Note: Below is an open letter from Rick Berman, owner of Berman and Company (a public affairs firm) and executive director of the Center for Consumer Freedom (which runs HumaneWatch).

Letters to the AmmoLand Editor: Got something on your mind? Let us know and you can see it here.

USA --(Ammoland.com)- USA Today once did a feature on me titled “Got a Nasty Fight? Here’s Your Man.” I was flattered, fancying myself a kind of bare-knuckle-brawling advocate for free-market issues.

But I realized last week that when it comes to “nasty,” I’m a novice. If you really want to learn something about how to wage a nasty (and I mean vicious) battle, look no further than Wayne Pacelle, CEO of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

In the past his organization has hired people to stalk and photograph me at my home, hired unemployed journalists to write hit pieces about me, filed erroneous and failed ethics complaints, and he has made reams of false and libelous claims about my organization’s motives and our funders. But recently he’s taken his personal brand of intimidation and harassment to a whole new level.

Last week a new animal advocacy group called the Humane Society for Shelter Pets (HSSP) jumped onto the scene with a high-profile advertising campaign asking people to give to their local pet shelters instead of to national groups that give the impression of helping shelters, but don’t pass more than a pittance of the money along. I’m proud to say that my firm, Berman and Company, helped get this excellent group off the ground by providing substantial pro bono PR and operational services. The group is managed by two long-time animal advocates, Jeff Douglas, who has 30 years of experience promoting veterinarians, and Diana Culp, the former director of education for Humane Society of the United States who now works at a local animal shelter. The group’s Board of Directors is chaired by Debbie Price, Director of Education and Policy at one of the nation’s largest non-profit groups.

You’d think that this venerable team coming together in an organization devoted to encouraging funding local pet shelters wouldn’t be controversial. Unfortunately for the group, Wayne Pacelle does not like competition. He was apoplectic at the notion that people would forego giving to his behemoth organization in favor of local shelters and irate that a pet shelter group was pointing out that HSUS — despite more than 85 percent of the animals in their ads being dogs and cats — gives only 1 percent of the money it raises to local pet shelters.

Rather than respond directly to HSSP’s concerns, Mr. Pacelle has lashed out wildly against me, my firm, and the non-profits my firm manages, writing on his blog:

In forming his new group, [Rick Berman] hasn’t come out and said he likes cruelty. He’s hoping you forgot his efforts to defend sealing, puppy mills, and other forms of abuse. But today, by saying all animal welfare money should go to animal shelters, he’s saying that no money should go to combat puppy mills, animal fighting ventures, factory farms, captive hunts, the exotic animal trade, the fur trade, or other animal welfare problems.

First of all, HSSP isn’t my group. While my firm has in the past established a number of non-profits (most of which are 15-20 years old) to educate the public on free-market issues, this group is different. My firm simply wanted to help this shelter organization get off the ground and so we donated over 1,000 hours of our time to its efforts. Check its 990’s (publicly available tax returns). Wayne Pacelle is simply trying to change the conversation.

Also, no matter how many times Wayne Pacelle claims that I or any organization affiliated with me defends or is funded by cock fighters, etc., won’t make it true. I don’t defend animal abusers, but one of my firm’s managed non-profits does defend farmers. As far as I’m concerned, farmers are not animal abusers.

As has been said to Mr. Pacelle in the cease and desist that was sent to him and his Board of Directors, the allegations related to sealers, puppy millers, cock fighters, etc., are entirely false. Neither I, nor any Berman and Company-managed organization gets money from any of these groups, nor do we defend them. Mr. Pacelle is aware that he is making false and defamatory statements against me, my firm and its non-profit clients, and yet he continues to do so with a wanton disregard for the truth. And frankly, by doing so he puts HSUS in legal peril. (Ironically, the only known animal abuser in the mix here is actually a partner of Pacelle and HSUS: Convicted dogfighting kingpin Michael Vick. Pacelle has even said that Vick “would do a good job as a pet owner.”)

Finally, not I, nor any of the organizations managed by my firm have ever said that “no money should go to combat puppy mills, animal fighting ventures, factory farms, captive hunts, the exotic animal trade, the fur trade, or other animal welfare problems.” What we are saying is that donors should be clear about where their money is going. If people want to support HSUS’s animal-rights (as distinct from animal-welfare), anti-meat agenda, then by all means do so.

But 71 percent of the public believes that HSUS is an umbrella group for local shelters and HSUS actively perpetuates this confusion by running emotionally manipulative advertising campaigns in which 85 percent of the images are of dogs and cats. HSUS is using its largess to purposefully confuse people about what it does and where its money goes. I thought it was worth my firm’s time to donate our help to an organization that would set the record straight about HSUS and encourage people to give local. That type of “record setting” is what this firm does every day over a wide range of issues.

This new organization does not collect money from the public and, like I said, much of my firm’s work has been pro bono. So all of Wayne’s wailing that there is some personal enrichment on my end is bogus. Any inquiry from the IRS about our work has been answered completely and allowed us to remain in good standing.

Since HSSP launched, it has been welcomed warmly by the shelter community, with over 500 shelters signing on immediately to the HSSP mission of educating the public. Pacelle on the other hand has gone nuclear to keep people from hearing the truth about HSUS’s deceptive advertising campaign.

In fact, HSUS has done so many terrible things in the last week that I have to enumerate them in bullet format:

• HSUS is harassing and intimidating HSSP’s co-director Didi Culp at her place of work. Because she used to work for them, they are most threatened by what she has to say. They have gone so far as to file baseless ethics complaints against her in order to intimidate her into silence.
• HSUS is reaching out to its network of animal rights bloggers to repeat the false and defamatory claims about me across the internet, even going so far as to use information about my children and family. These bloggers are also encouraging people to file false claims against HSSP with the Federal Trade Commission.
• HSUS and their animal rights minions have started several websites attacking me and people on my staff, both current and former.
• Following the HSSP launch, one of the websites managed by my firm was mysteriously hacked and modified to include a virus. I can’t say for certain that this is HSUS or someone in the broader animal rights community, but it’s a mighty coincidence.
• Pacelle has referred to me publicly as a “con man” and the “king of charity fraud” among other libelous statements. Furthermore, he keeps referring to me as a tobacco lobbyist and alleging that I tell people that “smoking is fine,” despite knowing full well that I haven’t done any work on tobacco issues in over a decade—and when I did it was related to retaining separated smoking sections in restaurants. I never told anyone that “smoking is fine” with regard to the health impact.
• Pacelle’s favorite scurrilous claim is that I pocket the “lion’s share” of “90 percent of funds that wash through [my] other misnamed ‘charities.’” First of all, Mr. Pacelle is getting cute with the word “charities” here. The organizations that Berman and Company manages are non-profit groups and trade associations that educate the public about various issues. This is a typical Wayne Pacelle straw man. Second, Berman and Company doesn’t “wash” the money, it bills the money for services rendered. And it’s nonsense that the “lion’s share” goes to me. Like any business, the money goes to pay the staff’s salaries, keep the lights on, pay for advertising, etc…

And that’s Wayne Pacelle’s whole game. Rather than fight about the facts or ideas, he strips every position I’ve ever taken of its nuance and presents it out of context. So when he says that I “defend drunk driving” and “fight MADD,” the truth is that the Berman and Company-managed American Beverage Institute (ABI) has legitimate disagreements with MADD over policy issues. And on many of those issues, the founder of MADD—who I worked with for years—is in agreement with ABI.

Unfortunately for Wayne, people will be distracted by this personal attack approach for only so long. Eventually he’ll have to answer for his organization’s dishonest advertising and fundraising campaigns and explain to the American public why he gets them to give HSUS money with pictures of sad dogs and cats, but gives 1 penny on the dollar to local shelters. And if I were him, I would stop telling reporters that HSUS’s TV ads contain a disclaimer that HSUS isn’t associated with local pet shelters. We looked at all of their ads over the past two years, and over 90 percent of them don’t have a disclaimer on them. And the ones that do require a magnifying glass to understand.

The Humane Society for Shelter Pets is an exciting new organization with important goals. At the end of the day, this new group is going to succeed in getting the word out about the importance of giving to your local shelter and the American public is going to realize that HSUS is altogether different from local humane societies—despite its best efforts at brand confusion. So no matter how nasty Wayne and HSUS get, they won’t stop me from being proud of my contribution to this excellent new organization and he won’t be able to stop its leadership from excelling. And that’s all that matters.

Golden State Second Amendment Council Logo

California - -(Ammoland.com)- In the Sierra Azul Preserve next to Los Gatos, the government warns you that you may be attacked by a mountain lion while on the trails.

And they clearly state they want you to fight off the attack……but they just don’t want you to use a weapon.

And especially not a gun.

So just how do the benevolent Environmentalists at the Open Space District suggest you defend yourself?

Trail Regulations posted on the website are quite clear about what you are not allowed to do in the Preserve. They state……..

“For Your Safety and the Protection of the Environment…

Visitors are responsible for knowing and obeying the District’s Land Use Regulations District Ordinances

Weapons: Weapons of any kind are prohibited on preserves.”

Mountian Lion Martial Arts?

Do not run from a lion. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.

Do not crouch down or bend over. If you’re in mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.

Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.

Fight back if attacked. Hikers have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools, and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.

So, in summary…….. Stand up straight, engage in a staring contest, bad mouth the lion in an authoritative voice, wave your arms, and make yourself look big. And if all this fails, get in a wrestling match with the cat.

Try as I might, I can’t find any reference to a Mountain Lion martial arts program being sponsored by the Open Space District.

Maybe it’s time someone locked up one of these idiots in a cage with a Mountain Loin and let them show us how it is done.

Mountain Lion Fighting Comments

About the GS2AC
The Golden State Second Amendment Council is an independent firearms rights organization dedicated to the advancement of the right to keep and bear arms in California. Formerly organized as the NRA Members’ Council of Silicon Valley, we have reformed ourselves as an affiliation of Second Amendment activists in order to do those things a Member’s Council generally can not. In summary, there is a void to be filled in the firearms rights community and we seek to fill it.
Our core concern is that the Second Amendment community must go on the offensive if we are to retain our right to bear arms in this state. Visit: www.gs2ac.com

The fanaticism of our adversaries and the encouragement of a complicit and supportive media are hard at work gnawing away, inch-by-inch, at our freedoms to fish, hunt and practice conservation.

Conservation Corner w/ Anthony P. Mauro, Sr

USA --(Ammoland.com)- It is said that parents are the bones on which children gnaw to sharpen their teeth.

And it is my experience that we who fish, hunt, and practice conservation, make allowances for our wayward adversaries to do the same.

I speak specifically of our acceptance of the encroachments of animal rights extremism and the damaging actions of preservationists.

It is not the divine doctrine of “turning the other cheek” that leads us to accommodate our aggressors, or some different form of benevolence; the cause is indifference.

This indulgence is a peculiar aspect of our humanity. That we would allow any extremist, not just those who practice the religion of animal rights or preservation, to execute a campaign to alter our way of life without the slightest measure of our own rebellion seems contrary to survival instinct.

What peculiar aspect of the human psyche allows us to be indifferent to losing the things we love; such as fishing, hunting, healthy forests and waters?

Has our discomfort with acknowledging fanaticism caused us to over-medicate with doses of denial?

It is a rare gravestone that is inscribed with the words “This man died while allowing others to gnaw at the edges of the things he treasured, until their progress consumed his very heart.” It is a rare inscription indeed, but one that could be found far and wide if kind dedications to the dearly departed were replaced with honest ones.

You may be asking yourself, “Why the fuss, Mauro? What is the point of all this?” And I would respond, “I hear the calling of a modern day Paul Revere. He cries, the gnawing is coming, the gnawing is coming… it approaches the heart of the things we treasure!”

The question to be answered is whether we will respond with a revolution similar to that inspired by the warnings of Revere, or will we deal with these encroachments with our usual indifference? Will we begrudgingly accept the gnawing of fanatics who would deprive us of our freedom to enjoy the things we value or will we respond with a call to arms?

In 1775 the colonists responded to the loss of their freedoms (taxation without representation) with a call to arms. The odds of success were stacked against them. They had everything to lose in a battle to keep the Kingdom of Great Briton from gnawing at their valued way of life; their farms, homes, businesses, wealth, and even the state of their well-being. They accepted the charge of treason that came with uprising, along with the consequence – execution.

On the other hand, to protect our freedoms to fish, hunt and practice conservation we put none of our creature comforts, or our very lives, at risk.

After all, what great sacrifice is there in writing a letter, sending an email, or making a phone call?

We certainly do not imperil our homes, businesses or the security of our families, nor is it remotely entertained as a treasonous act. It looks to me that the greatest danger is a insufferable attack of separation anxiety between us and the nattering TV.

The fanaticism of our adversaries and the encouragement of a complicit and supportive media are hard at work gnawing away, inch-by-inch, at our freedoms to fish, hunt and practice conservation. They industriously invest in New Jersey’s political machine, while pandering to public prejudices, promoting half-truths, and inventing propaganda as if they were based on scientific principle instead of an acute form of neurosis. Their fervor prevents them from understanding that their actions subvert the good that conservation does for our natural environment.

