Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
Ring Tone call and bird
Mr. Jim Moss: Looks like the “Good Hunting” wishes have come true again.
I’ll have more on the story but for now you can see the punishment dished out by a 2-ounce load of 6s at 34 yards. This video is rated PG:
SCI Urging Senate to Pass H.R. 4089
Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International (SCI) members will participate in more than 170 meetings this week with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate on behalf of hunters everywhere. SCI’s lobby day on Capitol Hill represents the largest annual gathering of U.S. hunters in Washington, DC. This year’s focus will be working with the U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 4089, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012. Read more
PHOENIX — A mountain lion that ran through a group of campers and attacked their dog before being killed by a member of the group has tested positive for rabies. Read more
Twenty years ago, MidwayUSA owners Larry and Brenda Potterfield launched a special program that helps fund the fight against anti-gun initiatives. To date, this program has accumulated over $7 million in MidwayUSA Customer donations. Read more
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…