes to our relationship with our partners. We feel strongly that these organizations provide a range of causes that will appeal to a wide range of passions.

Sincerely,
Microsoft Corporation

This decision by Microsoft should upset the 13 million people 16 years and older who enjoy hunting in the U.S each year. I guess that is not enough people to concern Microsoft.

This only highlights to me how much work we have to do as a community of hunters and wildlife conservationists to get the message out about the kinds of things that are provided in this world by hunters. The millions of acres of land that were protected by the Roberts-Pittman Act, the good work of our conservation organizations worldwide and the great human stories that are provided in the field each and every day between friends and family!

Website Updates

2007-06-15T16:29:00.000-05:00

The Blog Page

The Outfitter Listing Page

Pictures from my Camera

2007-06-15T16:02:00.000-05:00

I know these are not exactly hunting related but these are my future hunting and it is fathers day so I am sharing my kids pictures.

Madison

Tristan

Audrey and Bubbles

Very Cool Thunder Cloud

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Names Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Begins Nationwide Search to Replace J. Dart

2007-06-15T14:33:00.000-05:00

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Names Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Begins Nationwide Search to Replace J. Dart

(June 13, 2007) Missoula, Montana — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Board of Directors announced today that it has named an interim president and chief executive officer to replace Peter J. Dart, who resigned from the wildlife conservation organization last week.

The board named Walker S. “Buddy” Smith, Jr. to serve as interim president and chief executive officer of the Missoula-based organization. Smith, of Great Falls, Montana and Midlothian, Virginia, completed a two-year term as Chairman of the Board of the Elk Foundation in February. He has been a member of the organization since 1984.

In addition, the board named Rod Triepke, who is currently serving the organization as Vice President of Administration and Chief Information Officer, as interim Chief Operations Officer. Smith and Triepke will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the foundation and will begin their new responsibilities after June 15. A nationwide search has already begun to find a replacement for Dart who served as president and chief executive officer for four years.

Smith is a long-time Elk Foundation volunteer, board member and leader. He played a key role in helping the organization re-establish elk in their native habitat in eastern states. He is an Elk Foundation Life Member, a Benefactor Habitat Partner, serves on the Habitat Council, served as Habitat Council Chair 2000-2002, and is a member of the Elk Foundation’s Trails Society. Smith also was the recipient in 2000 of the Elk Foundation’s Chairman’s Award.

Triepke, an Elk Foundation employee since 1993, holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and holds a Master’s of Business Administration degree. A native of Montana, he has served as the organization’s treasurer since 2004. Triepke is a lifelong hunter, angler and conservationist.

“The Board of Directors and the Executive Team at the Elk Foundation will move as quickly as possible to identify the best possible candidates for the President and CEO position and the position of Chief Operations Officer,” said Andy Hoxsey, Chairman of the Board. “The Elk Foundation is a large organization with 150,000 members and 10,000 active volunteers. We are searching for a leader with the ability to build on our 23 years of conservation successes and who will inspire employees, members and volunteers.”

Hoxsey acknowledged Dart’s accomplishments during his four years at the helm of the organization. During the past four years, the Elk Foundation permanently protected 136,000 acres, enhanced an additional 1 million acres and funded more than 1,800 projects. At the same time, the organization grew net assets from nearly $37 million to more than $51 million, ran a capital campaign to build a first-class headquarters and an outstanding Elk Country Visitor Center in Missoula, and signed a deal to create an eastern version of the visitor center in Pennsylvania.

“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has become well known throughout the nation,” Hoxsey said. “We have emerged as a recognized leader among conservation groups working to conserve habitat. As we approach our 25th anniversary, we are well-positioned to extend our reach to greater accomplishments in the future.”

Dart announced last week that he was leaving the Elk Foundation to pursue personal opportunities and spend more time with his family. He joined the organization in May 2003, after serving as executive director of Safari Club International and the SCI Foundation.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, Mont., the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk Foundation and its partners have permanently protected or enhanced more than 5 million acres, a land area more than twice as large as Yellowstone National Park. Nearly 500,000 acres previously closed to public access are now open for hunting, fishing and other recreation. The Elk Foundation has more than 150,000 members, a staff of 150 and 10,000 active volunteers. To help protect wild elk country or learn more about the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, visit www.elkfoundation.org or call 800-CALL-ELK.

Instances of Dumb People!!!

2007-06-15T09:55:00.000-05:00

Dumb Stupid Dumb...

I was at the checkout of a K-Mart. The clerk rang up $46.64 charge. I gave her a fifty dollar bill. She gave me back $46.64. I gave it back to her and told her that she had made a mistake in MY favor and gave her the money back. She became indignant and informed me she was educated and knew what she was doing, and returned the money again. I gave her the money back again...same scenario! I departed the store with the $46.64.

................They Walk Among Us and Many Work Retail.

I walked into a Mickey D's with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for a sandwich. I handed it to the girl and she looked over at a little chalkboard that said "buy one-get one free." "They're already buy-one-get-one-free", she said, "so I guess they're both free" She handed me my free sandwiches and I walked out the door.

................They Walk Among Us and Many Work R etail.

One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when one of them shouted, "Look at that dead bird!" Someone looked up at the sky and said, "Where?"

................They Walk Among Us!

While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?" When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, "Oh I don't keep up with that stuff."

................They Walk Among Us!!

I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific."

................They Walk Among Us!

My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk.

................They Walk Among Us!

My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount.

................They Walk Among Us!

I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smile d and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, has your plane arrived yet?"

................They Walk Among Us!

While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces."

................Yep, They Walk Among Us!

They Walk Among Us, AND they reproduce, and WORST OF
ALL...................................they VOTE!

Dennis is Relentless!!!!!!

2007-06-14T21:34:00.000-05:00

I know Dennis Brauchle is Relentless by Nature. Now lets go out and tell the world by voting for him regularly!!!! Please drop onto this site and give Dennis a quick vote and you will have a chance at winning $100.00 each and every week. We can all vote once per day!!!

Dennis took over 1st place today in the race to be crowned "Relentless by Nature!"

Bowhead whale taken this year held century-old harpoon head

2007-06-14T21:29:00.001-05:00

Bowhead whale taken this year held century-old harpoon head

BARROW: Projectile sawed from carcass linked to late-1800s hunt.

By ERIN CONROY
The Associated Press

Published: June 13, 2007
Last Modified: June 13, 2007 at 02:40 AM

BOSTON -- A 50-ton bowhead whale harvested off the Alaska coast near Barrow last month had a weapon fragment embedded in its neck that showed it survived a similar hunt -- more than a century ago.

LINK TO THE STORY HERE!!!

Conservation Force Press Release

2007-06-14T21:08:00.000-05:00

PRESS RELEASE
On Friday, June 1, 2007 the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&WS) published in the Federal Register its positions for the 14th COP of CITES, 72FR30606. There are three (3) alarming surprises for the world hunting community. The USF&WS is opposing the proposed leopard quota for Uganda, the increase in the leopard quota for Mozambique from 60 to 120 and is undecided on Kenya’s proposal to withdraw the black rhino quotas of Namibia and South Africa (5 each.)

The USF&Ws states in the Notice that neither Uganda nor Mozambique have demonstrated an adequate scientific basis to support their leopard quota requests. Not “enough biological information about the populations of leopard or their prey” has been provided.

John Jackson, Chairman of Conservation Force, said, “Uganda’s quota requestis a nominal 28. Uganda has little hope of establishing a viable tourist hunting basewithout the quota. The suggestion that more information is necessary to demonstratethat the quota would not be detrimental is absurd and reflects more on the challenger,the USF&WS, then on the documentation. Unfortunately the opposition suggests the U.S. will not accept the quota or allow the import of leopard from Uganda regardless of any COP adopted quotas. It is another case of over-regulation by the International Office of the USF&WS.

Mozambique is seeking to increase its quota from 60 to 120 which would still be one of the lowest quotas of any country quota. That increase is absolutely necessary to provide for export from new “expanding destinations in Mozambique, particularly the 11 million acre Niassa Reserve. Without the increase there will not be any export permits for Niassa which makes safari hunting there highly untenable.

The U.S. suggestion that there is any merit to Kenya’s attack on the Rhino quotas adopted at COP13 is troubling. The very idea that the taking of five rhino could be detrimental is once again more reflective on International Office of the USF&WS than on the biology and management of black rhino that are well managed and increasing in numbers.

The opposition is the epitome of bureaucracy. All three quotas are too small to be of account. One would like to think that the U.S. is just unnecessarily harking for high standards, but its past and present practices demonstrate a growing attitude against tourist hunting. If the U.S. prevails in its opposition to the leopard quotas, those two countries will have to renew their request at the next COP in three (3) years.

For more information contact John J. Jackson, III, Chairman of Conservation Force, JJW-NO@att.net or 504-837-1233.

Conservation Force Website

Leupold Golden Ring FX-III Silhouette Riflescopes

2007-06-13T23:24:00.000-05:00

www.Leupold.com

Picassa Web Slideshow

2007-06-13T22:54:00.000-05:00

Here is a web slide show of all of the pictures put on the blog in the last year!

I am going to play with these some more over time to create some great little photo albums and slide shows for the new website! Hope you all enjoy these!

CITES OK's Ivory Sale

2007-06-13T22:24:00.000-05:00

CITES ok's the sale of Ivory from stockpiles in Africa. I think this is absolutely awesome! The sale has brought about a ton of controversy because the thought was that the sale of Ivory would effect the black market in Ivory trade. Now these stockpiles can flood the market and drive down the prices of illegally traded ivory and the money from the stockpiles will be put into trust funds for wildlife conservation in those areas. Attached is the text from the CITES decision on this matter.
CITES is very important to watch and learn from. If you want to learn about international trade, international hunting issues, check out the CITES website!

