Canadian
Panel Recommends Polar Bear Remain a "Species of Special Concern"
The Canadian
panel responsible for assessing the status of species in Canada for listing
under its Species At Risk Act (Canada's version of the Endangered Species Act)
has recommended, based on the best scientific evidence, that the polar bear
remain listed as a "species of special concern." See report at
http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/rpts/Detailed_Species_Assessments_e.html. This status is for species for which there is some concern that it may
go extinct, but that is not at the point that it is likely to go extinct unless
action is taken. No significant limitations arise from this status. The
panel will forward its recommendation to the Minister of the Environment and the
Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council. The Minister has 90 days to
act on the recommendation. Then the Council has nine months to add the species
to SARA's List of Wildlife Species at Risk, not add the species to the List,
or send the matter back to the panel for further consideration. A listing at a
higher level, such as threatened, would mean the end of hunting of the species
in Canada, absent further action by the government to allow it. SCI will keep
you posted.
SCI Attends CITES 23rd Animals Committee Meeting
SCI
Foundation’s Deputy Conservation Manager, Matthew Eckert, represented SCI and
the hunter’s voice at this critical meeting. The Animals Committee meets
annually to review biological, trade and other relevant information on species
that are, or proposed to, be listed by CITES. Of most concern for sportsmen and
women at this meeting was the review of cat (felidae) species, the North
American black bear, the Saiga antelope and the hippopotamus. After working
group discussions, only the hippo was recommended for Significant Trade Review,
a
vigorous, long term, and costly process that requires extensive research and
analysis.
SCI will continue to be involved in the review of these species and will keep
SCI members informed on important issues.
SCI
Seeks to Intervene in Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Delisting Case
SCI is
preparing today to file a request to intervene in a lawsuit, filed in federal
court in Montana, concerning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's delisting of
the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves. SCI hopes to defend the delisting and
to represent hunters and conservationists whose hunting opportunities, success
and enjoyment have been harmed by the presence of wolves in Montana, Idaho and
Wyoming. SCI is already intervening in two other cases in Montana, one to
defend the delisting of grizzly bears and another to defend federal regulations
that give the states' enhanced authority to manage problem wolves.
Namibia: Trophy Hunting for Black Rhinos in the Cards
“The Ministry
of Environment and Tourism is close to granting an annual black rhino
trophy-hunting quota in protected areas. No such quota has been granted since
CITES gave permission for it in 2004, because Government has been working on a
policy on tourism and wildlife concessions on State land, Louisa Mupetami, a
conservation scientist in the Ministry, said last week….The 13th conference of
the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) held in
Thailand in 2004 gave Namibia and South Africa permission to allow the hunting
of five black rhinos a year.” Read more of this article at
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804290791.html.
(Source: allafrica.com)
SCI
Granted Right to Defend Sporting Interests in Yellowstone Grizzly Delisting
The District
Court in Montana granted SCI’s request to intervene and represent hunters in a
second lawsuit challenging the Endangered Species Act delisting of the grizzly
bears of the Yellowstone area. The delisting turns over management of this
recovered species to the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. SCI supports
state management as more responsive to the needs of sportsmen and women, who
often have negative encounters with grizzlies while pursuing recreational
activities. In briefing currently set to begin on June 1, 2008, SCI will argue,
among other things, that the Yellowstone grizzlies long ago surpassed recovery
goals. SCI is also participating in grizzly delisting litigation in District
Court in Idaho.
