OutdoorsVT 12-12-08

Killington is celebrating its birthday this weekend, and it's not just any old birthday.

It's the big five-oh.

For 50 years, skiers at Killington have hitched lifts to the top of the mountain and carved their way to the bottom.

Read about the festivities and details about Killington in this column.

OutdoorsVT 12-5-08

It's the holiday season and people are looking for gifts for the outdoor enthusiast on their list.

This list of Christmas ideas isn't the standard list with prices and where to get it.

This is a list of alternative ideas including local organizations memberships, the swag they sale, government agencies and gifts suggestions from those agencies.

Read where you can find innovative Christmas gift ideas here.

OutdoorsVT 11-28-08

With your turkey leftovers consider all the things we have to be thankful for as outdoor enthusiasts.

Much of what we have to be thankful for is here all the time, yet we take it for granted.

The list is long and varied.

Read the list here.

OutdoorsVT 11-21-08

There are many things to do in the area these days.

So, just because warm-weather fun has waned and winter hasn't quite arrived, take a look at a few local offerings to fill your time.

Read the roundup of events here.

Ghost Mountain Lion Seen in Mass.

In another case of people being told they didn't see what they thought they saw, several people in the town of Shirley, Mass., are being told they haven't seen a mountain lion.

This is despite the fact that several residents have seen what has been described as a mountain lion, including the town's public works director and the police chief.

Such stories are relatively common in these parts. Someone says they've seen a mountain lion and then describe the animal they saw as, well, a mountain lion.

But then a government agency steps in and tells everyone to relax, it was likely just a bobcat or another yellow Labrador retriever. -- 7-feet long with a round face and pointed ears.

A 7-foot-long bobcat! A round-faced, pointed-ears Labrador?

The reason the officials always snicker at the idea that someone might have seen a mountain lion is because "nobody has seen a mountain lion" -- at least that can be proven -- in so long most people in New England don't remember what they look like.

There has also not been any proof -- scat, hair, tracks, etc. -- found.

But there have been many mountain lions that have been seen, and evidence has been collected showing that the big cats are on the doorstep.

There weren't any wolves in Massachusetts either, until one was shot and killed by a rancher in March of 2008.

Eventually, someone will see a mountain lion, proof will be obtained, and state officials will believe them.

Or not.

OutdoorsVT 11-14-08

There is no shortage of reasons that hikers hit the trails in the fall.

The mild weather, lack of bugs, fewer people, even better views as the foliage thins and the landscape opens up.

But as is usually the case, for all the positives, there are negatives that have to be overcome in order to hike in the fall — particularly as the season heads downhill toward winter as we are now.

Safety becomes paramount. In addition to being in the backcountry during hunting season, the weather becomes a major concern.

To read about staying safe in the fall woods, read the full article here.

OutdoorsVT 11-7-08

During hunting season, hikers and backpackers need to take extra precautions when venturing into the woods.

While hunters are a safe group in general, there are incidents in which a hunter will misidentify a person as a game animal. The overwhelming number of these events are hunters on hunters.

But any time a hiker can make sure he doesn't look like a game animal, the better it will be for everyone.

Here are some tips for hikers and backpackers to help ensure everyone stays safe during hunting season.

Read the article here.

OutdoorsVT 10-31-08

Nov. 4, we're heading to the polls to choose a new leader for our country. Unfortunately, neither of these men have talked about issues near and dear to the hearts of outdoor enthusiasts across this country. The closest they have come is the clear difference the two have when it comes to gun control.

Fortunately, there is another party -- the Outdoor Party -- organized in the mind of someone tired of the same old tired party politics -- me.

Pull on your hip boots and wade into my final column about the Outdoor Party's run for the highest office in the land.

Read the column here.

OutdoorsVT 10-24-08

Oct. 1, recreation professionals from throughout Vermont gathered at the 65th Annual Governor's Conference on Recreation.

Read about the conference in my column.

OutdoorVT 10-17-08

My ongoing run for president under the banner of the Outdoor Party is still short on endorsements and campaign donations. Still, I continue the campaign to discuss the issues important to outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.

Read about the campaign here.

I'm Writing Another Blog

I launched another blog today.

OutdoorsVT, will be an off-shoot of my weekly column in the Rutland Herald.

Topics will focus largely on Vermont but will expand to include anything of interest to Vermont readers, which includes just about anything related to the outdoors in northern New England.

Check it out and tell me what you think.

You can find the blog at: www.rutlandherald.typepad.com/outdoorsvermont

OutdoorsVT 10-10-08

The Rutland area in Vermont has an outdoor champion in Michael Smith. The dedicated mountain biker and outdoor enthusiast is active in a variety of outdoor recreation planning and volunteer work. His latest undertaking is an incredible bridge in a trail system called Pine Hill Park, for which Smith has designed and built most of the trails as well.

Read about the bridge and Smith's efforts in my column.

OutdoorsVT 10-3-08

Vermont's fall foliage season brings autumn splendor as well as a steady stream of tourists. It's hard to blame them for wanting to come experience what Vermonters enjoy year-round.

Read the column here.

OutdoorsVT 9-26-08

The Dead Creek Wildlife Day is an event worth attending every year in Vermont. This year's wildlife day promises to be as good as always.

Read about the event here.

OutdoorsVT 9-19-08

It looks like the poor economy is helping outdoor retailers. Read about it here in my weekly column.

OutdoorsVT 9-12-08

The Outdoor Party candidate launches his run for the White House in presidential bid.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 9-5-08

Run for those who can't in this fundraising run for a good cause.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 8-29-08

Long-time outdoor campanion, Bubba, my golden retriever who accompanied me on hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and photography trips was one of the all-time great dogs.

There are dozens of memories stored away that have Bubba's big goofy face in them.

Bubba died one year ago ending more than a decade of outdoor fun.

Read about how dogs are an important part of the outdoor experience and how Bubba would add to the enjoyment of my outdoor adventures.

Read about Bubba here.

OutdoorsVT 8-22-08

First one to the top wins in this hill-climb running race.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 8-15-08

The Long Trail Festival returns to Rutland offering outdoor fun and education.

Read about the festival.

OutdoorsVT 8-8-08

A gate may be the answer to a long-standing problem for a shelter on the Appalachian Trail.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 8-1-08

Training for the grand adventure. Read about how to get ready for the big event.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 7-25-08

The Vermont Lakes Region Cycling Weekend is considered the best little bike ride in Vermont.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 7-18-08

A boot is not a boot is not a boot.

