Wildlife 366 - ThinkingAfield.org

Outdoors Groups Rally Around California Fish and Game Commissioner

February 24, 2012

Dan Richards, president of the California Fish and Game Commission and an avid angler, hunter and friend to sportsmen and women, is being unfairly attacked by extreme environmental and animal rights organizations for taking part in a legal hunt in Idaho. While hunting cougars may not be licensed in California, it is both legal and well-managed in Idaho.

But what is the real issue here? The organizations leading the charge against Richards have a much broader agenda.

On Poaching in South Africa

February 23, 2012

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, February 22, 2012, NBC’s “Rock Center with Brian Williams” aired a detailed segment on rhino poaching in South Africa. Because the price of rhino horn has increased dramatically over the past few decades, statistics show poachers killed nearly 450 rhinos last year. In 2012 alone, poachers have killed one rhino every 18 hours. Read more

Hunting, Poachers, Wildlife dna samples, illegal trade, operation rhino, poachers, rhino horn, safari club international

Coyote Hunting to Exercise the Heart

February 23, 2012

Coyote hunting is best right now. Tips and techniques here…

Hunting, Wildlife coyote, coyote hunting

Montana Group Wants Predator Bounties

February 23, 2012

Some Bitterroot Valley, Montana livestock producers are gathering signatures on a petition to allow the county to institute a bounty they believe would create a wide-open season on wolves and mountain lions in Ravalli County.

The bounty would pay $100 for a wolf or mountain lion and $20 for a wolf pup or mountain lion kitten. Coyotes will bring $5 for an adult and $2.50 for a pup. More here…

Hunting, Wildlife bitterroot valley montana, bounty system, coyotes, livestock producers, mountain lions, predator, ravalli county, wolf, wolves

QDMA Urges Hunters in Seven States to Oppose Deer-Breeding Legislation

February 22, 2012

BOGART, Ga. – The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is urging hunters in seven states to oppose the expansion of the deer-breeding industry, which QDMA perceives as a growing threat to wild deer and the deer-hunting heritage. Legislation designed to loosen or dismantle regulatory barriers to white-tailed deer breeding and farming is being considered in Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife artificial breeding, captive deer, chronic wasting disease, deer and elk, deer hunter, deer hunters, deer hunting, qdma, quality deer management, quality deer management association, white tailed deer, whitetail bucks, whitetail conservation

Birders Say Wind Eagle Take Permit Not Justified

February 21, 2012

Washington — American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, has sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) voicing strong concerns about the first-ever application for a special permit that would allow Golden Eagles to be incidentally killed.

Golden Eagle by Glen Wunderlich

The proposed “incidental take permit,” submitted under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, would allow Oregon’s West Butte Wind Project to kill, harm, or disturb up to three Golden Eagles over five years, as long as certain conservation measures were implemented.

ABC’s letter charges that the data upon which an FWS decision would be based are markedly deficient, and that the federal government is not meeting standards prescribed in its own regulations published less than three years ago. ABC also cites emails, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, between senior Department of Interior staff casting doubt on the whether the project could ever be safe for birds, including Golden Eagles. Read more

Wildlife american bird conservancy, bald eagles, bird conservation, eagle protection act, golden eagle, golden eagles, u s fish and wildlife service, wind project

Sandhill Cranes Return to Michigan

February 20, 2012

Sandhill Crane amid rape blossoms

Above a sandhill crane watches intently as I photograph the scene. The birds have returned, so can spring be far behind? And, yes, robins came back with them.

Wildlife michigan, robins, sandhill crane, spring

California Cat-astrophe

February 20, 2012

Daniel Richards, president of the California Fish and Game Commission, legally shot a mountain lion in Northern Idaho. But, when his photo was posted in an outdoor publication, the animal rights whackos wanted his neck. Why? Because lion hunting in California is illegal.

So the whackos want his job because he supports hunting as a viable means to control wildlife populations and puts his money where his mouth is. Because he spent a huge sum of money, which is used to support a legal hunting operation and Idaho wildlife management. Because he’s a hunter!

“It’s not illegal. But Read more