Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
GW: Click on the link below and you can send an email directly to Ms. Stabenow
The Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act has been languishing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry chaired by Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. MUCC has sent an action alert urging Senator Stabenow to hold a hearing on the bill as soon as possible. That action alert can be found here.
By Jim Shepherd
Another big day in Washington.
The House is holding hearings to lay the groundwork what are essentially“work-arounds” for anti-gun legislators. They’re looking for ways to punish gun owners, manufacturers, dealers and distributors since the Supreme Court seems insistent on upholding the position that enumerated rights – especially the right to “keep and bear arms” mean exactly what they say.
The House Judiciary Committee is “marking up” H.R. 1801, their latest Assault Weapons Ban. H.R. 2814 the “Equal Access to Victims of Gun Violence Act” is also up as well.
H.R.1801 is exactly what it sounds like: another proposed ban on those evil, black rifles that apparently possess the souls of a minuscule percentage of their users, forcing them on murderous rampages. Unlike the “Clinton ban” this version has no expiration date.
H.R. 2814, however is not exactly what’s implied. It’s not a crusade to protect innocent victims, it’s an attempt to repeal The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The PLCAA prevents the manufacturers of firearms from being sued for the actions of others (you could use the word criminals) employing their products for nefarious purposes.
Recently, we told you that the CEOs of three gun companies, Smith & Wesson, Daniel Defense, and Ruger had been “invited” by House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Mahoney to testify before the panel – today.
They won’t be there. No, it’s not an act of defiance, it’s scheduling issues. But they won’t be there to either be lectured or grilled by the committee, so scratch one anti-gun photo op.
If you doubt this description of the less-than-cordial greeting she had planned, Rep. Mahoney’s “invitation” told the invitees: “the sale and marketing of assault weapons and the broad civil immunity that has been unfairly granted to manufacturers” would be part of the discussion.
She also wrote that the CEO’s products (these particular CEOs) “have been used for decades to carry out homicides and even mass murders.”
That would certainly have me rearranging my schedule to try and be there for Rep. Mahoney if I were Messrs. Daniel, Killoy or Mark Smith of Daniel Defense, Ruger and Smith & Wesson, respectively. Read more
Bozeman, Montana. July 20, 2022. Thanks to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) efforts, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Utah Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation, and the D. Gary and Mary Young Family, Utah has its first nursery herd for desert bighorn sheep.
Thirty-one desert bighorn sheep were captured in late June in Nevada’s Muddy Mountain Wilderness and safely relocated to the 1,800-acre Skyrider Wilderness Ranch near Tabiona in Duchesne County, Utah. The ranch is owned and managed by the Young Family of Young Living Essential Oils.
“A nursey herd approach is a vital tool in the restoration and expansion of wild sheep populations,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “A cross-state translocation like this to a secure, private ranch holding-area takes a lot of cooperation and coordination. We applaud everyone who had a hand in making this a successful conservation action.”
Trapping and transplanting is the most successful and fastest way to expand wild sheep populations back to their historical ranges. A nursery herd has been used successfully for bighorn sheep on Utah’s Antelope Island, Montana’s Wild Horse Island, and Texas and New Mexico for desert bighorns in the USA. Nursery herds have also been a key component of desert sheep restoration in Mexico, exemplified by WSF’s Mexico Initiative.
Travis Jensen, President of the Utah Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation, explained, “The goal is to establish a protected, disease-free desert bighorn herd that will grow to the point of being able to supply animals for future transplant efforts in new suitable free-range habitats and to supplement existing herds throughout Utah and potentially other States if needed. This project was first outlined in 2018 and included in the Utah Bighorn Sheep Management Plan. It is a very exciting project for Utah’s wild sheep and should help ensure the future of Utah’s desert bighorn sheep for many years to come”
By 1960, research indicates that Utah had only a remnant population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and desert bighorn sheep were gone entirely. Current estimates of the state’s desert bighorn sheep are approaching 5,000 animals.
“Wild sheep restoration is a business where the rewards outweigh the risks,” Thornton added. “We all know the risks that separation from domestic sheep to avoid disease transmission and predation from mountain lions can be factors in establishing new bighorn sheep herds, but these are not insurmountable obstacles. You do miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. Utah and other states would not be as successful have they have been by not taking shots.”
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The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), based in Bozeman, Mont., was founded in 1977 by wild sheep conservationists and enthusiasts. With a membership of more than 10,500 worldwide, WSF is the premier advocate for wild sheep and other mountain wildlife and their habitats. WSF has raised and expended more than $140 million on wild sheep habitat and population enhancements, education, and conservation advocacy programs in North America, Europe, and Asia to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep On the Mountain”®. These and other efforts have increased bighorn sheep populations in North America from historic lows in the 1950-60s of 25,000 to more than 85,000 today. www.wildsheepfoundation.org.
Media Contacts: Keith R. Balfourd 406-404-8754 or keith@wildsheepfoundation.org
Michigan’s governor signed legislation creating more opportunities for quality outdoor recreation by authorizing $45.6 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants.
“Outdoor recreation in Pure Michigan is essential to the high quality of life Michiganders and visitors enjoy in our beautiful state,” said Gov. Whitmer. “These Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants support so many of the world-class outdoor opportunities we have in Michigan, including fishing, hiking, kayaking or simply enjoying an accessible playground. In communities across the state, the grant program makes much of this possible with critical investments so people of all abilities can get outdoors. Let’s keep working together to invest in our parks, recreation and public lands so future generations can enjoy everything that Pure Michigan has to offer.”
