WWW.HUNTINGLIFE.COM
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 |
| 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:
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 |
| 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.
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 |
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!!
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
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.
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
Quail Forever Washington State
Schnee's Boots, Shoes & Hunting Gear
Pennsylvania Hunt. Fish. Shoot
Upland Feathers
Happy 4th of July to all of you!!!!Mingle2 - Online Dating
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 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
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.
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!
(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.
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
This truly was a great hunting show for the entire family. Plan on attending next year!
Dennis, Brandon and I are going hunting in Wyoming unit 43! Draw results are up at: Wyoming Game and Fish
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.
"Missouri now joins a group of 18 other 'Castle Doctrine' states, guaranteeing victims' right to protect themselves against a criminal attack," said Cox.