Indifference is a disease that afflicts all of us but it is the chronic kind that is the cause our undoing. There are times and things that are worthy of our indifference but it is counterproductive to wholly rely on it as a rule-of-thumb. The medicine devised to heal indifference is quantities of involvement. We can begin with a small dose and sign up to the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance “Action Alert” email system. These alerts contain state-of-affairs alerts about fishing, hunting and conservation in New Jersey, and actions we can take to protect and advance these things we love.

Just ask to be added to the NJOA “Action Alert” by emailing me directly: apmaurosr@njoutdooralliance.org. Or ask others to join by forwarding my email address.

Consider the “Action Alert” a modern day version of Paul Revere, and yes, “The gnawing is coming, the gnawing is coming…”

Color The Green Movement Blue

About:
Anthony P. Mauro, Sr, (also known as “Ant” to friends and associates) is Chairman and co-founder of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

In addition to NJOA, Ant’s commitment to the principles of sustainable use of natural resources and stewardship for the environment helped to found the New Jersey Angling & Hunting Conservation Caucus. The NJAHC is the first outdoor caucus of its kind in New Jersey and is designed to educate opinion leaders and policy makers of the principles of conservation and the benefits that confer to the state’s wildlife and ecology.

A lifelong resident of New Jersey, Ant is an international big game hunter and avid conservationist. He has authored two books on conservation and hunting, including “Color The Green Movement Blue“.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Last week, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its Sporting Dog Defense Coalition alerted Oklahoma sportsmen to a proposed local ordinance that would have prohibited most sporting dog owners in Tulsa from keeping more than three dogs.

This brought up a good point for sporting dog owners, and all sportsmen for that matter, to consider: Local laws and ordinances can be just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than legislation being considered in your state’s capitol.

Local laws passed by your city council, county commissioners, or trustees have the same effect as a state law. The only difference is that a local law applies only to a specific area of the state like a city or a county. Simply put, if your local government passes a law that says you can’t do something, then you can’t do it. This makes local laws just as dangerous to sportsmen and sporting dog owners as state laws.

On top of that, local laws are often passed with few people knowing they were even being considered. Local lawmakers often have shorter legislative processes, are quicker to pass laws as a knee jerk reaction to isolated events, and aren’t as widely covered by the media as state issues. All of this means sportsmen have fewer chances to know what is going on and are given less opportunity to provide input.

So what can you do to make sure your local officials don’t pass laws taking away your rights?

Follow these tips:

• Stay informed. Make sure you are keeping an eye on what your local lawmakers are doing so you will know if they are considering something that might take away your rights. This can be as easy as reading your local newspaper and/or attending a few city council or county commissioner meetings.
• Educate local lawmakers like you would your state representatives. Take some time to meet with your local lawmakers and get to know them. Invite them to a club meeting, a club event, or a field trial. Give them information on sporting dogs and let them know that dog related ordinances, even if well intended, could potentially hurt responsible dog owners like you. If they know you as the knowledgeable “hunting dog guy” they are much more likely to turn to you when these issues arise.

Attacks on your rights as sportsmen and sporting dog owners can come from all levels – federal, state, and local. Sportsmen must be ready to fight to keep those rights at all levels of government.

As always, if you are faced with the threat of your rights being taken away, USSA is here to help.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

[Editor's Note: The National Shooting Sports Foundation's Larry Keane recently updated NSSF members as follows: "The non-profit watchdog group Humanewatch.org has gone on the offensive with two full page advertisements running in the LA Times, educating the public that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) gives less than one percent of its budget to local animal shelters. Last year, Humanewatch issued a challenge to Humane Society of the United States CEO Wayne Pacelle: "Share just half of HSUS's income with hands-on pet shelters, and we'll shut this website down for good." A year later...it looks like Humanewatch still has a job." The following has been published at Humanewatch.org in response to a LA Times editorial defending HSUS, which is a rabid anti-hunting group.]

HumaneWatch.org

Washington, D.C. – -(Ammoland.com)- If you’re hearing from HumaneWatch for the first time today because you saw an editorial that criticized us in today’s Los Angeles Times, welcome!

It seems our hard-hitting national ads, including a recent one in the Times, have struck a nerve.

Tinseltown is fast becoming the Humane Society of the United States’s power center, so we’re not surprised to learn that its leaders apparently persuaded the Times to take a closer look at our campaign to keep them honest.

The Times Editorial Board told its readers two important facts about the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Commenting on our recent ads in the paper, they wrote:

One of the current ads features a photo of dogs looking wide-eyed in shock under the caption “SURPRISED to hear the Humane Society of the United States shares only 1 percent of your donations with local pet shelters?” The ad goes on to state that the Humane Society “is NOT your local animal shelter.

The ad is true on both counts.

Too few Americans are aware of HSUS’s misplaced priorities and the Times’ reiteration of our central message is an important step in educating more Americans about HSUS’s deception. But alas, the newspaper’s editors couldn’t stop there. They go on to write:

But [the ad is] also misleading. The Humane Society has never claimed that its mission is to fund local animal shelters… While some people may mistakenly believe that the Humane Society of the United States does the same job local humane societies do, it should not surprise anyone who has looked at the organization’s website that only a small percentage of its money goes to local shelters.

Here we disagree—strongly.

There is an important distinction between HSUS’s claims and public perception. Although the Humane Society of the United States never explicitly claims to support local hands-on pet shelters, it does go out of its way to perpetuate the myth that its primary focus is helping homeless dogs and cats. The result? Robust national polling shows that 71 percent of Americans believe HSUS is an umbrella organization for the nation’s hands-on pet shelters.

It’s frustrating to see the Los Angeles Times papering over HSUS’s intentional public misrepresentation of its own mission. Whether you love us or hate us, we encourage you to make up your own mind about this wealthy animal rights group.

Just take the Times’ own challenge and visit HSUS’s website. Three of the four primary images on its home page today feature dogs and cats. Better yet, take a look at HSUS’s fundraising page. It’s wall-to-wall pets. Now try to find HSUS’s disclaimer explaining that it doesn’t fund local shelters. Can you find it? Good luck.

For the record, though, here are a few things today’s editorial didn’t tell you.

1. The Times suggests that we are “dragging shelter pets into the fight” over HSUS’s duplicity. But it’s HSUS that has been throwing shelters (and their furry charges) under the bus for years, mainly by poaching unsuspecting donors from their communities. The State Humane Association of California has already publicly complained about similar misbehavior by the ASPCA, so this problem is certainly on shelters’ collective radar screens. (HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle’s response has been to suggest that the Association should fire its employees who are pointing out the truth.)

• The Times observed that a public affairs firm with which HumaneWatch’s parent organization contracts for services runs another organization that questions some policies of MADD. Today’s editorial blurs an important distinction, in the way an unscrupulous commentator might hold one attorney responsible for the way another lawyer in the same firm defends his clients. That organization and this one are separate, although the management firm in question provides services to both.

The Los Angeles Times concludes:

If [HumaneWatch.org] don’t like the Humane Society’s positions, they are entitled, of course, to make their case. But don’t drag shelter pets into the fight.

It is the Humane Society of the United States—not us—who is guilty of dragging dogs and cats into this debate. We’ve tirelessly engaged the HSUS toe-to-toe on numerous issues affecting companion (and other) animals. We’re happy to debate the group’s leaders on the merits of their proposals, but we refuse to allow them to cloud the debate by falsely insinuating that it has the moral authority of representing the nation’s struggling animal shelters.

About:
HumaneWatch.org is a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit watchdog group supported by a unique combination of consumers and American businesses. Visit: www.humanewatch.org

Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont.--(Ammoland.com)- Legislation to be introduced in Congress could axe what has amounted to federal subsidies for environmental extremist and animal rights groups making big business out of suing the U.S. government.

The legislation, a House Resolution and companion version in the Senate titled Government Litigation Savings Act, would amend the existing Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).

Though well intended, abuses of EAJA have escalated into a serious conservation issue with long-term consequences. Costs of defending unnecessary lawsuits against federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are an increasing drain on conservation funding and agency personnel today.

The Government Litigation Savings Act was prompted by a coalition (member list below) of wildlife, agriculture, energy, mining and other resource-based groups led by Boone and Crockett Club.

Club President Ben Wallace said, “We take very seriously the fact that taxpayer money and sportsmen-generated funding intended to support conservation are being wasted. We thank Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) for introducing a bill that offers hope for reforming EAJA back to its original purpose–and relief for the most successful wildlife conservation system in the world.”

Lawmakers held a press conference at noon 5/25/11 (ET) to announce the legislation.

The coalition formed following a Boone and Crockett Club investigation of federal statutes that enable ongoing litigation at a high cost to wildlife and the American taxpayer. Club President Emeritus Lowell E. Baier, a Maryland-based attorney, led the effort over the past year. His preliminary findings are reported in two articles available free at www.boone-crockett.org. Baier also employed two full-time attorneys to research EAJA’s initial Congressional intent, its judicial interpretation and application, abuses, loopholes and possible remedies by Congress.

EAJA was written to reimburse legal costs incurred by private citizens and small business that successfully sue federal agencies for non-compliance with federal law and regulation. Recipients were to include private citizens whose net worth was less than $2 million, and for-profit organizations with net worth of less than $7 million. Non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations were totally exempt from these limits. However, America’s two largest animal rights groups, with 2009 combined net assets exceeding $209.6 million and cash balances exceeding $44.5 million, now enjoy significant subsidies through EAJA by taking advantage of their exemption loophole.

For example: In 2008, an animal rights group won a legal ruling regarding wolves and petitioned a federal court in Missoula, Mont., for $388,370 in attorney fees. The judge awarded $263,099, which was based on an hourly rate of $300–even though the EAJA limit is $125 per hour.

In 2007, the same plaintiff was awarded $280,000 following a similar case in the Great Lakes area.

The defendant in both cases was the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose budget–regardless of whether it’s spent on wildlife or lawyers–is financed by a combination of sportsmen fees and tax dollars.

Taxpayers bear all EAJA reimbursements to plaintiffs.

Indirect costs are considerable, too. Nearly all resource management proposals are now subject to ever-higher hidden fees as federal agencies spend more and more time and resources on elaborate environmental impact statements and other attempts to “suit proof” their decision-making processes. In some cases, where the intent of the lawsuit is to stop a proposed federal action, the delays and costs to a federal agency can derail time sensitive projects even if the eventual court ruling goes against the plaintiffs.

Coalition members (to date) endorsing the Government Litigation Savings Act:

• American Farm Bureau Federation
• American Sheep Industry
• Archery Trade Association
• Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
• Bighorn Mountain Coalition
• Boone and Crockett Club
• Bowhunting Preservation Alliance
• Campfire Club of America
• Catch-a-Dream Foundation
• Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties
• Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
• Dairy Producers of New Mexico
• Dallas Safari Club
• Delta Waterfowl Foundation
• Family Farm Alliance
• Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association
• Houston Safari Club
• Idaho Farm Bureau
• Idaho State ATV Association
• Intermountain Forest Association
• Masters of Foxhounds Association of America
• Montana Logging Association
• Montana Wood Products Association
• Mule Deer Foundation
• National Association of Conservation Districts
• National Association of Forest Service Retirees
• National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• National Farmers Union
• National Rifle Association
• National Shooting Sports Foundation
• National Trappers Association
• National Union of Land and Water Rights
• New Mexico Cattlegrowers Association
• New Mexico Federal Lands Council
• New Mexico Wool Growers Inc.
• North American Bear Foundation
• North American Grouse Partnership
• Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
• Orion-the-Hunters’ Institute
• Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever
• Pope and Young Club
• Public Lands Council
• Quality Deer Management Association
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Ruffed Grouse Society
• Safari Club International
• Sixtieth Legislature of the State of Wyoming
• South Dakota Department of Agriculture
• Stewards of the Sequoia
• Sustainable Forest Action Coalition
• Texas Wildlife Association
• The Society of American Foresters
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
• Tread Lightly!
• U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
• United States Cattlemen Association
• Utah Cattlemen’s Association
• Western Business Roundtable
• Western Institute for the Study of the Environment
• Western Legacy Alliance
• Wild Sheep Foundation
• Wildlife Forever
• Wildlife Management Institute
• Women in Timber
• Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts
• Wyoming Farm Bureau

About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- With the recent news that California’s West Hollywood city council is ordering the city’s attorney to draft an ordinance prohibiting the sale of fur products within the city, PETA was quick to release news that it is encouraging its followers to create more Fur-Free cities by organizing protests around the US.

The group encourages members to target outside of fur salons and other businesses that sell furs.

Odd, but in the same news release seeking attention-of-the-outrageous kind, the group lashes out about laying chickens in cages, declawing cats, and calls for “banning the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores.”

The group goes on to uphold West Hollywood as a place that’s known for its kindness to animals. West Hollywooders shouldn’t get too comfortable with their latest friend though.

It might soon see its steakhouses and other restaurants there that serve meat on the list of protest sites for PETA.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Legislation that would allow searches of homes of the owners of sporting dog breeders without probable cause, or even a search warrant, is one step closer to becoming law.

House Bill 1451, the so-called “puppy mill” bill introduced by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston), has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. No hearing dates have been set.

Texas sportsmen and sporting dog owners must act now to protect the future of sporting dogs within the state. USSA will alert sportsmen and sporting dog owners once the bill has been scheduled for a hearing.

