ThinkingAfield.org

April 20, 2010

Contacts: Mary Emmons 517-241-9477 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

DNRE Announces New ‘Explore Bowhunting’ Program

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment today announced the launch of the new Explore Bowhunting program. Explore Bowhunting is an outdoor conservation education program that focuses on the interactions of people with wildlife.

The program, developed by the Archery Trade Association (ATA), teaches students how to interact with the natural world by developing the basic skills used to bowhunt, which focus on getting close to animals. Not only does Explore Bowhunting teach students how to interact with nature using ageless hunting skills, it also teaches students an appreciation of what is around them and enhances their encounters with the outdoors.

The program is designed for students ages 11-17; however this does not limit the use of the program. Adults and younger students would also enjoy this innovative curriculum.

“The Explore Bowhunting curriculum is more than a tool to teach bowhunting. It is designed to teach students how to feel comfortable in the outdoors whether the goal is to bowhunt, photograph wildlife, or interact with nature for any purpose,” said Mary Emmons, DNRE Archery
Education coordinator.

The activities within the curriculum can be used from start to finish, individually or in units to teach the basics of bowhunting or to teach students necessary skills to get close to wildlife. “However, Explore Bowhunting is not a replacement for Hunter Education or the International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP),” Emmons said.

The DNRE is currently seeking teachers, after school and recreational program leaders and others who are interested in implementing the Explore Bowhunting curriculum. Educators will be required to attend a free one-day instructor workshop prior to program implementation.

For more information on Explore Bowhunting or to register for a workshop, contact Mary Emmons at (517) 241-9477 or e-mail her at emmomsm@michigan.gov. You may also visit the DNRE website at www.michigan.gov/explorebowhunting.

GW: It would be difficult to come up with an industry that has prospered more in recent years. And, to think Obama didn’t have to give ’em any money from “his stash”. And, look at the taxes paid! An illustration of how wildlife management happens and the role sportsmen and women play.

Also, sorry about the alignment with the figures and years in the charts below, but you will be able to follow with a close look. Just couldn’t get these machines to cooperate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a Capitol Hill breakfast briefing today, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, released a newly commissioned report detailing the significant economic impact the firearms and ammunition industry has on the nation’s and each state’s economy.

Key Points: Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact
2008 2009
Jobs 166,200 183,424
Wages $6,361,205,400 $8,210,881,000
Econ Impact $19,199,634,700 $27,846,304,300

“During difficult economic times and high unemployment rates nationally, our industry actually grew and created 16,800 new, well-paying jobs,” said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. “Our industry is proud to be one of the bright spots in this economy.”

Key Points: Taxes

2008 2009
Federal Taxes $1,503,740,471 $2,035,154,440
State Taxes $1,299,088,678 $1,909,417,793
Excise Taxes $327,070,867 $450,177,780

The economic growth America’s firearms and ammunition industry experienced last year was driven by an unprecedented number of Americans choosing to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms and purchase a firearm and ammunition. This coincided with the continued decline in accidental firearm-related deaths (more than a 60 percent decrease in the last 20 years) and a continued drop in crime rates nationally.

Also cited in the economic impact report were the significant taxes paid by industry member companies to federal and state governments and the Pittman-Robertson excise tax the industry pays on the products it sells – this tax is the major source of wildlife conservation funding in America.

“In 2009 our industry increased its contribution to wildlife conservation by over 37.6 percent, which translates into sportsmen contributing more than $7.5 million dollars daily to conservation efforts,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.

“Ours is an industry with a storied past, steeped in tradition and a rich heritage,” continued Keane. “We were there at the beginning of America’s economic expansion and remain a vital and important American industry. We look forward to speaking with members of Congress today about important legislative and regulatory issues that will allow our industry members to continue to grow their businesses and create new jobs in their communities.”

At the request of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment,the Attorney General’s Office has filed an appeal of the ruling in thecase of an Otsego County man ticketed for illegally feeding deer.