This is part one of a two-part series on how to buy hiking boots.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 7-11-08

Choosing a pair of hiking boots isn't as simple as buying the cheapest pair that looks cool.

This is part one of a two-part series on how to buy hiking boots.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 7-4-08

Trail runners tackle Mount Ascutney's 3.8 miles.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 6-27-08

Taking your kids into the outdoors can instill a life-long love of wild places. It's something that is critical as fewer and fewer people are active in the outdoors.

Read the column.

N.M. Lion Trapped, Killed

The lion believed to have killed a New Mexico man was trapped and killed, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

The lion's body will be sent for a necropsy to confirm if it is the lion that killed Robert Nawojski, 55, who was killed June 17 or 18.

The cat killed June 25 was an average-sized male that weighed about 125. It had four bullet holes in it, consistent with buckshot. A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officer had shot at the cat with a shotgun June 19 at the scene after the cat wouldn't leave

The lion was caught in a USDA Wildlife Services snare about a half mile from the site where Nawojski was killed. Officers with lion hounds are still searching for a second lion reported to be in the area.

Officials Confirm Lion Killed Man

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has issued a press release confirming that a lion killed the New Mexico man found partially eaten in southwest New Mexico. Read the release here.

An autopsy confirmed that the man died from injuries suffered in a mountain lion attack north of Silver City.

Conservation officers and USDA Wildlife Services agents are using dogs and snares to catch the lion.

Officers found the body of Robert Nawojski, 55, June 20, but believe he was killed late June 17 or early June 18.

Family members said the man liked to shave and bath on a rock ledge about 60 yards from his small trailer. It is believe he was killed just below the ledge, then dragged a short distance, partially eaten and then covered.

State wildlife officials say such attacks are very rare, but could become more common.

"Attacks by wildlife may become more frequent as our growing population expands into the urban-wildland interface," said Rick Winslow, the state's large carnivore biologist. "New Mexico has a healthy population of mountain lions and people who live around them must learn to take precautions and avoid dangerous encounters."

The death is the second in the state's history. An 8-year-old boy was killed while playing in Arroyo Seco in north-central New Mexico in 1974. In that case, the lion was an emaciated female that weighed only 47 pounds when it was later killed by a neighbor.

Cougar Suspected in N.M. Man's Death

The Silver City Sun News is reporting that a N.M. man found partially eaten and buried may have been the victim of a mountain lion.

Robert Nowojski, 55, was found 80 yards from his small trailer home near Silver City in southwest New Mexico.

An autopsy is pending to confirm cause of death.

While police couldn't determine cause of death due to the condition of the body, a state police spokesman said it appears the body had been fed on.

Officers who arrived at the home to check on Nowojski after he was reported missing saw a mountain lion that wouldn't leave. Officers contacted the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and a conservation officer took a shot at the lion with a shotgun. The lion is being tracked by hunters with hounds.

Neighbors in the area reported a problem lion in the area with many dangerous encounters including a bold lion and an encounter during which a lion stalked a couple up their driveway. Other encounters report a lion in backyards and looking in windows of homes.

Read the full story here.

Montana Fishing Guide Killed

A fishing guide was killed in a rafting incident on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River in Montana.

Dave Dedmon, 53, of Corvallis, a former sheriff's deputy, police officer, was apparently scouting the river for an upcoming fishing trip. He owned and operated Montana Flywater Co.

Dedmon and his wife were floating down the river when their raft was sucked into a snag, which unseated the pair and flipped the raft. The couple hung onto the raft before it hit another log. His wife was pulled from the river by some kids, but Dedmon wasn't retrieved from the river until farther downstream.

Despite CPR at the scene and en route to the hospital, Dedmon was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Read the full story here.

OutdoorsVT 6-20-08

Staying hydrated in the outdoors is a matter of planning.

Read the column.

Outdoors 6-13-08

If you find wildlife babies alone, walk away. Here's why.

Read the column.

Boy Lands New KS Record Bass

A 14-year-old Kansas boy has laid claim to the states new largemouth bass record after landing a 11 pounds, 12.8 ounce bucketmouth from a private strip pit in Cherokee County.

Tyson Hallam took the fish during the West Mineral Eagles fishing tournament with a jig and pig combo May 3.

The bass barely topped the old record of 11 pounds, 12 ounces, a fish caught by Kenneth Bingham in 1977

Hallam's bass measured 28 inches in length and had a girth of 19 1/8 inches.

OutdoorsVT 6-6-08

Vermont is offering a weekend of free fun during Vermont Days. See what you and your family can do at state parks, historic sites and more.

Read the column.

NWTF Has Its Leader

The National Wild Turkey Federation named George C. Thornton its chief executive officer June 2.

He will begin his duties immediately.

Thornton is well known throughout the agribusiness community, according to a news release issued by the NWTF. Most recently he was president and CEO of Agriliance, LLC., before retiring in 2007.

Also according to the release, "He is a past director of the Minnesota Zoo, and has served on many civic, industry and company boards including chair of the Chemical Producers and Distributors Association, Crop Life America, The Fertilizer Institute, local Boy Scout councils and church groups. In 2006, George was named Agribusiness leader of the year by the National Agricultural Marketing Association."

"We are thrilled to have George leading this organization," said Jere Peak, NWTF chairman of the board. "His background heading up Agriliance, which became the largest Agricultural products distributor in North America under his leadership, and his commitment to the same conservation principles and hunting heritage values that the NWTF family holds dear, makes him a perfect fit to take us to the next level."

Thornton is a lifelong hunter with a passion for restoring and maintaining wildlife habitat, according to the release.

"As a conservationist and hunter, the NWTF's mission really resonates with me, and I'm committed to working with this team of staff, volunteers and partners to fulfill the organization's goals," Thornton said. "The track record of the NWTF is very impressive. We can build from this foundation of success to find new and exciting ways to enrich the experience of our membership."

Thornton replaces Rob Keck who served as CEO of the NWTF for 27 years before resigning recently following the dismissal of COO Carl Brown who had 28 years with the NWTF, and Dick Rosenlieb who had been with the group for 19 years.

