Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
For hunters in Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland Counties: Shed bucks may be tagged as antlerless deer through January 31; however, the DNR encourages hunters to harvest does on antlerless licenses when possible. More here…
Chalk-up a win for Safari Club International and National Rifle Association of America in the continuing saga of the elephant trophy import question. The appellate court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should have conducted notice and comment rulemaking before abandoning almost two decades of a formal position that the import of legally hunted trophies enhanced the survival of the African elephants in Zimbabwe.
The road to complete victory continues, but SCI and the NRA have forced the government to do real fact-finding and not react to emotion from the antihunters. Although the ban on imports remains in effect until the government finishes its rule-making, SCI, the NRA and other hunting organizations now have a chance to get the real story of hunting-based sustainable use conservation on the table.
SCI and NRA received excellent news Dec. 22 from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled in favor on a key claim in SCI’s and NRA’s 2014 elephant importation litigation. In that case, SCI and NRA sued the previous administration for imposing on April 4, 2014 an abrupt ban on elephant importation from Zimbabwe.
In its 33-page opinion, the D.C. Circuit reversed an earlier unfavorable ruling issued by the lower court. The appellate court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should have conducted notice and comment rulemaking before abandoning almost two decades of a formal position that the import of legally hunted trophies enhanced the survival of the African elephants in Zimbabwe.
The FWS had adopted negative enhancement findings for elephants harvested in 2014 and 2015. SCI and NRA sued, at least in part, because the FWS’s negative findings prevented U.S. hunters from importing Zimbabwe elephants harvested in those years.
Although the court determined that the previous administration had acted illegally, it will take some time before we know the effect the ruling will have on the ability of individuals to import elephants from Zimbabwe.
It is also uncertain how the FWS will respond to the court’s ruling and how long the entire process could take if and when the FWS engages in further rulemaking on the importation of elephants harvested in Zimbabwe in 2014 and 2015. It is possible that the government will decide not to do anything, but that opens the door for hunting organizations to file petitions to try to force the government to propose a rule to lift the ban. Questions also remain about how this ruling will affect the decision-making process for the importation of other species for which the FWS has made or will make enhancement findings.
While some things about the practical impact of the ruling remain in question – there is no question that the D.C. Circuit’s ruling is a victory for SCI, NRA and all those who recognize that hunting plays an essential role in conserving Africa’s wildlife. The court’s opinion requires the FWS to include the public, including the hunting public, in the process of decision-making that affects the importation of legally-hunted wildlife.
Hunters and organizations like SCI and NRA will be able to provide information about the role that hunting plays in species management and conservation. The FWS will not be able to impose uninformed, abrupt importation bans, like it did in 2014. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
It’s uncanny how television hunters are able to take big game animals on the last hour of the last day of a given season. The suspenseful shows add to the drama of a hunter, who’s spent a small fortune, yet has come up empty as the sun finishes its appearance for the day. Then, out of nowhere comes a waltzing wall-hanger and the next scene is nothing but high fives and hero poses.
Sure it’s real – just like the camera operator that somehow always seems to get to the downed animal first and records the “surprised” hunter locating the prize. But, when there are no TV cameras, and a hunter finds success on the first day of a 90-day season, priorities change for the meat hunter in search of more. So, it has been for this seasoned deer hunter.
With a good buck in the freezer, it was time to repay a generous, non-hunting neighbor, who loves venison but does not hunt. But, with a full three months remaining, faith provided patience.
What was left of the early archery season came and went with my only buck tag filled. Regular firearms deer season had arrived without the usual anticipation, but that changed when I learned that my great grandson would accompany me on opening weekend.
Within the dark confines of a portable blind, we watched intently, as a buck fawn entered the brassica field a scant 30 yards from us. Soon thereafter, another button buck emerged and headed toward the other one with its head down and spoiling for a showdown of wills. I whispered to my greenhorn sidekick that there was going to be a tussle, and sure enough, a short match of toughness ensued and finished just as fast.
Then, five more antlerless deer came into view and promptly began feeding some 60 yards in front of us. As we watched the interaction of the group, my inexperienced partner made a quick move that was picked off by one of the adults. I whispered, “Don’t move”, as we became the focus of a stare-down. The wise leader of the group became nervous and edged farther away from us – all the while tuned in to the mysterious movement within. The teachable moment concluded with the group following the leader directly away from us with their lives intact.
Muzzleloading season seemed more like going through the motions of hunting, as I couldn’t help but anticipate the late firearms antlerless season for one burning reason: field testing a new Ruger American rifle in .450 Bushmaster caliber.
