Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
As incomes rise in China, Russia, and Korea, fur demand has followed. It sure is comforting to know that Asians are buying something other than our metals, which they promptly turn into junk and sell back to us. Good news for traditionalists is here…
Roger Schmid was cited for hunting without a license and even though he claimed not to be “pursuing” deer, officials pursued his attempt to skirt the law. It seems that Schmid wanted to argue that sitting in a deer blind with a loaded firearm was not actually pursuit (statute language). A judge disagreed and the wordsmith is now defined as a poacher. Too bad for the cheater, but he rightfully earns a place in my poacher category, nonetheless. Details here…
Thanks to the OutdoorPressroom.
From HumaneWatch.org
There’s widespread confusion among the public about the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and local humane societies. Public polling has found that people are widely confused about what HSUS is and isn’t. And surveys have found that HSUS donors are confused. Even HSUS’s CEO admits this—at least, privately.
Here are the facts:
We’re releasing a new report showing just how little HSUS gives to your state. You can read it here, and we’ve boiled the numbers down to a state-by-state basis on this chart. Feel free to print this and disseminate it as you see fit at trade shows, events, and so forth.
The number of hunters has increased, after years of declining numbers. Research shows the reasons here…
By Glen Wunderlich
I had to laugh years ago, as I was being driven home by business associates after a meeting in Frankenmuth. One of the passengers – a city dweller from Chicago – wondered aloud, as we neared my rural residence: “Aren’t you afraid living out here/” Apparently, the lack of street lights, convenience stores, or basic amenities of city life struck him as being rather threatening.
Even though only a few miles away are fast-food joints and gas stations on every corner, there is still a level of self-sufficiency required to live the country life. Although it’s comforting to have good neighbors, country folks don’t typically rely on help from others. Rather, they prepare for power outages, floods, blizzards and other natural calamities so that they can ride it out.
However, what some people fail to realize is how winter weather events can have a way of bringing preparedness, or a lack thereof, to reality when traveling. I recall in the late ‘70s, when I-75 was abruptly closed near the Ohio border by deep snow and thousands of motorists were stranded for days in their vehicles. The National Guard came to the rescue, but not before motorists were forced to fend for themselves.
With this in mind, I solicited advice from outdoor enthusiasts from across North America and here’s a list of items you may wish to consider to take along on your next outdoor excursion. Depending on your level of adventure, some of the gear may be unnecessary for your needs, but it’s better to have it and not need it, than to not have it and need it.
So, who says funerals can’t be fun. Okay, other than Michelle.
From USSA…
Posted on December 20, 2013
Recent studies show a steady increase of hunting and fishing participants since 2006. Couple that with the public’s approval of hunting at 79 percent and wildlife populations abundant and growing, things seem to be looking up for sportsmen. Unfortunately, these facts have not deterred the animal rights lobby and sportsmen are finding themselves in the crosshairs now more than ever.
Why are sportsmen facing more opposition considering these facts?
“It really comes down to some segments of the public not understanding why all hunting is important and key to conservation programs here and abroad.” said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA President and CEO. “Hunters are providing vital funds and services to protect wildlife globally and are also the most effective and efficient group to control burgeoning wildlife populations. That fact has been lost to the general public to some degree. Simply put, a lack of education is at fault.” Read more
Says to Put Herself in Bears Shoes
After 18-year old Camille Bomboy of Lock Haven, PA narrowly survived a black bear attack while deer hunting last week, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called out the girl for being a hunter and suggested she put herself in the place of the “individuals you and the rest of your hunting party were trying to kill”. Read more
On Tuesday, December 17th, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) filed comments with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) over a proposal to remove Gray Wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Wolves continue to remain at the forefront of the issues facing the sportsmen’s community today. While the Western Great Lakes and Rocky Mountain populations of wolves have already been removed from ESA protection (“delisted”), this latest proposed rule would delist the remaining wolf populations across the country (with narrow exceptions for Mexican wolves in the Southwest and Red wolves in the Southeast). In addition, USSAF and our partners are currently engaged in lawsuits in Wisconsin over their wolf hunting season and in a lawsuit in federal district court in which the Humane Society of the United States is asking a judge to again overturn the delisting of wolves in the Western Great Lakes.
Of particular concern with the latest proposal is the potential for the Service to recognize two separate wolf species. Read more
A suspected sighting of the highly invasive plant parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) was reported to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in the fall of 2013. Following recently developed state agency protocols, the DEQ transferred the report to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Division. A team of Wildlife Division staff, utilizing the new Early Detection and Response Plan, conducted verification and assessment at a small detention pond in Wayne County’s Brownstown Township. Read more