Brown and Rosenlieb have sued the organization claiming they were the victims of an organized smear campaign by members of the board that used lies and defamation to sully their reputations.
Read the news release here.

OutdoorsVT 5-29-08

National Trails Day is coming up and there are several opportunities.

Read about them here.

Guide Accused of Robbing Bank

Boy, this one hit close to home.

I just read about a fishing guide on the San Juan River in New Mexico who has been arrested and charged in connection with a bank robbery in Colorado.

The guide, Jude Duran, lived a few miles from where I used to live and guided on the area's top trout stream. In fact, it's one of the top trout streams in the country.

Not real sure what this is all about, but a story in the Santa Fe New Mexican says Duran, 29, is a well-liked guide who had developed a good following of clients.

Duran is accused of robbing the Vectra Bank in Montrose, Colo., with a handgun.

Read the New Mexican's story here.

OutdoorsVT 5-22-08

There are many camping options around. Here are a few possibilities now that it's time to dust off the tent.

Click Here

Parents Say Boy Attacked by Cougar

A 5-year-old boy was attacked and dragged off a hiking trail in the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico before the boy's father jumped on the animal and scared it off.

Both the boy and the father identified the animal as a mountain lion when showed photos by a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish investigating officer.

The attack happened about 7:30 p.m., May 17. The animal grabbed the boy and dragged him into into the forest. The father, followed the animal into the brush and jumped on it, forcing it to drop the boy.

The boy was airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital where he was listed in satisfactory condition.

The U.S. Forest Service has closed the Balsam Glade Nature Trail and the Game and Fish has searched the area with tracking dogs without luck.

Read the entire press release from the Game and Fish here.

My Web Site Updated

I am finally getting some work done on my Web site.

You can now find my columns on the Web site at: http://www.darrenmarcy.com/ by clicking on the OutdoorsVT link at the top.

I also added some new clips to those that were already there.

Don't miss the story on trophy trout in Vermont, or the information about two fishing books -- Lou Ureneck's stunning read about a trip to Alaska with his son, as well as John Gierach's latest.

You can still find the OutdoorsVT columns on the Rutland Herald site, but this gives you another option if you're looking for one you missed.

OutdoorsVT 5-15-08

Now that your bike is ready to go, where should you go?

This column will point you toward some of the easier, family friendly rides in central and southern Vermont.

Read about them here.

OutdoorsVT 5-9-08

Ready to get your bike out of the shed or garage and hit the highway or trail now that spring seems to actually be here?

Good, here's what you need to know to get your bike ready.

Read the column here.

OutdoorsVT 5-1-08

There's a nasty chemical called BPA that may, or may not, be entering your body from your hard plastic sports bottle. Sports bottle maker Nalgene has been hit hard by the news. Here's a column about the alleged dangers and the fact that alternatives, including a new bottle by SIGG, are taking off as consumers have demanded something different.

Read all about it by clicking on the link below:

Water bottle wars heat up over BPA

OutdoorsVT 4-24-08

Wearing a personal flotation device could save your life.

It certainly made a big difference for me the time I was tossed into frigid water while on a float trip.

Read about it, here, in the Rutland Herald.

Weekly Outdoor News - 4-20-04

Low numbers of returning wild chinook lead to Chehalis River closure

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The sport fishery for spring chinook salmon on the Chehalis River will not open as scheduled April 16 due to low numbers of returning fish, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

After analyzing the preseason forecast, fishery managers identified the need to close the Chehalis River fishery from the mouth of the Chehalis River to Porter Bridge and from the Porter Bridge to the high bridge on the Weyerhaeuser 1000 line. The fishery will remain closed for the entire spring and summer season, previously scheduled to be open April 16-July 31.

The preseason forecast shows that approximately 900 spring chinook are headed back to the river, an estimate well below the goal of 1,400 needed for spawning, said Bill Freymond, WDFW regional fish manager.

"From our estimates, the run size is significantly lower than what is required to meet our escapement goal for this year," Freymond said. "It's an unfortunate situation for anglers, but we need to protect salmon."

Freymond said although the season is closed for chinook, a coho-directed fishery is scheduled on the river this fall.


Designated trout and fly-fishing-only ponds open April 26

CONCORD, N.H. -- Fishing in New Hampshire's designated trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds opens this year on April 26 (the fourth Saturday in April), offering anglers the chance to experience exciting fishing in some of the Granite State's most scenic surroundings.

These ponds are managed specifically for trout, and fishing is allowed through October 15.

"These trout ponds are often the best waters in a given area for a variety of reasons," said New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Fisheries Biologist Don Miller. "Excellent habitat, low species competition and the fact that these ponds are closed to ice-fishing allow these waters to be managed for the trout fishing enthusiast."

Ponds managed for trout may be stocked with one or more species, including brook, rainbow and/or brown trout, with age classes ranging from "yearlings" (8-12 inches), 2-year-olds (12-15 inches), and 3+ year olds.


Washington's Lowland Lakes Open

Hundreds of lakes are teeming with trout as the state's biggest annual fishing event nears its April 26 opener.

More than 24 million trout will be stocked in lakes and streams throughout the state for this year's fishery, including those planted in waters that opened earlier this spring or are open year-round. Most trout will be stocked before the opening weekend, when nearly 300,000 anglers are expected to cast a line.

"With travel costs up this year, lowland lake fishing is a great recreational opportunity for people looking to stay close to home," said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Jeff Koenings.

OutdoorsVT 4-17-08

This week's column is about a big annual river festival held on the West River in Jamaica, Vt.

Read about the river festival here.

No Charges to be Filed in Idaho Wolf Killing

No charges will be filed against an Idaho man accused of shooting two wolves after the prosecutor in charge of the case declined to file charges.

The first wolf was shot within sight of the man's home and near his horses. But after that, the man chased the second wolf on a snowmobile where it was killed about a mile away, which seems to be in violation of allowed rules that say a wolf can only be killed if it is actively molesting or threatening.

"In my opinion, there is 'reasonable doubt' whether the wolves were, or were not, molesting livestock or domestic animals," said Karl H. Lewies, Fremont County prosecuting attorney, in a letter to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. "I have determined that no charges will be filed."

The killing of the two male wolves is the first in Idaho since the wolf was removed from the endangered species list March 28.

Utah Big Game Permit Draw News

Applicants for Utah's big-game hunting permits should know by April 30 if they were successful or not. If you don't receive an e-mail or letter by April 30, log on to wildlife.utah.gov to check results or call (800) 221-0659.

