Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Interior’s Sue-and-Settle Order Exposes Secret Settlements with Activists

GW: I’ve been wondering where this action had been diverted as part of any ESA rewrite. Hopefully, this order begins to curb some of the frivolous suits that take money away from wildlife management.

WASHINGTON – Activists have grown rich by suing the government and reaping billions of taxpayers’ dollars – and all in secret. The U.S. Department of Interior, however, has issued an order to curb this abuse of basic, democratic processes and to open backroom deals to public scrutiny. The American Farm Bureau Federation applauds this overdue action.

Interior alone paid out more than $4.4 billion in monetary awards under terms of 460 settlement agreements and consent decrees between Jan. 1, 2012, and Jan. 19, 2017. In other words, Interior paid out an average of more than $800 million a year while keeping key aspects of litigation secret.

It’s easy to see why so many outside observers fear an unaccountable bureaucracy cutting deals with activists.

“The Department of Interior is shining light on a corner of government most people don’t even know exists,” AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen said. “Basic transparency demands that citizens know what their government is doing. When activists sue, they can tie up the government with dozens of frivolous claims but still recover attorneys’ fees if a judge upholds even one, solitary claim. Read more

Wildlife

Outdoor News Offers Annual Contest for Youth Writers

(Plymouth, Minn.) — Students in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Illinois who fancy themselves a prodigy in outdoors writing should take note of the Outdoor News annual Youth Writing Contest that kicks off Sept. 7, 2018.

Outdoor News, Inc., publisher of locally written fishing and hunting outdoor newspapers in seven Great Lake states, has promoted the writing contest since 1998, which encourages students in grades 6-12 to submit an outdoors-oriented essay or poem.

For students in grades 9-12, who qualify in the Senior Division, and 6-8 grade students entered in the Junior Division, the chance to win a $100 first place prize or $50 second place award is just part of the incentive to participate. Winning entries are printed in Outdoor News publications, and the winners are also presented plaque to honor their winning submissions. But this isn’t the end of their story. Winning entries in the Outdoor News contest will then be forwarded for entry into the Outdoor Writers Association of America annual writing contest. The OWAA contest offers the chance for youth writers to earn additional cash prizes and recognition. Read more

Wildlife

Creating a Continental Bird Migration Forecast

Researchers predict the movements of millions of birds across the United States

Ithaca, N.Y. & Oxford, U.K.—September is the peak of autumn bird migration, and billions of birds are winging their way south in dramatic pulses. A new study published in the journal Science reports that scientists can now reliably predict these waves of bird migration up to seven days in advance. The study details the underlying methods that power migration forecasts, which can be used as a bird conservation tool.

“Most of our songbirds migrate at night, and they pay close attention to the weather,” says study lead author Benjamin Van Doren, a Ph.D. student at the University of Oxford and a Cornell University graduate. “Our model converts weather forecasts into bird migration forecasts for the continental United States.” Read more

Wildlife

U.S. House Passes Pittman-Robertson Fund Modernization Bill

September 12, 2018 (Washington, DC) –  In a win for the sportsmen’s conservation community, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2591, the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act of 2017, on a voice vote.

Introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Vice-Chair Congressman Austin Scott (GA), along with fellow CSC leadership, Congressmen Jeff Duncan (SC), Gene Green (TX), and Marc Veasey (TX), advancing this important legislation has been a priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and CSC leadership during this Congress.
This bill would increase flexibility for state wildlife agencies by allowing the use of Pittman-Robertson (P-R) funds for the recruitment of hunters and recreational shooters. This added flexibility is critical to ensuring the long-term viability of revenue sources that fund state-based fish and wildlife conservation across the country.
Without establishing new taxes or fees, H.R. 2591 would expand the Multistate Conservation Grant Program by providing an additional $5 million annually from archery-related excise taxes. This legislation would also place a cap on the amount of funds that can be spent on hunter and recreational shooter recruitment to ensure wildlife conservation remains the primary focus of P-R funds.
“Recruitment and retention of new hunters means more dollars in the Pittman-Robertson Fund, which directly benefits state-based conservation efforts across the United States,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “CSF will continue to work closely with CSC leadership in order to bring this important legislation to the President’s desk.”

Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan’s Annual Waterfowl Festival Returns to Pointe Mouillee

Mouillee State Game Area is the largest freshwater marsh restoration project in North America and one of Michigan’s premier waterfowl hunting and viewing destinations. All proceeds from the annual festival benefit wetland restoration and wildlife habitat improvement at the state game area.

Hunters can buy, sell, or swap goods with outdoorsmen from around the Midwest at the “Greatest Outdoor Trading Post,” which features more than 100 exhibitor booths selling and trading equipment and supplies. Interested vendors can contact Joe Marra at 734-384-3915.