The bill, which was recently forced through the House of Representatives with little opportunity for public input, is a serious threat to the existence of sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders. House Bill 1451 does the following:

Classifies sporting dog kennels or hobby breeders who have 11 female dogs, this could be one liter, that have not been spayed to be classified the same as a huge commercial dealer if they sell just two dogs.

Charges kennel license fees likely to be at least $1,300 per kennel even for hobby breeders who hardly ever sell dogs.
Creates an unelected commission to create kennel construction requirements, record keeping requirements and other expensive red tape that hobby breeders cannot afford because their primary purpose is not to sell dogs.
Allows for unannounced inspections of kennels and the homes of their owners if they keep their kennel records on a computer inside their house.

Allows for the inspection of records within a home without any suspicion of wrong doing or even a search warrant.

Threatens to drive sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders out of business because they do not have the commercial revenue to offset high fees, and expensive regulations.

Discloses personal information about dog breeders to the public by creating a public directory containing information on all registered breeders.

That is why the US Sportsmen’s Alliance along with the Masters of Foxhounds Association, American Kennel Club (AKC), American Brittany Club, Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Dog Hunters Association, and the United Kennel Club (UKC) oppose House Bill 1451. Click here to see a full list of local, state, and national organizations already opposing House Bill 1451.

“Treating hobby breeders the same as commercial operators is like treating the neighborhood lemonade stand the same as the Wal-Mart Super Center,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “It makes no sense. And it is not fair because no one has shown that sporting dog kennels are abusive. The cost of this bill is abusive, however, to sportsmen because it will result in kennels being run out of existence.”

Take Action! Texas sportsmen should call their state senators today and ask them to oppose House Bill 1451. Tell them the bill unjustly treats sporting dog and hobby breeders as large commercial breeders, allows for warrantless searches of homes, and creates unnecessary, costly new regulations that could put many of these breeders out of existence.

To find your state senator’s contact information, visit the USSA Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

FBI Top Ten Terrorist Daniel Andreas San Diego

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Of all the extremist groups that could be listed in the FBI’s Top Ten Terrorist the one that stands out is Animal Rights Activist Daniel Andreas San Diego.

San Diego was profiled on America’s Most Wanted six times after his disappearance. In April, 2009, he was added to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists List, sparking a global search for the suspect in Germany, Britain, Costa Rica, France, Spain, Denmark, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Argentina, the Philippines, and Chile. A reward of $250,000 has been offered by officials for information leading to his arrest, five times that of other animal rights activists.

San Diego is described as having ties to Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) as a well-known San Francisco Bay Area animal rights activist organization. SHAC is an international campaign set up to close down Europe’s largest animal testing laboratory, Huntingdon Life Sciences, a company that performed drug and chemical research experiments on animals. Before the related bombings SHAC targeted HLS customer Chiron and its employees with a series of actions, accusing them of being “puppy killers.”

A quick internet search leads to multiple articles explaining how the closely tied radical extremest groups like SHAC are to, so called, mainstream animal rights groups like PETA and HSUS.

Although Sportsmen can take comfort knowing that none on our side of the debate over conservation VS preservation feel they need to harm or potentially kill people to advance their beliefs, it is worth noting that the other-side has already taken extreme actions or at least endorsed them by association.

Know Thine Enemy
Sportsmen including Hunters, Trappers and Sporting Dog Owners should take notice of the seriousness of the threat to our traditions and the commitment of these radical groups to use deadly force to advance their cause.

FBI Top Ten Terrorists

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- This week, U.S. Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) refused an award from the Humane Society of the United States. As we have frequently reported, despite their innocuous sounding name, the HSUS is the most radical animal “rights” organization in the country.

They are extremely anti-hunting and anti-gun.

According to a press release on Rep. Young’s official site, he was to receive the award for his work on behalf of wildlife in 2010.

The release notes that HSUS takes credit for the good work done by local humane societies, but does not own, operate, or directly control a single animal shelter in the entire country, despite a $100 million budget.

“HSUS are hypocrites, plain and simple, and I will not join them by accepting this award,” said Rep. Young, explaining his refusal of the award.

“Local animal shelters and humane societies do excellent work by caring for neglected and homeless animals, and through their spaying and neutering programs. This organization, however, has absolutely nothing to do with animal welfare.

Instead they prey on the emotions of big-hearted Americans. They flash images of abused animals on our television screens to raise money that will eventually go to pay their salaries and pensions, not to helping better the lives of these animals. They run anti-hunting and anti-trapping campaigns and are of the same cloth as PETA and other extremist organizations. I can only guess that I was to receive this award due to my support of the Wildlife Without Borders program, which develops wildlife management and conservation efforts to maintain global species diversity. That program is true conservation; what this group wants is preservation.

To accept this award would be supporting their manipulative ways and misguided agenda, and I want no part of that.”

Bravo, Congressman Young.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- 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. And is consistent with last year’s 95.8% of pets killed.

See the full 2010 report:

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont.--(Ammoland.com)- Legal defense costs are an increasing drain on conservation funding today.

Alarmed by the trend, the Boone and Crockett Club has launched a new examination of federal statutes that enable ongoing litigation at a high cost to wildlife and the American taxpayer.

The Club’s primary concern is the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), which reimburses organizations that successfully sue federal agencies for non-compliance with federal law.

Although well intended, abuses of EAJA are escalating into a modern conservation issue with potentially severe long-term consequences.

“”The Club was and is deeply involved in designing and now protecting the economic engines that drive conservation in America,” said Ben Wallace, president of Boone and Crockett Club, “Since the 1880s, we’ve been the guardian of the most successful wildlife conservation system in the world. It’s a system that depends on funding, and we take very seriously the fact that money and other resources intended to support conservation are being diverted elsewhere.””

Past Club President Lowell E. Baier is leading the ongoing investigation and his preliminary findings were reported in a two-article series published in Boone and Crockett’s magazine, “Fair Chase.”

The articles, complete with detailed background and statistics, are now available free to the public at www.boone-crockett.org

EAJA was written to reimburse legal costs incurred by small nonprofit organizations along with for-profit organizations with net worth of less than $7 million.

However, America’s two largest animal rights groups have filed numerous cases under EAJA even though their 2009 combined net assets exceeded $209.6 million and cash balances exceeded $44.5 million.

Another abuse uncovered by Baier: In 2008, an animal rights group won a legal ruling regarding wolves and petitioned a federal court in Missoula, Mont., for $388,370 in attorney fees. The judge awarded $263,099, which was based on an hourly rate of $300 —even though the federal limit is $125 per hour.

In 2007, the same litigant was awarded $280,000 following a similar case in the Great Lakes area.

The defendant in both cases was the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose budget —regardless of whether it’s spent on wildlife or lawyers—is financed by a combination of sportsmen fees and tax dollars.

Taxpayers bear all EAJA reimbursements to plaintiffs.
Indirect costs are considerable, too. Nearly all resource management proposals are now subject to ever-higher hidden fees as federal agencies spend more and more time and resources on elaborate environmental impact statements and other attempts to “suit proof” their decision-making processes. In some cases, where the intent of the lawsuit is to stop a proposed federal action, the delays and costs to a federal agency can derail time sensitive projects even if the eventual court ruling goes against the plaintiffs.

Along with wildlife, other public land- and water-based resource agencies that deal with energy, timber, agriculture, livestock and fisheries also are increasingly impacted by legal actions taken under the provisions of EAJA.

EAJA clearly encourages frequent legal challenges by some nonprofits that are, in reality, “big business.”

These organizations are literally making their living by suing a variety of government agencies.

Does EAJA, especially its payments to successful litigants with no reciprocal penalties for losses in court, still make sense today?

Baier’s preliminary study finds that EAJA needs intensive review. Appropriate modifications could help make laws that are more effective, efficient and resistant to courts deciding wildlife management policies via taxpayer subsidized lawsuits.

The Boone and Crockett Club will continue studying this problem. Government Affairs and Conservation Policy committees will examine the results and make recommendations to the board of directors for a final decision on course of action.

Secret World Inside the Animal Rights Agenda

About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- A constitutional amendment has been proposed in Missouri that would help prevent anti-hunting groups from attacking hunting, fishing and trapping at the ballot box.

Take Action! Missouri sportsmen are urged to contact their legislators and ask them to support House Joint Resolution 15.

Tell them the amendment will help protect conservation and science based wildlife management.

House Joint Resolution 15, introduced by Representative Don Ruzicka (R- Mt. Vernon), would require a two-thirds majority vote to pass any ballot issue dealing with the harvest of fish, wildlife, or forest resources. Currently, ballot initiatives in the state only require a simple majority of the vote to pass.

For the amendment to take effect it must first pass both chambers of the legislature and then be approved by voters.

Anti-hunting groups often turn to the ballot box when they are unable to sway lawmakers into passing anti-hunting, fishing, and trapping measures. These ballot campaigns often use emotional rhetoric instead of scientific facts and cost millions of dollars to defend against.

“This amendment would go a long way toward protecting Missouri sportsmen from anti-hunting attacks at the ballot box,” said Evan Heusinkveld, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance director of state services. “Sportsmen should ask their legislators to help protect hunting and science based wildlife management in the state by supporting this amendment.”

To find your state legislators’ contact information, please visit www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- A bill introduced in Texas would require sporting dog owners to purchase liability insurance for many of their dogs.

Take Action! Texas sportsmen should contact their state representatives today and ask them to oppose House Bill 998.

Tell them the bill will create a financial hardship for many responsible sporting dog owners.

House Bill 998, introduced by Rep. Ruth McClendon (D- San Antonio), would require owners of unneutered male dogs weighing 20 or more pounds, that are not restrained at all times, to carry a minimum $100,000 insurance liability policy.

A dog is only considered restrained if it is either kept in an enclosure or kept on a leash under the immediate control of a person at all times.

Failing to purchase the insurance would be a class C misdemeanor.

Under the bill, many sporting dog owners will be forced to buy the insurance policy, neuter their dog, or face criminal charges. In addition, a large number of sporting dog breeds weigh more than 20 pounds and would be considered “unrestrained” under the bill’s definition when hunting, training, or field trialing. Even a securely tethered dog would be considered unrestrained by this bill.

“It is completely unreasonable to require a dog owner who wants take their dog hunting or to even play fetch in an unfenced back yard to require them to purchase liability insurance to do so,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services.

“In addition to being costly for dog owners, this bill sets an arbitrary weight threshold – what happens if you have a dog that regularly fluctuates between 19 and 20 pounds? This bill is unnecessary and unreasonable and should be opposed by all dog owners alike.”

To find your state representative’s contact information, please visit www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- Below is an announced plan to stop New Jersey’s black bear hunt by two animal rights organizations.

Readers should keep in mind as they read the plan that although the organizations reference a recent study by Dr. Edward Tvass,

Dr. Tvass’ PhD is in physical-organic chemistry and not wildlife management or wildlife biology.

His past works on black bears do not appear to have been subjected to scholarly peer review, which “requires a community of experts in a narrowly defined field, who are qualified and able to perform impartial review. Peer review is generally considered essential to academic quality, and used in most important scientific publications.”

The plan also states that the during the Black Bear Management Policy Comment Period 9,287 comments were received and 6,484 (70%) were against the hunt.

It should be noted that of the 6484 comments against the hunt more than 3,000 were reported to have been submitted by the Humane Society of the United States from their membership ranks, without signatures and apparently without the knowledge of those whose names were submitted.

Finally, the animal rights extremists make a claim (below) that “the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, in conjunction with the NJ Fish and Game Council sabotaged, manipulated, and lied to NJ residents about black bears to garner support for their brutal hunt.”

Readers should note that the Anti Defamation League lists the Executive Director of one of the organizations making the claim as a press officer of a “growing group of tested, well-spoken above ground activists who will provide the media with information regarding actions by the underground, along with explanations of their ideology and philosophy.”

The ADL continues, “the press office is not limited to speaking on behalf of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), the nation’s most active extreme animal rights movement. The press officers are associated with other animal rights groups, both mainstream and more militant, like Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and the Animal Defense League.”

Below is the message from BEAR Group and APLNJ (formerly New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance) to stop the bear hunt:

————————————

NJ – There are Only 63 Days Left to Save Our Bears

Dear Members, Supporters and Friends,

There are Only 63 Days Left to Save Our Bears Two critical actions to do immediately – NEW INFORMATION BELOW

Today, representatives from the Coalition to Protect New Jersey Black Bears are meeting with Robert Martin (Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection) and his chief of staff, Magdalena Padilla.

Today also marks the day when Dr. Edward Tavss’ study is being released.

This week, we will be releasing every scandal involved with Black Bear management in New Jersey. How the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, in conjunction with the NJ Fish and Game Council sabotaged, manipulated, and lied to NJ residents about black bears to garner support for their brutal hunt.

NEW INFORMATION

Dr. Ed Tavss’ Study In a study released today, Rutgers University Professor Dr. Edward Tavss states, contrary to what the NJ Division of Wildlife (DFW) claims, bear nuisance complaints in New Jersey have significantly declined. The Tavss Study took 5 months and utilized 4700 records obtained by the DFW through the Open Public Records Act.