If you were not one of the lucky applicants, you can still buy a general bull elk permit, along with any general buck permits not taken in the draw on June 12.

"Some general season buck deer permits for the Northern Region and statewide general archery buck deer permits are usually still available after the draw," said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "Any permits that aren't taken in the draw will be available beginning June 12."

Tutorow says you probably don't need to buy a permit the first day they go on sale. But she also encourages you not to wait too long. Last year, all of Utah's general archery buck deer permits were gone by July 23.

"Utah big game permits are selling out faster and faster every year," she says. "If you wait too long, they might sell out before you get one."

A total of 12,300 any bull elk unit permits, and 11,000 spike bull elk unit permits, will be available. The DWR does not have a limit on the number of general archery elk permits it can sell.

For more information, call the Utah Wildlife Services Administrative office at (800) 221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

No Chronic Wasting Disease in N.H.

Officials with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said testing done during the 2007 deer hunting season turned up no cases of chronic wasting disease.

A total of 405 tissue samples were tested, according to biologist Kent Gustafson in a news release. Nearly 2,300 deer have been tested in New Hampshire since the program began in 2002 without any positive tests.

CWD is a neurological disorder that is fatal to deer, elk and moose. There is no evidence that humans can be infected with CWD.

Looking For Work?

Saw a "help wanted" ad recently in my mailbox. Looks like a heckuva job. If you have the chops, it's not a bad gig. I'd apply, but I already have a job.


The Company
The National Wild Turkey Federation is a national leader in conservation.

The NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C. With an annual budget exceeding $50 million, the NWTF has approximately 300 employees throughout the United States with almost 200 employed in Edgefield, SC. Since 1985, more than $258 million NWTF and cooperator dollars has been spent on upholding the hunting traditions and conserving wildlife habitat.

The NWTF is a grassroots, nonprofit organization with more than 500,000 members in 50 states, Canada, Mexico and 14 other foreign countries. The NWTF supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as hunting as a traditional North American sport.

The Position of CEO
The CEO is the full-time chief administrative official of the NWTF. The CEO shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall report to the President of the NWTF. The CEO shall have responsibility for and control of all employees.

As a chief executive, the CEO shall initiate and participate in forming new policies as they have been approved by the NWTF membership or the Board of Directors. The CEO shall organize, direct and coordinate the programs and activities of the NWTF to assure that the objectives are attained, plans fulfilled, and member needs met. The CEO shall also have other such responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Qualified candidates for the CEO should have hands on managerial and administrative executive experience in either public, private or nonprofit organizations. Additionally, qualified candidates must also support the ideals of the organization, which include conservation and the preservation of the hunting tradition.

Demonstrated ability to build relationships with governmental agencies and corporate sponsors is a must for this position. CEO candidates also need to demonstrate an ability to communicate with and inspire staff, sponsors, and the grassroots membership. Innovation and visionary processes that further the goals and mission of the NWTF are also desired.

Applications
To be considered for the CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation, submit your resume and salary expectation via e-mail to ceosearchcommittee@nwtf.net or via fax 803-637-0034.

Bears Waking, Put Away Feeders

Take down birdfeeders to prevent attracting bears

It's time to take down bird feeders as bears are coming out of hibernation in many places across the country depending on where you live.

As bears wake from their winter slumber and head out in search of food, Mother Nature hasn't always cooperated leaving bears with whatever they can find. Don't let that be your trash, bird feeders, barbecue grill or other human-related attraction that could likely end up with a dead bear.

If you have bears around your home, it's because you live in their world. It's up to you to ensure you are a good neighborhood.

OutdoorsVT 4-10-08

Another column posted on the Rutland Herald.

A collection of things to do this week around southern Vermont.

S.D.: Parents Decide When Kid's Ready to Hunt

Legislation in South Dakota makes it possible for kids 10 years old and older to hunt as part of a mentored hunting program.

“Having youngsters in the field is nothing new in South Dakota,” said Tony Leif, director of the Wildlife Division of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “Many South Dakotans learned about hunting and the outdoors well before they were old enough to hunt.”

The legislation will take effect July 1, allowing kids 10 to 15 years old to hunt in the company of a mentor.

“At Game, Fish and Parks we accept the challenge of implementing this new law,” Leif said. “We also recognize that there’s more going on here than just lowering the age limit for hunting.”

Leif said the law makes it possible for kids to hunt with supervision before they take their hunter safety class, it is the parents who really know when their kids are ready for the responsiblity.

“The regulations will adhere to the letter and intent of the law,” Leif said. “The spirit of the law, however, rests on the responsibility of parents to make an informed decision about whether or not their youngster is ready to safely handle and operate firearms in the field. Just because the law allows them to hunt doesn’t necessarily mean that they should. In some cases it may be best to have the child just walk along with the parent during a regular hunt and start the mentoring process in that fashion.”

• There are many rules pertaining to the mentored hunts, a few of which are.
• Must maintain "immediate physical control" over the youth.
• The mentor accompanying the youth may not carry a firearm.
• A mentor can only accompany one youth at a time.
• A hunting party with a mentored youth in the group is limited to six people.

Colorado Lists Habitat Stamp Fund Projects

The Colorado Division of Wildlife sent out a news release detailing where the state has spent habitat money raised through the Habitat Stamps Program. This is good stuff.


HABITAT STAMP SALES BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE RECREATION

Outdoor enthusiasts who purchase a Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp are beginning to see a return on their investment. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) announced today that more than 19,000 acres have been set aside for wildlife and wildlife-related recreation since the DOW started selling Habitat Stamps two years ago.

"What we have seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg," said Dan Prenzlow, a DOW liaison on the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee. By combining money collected from habitat stamp sales with grants from Great Outdoors Colorado (GoCO) and other sources, the DOW is working on dozens of other projects that could protect up to 65,000 more acres of wildlife habitat in the near future.

Some of the wildlife habitat was purchased by the DOW, but most of it is preserved through permanent conservation easements that protect important winter range and migration corridors for deer and elk. Other acquisitions and easements have set aside critical land for sage grouse and opened up fishing access for anglers.

The habitat stamp program was started in 2006 as a way to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat. Sales averaged $3.5 million in the first two years. That money was used to match a variety of grant programs to leverage more than $38 million for habitat protection efforts in Colorado.