Elephants – Conditions for the disposal of ivory stocks and generating resources
for conservation in African elephant range States

Directed to Parties

10.2
(Rev. CoP11)

a) The African elephant range States recognize:

i) the threats that stockpiles pose to sustainable legal trade;

ii) that stockpiles are a vital economic resource for them;

iii) that various funding commitments were made by donor countries and agencies to offset the loss of assets in the interest of unifying these States regarding the inclusion of African elephant populations in Appendix I;

iv) the significance of channelling such assets from ivory into improving conservation and community-based conservation and development programmes;

v) the failure of donors to fund elephant conservation action plans drawn up by the range States at the urging of donor countries and conservation organizations; and

vi) that, at its ninth meeting, the Conference of the Parties directed the Standing Committee to review the issue of stockpiles and to report back at the 10th meeting.

b) Accordingly, the African elephant range States agree that all revenues from any purchase of stockpiles by donor countries and organizations will be deposited in and managed through conservation trust funds, and that:

i) such funds shall be managed by Boards of Trustees (such as representatives of Governments, donors, the CITES Secretariat, etc.) set up, as appropriate, in each range State, which would direct the proceeds into enhanced conservation, monitoring, capacity building and local community-based programmes; and

ii) these funds must have a positive rather than harmful influence on elephant conservation.

c) It is understood that this decision provides for a one-off purchase for non-commercial purposes of government stocks declared by African elephant range States to the CITES Secretariat within the 90-day period before the transfer to Appendix II of certain populations of the African elephant takes effect. The ivory stocks declared should be marked in accordance with the ivory marking system approved by the Conference of the Parties in Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP12). In addition, the source of ivory stocks should be given. The stocks of ivory should be consolidated in a pre-determined number of locations. An independent audit of any declared stocks shall be undertaken under the auspices of TRAFFIC International, in cooperation with the CITES Secretariat.

d) The African elephant range States that have not yet been able to register their ivory stocks and develop adequate controls over ivory stocks require priority assistance from donor countries to establish a level of conservation management conducive to the long-term survival of the African elephant.

e) The African elephant range States therefore urge that this matter be acted upon urgently since any delays will result in illegal trade and the premature opening of ivory trade in non-proponent range States.

f) This mechanism only applies to those range States wishing to dispose of ivory stocks and agreeing to and participating in:

i) an international system for reporting and monitoring legal and illegal international trade, through an international database in the CITES Secretariat and TRAFFIC International; and

ii) an international system for reporting and monitoring illegal trade and illegal hunting within or between elephant range States, through an international database in the CITES Secretariat, with support from TRAFFIC International and institutions such as the IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group and the Lusaka Agreement.

Sudan’s migrating wildlife wows scientists

2007-06-13T22:03:00.001-05:00

Conservationists surprised to find species thriving after civil war

By Andrea Thompson

Updated: 2:57 p.m. ET June 12, 2007

NEW YORK - More than a million animals — including elephants, buffaloes, ostriches, lions, giraffes and a rare type of stork — have been unexpectedly seen living and migrating across Southern Sudan, where no surveys of wildlife had been conducted for the past 25 years due to civil war in the region.

Decades of war wrought significant damage to the region, along with excessive hunting, desertification of the land and periodic droughts, so wildlife numbers were declining in the stricken country. Based on observations in other war-torn nations, conservationists thought the wildlife in Southern Sudan would be wiped out, but it wasn't.

REST OF THE STORY AT MSNBC!!!!

Go Check out this story.. The photos are very good and the story is very well written.

2007 Washington State Rocky Mountain Bighorn Raffle

2007-06-13T21:29:00.000-05:00

The great chapter of Washington State FNAWS also has a great raffle for a Bighorn Sheep tag among the Black Butte, Wenaha, and Mountain View Herds in GMUs 169, 172, 181 & 186 subject to approval by WDFW Commission. Contact Ramslam@hotmail.com with any questions you may have about the raffle! Last year John Amistoso and outfitter Craig Martin of Tucannon Outfitters took this tremendous ram green scoring 196+. The largest ram taken in the state of Washington in 17 years! Tickets are $20.00 each and there is no discount for multiple tickets but you can get as many as you would like! The Washington State FNAWS team has great plans for this money working to increase habitat, radio collaring, and more! Their website is great and it has the order form available for download! I am going to buy a couple of tickets to this raffle and I want you all to buy a couple as well.

Please give these guys your support at: WWW.WAFNAWS.COM

Kennesaw boy, dad spend final days together on hunting trip

2007-06-13T17:03:00.000-05:00

By TED CLARKE
Prince George Citizen
Published on: 06/11/07

Ten-year-old Jonathan Kerr of Kennesaw, gravely ill with liver cancer, fulfilled a final wish last week by hunting bear with his dad in the Canadian wilderness.

On Thursday, he died during the plane ride back home to Atlanta.

Jonathan's funeral is today in Forest Hill, W. Va.

The family's grief is tempered only by the fact that Jonathan realize his dying wish by hunting in British Columbia with his father, Bruce Kerr.

"It was fantastic and he had such fun," Kerr said by phone from West Virginia, where Jonathan's mother's family lives. "It was unbelievable."

On the trip, he and his father saw snow and 90 degree weather, fished for trout and killed a bear in the wild during a hunt near the Yellowhead River.

On the Delta flight back home, Jonathan stopped moving his eyes when the plane was about 40 minutes away from landing in Atlanta. A nurse and a pediatrician on the plane helped the boy in his final moments, his father said.

REST OF THE STORY HERE: AJC.COM

Do Not Feed the Bears in Virginia!

2007-06-13T16:49:00.000-05:00

With a healthy and growing black bear population, bear sightings during the spring and summer months are not unusual in Virginia. However, bears showing up in areas where they are not commonly seen can cause quite a stir. Summer is the breeding season for the black bear, a time of year when bears are naturally on the move. Adult males may roam well beyond their normal range searching for mates.

Bears are highly adaptable and intelligent animals and can learn to associate human dwellings with food. In their search for food, bears are attracted to residential areas by the smell of food around homes. The most common food attractants are bird feeders, garbage and pet food. Outdoor grills, livestock food, compost, fruit trees and beehives can also attract bears. Keep your full or empty trash containers secured in a garage, shed or basement. If you have a trash collection service, put your trash out the morning of the pickup, not the night before. Take down your birdfeeder temporarily until the bear moves on.

Bears generally avoid humans, but in their search for food, they may wander into suburban areas. So, what should you do if you see a bear? The most important response is to keep a respectful distance. Black bears have a natural fear of humans and, in most cases, would rather flee than have an encounter with people. If a bear is up a tree on or near your property, give it space. Do not approach or gather around the base of the tree. By bringing your pets inside and leaving the immediate area, you give the bear a clear path to leave your property.

Always remember that a bear is a wild animal and that it is detrimental, as well as illegal in Virginia, to feed a bear under any circumstances. Even the inadvertent feeding of nuisance bears is illegal. When bears lose their fear of people, property damage may occur. Bears habituated to humans may cause safety concerns and often times need to be destroyed.

If you do see a bear in your area, enjoy watching it from a distance. If you experience a bear problem after taking appropriate steps of prevention, please notify the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at (804) 367-1258.

Mr. Relentless by Nature!

2007-06-13T14:18:00.000-05:00

Friends and Family,

As you may know I am relentless in pursuing hunting opportunities. Since meeting my good friend Kevin Paulson on my hunt to Idaho last year I have set some goals to increase my dreams of hunting big game animals on a regular basis. One of these will be an antelope hunt with Kevin this September in Wyoming. Some of you may know that Kevin Paulson has a website www.huntinglife.com. Through the effectiveness and popularity of this site he presented me an opportunity to sign up for a contest sponsored by Wolverine. I signed up for this as of yesterday. What I need is for people to vote for me on the www.iamwolverine,com website. You can vote once a day and takes very little time to do. What happens is every time you vote you get a chance to win a $100.00 Wolverine gift certificate. When you vote for me I will have the ultimate chance of being featured on a national Wolverine ad. I need all the votes I can get. I may get some boots or something out of the deal but it might be fun. Anyhow, if you or if you know anyone willing to vote for me just go to www.iamwolverine.com and vote. Let's have fun with it. Pass this along to anyone who loves to hunt, fish, enjoys conservation and who can relate to who I am and what I love to do.

Dennis J. Brauchle

WHAT A GREAT LETTER DENNIS!!!!!!!

Idaho 2007 Bighorn Sheep Raffle

2007-06-13T09:40:00.001-05:00

Please log on to: Idaho 2007 Bighorn Sheep Raffle and buy yourself a dozen or so tickets to this raffle. This is a fantastic opportunity to get your sheep tag and start working on that Grand Slam opportunity! Before I pass on to the big pearly gates, I will be hunting all of the great species of sheep in North America! The great thing about this raffle is the money goes to FNAWS.

I sent in my $50.00 for 6 tickets and you all should do the same.. If you only have $10.00 thats good for one ticket and $100.00 for 13 tickets. There is no limit to how many tickets you can buy but the chance to hunt Big Horn Sheep in Idaho would be the dream hunt of a lifetime!!!!

It only takes one ticket to win and the drawing is on the 25th of July so you will have plenty of time to research the best areas to hunt!

Dennis Brauchle wishes to be known as Relentless by Nature!

2007-06-12T17:04:00.001-05:00

Well, Dennis needed a new pair of boots especially after his ugly pair of shoes decided on a jet-setting lifestyle without him.

Luckily for him Wolverine has a great little promotion going on and Dennis is our HERO!

HuntingLife.com is promoting Dennis to be in the next Wolverine print advertisement and hopefully win himself some new boots for our next hunting adventure together! This really looks like a fun promotion for both Dennis and all of you as readers as well. Just log on to the I am Wolverine website sponsored by Wolverine and vote daily for Dennis Brauchle to win this promotion! You are allowed to vote every day and each vote will allow you a chance to win a $100.00 gift certificate to Wolverine and there will be 16 winners over the life of this promotion. I will be reminding you all regularly to help out on this promotion and if you want to you can even sign up and try and win yourselves if you feel you would make a great model for a Wolverine Advertisement! Are you Relentless by Nature?