On the second day of the late season, a group of five whitetail deer busted out from the timber, as one lone matriarch led the way. There was nothing left to do but to find out if my paper-punching practice would pay off in venison dividends. With a steady hold at 125 yards and a single squeeze of the trigger, that that $12 antlerless deer tag became a good deal – especially for my neighbor, who would get the heavy 3 ½ year-old doe.
The animal-rights movement loves to tell the media and non-hunting public that the use of bait for spring bear hunting is unethical and unfair, resulting in a slam-dunk slaughter of animals. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Enjoy this episode of ScoutLook’s The Hunger series for a spring bear hunt over bait as Brian Lynn, Sportsmen’s Alliance vice president of marketing and communications, explains how the Alliance protects hunting, fishing and trapping during an especially challenging hunt in Idaho.
An elk of unknown origin in eastern Iowa was shot Saturday afternoon to protect the Iowa deer herd and domestic livestock from the potential impacts of chronic wasting disease and other diseases.
The bull elk had been spotted in various locations in Dubuque and Jackson counties since it first appeared on a trail camera by Cascade in October.
Sightings of elk that had escaped from a captive herd are fairly common in Iowa and when an elk is spotted, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) works with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to determine status of elk and the best available options. If the elk can be returned to the proper owners, then they are. If not, they then pose a risk to spreading CWD and/or other diseases and are dispatched. Captive producers from the area did not report they were missing any animals. Read more
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. –– Viridian Weapon Technologies has launched a nationwide giveaway with support from Remington Arms Company, U.S. manufacturer of firearms and ammunition for the hunting, shooting sports, military and law enforcement markets. At the end of the giveaway, one lucky winner will receive a Remington RP9 handgun and Viridian X5L laser/light.
The Viridian X5L delivers a brilliant green laser that is visible day or night, indoors and out. With a lean aluminum-body profile that fits pistols securely, this powerful laser and light combo features a 178-lumen taclight with beam intensity and explosive strobe. The X5L also provides a number of custom modes for convenient pre-programming and includes a TacLoc® holster with INSTANT-ON® activation.
DSC Joins Bear-Ban Dismay: “Where Is the Science?”
DALLAS– This week, despite a wealth of scientific evidence to the contrary, British Columbia moved to ban all grizzly hunting in the province, effective immediately. The reason for the ban appears to be the government’s “consultation” with “many British Columbians” who have declared the hunt “is not in line with their values,” according to a BC government news release.
The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) has issued a statement decrying this decision. “It is truly disappointing that we throw history and science out the window for some urban votes,” said Michael Schneider, president of the GOABC. “We expect our government to make informed decisions based on the best facts and science. Emotional decisions are not good for anyone.” (www.goabc.org)
DSC has joined GOABC in several research projects in the region, specifically pertaining to grizzly bears. From this research that is still underway, there have been no indications that a blanket ban is warranted.
A previous ban, announced in August, took effect in November for a specific region. But this latest announcement limits all grizzly hunting to just sustenance hunting by First Nations, for food, social, ceremonial purposes, pursuant to treaties and Aboriginal rights. Read more
Time is running out to submit comments on the proposed peak period fee initiative at 17 popular national parks.
The National Park Service (NPS) has proposed increasing “peak season” fees at 17 national parks starting in 2018 to help combat the growing maintenance backlog, which currently amounts to almost $12 billion. “Peak season” would be defined as each park’s busiest contiguous five-month period. Entrance fees for seven days would rise to $70 per private, non-commercial vehicle, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person on bike or foot.
The proposed increases would take place at Acadia, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Denali, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Joshua Tree, Mount Rainier, Olympic, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Shenandoah, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion National Parks. Read more
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Take advantage of the accuracy of the Howa HS Precision Rifle. The Howa HS Precision is thoughtfully constructed to fulfill the demands of today’s most uncompromising hunters.
The HS Precision rifle stocks are built one at a time from the highest quality raw material. HS Precision starts by CNC machining the aluminum bedding block. Every stock produced will have an aluminum bedding block that is machined specifically to the dimensions of the Howa Barreled Action. The aluminum bedding block is them placed into a mold. Both sides of the mold are hand laminated with Kevlar, fiberglass and carbon fiber. An abundant amount of these materials are added for strength and durability. Next the mold is injected with a proprietary mixture of a dense polyurethane foam material. This gives the general shape and design of the stock. The rest of the time is spent hand finishing the stock to ensure it is perfect. Read more
Safari Club International has a better plan for the management of grizzly bears in British Columbia, Canada. Whether officials heed that sage advice remains in question following the announcement of a halt to all grizzly bear hunting in that province.
In making this decision, BC officials ignored the facts that the healthy population of grizzly bears in the province can be hunted sustainably without any harm to the viability of the population.
When wildlife becomes a political football, science-based management and conservation are thrown out the window in favor of popularity whims that change whenever the political winds blow from a different direction. Read more