ThinkingAfield.org

 By Glen Wunderlich

Young Bucks Eyeing Decoy

While turkey huting last spring, these two young bucks were quite curious about my assistant.   One of the most pleasing aspects of spring turkey hunting, is the vast array of wildlife that are celebrating life.

Mated Pair of Sandhill Cranes

Hen Turkey in Mustard

Winchester has a unique solution to the ongoing trend of nonlead ammo. But our gunsmithing editor wanted to know how the new fodder would affect rifle bores, so he fired close to 2,000 rounds to find out.

GW:  The trend to non-lead ammo has drawbacks in accuracy, as detailed in this test.  I would expect manufacturers to develop better ammunition as time goes on, but so far, the results are not good for an accuracy fanatic like myself.

Interestingly, the anti-hunting crowd is behind such “reform” never addressing the issue of accuracy with sub-par ammunition.  If the clean stuff is not as accurate, wounding will be more prevalent, and no sportsman likes to maim animals.  But, that will be the result.

It is becoming a full-time job keeping up with the misinformation distributed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

On March 24, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed NRA-backed legislation allowing the state to hold mourning dove hunting for the first time in nearly a century.

The day before, when the Iowa Legislature sent the bill to the governor, HSUS issued the following statement:

“We are disappointed that the Iowa Senate and House of Representatives have voted to allow the target shooting of mourning doves for the first time since 1918,” said Carol Griglione, Iowa state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “This bill repeals nearly a century of dove protection policy in our state, yet lawmakers rushed it through the process with hardly a word of debate or a serious vetting of the issues. Doves are not overpopulated, there is very little meat on their bodies, and there is no management rationale for a new hunting season – they will simply be shot for target practice. We urge Governor Branstad to veto this bill and keep the century-long tradition of dove protection in Iowa.”

There is an outright lie or a meaningless argument in every sentence of this statement, not to mention omission of facts that anyone who really cares about wildlife would want to know. Read more

Alaskan Congressman Don Young refused an award this evening from The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Humane Society Legislative Fund that would have honored his work for animals in 2010.  “HSUS are hypocrites, plain and simple, and I will not join them by accepting this award,” said Rep. Young.

March 29, 2011 |  1:12 pm

Federal authorities were seeking Tuesday to arrest the co-owner of an Anaheim online gun equipment business who they said tried to sell hundreds of counterfeit, holographic rifle sights over the Internet.

Now a fugitive believed to be in China, Yongming “Steven” Sui, 53, chief executive officer of Field Sport Inc., was charged by state prosecutors with two felony counts.

Despite the Libyan crisis and ongoing problems with America’s massive deficit, last week President Obama decided it was time to focus on gun control. However, and as usual, more telling about Obama are his actions. Here is John Lott’s revealing assessment.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Tradition equals opening day of firearms deer hunting on November 15th for any serious Michigan deer hunter. Sportsmen and women know the date and make plans to be in their favorite hunting location no matter what. Avid hunters don’t have to consult a calendar to determine what day of the week the opener is; They’re just plain going. But one Michigan lawmaker is pitching change. Now, where have we heard that before?

Mt. Pleasant District 99 Representative, Kevin Cotter’s HB 4259 proposes to change the opener to the second or third Saturday, whichever is closest to November 15, while still retaining the current 16-day season. As I listened to his rationale, the emphasis for change was centered on the almighty dollar. He explained that according to a Michigan State University study, when we have a Saturday opening day, we have a 10 percent spike in participation. More hunters mean more license sales, more revenue for struggling businesses, which means more tax revenue to the state. He says, “The 15th is just tradition, but we have to balance that tradition against the very difficult impact that we are all facing together.”

With 3 weekends guaranteed each firearms deer season, he has a point. In addition, he bolsters his argument with the fact that some schools wouldn’t have to close for “deer day”, as they do now. Businesses that lose employees to the time-honored tradition wouldn’t have to shut down, either. Weekend warriors could hunt weekends and not miss as much work time.

He also explains how youngsters would be able to hunt with their parents without missing school. Once again, he makes a valid point, and when one considers Michigan’s poor hunter recruitment and retention numbers, his point is stronger.

Let me toss in one more reason to change opening day to a Saturday: Three weekends would mean more deer taken, thus having a greater impact on controlling regions with over-populated deer, although there are other options available for the same purpose.

Yes, Mr. Cotter’s case is strong. There’s just one fly in his venison stew: Proposition G.

On November 7, 1996 Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to grant the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game in this state. The amendment requires the Commission, to the greatest extent practicable, to use principles of sound scientific management in making decisions regarding the taking of game. The Commission is to issue orders regarding the taking of game after a public meeting and an opportunity for public input. The margin: Yes: 2,413,730 (68.7%) and No: 1,099,262 (31.3%).

Oops, Mr. Cotter.

Your comments are worth consideration, but your methodology is not.

Russ Mason, Wildlife Chief for the Michigan DNR added that hunter surveys show by a wide margin to keep the status quo. As late as 2009, 84 percent of hunters said leave it alone. He went on to say that opening day on a Thursday would result in even more license sales, if that were the goal. He added that it would only be appropriate to “keep the discussion in front of sportsmen, not the legislature.”

Clearly the voters have spoken. Clearly the sportsmen have spoken. And, clearly, Mr. Cotter, you’re out of order. Game management is in the hands of the NRC and Michigan voters specifically changed the Constitution to keep your paws off it.

The Real HSUS on video by the Missouri Farmers Care.

A recently released report for 2010 shows that the country’s most outrageous animal rights group euthanized the majority of pets in their care.

According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in 2010 PETA euthanized 79% of the total cats, dogs and other companion animals in their care. An astonishing 97% of cats and 88% of dogs were put to sleep by the group during 2010.

Of the 1553 cats received by the animal rights group, over 97% of them were surrendered by their owners to PETA. Similarly, of the 792 dogs received, 90% of them were surrendered by their owners.

While this sounds like something completely out of character for a group which believes that animals are equal to humans, this is not the first time PETA has killed the majority of animals given to its care. In 2006, PETA reportedly destroyed most of the animals surrendered by owners to the organization, and in 2007 two PETA employees were charged with animal cruelty for allegedly tossing garbage bags full of euthanized cats and dogs into a dumpster.