I know Dennis Brauchle is Relentless by Nature. Now lets go out and tell the world by voting for him regularly!!!!

American buys slices of South America

2007-06-12T10:56:00.000-05:00

By SHANE ROMIG, Associated Press Writer
LOS ESTEROS DEL IBERA, Argentina - The American multimillionaire who founded the North Face and Esprit clothing lines says he is trying to save the planet by buying bits of it. First Douglas Tompkins purchased a huge swath of southern Chile, and now he's hoping to save the northeast wetlands of neighboring Argentina.

He has snapped up more than half a million acres of the Esteros del Ibera, a vast Argentine marshland teeming with wildlife.

Tompkins, 64, is a hero to some for his environmental stewardship. Others resent his land purchases as a foreign challenge to their national patrimony.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Tompkins said industrialized agriculture is chewing up big chunks of Argentina's fragile marshland and savanna, and that essential topsoil is disappearing as a result.

"Everywhere I look here in Argentina I see massive abuse of the soil ... just like what happened in the U.S. 20 or 30 years ago," he said.

The rest of the story at here at yahoo.com

Buffalo River Elk Festival will feature permit drawing

2007-06-11T22:34:00.001-05:00

JASPER, AR - Jasper and Newton County residents are busy preparing for their annual Buffalo River Elk Festival. The festival is scheduled to begin Friday, June 29, and continue through Saturday, June 30.

The award winning festival began in 1998 to celebrate the successful reintroduction of elk to Newton County and has been an annual event every year since.

The highlight of the festival is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission drawing for elk hunting permits. Hunters this year will have a chance to win one of the 26 public land permits available online at www.agfc.com or at any license dealer during May. Thousands of hopeful elk hunters applied for the permits for last year's hunt. The two-segment season will be held Sept. 24-28 and Dec. 3-7.

An added attraction for this year’s hunt will be an on-site drawing for a permit. One permit will be issued to someone who makes application at the Elk Festival in Jasper. Sign up, stick around and you may win a permit. For this permit, the lucky hunter must be present. Just like the other public land elk permits to be drawn, entrants must be an Arkansas resident.

The drawings and most of the activities will be at the courthouse square in Jasper with a kids' fishing derby on the banks of the Little Buffalo River. There will also be a talent show, turkey shoot, Arkansas State Championship Elk Calling Contest, Miss Elk Festival Beauty Pageant and a Dutch oven cook-off sanctioned by the Arkansas Dutch Oven Society.

Successful elk hunting applicants will be able to take along non-hunting helpers, according to Mike Cartwright; elk program coordinator for the AGFC. "A hunter can hire a professional guide, but guides must have permits from the National Park Service if they guide on Buffalo National River land," Cartwright said. The elk hunting permits will be issued for specific zones along and near the Buffalo River .

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be present with several educational programs. For the hunting enthusiasts, drawings for elk permits will be held each hour starting at noon on Saturday.

Mule Deer Foundation has various raffles available to support

2007-06-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

Please go to www.muledeer.org to learn more about these raffles!

MDF Siskiyou Chapter Fundraiser

Between April 1 and August 1, 2007, the Siskiyou Chapter of MDF will be selling tickets for a chance to win a great package that includes:

Kimber 8400 Classic
Swarovski 10x42 Binoculars
Swarovski Rifle Scope 3-10x42

The winner will be announced August 11, 2007. To purchase tickets ($50 each) or for more information, please contact Eddie Reynoso at 559-679-8463 (cell) or e-mail ereynoso@muledeer.org.

Central Wyoming Chapter
of
The Mule Deer Foundation
Buck Rut I
Raffle - 4 Hunt Giveaway

$100.00 per Ticket
Only 500 tickets sold. 4 chances to win.
PLUS:
Everyone is a winner with the Shoshone Wilderness Productions' "Magnum Hunt Club".
Your purchase entitles you to first year free membership in the Magnum Hunt Club—a $100 value. The Magnum Hunt Club draws for 6 more free guided hunts in your membership year, giving you a total of 10 chances to win, 6 dvd’s and cancellation hunt values, all compliments of the Central Wyoming Mule Deer Foundation and The Magnum Hunt Club. In a day where $100 just fills your gas tank, this is a no-brainer. A $100 ticket supports a great organization, gives you 10 chances to win fully guided hunts, 6 great dvds in your Magnum Hunt Club membership year and access to the best cancellation/discount hunt list in the industry.
The winner will be responsible for all transportation to and from the camps, license fees, gratuities, taxidermy, meat processing and any other fees not involved with the price of the hunt.
Please contact us @ cfisch4@yahoo.com or by phone @ 307-234-6941.

Win a Red Stag hunt in
new Zealand!
The Reno chapter of the Mule
Deer Foundation and Kiwi safaris are
giving away a hunt of a lifetime.
The hunt includes a 5 day Red Stag Trophy
hunt for 1 hunter and 1 non-hunter guided by
Kiwi safaris, to be taken between March 1st and
July 31st 2008. Airfare, luxury lodging, and
transportation are all Included!!

Tickets are only $60 each and
Only 1000 tickets will be sold!!!
All proceeds from this hunt will go toward
Habitat restoration in the state of Nevada.
The winning ticket will be drawn Nov 8th 2007
To order tickets or questions contact:

Billie Gregory George jones Fawna Gregory
775-970-5474 775-219-7092 775-741-1296
775-741-1494 775-972-9337

LEHIGH VALLEY HUNTING & FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA

2007-06-11T21:32:00.001-05:00

LEHIGH VALLEY HUNTING & FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA A FAMILY AFFAIR

Kempton Fairgrounds to Host June 22-24 Outdoor Show

It’s show time.

What is arguably Pennsylvania’s most innovative outdoors show heads into its second season June 22 as the Lehigh Valley Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza opens its gates for the three-day, activity-packed expo at Kempton Fairgrounds in Berks County, a beautiful site overlooking the Blue Mountain and the home of Weaknecht’s Bow Fair for 15 summers.

The Friday noon through Sunday show will be chock full of activities for participants and spectators. Few shows offer as many hands-on activities geared to both kids and adults. Visitors can spend the day wandering the spacious fairground and stop by booths, demonstrations, displays, seminars and other attractions set up inside two large halls, under the roofed picnic pavilion and beneath the open sky. Be sure to allow sufficient time to peruse a variety of activities certain to entertain, educate and enjoy in this rain-or-shine event. From training dogs to shooting muzzleloaders, there’s something for everyone. Come early and stay late.

This is a family and “troop” experience with adults from regional and statewide sportsmen’s groups volunteering their time and talents as youth mentors of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youngsters attending the exposition.

“This has everything a regular sports show has – new products, sales of outdoor gear, outfitters, manufacturers with their new products and a heck of a lot more – even an outdoor flea market,” said show co-director Bob Danenhower. “It’s focused on both kids and adults. It really is a family affair.”

A partial listing of local organizations and sportsmen’s clubs participating in the second annual summer extravaganza includes: Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs; Pennsylvania Trappers Assn.; Walking Purchase and Jerry Zimmerman Chapters of he National Wild Turkey Federation; Federated Sportsmen’s Clubs of Berks County; Lehigh County Federated Sportsmen’s Club; U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla; Limerick Bowmen; Daisy BB Guns; Weaknecht Archery; Oley Valley Fish & Game; U.S. Army; Piersen Plugs; Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Comm.; Pennsylvania Game Comm; and the L.V. Wildlands Conservancy.

Helping make the show an affordable and a quality experience is substantial backing provided by Rothrock Motors of Allentown with a Diamond Sponsorship, the L.V. Chapter of Safari Club Int. with a Gold Sponsorship and Cabela’s with a Silver Sponsorship. Sponsors will also have displays set up with their products throughout the extravaganza, including the showing of Rothrock Dodge trucks and SUV’s of appeal to hunters and anglers and a mini-Cabela’s booth.

What else is on tap during the outdoor show?

• Bowhunters from miles around will be honing their skills throughout each day in the Weaknecht Bow Fair’s challenging 50-target, 3-D Course set up in woodland, hillside, rolling grass field and raised stations. The shoot will be split into two sections with archers taking aim at targets placed at moderate distances for the “Traditional Shoot” and others at longer, and more difficult distances in the “Modern Archery” division. Both types of gear may be used for novelty shoots and the popular and a challenging running deer event. An $8 fee will be charged per 50-target round along with some extra shooting, upon request. Bring your bow.

• If you’re a dog lover, a wide array of specialty breeds and their experienced trainers will demonstrate their canines’ talents, tricks and obedience training. Things get off to a howling start with the Blue Marsh Beagle Club of Summit Station and its friendly, droopy-eared rabbit-chasers, several of which will be on hand for petting and barking. Need advice on raising and training these popular dogs? Get it from club members. That’s followed with an introduction to the German Short-haired Pointer Rescue, an unusual and dedicated organization whose purpose is placing unwanted hunting dogs with families and responsible individuals. Then comes the Swamp Dog Club demonstrating the power and skills of highly-trained retrievers. Established in 1948, the club will conduct two demonstrations on Sunday. The Berks County Performing Dogs will run a challenging agility course and show visitors are invited to bring their own dogs. Attendees young and old will also be given the opportunity to try their hands in leading trained dogs through their routines. Yet another hands-and-paws must-see is the North Paws 4-H Seeing Eye Dog Puppy Club. The group places pups in temporary homes with young 4-H members prior to their intense training as seeing-eye dogs. Wrapping up the canine learning experience is Ron Leh of Cabela’s with his hunting partners, Labrador retrievers Ambie and Kenda. Ron will offer seminars on “Introducing Your Dog to Training Collars” and an “E-Collar Training Clinic.”

