Tag Archives: “sportsmen”

Bill Maher: Republicans ‘Shouldn’t Be Pandering To Hunters, They Should Be Pandering To Stoners’

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Bill Maher concluded Friday night’s episode of “Real Time” with a bold suggestion for the Republican party: “Why not embrace pot?”

About 3:00 into the “New Rules” clip above, Maher asks why politicians such as Ted Cruz are still using highly publicized hunting trips to show voters how relatable and down to earth they are, when only 6% of Americans actually hunt.

“Like many Americans, this picture [of Cruz hunting] makes me less likely to vote for you, and more likely to wish your hunting partner was Dick Cheney,” Maher joked.

If the goal of the GOP is to appeal to women, hispanics and millenials (or as Maher describes the new American voter, “a young latino lesbian who smokes a boatload of dope”) Maher suggests that the GOP start pandering to stoners instead of hunters.

“If they want to pass the torch to the next generation, they need to ‘pass the torch’ to the next generation,” he joked.

Watch the full clip above to hear the rest of Maher’s reasons why Republicans should support marijuana legalization, including how in the age of Molly and flesh-eating drugs, pot really IS conservative.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/02/bill-maher-republicans-embrace-pot-not-hunters-video_n_4202427.html

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An Upside to Just About Everything

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The rain was pounding so hard off my roof last night that I went to sleep with the satisfied feeling that the storm forecast to continue on into today would surely put a damper on the opening day of elk season (a more sacred day than Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter combined to folks around here). But like a scene out of the cartoon “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” it seems nothing can put a damper on the local revelers murderous merriment.

Except for a lack of elk, that is.

Dawn broke to the rapid hammering of gunfire, in spite of the driving rain and near gale-force winds. It sounded like boys and girls of all ages were out playing with their new semi-automatics, sending lead sailing through the air for the sheer joy of it. If each round spelled a dead elk, every herd in the region would be felled by now. Don’t ask me how they get that “good clean shot” at that rate.

But with all the privately owned forest and farm land in these parts, this isn’t a popular destination for the suburban hunting faction. I knew the noise was all the result of just one overeager local resident, and that most of his shots hit only alders, salmonberry bushes or possibly another neighbor’s sheep or llama.

So what is the upside of all that insanity? Another neighbor out trolling around for elk in his $40,000.00 pickup (clad in full Cabella’s camo coveralls and an orange vest that made him look like some kind of demented, oversized crossing guard) inadvertently provided the answer when he pulled over to make small talk, bemoaning the fact that at the first sound of gunfire this time of year the elk for miles around make themselves scarce. He went to add, “…and they know the difference between deer and elk season too. I’ve been out every day of deer season and saw over a hundred head of elk, but now they’re nowhere to be found.”

Can’t say I feel sorry for the guy; it’s not like he was starving. Hunting is just a hobby for him—something to do. You know, like a tradition; just something to bullshit about with his buddies about at the local tavern or mini mart.

Meanwhile, for the elk hunting season is a matter of life and death.

Text and Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson, 2013. All Rights Reserved

Text and Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson, 2013. All Rights Reserved

New Bill Promoting Public Lands Access for Hunting Draws Praise Protest, Puke

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New Bill Promoting Public Lands Access for Hunting Draws Praise from Outdoors Community
Published on Saturday, October 26, 2013

WASHINGTON –-(Ammoland.com)-Senate legislation introduced today that would  increase hunting and angling access on public lands and bolster the nation’s  outdoor recreation economy was welcomed by a broad coalition of influential  sportsmen’s groups and outdoor interests.

The Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures Act, or  “HUNT Act,” introduced this afternoon by Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico,  directs federal agencies to inventory all public lands greater than 640 acres  where hunting and fishing are legal but inaccessible with the goal of expanding  access for members of the public. The legislation finances land acquisitions  from willing sellers through a small percentage of Land and Water Conservation  Fund monies. Heinrich introduced similar legislation in 2012, when he was a  member of the House of Representatives.

Sportsmen and others hailed the measure as a way of maintainingHuntingTrophiesJamieKripke600 and  expanding sportsmen’s access to public lands that provide important fish and  wildlife habitat and offer valuable opportunities for hunting and fishing. They  note that Heinrich’s announcement coincides not only with the opening of  big-game seasons across the country but also with National Hunting and Fishing  Day and National Public Lands Day, both on Saturday.

“The HUNT Act would open millions of acres of landlocked public lands to  public access, expanding the opportunity for sportsmen to hunt, fish and  otherwise enjoy these uniquely American resources,” said Joel Webster, director  of the Theodore Roosevelt  Conservation Partnership’s Center for Western Lands. “Sportsmen need  two things to be able to hunt and fish: access and opportunity. We appreciate  Senator Heinrich’s leadership in introducing this measure and specifically  addressing the very real challenge of diminished public access to our publicly  owned lands and waters.”