Senate Bill 1028 approves funding for 117 recreation development projects and land purchases recommended by the board. It is now Public Act 151 of 2022. Read more
The National Deer Association (NDA) partnered with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) to provide a customized three-day Deer Steward course for AGFC staff and leadership in mid-July. NDA has held custom Deer Steward courses for five other state wildlife agencies, but with 86 certified graduates, the Arkansas course was the largest agency class yet.
“NDA’s Deer Steward course is a great opportunity for hunters and managers alike to learn more about the most recent deer and habitat research and how it directly applies to our management efforts here in Arkansas,” said Ralph Meeker, AGFC Deer Program Coordinator. “NDA did a great job communicating many of the individual components related to deer and habitat management and how they tie together. This made it much easier for our staff to not only understand but will undoubtedly help them communicate those same ideas with our constituents.” Read more
BELLEVUE, WA – The quick actions of a legally-armed private citizen saved countless lives Sunday at a crowded Indiana shopping mall, and that courageous young man is rightfully being hailed as a hero, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.
“While the gun prohibition lobby is remaining essentially silent,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, “we are glad to see the mayor and police chief of Greenwood, Indiana crediting the armed citizen for stopping what could have been a slaughter. Even the Greenwood Park Mall has posted a statement on its website expressing gratitude to the first responders, including what it calls the ‘heroic actions of the Good Samaritan who stopped the suspect.’
“It wasn’t the first time a good guy with a gun has stopped a bad guy,” he continued. “Last year, the FBI noted six incidents in which armed citizens intervened in mass shootings, including four where the perpetrator was killed. The gun ban lobby has long justified its push for disarming private citizens by arguing that if gun control saves just one life, it’s worthwhile. But how many lives were saved Sunday because a responsible young man was armed? All we hear from gun grabbers right now are crickets.” Read more
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $5.5 million in grants for conservation projects on 11 forests from Alaska to North Carolina.
Grants funded through the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program provide financial assistance to local governments, Tribal governments, and non-profit organizations. Grantees use those funds to acquire and establish community forests to benefit both rural and urban communities, including helping to mitigate extreme heat. All of the grant projects respond to locally driven priorities and support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to increase access and conservation of America’s lands and waters.
“We listened to the needs of these communities and are protecting threatened forests and conserving community values, including recreation access and cultural use of forests,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “Community benefits include economic growth through more active forest management, cleaner water and healthier forests.”
Grant projects include support for the California’s Potter Valley Tribe to acquire 21 acres of land to restore tribal access for traditional ecological and community uses like plant gathering, fishing and ceremonies. Read more
Official World Record Topping the Charts
Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou in Velvet Topping the Charts as an Official World Record
July 20th, 2022 – Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization, officially announces a newly recognized world record in the Velvet Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou category. Taken in 2005 by Rodney Cockeram at Humpy Lake in the Northwest Territories, this is a trophy like no other.
Originally measured in 2006, this trophy was invited to the 2007 Panel and Convention where the score was confirmed by a Pope and Young Panel Team. At that time no other velvet animals had ever been verified at Panel Sessions. In 2021, Pope and Young began recognizing velvet category World Records. As a result of this decision, this is one of many newly recognized official World Records. Read more
HELENA – Boaters and other visitors will soon have a new resource when venturing out on the lower Yellowstone River corridor this year. Starting this week, the “Lower Yellowstone River Guide” will be available for free at FWP offices and local sporting goods stores in communities along this scenic remote stretch of the Yellowstone River. The guide can also be downloaded from the webpage: https://fwp.mt.gov/activities/boating/lower-yellowstone-river.
This guide is aimed at helping current and future visitors of the Lower Yellowstone River corridor know how to plan for their time on the river, where to access service and how to stay safe while recreating outdoors. It includes more than 30 maps, scenic photos, tips on points of interest and recreational opportunities, historical and cultural information about the area and safety information.
“The Lower Yellowstone and its eastern Montana communities offer a treasure trove of recreational, historical and educational opportunities,” said FWP’s Parks and Outdoor Recreation Administrator Hope Stockwell. “It’s a beautiful, vast landscape but the power of the river must be respected, and this river guide will help visitors enjoy their time here and stay safe.” Read more
EAGLE, Colo. — QuietKat Electric Bikes, the leader in off-road eBikes and a Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) brand, is proud to announce the release of a brand new eBike model, the Ibex available now; only at www.QuietKat.com. The new Ibex represents the latest in full-suspension electric bicycles from the leader in off-road eBikes for hunting, fishing, camping, overlanding and tactical applications.
The Ibex is the most sure-footed creature roaming the high-alpine terrain. Able to scale the steepest mountains, and maintain footing while in traveling at high speeds. The Ibex is an excellent climber and prefers habitats in rocky regions, along snow lines and above the alpine forests. The all-new QuietKat Ibex earned its name trekking over the highest peaks and steepest terrain. Built for life above the tree line, the QuietKat Ibex deploys 4.8” CST Tires and the upgraded FireLink 4-Bar suspension in the rear, giving you 130mm of travel to command rocky and rugged terrain. Going off the grid? The Bafang Ultra-Drive motor delivers incredible power and performance while the massive 21ah battery provides extra range to push further into the backcountry. And with TEKTRO hydraulic brakes and a fully adjustable air-suspension fork and rear shock, you can maneuver the most technical routes fearlessly. Reach the highest peaks, on the back of an Ibex.
The Ibex is in-stock and available now exclusively at QuietKat.com (https://quietkat.com/pages/ibex-electric-bike) for $6799. Additional accessories include pannier bags, lights, fenders, trailers, and more to make the most of your backcountry experience. Check out where the Ibex can climb in this video by QuietKat. (https://youtu.be/96V-Y6LrWIY)