• Getting plenty of attention last summer was the Mr. L.V. Outdoorsmen Competition and the Miss L.V. Competition. This time around add a new Junior (age 15 and under) division to the event. Adult participants will begin competition Saturday morning with the best and most unusual events beginning in mid afternoon, when spectators should plan to be on hand. Winners will be announced about 4:30 p.m. Everything from shooting to “deer dragging” and other tests of dubious skill (the Slippery, Slimy Fish Throwing Contest, for example) will be humorous yet hard-fought. Adding zest to the contests will be awards of $300 Cabela’s “Shopping Sprees” to each of the three first place winners. The awards are donated by Cabela’s Hamburg store. Add to that $80 adult memberships in the L.V. Chapter of Safari Club International. Last year’s winners were Forrest Carlson of Kutztown and Susan Transue, Walnutport. Register on-line by June 18 or call 610-398-7609 for details.

• If, indeed, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, bring along a few extra bucks to get in on a rich array of used and “experienced” outdoor gear of all sorts in the Outdoorsmen’s Flea Market, to be held Saturday and Sunday. Last year’s sale of hunting, fishing and related items is expected to double or triple in bargain-priced merchandise this time around. Registration cost is $20 per section per day. Check the show Website at www.lvhfe.com for specifics.

• Another big draw will be the Pennsylvania Big Buck Display featuring the 2006 Lehigh County 16-point whitetail shot by Lynn Lazarus, Sr. on opening day. The buck pulled the scales to hefty 200-pounds and scored 187 Buckmasters points. Other bucks exceeding 130 Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young points will also be available for up-close study. Bring your own big buck mount for display. Bring your camera, too. The display is sponsored by Bob’s Wildlife Taxidermy of Orefield.

• Also back thanks to last year’s popularity is the Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters’ primitive encampment with lots to do and see and good things to eat. Touching upon primitive lifestyles, mountaineer cooking, blanket trading and plenty more, the state’s “mountain men” invite all show visitors to stop by. Step back in time with federation V.P. Charles Sumpter and his cohorts and test your skills on the blackpowder shooting range or tossing tomahawks and more – including a 10-shot, paper target contest and silhouettes. Bring your own muzzleloader and give it a shot or borrow a smokepole supplied by the federation.

• Novices may want to shoulder a non-explosive Laser gun and take aim at a hi-tech screen simulating actual hunting situations such as pheasants flying or cottontails bounding under the guidance of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the Federated Sportsmen’s Club of Berks County. Hunters and non-hunters alike will enjoy the experience.

• A new simulated bowhunting game of pop-up 3-D targets from Motion Targets makes its local debut. Creators forecast the new competitive shoot will soon be challenging other recreational archery games across the country. Stick an arrow in a 3-D target and another immediately springs up. For a nominal fee you can give this innovative game a try.

• Certain to be a big draw for scouts is the 2007 Scout Challenge, a 10-station competition scattered across the fairgrounds to test youngsters’ talents in BB-gun marksmanship, tomahawk tossing, casting accuracy, knot tying and other events. Courtesy of the show directors, cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 respectively will go to the first, second and third place finishers in the Scout Challenge. Courtesy of Safari Club International, the Top Gun Girl Scout and Boy Scout winners will win $250 each for their troops. The more scouts shooting, the better the chance for a troop to return home a bit richer. The 2006 event drew boy and girl scouts from three states and 19 troops.

• Next on the shooting agenda (for kids and adults) is the 10-station, 50-target Sporting Clays Shoot. Claybirds will simulate anything from fast-moving “rabbits” or high-flying “ducks” and everything in between. Choose either 25-bird or 50-bird target stations. Bring your own shotgun or borrow a 12-, 20-, 28- or .410 gauge shotgun supplied by Oley Valley Fish & Game, says shoot director Don Hoffman. A nominal fee will be charged.

• With air guns provided by Daisy BB Guns and pellet guns, the Lehigh County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs will coordinate and instruct kids under age 16 in this fun event. And don’t miss the Turkey Hunt Challenge under the direction of the two local turkey federation chapters listed previously. Kids will shoot marshmallows at turkey decoys set up at several distances. Then there’s the Cabela’s Fishermen’s Casting Challenge and the Limerick Bowmen’s Junior Bowmen’s Challenge. Score sheets covering most contests and activities will be given to youngsters when they enter the fairgrounds. The first 100 youngsters to take a short course at the rifle range will be given a parent’s guide booklet on gun safety and receive a Jr. U.S. Shooting Team jacket patch courtesy of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

• New this time around is the U.S. Army’s contribution to the 2007 extravaganza as Sgt. First Class John Adams and his crew instruct in the proper techniques for navigating a climbing wall, firing at targets on a high-tech shooting simulator and explaining the intricacies of the corps’ newest “decked-out” Hummer. Soldiers’ spouses will add to the fun by making dog tags and camo-painting kids’ faces. Finish up your visit with some physical fitness and marksman contests with prizes to the top performers.

• Kids won’t want to miss the chance to take home a trout – at no charge --thanks to the Cedarbrook Sportsmen’s Club who will be stocking the small fairgrounds creek, pending acceptable flows and temperature conditions.

• Bring the family to the L.V. Search and Rescue’s entertaining and educational demonstrations on search, rescue, wilderness survival and canine involvement in saving lives. The new group serves the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Don’t miss it.

• Things come to a close Sunday at 5 p.m. with a used 3-D target auction which will yield some true bargains. Sale items will include everything from squirrel to coyote and deer to bear targets used in the Weaknecht Bow Shoot.

***************************************************************************
Show hours are: Friday, June 22, noon-8 p.m.; Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, June 24, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Admission is $4 for adults; kids ages 8-12, $1; kids under 8, free and uniformed troops and their leaders free. Parking is also free.

For more information on all aspects of the L.V. Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza, log on to the show Website at www.lvhfe.com or call show directors Bob Danenhower, Sr. (610-398-7609) or Rick Weaknecht (610-683-7405).

Directions: Take Exit 40 off I-78 at Krumsville. Travel five miles on 737N to town of Kempton. Go through town to fairgrounds.

Ugly Shoes Hit the Big Apple!

2007-06-11T18:17:00.001-05:00

You never know where an ugly pair of shoes will turn up, but at least they are not on your friends feet!!!!!

Winchester SX3 fastest shotgun in the world

2007-06-11T15:44:00.001-05:00

Watching this clip I am blown away by the speed of this shotgun. 1.442 seconds for 12 rounds of 12 gauge ammo. WOW... Winchester has got to be happy with those numbers.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation CEO resigns

2007-06-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

I am deeply upset and saddened by this news. I have dedicated years to this organization and tons of my own money and I believe in the organization tremendously and I believed in J. Dart as the leader of that organization for many more years to come. With that being said, Peter J. Dart(or J. Dart as most know him) will be a tremendous loss to the Elk Foundation. His shoes will be incredibly hard to fill! He was a leader, He inspired people, He is a someone I will always look up to in life and be motivated by. He is a conservation god!

I am sure I will have a ton more to say on this as time goes on. As a volunteer for this organization and as a life member I want to be led, I want to be inspired and I want this organization to grow in members and in the habitat that it protects. I hope the board of Directors understands the immense shoes it now has to fill and I hope they never forget the tremendous responsibility they have in choosing a leader that will inspire the volunteers as strongly as J. Dart has done in the last 4 years.

Here is the news story.

Elk Foundation CEO resigns

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MISSOULA, Mont. -- The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation chief executive announced he is resigning after four years with the conservation group.

Peter J. Dart, president and CEO at the foundation, oversaw the organization's move to a new $5 million facility in Missoula and conservation of more than 1 million acres of elk habitat nationwide.

Dart sent a letter to staff on Wednesday announcing his decision.

"It is with mixed emotions that I wish to inform you of my decision to resign as the Elk Foundation's president and chief executive officer, effective June 15," Dart said in his letter. "This difficult decision will allow me to spend more time with my family and pursue new opportunities."

The board is expected to meet next week to start talking about a replacement.

Dart was not asked to leave and the decision was unexpected, said David Parcell, RMEF vice president of marketing and communication.

"As an organization, we want to recognize Js important contribution," he said.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recently celebrated its 23rd anniversary.

"We're well-positioned," Parcell said. "A lot of that has to do with J.'s work over the last four years."

Dart's annual compensation was $210,880 according to a 2006 filing with the Internal Revenue Service.

Dart previously held positions with Safari Club International and the SCI Foundation. Before that he was president of Dart International Inc., a for-profit company that invented and produced interactive video target systems for use in the shooting sports industry.

---

J. Dart's Bio from The RMEF Website:

President & Chief Executive Officer
Peter J. Dart

A recognized leader in the shooting sports and hunting industry for over 17 years, Peter J. Dart is the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s president and chief executive officer. Dart has long been passionate about the organization’s mission—he is an Elk Foundation Life Member and Habitat Council Member.

Dart also has great passion for the challenges associated with running a successful business, whether for-profit or non-profit. Before coming to the Elk Foundation, he was the executive director of Safari Club International and the SCI Foundation. Prior to that, for 11 years, he was president of Dart International Inc., a for-profit company that invented and produced interactive video target systems for use in various aspects of the shooting sports industry, including hunter education. After several years of rapid growth, he negotiated the merger and sale of Dart International Inc. in 1998 to Firearms Training Systems Inc., headquartered in Atlanta. Dart continued as President of the company until Jan. 2001.

Dart currently serves on the Sporting Conservation Council, which is a Federal advisory committee developed to advise the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture on wildlife resource conservation issues of interest to the hunting community. He has served on the board of the Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization (now the Archery Trade Association), and was its chair from 1998-2000. He served on the industry advisory board for the International Hunter Education Association, as well as the board of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in Washington, D.C. Dart is a life member of several conservation organizations. He also actively volunteers for a variety of professional associations.

Dart earned a business degree from the University of Colorado in 1981. He is an avid hunter and outdoors enthusiast as well as a devoted family man. He and wife Cheryl and son Justin enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities from hunting to fishing to skiing.

