Outdoor News

Tennesse seeks angler input
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is seeking comments for its 2009 sport fishing regulations. Public comments will be considered by fisheries managers and may be presented as proposals for regulation changes. Comments may be submitted by mail to: Sport Fish Comments, TWRA, Fisheries Management Division, P.O. 40747, Nashville, TN 27204; or emailed to twra.comment@state.tn.us. Please include “Sport Fish Comments” on the subject line of emailed submissions. This comment period concerning sport fish regulations will be open until April 30.


Colo. DOW, Forest Service hold fish restoration meeting
The Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service will hold a public meeting concerning the proposed Woods Lake native fish restoration project, 6-8 p.m., April 10 at the Wilkinson Public Library in Telluride. The project, scheduled for the summer of 2009, is being planned to help restore the native Colorado River cutthroat trout in the San Juan Mountains. The fish is the only species of trout native to southwest Colorado. Attending the meeting to explain the project and to answer questions will be Dan Kowalski, an aquatic biologist with the DOW, and Chris James, a fisheries biologist with the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest.


N.H. ice shanties have to be off the ice April 1
CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire Fish and Game Department officials remind ice anglers that state law requires all bobhouses or ice shanties to be removed from the ice by the end of the day on April 1. Leaving bobhouses on public or private property without permission is also a violation of state law, so if you've moved your shanty to the shoreline, take care to move the structures to your own property before the deadline.


Cabela's senior VP retires
Cabela's outdoor outfitters announced the retirement of Michael Callahan, Senior Vice President of Business Development and International Operations. "Mike has had a very successful career at Cabela's and will leave a positive mark on our Company's history," said Dennis Highby, Cabela's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Mike was instrumental in our growth in retail and was personally responsible for leading the team that took our retail store count from nine to 26, as well as leading our expansion into Canada." Callahan's retirement is effective May 17, but he has agreed to remain as a consultant to assist with transition.


Landlocked salmon, lake trout season opens April 1 in N.H.
CONCORD, N.H. -- Enthusiastic anglers will be out in force on April 1 for the start of the open-water fishing season on landlocked salmon/lake trout-managed lakes -- the true start of spring for many New Hampshire anglers. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department manages 15 lakes for landlocked salmon.


Ark. '08-'09 hunting seasons set
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas hunters can begin planning their vacations now that commissioners from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have formally approved the upcoming 2008-2009 season dates. In a 4-2 vote, commissioners passed the seasons for modern gun, archery and muzzleloader deer seasons. See all the details here.


Trout festival celebrated in Arkansas
COTTER, Ark. - The seventh annual Great Cotter Trout Festival will celebrate trout fishing with a variety of activities and events April 18-19 at the Big Spring Park in Cotter. The festival will feature trout fishing programs, the always-popular "kids fishing hole," exhibits, arts and crafts, and tasty food and enjoyable entertainment for the whole family. The festival opens at noon, April 18, and runs through the evening barbecue dinner with entertainment. The festival continues at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 19, which is Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Appreciation Day, and will conclude with an evening fish fry with entertainment. For more information call 870-435-6144 or visit http://www.cotterarkansas.com/.


Ariz. elk, antelope draw results available
PHOENIX – The 2008 elk and antelope draw has been completed and the 120,392 applicants can now visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at http://www.azgfd.gov/draw or call (602) 942-3000 and follow the prompts to see if they have been drawn.Be prepared to provide your department identification number, plus your birth date to access your specific draw information.


Kansas birding festival April 25-27
The Kansas Birding Festival is coming to Wakefield April 25-27 featuring seminars on birds and birdwatching, guided field trips, food, and much more. Registration deadline is April 10. For more information, visit the Kansas Birding Festival website.


Ariz. OHV bill back on track
House Bill 2573, the off-highway vehicle, user fee bill, was added to the House Natural Resources Committee agenda and passed on March 26 as a strike-everything amendment to SB 1167. HB 2573 had failed the previous week in the Arizona Senate Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee (the March 19 vote was 3-3, with one absent).

More on Keck's Resignation from NWTF

Another interesting piece in the Southern Sporting Journal about the NWTF's CEO Rob Keck resignation.

This opinion piece by Colin Moore takes an interesting look at Keck's role at NWTF.

NWTF Leader, Keck, Resigns

The National Wild Turkey Federation has announced its CEO resigned March 26. What the organization didn't say is that the resignation came one day after the organization's board forced two top leaders to turn in their resignations.

Rob Keck announced his resignation after 30 years with the conservation organization including 27 years as its CEO.