Dr. Tavss study is here: http://aplnj.org/EdTavss2010Study.pdf or here: http://savenjbears.com/EdTavsse2010Study.pdf The Press Release is here: http://tinyurl.com/393wjqow

Please help us publicize Ed Tavss’ study. Write about this in your letters to the editor. (See number 2 below.)

ACTIONS: The Governor Governor Christie HAS the power to stop the bear hunt. In 2000, Governor Whitman stopped the hunt a few days before it was due to begin. We must remind the Governor how much support bears have in our state. The actions below are CRITICAL! We are asking you to help us make a huge statement for bears over the coming weeks. We MUST make bears the Number 1 issue in New Jersey. We need your help to do this. Please forward this alert to everyone you know.

October 4 – October 9:

1. Please call, write, fax, webmail or write Governor Christie EVERY single day. Be polite, but firm. Do not allow them to switch you to another department. Please let us know if you encounter any problems.

CALL: 609-292-6000 FAX: 609-292-3454 WEBMAIL: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/contact/ (pick Environment, then Fish and Wildlife)

Write: Governor Christie Office of the Governor PO Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625-0001

Talking points:

1. Please read Ed’s Tavss’ report on his study. Please read the press release. This conclusively proves the nuisance complaints went down, so Christie’s justification for a hunt is unfounded. Even if nuisance complaints went up, the hunt will NOT solve problems. Learn all you can. Time is running out.

2. The Division of Fish and Wildlife, along with the NJ Fish and Game Council not only sabotaged nonlethal black bear management, but deliberately inflated the nuisance complaints.

3. Ask the Governor to STOP the hunt. He has several options, several ways he can do this without much political backlash. Millions of NJ residents are against this hunt and will be outraged and devastated if it goes through.

2. Please write a short “letter to the editor” to your local newspaper about Dr. Ed Tavss’ study. Locate their contact information below. Include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes. NOTE: Everyone reads the letters section in their local and weekly papers. We cannot reach everyone by e-mail, so it is critical that we keep the issue alive in the newspapers. If you have a local paper you’d like us to include in future alerts, please send us the contact information.

In the meantime, APLNJ and the BEAR Group’s efforts will continue, grow and expand – as needed. Please look forward to additional alerts, rallies planned, etc. in the upcoming weeks. Please see below for a sampling of what we’ve done to date, things in progress and things planned.

We are also open to suggestions and welcome input from everyone.

Thanks, Janet Piszar, BEAR Group Executive Director Angi Metler, APLNJ Executive Director — Newspapers: ASBURY PARK PRESS 3601 Highway 66, PO Box 1550, Neptune, NJ 07754 Fax: 732-643-4014 yourviews @app.com

BRIDGETON NEWS 100 E Commerce St., Bridgeton, NJ 08302 Fax: 856-455-2633 mgray @sjnewsco.com

BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES 4284 Route 130 North, Willingboro, NJ 08046 Fax: 609-871-0490 bctletters@phillyburbs .com

COURIER POST 1201 Route 22 West, PO Box 6600, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Fax: 908-707-3273 cneditor @c-n.com

THE DAILY JOURNAL 891 E Oak Rd., Vineland, NJ 08360 Fax: 856-563-5308 djopinion @thedailyjournal.com

DAILY RECORD 800 Jefferson Rd., PO Box 217, Parsippany, NJ 07054-0217 Fax: 973-428-6666 letters@…

THE EXPRESS TIMES 30 North 4th St., PO Box 391, Easton, PA 18020 Fax: 610-258-0988 Jpiccotti @express-times.com

GLOUCESTER COUNTY TIMES 309 Broad St., Woodbury, NJ 08096 Fax: 856-845-5480 gcletters@…

HERALD NEWS 1 Garret Mountain Plaza, PO Box 471, West Paterson, NJ 07424-0471 Fax: 732-565-7208 letters@ thnt.com

THE JERSEY JOURNAL 30 Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ 07306 Fax: 201-693-9531 jjletters@…

THE RECORD 1 Garret Mountain Plaza PO Box 471 Woodland Park NJ 07424-0471 letterstotheeditor@…

WEEKLY PAPERS: (We depend on our supporters to help us list local newspapers.)

AIM WEST MILFORD PO Box 976 Hewitt NJ 07421 aim@…

WEST MILFORD MESSENGER 20 West Avenue NY NY 10918 www.westmilfordmessenger.com

SUBURBAN TRENDS 505-509 Main Street Butler NJ 07405 suburbantrends@…

Past, Current and Present Initiatives – Lawsuit covering the following a) 2010 Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy (CBBMP) violates the Administrative Procedures Act and is arbitrary and capricious. b) The Fish and Game Council violated the Open Public Meetings Act and created the 2010 CBBMP in secret. c) The Division of Fish and Wildlife was derelict in its duties when it failed to file annual reports to the legislature, as required by statute. – Educational billboards – ongoing – Governmental administrative meeting requests with one in progress – Strengthened, updated, and communicated with the Coalition to Protect NJ Black Bears – now 800,000 NJ residents strong – Rallies – Planning several to take place throughout Bear Country. We will need maximum participation. Please look for future alerts… – Black Bear Management Policy Comment Period: Out of 9,287 comments received, a whopping 6,484 (70%) were against the hunt – Exposing the fact that this hunt will cost $600,000. Our efforts to obtain the budget and how they are paying for this have been stonewalled by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. – Attended game code meeting (September 14, 2010) as a stakeholder. More to report later. – Held a press conference on June 7, 2010 at the state house for bears – Contacted every newspaper editorial board and provided information about bears, DFW information, etc. – Bear Faxes are sent to every legislator, bear town mayors, etc. – New website/blog in development – Ed Tavss Study disproves state’s claim about bear nuisance complaints

End of message

————————————

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earths resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance was first formed back at the end of the 1970s to fight the anti-hunting, animal rights movement.

In fact, we are really the only group in the country whose sole mission is to confront them and beat them.  This is why we think it is so important to keep America’s sportsmen aware of what the animal rights movement really represents and the kind of world they would establish if they ever had the power to do it.

With that in mind, I was struck by this article I came across while rummaging around through some of my favorite websites the other night.  I was struck by how scary the picture it portrays is of what the animal rights movement is really attempting to do.

Quoting from the article,

“Some animal protection activists are pushing for laws that would extend rights and protections to animals that have been, up to now, reserved for humans.”

” Animals are closer to us than an inanimate object that we use as a tool for everyday living,” says Adam P. Karp, an attorney in Bellingham, Wash., who devotes his practice to cases involving animals. ” The law should recognize animals as legal persons with the same access to justice.”

Here’s another section,

“Animal protection lawyers, however, take issue with the fact that the law still classifies animals solely as property-regardless of their relationship with humans-and only allows owners to recover a loss based on market value.”

First off, it should be pointed out that this article is featured on the website of the American Bar Association’s Journal.  Yes, the American Bar Association (ABA) as in the group that by its own admission is,

“the largest voluntary professional association in the world. With more than 400,000 members, the ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.”

This means that these ideas, while maybe not yet commonplace, are becoming increasingly accepted by professionals across the country.

As you hopefully recall, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance was leading the charge of fighting the appointment of Cass Sunstein to the position of President Obama’s “Regulatory Czar” last year and we came very close to blocking it.  We did that because, among other things, Sunstein had written approvingly of the possibility of giving animals legal rights.  Clearly, he is by no means alone in entertaining the idea.

That means that the seemingly absurd idea that animals should be treated legally the same as humans is no longer a joking matter.  It’s being pushed hard enough that it is getting a serious look by serious people.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize where all of this could very easily head if we turn a blind eye.

If an animal has legal rights comparable to those of a human, how can they ever be hunted?  How can an angler ever catch a fish?  Wouldn’t both be pretty obvious violations of their “legal rights?”

Think it can’t happen?  Well, it probably won’t… for awhile, but the fact that the ABA is giving the issue play means that in the future, you never really know.

That’s why the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance needs your help.  We need to be able to make sure we have the resources necessary to shine a bright spotlight on these ideas so that America doesn’t wake up one day and realize their pet could sue them tomorrow.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) completed oral arguments during a legal hearing in the U.S. Court of Appeals on behalf of Maine trappers.

The long-standing case prompting the hearing will have a far reaching impact by establishing whether anti-hunting groups seeking to manipulate the Endangered Species Act (ESA) will be able to block hunting and trapping seasons across the nation.

“This is the latest in a long line of steps taken by the USSAF and our partners to protect not only trappers in Maine, but sportsmen nationwide,” said Rob Sexton, USSAF vice president for government affairs while referring to the oral arguments made on September 8.

“If the anti-hunters win, they will use this example in court room after court room across the nation to deny trapping and hunting everywhere.”

In November of 2009, Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. of Maine’s Federal District Court denied the injunction sought by Animal Welfare Institute and the Wildlife Alliance of Maine to stop the state’s trapping season. The groups had originally filed suit against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in 2008, arguing that that Maine’s trapping regulations provided insufficient protection for the Canada lynx, a species listed as threatened under the ESA, and thus required the season to be stopped.

The USSAF, along with the Maine Trappers’ Association, Fur Takers of America, National Trappers’ Association, and several individual sportsmen, argued that the antis must show that Maine’s trapping practices were a threat to the Canada lynx population.

The opinion of Judge Woodcock closely followed the arguments made by the USSAF and others by requiring that plaintiffs looking for an injunction to shut down a trapping (or hunting or fishing) season prove not only the incidental take of ESA-protected species, but also “irreparable harm” to the lynx population. Judge Woodcock concluded that the take of individual members of a reasonably numerous protected species does not necessarily meet the requirement of irreparable harm. He also indicated that the take of lynx occurring in Maine foothold traps, typically catch-and-release incidents, did not constitute irreparable harm in this case. Consequently, Judge Woodcock declined the injunction and the trapping season was able to take place.

This decision would make it difficult for antis to shut down hunting and trapping in other states based upon the incidental take of a single animal that falls under ESA protection. The precedent is so important that the antis filed an appeal in December, 2009 seeking to reverse the decision. This prompted the USSAF and others to file a new set of legal briefs in order to defend the hard fought victory.

According to Sexton, “We continue to feel confident in our case and will keep pressing ahead to be sure the ESA is not hijacked by those that want to shut down practically all sportsmen activities.”

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Montana trappers can breathe a bit easier today after an effort to ban trapping on public lands in the state was stopped in its tracks.

Last year, the anti-trapping organization Footloose Montana announced it was working to place the trapping ban on the ballot. However, it was announced this week that the group failed to collect the required number of valid signatures to qualify the issue for this November’s ballot.

Despite the victory for Montana sportsmen this is likely not the end of the debate over trapping in the state. The proponents have suggested that they will continue to push for a trapping ban either as a future ballot initiative or through the state’s legislature.

“We’re extremely pleased that this issue failed to make the ballot,” said Bud Pidgeon, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) president and CEO.

“Montanan’s have long recognized the importance of trapping as a wildlife management tool, but we can’t let our guard down now. Montana sportsmen must remain ready and united when this issue resurfaces.”

The USSA joined with the Montanans for Effective Wildlife Management and numerous other statewide and national organizations and individual sportsmen including the Montana Trappers Association, the Fur Takers of America, and the National Trappers Association in opposition to the proposed ban.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

Animal rights activists and Veganist will salivate at banning all pet ownership.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

San Francisco, CA --(Ammoland.com)- A city ordinance being considered by the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare may be the beginning of a trend keeping people from owning pets.

The seven member advisory Commission held a public meeting on July 8 where a discussion was held on the idea of banning practically all pet sales in the city of San Francisco. Under the ban, “the sale or transfer of dogs, cats, and possibly other small animals (including hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and chinchillas) and birds in companion animal (pet) stores” would be prohibited. Fish were exempted.

Click here for the agenda (as of press time the minutes of the meeting are not available).

Though pet ownership would not be stopped, anyone looking to have a pet could only purchase one outside the city, go to a shelter or rescue organization, or find one through the classifieds.

The issue has sparked enormous controversy and turned the meeting into one of the longest and most contentious ever held by the Commission with over 100 people attending. With the outpouring of opinions, the Commission voted to table the proposal for at least a month.

“This is a case of the inmates running the asylum and is one of the most bizarre pieces of legislation imaginable,” said Doug Jeanneret, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance vice president of marketing.

“Though this proposal does not ban pet ownership yet, there can be little doubt that animal rights activists will salivate at going for that next.”

As an advisory body, should the Commission pass the ban, it would require approval by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors which is responsible for all final policy decisions.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

Jane's Fight for Animal Rights

National Animal Interest Alliance Trust

Portland, Oregon --(AmmoLand.com)- CNN is set to air a full hour special tonight called Jane’s Fight for Animal Rights.

It features representatives from the hardcore animal rights fundraising groups, PETA, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Sea Shepherd, In Defense of Animals, Farm Sanctuary, and Mercy for Animals — not one of which represents mainstream values.

It also includes cameo appearances from celebrity spokespeople for animal rights, Bob Barker, Pierce Brosnan, and others used to legitimize extremist views.

Media depends on ratings to stay on the air, so it’s understandable that TV networks sometimes select groups whose media-grabbing antics and out-of-the-mainstream views makes them newsworthy, at least as representing a minority point of view. What makes CNN’s show so reprehensible is their lack of balance, their lack of providing people representing the majority view the opportunity to refute extremist claims with fact-based evidence.