A DNRE conservation officer investigated Ken Borton of Gaylord after receiving complaints from the public about Borton’s webcam showing deer frequenting his bird feeders. Borton was cited by the DNRE, and then refused to take measures to exclude the deer from the immediate vicinity.

Otsego County District Court Judge Patricia Morse dismissed the ticket on the grounds that the deer-feeding ban was “unconstitutionally vague.” The Attorney General, at the DNRE’s request, is appealing Judge Morse’s decision.

“We believe the statute is appropriate and this individual did not take reasonable measures to exclude deer from congregating at his bird feeders,” DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries said. “Research has shown that activities that cause deer to congregate exacerbate disease transmission among the deer.

“There are a variety of methods of feeding birds that discourage deer from those sites and Mr. Borton declined to pursue them,” Humphries continued. “Otsego County has had deer that have tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and we feel the health of the deer herd is paramount.”

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Last summer, I wrote about one Robert J. Stevens of Virginia whose case was headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. He had been convicted of criminal charges for producing and selling films about dogs. To be true, most Americans would find the videos repulsive in that dogs were shown fighting and being trained to help catch prey such as wild boars. He certainly did not engage in any dog fighting or any acts of animal cruelty but simply edited historic films from the 60s and 70s – some from Japan – where the activities are legal. In an 8-1 vote this past week, the United States Supreme Court upheld a Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision that voided his conviction saying it violated the First Amendment.

At the forefront against Stevens was the Humane Society of The United States (HSUS) and on the other side were people like me that sometimes take photos related to legal hunting and fishing. Of course, the HSUS is opposed to any form of hunting and fishing and did its best to portray the case as an issue of animal cruelty, but it never was. It was about the First Amendment, plain and simple.

But, here is where the issue became clouded as the law was written: 18 USC, section 48 criminalizes the interstate sale of depictions, such as video, in which “a living animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded, or killed, if such conduct is illegal under Federal law or the law of the State in which the creation, sale, or possession takes place.” That’s some crazy stuff! If I were to have taken a photo of the killing of an animal during a legal hunt in Shiawassee County and it found its way to San Fransisco, where such hunting was illegal, I could have been found guilty of a federal felony crime.

Along with fellow member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), I signed on to an Amicus Curiae brief in opposition to the stance of HSUS’ and our overzealous government. On my side was the National Rifle Association, The Cato Institute, The ACLU, National Coalition of Censorship, American Society of Media Photographers, First Amendment Lawyer’s Association and a host of others.

“POMA is grateful to the Court for this important decision,” said Laurie Lee Dovey, POMA’s executive director. “The First Amendment rights of traditional outdoor sports journalists, those who cover legal hunting and fishing and promote the enjoyment of these American heritage sports, are protected. The impact of this decision on POMA members, all journalists, and the outdoor industry can not be overstated.”

“Mr. Stevens is pleased and extremely grateful for the Supreme Court’s thoughtful consideration of his case and the decision vindicating his right, and that of all other Americans, to speak freely and to educate the public,” said Robert Steven’s attorney Patricia Millett. “Acts of animal cruelty are abhorrent and rightly condemned. Laws banning such conduct remain fully protected, as they should be. But we cannot forget how critical the free flow of information is to educating the public about the problems of animal cruelty and the need for legislative and prosecutorial action to combat it.

“The Court’s decision today is a victory not just for Mr. Stevens but also for all others who write about , photograph, and film the lives of animals in order to educate the public about lawful activities like hunting and fishing, animal conservation issues, and the lives of wild, endangered, and little known species,” Millett added. “Today the Supreme Court reinforced the protections for all who document the lives of animals and the many people who, like him, are fighting to end the mistreatment of animals and want to be able to tell the animals’ stories without fear of imprisonment or censorship. Mr. Stevens is particularly grateful to the leadership POMA showed in filing an influential amicus brief with the Supreme Court, which the Supreme Court relied upon in its decision.”

So get out there, hunt, fish and take videos and photos and share them with anyone you choose. It’s as American as free speech and the Supreme Court says so.

