Category: Hunting

SCI, NRA Score Victory In Elephant Import Lawsuit

Chalk-up a win for Safari Club International and National Rifle Association of America in the continuing saga of the elephant trophy import question.  The appellate court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should have conducted notice and comment rulemaking before abandoning almost two decades of a formal position that the import of legally hunted trophies enhanced the survival of the African elephants in Zimbabwe.

The road to complete victory continues, but SCI and the NRA have forced the government to do real fact-finding and not react to emotion from the antihunters.  Although the ban on imports remains in effect until the government finishes its rule-making, SCI, the NRA and other hunting organizations now have a chance to get the real story of hunting-based sustainable use conservation on the table.

SCI and NRA received excellent news Dec. 22 from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.  The court ruled in favor on a key claim in SCI’s and NRA’s 2014 elephant importation litigation.  In that case, SCI and NRA sued the previous administration for imposing on April 4, 2014 an abrupt ban on elephant importation from Zimbabwe.

In its 33-page opinion, the D.C. Circuit reversed an earlier unfavorable ruling issued by the lower court.  The appellate court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should have conducted notice and comment rulemaking before abandoning almost two decades of a formal position that the import of legally hunted trophies enhanced the survival of the African elephants in Zimbabwe.

The FWS had adopted negative enhancement findings for elephants harvested in 2014 and 2015.  SCI and NRA sued, at least in part, because the FWS’s negative findings prevented U.S. hunters from importing Zimbabwe elephants harvested in those years.

Although the court determined that the previous administration had acted illegally, it will take some time before we know the effect the ruling will have on the ability of individuals to import elephants from Zimbabwe.

It is also uncertain how the FWS will respond to the court’s ruling and how long the entire process could take if and when the FWS engages in further rulemaking on the importation of elephants harvested in Zimbabwe in 2014 and 2015.  It is possible that the government will decide not to do anything, but that opens the door for hunting organizations to file petitions to try to force the government to propose a rule to lift the ban.  Questions also remain about how this ruling will affect the decision-making process for the importation of other species for which the FWS has made or will make enhancement findings.

While some things about the practical impact of the ruling remain in question – there is no question that the D.C. Circuit’s ruling is a victory for SCI, NRA and all those who recognize that hunting plays an essential role in conserving Africa’s wildlife.  The court’s opinion requires the FWS to include the public, including the hunting public, in the process of decision-making that affects the importation of legally-hunted wildlife.

Hunters and organizations like SCI and NRA will be able to provide information about the role that hunting plays in species management and conservation.  The FWS will not be able to impose uninformed, abrupt importation bans, like it did in 2014. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

A Doe for a Friend and Neighbor

By Glen Wunderlich

It’s uncanny how television hunters are able to take big game animals on the last hour of the last day of a given season.  The suspenseful shows add to the drama of a hunter, who’s spent a small fortune, yet has come up empty as the sun finishes its appearance for the day.  Then, out of nowhere comes a waltzing wall-hanger and the next scene is nothing but high fives and hero poses. 

Sure it’s real – just like the camera operator that somehow always seems to get to the downed animal first and records the “surprised” hunter locating the prize.  But, when there are no TV cameras, and a hunter finds success on the first day of a 90-day season, priorities change for the meat hunter in search of more.  So, it has been for this seasoned deer hunter. 

With a good buck in the freezer, it was time to repay a generous, non-hunting neighbor, who loves venison but does not hunt.  But, with a full three months remaining, faith provided patience.

What was left of the early archery season came and went with my only buck tag filled.  Regular firearms deer season had arrived without the usual anticipation, but that changed when I learned that my great grandson would accompany me on opening weekend.

Within the dark confines of a portable blind, we watched intently, as a buck fawn entered the brassica field a scant 30 yards from us.  Soon thereafter, another button buck emerged and headed toward the other one with its head down and spoiling for a showdown of wills.  I whispered to my greenhorn sidekick that there was going to be a tussle, and sure enough, a short match of toughness ensued and finished just as fast.