The result is that CNN’s show is providing radicals a platform to be seen as America’s go-to resource when it comes to animal issues. Thus, PETA, a group that has refused to condemn violence committed in the names of animals, HSUS, a group with a spokesperson who said his goal is the abolition of agriculture, and Sea Shepherd whose leader, Paul Watson was recently placed on Interpol’s International Wanted List all get free publicity and the CNN bully pulpit.

It’s vitally important that you tell CNN how you feel about their program and about the groups they’ve selected to represent animal issues. CNN needs to understand that pandering to sensationalism not only hurts the people who actually care for animals, it hurts the animals themselves. Let’s use this opportunity to educate CNN about the animal rights agenda and how it differs from true animal welfare.

Please click on the following link to write CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?106

Here are some resources you can use in composing your letter:

Sample Letter —————

RE: Jane’s Fight for Animal Rights

This is a disgusting display of media-grabbing antics and out-of-the-mainstream views by radical animal rights groups that represent a twisted point of view. What makes this show so reprehensible is the complete lack of balance and failure to provide people representing the majority view the opportunity to refute extremist claims with fact-based evidence.

This show is providing radicals a platform to be seen as America’s go-to resource when it comes to animal issues. Thus, PETA, a group that has refused to condemn violence committed in the names of animals, HSUS, a group with a spokesperson who said his goal is the abolition of agriculture, and Sea Shepherd whose leader, Paul Watson was recently placed on Interpol’s International Wanted List all get free publicity and the CNN bully pulpit.

Once again you fail at real journalism and your in ability to present real facts.

————————————————

About:
The Mission of NAIA is to promote the welfare of animals, to strengthen the human-animal bond, and safeguard the rights of responsible animal owners and professionals through research, public education and sound public policy. Visit: www.naiaonline.org

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Editor’s Note: According to a recent online survey conducted by AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com, 64 percent of hunters and anglers report they are not using social networking sites, like blogs, Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to obtain outdoor information.

While these numbers may be slightly different depending on the polls and surveys taken, there is one clear thing to take away from this, the outdoor sports community should have a more active role in the new media environment in order to share experiences and fight back against the loud voices of the anti-hunting/animal rights community.

This week on USSA’s Bullseye Blog is a guest blog, written by blogging expert and executive business coach Barbara C., and will help explain how through blogging, you can get more involved in sharing your passion for the outdoors with friends, family and those that may not know much about our outdoor heritage.

Did you know there’s an easy and fun way to protect your sportsmen’s rights without ever leaving the comfort of home or taking too much time away from the field?

I’m talking about blogging.

For anyone unfamiliar, the term “blog” is short for the term “weblog”. But blogs aren’t just “kidstuff” anymore and have exploded in a big way with almost everyone using them. Blogs are simply a short story mirroring an editorial about a subject that can be sent out quickly to the masses. There are personal blogs, business blogs, celebrity blogs, and even outdoor news sites like AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

The Anti's are Blogging are You?

Blogs are popular for many reasons: they’re fun, easy to create and can be easily personalized. They give anyone with the right background the chance to be an authority on the web.

They can also help you protect your rights and traditions by giving you a chance to make an impact on how the public, the press – and even politicians view sportsmen’s issues.

The secret is that blogs run on a technology called RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication. Simply put, whenever you post content on your blog, it can be indexed in Google or other online search engines almost INSTANTLY.

That means that you have the power to instantly publish content directly onto the web, which can be seen by millions of people – including members of the public, the press and politicians.

And on any given day, when those people perform a Google search for “hunting”, fishing” or “antis” – your blog makes your opinion visible – which means your voice can make the difference on any given day.

Can a simple blog translate into political power? YES!

Politicians and pundits check the “blog-o-sphere” daily for the pulse of the people – meaning you.

Blogs are easily the most powerful tool in the fight to protect your rights and those of your fellow sportsmen and women – and it’s as easy as typing.

Which brings us to our next question – are you blogging yet?

As a member of the USSA, you can help simply by blogging! Help us help you! Take our Sportsmen’s Blog Survey & tell us what you think! Click here! (Be sure and mention AmmoLand Shooting Sports News)

And stay tuned to USSA for more helpful and exciting blog ideas and information. Also stay tuned for future stories that will connect you to all the info you need to get started with your own blog.

About:
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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- The arrival of the 150′ bow perimeter bill in the New Jersey legislature has prompted a campaign against me and the NJOA by people with a motive to stop the legislation.

Apparently, they believe that publicly attacking me and the NJOA will help them in their endeavor.

In an effort to keep you informed of their assertions, which are posted on a website apparently controlled by Animal Protection League of NJ (formerly, New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance), I am answering their claims in an “interview” format. I have taken their assertion, posed it as a question and then answered the question.

I felt that this was the best way to keep the matter light, in perspective and keep everyone informed. As my mother used to say to me many years ago, “Ant, it takes lemons to make lemonade.”

Interview:  ———————————————————
Animal Extremist: [Mr. Mauro] to date, NJOA has not publicly disclosed the names of supporting “major” gun-fur interests. National groups of this kind are usually trade associations for firearms, archery, and trap manufacturers and dealers. NJOA works closely with the New Jersey NRA (New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs).

Mauro: The three (3) NJOA organizations are all non-profit entities and file with government agencies. The information is public record. The reason there are no “gun-fur interests” reported is because we have no such donors. None of the NJOA organizations work closely with the NRA. All three non-profits are conservation focused. We do have contact with an NRA representative on occasion since many hunters own firearms and we are committed to protecting the rights of hunters to hunt using legal firearms. But, this is not a common occurrence.

By the way, personally, I have found NRA members to be nice people and many are our neighbors. Ask your neighbor if he or she is a member of the NRA, you might be pleasantly surprised.

As a side note, the Second Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights, the Bill of Rights prohibits Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, guarantees free speech, free press, free assembly and association and the right to petition government for redress, forbids infringement of “…the right of the people to keep and bear Arms…”, and prohibits the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. For my part, I don’t fault people for their commitment to the Bill of Rights.

Animal Extremist: NJOA uses materials supplied by yet another front group, The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), to attack animal protection organizations and individuals. Aren’t attack campaigns designed to change the subject, to lower the level of debate, and to divert attention from the cruelty at hand by attempting to kill the messenger?

Mauro: I make no personal claims about the actions of animal extremists. I have simply used quotes from, and refer people to, information provided by the FBI, Anti Defamation League (the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations agency) and other experts on such matters. In addition to any commentary, I make links available for people to do their own research.

The Animal Protection League of NJ (formerly NJARA) and other groups have apparently withheld their nefarious associations from their donors, the media and their memberships. I’ll let APLNJ answer for their actions, but I don’t have a problem asking the questions or highlighting information since sunlight is a very effective disinfectant. Here’s a link that includes information provided by the ADL and FBI: www.njoutdooralliance.org/animalrights/hucksterism.html

Animal Extremist: NJOA employs disagreeable tactics in New Jersey, spending an inordinate amount of energy smearing opponents, primarily women.

Mauro: I always relay the facts and reference my sources. Smearing is defined as staining or attempting to destroy a reputation. I am simply reporting information from legitimate sources such as ADL and the FBI. This is public information. It is not information that I have fabricated for the sake of smearing people. I won’t dignify the other assertion by responding, it’s obvious it is simply part of the overall agenda to emotionalize and personalize a campaign being directed against me and the NJOA. It is apparent that it is meant to detract from the real issues that concern me and the NJOA; conservation and environmental stewardship.

Animal Extremist: [You are] a self-published gunning author, posing as an ardent “conservationist.” [You are] a trophy hunter affiliated with the “anti-environmental” Safari Club International and the NRA, and previously hosted a website featuring your animal trophy room and photos of your trophy hunting excursions.

Mauro: Thank you for referencing my books. Actually, I’ve actually four books and none of them are gun books. One book is a people oriented and is the story of my family’s (including my mother-in-law) safari in Africa. It is meant to be an introduction to conservation and a reading that will make people laugh and cry at our exploits and safari experiences. Another is a children’s book. The other two books are strictly about conservation. My hunting excursions are detailed in most of the books, and are used as examples of how hunting and fishing fit into the larger aspects of conservation and how detail how hunting and fishing feed people.

Yes, I am a member of Safari Club International. SCI conservation and education programs are conducted by Safari Club International Foundation, a non-profit organization “dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services.” SCI is reported to have 50,000 members. This organization has done some great conservation work. I value my membership.

Animal Extremist: Ironically, NJOA’s favorite pejorative for opponents of any stripe or conviction is “extremist.” NJOA attacks The Sierra Club, horsemen’s associations, and horse farmers who oppose the measure as “extremists”…

Mauro: Not true, I reserve the term for people or organizations that put an animal rights agenda above the welfare of humankind and ecosystem health. This type of thinking is not rational and, in my mind, is “extreme.”

Again, I would recommend that you purchase a copy of “Color the Green Movement Blue: A Remedy for Environmental Health” to get a better understanding of environmental stewardship and humankind’s critical link to ecosystem health. It also highlights the foundation of predator/prey relationships that are necessary for sustaining life on earth. Humankind is part of this dynamic, not separate as animal rights people would like us to believe. It is available at most on-line book retailers. By the way, a portion of the profits is donated to the NJOA.

Animal Extremist: Seventy-six percent of Americans disapprove of steel-jaw leghold traps; due to immutable cruelty and non-selectivity, the device has been outlawed by 67 countries. Nevertheless, NJOA is so out of touch with, or contemptuous of, mainstream humane sensibilities that it portrays banning the traps as “radical” – with no sense of irony.

Mauro: The NJOA has never made any official statement about the banning of leghold traps. I haven’t given the issue enough thought or researched thoroughly in order to take a strong personal position. However, coyotes have attacked children playing in NJ backyards. Professionals tell us that current trapping methods make it difficult to capture these animals. The coyotes that attacked the children in Monmouth County were never caught and one of the complaints by professionals was that available trapping methods were inadequate.

Animal Extremist: When riverside residents in Monmouth County objected to shooting directly behind their homes, NJOA intervened, as an outside gun interest group, to lobby state and local officials-and to denigrate resident opponents who actually lived on the river. The public approach was accompanied by an ugly back campaign, whereby residents were vilified-online, in print, and behind the scenes. A homeowner in Trenton, on the Delaware River, told a hunter that he was hunting illegally, the hunter shot over his head.

Mauro: The people of the NJOA, and concerned citizens, exercised their constitutional rights and met with their local representatives to discuss the legality and history of duck hunting on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. There has been an animal extremist agenda to harass hunters and ban hunting on these rivers, even though the game taken is used as a food source and hunters abide by all laws. As for the Trenton incident, Trenton is not located in Monmouth County and the NJOA has no knowledge of the incident. I can’t speak to why it is even included in a question about Monmouth County.

I think people should be aware that animal extremists operate under the mantle of promoting “animal rights” and that they attack hunters and anglers in order to emotionalize the issue and enlist people in their movement. However, animal extremists don’t reveal their true agenda, which is to foist a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle on everyone. Even a slight amount of internet research will show a number of animal rights activists admitting to this ultimate scheme, including people at APLNJ.

Last year there was an ad taken out in various newspapers by a disgruntled animal extremist that vilified me with respect to my support of hunting in Monmouth County. It was full of falsehoods. My response to the ad was to write a story to local newspaper editors, which was published. It did not attack the misguided person who purchased the ad but instead highlighted the value of hunting and conservation to ecosystem health and environmental awareness. My response is memorialized for all to read in “Color the Green Movement Blue: A Remedy for Environmental Health.”

Animal Extremist: The NJOA chairman infiltrates web boards under fake names (“Greenie” – a “conservationist”) when assailing horse and rider associations who oppose the Sunday Hunting Bill. When riders lobbied against Sunday hunting, [you] attempted to broadbrush all riders by publishing a law enforcement report about a single horsewoman.

Mauro: I never use a “fake” name on internet forums; I use a “screen name.” In fact, most people use screen names and not their real names. I don’t infiltrate web boards (forums); I register on various forums as does every other user. If I posted an incident of an unlawful act by someone I can confidently state that it was a matter of public record. Such matters are printed in local newspapers so I don’t understand why this is at all noteworthy or scrutinized.

However, I admit that I am curious to learn how APLNJ would know if I posted a comment on a horse rider forum? It would mean that the horse rider forum disclosed personal information to APLNJ or that APLNJ actually owns the horse rider forum. At a minimum it would be evidence that there is a working relationship between the horse rider forum and APLNJ. This relationship should be disclosed to horse rider forum members, they should know that their personal information is not kept confidential.

People might find it of interest that I have been the target of a number of mischaracterizations and falsehoods by the animal extremist community. Every one of my posts on various internet forums has been screened and researched for over 5 years. My comments are scrutinized in an attempt to find a morsel for purposes of propaganda and distortion. Obviously, there’s not much to distort.

In fact, a person posing as a hunter (but was actually a member of APLNJ) called me on the phone and led me through questioning that was intended to ensnare me. The secretly taped conversation was then posted on YouTube without my knowledge or consent.