This from the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance

4/22/10

The nation’s largest animal rights group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is continuing its new tactic of buying corporate stock in companies in order to push those companies to conduct business according to its wishes.

According to a press release issued by HSUS, the group bought stock in Flowers Foods Inc., a Georgia-based baked goods company. HSUS intends to use its position to push Flowers Foods to drop egg suppliers that don’t act in accordance with HSUS’ standards including the size of cages used to house hens. This is the same thing HSUS did by purchasing shares in Jack in the Box and Steak N’ Shake restaurant chains earlier in the year as reported by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) in February.

“These are not the actions of a group that only seeks to curb the ‘worst abuses’ as HSUS constantly asserts,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president and CEO. “This can only be described as a tactic to fundamentally alter long-standing American traditions and business practices

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Baiting is back! One Ken Borton, who had fought a charge of illegally feeding deer by wildlife officials, not only got his case thrown out, but the ban on feeding and baiting deer in the Lower Peninsula was struck down. Otsego County’s 87th District Judge Patricia Morse stated, “The statute as drafted gives no guidance as to where and how to exclude wild animals from foraging near bird feeders. It leaves too much room for selective enforcement. It allows fact finders to rely on subjective criteria to determine criminal liability.”

So, that’s that. Or, is it? Clouding the verdict is this question: Does lifting of the ban apply to the entire Lower Peninsula or only Otsego County? When the baiting ban was struck down, conservation groups were taken by surprise and appear to have no immediate course of action formulated. When I asked MUCC Executive Director, Erin McDonough for a response she said, “No comment.” The Quality Deer Management Association is just as tight-lipped. However, I have learned from the MUCC website that the ban lifting only applies to Otsego County.

Although a punt might do for now, you can bet some serious huddling will take place soon. The MUCC and QDMA supported the ban, and unless I miss my guess, still will. This may be a good opportunity to rethink the drastic measures that were taken when the zero-tolerance law became effective.

It’s now been years since the Kent County private facility was found to harbor a whitetail deer with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). It’s also been a couple of years since the unexplained case of Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) was found on a Shiawassee County deer; each area has been verified by the DNR to be free of these diseases since after testing tens of thousands of deer.

Personally, I will not be baiting deer, if the ban remains lifted. But, if the conversation moves beyond ethics, there may be some middle ground that can be explored. Biologists agree that CWD and TB are transmitted through nose and mouth contact, which is often the case when piles of bait are used. It seems to make sense to return to a baiting regulation similar to the one we had before the outright ban. Kernels of corn slung about in a large area obviously present less risk of close-quarters contact than a pile of apples or a block of salt or other sweet licks.

If the issue is to contain the spread of disease, the effort to date has been successful – including the TB zone in the northeast area of the Lower Peninsula.

If I appear to be in the middle on this issue, I guess I am. But a more level-headed approach may satisfy concerns of wildlife biologists, while at the same time could allow those who choose chum to chum.

On a tangent, Ken Borton, the man charged with the feeding crime has an interesting web site at www.KenBorton.com. He uses a live web cam and shows the temperature in Gaylord and level of snow in the winter. At any time you may see a turkey, deer, or other wildlife in view. In fact, a camera was focused on one of his bird feeders and deer were often seen feeding on spilled seed. Someone turned him in and that’s what set the wheel in motion – and, where she stops, nobody knows. Because someone else may test the law, if and when he or she is cited for a feeding infraction.

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Plant a sapling and, in time, it will bear much fruit.

That’s the way to look at Families Afield, a program launched in 2004 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and National Wild Turkey Federation to reduce states’ regulatory barriers to youth hunting.

Now firmly rooted in 29 states that have passed legislation lowering barriers to youth hunting, the program is producing bushels of new, young hunters. Families Afield’s latest report shows that from 2005 through 2009 more than 388,000 apprentice hunting licenses have been sold, based on 24 states reporting their license sales numbers. As the tree grows, the yield becomes greater: An increase of 100,000 apprentice hunting licenses occurred in 2009 alone.