“Ensuring access to America’s public lands is good for people, good for  communities and good for business,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO  of Outdoor  Industry Association. “I applaud Senator Heinrich for introducing  legislation that reinforces the importance of outdoor recreation to the  economy and improves access for all Americans who enjoy hunting, fishing  and outdoor recreation.”

Heinrich, who often hunts and fishes public lands, acknowledged that  diminished access is a growing problem for sportsmen.

“Sportsmen say their No. 1 concern is the lack of access to our public lands  across the West,” Heinrich stated. “The HUNT Act will open up these areas to  hunting and fishing and grow our thriving outdoor recreation economy in the  process. Hunting and fishing are a way of life for millions of Americans. As an  avid hunter, I remain deeply committed to preserving our outdoor heritage for my  children and for future generations.”

“­­­­­­­­­­­­­­The  HUNT Act exemplifies a pragmatic approach to increasing access to public lands  for hunters and anglers,” said Gaspar Perricone, director of the Bull Moose Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We commend Senator  Heinrich for his efforts to identify federal landlocked lands and for providing  the necessary recourses to ensure that they are accessible by  sportsmen. The HUNT Act will further reverse the trend of declining access  to public lands for hunters and anglers.

“American outdoors families are frustrated when they have public land on the  map but are effectively locked out,” said Land Tawney, executive director  of Backcountry  Hunters & Anglers. “Senator Heinrich gets it. He hunts public lands, and  this bill corrects that problem, using commonsense tools to open up access to  land that is already in the public domain. That’s a win-win for landowners,  hunters and anglers and all families that love the outdoors.”

“Senator Martin Heinrich’s reintroduction of the HUNT Act is a means to  protect rural economies and our sportsman heritage,” said Kent Salazar,  a National Wildlife  Federation board member whose family has lived and ranched in New  Mexico for several generations. “Without access to public lands for hunting,  fishing and recreating in America’s great outdoors, our economy, our tourism and  our citizens’ health will suffer. As an avid hunter and outdoorsman, I  support Senator Heinrich’s bill because it is good for all  Americans.”

“Heinrich’s perspective on this issue is a genuine one,” said Garrett  VeneKlasen, southwest regional director forTrout  Unlimited’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project. “Probably more than most  members of Congress, he hunts and fishes on public lands, so this bill comes  from a place of personal, intimate knowledge. He’s spot on when it comes to  public lands sportsmen’s issues.”

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt,  the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working  together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.  For more  information on the TRCP visit our  website.

Read more: http://www.ammoland.com/2013/10/new-bill-promoting-public-lands-access-for-hunting-angling-draws-praise-from-outdoors-community/#ixzz2j2LJ0bUb

The War Against Wolves and Wildlife: Time to Stop the Killing

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[Note: The identities of these wolf-hating villains behind the masks are said to be, from left to right: Former Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, Int. Sec. Sally Jewell, Pres. Barack Obama, Former Pres. G.W. Bush, along with his squad of goons, and Dick Cheney, who tagged along hoping to chalk up another hunting accident.]

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Article by Camilla Fox, Project Coyote

By the time this blog goes live this photo will probably have been pulled from Facebook. The photo, titled “Wyoming is FED up,” is posted on the FB page, Sportsmen Against Wolves.

As of October 26th the photo had 563 likes and 307 shares, after being posted for less than three days. The posted public comments are disturbing:

“Love this!!!!! I fully understand the masks, yer not idiots like those daring you to show yer faces!!!! Keep on killing guys”

“Smoke a pack a day”

“Kill everyone you see boys!”

What is perhaps most disquieting about the photograph is the vigilante feel that echoes a lynch mob — dehumanize, vilify, and murder. Wolves are now reviled and persecuted in a land where they once roamed wild and free prior to European colonization.

While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to remove federal protections for gray wolves through most of their historic range in the lower 48 States, blatant hostility toward wolves, coyotes, bears and other native carnivores has intensified. Like the photo above, the vilification of predators has taken on a new hue: one associated with righteous patriotism. But all true Americans should be concerned about this tenor of violence and hatred toward other living beings. What lessons are we teaching young people when we show such blatant disrespect and denigration of wildlife?…when “we” proudly post photos of men with their bloodied victims on Facebook and Twitter? (see this video posted on Facebook of a reported wolf being shot in Idaho — warning: graphic) and when our own federal government condones this violence and wanton animal abuse in its lethal predator control programs?

Anti-wolf hatred fueled a 2011 Congressional rider that removed federal protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes thereby turning management over to the states in these regions. The result: In just seven days of this year’s wolf hunt in Wisconsin, 97 wolves were killed — about twice the pace at which wolves were killed last year, the state’s inaugural and very controversial wolf-hunt season. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources estimates the total state wolf population to be around 800 — and would like trappers and hunters to reduce the population to 350 — a number scientists say is not sustainable.