Then, five more antlerless deer came into view and promptly began feeding some 60 yards in front of us.  As we watched the interaction of the group, my inexperienced partner made a quick move that was picked off by one of the adults.  I whispered, “Don’t move”, as we became the focus of a stare-down.  The wise leader of the group became nervous and edged farther away from us – all the while tuned in to the mysterious movement within.  The teachable moment concluded with the group following the leader directly away from us with their lives intact.

Muzzleloading season seemed more like going through the motions of hunting, as I couldn’t help but anticipate the late firearms antlerless season for one burning reason:  field testing a new Ruger American rifle in .450 Bushmaster caliber.

On the second day of the late season, a group of five whitetail deer busted out from the timber, as one lone matriarch led the way.  There was nothing left to do but to find out if my paper-punching practice would pay off in venison dividends.  With a steady hold at 125 yards and a single squeeze of the trigger, that that $12 antlerless deer tag became a good deal – especially for my neighbor, who would get the heavy 3 ½ year-old doe.

Hunting

Spring Bear Hunt Over Bait

The animal-rights movement loves to tell the media and non-hunting public that the use of bait for spring bear hunting is unethical and unfair, resulting in a slam-dunk slaughter of animals. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Enjoy this episode of ScoutLook’s The Hunger series for a spring bear hunt over bait as Brian Lynn, Sportsmen’s Alliance vice president of marketing and communications, explains how the Alliance protects hunting, fishing and trapping during an especially challenging hunt in Idaho.

Hunting

DSC Joins Bear-Ban Dismay: “Where Is the Science?”

DSC Joins Bear-Ban Dismay: “Where Is the Science?”

DALLAS– This week, despite a wealth of scientific evidence to the contrary, British Columbia moved to ban all grizzly hunting in the province, effective immediately. The reason for the ban appears to be the government’s “consultation” with “many British Columbians” who have declared the hunt “is not in line with their values,” according to a BC government news release.

The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) has issued a statement decrying this decision. “It is truly disappointing that we throw history and science out the window for some urban votes,” said Michael Schneider, president of the GOABC. “We expect our government to make informed decisions based on the best facts and science. Emotional decisions are not good for anyone.” (www.goabc.org)

DSC has joined GOABC in several research projects in the region, specifically pertaining to grizzly bears. From this research that is still underway, there have been no indications that a blanket ban is warranted.

A previous ban, announced in August, took effect in November for a specific region. But this latest announcement limits all grizzly hunting to just sustenance hunting by First Nations, for food, social, ceremonial purposes, pursuant to treaties and Aboriginal rights. Read more

Hunting

SCI Opposes Grizzly Bear Hunting Ban in British Columbia

Safari Club International has a better plan for the management of grizzly bears in British Columbia, Canada. Whether officials heed that sage advice remains in question following the announcement of a halt to all grizzly bear hunting in that province.

In making this decision, BC officials ignored the facts that the healthy population of grizzly bears in the province can be hunted sustainably without any harm to the viability of the population.

When wildlife becomes a political football, science-based management and conservation are thrown out the window in favor of popularity whims that change whenever the political winds blow from a different direction. Read more

Hunting

$25,000 Donation to Kick Off New Montana Public Access Program

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contributed $25,000 to the Montana Public Land Access Network, a new program that will promote public access in the state of Montana.

“Access to quality wildlife habitat is one of the most important challenges facing hunters in Montana. All too often, land ownership patterns prevent hunters and others from accessing public lands,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “The Montana Land Access Network will provide a critical funding source to help the state, conservation organizations and private landowners work together to secure even more access. We are pleased to make a significant contribution to the network.”

The new program places donations from organizations and individuals into a fund designed to help the State of Montana secure access to state and federal public lands—primarily through access easements with private landowners.

RMEF presented a $25,000 check to Governor Steve Bullock at the Montana capitol in Helena to kick off the program. Read more

Hunting

Ranew’s Outdoors Gambrel and Scale


Ranew’s Outdoors Gambrel and Scale:
Deer Processing and Management Made EasyHow much did the last buck you shot weigh?