Court Orders FWS to Publish
Polar Bear Listing Decision by May 15, 2008
On April 28, 2008, a U.S. District
Court in California ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to
publish a final decision on the proposed listing of polar bears under the
Endangered Species Act by May 15, 2008 and to make that listing
decision effective immediately. The Court ignored the FWS’s assertions,
supported by SCI, that the agency needed until June 30 to make its
decision. The court's ruling was the outcome of a lawsuit filed by three groups
to challenge the FWS’s failure to issue the listing decision by January 9, 2008,
the statutory deadline. The FWS has the option to ask the District Court judge
to reconsider her decision, or to try to get the Ninth Circuit to grant an
immediate appeal. Barring a change from the courts or a failure by the FWS to
comply with the order, the listing decision will go into effect on May 15 --
although the announcement of the listing decision may come out a few days
earlier. If some or all of the polar bear
populations are listed, the FWS has indicated that imports of trophies from any
listed populations would be barred as of that date, regardless of where in the
process the application is. Note that a listing will affect
only permit applications from populations listed by FWS. It is possible that
the FWS will not list all or some populations.
Nonetheless, anyone with a pending
polar bear import permit application is urged to contact the FWS permit branch
immediately.
SCI will keep you posted on further developments.
California Approves
Non-lead Ammunition Certification Regulations
The
California Fish and Game Commission recently approved regulations for
certifying ammunition as “non-lead” for use in hunting big game and non-game
in the area designated as “condor range.” A map of condor range is on page
5 of the document found at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/pdffiles/2008HuntingDigest-BigGamePages7-13.pdf.
Although SCI opposed the adoption of statutory and regulatory bans on lead
ammunition in condor range, it supported the adoption of these implementing
regulations. Now that the bans are in place, hunters hunting
in the defined condor rangecan
only use ammunition certified as “non-lead” by the California Department of
Fish and Game. Without certification of the ammunition, no hunting could
occur in condor range. Four ammunition manufacturers have submitted
applications for certification and the hope is that many more will do the
same. The bans go into effect on July 1, 2008. SCI will keep you posted.
SCI
Helps Stop Anti-Hunting Legislation
SCI, the
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the NRA successfully banded
together this week to oppose H.R. 5534, the so called “Bear Protection Act.”
SCI and other sportsmen’s groups have worked hard to educate Congressmen and
staffers about the realities of this “Bear Protection Act.” Though H.R.
5534 sounds noble in purpose, it contained broad language that plays right
into the hand of anti-hunting groups.
The truth is that H.R. 5534 will do nothing to increase conservation efforts
for the North American bear, which have healthy and robust populations
throughout their ranges as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated in its
congressional testimony on this bill. The North American bear is already
protected from poaching for its viscera (internal body parts) by state
wildlife agency regulations, and protected from illegal interstate commerce
by the Federal Lacey Act. Furthermore, the bill would set the precedent of
federal interference in successful state-based wildlife management and
conservation.
For decades,
Americans have debated whether the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
affords individuals the right to keep guns. Today is your chance to be heard on
the issue.
USA Today’s
Quick Question asks: Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to
bear arms?
Click here to let the nation know what you think. Take the single-question
survey now, and find out how many people agree with your interpretation of the
Second Amendment. (Results appear after you complete the survey.)
The U.S.
Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s
organization 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.
The Professional Outdoor
Media Association is calling on journalists to speak directly to Congress
regarding land-use fees charged to the media for filming on public lands.
Journalists and other interested parties who want to share their views with the
Congressional Committee on Natural Resources may during a 10-day comment period.
Recreational boaters will watch for suspicious
behavior
Washington, D. C. – Intelligence
assessments say that al-Qaeda's weapon of choice in coastal areas is
a small boat loaded with explosives. Now, Homeland Security
Secretary Michael Chertoff has told leaders of the U.S. recreational
industry that it wants America's 80 million boaters to watch for
suspicious behavior. Chertoff said states should develop programs
for boaters that are similar to neighborhood watch programs and
synch them with the U.S. Coast Guard. [MSNBC,
Department of Homeland Security]
Concealed carry at national parks?
Washington, D. C. – U.S. Department of
Interior has opened a 60-day period for public comment to its
proposed change in the rules to allow persons with permits to carry
concealed weapons inside national parks and wildlife refuges. [U.
S. Department of Interior]
Accusations at National Wild Turkey
Federation
Augusta, Georgia – Two executives have
sued their former employer, National Wild Turkey Federation, saying
they were fired because of false accusations from some directors.