Keck said the resignation was for personal and family reasons, according to a NWTF press release. His resignation is effective June 1.

The Southern Sporting Journal is reporting that Keck resigned the day after the NWTF's board of directors called for the resignation of Chief Operating Officer Carl Brown and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Dick Rosenlieb to step down.

Brown had been with the NWTF for 28 years, while Rosenlieb had 19 years with the organization.

Under Keck, the NWTF has grown into one of the nation's leading conservation organizations and the wild turkey has exploded thanks in part to the work of the NWTF and money raised by it.

When the NWTF was founded in 1973 there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Today, there are an estimated 7 million wild turkeys and 3 million hunters. Of those, more than 550,000 are NWTF members in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and 14 other foreign countries.

Since 1985, more than $258 million have been spent between the NWTF and cooperators, conserving more than 13.1 million acres of wildlife habitat

The NWTF board will immediately begin a nationwide search for Keck's successor.

New Column Begins

My new column has been launched.

I now write a weekly outdoor recreation column (OutdoorsVT) in the Rutland Herald. It is scheduled to appear every Thursday. In addition to it being printed in the paper, you can find it online. The first column is now available on the paper's site.

You can find the column on the Herald's site by clicking here.

NSSF Names Sanetti President and CEO

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has named a well-known firearms industry insider to head the 47-year-old trade organization.

Steve Sanetti was tapped by the NSSF's Board of Governors. Sanetti steps into the position May 1.

Sanetti spent 28 years with Sturm, Ruger and Company as an executive and general counsel, been a member of the NSSF Board of Governors and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manutacturer's Institute Board of Directors

"Steve is one of the most well-respected individuals in our industry," said Robert Scott, chairman of the NSSF Board of Governors in a news release. "His experience and good judgment have been valued at Sturm, Ruger for decades and by the industry at large for his role in helping defeat the municipal lawsuits filed against our industry."

In the same release, Sanetti said he was thrilled to be taking the helm of the 47-year-old trade association.

"Although I've been in this industry for 30 years and associated with the NSSF Board of Governors for 15 of those years, the challenges we all face will be new and constantly changing. The only way we will survive and prosper is to be flexible in our thinking and creative in our problem solving. New situations demand novel approaches, and I am confident that with the skilled staff and thousands of loyal members of NSSF we will continue to help increase participation in and understanding of the shooting sports we are so passionate about. I am excited to begin this new phase of my career at a place where I can have a positive and lasting impact on the future of hunting and shooting."


According to the news release, Sanetti is a founding member of the Firearms Litigation Support Committee and helped direct the successful coordinated response to municipal lawsuits that threatened the firearms industry in the late 1990s.

In addition to his legal and executive experience, Sanetti brings strong communications skills to the position, having written numerous articles and given many interviews defending the lawful and responsible ownership and use of firearms.

He has spoken on 60 Minutes, ABC News Nightline, CNBC, National Public Radio and before various federal and state legislative bodies.

Sanetti is an avid hunter, target shooter, firearms collector and amateur gunsmith.

Outdoor News

N.H. guide offers smallmouth fishing talk

CONCORD, N.H. -- Learn the skills and tactics for success in catching smallmouth bass at a talk by registered N.H. fishing guide Curt Golder on Wednesday, March 26, at New Hampshire Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord. A bonus slide show starts at 6:40 p.m.; Golder's presentation begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The session is part of Fish and Game's spring series of free fishing talks by expert anglers. To learn more about presenter Curt Golder and angling opportunities on New Hampshire's big lakes, call 603-569-6426 or visit http://www.gadaboutgolder.com/.



Students could win Utah fishing trip

If you're a junior high or high school student, you could be fishing with some of Utah's best anglers this summer. And the fishing trip to Flaming Gorge Reservoir is free! The trip includes an overnight stay and meals with the fishing pros and Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers. You'll also receive free fishing tackle and one day of special fishing instruction. To qualify, you must submit a 300- to 500-word essay by April 30. "Tell us why fishing is special and important to you, and what you can do to protect its future," says DWR Sergeant Stacey Jones. In May, one winner in each grade, grades seven through 12, will be selected for the free trip. For more information, visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/essaycontest/.