If you don’t know, but would like to know the weight of the deer you tag this coming season, Ranew’s Outdoor Equipment has an elegant solution for you: their combination gambrel and scale.

The scale is integrated into the gambrel, allowing you to hang, weigh, dress and quarter game without having to put the animal on a scale to get the weight, then move it for skinning. You can engage the scale or take the weight off with a click of a pin, and you can get the live weight of the animal, the dressed weight, and even weigh the quarters. Read more

Hunting

Legislation Introduced  for State-based Wildlife Conservation Funding

(Washington, DC) – Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI) introduced H.R. 4647, the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bipartisan bill aims to meet the increasing need for proactive wildlife conservation funding for the full array of our nation’s fish and wildlife resources and the habitats on which they depend.

Specifically, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will annually redirect $1.3 billion in funding in existing revenue from royalties collected on onshore and offshore energy and mineral development on federal lands and waters to be used to provide proactive funding for state-based wildlife conservation.

This legislation will not establish any new taxes at the expense of taxpayers or the businesses that are currently contributing anywhere from $5 billion to $12 billion in royalties from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

January antlerless deer hunting opportunities in Alpena County for bovine tuberculosis management

Hunt will run Jan. 4-7 and 11-14 on private land in Alpena County, south of M-32
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that an additional antlerless deer firearm hunt has been added in the northeast Lower Peninsula to help with bovine tuberculosis (bTB) management. Hunt dates are Jan. 4-7 and 11-14, 2018. The hunt will occur on private land in Alpena County, south of M-32. Read more
Hunting

Snow Place I’d Rather Be

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But, the fire is so delightful
And, since we’ve no place to go
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”

It’s been over 70 years since that song was written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in 1945, and to this day, nobody has offered a better solution to our weather woes. Sure, the snowbirds have already escaped to parts South, but the rest of us are in it for the long haul. We don’t run and hide; we celebrate the snow bonanza by participating in it.

Looking through the family photos that span many decades, I couldn’t help but notice how many of them were related to snow. One thing became clear: Kids have a way of making the best of what we adults often define as frightful conditions. Growing up has a way of doing that to us, dang it!

As a youngster growing up in the 50s and 60s in southeast Michigan, we got warm behind the snow shovel clearing the long driveway and sidewalks at home. There were no snowblowers or motorized snow removal equipment of any kind. Heck, I don’t recall any plastic implements, either.

However, my dad figured he’d make life easier for us kids when he popped for a snow shovel on wheels. It was red with a double-bar handle and the idea was to manually push it along on small wheels positioned just behind the blade, while it rolled the snow off the walks; it looked like it meant business just sitting there. Unfortunately, that’s about all it was good for – just sitting there. Looking back, it was akin to a fancy, sparkly fishing lure that was good for nothing but “hooking” the fisherman. Nice try dad.

Playtime included some downhill sledding on our Flexible Flyer sleds. They were all steel and wood and we’d slick up the runners with wax before heading to the hills. Actually, there were no good sledding hills in our neighborhood, so on rare occasions, we’d get a ride to the best hill around: the Soapbox Derby hill at 8 Mile and Outer Drive Roads in Warren. We were not permitted to sled down the actual derby track; instead, it was the steep back side of the hill, where a kid could experience the thrill and speed of the self-steering contraptions. For a youngster, there was nothing to compare, but oh, that trudge back up the hill was the only limiting factor to an adrenaline-packed winter day.

Whatever it was that made snow fun before the grown-up in me took over is still with this ol’ boy – even if my latest snowplow doesn’t need my legs and back to power it.

1956 Allis Chalmers IB doing its job

It’s still fun work, if ever there was such an oxymoron.

But, adulthood has its privileges and deer hunting with snow on the ground is one of them. With the late antlerless deer season running from December 18 through January 1 on private land and plenty of white stuff about, there “snow” place I’d rather be than to continue the celebration of the season I’ve learned to love.

Growing old may be mandatory; growing up, not so much.

General, Hunting
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