The habitat stamp program is overseen by a nine-member citizen's committee appointed by the Governor. The committee has reviewed dozens of proposals to protect critical wildlife habitat. Each proposal receives a thorough review and is ranked according to its merits. Final approval comes from the Colorado Wildlife Commission.

"The habitat stamp program was set up to benefit the wildlife of Colorado for future generations," said committee chairman Mark Smith of Center, Colo. "Our selection process is designed to protect the greatest number of species possible. As stewards of our resources, the committee's goal is to ensure our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be able to enjoy Colorado's natural resources."

Properties protected though the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program as of April 10, 2008:

• Conejos County: Kendrick Parcel, 200 acres, fee title, in-holding at existing La Jara Creek SWA, big game winter range and trout fishing. $400,000.
• El Paso County: Ramah Reservoir, 158 acres, fee title in-holding at existing SWA, warm-water fishing and waterfowl access. $120,000.
• Grand County: Wolf-Taussig, 3,140-acre easement, big game winter range. $3.5 million.
  Gunnison County: Miller Ranch, 1,604 acres, fee title, big game winter range and migration, Gunnison sage grouse habitat and public access. $6.5 million.
• Lake County: Hardeman Property, 1.25 miles of Arkansas River, perpetual fishing access and bighorn sheep winter range. $99,000.
• Moffat County: Raftopoulos Two Bar Ranch, 3,184-acre easement for big game winter range and greater sage grouse protection, including 2,400 acres hunting access and fishing stream access in the Cold Springs Mountain area. $1.7 million.
• Rio Blanco County: Berryman Ranch, 2,905-acre easement, big game winter range and migration. $2.5 million.
• Rio Blanco County: Lunney Mountain, 2,027-acre easement, big game winter range and sharp-tail grouse habitat. $1 million.
• Rio Blanco County: Wenschoff Ranch, 525-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, greater sage grouse habitat. $1.2 million.
• Routt County: Adobe Ridge, 561-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, sharp-tail grouse habitat. $480,000.
• Routt County: Circle 8 Ranch, 637-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, sharp-tail and greater sage grouse habitat. $472,000.
• Routt County: Wolf Mountain, 2,711-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, sharp-tail and greater sage grouse habitat protection, and trout fishing. $1.75 million.
• San Miguel County: Baker Ranch, 1,249-acre easement, big game winter range and migration, Gunnison sage grouse habitat. $850,000.
• San Miguel County: Elk Creek Ranch, 350 acres, fee title, big game winter range and migration, Gunnison sage grouse habitat. $924,000.

The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp was created by House Bill 1266 during the 2005 legislative session. The bill authorizes the sale of the stamp from 2006 through 2010, with an option to continue past the 2010 deadline with authorization from the Colorado Legislature.

HB 05-1266 mandates that 60 percent of the money collected must be spent on big game winter range and big game migration corridors. The remaining money can be used on other habitat types critical to wildlife in Colorado, including wetlands, riparian, shortgrass prairie, and forest land projects.

"There are many wildlife species that benefit by protecting big game habitat," said Prenzlow. "Bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, hawks, eagles, and a variety of grouse, waterfowl songbirds and other mammal species will benefit from the habitat stamp program. Protecting the land that is used by big game goes well beyond just helping the deer and elk herds in the state."

The habitat stamp costs $5 with the purchase of each hunting or fishing license up to a maximum of $10 per year. People who do not hunt or fish can purchase a stamp for $10.25 which includes the Colorado Search and Rescue fee. Anyone between the ages of 19 - 64 is required to have a valid Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp to enter a DOW managed State Wildlife Area. Habitat stamps can be purchased wherever hunting or fishing licenses are sold, as well as on the DOW's Web site at www.wildlife.state.co.us or by phone at (800) 244-5613.

Lake Powell Water Level Could Be Up 50 Feet

The Associated Press is reporting that snowmelt runoff could raise the water level at Lake Powell by 50 feet.

The water level increase is notable for the lake, which is at about half its potential capacity.

If it rises 50 feet, an important shortcut could be reopened allowing boaters to take advantage of the Castle Rock cut, allowing boats to cut a dozen miles off a trip from Wahweap marina to some of the more popular beaches and Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

A decade-long drought has seen the water level at Lake Powell falling leaving the tell-tale bathtub ring on the sandstone walls of the canyons.

Scientists, however, say one good year of runoff won't erase the drought.

Outdoor News

S.D. nixes longer pheasant season
BROOKINGS, S.D.—Heeding the concerns of landowners and sportsmen’s groups, the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission decided against a proposal that would have lengthened the pheasant season to the end of January. The commission took the action at its April meeting in Brookings. The 2008 season will adhere to traditional dates, starting on the third Saturday of October and ending on the first Sunday of January. The commission heard testimony both for and against the proposal at a public hearing in Brookings. The department also received more than 200 e-mail and telephone comments about the proposal.

N.H. donates 550 pounds of meet to needy
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers recently delivered approximately 550 pounds of processed moose and deer meat to the Littleton, N.H., Outreach Office of the Tri-County Community Action Program for distribution to the needy. The donation was the result of efforts by all the Conservation Officers in Fish and Game Law Enforcement District 3, which serves west-central New Hampshire. The donated moose meat and venison was confiscated during the fall 2007 hunting season in situations where moose and deer had been taken illegally. Conservation Officers had the meat butchered, packaged and frozen after it was seized. The pending court cases recently were resolved, allowing the meat to be donated.

Indiana offers apprentice hunting licenses beginning July 1
In an effort to help recruit new hunters, Indiana will allow individuals of any age to go hunting before taking a hunter education class, if they purchase an apprentice hunting license and are accompanied by a licensed adult while hunting. The licenses go on sale for the first time July 1. The initiative, which allows individuals to try hunting to see if it is a sport they wish to pursue without having to first invest a lot of time and money, has been done in other states as part of a nation-wide initiative to recruit new hunters.

Minn. anglers were to receive state record fish awards
Three Minnesota anglers who caught state record fish in 2007 were honored by the Department of Natural Resources April 5 at the 76th annual Northwest Sports Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten presented the awards during a ceremony.

And My Wife Thinks Bait is Expensive

The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post is reporting a charter fishing company is offering fishing charters with women in bikinis or topless for an additional charge. At least it was until forced to shut down by the city marina.