New Blog focused on Africa and more

2007-06-09T08:33:00.001-05:00

Check out Hunters South Africa! It is an eclectic collection of news in regards to hunting in South Africa and all kinds of various news! Good Stuff.

Lehigh Valley Outdoor Show

2007-06-08T21:42:00.001-05:00

Head on over to the Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza and check out the show.
This looks like a fantastic event!
Bob dropped me an email and asked me to enter the Outdoorsmen Competition. Not sure if I have the time for that but sounds like a fun competition!!

Huntinglife Tag Line Contest Only 24 hours

2007-06-08T17:03:00.000-05:00

I need a Tag Line for a voice over when they run my logo for a TV show we are sponsoring!!!!!!

I will come up with a great prize over $50.00........ Ya'll come up with some great tag lines and either email them to me at kevin@huntinglife.com or post them in the comments below...

Time is of the essence!!!! Hurry Contest runs until 8pm on Saturday night!!!!

Good Luck Everyone.....

My first one was....

Passionate about Hunting and Passionate about Conservation... Huntinglife.com

Upland Feathers are flying around with Links everywhere

2007-06-07T21:18:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of reading the blog of an upland game fan Upland Feathers is written for all of you out there with dreams of taking quail, pheasants, dove, grouse and more. When you all get done picking the feathers out of your teeth head over to the Deer Camp Blog and read about where he came from or we came from..... well you will learn something...I learn tons from both of these blogs.. and ya'all can't forget to stop by and see Othmar and then head off to class at the Outdoor U.

Hey Rex.. It's kind of fun trying to rhyme all these blogs together like this...Kev

This segment brought to you by of Hunt Info Blog and if you need a great designer check him out.. He is one of the greatest designers I know....Macfarland Design..... I am trying to butter him up because I am going to need his help soon. That being said.. Its all true.. He really is one of the greatest designers I know!!!!!!!

Chairman Peterson Vows Conservation Priorities Will Be Protected

2007-06-07T21:03:00.000-05:00

June 7 , 2007
Special Edition

Chairman Peterson Vows Conservation Priorities Will Be Protected
Addressing the sportsmen’s community at a briefing held by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson (D-MN), thanked the sportsmen’s community for the unified effort in identifying and promoting conservation priorities, and provided encouragement that conservation programs contained in the Farm Bill would be maintained. “We are getting within striking distance of making this work -- I am becoming more optimistic we can get this done,” proclaimed Peterson. “At the end of the day it is my intention to ensure the priorities of the sportsmen’s community are included in the bill.” Peterson was referring to a document prepared by the Association of the Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, titled "Fish, Wildlife and the Farm Bill," which includes the list of priorities put forth by more than 40 hunting and fishing organizations. Tempering his remarks against the backdrop of today’s fiscal environment, Peterson said, “We don't have has much money as we would like to go around and that is causing us to make difficult decisions. The 2002 Farm Bill was written at a time when our nation was coming off of significant budget surpluses, while it is estimated that the 2007 Farm Bill will have $60 billion less in funding in the commodities title alone than the last one.” Chairman Peterson is looking to have the House bill marked up by July 4th recess and is hopeful that the bill will be on the floor by mid-July for a House vote. Showing his true colors of camouflage and blaze orange, Peterson closed by saying it was his hopes that the bill would be passed out of the House and Senate and sent to the President by September, so it would not interfere with his hunting season. His parting advice to the hunting, fishing and conservation groups was to stay united in support of the conservation priorities. "By working as one constituency you are a far greater force to help insure that the bill gets passed on time and with your priorities." “Chairman Peterson’s message to the sportsmen’s community today was on point and provided a realistic and encouraging outlook,” stated Jeff Crane, President of CSF. “With nearly $20 billion at stake for conservation, the Farm Bill is the top policy priority for sportsmen. If the sportsmen’s priorities are included in this Farm Bill, it has the potential to be the great conservation bill of the 21st Century." Also addressing the sportsmen’s organizations were House Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressmen Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Ron Kind (D-WI). Congressman Kind, who has been an ardent supporter of the conservation titles in the Farm Bill, emphasized with the group that as the bill gets ready to come to the floor of the House for a vote that the sportsmen’s community needed to have a targeted campaign and to make a big push of support to ensure passage. In addition to CSF, the briefing was also hosted by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and BASF . Both organizations have been working closely with CSF on the Farm Bill reauthorization.

The Sportsman's Link to Congress and State Capitols
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses
110 North Carolina Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003

America's Wetlands

2007-06-06T10:54:00.000-05:00

I just had the pleasure of watching a great online video all about our American Wetlands. There really is no good way to import the video into the blog and we might as well send you to the source which is your United States Fish and Wildlife Service...

America's Wetlands Video about 30 minutes long but worth watching and learning.....

This is an older video but it is a really great educational video and should be watched by all.

Unions Take Unprecedented Farm Bill Stance, Ask Congress to Grow Conservation

2007-06-06T10:15:00.001-05:00

Unions Take Unprecedented Farm Bill Stance, Ask Congress to Grow Conservation

Union sportsmen urge support for conservation programs, inclusion of “Open Fields” provision in Farm Bill

For Immediate Release

Tim Zink, 202-654-4625, tzink@trcp.org

WASHINGTON - May-15 -

More than 3 million hunters and anglers in unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO today called on members of Congress to adequately fund key Farm Bill conservation programs and to include a measure that would allow states to establish or expand private land hunting and fishing access programs.

In a joint letter signed by 17 unions (full text of Senate version follows), the unions urge Congress to follow the Farm Bill policy recommendations of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group (AWWG). The AWWG recommendations are contained in a comprehensive report, entitled Growing Conservation in the Farm Bill, that already has been submitted to Congress.

In their letter, the unions contend: “These recommendations show how the United States can make conservation a new priority when Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill in 2007. The conservation of our natural resources is very important to our union members who hunt, fish and recreate in the outdoors, and they fully support the recommendations in this report.”

The heart of the report’s recommendations are calls for robust funding for several key programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program. The group also recommends improving the effectiveness and efficiency of these programs, and calls for the inclusion of an Open Fields provision in the Farm Bill, to be modeled on legislation championed by Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota that was originally introduced in the 109th Congress and quickly generated more than 50 co-sponsors. An updated version of the Open Fields Bill is expected to be introduced in Congress in the very near future.

In its current form, Open Fields would provide $20 million in federal funding for states to establish and expand private land “walk-in” access programs for hunters and anglers. Such programs already exist in 20 states and have been extremely successful, opening up 26 million acres to sportsmen. They provide voluntary incentives to private landowners who open their property for public use, primarily for hunting. Remarkably cost-effective, these programs directly address declines in hunter and angler numbers felt across the U.S. in the last decade.

“With the loss of places to hunt and fish leading the list of reasons that active sportsmen become former sportsmen, we see Open Fields as a way to improve the quality of life for many of our members,” said Kinsey Robinson, International President of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers. “Open Fields also will be an economic stimulator for local economies nationwide. To gauge how much sportsmen’s dollars matter to rural life, just drive through America’s Heartland and note all the hotels and restaurants with banners welcoming hunters.”

Recognizing that improving sportsmen’s access to farms and ranches is only worthwhile if those farms and ranches have high quality fish and wildlife habitat, the unions urge Congress to sustain and grow programs like CRP that have made it possible for millions of landowners to make millions of acres of private land more fish and wildlife friendly.

“The unions’ entry into the public debate on how to grow conservation in the Farm Bill marks a significant event in our community’s evolution,” said George Cooper, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, which earlier this year announced the launch of a new, union-dedicated program within the TRCP – the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA). “We are adding the voices of millions of American union-sportsmen to the process of shaping a piece of legislation that is of highest importance to all hunters and anglers. It must be recognized that this Farm Bill is being crafted in a very challenging budget climate, and unless we impress upon our leaders how much these conservation programs matter to us, they could face serious cuts. By weighing in on the importance of conservation and access, these unions are helping us ensure that members of Congress know just how critical the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill is to the nation’s sportsmen-conservationists.”

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.

Ozark Borderlands Home to Newest Missouri Quail Forever Chapter

2007-06-06T10:12:00.001-05:00

Ozark Borderlands Home to Newest Missouri Quail Forever Chapter

Fifth QF chapter to form in Missouri this year plans to improve local quail habitat

For Immediate Release

Anthony Hauck (651)209-4972

California, Mo. - May-31 -

Quail enthusiasts in Cole, Moniteau and Cooper Counties have formed Missouri's newest Quail Forever (QF) chapter, known as the Moreau Valley Chapter of QF. The chapter – the fifth QF chapter to form in Missouri this year - will work on local quail habitat restoration and habitat development and youth hunter recruitment in the state's Ozark borderlands region.

"Changes from small to big farms, coinciding with changes in farming practices have reduced the quail population in recent decades, so our mission is to work with farmers and landowners in the three-county area on practices which can reverse that trend," said Ron Lehman, the chapter's newly-elected president from Jefferson City.

Cole, Moniteau and Cooper Counties lie in Missouri's Ozark borderlands – hilly areas that also contain crop land. "It's a good mix of habitat type, which offers plenty of potential in terms of doing projects that benefit quail," said Elsa Gallagher, QF Regional Wildlife Biologist.

One of the measures available to landowners that may benefit quail in the region is federal Conservation Practice 33 (CP-33). Commonly referred to as Bobwhite Buffers, CP-33 is a conservation practice targeted at improving bobwhite quail habitat through the creation of habitat buffers along row crops. These transitional areas provide important habitat for quail, as well as other grassland birds and wildlife.

Recruiting and retaining the next generation of quail hunters and conservationists is also a focus of the Moreau Valley chapter. The chapter plans on holding a youth event later this year in conjunction with the Calamity Covey Chapter of QF, a ladies chapter which formed in April and is based out of Jefferson City.