In my opinion, it falls into line with the intimidation tactics used by domestic terrorists and is standard procedure for animal extremists. This is also why I use the term “animal extremist,” it is a term that befits unethical behavior.

Animal Extremist: According to [you] the gun lobby brokered a deal with a key legislator, promising ostensible electoral support in return for “being taken care of.”

Mauro: As I mentioned the NJOA has nothing to do with the gun industry. It’s a propaganda sound byte that is convenient to advancing an ill-contrived agenda, but the incident you’re referring to is one I mentioned earlier. I was fraudulently taped by an APLNJ member and then the content was posted on YouTube. But it became a drama with a wonderful ending and the entire accounting is included in my book, “Color the Green Movement Blue: A Remedy for Environmental Health.”

Mauro: Mr. Animal Extremist, I appreciate the time you’ve provided to set the record straight and the opportunity to address your questions. I welcome a public viewing of the truth and the chance to promote conservation and environmental stewardship.

Here’s a link to my books should you like to read more:

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earth’s resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

No Endangered Species Listing for Prairie Dogs

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)-After much scientific research and despite litigation threats from animal rights groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that it does not plan to place white tailed prairie dogs on the Endangered Species List.

This is the culmination of a long simmering battle between groups including sportsmen and ranchers and animal rights interests. The decision also validates the idea that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) should only be invoked when the scientific evidence supporting a listing is clear.

On June 1, FWS announced in the Federal Register the results of a 12-month review brought about by a petition to place the white tailed prairie dog on the Endangered Species List. The FWS found that such a listing was not necessary at this time.

A successful petition would have eliminated all hunting of this prairie dog species and significantly limited many other uses of vast amounts of land in the animals’ range which extends over four western states: Colorado, Montana, Utah and much of Wyoming.

The saga surrounding the listing began in 2002 when several organizations including the Center for Native Ecosystems, Forest Guardians, Biodiversity Conservation Alliance as well as naturalist Terry Tempest Williams filed a petition seeking ESA protection for the prairie dogs. The FWS announced in 2004 that the petitioners had not supplied “substantial scientific or commercial information” that would warrant the listing. However, in 2007, FWS indicated it would review the decision after questions were raised with the decision. Subsequently, the Center for Native Ecosystems filed a lawsuit over the decision, prompting FWS to initiate a 12-month finding for the white-tailed prairie dogs in February of 2008.

“The effort to push ESA protection for prairie dogs is yet another example of how far some groups will go to get an animal ESA protection despite a lack of scientific evidence that they are threatened,” said Bill Horn, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance director of federal affairs.

“The USSA commends the Service for standing their ground and making the right call.”

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Jeff Foxworthy, one of America’s leading entertainers, is the latest celebrity supporting the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) Sentry Program.

The USSA developed the program to build an army of volunteers from coast to coast to promote and protect America’s outdoor heritage for future generations. There is no cost to become a Sentry.

By becoming a Sentry, sportsmen and sportswomen receive instant information about local and national threats to their outdoor rights, organizing more quickly and efficiently than ever before. They will also act as USSA’s “eyes and ears” in locales across the country helping protect and promote conservation programs – something Jeff Foxworthy feels strongly about.

“I am a lifelong sportsman, hunter and fisherman and have a deep respect for conservation and the outdoors,” said Foxworthy. “I am glad to be able to help an organization like the USSA that is on the front lines every day defending our rights to be in the field. I encourage every sportsman and woman in this country to join with me and become a Sentry.”

Jeff Foxworthy Becomes a Sentry for USSA

Again, there is no cost to be a Sentry and requires only a minimal amount of information from those interested. To sign up or for more information, contact the USSA at 614-888-HUNT, visit www.ussportsmen.org/BeASentry, or e-mail info@ussportsmen.org.

“We could not be more grateful that Jeff has stepped up to the plate to help us continue our mission of advancing America’s heritage of hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president and CEO. “By coming together under the Sentry Program, sportsmen will enhance our ranks and collectively stand tall for our heritage.”

Click here to listen as Jeff describes the Sentry Program.

Jeff Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful entertainers in the country. He is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee, and best selling author of 11 books. He has starred in numerous television shows including his current hit series “Are you smarter than a Fifth Grader?”

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. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

HSUS Collects Millions of Dollars But Not To Help Animals

HumaneWatch.org

Washington, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- A full-page ad in this morning’s Washington Post highlights the failure of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to donate a significant portion of the public’s donations to America’s underfunded dog and cat shelters.

And the sponsor of the ad, the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), is pledging to shut down its popular HumaneWatch.org website if HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle donates just 50 percent of his group’s income to hands-on pet shelters in the United States. In February, HumaneWatch exposed HSUS’s practice of giving less than half of one percent of its budget to dog and cat shelters.

HumaneWatch is a CCF watchdog website devoted to analyzing HSUS’s activities. In just twelve weeks it has attracted more than a half-million unique visitors, and collected more than 42,500 Facebook friends. Messages similar to today’s Washington Post ad ran earlier this week in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Variety. CCF also plans to erect a HumaneWatch billboard next week in Times Square.

In March, CCF commissioned Opinion Research Corporation to poll Americans’ beliefs about HSUS. Seventy-one percent said they believe HSUS is “an umbrella group that represents thousands of local humane societies all across America.” (This is false. HSUS is not affiliated with a single one.) Also in this poll, fifty-nine percent of Americans falsely believed HSUS “contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for dogs and cats.”

Today David Martosko, CCF’s Director of Research, said the HumaneWatch website would “disappear tomorrow if HSUS lives up to the public’s expectations by devoting at least 50 percent of its income to the care of dogs and cats in hands-on pet shelters.”

Martosko added: “We’re not asking the impossible here. Just 50 percent. I realize HSUS has a huge payroll and gargantuan fundraising expenses. But giving just half of its income to pet shelters, instead of half of one percent, is the right thing to do. Especially when you consider all the dogs and cats in HSUS’s television infomercials.”

Today’s Washington Post ad is viewable here. It reads:

SURPRISED to hear the Humane Society of the United States shares less than 1 percent of your donations with local pet shelters?

The Humane Society of the United States is NOT your local animal shelter.

Don’t be fooled, go to HumaneWatch.org

Keeping a watchful eye on the Humane Society of the United States

For more information, visit HumaneWatch.org. To arrange an interview, please call Allison Miller at 202.463.7112.

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit watchdog organization that informs the public about the activities of tax-exempt activist groups. It is supported by American consumers, business organizations, and foundations.

About:
HumaneWatch.org is a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit watchdog group supported by a unique combination of consumers and American businesses. Visit: www.humanewatch.org

HumaneWatch.org

Washington, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- Full page ads from the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) appear in today’s New York Times and the Washington, DC edition of The Wall Street Journal, highlighting the failure of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to donate a significant amount of its members’ contributions to America’s underfunded dog and cat shelters.

The ad encourages readers to visit HumaneWatch.org, CCF’s website devoted to analyzing the activities of HSUS.

HSUS Gives Less than 1% of Donations to Pet Shelters

The Humane Society of the United States has become the animal rights industry’s most powerful player, avoiding significant public scrutiny for decades. CCF believes that HSUS donors will be surprised to learn that in 2008, less than one-half of one percent of HSUS’s budget consisted of grants to the hands-on “humane societies” that deal with the thankless task of sheltering unwanted pets. A national poll conducted in February by Opinion Research Corporation found that 59 percent of Americans falsely believe HSUS “contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for dogs and cats.”

“HSUS is a humane society in name only,” said David Martosko, CCF’s Director of Research and the writer behind the HumaneWatch.org blog.

“The Humane Society of the United States raises tens of millions of dollars annually from Americans who believe their donations filter down to local pet shelters, directly improving the lives of dogs and cats. But instead, their donations support a huge staff of lawyers and lobbyists, bloated executive pension plans, exorbitant fundraising expenses, and PETA-style propaganda campaigns. Animal lovers should start holding the group to a higher standard.”

The ad is available for download here.

It reads: SURPRISED to hear the Humane Society of the United States shares less than 1 percent of your donations with local pet shelters?

The Humane Society of the United States is NOT your local animal shelter.

Don’t get fooled, go to HumaneWatch.org

For more information, visit HumaneWatch.org. To arrange an interview, please call Allison Miller at 202.463.7112.

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit watchdog organization that informs the public about the activities of tax-exempt activist groups. It is supported by American consumers, business organizations, and foundations.

Outdoors Magazine

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- PETA, the organization known for publicity stunts, is at it again. This time it is in the wake of rumors that an Ocean Task Force established by the Obama Administration could threaten recreational fishing.

While there was almost an immediate response from the White House stating that was not the intention, this didn’t stop PETA from jumping on the band wagon.

In an interview with Fox News, Ryan Huling, a PETA spokesman, stated that fish suffer “the same as cats and dogs, and that if we wouldn’t put a hook through a dog’s mouth, we shouldn’t put one through a fish’s mouth.” Click above to see the complete video.

At Outdoors Magazine, we want to know your opinion on the issue. Visit our facebook page to leave a comment. If we like it, we may use it in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, and expanded article descriptions, visit www.outdoorsmagazine.net.

About:
Each month Outdoors Magazine shines its spotlight on different areas of the outdoors world. Features and sub-features are multiple page spreads written by select experts in their fields. In addition to features and sub-features, each month Outdoors Magazine has over 40 columns written by real guides, industry experts, and the best in their fields. Our staff are die-hards who take the time out of their lives hunting and fishing to write.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-  NJOA has been asked by  AmmoLand readers to provide a link to a poll in the Star Ledger where they can weigh in on the need for a bear hunt.

It seems that there is concern that the animal extremists have distributed the link to the poll through their global network and people from all over the world are weighing in on what is a New Jersey issue.

The poll is not scientific and has no validity in determining the need for a bear hunt. In fact, I provided the link in an earlier email. However, there’s no harm in honoring the request to send it again.

Don’t let people in other states or other countries speak on your behalf. Don’t let the animal extremist (HSUS, PETA, etc.) groups continue to damage our ecology with their agenda to grant equal rights to animals and to foist a vegetarian lifestyle on all of society.

Speak up for conservation. Remember, it’s conservation and not preservation (animal rights) that Mother Nature uses to manage her ecosystems.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/nj_is_expected_to_have_bear_hu.html

Here’s to the great outdoors!

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earth’s resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

Bear Education and Resource Group who's website if filled with pictures of warm fuzzy bears continues to endanger NJ residents with misleading advice on the growing black bear population.

Trenton, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- Anti hunting minority interest group Bear Education and Resource Group ( BEAR )  is suing the New Jersey Fish and Game Council, two days after the council voted to authorize the state’s first black bear hunt in five years.

BEAR claims to be a community-based, non-profit, educational organization, established in 2001 to “provide factual information to the public about black bears”, that is anti hunting speak for disseminate false information to get their way.  As is typical for these types of fringe groups they are completely against science based wildlife management, like that practiced by the NJ Fish & Game managers, and are in favor of letting the bears “manage themselves”.

They advocate measures to avoid human-bear conflicts, to provide advice regarding specific black bear situations, and to oppose the hunting of black bears, the primary bear management tool used throughout the USA. Apparently NJ bears are different and this time-tested technique will not work in New Jersey.

They also believe that the bear problem can be solved through the exclusive use of bear resistant garbage cans.  This is not just funny but insulting. Anyone who lives in bear country knows that bears can tear open cars and buildings if they want what is inside.

They also are demanding that enforcement of NJ trash laws be handled by NJ Fish and Game officers.  Isn’t enforcement of trash laws the responsibilities of local police and municipalities?

BEAR recommends you protect yourself from bears with water guns & umbrellas ..!!?

But it gets worse:
In a paper released by Bear Education and Resource Group entailed What do I do if I see a bear? They list the following things as the recommended tools to scare bears away:

• Supersoakers
• Water guns
• Air horns
• Rocks
• Pepper spray
• Pop-open umbrellas

We are not making this up!!?

It gets even worse. When answering the question: Do black bears pose any danger to me or my children? they say “that black bears are not aggressive”.  That is just wrong and BEAR clearly has no regard for the well being of our children or humans in general and are willing to put people at risk to promote their twisted agenda.

Among their other deceitful tricks is they have been asking all their supporters to vote in a poll on NJ bears to load the vote in their favor.

Fortunately they have no problem exposing their real agenda which is “promote tolerance of our bear neighbors, and foster peaceful coexistence between bears and people”

This is he same logic that they are now using to justify suing the NJDEP for voting to manage bears correctly through sound wildlife management techniques.

But New Jersey residents are much smarter and have more common sense than the Bear Education and Resource Group gives you credit for.  Read their info for fun but do not be foolish enough to follow it or risk your life and those of your children.

Be safe and support science based management of all wildlife and the environment.  Do not be swayed by the pictures of cuddly bears or the wish full thinking of feel good wildlife management.

California Outdoor Heritage Alliance

Sacramento, CA --(AmmoLand.com)- Assembly Member Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) has introduced AB 2223, legislation which would prohibit the use of lead shot on state Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) operated by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG). Violators of the bill’s provisions would be subject to a $500 fine on the first offense.

The bill would not only undermine the Constitutional authority of the California Fish and Game Commission–the regulatory body tasked with determining the precise methods of take for hunting and the specific public use regulations for each WMA–but also remove any meaningful scientific review and analysis of the effects of lead shot by providing an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

In doing so, the measure ensures that politics, rather than sound science, dictates the state’s hunting regulations and management of wildlife.