Smokin' Em Charters, a Port St. Lucie company, began offering the bikini or topless add-ons in January.

The women stay fully clothed until the boats are 3 miles out and in international waters. There is a strict "no-touching" policy.

The cost for a little skin with your fishing is $100 per bikini, $150 if the bikinis come off. Oh, that's on top of the $1,250 for eight hours of fishing.

The name of the charter boat? I swear I'm not making this up. The 44-foot vessel is dubbed "Trojan."

OutdoorsVT 4-3-08

Another column available on the Rutland Herald's web site.

Pittsford trails offer mud-season alternative.

Two Dead in N.H. Snowmobiling Crash

An 18-year-old and his 8-year-old cousin, both of Ossipee, N.H., were killed in a snowmobile crash April 1, according to a news release issued by the N.H. Department of Fish and Game.

Neither victim was wearing a helmet while riding Corridor 19 -- an old railroad bed trail. The victims were on the last snowmobile in a group of three when the crash occurred. Speed and icy conditions may have contributed to the crash, according to the release, and the investigation is continuing.

NWTF President Sends Message

In Box received the following letter yesterday from the NWTF president:

Dear NWTF Volunteers, National Board Members, Sponsors and Partners,

The last week has been a time of transition for the National Wild Turkey Federation, and we appreciate everyone’s patience during this effort.

As NWTF’s family pulled together to manage this period of change, our brief inward focus allowed speculation to fill the information gap. Thus, we want to take this opportunity to clarify some important points.

First, the NWTF annually undergoes an audit of its financial statements by a certified public accounting firm. The conclusion of the most recent audit, as has been the case with past audits, is the organization’s statements of position and activities received the highest level of opinion possible on their accuracy.

In addition, no allegations of criminal activity have been made.

While the organization has undergone change, it’s still made up of more than a half million of the most passionate and dedicated volunteers as well as our amazingly supportive and generous partners and sponsors. Because of all these wonderful people, we’re an organization that will emerge from this and move forward into an era of conservation success. We hope you’ll take that journey with us.

Respectfully,
Peggy Anne Vallery
NWTF President

NSSF Awards 12 Grants

The National Shooting Sports Foundation gave a total of $724,980 in grants were given to 12 states aimed at hunter requitment and retention.

It's the sixth year for the grants and so far more than $2.8 million have been given.

"These grants were awarded on the strengths of the concepts presented to preserve our hunting traditions, by adding to the ranks of hunters and encouraging current hunters to continue their participation," said Doug Painter, president of NSSF.

The grant recipients are:

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission--$64,400
• Idaho Department of Fish and Game--$153,000
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources--$62,000
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources--$16,500
• Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks -- #1-$77,755, #2-$45,000
• Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks--$61,700
• Nevada Department of Wildlife--$56,125
• New Hampshire Fish and Game Department--$20,000
• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation--$21,000
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources--$92,500
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency--$30,000
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department--$25,000

Kansas Forms Sportsmen's Caucus

Kansas became the 35th state to join the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses.

A group of legislators gathered at the Topeka Country Club to form the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus on March 25.

Members of the caucus will set aside politics and present a unified front by remaining informed and organized on sportsmen's issues.

Several groups got together for the kick-off including the National Rifle Association, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.

Nearly 60 people attended including more than 20 policymakers, outdoor writers, outfitters and trappers and others were in attendence

House Majority Leader Ray Merrick and Rep. Gary Hayzlett will serve as co-chairmen.

"It is an honor to serve as chairman of the Kansas Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus," Merrick said. "Hunting and fishing are ingrained in the Kansas lifestyle; it's about time we had a legislative group to work on these issues."

DOW Charges Two with Killing 34 Elk

Two men have been charged in connection with the shooting of at least 34 elk on two Moffat County ranches, according to a news release issued by the Colo. Division of Wildlife.

Rodney Heath Culverwell was charged with 18 counts each of willful destruction of wildlife and illegal possession of wildlife. Kenneth Wolgram was charged with 16 counts each of willful destruction of wildlife and illegal possession of wildlife.

The charges are the result of a 16-week investigation into the shooting of at least 34 elk.

If found guilty, a conviction on the charge of willful destruction carry a sentence of one to two years in prison and a fine of $1,000 - $100,000 per count.

If found guilty of the charge of illegal possession of wildlife, the sentence calls for a fine of $1,000 per count. Both men could also lose their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in Colorado and 24 other states.

Lion Attack 'Probable but Unconfirmed'

South Dakota officials investigating an alleged mountain lion attack March 1 at Sheridan Lake are listing the incident as "probable but unconfirmed," according to a news release.

Ryan Hughes of Rapid City said he was attacked at about 2:30 p.m. at Sheridan Lake.

S.D. Game, Fish and Parks used tracking dogs but was not able to pick up the scent of the lion and no other evidence was found other than Hughes word and the injuries he suffered.

Without enough substantiating evidence, the report listed the attack has probably having happened, but unconfirmed.

“It was very important to our agency that we go over every avenue for evidence that would firmly substantiate this as a confirmed mountain lion attack,” GFP Regional Supervisor Mike Kintigh said. “I know there has been a great deal of public interest, and this is important information for the work that we do.”

But while there was not enough evidence to substantiate the attack, Kintigh also found no evidence to dispute hughes claim.

“Ryan certainly has wounds to back up his story, and in several visits with him I have no reason to doubt his story,” Kintigh said. “There needs to be a chain of evidence to confirm a mountain lion attack report, and we were not able to put that evidence together.”

Dept. of Interior Announces Federal Grants

Interior Secretary Dick Kempthorne announced March 31 in a news release that nearly $4.5 million in federal grants to support neotropical migratory bird conservation efforts in the United States, Canada, Mexico and man Latin America and Caribbean countries.

"What happens in Central and South America affects the birds that visit our backyards every spring and summer," Kempthorne said in the release. "These grants will support cooperative conservation projects and research to benefit our shared migratory bird resources throughout the hemisphere."

With the grants, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide 37 grants to conservation partnerships, which will be matched with more than $15 million for research, monitoring and management programs for migratory bird populations.


There are 341 species of Neotropical migratory birds that breed in the United States and Canada and winter in Latin America including species of plovers, terns, hawks, cranes, warblers and sparrows, according to the release. Many of those birds are in decline and some are protected as threatened or endangered species.