After Carl Brown and Dick Rosenlieb were fired, President Rob Keck
resigned in protest. [Augusta
Chronicle]
In court: Gray wolf delisting, hunting
Great Falls, Montana – A lawsuit was filed
challenging the federal government delisting of gray wolves in the
Northern Rocky Mountains. The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Department said it will intervene in the suit in support of the
federal government and will oppose a preliminary injunction to put
the wolves back on the endangered list. [Great Falls Tribune,
Outdoor
Pressroom]
West Coast salmon fishing closed
San Francisco, California – National
Marine Fishery Service officially closed commercial and recreational
salmon fishing along the West Coast. Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez declared a commercial fishery disaster, a designation that
clears the way for government assistance to fishermen. Salmon
spawning has declined throughout the area, especially in the
Sacramento River and its tributaries. [U.S.
News & World Report]
Whale watch boats challenged
Boston, Massachusetts – Whale watching is
a $30 million tourist industry in New England with some 40 whale
watching boats out on the water on summer weekends looking for
humpback, minke, fin and right whales. Researchers with GPS
receivers went undercover in 2003 and 2004 and now report that whale
watching vessels are exceeding their agreed-upon speed limits and
changing whale behavior. [Outdoor
Pressroom, Boston Globe]
Decision made: Bikini mate won't teach
next year
Port St. Lucie, Florida – Tiffany
Shepherd, a 30-year-old biology teacher, will not return to Port St.
Lucie High School in Florida next year. She said she thinks the
school district was okay with her teaching but not okay with her job
on the side. She was a bikini mate aboard Smokin' Em Charters.
That's the sport fishing charter operation that was asked to leave
the Fort Pierce City Marina because it used female mates wearing
bikinis. The school district says, no, Tiffany's problem was that
she has missed too many days of teaching. [Palm
Beach Post,
Outdoor
Pressroom]
This kayak has a viewing window Ferndale, Washington – Ocean Kayak has introduced a kayak with a
viewing window to watch the watery world below. Called the
Peekaboo™, the new model is built on the traditional Ocean Kayak®
sit-on-top platform and is designed so that one adult, or an adult
plus a child weighing up to 100 pounds, can see into the water
through an in-deck viewing window. In addition to the obvious
photographic opportunities it provides, the Peekaboo lets kayak
anglers see into the depths to detect underwater structure and
gamefish. Peekaboo kayak has a suggested retail price of $899. For
more information visit
http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks [Media contact: Mike
May, mike.may@clynch.com]
America's Cup: Big Beast of a Boat?
Madrid, Spain – The date for the next
America's Cup competition is a matter for the New York Supreme Court
to decide. But the teams continue at full-speed ahead. Word is that
the U.S. entry – Oracle – will be a multi-hulled craft, perhaps a
trimaran. The Swiss entry – Alinghi – will be a "big beast of a
boat," according to Grant Simmer, who is with the design team. [Agence
France Presse]
Do you have aging eyes? Mom? Dad?
Mobile, Alabama – They say that 60 is the
new 40 and that 40 is the new 20. There are only two problems with
that – aging eyes. When people turn 40, approximately, eye lens
become increasingly inflexible and close-up vision becomes blurred.
Most Moms and Dads have aging eyes, a condition known as
presbyopia. Drug store "readers" remedy the problem indoors. Now,
for the outdoors, there are polarized sunglasses with low-profile
readers. The lower lens is for reading and other close-up tasks.
They make a terrific gift on Mother's Day and for Father's Day. Go
to onostradingcompany.com or phone 1-866-865-4695. [Media contact:
Bill AuCoin,
wmaucoin@verizon.net. 727-522-2371]
Natural vs DEET repellent
Cartersville, Georgia – The season for
biting insects is here and so is the perennial question about
whether DEET should or should not be an ingredient in your
repellent. For Dan Ritter of BugBand Products the answer is
certainly not. “DEET destroys plastic, rubber, nylon and more. DEET
will damage your sunglasses, the crystal on your watch, your fishing
line, painted surfaces and personally, I wouldn’t trust it on my
skin, either,” said Ritter. Ritter said the main insect-repelling
ingredient in his BugBand repellent is the natural oil Geraniol
which sets up a pleasant-smelling vapor barrier to ward off insects.