According to proponents, the bill is intended to reduce alleged lead shot-induced mortality to mourning doves (the most populous game bird in North America) as well as to raptors that feed on doves and other small game. Yet, only a portion of the WMAs across the state provide significant dove hunting opportunity, and fields that are heavily hunted for dove are typically disked on an annual basis by DFG so as to make most lead pellets unavailable to wildlife.

In addition, raptor populations on WMA’s remain at very high levels, while there has reportedly been no documented incidents of raptors succumbing to lead shot poisoning.

“I’ve hunted two dozen WMAs across the state for just about every upland game bird and small game species, and the one thing you notice is that each area is unique in terms of species, topography, management practices and degree of hunter pressure,” stated Mark Hennelly, Vice President of COHA.

“AB 2223 wrongly mandates a ‘one-size fits all’ approach without a single WMA-specific study demonstrating significant impacts from the ongoing use of lead shot on wildlife.”

“These issues should be decided by the state’s wildlife management professionals on a case by case basis,” said Evan Heusinkveld, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) director of state services. “Science, not politics or public opinion, should be the basis for these decisions.”

AB 2223 is sponsored by the Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife and Humane Society of the United States. The first hearing will likely be in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee in early April. For the Committee’s contact information to voice opposition to the bill, click here..

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- A nationwide campaign to educate a leading winemaker about the true agenda of the nation’s largest anti-hunting group has met with success.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) had called upon sportsmen nationwide to contact the maker and distributor of Yellow Tail wine regarding their financial support of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). After being besieged by angry consumers, Casella Wines, the Australian producers of Yellow Tail, responded to the criticism by issuing a statement that it will no longer support any lobbying groups.

As previously reported, the USSA immediately contacted the American distributor of Yellow Tail as soon as it became aware that the wine company was preparing to donate $100,000 to HSUS. After hearing no response, the USSA issued an action alert that was picked up by numerous sportsmen groups, farming organizations, and individuals. This set off a flurry of online activity throughout social media sites including Facebook. This put significant pressure on Yellow Tail to revise its decision to partner with HSUS.

At first, the American distributor, W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd, issued a blanket statement that the donation was to be targeted “to support The HSUS’ Animal Rescue Team, which rescues animals in peril whether from natural disasters or large-scale cruelty cases.” As the USSA indicated at the time, that response was inadequate since Yellow Tail’s actions were helping HSUS appear as a mainstream organization and also funding its attacks on sportsmen nationwide.

After enduring several additional weeks of protest against their product at the hands of thousands of outraged American sportsmen and farmers, Yellow Tail wine made the right decision and pledged not to work with political lobbying groups like HSUS. According to a letter sent February 19 to the Animal Agriculture Alliance, an advocacy group focused on animal farming issues, Yellow Tail stated:

“[yellow tail] is committed to the plight of animals in need, and we know that animal welfare groups work in different ways to advance their cause. We are interested in the welfare of animals, and in financially supporting animal welfare causes that provide direct care services to help animals, not on taking positions on any animal lobbying issues. We pledge to you that any future support for animal welfare will go to organizations specifically devoted to hands-on care, such as rescue, sterilization, feeding, or disaster assistance.”

This statement represents a major victory for sportsmen.

“Though the USSA is disappointed HSUS received the donation, Yellow Tail’s pledge to not support similar efforts in the future is important,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president and CEO. “The USSA expects that this will serve as a reminder for corporations to do their homework before staking their reputation and money on HSUS.”

The campaign against the Yellow Tail donation also highlighted the growing power of social media websites to impact corporate decisions. At no point did the effort become a major news item in mainstream media such as major metro newspapers or nightly news telecasts. Instead, the entire effort took place online among advocates looking to defend themselves from HSUS.

According to Doug Jeanneret, USSA’s vice president of marketing, “This should be an eye opener to sportsmen around the country that social media matters and that it is an important tool to make your voice clearly heard, even by companies on the other side of the world.”

HumaneWatch.org

Washington, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- Seventy-one percent of Americans questioned in a new opinion poll wrongly believe the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an “umbrella group” for America’s local humane societies.

Sixty-three percent incorrectly think their local “humane society” is affiliated with HSUS. And fifty-nine percent falsely believe HSUS “contributes most of its money” to local organizations that care for cats and dogs.

The poll, which sampled the opinions of 1,008 Americans, was commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) and conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) of Princeton, New Jersey.

“These numbers indicate that Americans don’t really know what the Humane Society of the United States is all about,” said CCF Director of Research David Martosko.

“HSUS intentionally uses those sad dogs and cats in its TV infomercials as props in an animal rights fundraising shell game. Meanwhile, thousands of American pet shelters are underfunded and struggling.” Martosko blogs about HSUS at www.HumaneWatch.org.

According to the federal income tax return filed by HSUS for the tax year 2008, less than one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the organization’s budget consisted of grants to hands-on pet shelters. HSUS does not run a single shelter for dogs or cats anywhere, and it is not affiliated with any local “humane society” organizations.

Martosko continued: “This poll indicates that most Americans think HSUS is a worthy charity. But very few Americans understand what HSUS really is—a super-rich lobbying group that puts more money into its executive pensions than in the hands of local humane societies.”

Survey Methodology
The survey of 1,008 adults nationwide was conducted by telephone between February 25 and February 28, 2010 by Opinion Research Corporation. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.

Questions:
I’m going to read you the names of several nonprofit organizations. For each one, please tell me if you are very familiar, somewhat familiar or totally unfamiliar with the organization.

• The Humane Society of the United States ……………………………… 79% familiar (“very”/“somewhat” net)

I’m going to read you several statements. For each one, please tell me if you think the statement is true or false.

• 71% “TRUE”: The Humane Society of the United States is an umbrella group that represents thousands of local humane societies all across America
• 63% “TRUE”: My local humane society or pet shelter is AFFILIATED with the Humane Society of the United States.
• 59% “TRUE”: The Humane Society of the United States contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for dogs and cats.
• 48% “TRUE”: My local humane society or pet shelter receives financial support from the Humane Society of the United States.

(Tax records filed by HSUS show that all four statements are false.)

To learn more about the Humane Society of the United States, visit www.HumaneWatch.org. To arrange an interview, call Allison Miller at 202-463-7112.

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit watchdog organization that informs the public about the activities of tax-exempt activist groups. It is supported by American consumers, business organizations, and foundations.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(AmmoLand.com)- In letters to legislators and newspapers across the West, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is calling out groups like Defenders of Wildlife, Western Wildlife Conservancy and others for their disingenuous use of data on wolves and elk.

The RMEF action was prompted by each group’s recent op-ed articles in the media, as well as testimony before Utah lawmakers by Western Wildlife Conservancy Executive Director Kirk Robinson. All cited RMEF statistics to argue that restored wolf populations have somehow translated to growing elk herds in the northern Rockies.

“The theory that wolves haven’t had a significant adverse impact on some elk populations is not accurate. We’ve become all too familiar with these groups’ tactic of cherry-picking select pieces of information to support their own agenda, even when it is misleading,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We will not allow that claim to go unchallenged.”

RMEF population data, which come from state wildlife agencies, show that elk populations are expanding the most in areas of the northern Rockies where wolves are not present. However, where elk share habitat with wolves, such as the greater Yellowstone area, some elk populations are declining fast. In fact, since the mid-1990s introduction of gray wolves, the northern Yellowstone elk herd has dropped from about 17,000 to 7,100 animals—a 58 percent decline. Other localities in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming also are documenting precipitous downward trends.

Additionally, some research shows that elk remaining in areas of concentrated wolf populations are suffering nutrition loss, lower body weights and decreasing birth rates.

Allen said, “Every wildlife conservation agency, both state and federal, working at ground zero of wolf restoration—Idaho, Montana and Wyoming—has abundant data to demonstrate how undermanaged wolf populations can compromise local elk herds and local livestock production. There’s just no dispute, and emotion-over-science is not the way to professionally manage wildlife.”

RMEF continues to support state-regulated wolf management to include hunting and other viable methods. This position is supported by new reports of diseased wolf populations in the Yellowstone area.

“When wolves are too abundant, they’re more susceptible to diseases, just like all wildlife. The viruses and mange now spreading through wolf packs is another sign of way too many wolves,” said Allen. “Defenders of Wildlife would like to spin sick wolves as a reason to end hunting. But real conservationists know that diseased wildlife populations need better management. Hunting as a management tool delivers that, period.”

He added, “Remember, pro-wolf groups make their living by prolonging this conflict. There is no real incentive for them to admit that wolves are overly recovered. Fundraising is their major motive and they’ve built a goldmine by filing lawsuits and preaching that nature will find its own equilibrium between predators and prey if man would just leave it alone.

That’s a myth. The truth is that people are the most important part of the equation. This isn’t the Wild West anymore. People live here—actually quite a lot of us. So our land and resources must be managed. Wildlife must be managed. Radical spikes and dips in populations show that we should be doing it better. It’s not profitable for plaintiffs, but the rest of us would be better served if the conflict ended and conservation professionals were allowed to get on with their business of managing wildlife, including a well regulated hunting strategy.”

In 2009, RMEF got involved in the ongoing wolf litigation, supporting defendant agencies by filing legal briefs used in federal court to help delist wolves and proceed with hunting—

“facts conveniently ignored by groups who misuse our name, data and credibility to prolong the conflict. We stand for elk and other wildlife and what is happening right now is simply not good wildlife management,” said Allen.

See Allen’s letters to editors, Utah Senator Dennis Stowell and more at www.rmef.org.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.7 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH –-(AmmoLand.com)- One of the nation’s largest anti-hunting groups, Defenders of Wildlife, have taken aim at Cabela’s Inc. with a misguided and misleading public relations campaign designed to raise money to fund its efforts against outdoor sports.

According to an action alert posted by Defenders, the group accused Cabela’s of sponsoring three so-called “wolf-killing competitions” in Idaho.

The group also attacked Cabela’s for the decision by the local paper in Sidney, Nebraska to not run an inflammatory ad against Cabela’s that Defenders had produced. It then went on to solicit funds to run the ad in other papers throughout the state.

The charges by Defenders are grossly misleading.
Cabela’s did not sponsor any “wolf-killing” events. Rather, it provided $150 worth of products as a donation to the Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife-Idaho organization. That group organized and conducted three local predator hunts in 2009. The hunts complied with all state and federal laws. Additionally, all available information indicates that no wolves were killed during the hunts.

Cabela’s has been a long-time supporter of legal hunting and fishing and has worked closely with state and federal wildlife agencies to conserve wildlife populations. They are renowned in the business world as a leader in conservation programs and ethic.

By contrast, Defenders has been one of the leaders in an effort to keep the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population on the Endangered Species List despite the recovery of their population and reasonable management plans designed by state officials.

“Defenders of Wildlife is attempting to tarnish the reputation of one of the most wildlife conscious companies in the world,” said Bud Pidgeon, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance president and CEO. “Sportsmen should show their support by visiting a local Cabela’s and let them know that you appreciate their efforts and are not fooled by the antis’ propaganda.”

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.

HumaneWatch.org

Washington, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- A full-page ad from the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) appears in today’s New York Times, highlighting the failure of the Humane Society of the United States to devote a significant amount of money to supporting America’s underfunded pet shelters.

The ad explains that HSUS shares only 1 dollar out of every 200 dollars it collects with local, hands-on pet shelters. The ad encourages readers to find out more by visiting HumaneWatch.org, CCF’s new watchdog website.

Americans have become familiar with HSUS fundraising ads asking for a $19-per- month commitment that amounts to an annual donation of more than $200. But according to HSUS’s own tax records, donors making that pledge are sending barely $1 to an organization that shelters unwanted pets—the work most Americans think of when they hear the words “Humane Society.”

“HSUS’s cable TV fundraising ads are full of images of dogs and cats in dire need of help,” said CCF Director of Research David Martosko. “HSUS donors should hold the organization to a much higher standard. Instead of spending millions on executive pensions, a bloated legal staff, and PETA-style propaganda campaigns, HSUS’s leaders should put their money where their mouth is.”

The ad reads:

Shouldn’t the “Humane Society” do better? The Humane Society of the United States is NOT your local animal shelter. In fact, it gives less than one-half of one percent of its $100 million budget to hands-on pet shelters.

Meanwhile, this wealthy animal rights group socked away over $2.5 million of Americans’ donations in its own pension plans.

Surprised? So were we. The dog-watchers need a watchdog. Join the discussion at HumaneWatch.org.

Last week CCF launched www.HumaneWatch.org, an online watchdog project dedicated to analyzing HSUS’s activities and keeping the group honest. It includes a blog, an interactive document library, and a growing body of information about HSUS-related organizations and staff.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please visit www.HumaneWatch.org or call Allison Miller at 202.463.7112

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit watchdog organization that informs the public about the activities of tax-exempt activist groups. It is supported by American consumers, business organizations, and foundations.