The Moreau Valley Chapter has also elected James Meili of Russellville as treasurer, Michael Rex of Tipton as vice president and habitat chair, Jason Vaughn of California as youth/education chair and Doug Bensman of California as secretary. The chapter will hold its next meeting in mid-June. The chapter will hold its annual banquet on Thursday, August 23 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in St. Martins. The media and the public are invited to attend these events. Tickets for the annual banquet can be purchased in advance from any committee member. For more information on the chapter and the upcoming events, contact Lehman at (573)761-9939.

For more information on QF in Missouri, to start a chapter or join one of the state's 14 existing chapters, contact Elsa Gallagher at (573)455-2565 or via e-mail at egallagher@quailforever.org.

Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. QF chapters promote local, state, and federal conservation programs that help landowners protect environmentally sensitive acres for quail and other wildlife. They also employ the organization's unique model of empowering local chapters with 100 percent control of the chapters' locally-raised funds to complete habitat and youth education projects in the chapters' own communities. Since the organization's inception, 90 QF chapters have formed in 26 different states. The QF mission is accomplished through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, education, and conservation advocacy.

2007 Quail Unlimited Sweepstakes

2007-06-06T10:03:00.001-05:00

Click here to go to the Quail Unlimited Sweepstakes Page sponsored by Winchester!!!!!

THE COVEY HEADQUARTERS Volume 6 Issue 2 Summer 2007

2007-06-06T09:59:00.000-05:00

THE COVEY HEADQUARTERS Volume 6 Issue 2 Summer 2007

3915 Oakland Ave St. Joseph, MO 64506 jeff.powelson@mdc.mo.gov

—The Covey Headquarters Newsletter is aimed at cooperators and sportspeople in the state of Missouri to provide information on restoring quail. Many recommendations often apply to other regions of the country. The newsletter is a joint effort of the Missouri Department of Conservation, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Missouri Extension and Quail Unlimited. If you have suggestions for future articles please contact jeff.powelson@mdc.mo.gov or 816-232-6555 x122 or write to the address shown above.

The name of this newsletter is taken from an old concept.....that a quail covey operates from a headquarters (shrubby cover). If the rest of the covey's habitat needs are nearby, a covey should be present. We are encouraging landowners to manage their quail habitat according to this concept. Use shrubs as the cornerstone for your quail management efforts. Manage for a diverse grass, broadleaf weed and legume mixture and provide bare ground with row crops, food plots or light disking right next to the shrubby area.

Good Things Happening for Quail in Missouri!
Made possible by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Partners, and Missouri Landowners Keep up the good work!

Private Land Accomplishments:

Through a new cooperative agreement, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was expanded to parts of 79 counties in Missouri. The Farm Service Agency has partnered with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The new CREP agreement will potentially impact 20,000 acres in Missouri. Under the new agreement, only native vegetation will be established and mid-contract management practices will be required on most CREP practices. In 2006, the Missouri Department of Conservation contributed $1,000,000 to this cooperative agreement. Many of the CREP watersheds also occur in bobwhite quail and grassland focus areas. Visit your local USDA office to see if you have land that qualifies for CREP.

As of April 26, 2007 a total of 21,900 acres of quail-friendly field borders have been established through USDA's CP33 field border program. Missouri was awarded an additional 10,000 acres to enroll into the program. Counties with over 1,000 acres enrolled include Caldwell, Cass, Saline, and Scott.

The Missouri Department of Conservation completed the second year of CP33 monitoring. Field researchers increased the sample size from 40 to 60 sites. As a part of the study, researchers are looking at quail and grassland bird responses as a result of CP33 buffers. Staff is also monitoring soil erosion within the buffer to determine if additional resource concerns are being addressed. We will publish some of this data in future issues.

In 2006, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Districts continued a three year CRP initiative focusing on creating shrubby cover adjacent to CRP fields, increasing plant diversity and requiring CRP cooperators to voluntarily sign-up for the mid-contract management. Through the CRP-BOB program, $240,000 in cost share has been allocated for edge feathering, food plot establishment, invasive vegetation control and management practices (prescribed burning, light disking or spraying).

In 2006, Missouri NRCS signed 63 new Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) contracts, for $849,193.86 in cost share which impacted 7,754.3 acres of habitat. In Missouri, WHIP focuses primarily on bobwhite quail management and prairie, savanna/woodland and glade restoration.

In 2006, active WHIP contracts completed 3,826.1 acres of quail and grassland bird-friendly habitat work. In 2006, existing Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) contracts applied 33,613 acres of quail and grassland bird habitat work. Quail and grassland bird-friendly conservation practices include (338) Prescribed Burning, (643) Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats, (645) Upland Wildlife Habitat Management, and (647) Early Successional Habitat Management.

In 2006, the Spring River watershed in southwest Missouri was chosen for the Conservation Security Program (CSP). A total of 356 contracts were approved for $2,850,206 in conservation payments. Of the 356 contracts, 344 were Tier 2 or 3 meaning these contracts will address wildlife concerns, primarily quail, on the entire operation.

Statewide, landowners and operators participating in CSP have already installed miles of native grass field borders, acres of shrub plantings and acres of unharvested grain plots as a result of the program. For example:

- In 2006, NRCS reported 2,846,825 linear feet of native grass field borders installed through CSP (basically a 30 foot field border on each side of I-70 from Kansas City to St. Louis).

- NRCS in Saline, Scott, Pemiscot, Mississippi and Dunklin Counties reported over 1 million linear feet of native grass field borders installed through CP33 or CSP field borders as a result of CSP. Over the past couple of years over 15 million linear feet of field borders have been installed statewide.

Through the Missouri Department of Conservation Landowner Cost Share Program, 803 landowners received approximately $1.3 million in cost share. Of that, an estimated $614,617 went towards quail and grassland bird-friendly practices, impacting 7,947.4 acres.cshadshadx60shady-60shadr0shado85 shadc0 shad0

Through a cooperative agreement with Quail Unlimited and the Missouri Department of Conservation at least 2,780 acres of private land were improved for quail and grassland birds in 2006. A total of 119 projects were completed with a total of $103,748 in cost share spent on quail and grassland bird-friendly practices. Since 2001, this cooperative agreement has administered $565,918 in cost share. Quail Unlimited and the Missouri Department of Conservation have also hired a Technical Service Biologist for three years to assist private landowners in northeast Missouri.

Numerous landowner workshops were conducted by Department of Conservation staff. Landowner workshops continue to focus on quail management, cost share programs, CRP management, and prescribed burning. In fiscal year 2006, the Private Land Services Division reported that 16,412 individuals attended workshops and training events sponsored by the department and partners.

Public Land Accomplishments:

A total of 67,436 acres of quail and grassland bird habitat were improved or disturbed on MDC Conservation Areas. Including 134 miles of edge development on Conservation Areas.

Department staff conducted spring bird surveys (9 species) and fall whistle counts on 19 Conservation Areas to track and monitor quail and grassland bird responses to management activities.

Completed a Quail and Grassland Bird management review and training session for area managers and department staff.

Direct Seeding Shrubs? How to seed future covey headquarters
Aaron P. Jeffries, Upland Game Coordinator, Jefferson City, MO

Landowners interested in creating good quail habitat should have 10 to 25% of each "quail unit" or field in shrubby cover. Shrubby cover can be created by edge feathering, creating downed tree structures, enhancing native shrub thickets and by planting shrubs. When planting shrubs, many people use bare root or container grown plants. However, shrubs can also be established by seeding if you follow a few critical steps.

The first step is to find a good seed source. Some native seed companies sell shrub seed. Wild plum, shrub dogwoods (roughleaf, gray, swamp, etc'c9), elderberry, and blackberry are all good choices. Only buy native shrub seed by the Pure Live Seed (PLS) pound. If you can't find a seed source you can also collect your own seed by harvesting the fruits when they are ripe. If you collect your own seed, realize you will not know the germination rate. The amount of PLS for hand collected seed may range from 20 to 90%.

If you collect your own seeds, harvest the fruits when they are ripe. Depending on the species, this can be from mid summer through early fall. Watch the fruits closely as birds and other animals are also waiting for the fruits to ripen. I have found that wild plum is usually ripe in August and the shrub dogwoods (depending on the species) ripen in August and September. If possible try to clean the pulp from the seed. Clean seed is easier to spread and will not attract rodents.

The next step is to choose a site for your covey headquarter. The covey headquarter should be located adjacent to diverse grassland or other early successional habitats such as food plots, crop fields or disturbed fields. Site preparation is critical when direct seeding shrubs. Choose a covey headquarter site that is at least 30'x50' in size (1,500 ft). New covey headquarter sites should be sprayed with an herbicide in the summer and then disked 2 or 3 weeks later to prepare a clean seedbed. Have the site ready to be seeded by late summer or early fall. I have found that many native shrub species should be seeded in the summer or early fall and not the spring.

The next step is to simply broadcast the seed or fruit on the prepared site. Again, plots should be seeded in late summer or early fall. Avoid seeding shrubs in the winter or spring. After broadcasting the seed, simply drag a harrow or cedar tree over the area. As a rule of thumb, the seed should be no deeper than twice the diameter of the seed (about uc0u189 to 1 inch deep for wild plum).

How much seed should you plant in each covey headquarter? If you hand collect seeds you will not know the germination rate. Use the chart below for general recommendations for seeding covey headquarters with Pure Live Seed (PLS) or hand collected fruits. The following seeding rates are for a 1,500 ft covey headquarter. Again, plots should be seeded in late summer.

Specie	Pounds of clean PLS seed per 1,500 ft covey headquarter	Pounds of fruit per covey headquarter
Wild Plum	3/4-1 lb	1-2 lb
Shrub Dogwood	1/8-1/4 lb	3/4-1 lb
American Elderberry	1/20 lb	4/10 lb
Blackberry	1/8-1/4 lb	3 lb

The following year, make sure to control annual grasses with a selective grass herbicide. Since most shrub seedlings will be less than 10 inches in height you might be able to high mow the plot. To provide instant brushy cover, add a few downed trees to the middle of the covey headquarter. Be patient, a direct seeding will take several years to provide adequate shrubby cover for quail. I have an elderberry seeding on our farm that is 3 years old and over 6 feet tall. We also have several wild plum seedings that are one year old and only about 6 inches tall. The low cost of hand collecting or buying seed makes this a fun project to try during the summer.