Fish-decoy carving, duck-decoy carving, fly-tying and small-boat building are among the daily demonstrations. Bring your retriever to participate in the Huron River Dog Jump contest. Learn tips from trainers on dog handling or find a new hunting buddy in “Puppy Row.” Kids’ games and activities include sling shot, BB gun and an archery shoot.

The Lake Erie Championship Layout Shoot, sponsored by Fritz Enterprises, will occur on Saturday rain or shine. The Midwest Duck Calling Championship, run by Ducks Unlimited, will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. – an event you won’t want to miss!

The Midwest Goose Calling Championship, sponsored by Covia, Waterfowl U.S.A Southern Lake Erie Chapter and the Gibraltar Duck Hunters Association, will be held Saturday at 2 p.m., with various prizes to be awarded.

Sunday’s festivities include the Michigan Duck Hunters’ Tournament, sponsored by Cabela’s, World Tek Industries, R.J.&J. Enterprises, Inc. and Gibraltar Duck Hunters, with hunters competing in shooting and boat-racing events. Read more

Wildlife

Celebrate 100 years of elk in Michigan Sept. 8

The DNR will celebrate 100 years of elk in Michigan with a special event Saturday, Sept. 8. The fun begins at 5 p.m. at the downtown pavilion in Gaylord. Enjoy snacks from Gourmet Gone Wild while conservation leaders talk about the importance of wildlife management.

In 1918, seven elk from the Western United States were released near Wolverine to re-establish Michigan’s elk population. Join us in celebrating the success of this conservation effort over the last century.

Wildlife

Michigan: annual waterfowl festival returns to Pointe Mouillee

The annual Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival, a tradition since 1947, is set for Sept. 15-16 at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Brownstown Township. This family-friendly event offers activities – such as dog-jumping competitions, archery challenges, an arts and crafts show, kids’ games and much more – for nature lovers and waterfowlers alike.

Located at the mouth of the Huron River at Lake Erie, Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is one of the largest freshwater marsh restoration projects in North America and one of Michigan’s premier waterfowl hunting and viewing destinations. All proceeds from the annual festival benefit wetland restoration and wildlife habitat improvement at the state game area.

Wildlife

Interior Announces More Than $36 Million to Boost Wetlands, Waterfowl Conservation, Access to Public Lands

WASHINGTON – The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, today approved $23.8 million in grants for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners to conserve or restore almost 135,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other birds in 17 states throughout the United States. The announcement was made by Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, who led today’s meeting on behalf of Secretary Zinke.

The grants, made through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), will be matched by over $60 million in partner funds. NAWCA grants ensure waterfowl and other birds are protected throughout their lifecycles.

“These projects provide tens of thousands of acres of hunting, fishing and recreational access, while strengthening important migration corridors and local economies,” said Deputy Secretary Bernhardt. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan’s Elk, Hunting Heritage Receive Boost from RMEF Grants

MISSOULA, Mont.—In continuing its long-term relationship in Michigan, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation awarded more than $30,000 in grant funding to benefit elk, elk habitat and hunting programs in the Wolverine State.

“We are excited to make this funding as Michigan is celebrating 100 years of elk on the ground,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “The grants will benefit elk and other wildlife by improving habitat across the elk range.”

Michigan is home to more than 6,000 RMEF members and 19 chapters. RMEF volunteers raised the funds by hosting banquets, membership drives and other events.

“We can’t say enough about our volunteers,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “They provide their time, talents and abilities to further our conservation mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. We simply cannot do it without them.”

Here are RMEF’s 2018 projects in Michigan, listed by county: Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan: new bear population estimates available; first season starts Sept. 10

Michigan’s bear hunting seasons are almost here, with the first opening Sept. 10 in the Upper Peninsula, the Lower Peninsula’s first season starting Sept. 14 in select areas, and Sept. 16 for remaining locations below the bridge. Bear seasons have staggered openers with various locations and hunt periods. For each of the 2017 and 2018 hunting seasons, 7,140 bear licenses were available.

“Over half of the state is open to regulated bear hunting,” said Kevin Swanson, wildlife management specialist with the DNR’s bear and wolf program. “Hunters are an important part of managing the number of bear and where they are located, and they have been part of bear management in Michigan since 1925.”

Regulations governing how and when bear can be harvested are in place to sustainably manage the bear populations. “Regulations are how we control the take of bear, ensuring Michigan has a heathy population within suitable habitat. They are adjusted, if needed, every two years.

“We have the ability to influence the growth of bear populations in remote areas of Michigan. Habitat is not a limiting factor, but social tolerance has been reached in portions of the Lower Peninsula,” Swanson said. “We are discussing another increase in harvest in the northern Lower Peninsula.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife
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