Minn. offers youth/adult fly-fishing weekend

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ MinnAqua Program and partners Trout Unlimited and Good Earth Village invite youth and adult companions to learn the techniques of fly-fishing over the weekend of May 16-18.The event will be held along some of the state’s finest trout fishing waters at Good Earth Village near Spring Valley. Guides and instructors will teach participants how to cast, tie flies and read the water before the actual fishing begins. The program will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday and conclude at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Youth ages 11-18 are eligible to participate if accompanied by an adult. Cost is $125 per pair and includes equipment, food and lodging at Good Earth Village. Enrollment is limited, so register early. For additional information or to sign up, contact Ryan at (507) 359-6028 or dan.ryan@dnr.state.mn.us.



Ariz. off-highway bill killed in committee

PHOENIX — House Bill 2573, the off-highway vehicle, user fee bill, was defeated by a vote of 3-3 with one absent in the Arizona Senate Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee on March 19, 2008. The bill would have provided resources to better manage Arizona’s growing off-highway vehicle use while protecting wildlife habitat. OHVs have seen a 347 percent increase in usage in Arizona in the last few years, but law enforcement and trail development have lagged far behind. Through this legislation, dollars would have been provided by a nominal user fee to create new law enforcement positions, new land and habitat mitigation for damaged use areas, and better trail construction.



Colo. officers to enforce vehicle laws on federal land

Colorado Division of Wildlife officers will now be enforcing motorized vehicle regulations on federal public lands as specified in Colorado House Bill 1069. This bill, introduced in January of this year, was signed by Gov. Bill Ritter on March 20. The measure specifies that DOW officers along with other state law enforcement officers will now be able to enforce motorized vehicle restrictions on public lands. Officers can now issue tickets in the field to those who violate motorized vehicle laws.



Applications due for Minn. bear, bull moose hunts
Hunters have until Friday, May 2, to apply for a black bear license for the 2008 fall hunt. A total of 11,850 licenses in 11 permit areas are available. The season begins Sept. 1 and ends Oct. 12. For more information see the Web site. And hunters seeking a permit for this fall’s bull-only moose hunt must also apply by Friday, May 2, to be included in the lottery. Only those who have not received a permit since 1990 are eligible. Moose hunting, open only to Minnesota residents, became a once-in-a-lifetime hunt in 1991.For more information see the Web site.

GMC in Vermont Gets Access Grant

Vermont's Green Mountain Club has received a $15,000 grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

The Quality of Life grant will be used to complete the construction of a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk in Killington to the base of Thundering Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Vermont. The boardwalk is part of relocating a portion of the trail away from the roadway.

Being Rescued in N.H. Could be Costly

Being careless in the woods and getting lost to the point you require rescue could become costly in New Hampshire.

The issue brings up something I've long wondered about and has become a problem for many agencies forced to go out and rescue people.

According to an Associated Press story, New Hampshire could make "negligent" hikers pay to be rescued or risk losing driver's, fishing and hunting licenses.

The N.H. House passed the bill March 18.

The House Fish and Game Committee said $42,000 of the $150,000 spent in 2007 on search-and-rescue missions was the result of negligence. As proposed, anyone determined to be negligent and who refused to pay for the rescue cost would lose the right to hold those licenses.

My questions about the N.H. bill is why just hikers? Was that just the way the story was written or would the bill also cover hunters and anglers? What about bicyclists, snowmobilers, dog sledders, cross-country skiers and downhill skiers who choose to go out of bounds and end up lost after dark?

Second, why doesn't any state follow Colorado's example and create a mountain pass. Funds for the pass, which costs something like $10 a year, are used toward equipping local rescue crews and paying for such search and rescue efforts. If you hold a pass and find yourself in need of resuce, you're off the hook. If you don't have the pass, you could find yourself staring at a bill.

Interior Secretary Announces Grants

More than $57.9 million in grants have been awarded to 23 states and one territory in an effort to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plants, according to a news release.

The release said the grants, awarded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, will benefit numerous species.

“These grants build long-term partnerships with landowners who help toconserve our nation’s imperiled species,” said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. “They are important tools that empower landowners and communities to safeguard habitat and foster conservation stewardship efforts for future generations.”

The grants help states work with private landowners, conservation groups and other agencies to initiate conservation planning efforts and acquire and protect habitat to support the conservation of threatened and endangered species.

This year, the cooperative endangered species fund provides $8.6 million through the Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants Program, $35.3 million through the Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants Program and $14 million through the Recovery Land Acquisition Grants Program, which includes approximately $1.5 million of funds carried over from previous years or recovered from previous projects.