Quail Reproduction

The quail's reproductive capacity is large and their mating behaviors are impressive.

The nesting season is long, lasting from April to October.

Hens lay 12 to 18 eggs per nest.

Chicks are precocial, being able to follow adults soon after hatching.

Their breeding behavior is classified as both monogamous and polygamous, with the females sometimes leaving their mate and chicks to find another mate and start another nest.

With the females being so promiscuous, males end up incubating about 25% of the nests.

All of the above behaviors allow one hen to produce up to 3 broods of 10 or so chicks per brood. The end result of this is a tremendous ability to rebound from high mortality during winter. Make sure you provide good nesting habitat on your farm. Nesting cover consists of grasses such as redtop, timothy, orchardgrass, little bluestem, and broomsedge. There should be adequate litter from the previous year for the hen to build the nest.

Your nesting grass should also be located next to good brood rearing habitat. Brood rearing habitat consists of legumes and annual weeds with plenty of bare ground. This habitat is typically found in areas that have been left fallow one to two years after soil disturbance. A food plot that was left idle is a great example of brood habitat. The annual weeds that appear in an idled food plot provide an abundance of insects needed for rapid chick development and are often used by broods as feeding areas.

Did You Know???

Studies in Missouri, Georgia and Florida using radio-collared quail showed that hunting dogs usually find about half the coveys on a given farm. This doesn't mean the dogs aren't good. Many factors enter into a dog's ability to scent quail. In fact, it's not necessarily the quail they smell, but the bacteria on skin cells that the quail shed.

Summer Covey Headquarters Calendar

June
Quail hatch peaks this month. Conduct breeding bird surveys this month. Milo, millet, and forage sorghum food plots should be planted by June 30. Contact NRCS or MDC for burn plan assistance this month. Mow newly planted native grass fields to a height of 6-8 inches to control weed competition. Spray actively growing Johnsongrass.

July
Excessive June and July rains will shift the peak quail hatch into August. Mow firebreaks for fall burns several times over the summer to maintain. Spray sericea lespedeza through Sept. Mow newly planted native grass fields to a height of 8-12 inches to control weed competition. Disk or burn your CRP acres starting July 16super thnosupersub . Use herbicides to set back native grass CRP starting July 16super thnosupersub .

August
Quail and other grassland birds continue to nest stay off your mowers! Till firebreaks now to prepare for late summer and fall burns. Mow or burn fescue and brome to prepare for fall herbicide treatments. Hand collect plum and dogwood seed late this month and plant the seed to establish covey headquarters.

Build it and they will come
GOT EDGE?

My family owns a 270-acre farm in Cole County that consisted of cedar-infested hardwoods and fescue fields when we acquired the property about 15 years ago. Since then, we (dad and I) have randomly planted food plots and haphazardly planted 1,000+ mail order trees (mostly pine) from MDC annually. We permanently excluded cattle about 4 years ago to let the place "grow up."

Shortly after removing the cattle we started conducting prescribed burns. We have primarily targeted the cedar-infested hardwoods that were void of an understory and any valuable timber. The fire has killed many of the cedars and reduced woody cover at ground level. Sunlight, water, and nutrients previously allocated to cedars and other fire intolerant species has given birth to a dense understory rich in both food and cover.

Several successfyears of prescribed burning resulted in measurable improvements in habitat; however, we were still not seeing the wildlife we expected to. That's when we kicked our efforts into high gear with edge feathering and putting away the brush hog. I must admit I was very reluctant to commit to such a project, but was encouraged by habitat articles in The Covey Headquarters Newsletter and Missouri Conservationist. Dad did not warm up to the idea of sprayers and chainsaws and sat this one out.

In October 2003 we began by killing fescue along the woodland edge; 3 selected 30-60 foot wide strips several hundred yards each (4 acres total) were sprayed using an ATV with a sprayer attached. It was as easy as mowing grass! In May we disked up the dead fescue strips and sowed the plots. A mixture of big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, native wildflowers, and lespedeza were sown by hand and rolled in by driving a truck up and down the rows to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. By August much of the grass was already over our heads. When walking through the strips insects scatter about and cling to your clothing, and are so loud you can hardly hear yourself think!

By September the weather began to cool and I grabbed the chainsaw. I started cutting trees along the woodland edge and dropping them into the warm-season grass strips. All cedars and most others were fair game. Only an occasional whopper-sized, mast-producing tree was spared. Remember that proper, fresh edge feathering will look messy and most people will think you're crazy if you show them what you've done. Remain calm, give it a few years and/or sweep a prescribed burn through there and let succession catch up. One afternoon was all it took me to edge out the trees in each of the 3 warm-season grass strips. I also purchased my own ATV sprayer and boom. In just two afternoons I sprayed the fescue around edges and odd corners of the fields over 10 acres in all. It paid for itself the first time I used it.

We've engaged in more meaningfwildlife habitat improvement in one year than the first 10 years combined! Better yet, costs were offset by enrolling in a Quail Habitat Initiative contract (cooperative cost share program funded by Quail Unlimited and the Missouri Department of Conservation) and recently the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program. I've learned you can knock out an amazing amount of work with the chainsaw, ATV sprayer, or tractor in a few short hours. In fact, rounding up the gear and getting to the farm is my biggest obstacle; once I'm there the work melts away. Pack a lunch, put your nose to the grind, and break a sweat. In case you're as lukewarm about this as I was, consider that your efforts benefit quail but are not limited to them. You will be creating excellent habitat for both game and non-game species alike by creating/restoring something that has become extinct on many landscapes edge. Hey, I got edge, do you? Adam Doerhoff, Conservation Agent, Adair/Macon Counties

Did You Know???

By spending a little money and dedicating a few weekends each year you can get quail and grassland birds back on your property for the long haul. Flushing a covey of quail from habitat that you created is a very rewarding experience. Why spend $1,000's to buy a call-back system and release birds yearly to keep your quail artificially stocked? Create habitat and the birds will respond.

Make Your Fescue Pasture More Attractive to Cattle and Wildlife
Craig Roberts, State Forage Specialist, University of Missouri

Most of Missouri pasture is tall fescue. And nearly all of our tall fescue is common Kentucky 31, a cultivar that is usually infected with a toxic fungus. Infected Kentucky 31 causes fescue toxicosis, a livestock disorder that costs US livestock producers between $600 and $900 million each year. Without proper management, infected Kentucky 31 reduces steer gains, calving percentage, and milk production.

There are many coffee shop suggestions for managing infected tall fescue. Some suggestions involve breeding, some involve feeding. However, most suggestions are only based on hearsay and don't even work. There are, however, some suggestions that have proven to be wise recommendations. They have been tested in controlled experiments and can partially reduce the effect of toxic tall fescue. Of these recommendations, there are three big ones. The "big three" are listed below. Note, two of the three recommendations call for anything but straight tall fescue.

The first recommendation is to have a summer pasture. Why a summer pasture? Because, infected tall fescue is most toxic during late May through June, so moving cattle onto another pasture can reduce the amount of toxin consumed. Moving to a summer pasture can also provide excellent forage, as warm-season forages are leafy. Some of those forages that provide excellent forage supply in June and July include native warm-season grasses, which are also ideal for wildlife. These would include big bluestem, Indiangrass, and eastern gamagrass. When added to a pasture system with cool-season grasses, each species should be utilized during the prime growing season, thereby enabling the producer to provide excellent nutrition throughout the year.

One other forage that provides excellent summer pasture is annual lespedeza. It does not require its own field, as it can be interseeded into the tall fescue sod and grazed as a near pure stand in late July and throughout August; during these months, it takes over a pasture as the tall fescue enters dormancy. Lespedeza is also good for quail, supplying bugging areas in the summer, and food (seeds) during fall and winter.

The second recommendation is to dilute infected tall fescue pasture with other forages. The easiest forages to interseed would be the red and white clovers. They are frost-seeded in late January and early February. After being broadcast, the clover seed find their way to the soil surface as the ice and snow melt and the ground cycles between freezing and thawing. Research has shown that interseeding clover into a tall fescue pasture will increase steer gains by at least 0.15 lb/day, though the increase is usually larger.

The third of the "big three" recommendation is to supplement the diet. Supplementation involves corn, whole soybean, soyhulls, or other byproduct feeds. The amount to supplement should be determined by a local Extension Livestock Specialist. If the supplement is starchy, as is the case with corn, too much supplement will cause the forage to be undigested.

In addition to the "big three" recommendations listed above, there are some other wise practices. One is to ammoniate the hay. Treating infected tall fescue hay with ammonia does two things'd1it renders the forage highly digestible, and it partly detoxifies the hay. It has been shown to improve animal gains significantly. Another practice is carefnitrogen fertilization. If a fescue-clover pasture is fertilized with high rates of N, the

grass portion will dominate the clover, eventually crowding it out. Also, the high rate of N will cause toxins to increase, because the fescue toxins require nitrogen.

So, is straight tall fescue good for cattle and wildlife? No, not if the fescue is common Kentucky 31. And most of Missouri is just that, which happens to be the kind of tall fescue that causes problems. So it is best to manage in a way that reduces fescue toxicosis. Two of the "big three" recommendations call for summer pastures to complement the cool-season pastures and interseeding other forages, including legumes. Both of these approaches also can be good for quail and other grassland birds.