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.

Vt. Board Member Resigns Under Fire

The Rutland Herald is reporting that a member of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board has resigned and the implication is that the resignation was over a wildlife violation.

If true, that would make three board members in four years who have resigned from the board as a result of a hunting violation. One of those members was convicted of two different violations.

You would think that a member of a state's board that is appointed to oversee the state game and fish agency, and which is responsible for setting policy for the Fish & Wildlife would be sticklers for the rules.

While these three shouldn't be considered representative of other members of the board, it does raise questions about the people being appointed to the board by Gov. James Douglas. Clearly a different strategy should be considered.

The most recent board member to resign is Michael Popowski, a Northfield attorney. No charges have yet been filed a full three or more months after the alleged incident. Curiously, not many people were interested in talking about the issue.

Fellow board members, however, were concerned that they were never informed of the situation, and Douglas said the situation was "frustrating" and "disappointing."

Yes it is.

The full article can be found in Friday's Rutland Herald.

Click here for the full article.

Wildlife Official Admits to Illegal Kill

Sure seems like I'm picking on wildlife officials these days, but it's just the luck of the draw right now.

A wildlife official in Alaska illegally killed a cow moose according to an article in the Alaska Daily News. Michael Fleagle, 48, who had served 10 years on the Alaska Board of Game, turned himself in and pleaded no contest to hunting a moose out of season and was fined $500.

But there's more to this story and Fleagle is a guy who deserves a break.

Fleagle was completely legal except for one thing. The zone where Fleagle was hunting was closed under an emergency order after officials expected the harvest to be met early.

The season was to have started Aug. 25 and run through Feb. 28. Fleagle went hunting Jan. 5. The emergency closure order came Dec. 14 and Fleagle failed to check before hunting.

He killed a moose, returned home and logged on to the Internet to register kill and that's when he saw the zone had been close. He turned himself in to Alaska troopers the next morning.

"It sounds like a legitimate mistake." Trooper Spokesman Tim DeSpain told the Daily News.

Mistake or not, wildlife regulations require hunters to know the rules. If a rule is violated, ignorance is no defense.

Fleagle did the right thing in the way it was handled.

"It was my obligation to check, and I was relying on information that was outdated," Fleagle said in the Daily News article. "There's no defense for that; it was an honest mistake."

N.Y. Deer, Bear Kill Up in 2007

New York's deer and bear harvest were both up in 2007, according to a recently issued press release.

Hunters killed 220,000 more deer in 2007 than the previous year and increased in every category -- bucks, antlerless deer, muzzleloading and bow kill.

Bear harvest numbers also increased in all N.Y. bear hunting ranges.

Statewide, hunters killed 1,117 bears, more than the 796 killed in 2006.

Montana Announces Wolf Hunt

Montana will hold its first wolf hunting season if the animals are taken off the federal Endangered Species list, which was expected to happen Feb. 21, according to an article in the Helena Independent Record.

The federal delisting will likely be challenged in court, which would delay the proposed hunt.

The wolf hunting season would be held Oct. 26 - Dec. 31, 2008, as set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission, according to the article. The use of dogs, bait, scent or lures, aerial spotting or hunting, artificial lights, radios or electronic calls will all be illegal.

Montana would be the first state to hold a wolf hunting season

The Independent Record reports an estimated 417 wolves with 38 breeding pairs in Montana.

The full article can be found here.

Outdoor Life Names New Hunting Editor

Outdoor Life has reportedly found its replacement for Jim Zumbo a year after he made a blog post that cost him his job with the magazine.

The Great Falls (Montana) Tribune is reporting that Andrew McKean, that state's Fish, Wildlife & Parks information officer announced his resignation and will take over as Hunting Editor for Outdoor Life on March 1.

According to Tribune Outdoor Editor Michael Babcock, McKean is a Missouri native now living in Glasgow who has worked with the Rocky Mountain Hunting and Fishing News and has been with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for 5 1/2 years. McKean will continue to live in Glasgow, but will travel to New York.

Zumbo, of Cody, Wyo., resigned from Outdoor Life almost exactly one year ago under fire for a blog he posted against assault rifles as hunting guns. He lost many major endorsements by outdoor gear companies, his backing for a television show was pulled and he resigned from his post as hunting editor for Outdoor Life during the backlash that followed.

Read the full story here.

N.M. Game & Fish Director Guilty of Violation

Always know where you are. If you don't know where you are, you could end up finding yourself charged with illegally killing a deer on private land without permission. Even if you are the director of the state game agency.

I know this fellow a little. Seems like a decent enough guy (even through the last time we spoke he was yelling at me about a column I wrote about him) and I'd have to believe him if he said he thought he was on BLM land.

That said, what he believed isn't as important as reality.

State game director convicted of illegally killing deer

The Associated Press

CARRIZOZO, N.M.—The director of the state Department of Game and Fish has been convicted of shooting a deer without permission on land in southeastern New Mexico.

Lincoln County Magistrate Martha Proctor sentenced Bruce Thompson to 182 days in jail Monday but suspended the time and placed him on probation. The conditions of Thompson's unsupervised probation require that he not violate any local, state or federal laws for 182 days.

Thompson also was ordered to pay a $500 fine. He had pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge.

Thompson still faces a related misdemeanor count of unlawfully hunting or possessing a protected species. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge. A jury trial is scheduled for April 21 in Carrizozo.

The charges had stemmed from a Nov. 17 hunt on the Diamond T Ranch west of Roswell in which Thompson shot a deer. It is illegal to hunt on private property in New Mexico without permission from the landowner.

Thompson, who had a valid deer hunting license, had said he believed he was on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land, based on coordinates entered in his GPS unit.

Grits Gresham Dead at 85

Just found this death notice about Grits Gresham. The outdoor world is suffering with Grits' passing. He was a legend in hunting circles and beyond throughout the outdoor sporting field.

I only knew Grits from his byline in the magazines I read and from that hat that was always perched atop his head. I'll miss both.

Here's one of many obituaries floating around on various outdoor sites:

Outdoorsman Grits Gresham Dies at 85

Grits Gresham, noted outdoorsman, writer, author, and television personality, died on February 18, 2008, in his hometown of Natchitoches, Louisiana, at the age of 85.