“A lot of research went into making sure Families Afield was planned properly before its launch, and now because of that preparation Families Afield is really starting to pay dividends for youth hunters and for hunting in general,” said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president of NSSF, the trade association of the firearms industry.

States with the most apprentice hunting license sales are Pennsylvania, 102,663; Michigan, 59,929; and Ohio, 51,416. (See map for other state totals.)

Families Afield is based on a few simple premises: that parents, not politics, should decide at what age a child is mature enough to try hunting, and that when introducing a youngster to hunting, earlier is better.

The need for Families Afield became apparent when a study revealed that hunting regulations in many states did not allow youth to hunt with an adult mentor until sometimes 12 years old or later. The age restriction plus stringent coursework and certification requirements were deterrents to getting started, making it a whole lot easier for children to channel their enthusiasms into video games and organized youth sports.

These barriers were reducing the number of youngsters participating in hunting. Researchers found that for every 100 hunters lost, only 69 were taking their place. If that “hunter replacement ratio” couldn’t be improved, hunting itself could be compromised, along with its critical ties to wildlife conservation and America’s economy.

Families Afield’s answer was to allow licensed adult mentors to introduce youngsters to hunting at younger ages, instilling the passion for hunting in children early — and safely — thereby bonding families together and increasing attendance in hunter education classes.

“It’s satisfying to see Families Afield fulfilling its mission to grow the ranks of hunting,” said Melissa Schilling, NSSF’s manager of recruitment and retention. “Families Afield will have a long-term, positive effect on hunting, and while the program’s numbers are impressive, we’re still in the early stages. Over time, we believe this successful program will add millions of new hunters.”

Schilling added, “Families Afield shows the power of three organizations — NSSF, USSA and NWTF — pooling their various talents and resources to create a profound change in hunter recruitment and retention nationwide.”

To learn more about Families Afield and about your state’s hunting regulations, go to www.familiesafield.org.

(Columbus) – The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) is one of numerous groups that are condemning the latest public relations smear campaign by the animal rights group Defenders of Wildlife targeting former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Defender’s has sent out numerous e-mail pleas to its membership asking that they contact Discovery Communications Inc., the parent company of the popular Discovery and Animal Planet channels, and urge it to drop a proposed new documentary to be called “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” in which the former governor will star.

The Defender’s campaign largely rests on a gross mischaracterization of then Alaska Gov. Palin’s wolf management plan and recycled outrage at her opposition to designating polar bears as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

According to the Defender’s website, over 125,000 people have signed an online petition the group intends to forward to Discovery’s CEO David Zaslov.

The USSA has stood up against Defender’s before when the group used the wolf issue during fundraising appeals in 2009. At that time, the USSA and several other leading conservation groups sent a letter to Gov. Palin outlining support for the policy.

The USSA stands by this letter as an accurate representation of the policy. It clarifies that the Alaska program avoids game population decimation, especially for moose and caribou “through a rigorously controlled, scientifically based system.” To view the full letter, Click Here.

The USSA also shares Gov. Palin’s concerns over the ESA designation of polar bears as endangered. That decision was based largely on an unverifiable 50 year projection of what could happen as a result of global warming.

“Once again, Defender’s of Wildlife have chosen to engage in misleading emotional appeals in order to tarnish the reputation of Gov. Palin,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president and CEO. “Whatever one’s politics, Gov. Palin should not be falsely accused of being anti-conservation when her actions were in concert with wildlife management professionals and verifiable science.”

Take Action! Sportsmen can let Discovery Communications know that they support their production of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” by writing a letter to David Zaslav.

Inform him that Gov. Palin is regarded as a conservationist by those inside and outside the wildlife management community and the rhetoric coming from Defender’s reflects an unscientific, emotional appeal. It fails to take into account the science supporting the wolf management program in Alaska as well as the lack of science used to place the polar bear on the endangered species list.