Individual States Grants

• Arkansas $225,500
• California $17,945,231
• Florida $1,134,605
• Georgia $2,717,772
• Hawaii $2,101,196
• Idaho $1,471,500
• Michigan $689,305
• Montana $6,515,319
• Nebraska $385,911
• Ohio $1,835,000
• Oklahoma $186,000
• Oregon $306,000
• Puerto Rico $1,500,000
• Tennessee $1,763,450
  Texas $6,324,500
• Utah $458,080
• Virginia $704,000
• Washington $8,435,081
• Wisconsin $88,355

Multi-state grants

• Tennessee and Kentucky $129,150
• Ind., Kent., Louis., N.H., N.J., Ohio, Tenn., andVa. $3,007,270

For a complete list of the 2008 grant awards for these programs, see the Service’s Endangered Species Grants home page.

Cabela's to Open Maine Store

Outdoor outfitter Cabela's plans to open a 125,000-square-foot store in Scarborough, Maine, on May 15, according to an Associated Press story.

The Nebraska-based retailer expects to see millions of visitors at the store in its first year of operation.

The store will feature the standard hunting, fishing and outdoor conservation theme as other stores including hundreds of animals in dioramas, a "Conservation Mountain" with waterfalls, a stream, trout pond and 10,700-gallon aquarium stocked with freshwater fish, along with a shooting gallery, gun library and restaurant.

The new Cabela's isn't far from L.L. Bean turf. It's only 35 miles from the first L.L. Bean store in Freeport, Maine.

N.H. Moose Lottery Underway

Is this the year you're finally going to hunt your moose?

Feeling lucky?

Now is the time to enter the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery. The cost to enter the lottery is $15 for residents and $25 for nonresidents and is nonrefundable.

The deadline for entering is May 30. The moose season runs Oct. 18-26.

"New Hampshire offers a variety of quality moose hunting opportunities," said Kristine Rines, Moose Project Leader for New Hampshire Fish and Game in a news release. "Whether you're looking for a trophy bull, a wilderness hunting adventure or simply filling your freezer with meat, you can expect the moose hunt to fill your expectations."

Most permits are either-sex permits.

With an estimated moose herd of 6,000 animals. Last year more than 16,700 applicants tried their luck for a permit. The number of permits available is capped based on the prior year's sales of nonresident licenses, recently about 15 percent to 17 percent of the total. The odds of being drawn last year was 1 in 18 for residents and 1 in 57 for nonresidents, according to the release.

Success rates as high as 91 percent were seen in some Wildlife Management Units. Statewide, the success rate was 71 percent. The largest bull killed weighed 900 pounds dressed out. The largest spread was 65 inches. The average adult bull was 736 pounds and 5 1/2 years old with an average spread of 52.8 inches. The largest cow dressed out at 750 pounds.

"Don't wait until the last minute to apply," Rines said . "If paper applications are incomplete or not filled out properly prior to the deadline, they are returned and you may have an opportunity to correct and resubmit the application before the deadline."

Lucky hunters will be selected through a computerized random drawing June 20.

If selected, a license is $150 for a resident and $500 for a nonresident on top of the cost of a New Hampshire hunting license.

For more information on moose hunting in New Hampshire, visit the Fish and Game Web site.

Bear Protection Act Opposed by Sporting Groups

A bill in the House of Representatives is being opposed by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and 22 sportsmen's organizations that would amend the federal Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to extend protections to bears illegally harvested for their viscera.

The bill -- HR5534, "The Bear Protection Act of 2008" -- is opposed because it is believed the trade in viscera such as a bear's gall bladder or bile, which is sometimes obtained and sold illegally on the black market, is already illegal by the Lacey Act.

The Lacey Act makes it illegal for anyone to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States or in violation of any Indian tribal law whether in interstate or foreign commerce, according to a news release by the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.

In other words, if you kill a bear illegally, you already can't do anything with it across state or national boundaries or you are in violation of the Lacey Act, which brings federal penalties in addition to any state laws broken.

Those in opposition to the bill believe the measure is an attempt to reduce hunting. The stated purpose of the bill is "to ensure the long-term viability of the world's 8 bear species by reinforcing State conservation and management of bear populations," according to the release. The argument is that bear populations are declining in some places in the world and it is believed the black market trade will start targeting American black bears, which are in no danger. The law, according to those opposing it, would add layers of red tape to already overworked wildlife managers.

To read the CSC release, click here.

Colorado Works to Ban Internet Hunting

From the "good for them" file, comes word that Colorado is working to ban Internet hunting.

Legislation is making its way through the Colorado Legislature that would make computer assisted remote hunting illegal.

If passed, Colorado would become the 37th state to ban the practice.

