Category: Hunting

Defining Fair Chase

By Glen Wunderlich

When discussing the term “fair chase” relative to hunting, no organization has been at the forefront of the issue more than the Boone and Crockett Club (the Club), which was founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887.  Obviously, in the days of market hunting and before regulations and licensing were put in place, sustainability of any given species was given little consideration.  While much has changed since then, the continued advancement in hunting-related equipment and techniques may have outpaced what heretofore has been considered under the banner of fairness.

The Club defines fair chase as “the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild, native North American big game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper advantage over such animals.”  Merely following the law certainly does not necessarily fit such a definition; rather, fair chase becomes a mindset that is measured by one’s own sense of doing the right thing.  While it may seem counterintuitive to the uninformed, loss of hunting rights can equate into a loss of conservation, and accordingly a loss to wildlife.

“Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.”  —Theodore Roosevelt, The New Nationalism speech, 1910. 

What follows are excerpts from a recent comprehensive essay on fair chase by the Boone and Crockett Club.

A most basic tenet of fair chase is determining if an animal has a reasonable opportunity to escape; if it does not, the hunt cannot be considered fair chase.  Additionally, technology can become a substitute for basic skills in the field in which it not only undermines the hunting experience, but also has the potential to erode public support for hunting.  The truth is, we are hunting today because the majority of sportsmen over the past century have held themselves to a high ethical standard.  Fair chase is not only significant to a personal hunting ethic; it is critical to the continuation of hunting and the success of conservation in North America.  Hunting traditions are potentially at risk if the majority of citizens develop a negative perception of hunting, whether this perception is justified or not. Ethics may be a matter of choice, but the actions of individuals can come to represent the entire group and it is important that hunters understand this.

“In the United States, while the right to keep and bear arms is constitutionally assured, hunting is a privilege to be repeatedly earned, year after year, by those who hunt. It is well for hunters to remember that in a democracy, privileges, which include hunting, are maintained through the approval of the public at large. Hunting must be conducted under both laws and ethical guidelines in order to ensure this approval.”—Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase Magazine 2014.

As we enter yet another hunting season, let us be mindful of the ethical principles that have allowed us to exercise the privilege of hunting, so that it may endure for those that follow us.

Hunting

Wolf Attacks On the Rise in Wisconsin

Wed, Sep 14, 2016

Nearly 30 bear dogs have been killed so far in 2016. With the hunting season opening today, that number could skyrocket in the remaining months of the year.

Hunters are being warned of potential wolf attacks when running dogs this hunting season. (Photo: Holly Kuchera/iStock)Hunters are being warned of potential wolf attacks when running dogs this hunting season. (Photo: Holly Kuchera/iStock)

There’s always an element of danger present when bear hunting with dogs, but it’s expected to come from the bear. Not so in Wisconsin, as many bear hunters have found out the hard way this year. Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources is warning hunters to be on the alert as the year comes to a close, a result of more than 30 wolf attacks on bear dogs already in 2016.

As of press time, there have been 28 reported dog killings in America’s Dairyland this year, with the first coming in March. Two more followed in April, but the three kills were followed by a lull as the spring gave way to summer. Then in July another 11 dogs were killed by wolves as hunters began running their dogs ahead of the September bear opener. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Another suspect deer for chronic wasting disease identified in Ingham County, MI

Hunters in DMU 333 reminded of the requirement to have harvested deer from the area checked

Since May 2015, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been actively conducting surveillance for chronic wasting disease (CWD). To date, more than 6,000 deer have been tested since the first positive was found, with seven cases of CWD confirmed.

However, a 3.5-year-old buck taken recently in Meridian Township is likely to be the eighth positive and the first discovered since March of this year. The sample is currently being tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, to finalize confirmation.

The suspect deer was taken as part of the DNR’s CWD management program through targeted sharpshooting, which actively removes deer that are more likely to be affected with the disease in and around areas where previously identified CWD-positive animals had been detected. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Alaska Plans to Challenge Over-Stepping Federal Wildlife Management Rule

Alaska officials plan to challenge in court a federal rule governing wildlife management on refuges there, hoping to end what they say is federal overreach by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

The FWS recently adopted a final rule on predator harvests on wildlife refuges in Alaska, which state wildlife managers say violates the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the Refuge Improvement Act, and the Alaska Constitution.

The rule prohibits taking black or brown bear cubs or sows with cubs, taking brown bears over bait, taking bears using traps or snares, taking wolves and coyotes from May 1 to Aug. 9, and taking bears from an aircraft or on the same day as air travel has occurred.

In 2015 the National Park Service (NPS), also under the Department of the Interior, placed similar restrictions on national park lands there.

While no litigation has been filed at this time, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker told the “Alaska Journal of Commerce” this week the state is planning a lawsuit to stop implementation of the rule, and is consulting with stakeholders and governors of other Western states because the federal overreach is a state’s rights issue.