Info at
www.bugband.net. [Media contact: Dan Ritter,
1-800-473-9467,
dritter@eesatl.com.]
One very popular tree
Tierra Verde, Florida – May 10 is Annual
International Migratory Bird Day as declared by the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Many migrators coming from Central and South
America make their first landfall at Fort DeSoto
Park just south of St. Petersburg, Florida. An especially
large mulberry tree, ripe with berries, provides breakfast, lunch
and dinner to grosbeaks, warblers, buntings and tanagers and more
arriving hungry from flights across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of
Mexico. (FWS,
Visit St.
Petersburg-Clearwater -- Media contact: Bill AuCoin,
727-522-2371,
wmaucoin@verizon.net)
These boots have holes in the bottom
Synthetic mesh boots originally developed
for Navy Seals for "Over the Beach" operations have emerged as a big
hit with wade-in anglers, cross-country hikers, hunters and others
who get their feet wet. Main innovation? Tiny holes on the bottom
let the water drain fast but stop pebbles, shells and even sand from
entering. (www.otbboots.com)
Grand Canyon older than thought
The Grand Canyon is six million years old.
That was the current wisdom. But new research says the Canyon's
Upper Granite Gorge actually was formed 55 million years ago.
(National
Geographic)
Did somebody say global cooling?
Record snowfalls in Idaho keep ski resorts
open in May. Iced-over lakes put a damper on the opening day of
Minnesota's fishing season. (Duluth
Budgeteer,
KTVB)
Outdoor books to watch for…
My Life Was This Big…and other true
fishing tales. Lefty Kreh with Chris Millard
The Gigantic Book of Hunting Stories.
Edited and introduced by Jay Cassell
The Fly Fisherman's Guide to the Meaning
of Life. Peter Kaminsky
Speciesist and proud
By John Cain
The timing of this documentary couldn't be better, as only a few weeks ago
the home of a UCLA scientist was flooded by animal rights extremists
(the scientist in question, Edythe London, defends her animal
research here). ...
Soberish - http://soberish.wordpress.com
Special Event: A winger speaks on animal cruelty
By Dheeraj Chand
My winger friend Brian wanted to debate the subject of animal rights
and cruelty, and I offered him the right to speak first. So far, we, the
authors at Plural Politics have spoken first and last on any given subject,
...
The Atheist in the Woods A Story.
An atheist was walking through the woods.
He said to himself - -
"What majestic trees!"
"What powerful rivers!"
"What beautiful animals!"
As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the
bushes
behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge
toward him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over
his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked
over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped &
fell
on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the
bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw
& raising his right to strike him.
At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"
Time Stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.
"You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't
exist
and even credit creation to cosmic accident." "Do you expect me to
help
you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer"?
The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be
hypocritical
of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but
perhaps
you could make the BEAR a Christian"?
"Very Well," said the voice.
The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear
dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head &
spoke:
"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy
bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."
Pure Adrenaline TV -
Hunting Videos and TV Schedule. Great programming for kids.
Deer
Hunting Secrets.
Discover The Closely Guarded True Secrets Of Master Hunters.
Please
Mention FGHP when you hire our Guides & Outfitters. It is Important!
*Our
AnyHunt, Any Place, Any Time Guarantee:
1. We will find a guide if one exists in the area you want to hunt.
2. We obviously can not find you a guide who can get you an animal that is not
indigenous
to an area.. Our Guarantee is this.. if you cant find a guide here
on the site we will do all in our power to find a guide for you in the
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you want to hunt or a guide or outfitter as close as is possible.
IF you cant find a guide contact me for PERSONAL SERVICE:
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