Wisconsin Deer Hunters Have Monster Year

Wisconsin bow hunters posted the best archery deer harvest ever in the state, while the deer hunt in general was the second best season on record.

The 2007 season resulted in 518,573 whitetails being killed -- 116,042 by archers and 402,531 by gun hunters, the third best season on record.

“Bringing the herd down to established population goals and maintaining herd and ecosystem health are our main management objectives,” said Keith Warnke, Departmen tof Natural Resources big game biologist. “And while record harvests are not part of our objectives, the fact remains that hunters had a hugely successful season.”

Before the season the DNR's population projection was 1.6-1.8 million deer. After population modeling is complete, a new population model will be established along with a projection for the fall of 2008.

“This was a large harvest,” Warnke said. "Hunters put in a great effort and we’re making progress moving the population toward goals.”

Vermont Hunter Offered Plea in Hunting Death

A hunter from Georgia, Vt., is facing a year in prison if he is offered and accepts a plea deal from prosecutors in the death of his friend.

Timothy Madden has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of his friend, David Jenkins, 43, of Milton, Vt. Madden told police he shot Jenkins after mistaking him for a coyote last November.

The prosecutor in the case discussed two possible plea deals with the judge in the case, both of which would carry at least one year of jail time followed by probation or furlough.

Watch for this Noggin

The Waterloo (Iowa) Courier reported that police are investigating the theft of a 16-point drop tine white-tailed deer mount.

Before you go plunking down cash at a garage sale, on eBay or somewhere else, check out that mount to make sure it didn't disappear from someone's wall.

Here's a link to the story and a photo.

Photos Show Wolverine in California

The image of a wolverine captured on a trail camera in northern California has set the wildlife world on fire -- particularly in the West where implications of finding a wild wolverine where none were thought to exist could have far reaching implications.


If there are wild wolverines in California, would the National Forest Service have to manage for them? Would the public embrace the powerful predator or would the wolverine just be another wolf or grizzly bear pitting neighbors against neighbors?

Here are a few stories about the photo and the story behind it.



The Associated Press



Oregon State University press release



Nevada Appeal newspaper













http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/SS/20080305/NEWS/183184947

Former DU Official Accused of Shooting Swan

What is it with people who should know better doing stupid things?

A man who was once in charge of raising funds in Nevada and Arizona for Ducks Unlimited has been charged with four misdemeanors following the alleged shooting of a swan at the Ruby Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada.

According to an Associated Press story, Alexander "Shay" Byars, a former regional director for Ducks Unlimited, was tracked down in Florida where he had moved after the incident. Ducks Unlimited officials said he was fired because of the incident.

Another Wolf Link

Here's another Globe article with a bit more history on the wolf that was shot last fall and determined recently to be a wild gray wolf.

Very interesting stuff and, in my opinion, very exciting.

Here's the link.

Stolen Bear Cub Starves to Death

This is the kind of stupid s#!^ that can really p!$$ a guy off.

Sorry for the symbols, but this really gets my blood boiling.

Louisiana wildlife authorities had a black bear cub turned in near death after an anonymous call was received saying someone wanted to turn in the cub. Local officials went to the location given by the caller and found the cub wrapped in a towel near death. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries were immediately called and the cub was taken for emergency care.

The cub died later that night.

A necropsy revealed the cub died from ... ready for this? ... starvation.

"The cub was obviously in the possession of these individuals for several days before they called the police," said LDWF Biologist Maria Davidson. "This was a senseless death that could have been easily avoided."

Let's assume for a moment the person(s) who had this cub "found" it "abandoned." Most likely, the cub was not abandoned, but the mother bear was nearby feeding, or waiting for the well-intentioned but uneducated people to leave before retrieving her cub.

"It is extremely rare for a female bear to abandon her cubs," Davidson said.

Another possibility removes the realm of not knowing better. This cub could have been removed from the den site.

That's a federal crime on top of state charges.

Witnesses have provided a description of the truck and the persons who left the cub

Operation Game Thief is waiting with cash rewards for anyone who can offer information leading to the arrest of these yahoos at (800) 442-2511. As usual, you can remain anonymous.

Wolf Killed in Massachussets

The Boston Globe is reporting that a wolf killed last fall has been determined to be a wild Eastern gray wolf. If so, it would be quite a find in New England, particularly as far south of the Canadian border as the wolf most likely wandered.

Unfortunately, the way the wolf was found was with a bullet. The wolf was killing sheep and it ended up dead.

Here's a link to the Herald's story.