FWS officials haven’t given one example of how these changes were necessary to ensure viable populations of any wildlife species. In fact, a statement by FWS Director Dan Ashe stated the rule was implemented, “In response to public interest and concern about predator harvests on national wildlife refuges across Alaska.”

State and federal officials have always partnered on wildlife management. But Alaska officials say the FWS’s recent actions cater to outside groups like the Humane Society of the U.S. and other environmental groups at the expense of the people relying on the resource.

The FWS manages 16 national wildlife refuges (76.8 million acres), and the NPS oversees 24 national parks (54 million acres) of land in Alaska. More than 60 percent of all land managed by the NPS is in this state.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, said, “The implications of the FWS rule are also far-reaching . . . and it will likely serve as a model for similar takeovers in the Lower 48.

Alaska Congressman Don Young said, “This unilateral power grab fundamentally alters Alaska’s authority to manage wildlife across all areas of our state. If this rule is allowed to stand, we could see an opening for future jurisdictional takings by the federal government – transforming a cooperative relationship between Alaska and the Fish and Wildlife Service to one of servitude.”

Alaska is not the only Western state to take the federal agency to court in recent years. Arizona filed litigation against the FWS for failing its “statutory duty,” to develop an updated recovery plan to guide the Mexican wolf recovery effort there. They contend the action was necessary to force the agency to provide such a plan, and that utilizes the best available science as legally required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“The Service is currently in litigation with special interest groups and settlement discussions could possibly occur without our knowledge or involvement, as has occurred in previous Mexican wolf lawsuits. As the state’s wildlife authority, we will not sit on the sidelines when it comes to decisions affecting Arizona’s wildlife,” said Robert Mansell, chair of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

“The commission repeatedly requested an updated recovery plan from the Service over several years, as the current plan was developed in 1982, and fails to provide several of the key legal requirements. One of the key failings of the current recovery plan required by ESA is the identification of criteria required to downlist and delist this subspecies of wolves from the ESA. Without these criteria, it is impossible to ever remove Mexican wolves from endangered status,” said Mansell.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMGF) recently received a temporary restraining order in a District Court to prevent the FWS from releasing endangered Mexican gray wolves there, until FWS can come up with a detailed, science-based recovery plan for the species.

After requesting the plan, the FWS released two pups, despite widespread opposition from ranchers, hunters, and wildlife management officials in that state.

NMGF’s Director Alexandra Sandoval said the releases were, “unpermitted and illegal,” and the action “demonstrates a disregard for our state’s sovereignty.”

— Etta Pettijohn

Animal Rights, Hunting

QDMA Launches 2016 “Gear Up For Deer” Online Auction


ATHENS, GA (September 12, 2016) – Deer season is upon us, and to help hunters get ready, QDMA is holding the Gear Up For Deer online auction containing 50 items including bows, guns, hunting trips, gear, optics, habitat equipment and much more. All auction proceeds will go to support QDMA’s mission of ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat, and our hunting heritage.The most valuable auction item is a one-year Platinum Plus Membership to the 7,000-acre Cedar Ridge Plantation in South Carolina, one of best managed, most exclusive hunting clubs in the South. Located in Greenwood County, this 7,000-acre plantation has been under an intensive QDM program for more than a decade and features more than 100 acres of food plots and 120 permanent hunting stands. As evidence of their commitment to wise management, Cedar Ridge has been recognized by QDMA with the “2011 Al Brothers Deer Manager of the Year” award and the “2013 Deer Management Program of the Year.” In addition to deer, Cedar Ridge also offers exceptional hog and turkey hunting as well as world-class dove hunting. The package, valued at more than $8,000, will also include a complimentary registration to QDMA’s Deer Steward I course.

The Gear Up For Deer online auction is now open and will close on Friday, September 30 at 7 p.m. EST.

Click here to review items and begin bidding.

Link URL: https://www.32auctions.com/QDMAGearUpforDeer

 Disclaimer: QDMA reserves the right to remove or exclude any auction item listed at its sole discretion. Additionally, while every effort has been taken to ensure 100 percent accurate descriptions of each item, they remain subject to change until time of sale, so be sure to double-check item descriptions and to confirm any additional details with the item’s provider prior to purchase. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Live Ducks: The Only Judges That Matter

Once birds are in tight, it’s important to keep a realistic chatter. Soft, raspy tones, mimicking the exact sounds of real ducks, are usually the best sellers.

To consistently call ducks into range while hunting, try sounding like one

By Sammy Bruce

I pity the up-and-coming duck hunter, anxious to learn the intricacies of calling but with nowhere to turn for guidance but YouTube and calling contests. While such resources occasional offer a handy tip, most are so crowded with useless chaos they’re often difficult to watch all the way through.

Somewhere along the line, it seems, duck calling contests began rewarding contestants for performing instrumental symphonies on duck calls, rather than for sounding like a duck. So became the accepted measure of success within the industry: Champion callers are often those who can manipulate a duck call to sound the most extreme, not necessarily those who produce the sounds that consistently put the most ducks on the strap.  Read more

Hunting
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