Missouri Department of Conservation Receives National Quail Award

The Missouri Department of Conservation received the 2007 Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI) Group Achievement Award at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference in Portland, Oregon. The award was presented by Quail Unlimited in cooperation with the Southeast Quail Study Group for the overall effort of the Department toward implementation of NBCI.'ca Among bobwhite quail progress credited to the Department was utilization of the CRP CP-33 acreage allotment for Missouri, establishment of a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program for quail, and coordination with USDA to make quail a priority in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, and the Conservation Security Program.'ca All Department staff that have worked to implement'cathe NBCI plan share in this Group Achievement Award.

Strip Spraying Native Grasses for Diversity

For many landowners, spring is a very busy time of year. Sometimes even the most well planned prescribed burn doesn't get completed on the target date, often due to weather restrictions or logistical problems. This can be troublesome, especially when native grass stands are the target burn units. Native grass stands should not be burned after mid-March, if you are interested in wildlife habitat, because burning after then tends to stimulate the stand, essentially thickening it up. This would be a good practice for forage production, but not for wildlife management.

Instead of burning in late spring or postponing the burn until the following year, plan on strip spraying in the summer. Strip spraying is the practice of using reduced chemical rates to suppress or set-back dominant grasses, therefore providing openings in the stand for forbs, legumes and bare ground. It is a viable alternative to light disking strips through a grass stand and it doesn't leave rough ground.

Recommended spraying dates for native warm-season grasses are May 1-September 15. For CRP acres, do not spray until after July 15 through September 15. Cool-season grasses can also be strip sprayed from green- up through April 30 or in the fall green-up period. Use the label rates for suppression on which ever chemical you choose. For example, with Round-up original (glyphosate), use 8-16 oz. per 20 gallons of water for perennial grass suppression. Spray 25-75 ft. strips on the contour each year and alternate strips each year until all acres have been treated. Mowing can be used prior to spraying for more efficient chemical coverage.

Often times desirable annual forbs will be released from the sod-bound grass stand after spraying, but over seeding of legumes can be used for additional benefit. Many planted native grass stands are completely dominated by grasses and desperately need to be managed for higher plant diversity. Upland birds will use these pure grass stands at times, but they can be better managed through strip spraying. The end result is a field with higher plant diversity that provides nesting, brood rearing, roosting and heavy winter cover.

Did You Know???

Don't sweat it if you can't get your food plots planted this year, or what you do plant gets dominated by weeds and doesn't produce much grain. These areas will actually be ideal for quail broods. Fallow food plots serve as that "bare ground with a canopy of annual plants" component of quail habitat. Quail broods will use them throughout the summer and into the fall as brooding habitat. When fall and winter come they will have produced a diversity of quail foods and in some cases winter roosting cover.

CRP NEWS

USDA will not hold a general CRP signup in 2007 or 2008, but the Continuous CRP program will continue to take enrollments.

Dogwood Carbonsuper TM (a subsidiary of the Missouri Farmers Union), is purchasing CRP carbon credits. Opportunities exist for payments on grass and tree planted acres. Visit dogwoodcarbon.com for more information.

The Internal Revenue Service is considering charging self employment tax on CRP rental payments. Check Internal Revenue Service Notice 2006-108, or discuss with your tax preparer.

Control These Pesky Weeds This Summer:

Sericea lespedeza - treat with triclopyr or metsulfuron June through September.

Teasel - treat when actively growing with glyphosate, 2, 4-D amine, or triclopyr.

Multi-flora rose - mow during growing season and treat stumps with 50% glyphosate mix.

Johnsongrass - treat when actively growing with glyphosate.

Most weeds require several treatments over several years to completely control them. Herbicide labels constantly change. Always read and follow all label instructions.

Mark Your Calendar

July 19-22, 2007 "Flight to the Future" National Quail Unlimited Convention in Overland Park, KS. A habitat demonstration day is scheduled for July. Visit qu.org for more information.

Prairie Pothole Region not protected by Clean Water Act

2007-06-06T09:47:00.000-05:00

World’s most productive duck breeding grounds in immediate danger

MEMPHIS, Tenn. June 5, 2007 - Most wetlands remain in jeopardy today. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, geographically isolated wetlands are not protected under the Clean Water Act. The two federal agencies issued a joint guidance Tuesday for how their field offices should interpret and implement the Rapanos-Carabell Supreme Court decision of 2006.

"The guidance issued today in response to the 2006 Supreme Court decision provides some clarity with respect to protection of a small subset of wetlands, but it excludes protection for tens of millions of acres of geographically isolated wetlands. These wetlands, typified by the prairie potholes, are the lifeblood of the breeding grounds and are the most important wetlands to waterfowl on the continent," said Ducks Unlimited Executive Vice President Don Young. "This guidance makes it clear that passage of legislation such as the Clean Water Restoration Act is vitally important if we are going to maintain the wetlands that waterfowl depend upon. Ducks Unlimited will work with Congress, with federal agencies, and with the White House to find ways to protect prairie potholes and other important wetlands."

Contact Ducks Unlimited to join and make a difference in this very important issue!

BP America $2 million donation helps DU secure wetlands grant

2007-06-06T09:46:00.000-05:00

BP America $2 million donation helps DU secure wetlands grant

Louisiana coastal wetlands restoration is the focus

LAFAYETTE, La., June 2, 2007 – A new North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant awarded to Ducks Unlimited will fund conservation activities on 11,024 acres in southwest Louisiana. Ducks Unlimited used a $2 million donation by BP America to match federal dollars to earn the grant.

“Ducks Unlimited is grateful to have BP as a partner on this project, and we commend their commitment to wetland conservation along the Louisiana coast,” said Bob Dew, Ducks Unlimited (DU) regional biologist.

The restored wetlands will provide wintering and migration habitat for several waterfowl species including northern pintails, mottled ducks and mallards. BP’s contribution to this grant came from a $40 million conservation donation it gave Louisiana in 2002.

The objective of the project is to restore and protect coastal wetlands on public and private lands damaged or at risk of damage from human-caused saltwater intrusion. Saltwater intrusion kills vegetation and exposes marsh soils to severe wave erosion.

DU will manage the installation of two water control structures on Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge. DU and several private landowners will also share the cost of replacing at least 13 inoperable water control structures. The new structures will allow control of water levels and help reduce saltwater intrusion and excessive flooding.

Managing water and salinity levels that mimic natural fluctuations will prevent conversion of vegetated wetlands to open water.

“In some situations, elevated freshwater conditions for extended periods are just as harmful as high salinity saltwater,” Dew said. “Adequate management of fresh and saltwater is necessary to achieve desirable habitat conditions in these situations in southwest Louisiana.”

BP America donated the 71,130-acre White Lake Wetland Conservation Area to Louisiana for conservation purposes in 2002. The property containing fresh marsh and associated uplands was valued at $40 million. The property’s value has provided key matching funds for eight North America Wetlands Conservation Act grant projects. These projects have restored or enhanced thousands of wetland acres in southwest Louisiana.

“We realize the benefits wetland conservation has for wildlife, people and the oil and gas industry,” said Marti Gazzier, general manager of BP government and public affairs for the Gulf Coast. “By restoring marshes and maintaining a sustainable ecosystem we can ensure the commercial, recreational and ecological functions of coastal Louisiana remain intact.”

The project will also benefit several commercially and recreationally important species including brown and white shrimp, blue crabs and red drum.

Additional partners providing funds to help secure the grant were the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and several private landowners.

The Ducks Unlimited Governmental Affairs staff works with Congress in support of annual funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Louisiana’s delegation has been very supportive of the Act, including U.S. senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter and representatives Rodney Alexander and Charles Boustany, whose districts are where the project will occur.

For more information on the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, go to www.ducks.org/nawca

Contact: Jennifer Kross
(601) 206-5449
jkross@ducks.org

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands ¬- nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.

Bruce Lewis elected Ducks Unlimited President

2007-06-06T09:45:00.000-05:00

Bruce Lewis elected Ducks Unlimited President

[ go back ]

MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 4, 2007 - Longtime Ducks Unlimited volunteer and national officer Bruce Lewis of Natchez, Mississippi, was elected president of Ducks Unlimited at the 70th Annual Ducks Unlimited Convention in Anchorage, Alaska. Lewis succeeds Dr. Jim Hulbert, who is now the wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization’s chairman of the board.

“To be standing here as president is an incredible and humbling experience,” Lewis said to a crowd of more than 1,200 Ducks Unlimited (DU) supporters.

“We all know of the imminent conservation needs of waterfowl and habitat. Our staff of biologists has prioritized those landscapes of greatest threat, and we will focus on those priority areas. We have the right team, the necessary tools and a noble mission,” Lewis said. “We will not deviate from our mission, and we will always remain true to our singleness of purpose to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitat for North American waterfowl.”

Lewis served as DU’s first vice president since May, 2005. He also served DU as an at-large board member, treasurer, regional vice president for the South Mississippi Flyway, sponsor chairman, district chairman, South Mississippi assistant state chairman and state chairman. In addition, Lewis served on both the Arts and Decoy Committee and Finance Committee and presently serves on the board of directors of DU Canada.

In his acceptance speech, Lewis outlined several goals during his tenure, which include focusing on DU’s conservation mission, while preserving its waterfowling heritage. Lewis also emphasized the importance of communication and education.

“What a heritage we have inherited. What a passion we have developed for that resource and this organization, which gives each of us the opportunity to give something back – to collectively make a meaningful and perpetual difference on the landscape when one person, working alone, cannot,” Lewis said. “Those of us who have been around this organization a long time don’t leave it, because we have been educated in what DU has accomplished and what we do so well. If we do a good job in educating our members and youth, it will pay dividends for Ducks Unlimited.”

Lewis, 57, received his B.A. and M.S.S. degrees from Mississippi State University and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi. He is a practicing attorney and partner in the law firm Gwin, Lewis and Punches in Natchez, where he resides with his wife Karen. They have three children, Grayson, Scott and Elizabeth.

Contact: Laura Houseal
(901) 758-3764
lhouseal@ducks.org

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with almost 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.