At least 1,321 wolves have been killed by trophy hunters and commercial and recreational trappers in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho alone. Montana sold over 6,000 wolf-hunting licenses this season; each license — $19 for state residents — allows a person to kill up to five wolves. The current wolf population in Montana is estimated at 625. Wolf watching generates approximately $30 million annually to the towns around Yellowstone; the cost to reintroduce and recover wolves into the Northern Rockies was estimated to be more than $150 million. What is the value of a wolf alive — over the course of his or her lifetime — compared to one-shot dead for a $19 wolf-hunting license? Ethics of recreational killing of wolves aside, economics does not justify this insanity.

Members of Congress, predator friendly ranchers, respected scientists have spoken out publicly against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to remove federal protections for wolves arguing that delisting is premature and is not scientifically sound. The Service has extended the public comment period regarding their proposal to delist wolves from the ESA and has rescheduled public hearings. If you want to see wolves in the wild please click here, take action, and make your voice heard. Then share this blog post with others. The Service will accept comments through December 17th. Check out Project Coyote’s homepage and Facebook page for more updates.

Follow Camilla Fox on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/projectcoyote

A convergence of bucks – Milwaukee basketball and hunting

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[Well now, isn’t that special.]

By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel

Oct. 23, 2013 
Licensed hunters and anglers can receive discounts on Milwaukee Bucks tickets  as part of a program offered by the NBA franchise and the Department of Natural Resources.

People who buy tickets under the “DNR Nights” program will receive a free blaze orange winter  hat featuring the Milwaukee Bucks emblem.

The discount is available to holders of Wisconsin hunting and fishing  licenses. The offer is good for tickets to the following games at BMO  Harris Bradley Center:

Saturday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. vs. Toronto (opening night)

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., vs. Cleveland

Saturday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m., vs. Dallas

Saturday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., vs. Oklahoma City

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m., vs. Portland

Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m., vs. Charlotte

The promotion offers a ticket and blaze orange Bucks hat for $18 in the upper  bowl and $35 in the lower bowl. The prices represent a discount of up to 40%,  according to the agency.

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/228967181.html#ixzz2j1gnV1bF Follow us: @NewsHub on Twitter

DEAD MOOSE DISCOVERED, CPW ASKS THE PUBLIC FOR HELP

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DILLON, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking information about
the death of a bull moose found Wednesday, near Frey Gulch Road on
Tenderfoot Mountain, east of the shooting range. According to wildlife
officials, the moose died from a gunshot wound and was not field
dressed, leaving the meat to waste.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges the public to provide any additional
information that may lead to the person or persons responsible,
including personal photos of any live bull moose seen in the area since
early October.

The animal was discovered during Colorado’s 2nd Rifle hunting season,
however officials believe it was killed in early October, possibly
during the 1st Rifle season, Oct. 12 through 16. Although the
circumstances are currently unknown, officials are investigating the
incident as a possible mistaken or careless kill by an elk hunter.

“We understand that mistaken kills can happen while hunting, but we ask
hunters to let us know right away,” said District Wildlife Manager
Elissa Knox, of Summit County. “Killing an animal without a license,
abandoning and wasting the meat and evading authorities can potentially
lead to felony charges, substantial fines, prison time and a lifetime
suspension of hunting privileges in Colorado as well as 38 other
states.”

Knox adds that if officers have to track down individuals in cases like
this, they will likely face the maximum penalties. She says that
officers will take prompt self-reporting into consideration and
encourages the person responsible in this incident to contact wildlife
officials as soon as possible.

In recent years, Colorado wildlife officers have investigated a number
of incidents involving the misidentification of moose for an elk.
Hunters are reminded to always be 100 percent sure of their target
before they shoot and notify officials immediately if they have killed
the wrong species.

Anyone with information that can help in this investigation can contact
Operation Game Thief, a wildlife tips hotline at 877-265-6648 . Callers
will remain anonymous and cash rewards may be given if the information
leads to a conviction.

For more information about Operation Game Thief, go to
http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/LawEnforcement/OperationGameThief/Pag
es/OGT.aspx
<http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/LawEnforcement/OperationGameT hief/Pages/OGT.aspx>

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s
wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational
programs. To learn more, please visit cpw.state.co.us
<http://cpw.state.co.us/&gt; .

Moose Photo Copyright Jim Robertson

Moose Photo Copyright Jim Robertson

A “Special” Time of Year

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It’s Saturday morning, in elk country on the last weekend in October. The air is crisp and trees are slowly shedding their golden leaves. Autumn can be a special time of year, but not for everyone. A week from today is opening day of elk (murdering) season. Since first light the peace of the morning has been desecrated by the repeated blasts of hunters, sighting-in their rifles—or warming up their itchy trigger fingers.