Mr. Zaslav can be reached at:

David M. Zaslav
President and CEO
Discovery Communications Inc.
One Discovery Place
Silver Spring, MD 20910

For more information, contact the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance at 614-888-4868 or email info@ussportsmen.org.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

In a recent court decision, Judge Ricardo M. Urbina gave his blessing to Washington D.C.’s onerous and restrictive gun control laws designed to make it hard on the working family man to defend himself. He and the District’s leaders must be proud to have placed their anti-gun activism on display in spite of the 2008 landmark Supreme Court case of Heller. But after all, the door was left wide open for a challenge when “reasonable” gun ownership regulations might be acknowledged as acceptable.

What the District then did under the banner of reasonableness was an obvious attempt to push back against the law-abiding. First, it made hoop jumping an art form by requiring a 5-hour class and 20-question test plus personal visits to the police department for fingerprints and background checks. In addition, an applicant would be required to pay in excess of $550 for the paperwork fees. (In Michigan, we have similar tests and much lesser costs but only to obtain permits to carry pistols concealed. These costs and classes in Washington are simply to own a handgun!)

If all of the above doesn’t discourage a D.C. resident from handgun ownership, more “reasonable” restrictions might do the trick. To begin, all semiautomatic handguns are forbidden. That should eliminate about half of the troublemakers. If it holds more than 10 rounds, forget it. But if a determined citizen chooses the approved, politically-correct handgun for self-defense, for example, he must store it unloaded and disabled. (Actually this law was subsequently changed to only require guns to be locked when minors may gain access to them. Astonishingly, D.C.’s murder rate dropped 25 percent after the law was found unconstitutional in the Heller case.)

This just in:  A recent survey shows that crooks prefer the reasonable regulations 100 percent. We sure don’t want to be accused of discriminating against one who may be down on his luck, now do we?
If anyone cannot understand why Americans have propelled gun manufacturers profits into the stratosphere over the past year or so, slow down digest D.C.’s tactics once more.

No new arguments in defense of the District’s position on “public safety concerns” were offered in court; in fact, the court chose to ignore relevant facts that always point to less crime when firearms restrictions and red tape are relaxed. All that was needed was one port-leaning puppet appointed by Bill Clinton.

No doubt an appeal will follow but the chances of overturning the sham grow more difficult each day, as the Obama administration appoints more left-minded Appellate judges that reflect his own left leanings.

I am not surprised that a recent Harris poll indicates that some 18.4 million Americans “currently participate” in handgun shooting – an increase from 16.8 million only last September. The same poll showed that 40 percent of recent firearms purchasers were buying guns for home protection, followed closely by personal protection and target shooting.

Americans understand that more self defense is a deterrent to crime and they are demonstrating it no mater how hard government attempts to protects us from ourselves.

The Remington Outdoor Foundation has partnered with the National Archery in the Schools Program® to offer $3,000 in scholarships to college-bound students who are registered to participate in the 2010 NASP® National Tournament.

“For the Remington Outdoor Foundation, offering NASP® scholarships falls right in line with our mission to support our partners’ efforts to share hunting and target shooting traditions with youth, women and other participants,” said Jim Moore, president of Remington Outdoor Foundation. “We’re encouraged by the fact that a significant percentage of NASP® students reported they are more interested in other shooting sports, including hunting, since taking the archery program in school.”

High school seniors who write and submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay that answers the question, “How has the National Archery in the Schools Program® changed my life?” can win a $1,500 first place scholarship while second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500 respectively to help pay for their college education.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be registered to participate in the 2010 NASP® National Tournament, and winners will be announced at that event. For information about the world’s largest archery tournament, which will be hosted May 7-8 in Louisville, Ky., visit https://archeryintheschools.org/.

The deadline to submit essays and completed applications is April 30. Students can find the scholarship guidelines and application form and submit their entry at Remington Outdoor Foundation High School Essay Contest or email to info@nasparchery.com. Students and instructors can receive NASP program updates and information by visiting NASP®’s Facebook Fan page.

If you know a college-bound high school senior who is participating in the 2010 NASP® National Tournament, encourage him or her to write an essay and possibly win a scholarship.