Gresham served as field host and producer for "The American Sportsman" television series on the ABC network, host of "Shooting Sports America" on ESPN, was shooting editor of Sports Afield magazine for 26 years, and was published in such wide-ranging magazines as Sports Illustrated and Gentleman's Quarterly. He authored eight books, but may be best known for his role in the series of commercials for Miller Lite beer. Gresham was the fisherman among the athletes who made "Tastes Great, Less Filling" marketing buzzwords for more than a decade.

Grits traveled the world for his work, and he particularly enjoyed his many trips to various African countries as well as fishing and hunting in South America. . He
served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII.

A tireless worker for conservation, he was one of the first public voices bringing attention to the loss of wetlands along the Louisiana coastline, an area where he did much of his graduate work while at LSU.

Gresham's books include "The Complete Book of Bass Fishing," "Fishes and Fishing In Louisiana," "Fishing and Boating in Louisiana," "The Sportsman and his Family Outdoors," The Complete Wildfowler," "Grits on Guns," and "Weatherby: The Man, The Gun, The Legend."

One of Gresham's proudest moments as an outdoor journalist came during an interview with President Ronald Reagan. The President shared with Grits a story no one in the national media had heard, that when he was a broadcaster in Des Moines,
Iowa, Reagan had used a Colt pistol to save a nurse from a mugging on the street. After the story broke, the nurse came forward and confirmed the tale, although she did not know until then that the young man who had saved her with a gun so many years before had turned out to be the famous actor and United States President.

Born Claude Hamilton Gresham, Jr. on June 21, 1922, in Spartanburg County, SC, Grits was the fourth of five children of Claude H. Gresham and Belle Hill Gresham . He attended Blue Ridge School for Boys, the University of North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Yale and received his B.S. and M.S. from Louisiana State University.

Gresham's many awards include the Winchester Outdoorsman of the Year, Alumnus of the Year in the LSU School of Forestry and Wildlife Management; induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and LSU Hall of Distinction; awards for excellence in writing and contributions to conservation from the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Northwestern State University.

At the 2006 SHOT Show, the National Shooting Sports Foundation recognized Gresham with its Lifetime Achievement Award and at that time established, with the Professional Outdoor Media Association, the POMA/NSSF Grits Gresham Communicator Award, the recipient receiving a bronze replica of Gresham's trademark hat.

Arrangements are being made through the Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home, at (318) 357-8271, http://www.blanchardstdenisfuneralhome.com/.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Gresham Collection at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, 321 Bienville Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, or in the name of Grits Gresham to the Alzheimer's Association.

Kansas Bill Protects Right to Hunt, Fish

A bill introduced in Kansas would protect the right to hunt and fish in the state as a constitutionally guaranteed freedom, according to an article Feb. 10 in The Wichita Eagle.

The measure was introduced into committee by Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth.

"There's always fear of anti-hunting legislation," Ruff told The Wichita Eagle. "Since we're gaining such a reputation as an outdoors state, I think it's important."

Cougar in Illinois? State Says No

The Department of Natural Resources says a rumor circulating on the Internet claiming to show photographic proof of mountain lions in Illinois isn't accurate.

The photos are apparently real, but were taken in 2001 or 2002 in Wyoming.

"While it is not completely impossible for a cougar to be found in Illinois, sighting of a wild one is highly unlikely," said Sam Flood, acting director. "Wild cougars have been found in neighboring states but again, very, very rarely."

Flood said rumors that the department is releasing mountain lions in Illinois is "absolutely not true."

For more on the rumor, see the Snopes web site, or cougarnet.org (pdf document).

Huge Deer Results in Poaching Charges

A Michigan man's 24-point buck of a lifetime ended up getting him more recognition than he expected when wardens took an interest in a newspaper story about the deer.

A conservation officer read about the huge buck killed during Michigan's archery season in the Jackson Citizen Patriot. A quick check of the Department of Natural Resources database showed Christopher James didn't buy his hunting license until the morning after he said he killed the buck.

James said he killed the buck at dusk and, after following a blood trail part of the night, went home and returned the next morning to find the buck, according to an article in the Citizen Patriot. He also apparently stopped off at a local marina to buy a hunting license.

James told the Citizen Patriot it was an honest mistake. He said he always buys a license but this time, he simply forgot. He said he confessed and will plead guilty. He faces a mandatory jail term of 5-93 days and a $1,000 fine. His hunting privileges will be revoked for three years and he won't even get to keep the monster rack.

Voyles to Lead Ariz. Game and Fish

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will fill its top job from within in March when Director Duane Shroufe retires after nearly 20 years.

Larry Voyles was tabbed to be the new director of the department by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission at its meeting Jan. 28, according to a news release issued by the agency.

Voyles has been with Game and Fish for nearly 35 years. He joined the department in 1974 as a wildlife manager, took over the wildlife enforcement program coordinator and then became the department's training coordinator. He is currently the Yuma region supervisor, a position he has been in since 1988.

"We're thrilled to hire someone with Larry's depth of experience and accomplishments," said Commission Chairman Bill McLean. "He brings more than three decades of experience in wildlife management to the director's position, as well as the respect of colleagues and the public."

More than 30 applications were considered for the position in a nationwide search. Six were interviewed and the final two were considered at a public meeting Jan. 28.

"We were fortunate to have several qualified candidates to choose from," McLean said. "The process has been arduous, but we've found what we're looking for — someone with a proven record of strong management skills and an in-depth understanding of Arizona's natural resource issues."

World Record Let Go?

Photos floating around the Internet show a giant blue catfish that was caught -- and released -- near Greenville, Miss.

An elderly man apparently caught the fish, had his wife snap a few photos, then turned it loose.

It's unknown just how big the cat was, but estimates put the fish in the 150- to 200-pound range.

Looking for Work? Look at Texas

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is hiring.

Heading into the new year, the department had 50 jobs posted and expected to add more to that list soon, according to a news release.

Most of the jobs are in the State Parks Division with jobs in Austin, its field offices and many of the state's 93 state parks.

"The combination of retirements and new positions is making for the best state park career opportunities that we've seen in 20 or more years," said State Parks Director Walt Dabney. "For people who love the outdoors, like working with park visitors and doing something that makes a difference in their quality of life, this is a wonderful time to consider a parks career."

Other positions to be filled are in the wildlife, fisheries and other divisions