Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
Montana officials want more wolves taken out of the gene pool and have a plan to loosen restrictions on hunting and trapping. The public is invited to chime in on the use of electronic calls, bag limits, etc. More here…
A Florida man has been charged with felony drunken driving and wildlife violations, after police located a monkey in his truck. Largo Police indicate Eugene Carl Kotelman was speeding and found he was driving on a suspended license and had been charged numerous times with driving on a suspended license and DUI. Responding officers then noticed a “small monkey” in the truck and released the critter to his handler, the driver.
After Kotelman was released on bond from the DUI charge, Florida Wildlife officers charged him with possession of wildlife and two counts of violating fish and wildlife rules.
They took custody of the monkey, who later explained he was supposed to be the designated driver. Not really, but the rest of this is true.
Although the once endangered Kirtland’s warbler population numbers are on the rise, there’s more to it than providing good breeding grounds in Michigan. Its wintering area and even its migratory route are being studied so assistance can be provided if and where necessary. More here…
“It is difficult to choose a better place [to set wildfires] other than in the valleys of Montana where the population increases rapidly,” Inspire’s “AQ Chief” columnist writes. But, equal-opportunity law enforcement shoots back here…
With my turkey hunting season opener less than one week away, it was time for some scouting. I perched myself above a wildlife food plot in a deer hunting shack so that I could remain comfortable with a clear view. 
Within 15 minutes, a lone hen appeared and seemed to be on a mission, never slowing much and disappearing to the north. The action continued throghout the 3.5 hours of observation with wildlife in view the entire time.
A few deer here and there
and at about 8:05 the first distant gobbles sounded. From the broken-off calls, I assumed they were jakes, and my suspicion was confirmed 30 minutes later.
All in all, a good day of viewing, but still looking for the boss gobbler.
Distant Jakes
During the four-year period between 2008 and 2012, a total of 110 sheep were killed by collisions, he said. A total of 107 sheep were killed on Montana Highway 200, while just three sheep were killed by trains. Since 1985, Sterling said 403 sheep have been killed by motor vehicles on the highway and 58 sheep have been killed by trains.
Flashing yellow caution signs and electronic reader boards haven’t worked yet. Salt blocks in the area have had little impact luring the sheep away from the highways.
A simple simple solution exists: quit driving cars and trucks. But, alas, not even the most radical animal rights whackos will not give up their lifestyles in exchange for a few measley sheep. Anyway, more here…
by Bill Horn
As regular U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance readers know, on April 17th, the House of Representatives passed the most important fishing and hunting bill in 15 years – HR 4089, The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act – by a lopsided 274 to 146 vote. A bipartisan majority of 235 Republicans and 39 Democrats voted yes. The bill has two fundamental features: (1) establishing that 700 million acres of federal public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service are open to fishing, hunting, and recreational, as a matter of law, until or unless closed for good specific reasons and (2) confirming recent EPA decisions that the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act does not allow the agency to regulate lead in fishing gear or ammunition. The overwhelming support from America’s real conservationists, the angling and hunting community, demonstrates this is good public policy and ought to be non-controversial.
But nothing in Washington, D.C. ever is. So it’s little surprise that the usual suspects are screaming about the bill and peddling disinformation about what it does. Read more
– Government Not Accounting for Costs
MISSOULA, Mont. (May 2, 2012) Studies released independently by Notre Dame Law School and the Government Accountability Office show that environmental groups pad their claims for reimbursed legal fees using a social program entitled the Equal Access to Justice Act, and the U.S. is not keeping track of expenditures.
A Notre Dame law review article shows that a 1980 law intended for seniors, veterans, and small businesses is utilized by environmental groups to get pay-backs for their lawsuits as well. A GAO study shows that no one really knows how much money has been spent, but the amounts are at least several million dollars a year.
See the Notre Dame Law School study at the link below:
http://www.boone-crockett.org/images/editor/ND_EAJA.pdf
See the GAO study at the link below:
An experiment started more than 20 years ago to reintroduce peregrine falcons to Indiana is paying off with impressive numbers this spring. Sixteen nesting attempts have been observed and seven of those sites so far have hatched chicks, including two from Indiana’s most prolific peregrine-Kinney. The 16 attempts are three more than in any previous year and an increase of four from last year. Read more
Call Senator Debbie Stabenow today to help protect your right to hunt, fish, and shoot!
The most significant pro-sportsmen’s legislation of the past 15 years is now in the U.S. Senate. Michigan’s Senator Debbie Stabenow is one of a handful of Senators that can determine whether the bill makes it to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature.
H.R. 4089, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, addresses top priority issues of the sportsmen’s community. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support on Tuesday, April 17th by a vote of 274-146. Read more on H.R. 4089 below.
Without Senator Stabenow’s support, the bill may not get a vote in the Senate! Michigan sportsmen should call Senator Stabenow today and ask her to support H.R. 4089.
Facing re-election, Senator Stabenow is in an influential position to push Senate leadership for a vote on the measure. Sportsmen need to call on the Senator to do just that.
Michigan sportsmen can help protect the future of hunting, fishing, and shooting by contacting Senator Stabenow and asking for her support. Contact Senator Stabenow at: Phone: (202) 224-4822 Online: Click here to contact Sen. Stabenow online.
The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, H.R. 4089, would: Classify Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands as open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless closed or restricted based on scientific evidence; Confirm that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot ban lead in traditional ammunition or in sport fishing gear; Protect recreational shooting on BLM National Monument lands; and Allow the import of 41 legally hunted polar bear trophies tangled in federal red-tape. Read more