To say that hunters ruin it for the rest of us would be an understatement. Their noises, actions and attitudes not only irk those of us who enjoy living peacefully near wildlife habitat, they cause overwhelming stress to the animals who know they could be the next target.

When I hike through the forest, I try to use the same routes, respectfully leaving unexplored certain areas where deer and elk are likely to be bedded. The hunter’s outlook is just the opposite, purposely tromping through every corner of the woods in hopes of scaring up any animal who might call it their home.

During the fall, elk should be bugling loudly, competing with other bulls and rounding up their harems.  Meanwhile, the cow elk try to stay out of harm’s way as much as possible, yet feel reproductive stirrings of their own.

All are distracted enough already. The last thing they need right now is a bunch of Elmers out trying to “harvest” their flesh—or their head to mount on the wall to boost their fragile Fuddly egos.

Text and Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson, 2013. All Rights Reserved

Text and Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson, 2013. All Rights Reserved

Numbers down for antelope, pheasant hunting near Havre

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http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20131024/LIFESTYLE0506/310240011/Numbers-down-antelope-pheasant-hunting-near-Havre?nclick_check=1

Oct. 23, 2013

Overall hunting numbers were down, but hunters took more of some upland birds and waterfowl in the Havre area during the weekends of Oct. 12-13 and Oct. 19-20, according to numbers gathered from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 6 game check station outside Havre.

“Over the first two weekends of the season, harvest for most species has been down,” said FWP Havre-area wildlife biologist Scott Hemmer. “Antelope numbers and licenses have remained low since the winter of 2010-11, and this fact is reflected in the check station harvest being down 92 percent from the long-term average. Most antelope hunters reported having to hunt harder to find animals, but most have reported good horn growth in the bucks they did find and harvest this year.”

The general antelope season opened Oct. 12, as did pheasant season.

Pheasant harvest has been down slightly from last year, and hunters have reported pheasant hunting as spotty.

Sharp-tailed grouse harvest is down from last year, but Hungarian partridge harvest is up. Duck harvest has remained strong again this year.

Montana’s special two-day youth deer hunt was a week earlier this year, and that resulted in additional mule deer and white-tailed deer being harvested during this reporting period. In previous years, only archery deer hunting was open during this time of the year, Hemmer said.

However, white-tailed deer numbers are still down overall this year in FWP Region 6. That’s due to a long recovery period from a series of especially hard winters and significant outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, also known as EHD, in 2011 and again this year.

Elk harvest reported at the check station thus far may have been limited by the temporary closure of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, but Hemmer said not enough elk have been harvested yet for a meaningful comparison to past years’ harvest.

Overall, hunter numbers continue to be low so far this year, Hemmer said.

Total hunter numbers are down 6 percent from last year and are still well below those seen prior to the winter of 2010-11.

Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson, 2013. All Rights Reserved

Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson, 2013. All Rights Reserved

Hunters “Become the Hunted,” Squeal

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Wis. Hunters Apparently Shot at by ‘Animal Lover’

Updated at: 10/23/2013  By: Beth McDonough, KSTP

Hunters looking for ducks, find trouble. The harrowing hunting story happened in Barron County in Western Wisconsin.

Two men were shot at, numerous times, while hunting legally in Cameron. The man who opened fire, is only facing minor charges.

Both sides are telling their stories to Eyewitness News.

It’s the heart of duck hunting season. On Sunday, a marsh looked like it does, perfect, for outdoorsman, “we knew it was going to be a great day, it started out good.”

Yet within minutes of shooting two mallards, the hunters became the hunted.

A stranger lurking in the nearby woods, got mouthy, “he went off on a rant about how we shouldn’t be here, we should be in Afghanistan if we were gonna shooting something,” says Levi Johnston.

Then, that stranger, Van Hawkinson, got a gun, “for a moment there, I got angry and was hurt, I jumped in the vehicle took a .410 with me, what’s that gonna do? I shot out at the corn field up in the air, I had my weapon like so.”

We asked duck hunter David Reichenberger if he felt targeted, “oh absolutely, if he had a .22 or any other lethal weapon he could’ve killed us.”

Reichenberger and Johnston were in a canoe. No way to escape. The shots were close enough to scare them. And that’s the point, “I’m an animal lover and bird lover. I don’t like to see things die, especially for the sport of killing,” says Hawkinson.

Although the hunters were on private land, they had permission from the owner to be there. Authorities arrested and charged the 64-year-old with dangerous use of a weapon and disorderly conduct, which are misdemeanors and considered minor crimes by the law.

We asked Hawkinson if he was sorry, “yes, why? Because I went to jail for it.” He was there for one night, then he was free on $1,000 bond.

“That’s it?” That’s what David Reichenberger and Levi Johnston want to know, “he got nothing for basically trying to kill us, how is it you can shoot somebody and the next day get out of jail?”

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