About:
HumaneWatch.org is a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit watchdog group supported by a unique combination of consumers and American businesses. Visit: www.humanewatch.org

HumaneWatch.org

Washington, D.C. - -(AmmoLand.com)- In a landmark RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) lawsuit certain to have far-reaching implications for the animal rights movement, Feld Entertainment and the Ringling Brothers circus sued the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), its lawyers, and several other animal rights groups last week. The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) unearthed the lawsuit in federal court records. CCF is making the lawsuit available online at its newest website, www.HumaneWatch.org.

“America’s farmers, ranchers, hunters, fishermen, trappers, research scientists, fashion designers, and restaurateurs have seen for decades watched how the animal rights movement can behave like a mobbed-up racket,” said CCF Director of Research David Martosko.

“But it’s still shocking to see the evidence laid out on paper. In a treble-damage lawsuit like this, a jury could actually do the humane thing and finally put HSUS out of business completely.”

In its February 16 lawsuit, Feld leveled bribery, fraud, obstruction of justice, and money laundering charges against HSUS and two of its corporate attorneys; three other animal rights groups; the Washington, DC law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal; and all three of that firm’s named partners.

Feld is suing:

• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS);
• The Fund for Animals (which merged with HSUS in 2004);
• Jonathan Lovvorn, an attorney employed by HSUS;
• Kimberly Ockene, an attorney employed by HSUS;
• The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA);
• The Animal Welfare Institute;
• The Animal Protection Institute (d/b/a/ Born Free USA);
• Tom Rider (a discredited witness in a recently dismissed lawsuit against Feld, who a judge ruled was paid at least $190,000 for his testimony);
• Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal (the outside law firm which handled that lawsuit against Feld);
• Katherine Meyer (of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal);
• Eric Glitzenstein (of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal);
• Howard Crystal (of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal); and
• The Wildlife Advocacy Project (a nonprofit organization founded and managed by Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, which was used as a pass-through vehicle to allow animal rights groups to pay Tom Rider for his discredited testimony against Feld).

On December 30, 2009, Federal Judge Emmitt Sullivan ruled that these defendants collaborated to pay more than $190,000 to Mr. Tom Rider, a former Feld employee who was an elephant “barn helper” for two years in the late 1990s, in exchange for his impeached testimony against Feld in an earlier lawsuit—testimony Judge Sullivan declared “not credible” and disregarded in its entirety. That lawsuit was dismissed.

Feld is also suing Mr. Rider, and a nonprofit “Wildlife Advocacy Project” charity, claiming that Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal used it to funnel money from their plaintiff clients to Mr. Rider. These clients included the Fund for Animals, which merged with HSUS in 2004.

“The new HumaneWatch website is the only place the public will be able to read this lawsuit,” Martosko added. “We’re publishing a treasure trove of information about the Humane Society of the United States, including lots of surprising documents that HSUS would rather remain hidden from its contributors.”

Last week CCF launched www.HumaneWatch.org, an online watchdog project dedicated to analyzing HSUS’s activities and keeping the group honest. It includes a blog, an interactive document library, and a growing body of information about HSUS-related organizations and staff.

To read this explosive federal racketeering lawsuit, visit www.HumaneWatch.org. To arrange an interview, call Allison Miller at 202-463-7112

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit watchdog organization that informs the public about the activities of tax-exempt activist groups. It is supported by American consumers, business organizations, and foundations.

About:
HumaneWatch.org is a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit watchdog group supported by a unique combination of consumers and American businesses. Visit: www.humanewatch.org

HumaneWatch.org

HumaneWatch.org

Washington, D.C. – -(AmmoLand.com)- Today the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is announcing the launch of HumaneWatch.org, a watchdog project dedicated to analyzing the activities of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

HumaneWatch will include a blog written by CCF’s Director of Research, a growing document library, and a database capable of tracking the dozens of nonprofit (and for-profit) organizations that make up HSUS’s sprawling financial empire.

The Humane Society of the United States has become the animal rights industry’s most powerful player, but it has avoided serious public scrutiny for years. HSUS raises nearly $100 million annually from Americans who largely believe their donations filter down to local pet shelters and improve the lives of dogs and cats. But in 2008, less than one-half of one percent of HSUS’s budget consisted of grants to actual hands-on “humane societies” that deal with the thankless task of sheltering unwanted pets.

“Someone has to ask the hard questions about the Humane Society of the United States, and HumaneWatch will be a relentless source of useful information,” said CCF Director of Research David Martosko. “Nearly 1 million Americans donate money to HSUS every year. And most are completely unaware that they’re bankrolling PETA-style propaganda, far-reaching anti-meat campaigns, a huge staff of lawyers, and bloated pension plans for HSUS executives.”

In 2008 alone, HSUS put more than $2.5 million into pension plans—money that its own advertising suggested would be put toward the direct care of animals. (HSUS neither operates nor is legally affiliated with, any pet shelters anywhere.)

Martosko continued: “Even the best charities can run off the rails, so it’s no surprise the professional dog-watchers need their own watchdog. Donors to the Humane Society of the United States deserve to know exactly how their money is being spent. HumaneWatch will create an open dialogue for farmers, scientists, fashion designers, entertainers, and countless Americans who love both their pets and their chicken sandwiches.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, please visit www.HumaneWatch.org or call Allison Miller at 202.463.7112

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers, working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(AmmoLand.com)- If the end of 2009 is any indication, 2010 looks like it will be just another year full of crazy “over the top antics” from PETA.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) reported last week on PETA’s unauthorized use of First Lady Michelle Obama in an anti-fur ad at year end. Since then, PETA has removed the ad due to its controversial nature but that was by no means the only crazy thing PETA did to finish out 2009. Among other wacky stunts – it issued a call to make the Vatican go vegan and harshly criticized sportsmen for donating venison to local food banks.

PETA’s vice president of policy and government affairs, Bruce Friedrich, who is coincidentally a Catholic, sent a letter on December 21 to Pope Benedict XVI urging him, “In light of the overwhelming scientific evidence showing that human consumption of animal products is degrading the environment we urge you to go vegan and only serve vegan meals in Vatican City and at all Papal events.”

Friedrich went on to conclude that “Going vegan and serving only vegan meals at the Vatican would help ensure a bright future for all.”

Meanwhile, in a Washington Post story that recounts how a Maryland deer hunter donates venison to food banks, Friedrich is quoted as saying, “I find it offensive that people would try to justify immoral behavior by claiming that something good comes out of it.”

“Unless you consider it charitable to ask for vegan dishes in the Vatican, what exactly has PETA done for those in need?” asks Doug Jeanneret, USSA vice president for marketing. “As PETA continues to churn out its outrageous viewpoints, sportsmen are donating the fruits of their labor for a good cause without seeking media limelight to advance a radical agenda.”

About:
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussafoundation.org.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Lexington, KY --(AmmoLand.com)- The nation’s leading anti-hunting organization, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is attempting to make further inroads with American youth to advance their agenda.

The latest action includes being the presenting sponsor for a youth convention hosted by the EQUUS Foundation and the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF). The USEF is considered the national governing body for the equestrian sport.

The 2010 event is scheduled to take place January 16th at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Kentucky. According to the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the event is designed to bring together “youth from around the country and helps to nurture and develop a growing interest in equestrian sport.”

However, the fact U.S. Equestrian Federation is allowing the Humane Society of the United States to play a prominent role in the event raises troubling questions for sportsmen, especially given the event’s focus on youth.

Alerted to this by concerned members, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) has attempted to make contact with the President of U.S. Equestrian Federation through phone calls and a formal letter that was faxed and sent overnight on December 23.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance made clear its desire that U.S. Equestrian Federation reconsider its relationship with Humane Society of the United States as a result of its clear anti-hunting agenda, an agenda that would negatively impact many thousands of equestrians and Houndsmen. A deadline of January 4 for a response was included in the letter. As of press time, the USSA has not received a response.

“Given that many sportsmen are accomplished equestrians, it is worrisome that the U.S. Equestrian Federation is not only associating with a group dedicated to ending the very traditions embraced by so many, but is also giving the Humane Society of the United States an opportunity to target the next generation” said Bud Pidgeon, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance president and CEO.

“The USSA sincerely hopes U.S. Equestrian Federation will alter its decision. We will continue to keep sportsmen aware of this situation.”

About:
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussafoundation.org.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Woodland Park, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- PETA is aggressively involved in attempting to stop the deer hunt in Passiac County.

They have requested that the county remove bow-hunting from its list of deer management methods and to instead commit to what they believe are “humane, long-term, effective deer-control methods.”

Below, is an alert from the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance (now APLNJ) in an attempt to gather support for a protest and intimidate those in local government that voted for good public policy – a deer hunt..

The following people understand the precepts of conservation and the need for a hunt. Please email them with a note of thanks, they support conservation and it is good policy for conservationist’s to support each other.

1. Freeholder Terry Duffy – 973-881-4537 TDuffy@passaiccountynj.org
2. Freeholder (and Mayor) Pat Lepore – 973-881-4536 PLepore@passaiccountynj.org
3. Freeholder Bruce James – 973-881-7896 BJames@passaiccountynj.org
4. Freeholder Greyson Hannigan 973-225-5427 greyson.hannigan@passaiccountynj.org
5. Woodland Park Council Members: kgalland@wpnj.us; jspinelli@wpnj.us; tgatti@wpnj.us; ddidomenico@wpnj.us; rvargas@wpnj.us

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

Alert from animal extremists:

New Jersey. Woodland Park. Garrett Mountain (NJ) Deer Hunt Protest
.. alert from the Animal Protection League of New Jersey. Demonstrators needed on Saturday, January 9, 2009.

================================
Urgent

Please join us for the Garrett Mountain Deer Bowhunt Protest! We know this is last minute, but we just found out and are trying desperately to save these beautiful, gentle animals. These deer come right up to your car when you drive in the reserve! Will you help us?

Please re-arrange your Saturday accordingly – this is so important! If you live in NJ, please attend this protest. The NY people will speak out against fur with me at Saks, but I know that we have enough dedicated activists to be in both locations. Time is of the essence and we couldn’t wait another day to schedule it. The deer need a big turnout. – Julie, Caring Activists Against Fur PLEASE CROSS-POST

When: Saturday 1/9/10 GATHER 12:30 pm at parking location – 3 Garrett Mountain Plaza (directions below)
Protest: directly across from Mina’s on the Mountain Restaurant, 140 Rifle Camp Road, Woodland Park, NJ. 1pm – 2:30pm
Point Person/Contact for protest: Merrilee merrileec@aol.com / day of cell # is 917-817-0340

Parking is not near the protest site – we will shuttle people over, so PLEASE come on time so we can be effective! The protest site is located directly across from Mina’s on the Mountain Restaurant, 140 Rifle Camp Road, Woodland Park. If you use Google maps, you’ll see how close these locations are, but a little far to walk for some, especially in the cold.

Directions: The parking address is 3 Garrett Mountain Plaza, Woodland Park. Take Rte. 80 West to the Squirrelwood Road Exit 56B, Woodland Park (aka West Paterson). Bear left at the STOP sign and turn left. You will pass over Rte. 80, go straight through one traffic light (at Jackson), see Lukoil gas station on left. IMMEDIATELY after Lukoil station turn left into 3 Garret Mountain. The sign actually reads “3 Garret Mountain Plaza 5″. At the stop sign turn right, and drive to the end of the parking area near the black and white building, #3, and park in the last parking area on your right. We will be there beginning at around 12.30, and the cell phone to call should they not be able to find us, or to call for a pick-up from the parking area is 917-817-0340. Demonstrators may feel free to bring their own signs – we will have a dozen or so. As we always say, DRESS WARM – it’s going to be frigid out there. I’ll have hand warmers! More Location or Detail Questions? Point Person/Contact for protest: Merrilee merrileec@aol.com / day of cell # is 917-817-0340

Background: A bowhunt of the Garrett Mountain Reservation & Rifle Camp Park deer is planned in Passaic Co., NJ. Through connections, we believe that they will try to sneak the start of the hunt for this Friday! They plan to continue through February. This proposal must come from the surrounding towns (Woodland Park) and the Passaic Board of Chosen Freeholders on which the Woodland Park Mayor currently holds a position. According to the paper, it was also the Mayor who pushed this! We need your emails and calls as well as going to the protest. We might have time to stop this! There is a new approved deer contraceptive – GonaCon – and it should be used!

Wherever you live, ASAP, PLEASE contact the following 4 people who voted for the hunt and have the power to stop it:

1. Freeholder Terry Duffy – 973-881-4537 TDuffy@passaiccovuntynj.org
2. Freeholder (and Mayor) Pat Lepore – 973-881-4536 PLepore@passaviccountynj.org
3. Freeholder Bruce James – 973-881-7896 BJames@passaiccvountynj.org
4. Freeholder Greyson Hannigan 973-225-5427 greyson.hannigan@passaicvcountynj.org
5. Woodland Park Council Members: kgallavnd@wpnj.us, jspinelli@wpnvj.us, tgatti@wpnj.us, ddidvomenico@wpnj.us, rvarvgas@wpnj.us

Contact me for an example of a letter you can send. – Julie, julieo666@yahoo.com
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For those of us that SUPPORT the Deer Hunt we have include our own letter for use by our AmmoLand readers to use to show your support: – AmmoLand.com

RE: Stand Strong in Your Decision to Hold the Deer Hunt

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earth’s resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org