Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
To celebrate young birders and the adults who inspire and encourage them, Leica Sport Optics and Birdwatching magazine are holding an essay contest. Two winners will each receive a Leica Trinovid 42 binocular.
Young birders and adult mentors to young birders are eligible to enter now through June 30, 2014. Read more
Fertilizer and lime recommendations can be confusing. All the different numbers and suggestions can really make it difficult to understand what your soil and crop needs to perform its best. Let’s simplify things with a few quick tips to understanding your soil sample. Read more
In 1966, the Kirtland’s warbler was listed as a federally endangered species; today, history is being made as this unique songbird may soon be delisted.
The Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2011 to clarify each agency’s commitment to the conservation of the Kirtland’s warbler. Due to the potential for delisting, the three agencies decided it was necessary to develop a Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Plan (KWCP) that would provide future strategic guidance to sustain a viable population of Kirtland’s warblers across their breeding range. Read more
A military veteran’s parents called the media to report that vandals had been damaging and removing flags from gravesites. Authorities caught the unpatriotic culprit but it doesn’t appear as though any jail time will be served. Details here…
Thanks to www.OutdoorPressroom.com for this one.
MISSOULA, Mont.-Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) accepted a $25,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to assist its wolf management plan.
“RMEF staunchly supports the science-based state management of wolves and other predators,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “This grant will put more collars on more wolves so Montana’s wildlife managers have more relevant data on Montana’s wolf population. We are far over objective on wolf numbers and the more specific data we have the better we can manage the population downward.” Read more
GW: This from www.HumaneWatch.org
Wayne Pacelle, fat-cat CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), deceives animal lovers in order to line the pockets of his organization. HSUS raises over $100 million a year from the public using ads showing needy dogs and cats, and yet it only gives 1% of that money to pet shelters. HSUS isn’t affiliated with local humane societies, but it benefits from name confusion. HSUS also doesn’t run any pet shelters of its own. Instead, the money HSUS raises is used to fund a radical, PETA-like agenda.
How far does the deception go? Here are six things said by Wayne “Pinocchio” Pacelle. Read more
Lansing, Mich. — Yesterday, Safari Club International’s (SCI) Michigan Chapters worked in conjunction with the Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management (CPWM) to submit over 350,000 signatures to the Michigan Secretary of State in support of the ballot committee sponsoring a citizen-initiated law called the Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act.
“The voice of Michigan hunters and conservationists cannot be ignored. We are proud of everyone who has worked on the campaign to ensure that fish and wildlife are managed with sound science. Their work will be a lasting legacy to protect hunting and fishing rights from attacks by out-of-state anti-hunting organizations,” said SCI Past President and current CPWM Chairman Merle Shepard. “I want to thank SCI for their leadership in helping to collect signatures, as well as its financial commitment to fighting for our hunting rights.” Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
A check of the weather radar at 4 am convinced me that significant morning showers had passed and only some scattered patches of rain were off to the west. It was good enough for another attempt to bag a spring gobbler, before Michigan’s late season would end.
Previous hunting sessions this spring had been interesting, but unproductive. I had outfitted my inexpensive rubber hen decoy with some authentic turkey-feather wings for a bit more realism and, when the first hen of the season caught a glimpse of the “trespasser”, she quickened her pace for a showdown. The furious hen danced a circular jig around the phony, made a few threatening gestures, and went on her way to breakfast.
The following day Read more